Don’t leave it too long to source a replacement for your gundog, says David Tomlinson.
So what’s the best time to buy a gundog puppy?
A friend with a nine-year-old labrador recently asked me this question. I said he should consider getting one immediately. Hopefully his dog will be able to work for another season or two but when most dogs reach double figure they will have slowed down and few can manage a day’s shooting when they are 12.
Training time
It takes a while to train and bring on a young dog. Many make their debut in the shooting field when only a year old, but unless carefully supervised that’s much too young. Never forget the old adage that the quickest way to ruin a gundog is to take it shooting. Two is a much better age for a shooting dog to start its career, and only then if it is 100% steady and has good recall. We have all met (and possibly owned) many shooting dogs that never mastered those two essentials. (Read more on schools for gundogs.)
Even a well-trained three-year-old is still really an apprentice, but by the age of four a good dog is approaching its prime; with luck, it will continue to perform at its peak for three or four more seasons.
My labrador-owning friend was worried that introducing a puppy to the household would upset the old dog, which is also the family pet. Would the old dog resent his replacement? Fortunately, dogs don’t think like we do and I reassured him that the arrival of a puppy in the house would be unlikely to create any problems. (Read: How should I introduce a puppy to an older dog?)
Where to buy a gundog puppy
My advice to anyone looking for a puppy is to buy from a Kennel Club Assured Breeder or someone you know and trust, and to only buy from health-tested parents.
Read more on what makes the perfect family gundog.