Debutant gundogs

There’s lots to think about when it comes to making the decision about when to introduce your dog to shooting, says David Tomlinson

MANY YEARS AGO, I belonged to a small walk-one, stand-one syndicate that shot fortnightly in the Sussex Weald. It was demanding ground, with small streams sunk in deep valleys while the woods were thick with brambles. Dogs were essential, and one of the rules of membership was possession of a suitable dog, though there were no stipulations as to how well trained it should be. On a normal Saturday we would usually have a dozen or more dogs out — mostly springers, but with the odd labrador and the occasional German shorthaired pointer. The first day of the season was always one of the most interesting, not because of the bag (we seldom shot many birds in October, though we invariably picked lots of wild mushrooms), but due to the fact…

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Shooting Times & Country (Digital) - 1 Issue, 2-Aug-2023

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