Gundogs

This book is about gundogs, those ever-willing companions of both sportsmen and discerning dog owners. Gundogs is not a manual covering training, grooming, nutrition and dog care; it is very much a celebration of the gundog's contribution to the sporting and companion dog scene, an examination of their past, their performance and their prospects in an increasingly urban society. Painstakingly researched, it covers the well-known recognized breeds and the more obscure ones from overseas, some quite unknown to the British public.David Hancock's earlier books have been highly praised, as have his many articles in sporting magazine in the last thirty years. When reviewing one of his previous books, the revered writer on sporting dogs, the late Brian Plummer, described it as a 'masterpiece'. Reviewing his Sporting Terriers, Dogs in Canada magazine stated that it 'has the quality of a classic'. A reviewer of his last book, Sighthounds, stated that 'Hancock's work provokes thinking in the reader the way a good discussion stimulates and refreshes our minds.' A Canadian reviewer of another of his books gave the view that David Hancock is 'perhaps the most important living writer about dogs.' A comprehensive survey of the gundog's origins, its role and its future, Gundogs is essential reading for all those with an interest in these loyal dogs, especially gundog and country sport enthusiasts. Meticiously researched and packed with information it covers the well-known recognized breeds as well as more obscure ones. Superbly illustrated with 360 colour and black & white photographs. David Hancock has studied dogs for over half a century and is a past winner of the Dog Writers Association of America.

The Trouble with Gundogs takes a new look at the causes and cures for the many faults that can crop up in the process of training a Gundog. Dogs and humans have lived, worked and played together for thousands of years and strong bonds have formed between them. With luck and care, the training, management and handling of a Gundog will progress without a hitch. The luck begins with natural talent on both sides and the care ensures that correct choices are made and good sense prevails. However, things can still go wrong. This book offers solutions to the problems that may occur along the way. There are hundreds of different types of dog and each one has its own character. Because of this, one size does not fit all when tackling a problem, and different approaches are offered. Observation, determination and perseverance will usually be rewarded.

"Open the cinema of your mind and grab the popcorn―the blockbuster you've been waiting for has just arrived.” ―John Scalzi, author of The Kaiju Preservation Society In the near future, Earth has been conquered by a race of brutal alien machines known as the Mek, and an entire generation has grown up under their oppressive rule. When Dakota Bregman, a rebellious young woman imprisoned in a Mek labor camp stumbles across a mysterious map that may hold the secret to humanity’s liberation, she escapes and embarks on a dangerous odyssey across an alien-occupied America that leads her to an amazing discovery — a long-lost prototype war machine known as a Gundog. Created by the last defenders of Earth, it has lain dormant for decades, hidden away. Waiting for someone to wake it up. Now Dakota must confront a legacy she never knew she had, and embrace the warrior she was meant to be, facing down impossible odds and an overwhelmingly superior enemy in the hope of sparking a new flame of human resistance...

A comprehensive guide to transforming your dog into a valuable wing-shooting companion in the field and at home. Created by Mike Stewart of Wildrose Kennels, the Wildrose Way is a unique, low-force, positive training method that is field-proven for upland and waterfowl gundogs. The training prepares dogs for versatility—any game, any terrain, any destination—and makes them desirable companions for any situation. Now, for the first time, Stewart’s methods are compiled in one indispensable reference book, fully illustrated with photographs and diagrams. Containing chapters on establishing essential behaviors, the core skills of the hunting retriever, and waterdog finishing work, as well as sidebars on such topics as breed selection and effective canine leadership, this step-by-step book is designed specifically for wing-shooters who want to transform their pup into a gentleman’s gundog.