A New Season Begins: Working with Our Gundogs in the Field

For some, the world of shooting might not be appealing, but for others, it's a chance to work in harmony with the countryside and dogs.

A New Season Begins: Working with Our Gundogs in the Field

For some, the world of shooting might not be appealing, but for others, it's a chance to work in harmony with the countryside and dogs. If this isn't your cup of tea, feel free to move on. For those interested, here's a recap of the first day of our new shooting season!

This past Saturday, my husband Mark and I returned to the small shoot we belong to, marking the start of our second year there. We brought along four of our dogs, eager to get back into the rhythm of the field. The warm welcome from the syndicate and the camaraderie reminded us why we love this place so much. One of the things that drew us to this shoot is their commitment to introducing newcomers to shooting and helping develop young, inexperienced dogs—a value we deeply appreciate.

This shoot operates as a syndicate, but we had the pleasure of welcoming guns and beaters from all over the world. On this particular day, there were participants from Canada, the U.S., Denmark, and France, all enthusiastic about experiencing an English shoot.

The Start of the Day: Preparation and First Drives

We gathered at 8:45 a.m. for briefings and catch-ups. Safety was, as always, the first priority, and then the groups were organized. The shoot runs on a stand one, beat one basis, and before long, we were off to the first two drives.

As always, my preference is to work my dogs for picking up—it's what all of our training is geared toward. On Saturday, I brought Adge, my five-year-old Labrador, who has taken his time adjusting to the field. But now that he’s there, he loves it and gives his all. He was flawless—calm, focused, and attentive, doing everything I asked of him.

Mark, on the other hand, enjoys beating with his dogs. He took Seth, our working Cocker Spaniel, for the first two drives. The birds were plentiful, and despite the excitement, Seth remained calm, flushing birds and pulling off them as instructed. He even entered cover without hesitation—a sight that always makes me proud.

A Change of Dogs and a Change of Scene

After the first two drives, it was time to switch locations, which also meant a change of dogs for Mark. Setting our dogs up for success is important, especially in the early season when excitement runs high. Mark opted to bring out Flora, our ten-year-old Labrador who, despite her age, is full of energy. Flora is somewhat of a celebrity among the guns—she’s white, and they often say, "Wherever the white dog is, birds will be found!" Flora took to the task enthusiastically, beating with her usual gusto.

As for me, I kept Adge in play and also brought out Griff, our seven-month-old working Golden Retriever, for some valuable exposure. As we blanked in (pushing birds toward the next drive), Adge worked beautifully in cover, alongside Flora. Griff, meanwhile, got a chance to experience the sights and sounds of a shoot day. Though we didn’t pick anything up on that drive, it was a fantastic experience for Griff, watching everything unfold.

The Social Side of the Day: Elevenses and the Final Drives

After the first drives, we returned to the cars for elevenses—a lovely tradition where everyone shares a snack and refreshes for the final three drives. The camaraderie among participants is one of my favourite parts of the day.

The last drives saw plenty of birds in the air, though fewer were shot. That’s all part of the game, and we know there’s a long season ahead. All of the dogs got their share of work and went home content.

By 2 p.m., the day was done, and the birds were divided up with the ethos that nothing goes to waste. “If you shoot it, you eat it” is a rule we all follow.

A Personal Reflection

I understand that spending a day like this might not be everyone’s idea of a good time, and that’s okay. For me, though, there’s nothing better than working my dogs in the field, surrounded by beautiful countryside, and sharing that experience with like-minded people. I feel privileged to have access to such environments and to work my dogs in the way they were meant to be worked. Plus, at the end of the day, I get to bring home some of the day’s quarry, knowing it lived a good life.

Here’s to more days like Saturday! Granted, the weather won’t always be as perfect, and there will be plenty of mud ahead, but we’ll just dress for it and carry on!