Many sporting dogs are helping with conservation and helping to protect endangered species such as bats and water voles in the UK. Earlier this winter, I was walking my spaniel along a footpath when she stopped as suddenly as if she had run into a brick wall. There was no…
The hounds had been speaking to the line for at least two minutes, and every second their baying became louder and more excited: there was no doubt about it, they were heading my way. My thumb hovered over the safety catch of my carbine. Suddenly a fine roebuck appeared and…
While we will never tire of championing all things British in fieldsports, there is a wealth of gundog breeds around the world that give our home-bred stock a run for their money. Here are 25 of the best gundog breeds from overseas that possess an enticing combination of sporting prowess,…
ONE of the great attractions of fieldsports is that, generally speaking, they are not affected too much by the weather. Bad light never stops play, and rarely does bad weather. We all remember those special days when a gale blew, the heavens opened or a blizzard turned the world white.…
I was recently asked what is essential gundog handling kit. I thought about the question for 30 seconds before replying: a slip lead and a whistle. I’ve now given the question more consideration, but my opinion remains unchanged. If you have these two vital pieces of equipment, then there’s not…
Matthew Dennison charts some of the most famous sporting dogs through history, from spaniels to cockers, who have made a name for themselves in the field. Popular sires have had an unhealthy level of input into the gene pool of our sporting breeds, which may be damaging. Could outcrossing be…
Choosing a name for you canine companion is always tricky. However David Tomlinson breaks the process down and provides some helpful tips to give your dog a name they can be proud of. CHOOSING A NAME FOR YOUR DOG I’ve just undertaken a piece of fascinating but utterly useless research,…
The discussion over what is the best labrador colour will probably never end. BLACK IN THE FIELD, YELLOW IN THE SHOW RING Ask those in the shooting field what the best labrador colour is and the answer is generally black. Whereas in the show-ring judges like yellow. Fox-red labs are…
Many of us dream of owning a dog that will obey your every command and hang on your every movement however it often seems not to happen and all we see is our canine companion vanishing over the distant horizon. David Tomlinson asks the question whether the trainers are the…
This month we look at how to turn your puppy into a gundog, the tactics you need to improve your pigeon shooting, Sir Johnny Scott waxes lyrical over sighthounds and Rory Knight-Bruce celebrates the joys of the point-to-point; beer tent, betting and banter. We investigate why pike fishing is enthralling…
