This issue offers up plenty of inspiration for the long days of summer. If you want to get your gundog fit ahead of the next season, but aren't sure how to do it, Ben Randall suggests ways you can combine fitness and training drills for the ultimate results. Summer is also the ideal time for water work - Laura Hill has some tips on how to introduce your young dog to water and on making the most of those sessions down at the river.
Our vet Louisa Lane is talking about heatstroke this month. We all know that dogs die in hot cars, but the scary truth is that they can also die out on a walk if you misjudge things. Read Louisa's advice on keeping your gundog cool and safe this summer. If you're planning on heading abroad and taking your dog with you, this advice is even more pertinent - as is the information from vet nurse Laura Hawkins on getting the relevant paperwork sorted for your canine companion. A little bit of forethought can make the process a lot less stressful.
We've an inspirational tale from experienced spaniel handler Nathan Hawkins, who wondered if he would ever make it back out into the field with his dogs after being struck down with a serious illness. He did, and he tells us how and what it meant to him in this issue.
Also in this issue:
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Breed in focus: the German longhaired pointer
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Shooting grouse over dogs: David Hudson tells us what makes this sport so special
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Canine Fertility: shining the spotlight on stud dogs
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A training day for pointers and setters on the Scottish moors
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Report from the National Military Working Dogs Memorial charity spaniel test
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Canine art with Ben Hoskyns
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Five of the best summer training essentials
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WIN £500 worth of Dog & Field kit