Getting the best out of your gundog

Whether your dog fulfils its role at the peg, as part of the picking-up team or in the beating line, dogs will always be an important part of any shooting day - and we need them to stay fit and healthy throughout the season.

A good dog performing at full-tilt is a great asset, so what can we do to make sure we get the very best performance out of our gundogs?

It’s important to recognise that we expect a dog to give us many years of service. And while a vigorous youngster may seem able to cope easily with long days, cold and wet conditions and eat anything it’s given, it’s worth remembering that a little more thought applied to the care and management of a young dog will pay big dividends in the long term.

Anything that can be done to help young dogs stay fit and healthy - and remain just as vigorous in their work as mature dogs - must be worth the time and effort.

So be mindful that young dogs shouldn’t be asked to do too much in their first season. Don’t set them tasks that exploit their enthusiasm rather than their ability. Give them work they are capable of – and can do well. It will help build up a dog’s confidence and skill as well as prevent a youngster tackling obstacles and facing situations that could put it at risk.

And remember that if a dog isn’t doing a great deal for most of the week, don’t expect it to suddenly turn into a marathon athlete or an Aintree hurdler on a Saturday shoot day without running the risk of injury.

Working gundogs should be kept fit - and that fitness level needs to be maintained rather than allowing a dog to languish in a kennel for most of the week. Be aware of what you expect your dog to do on a shoot day and give him the opportunity to get fit and stay fit to make sure he can capably and safely fulfil his job.

All adult dogs should be fed two meals a day – if you are working your dog that’s what it needs. So give a dog a good breakfast on a shoot day – but well ahead of his activity. Add a bit more warm water to the food to make sure the dog has bolstered his intake of liquid to sustain him during his work. Some dogs aren’t given an opportunity to drink much on a shoot day.

Don’t put dogs back into their boxes or crates at lunch-time without a thought for their needs. If dogs are wet for whatever reason, make sure they are given a rough rub down with a towel and given a chance to have a drink and a handful of dog biscuits. I hate to see dogs that have worked hard all morning just put back into the car to curl up and shiver until needed for the afternoon drives.

Dogs left cold and wet day after day will eventually suffer the ill effects of such treatment, so to avoid stiff joints - and probably other related issues later in life - it’s no big deal to give your best mate quick towelling off. And for the journey home why not invest in one of the fleece dog coats. Nothing “girly” about these, just good common sense.

I’m going to be looking at dog foods and feeding in a forthcoming article, but anything that helps a dog avoid burning up calories to keep warm, rather than simply to maintain body condition, must make sense. So be mindful of the work your dog is doing on a shoot day and treat him accordingly.

Once home dogs need a good feed immediately and should have ample bedding. All this is aimed at preserving the health of the dog and giving him a few of life’s comforts that he surely deserves. Applying good, basic gundog management will help to prolong an active and healthy working life.

The aim is to help the dog provide you with years of service in the field, and a little bit of thought into how that can be achieved will be time and effort well spent.

Jeremy Hunt
Fenway Labradors
jeremy@fenwaylabradors.co.uk
07798 826179

Jeremy is the owner of Fenway Labradors has been breeding Labradors for over 25 years and is based in Lancashire, England.

Jeremy runs gundog training days offering individual or small group training sessions, by the hour, half or full day.