THROUGHOUT The Field’s long history, the letters pages have been a fascinating barometer of the thoughts and concerns of sporting gentlemen and women. In the heady Edwardian days before World War I, the upstart labrador was quickly taking over from the flat- or smooth-coated retriever, which was until then the gundog of choice. A certain Mr EG Wheeler was a great supporter of the latter, and it was this enthusiasm for the breed that prompted him to write a lengthy letter to the Editor.
In it he’. However, he thought that though ‘their style, diligence and obedience is a pleasure to see, closer acquaintance causes one to discount these virtues to a considerable extent’.
