When the wheels come off

For youngsters, the excitement and distractions of a shoot day can make all they’ve learned go out of the window, warns Ellena Swift

- Ellena Swift

A suitable shooting companion should be many things. They should be hard hunting, patient on peg, calm to heel and have reliable recall. These are only a few of the key skills and attributes.

The basics in training will pay dividends in the long run and are so often overlooked. The ability simply to heel consistently and reliably on a shoot is one of the most common obvious skills lacking. A vast majority will opt for using a lead rather than risk the embarrassment of the dog being out of control.