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Gundogs: training advice, breed guides and expert tips for working dogs

Welcome to Sporting Gun’s gundogs hub – your essential resource for everything related to working dogs in the shooting field.

A well-trained gundog is the heart of a great shoot day, and whether you’re starting out with your first pup or fine-tuning an experienced dog, we have the expertise to help. Our gundog section covers every aspect of working dog ownership, from choosing the right breed for your shooting and lifestyle to steadiness training, introduction to game and advanced fieldwork.

We feature advice from some of the UK’s most respected gundog trainers, alongside breed guides covering spaniels, HPRs and retrievers – including Labradors, cocker spaniels, springer spaniels, German shorthaired pointers and vizslas. You’ll also find guidance on health, nutrition, fitness and seasonal preparation to keep your dog performing at its best.

From first retrieve to field trial, we’re with you every step of the way.

A fox red labrador with a pheasant in its mouth
Latest articles
  • Gundogs

    First shoot success: transitioning from dummies to game

    Transitioning your gundog from dummies to real game is a critical step. It ensures your dog retrieves game instead of succumbing to instinct.

    By Howard Kirby
  • Gundogs

    The right choice

    Choosing a new dog can be a minefield. Breed, temperament, working lines and energy levels all play a role in finding the right fit for you. Howard Kirby provides guidance

    By Sporting Gun
  • Gundogs

    Fit for purpose?

    Shoot day fever, trouble with cock birds and damaged game are all problems that demand immediate attention at this time of year, as Ben Randall explains

    By Sporting Gun
  • Gundogs

    Pet gundog?

    The term ‘pet gundog’ is become increasingly heard, but what exactly does it mean – and what is pet gundog training? Ryan Kay explains

    By Sporting Gun
  • Gundogs

    Pick of the litter

    If you have decided on the breed of dog you want and are buying a puppy rather than a ready-trained dog, BASC’s Glynn Evans has some essential advice for the next steps

    By Sporting Gun
  • Gundogs

    Help or hindrance?

    Ryan Kay looks at two areas that can divide opinion in gundog training – the use of treats and placeboards. How we perceive these things may be the real problem.

    By Sporting Gun
  • Gundogs

    Ben Randall’s debut book – How to train your gundog

    Champion gundog trainer Ben Randall’s highly anticipated debut book, How to train your gundog, is now available to order.

    By Sporting Gun
  • Gundogs

    Winding up your dog

    Can the wind affect the way my dog behaves?

    By Sporting Gun
  • Gundogs

    Fred’s leg: a mystery and a miracle!

    Vicky Payne has been scratching her head this month after what appears to be a simple muscle sprain diagnosis turns out to be something much more unusual – but, as ever, her perseverance pays off!

    By Sporting Gun
  • Gundogs

    First aid in the field

    From cuts and eye injuries, to muscle strains and hypothermia, Vicky Payne runs through some common issues in working dogs and how to treat them

    By Sporting Gun
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