Here's one I trained earlier

Any gun who's ever looked enviously at a neighbour's dog sitting patiently on the peg, as their own over-excited charge lunges on its lead, may want to consider buying a pre-trained gundog

- Katy Birchall

IF you want something done right, do it yourself’—so the saying goes, but I don’t suppose whoever first espoused this (especially if it was Napoleon) ever took it upon themselves to train a gundog. We’ve all been there: it’s the first drive on the opening day of the season and your young, over-zealous dog has—yet again—developed selective hearing and disappeared into the distance, leaving you with a hoarse throat and flushed cheeks, as you reflect glumly on all the hours, blood, sweat and tears that you’ve put in to training him since he was a puppy.

This all-too-familiar scenario is why, for many, buying an older, pre-trained gundog from a respected trainer and breeder is an appealing alternative. An experienced professional not only saves house-training and socialising a puppy, they can also provide a dog that works to a high standard in the field and fits happily into family life.

‘I produce dogs that I like to call the “AGA dog”, the ultimate family companion,’ states award-winning trainer and COUNTRY LIFE contributor Ben Randall. ‘Usually, it will be a working breed—springer, cocker, labrador—who relaxes at home, will heel on and off lead when out on walks, has good recall in any environment and, if you’re invited on a local shoot, will be well mannered enough to do a proficient job and not let you down. The truth is, it’s hard for anyone who works full time to produce a dog of that quality without the experience, time and knowledge.’