Gun Dogs
The wildfowler's dog

A dog is a must when wildfowling on tidal marshes. There are few situations when you can get by without one. Which breed you choose is a matter of personal preference and depends on the type of work you will be asking the dog to undertake.

If its only task is to retrieve wildfowl on the foreshore then few would disagree that a Labrador or similar retriever is the answer. Having a double coat - fine fur next to the skin and longer hair over that, they can better stand the long, cold and often wet waits between retrieves.

Many shooters prefer a Springer Spaniel - particularly if they enjoy rough shooting as well as wildfowling, spaniel owners maintain that the breed is better for flushing game from really rough cover.
A day on the marsh sitting in the cold and damp is just as tiring for the wildfowlers dog as a days walked up or rough shooting. Both are strength sapping.

It is a good idea to provide something for your dog to sit on, a bag of straw is ideal, but even a bin bag is better than nothing.

When coming off the marsh make sure that you have an old towel ready to rub your dog dry. It goes without saying that your dog should have access to a clean supply of fresh water during the day.
The cost of owning a working dog is high - not just buying the pup - but in terms of time and patience in training it, as well as veterinary treatment. Consider buying one of the neoprene dog coats (some are available in camouflage patterns) for your gundog, particularly if he/she is getting on a bit - as well as helping to insulate against the cold - these will also provide additional buoyancy when swimming.

Purely in financial terms it makes sense to look after your dog well - and your dog in turn will serve you well.

A strong bond develops between a wildfowler and his dog.

A wildfowlers dog will never tell on you and if you have a good day or a bad day - will always think you are the best.

The club usually holds a working dog test in the summer, open to all KWCA members.

Not got a dog or cannot keep one because of your circumstances? Here is some advice:

If you know someone who has a dog that will retrieve from the water, provided that they join the Association as an Associate member (minimum) they can accompany you when you go shooting.

The lack of a dog for wildfowling is a major obstacle. There is no doubt that it is far more enjoyable with a dog and you will have far more success because having a good dog allows you to broaden your scope. However, we have known many wildfowlers who have shot wildfowl very successfully without a dog, but they plan their trips very carefully.

Obviously, if there is water about it is difficult to retrieve ducks; unless you have a boat or you are a very strong swimmer. So you need to try to avoid shooting at anything that is likely to fall in the water. Choose low water so that plenty of mud is exposed, strong on-shore winds so that the dead ducks are blown towards you, in-coming tides etc. If you are shooting near non-tidal waters, small ponds or a river, a line with a short stick tied to the end will help to retrieve them. Avoid dense vegetation, reeds or spartina grass; ducks will be almost impossible to find in that. Limit what you shoot at. Only take birds that will fall where they can be picked up. Avoid trying for 'rights and lefts', just shoot one at a time, make sure it's dead. If a bird on the water shows any signs of life, despatch it quickly with a second shot; if it dives, it will be lost. Most importantly, mark it down exactly! Duck are notoriously difficult to find, particularly if they are still alive. You need to know exactly where it falls, so stare at the spot, note what it lines up with on the horizon, try to estimate how far away it is and then, if you can, walk directly towards it. Save some of the smaller tidal islands, with care and a bit of planning, many of our areas can be shot without a dog.

If you require help or advice in choosing a breed of gundog, club members can ask a more experienced member of the club, since there are many breeds of gundog that are owned by club members.

Checkout the gundog links page for web sites that are specific to gundogs.