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Gundogs - Page 3
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.
Latest articles
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GundogsGundog behaviour: why is my dog acting aggressively?
Vet Vicky Payne explains why gundogs may occasionally display aggressive behaviours, and what to do if that situation occurs.
By Sporting Gun
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Gundogs
How to: crate train your gundog puppy
Correct use of a crate in a puppy’s early life doesn’t just help with house training – it benefits the entire gundog training journey, says Howard. Here’s how to get it right.
By Sporting Gun
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Gundogs
How to protect your working dog from parasites
Prevention really is better than cure. Here is vet Vicky Payne’s guide on how to ensure you give your dog the best and most efficient protection from parasites.
By Sporting Gun
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GundogsGundog training: blind retrieves
One of our gundog training goals is to successfully send the dog for birds or dummies they have no prior knowledge of. Here’s Howard Kirby’s guide on how to perfect the ‘one-cast’ blind retrie...
By Sporting Gun
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GundogsKeeping gundog care costs down
The cost of living crisis is affecting everyone, and gundog owners are no exception! Here, vet Vicky Payne offers advice on how to keep your dog care costs down.
By Sporting Gun
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GundogsWatch: Training gundogs to not swap birds
In this video, Howard Kirby shows us a simple exercise you can do at home to train your dog not to swap birds when retrieving in the field.
By Sporting Gun
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GundogsDirectional training: The Clock Face
Gundog trainer Howard Kirby explains how to use the clock face for a set of time- and space-efficient retrieving exercises to help cement directional commands.
By Sporting Gun
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GundogsGundog breeding: not just a pretty face!
With no formal breed standards to adhere to, gundog breeders have free rein to work towards whichever characteristics they choose, but two factors remain most important: aesthetics and working ability...
By Sporting Gun
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GundogsCommon dog-handling mistakes on the beating line
Ryan Kay thinks small syndicate shoots are the ideal place to work your gundog, and looks at some of the most common mistakes handlers make on the beating line.
By Sporting Gun
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GundogsWatch: Training long-distance blind retrieves
In this video, gundog trainer Howard Kirby shows us three methods we can use when training our gundogs at home to help perfect the long-distance, blind retrieve.
By Sporting Gun
Find out more
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