Gundogs with a touch of pure class

One of the areas of gundog work commonly overlooked — or that is perhaps not as high-profile as the retrievers and spaniels — involves the HPR breeds. These amazing hunt, point, retrieve dogs are designed to combine the work of a spaniel and a labrador, with the added bonus of pointing. There is certainly a huge gap in the world of gundogs that these breeds fill enthusiastically, as they are hugely versatile, driven, intelligent and athletic.

Sadly though, the roles I am often engaged in training them in are rarely the ones these dogs were intended for. The vast majority of HPR breeds that I am asked for assistance with have been bought with the sole intention of being a pet. But unless clients intend to work them, I would rarely recommend any HPR breed as a pet — their instincts run strong through most lines.

For those