Jet is Top Gun at Crufts

by Mark James on March 18, 2011

A flat coated retriever has claimed the coveted Best in Show prize in this year’s event at Crufts.

Jet, who hails from Edinburgh, saw off a staggering 21,000 other dogs to claim the title. He first claimed first place in the Gundog category.

jet flat coated retrieverQueensferry dog breeder Jim Irvine, who bred Jet, couldn’t believe that one of his dogs had won. He said:

“I’m just so happy.”

“In the dog world this is the ultimate prize, this is what everyone aspires to and normally I find it’s always someone else who (more…)

Filed under: Crufts,Flat Coated Retriever,Gundog Group — Tags: , —

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Weimaraner Breed Profile

by Mark James on June 18, 2010

The Weimaraner (pronounced VYE-ma-rah-ner) is an athletic, working breed that was originally bred for hunting deer, boar and bears in the early 19th century. Being an all purpose gun dog, they were also used for hunting smaller animals such as rabbits, foxes and birds as the popularity of hunting larger game waned. The name derives from Karl August, the Grand Duke of Weimar, who loved to hunt. A long haired variety exists, but the gene is recessive; long haired puppies will only be produced if both parents posses it.

Typical Weimaraner facts

Height: Dog:61 – 69 cm, Bitch: 56 – 63 cm
Weight: Dog: 25 – 32 kg, Bitch: 23 – 29 kg
Average Litter Size: 5 – 7 puppies
Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years
Good with Children: Yes, especially if socialised as a pup
Kennel Club Classification: Gun dog

Colour of a Weimaraner:

The Weimaraner’s short, smooth coat and striking eyes give it an aristocratic appearance, setting it apart from other breeds. The colour of the coat comes in many hues, ranging from mouse grey, charcoal blue to silver grey. The breed also comes with blue or black coats, but these are to be avoided if you wish to show your dog as they will be automatically disqualified because of this. The Weimaraner may have a small white mark on the chest, or the ‘mark of the hound’ – faint tan markings (more…)

Filed under: Gundog Group,Weimaraner —

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Golden Retriever Breed Profile

by Holly Wright on June 7, 2010

The Golden Retriever, often referred to as the Goldie, or Golden, by its many admirers, is the ideal family pet. Goldies, often confused with Labradors, are usually distinguished by their different coats. However, their main difference is their ancestry; Goldies are from Scotland and Labradors are from Canada. The Golden Retriever is first and foremost a people-dog, which thrives off the affection and contact of its family members. Incredibly tolerable of children and their antics, the Goldie also embraces good relationships with other family pets from hamsters to horses, if introduced properly. This dog has an idyllically balanced personality, calm but alert, sensible but playful, neither hyperactive nor lethargic. The intelligent Golden Retriever is notoriously easy to train, making it an ideal assistance or working dog. They love to please, but unlike a border collie or springer spaniel, it does not have an insatiable appetite for work, and is therefore happy to relax by your feet at the end of the day.

Height: 20-24in, 51-61cm
Weight: 60-80lb, 27-36kg
Average Litter Size: 8
Life Expectancy: 14years
Good with Children: Exceptionally good
Kennel Club Classification: Gundog

Colour of a Golden Retriever

Any shade from light cream to deep gold is acceptable, however over recent years, lighter shades have become more popular in the UK. Darker gold colours still dominate in the (more…)

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Labrador dog shoots owner

by Leanne Thompson on February 5, 2010

dog-with-gunIn the UK we’re pretty used to seeing sensationalised headlines such as ‘dog bites owner’, but we’re not used to news stories involving gun toting dogs. In America however, it seems that incidents of dogs shooting their owners are relatively common. There have been three stories in the last three years surrounding ‘gundog’ related crimes.

There was an occasion in 2008 where a man from Oregon was shot when his dog leapt into his boat, landing on his shotgun. A year earlier, a man from Iowa was gunned down by his dog when he left his shotgun next to a fence and the dog stood on it, shooting the man in the leg while he was straddling the fence.

This latest incident occurred last weekend in Los Banos, California. A duck hunter was shot by his black Labrador after the man set the loaded gun down on the ground and the dog stood on it.

The hunter has been criticised by authorities for (more…)

Filed under: Gundog Group,Labrador,News —

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Portuguese Water Dog Breed Profile

by Leanne Thompson on May 14, 2009

The Portuguese Water Dog breed has certainly had its profile raised since the US President Barack Obama’s family chose to adopt Bo, pictured below. Bo is probably the most famous puppy alive at the time of writing and even Bo’s father, stud dog Watson, has received a lot of attention. Portuguese Water Dog puppies are adorable, as can be seen from the picture on the right courtesy of SeattlePI.com, but before anyone rushes out to buy their own Portie as the breed is affectionately known or PWD for short, it is important to know a bit more about the Portuguese Water Dog breed in general.

portuguese_water_dog_boThe Portuguese Water Dog is a fun loving dog and unsurprisingly from his name, a real water lover. They are generally great with families and children and ideal for active people who want an affectionate yet adventurous companion. This is certainly not a dog for couch potatoes.

This dog breed is very intelligent and responsive, so an owner needs to be calm and show consistent authority.

Typical Portuguese Water Dog
Height: 20 – 23 inches for males; 17 – 21 inches for females
Weight: 40 – 60 lbs for males (18 – 27 kg); 35 – 50 lbs for females (16 – 23 kg)
Average Litter Size: Around 5 – 7 puppies
Life Expectancy: 10 – 14 years; they mature well and generally remain active into their senior years
Good with Children: Yes if properly trained and kept active (see below)
Kennel Club Classification: Gundog Group (more…)

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