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.
Transitioning your gundog from dummies to real game is a critical step. It ensures your dog retrieves game instead of succumbing to instinct.
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
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
The term ‘pet gundog’ is become increasingly heard, but what exactly does it mean – and what is pet gundog training? Ryan Kay explains
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
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.
Champion gundog trainer Ben Randall’s highly anticipated debut book, How to train your gundog, is now available to order.
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!
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
Get the latest news delivered direct to your door
Sporting Gun has been the trusted voice of the shooting community since 1978, and a subscription is the best way to make sure you never miss a word of it.
For just £3.75 an issue – 46% less than the newsstand price – you’ll receive Britain’s leading shooting magazine delivered to your door before it hits the shelves. Every issue is packed with expert gundog training advice, in-depth shotgun and cartridge reviews, technique features from professional shots, pigeon and wildfowling coverage and the people and stories that define the sport.
In a world of endless scrolling, a magazine is something different – a moment to slow down, read properly and absorb knowledge that makes you a better shot. Back issues become a reference library worth keeping.