What a difference a day makes. I have written previously about my concerns over a young cocker, who was having problems facing cover. We had made some progress. I had got her retrieving game … [Read more...]

I recently wrote about my little cocker’s fear of brambles. Last week I spent some time planting retrieves in light brambles, to build up her confidence in facing cover. This week I have spent … [Read more...]

I have spent quite a bit of time over the last few days wading through bramble patches. Not for my own entertainment you understand,  but to resolve an issue with one of my dogs. A recent day's … [Read more...]

We had our first driven shoot on Wednesday and what a foggy start to the day! For the first part of the morning the farm was wreathed in swirling water vapour. I didn't dare risk my camera so … [Read more...]

So you want to go beating For many gundog owners,  beating is their first introduction to the shooting scene. Like many sports,  game shooting has a language and culture all of its own,  and it … [Read more...]

On Monday morning the Daily Mail published a report on the decision by WH Smith to ban the sale of shooting magazines to children under fourteen. To supply the logic behind this extraordinary step … [Read more...]

I am gradually moving articles from my very first old blog to their final homes.  I thought this one might interest other gundog owners.  It is also interesting to compare the harvest dates.  This … [Read more...]

All gundogs must be able to hunt. Retrievers are expected to hunt for shot game, whether dead or wounded and to ignore live unharmed game. Spaniels are expected to hunt and flush live unharmed … [Read more...]

I am passionate about our responsibility to preserve our way of life for future generations. I believe that game is an excellent and ethical source of meat and I want to help to ensure that … [Read more...]

I have received a number of questions lately from people that have been having some problems with the way that their dogs have handled their first few real game retrieves. Either because the dogs … [Read more...]