Contender Gundogs

01/08/2026

The eyes have it! 🐾👀👀 That was the last of the health tests done for these two today - BVA eye certs: unaffected for both Contender Knox (River, on the right) and Contender’s Typhoon (Jet).

07/06/2026

When is it time? It's without shadow of doubt, the most heavy weight on any dog owner's shoulders. What we see and remember, is that strong, young dog like in the picture below, we remember the puppy that - perhaps - was a bit naughty, we remember that one retrieve and of course the one that was 'perfect' until THAT slip up 🙈

I once sat waiting at the vets and some people walked out with an old English Pointer and my only thought was: 'They should not have walked out with that dog, it's not a happy dog, it's in pain' and I promised myself to never do this to any of my dogs, to let a dog go when it had given everything to me and was not well anymore in its body.

They can't tell us when that is and yet they can or rather show us - sometimes a dog 'looks at you', the look says: 'I don't quite understand, I'm in pain do something to sort this out', sometimes (or often) it'll also struggle, might not really want to go on walks. Then its body starts to change before your very eyes, the backend that was ever so strong and made him/her fly over walls and fences, well, it's just gone. Look closely at the breathing, looks quite similar to that time when he/she took a tumble and was in pain...... It is time. You must let go. You must step up. It's your weight to carry, not theirs.

28/02/2026

From a couple of weeks ago one of the rare dry days! From the back: Boots (Contender Cober), Jet (Contender’S Typhoon) and River (Contender Knox). For those who like to check out pedigrees, they're below - Jet is by Rowpainter Othello and is 10 months old, River is by Jarailstar Hogen of Stauntonvale and is close to 2 years old.

11/01/2026

A young Scapa 10 years ago and then one from last grouse season 🥰

18/11/2025

It's nearly that time of the year again!

iii. Any dog which has obtained either 1 x A qualification (by winning a two day Open Stake) or 3 x B qualifications (by coming 2nd in a two day Open Stake or 1st in a one day Open Stake) during the qualifying period.

07/09/2025

Jet looking very grown up 😱

14/06/2025

Microchipping done ✔️ Don’t think they’re especially traumatised after this 😂

24/05/2025

Good luck to all the teams! Thank you to Team Scotland for kindly sharing this :)

25/04/2025

Well and truly in pup! 🐾🐾🐾 About one more week to go 🥰