Shooting Answers

GUNDOGS

Uphill task

My cocker spaniel is fine retrieving pheasants and partridges but really struggles to bring me back a rabbit cleanly. Is there anything I can do to improve things?

Fran says: A good healthy rabbit is quite a retrieve for a little cocker, and they can be a bit of a challenge to get cleanly back to hand, especially if the dog has been hunting for a while and is a bit hot. A dead rabbit can hang down either side of the dog’s mouth and can cause a seal and if the dog is tired and hot, they may well put it down to readjust it. Obviously, you don’t want this to become a habit and one way of getting the dog to come back cleanly is to practice with some cold rabbit retrieves on a hill. Set the rabbit on the slope and send the dog; as the dog is coming downhill it will be concentrating more on keeping its footing than carrying the rabbit. By repeating this over time you will hopefully create a better habit of not readjusting the retrieve.

TUITION

Progress report

How should I assess my progress when trying to be a better shot?

After each session or round of clays you should take some notes. This will help you see progression and identify any recurring issues. The notes need to be a balance of the good and bad – let’s say three things that went well, which could include things you have been working