Gun Dogs
Breed Profile – English Cocker Spaniel
This good-natured gundog breed is just as popular as a family pet as it is a working dog. Read on to find out more about the rather odd history of the English Cocker Spaniel. History of Breed: Spaniel-type dogs have been around for at least 500 years as is evident in art and literature. Originally, spaniels…
Breed Profile – Golden Retriever
One of the most easily recognisable breeds in the UK, the Golden Retriever is a gundog with boundless enthusiasm. Friendly, loyal and full of fun, the breed makes a great family dog. History of Breed: The first Lord Tweedmouth developed the Golden Retriever at his Guisachan estate. With the improvements in firearms, there was a requirement…
A Brief History of Gundogs
Once upon a time (as all good stories start), Man discovered that dogs could be trained to locate and chase prey, making them the ideal hunting companion (the seaweed doesn’t count, but Oscar was a puppy at the time!). It was the start of a beautiful relationship. It is from these dogs that terriers, hounds, gundogs…
Breed Profile – Korthals Griffon
For our latest breed profile, we’re taking a look at an HPR (hunt, point, retrieve) gundog that is popular on the continent. The Korthals Griffon (also known as the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon) has an appealing rugged appearance with a keen, intelligent expression. Find out more in our shaggy dog story. History of Breed: The Korthals Griffon…
Breed Profile – Hungarian Vizsla
A great all-round gundog and increasingly popular in the UK, the Hungarian Vizsla is the focus of this breed profile. Vizslas also make fantastic family pets and are beautiful to look at. It’s a win-win combination! History of Breed: The Hungarian Vizsla is a typical HPR (Hunt Point Retrieve) gundog. HPR dogs are all-purpose hunting dogs. They typically have…
Breed Profile – Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
For our latest breed profile, we take a look at a Canadian gundog breed. The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is an enthusiastic, friendly dog that is increasingly popular in the UK. History of Breed: Developed in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, in the 19th century, this breed has an interesting part to play in hunting waterfowl. Hunters…
Breed Profile: English Springer Spaniel
The English Springer Spaniel is not for the faint-hearted! Boundless energy and enthusiasm make this popular breed a tiring, but rewarding choice. History of Breed: The English Springer Spaniel is descended from the Norfolk Spaniel and is one of the oldest gundog breeds. For many years Springer and Cocker Spaniels came from the same litters. The smaller ‘cockers’ were…
The Gundog Year: Shooting Season 2016
In the game world, most quarries have open and closed seasons. Closed seasons allow numbers to multiply and to allow game to migrate to different areas to feed and overwinter. If you’re not sure when open season is for the game you like to shoot, here’s a handy guide covering quarry for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern…
Breed Profile – Labrador Retriever
One of the most popular breeds on the planet, the Labrador Retriever, is the subject of our latest breed profile. These fantastically versatile and intelligent dogs are one of our favourites. History of the Breed: The St John’s dog, a now extinct Newfoundland breed, is the ancestor of the Labrador Retriever. Brought to England around…
Diary of a Gundog Episode 10: Oscar Stories
With all the breed profiles we’ve been publishing, it’s been a while since we were able to feature Oscar the gun dog. Anyway, to satisfy his many fans, here he is again – a bit older and wiser. Oscar is coming on in leaps and bounds, in both his physical fitness and his endearing temperament.…
Diary of a Gun Dog Episode 9: Didn’t He Do Well?
Having put a huge amount of time and work into Oscar’s training ready for the pheasant season starting, it’s time to find out if it all came together on Oscar’s first shoot of the season a couple of weeks ago. In Episode 9 of our series in which we follow Oscar, a yellow Labrador, from puppy to…
Diary of a Gundog Episode 8: The Season Begins
With the pheasant season just starting, it’s time to catch up with Oscar, a yellow Labrador Retriever, to find out how his preparation for the new season is going. Now over a year old, the effort that went into Oscar’s early training and the consistency with which his behaviour is handled on a daily basis is paying off. Little niggles are swiftly dealt…
