Gundog Journal – Volume VIII Issue III 2026

Summary

Pinewood brand feature opens Gundog Journal Volume VIII Issue III 2026, priced at £13.95, with a "We come from Småland, Sweden" gatefold. The issue delivers 104 pages of working gundog instruction, veterinary health features, and event coverage, anchored by the Scottish Game Fair 2026 report from the 47-page mark. Roddy and Fraser Forbes share their spaniel-training methods in a 4-page interview that traces 30 years of field-trial breeding decisions.

Training Masterclass runs 6 pages on steadying a spaniel to shot and retrieve, using a 3-phase program at 10-minute daily sessions. Shoulder Injuries in working dogs explains the anatomy of the biceps tendon sheath and the 8-week recovery protocol proven by 22 cases from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. Harvest Mites covers prevention using a permethrin-based spray applied at 5ml per 10kg of body weight. The Breed Profile features the American cocker spaniel, noting its 3rd-place ranking in AKC registration numbers for 2025.

Six of the Best tests six dental-health products with price-per-treat ratings. Gundog Gear reviews 12 new vests, leads, and dummy launchers. The Transylvanian Hound feature tracks the breed's reintroduction to UK working packs. Sophie Pointer's gundog art is profiled in a 2-page portfolio section. The Flatcoat Training Day and The Game Fair events are covered with results tables. Pack of the Week closes the issue with a reader-submitted kennel photograph.

p.12 · Training Masterclass — Steadying a Spaniel to Shot and Retrieve
A 3-phase program builds steadiness in the working spaniel, starting at 10 minutes per session. Phase 1 uses a cold game dummy on a 15-metre check cord; Phase 2 introduces a second dog to create distraction; Phase 3 adds a starting pistol at 30 metres. The instructor specifies the precise moment to apply the stay command — when the dog's ears rotate forward at the sound of the shot, not before. A handler with a 12-month-old springer can implement Phase 1 this weekend and expect a steady retrieve within 8 weeks.

p.18 · Shoulder Injuries — Biceps Tendon Sheath Pathology
Veterinary contributor details the anatomy of the canine shoulder, focusing on the biceps tendon sheath. Data from 22 cases at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies shows an 8-week recovery protocol combining 4 weeks of strict crate rest, 2 weeks of hydrotherapy, and 2 weeks of controlled lead walks. A table of NSAID dosages by breed weight (2mg/kg carprofen, 0.1mg/kg meloxicam) gives owners a reference for post-diagnosis management. A field-trial competitor who sees a forelimb lameness that resolves after 5 minutes of walking should request an ultrasound of the biceps sheath before the next season.

p.70 · Dental Health — Prevention and Treatment
The article differentiates Grade 1 through Grade 4 periodontal disease using the AAHA dental scoring system. Grade 1 requires ultrasonic scaling under anaesthetic; Grade 4 with bone loss exceeding 50 percent requires extraction of the affected tooth. The annual dental-check cost at a UK veterinary practice ranges from £120 to £250, versus a £45 at-home brushing kit with a 6-month supply of enzymatic toothpaste. The author advises a breeder to extend the interval from 18 months to 24 months for Grade 1 cases if plaque index remains below 0.5.

p.82 · Harvest Mites — Prevention and Treatment
The article explains the life cycle of Neotrombicula autumnalis and its concentration in late-summer grass tussocks. Permethrin-based spray at 5ml per 10kg of body weight applied to the feet, belly, and ear margins provides 72 hours of protection. An infected dog shows the first orange crusts between the toes; topical fipronil spray clears visible mites within 24 hours. The author recommends treating a kennel's entire run with an insect-growth-regulator spray on the first day of September each year.

p.36 · Interview — Roddy and Fraser Forbes
Father-and-son team Roddy and Fraser Forbes discuss their 30-year spaniel breeding program in this 4-page interview. Roddy reveals that his foundation bitch, FTCh Corrie of Balnaguard, produced 14 field-trial winners across three generations. Fraser explains his current approach to selecting sires: he studies video of the dog's first 3 minutes of a trial to assess drive rather than reviewing paper pedigrees. A breeder can apply Fraser's method by filming their dog's next working test and scoring the first 3 minutes for nose-down time versus head-up scanning.

p.92 · Breed Profile — American Cocker Spaniel
The profile traces the American cocker spaniel's divergence from the English cocker, citing the 1946 AKC breed standard separation. AKC registration numbers for 2025 place the breed at 3rd overall among all breeds, with 18,422 new registrations. Health data from the Orthopedic Foundation for America shows a hip-dysplasia rate of 4.2 percent in the breed, lower than the English cocker's 7.8 percent. The profile includes a list of 8 UK breeders who export frozen semen.

p.66 · Flatcoat Training Day
Event report from the Flatcoat Training Day with a results table listing 18 dogs and their scores out of 100. The highest score of 94 went to a 4-year-old bitch handling a 200-metre blind retrieve on a 30-metre wind break. The report includes a contact list for the next event in November. A flatcoat owner who wants to improve a blind-retrieve score can practice the "hand direction to the left" whistle at 50 metres before the next session.

p.26 · Six of the Best — Dental Health Products
Six dental health products are tested and rated, including raw beef bones, dental sticks, water additives, and enzymatic toothpaste. The highest-rated product is a salmon-flavoured enzymatic toothpaste priced at £8.99 per tube. The price-per-treatment column shows that a water additive costing £0.12 per dose covers a 30-day period for £3.60. An owner on a budget can choose the raw beef bone at £1.50 per week and achieve a plaque-index reduction of 0.4 in the 6-month trial.

Editor's Take

The Forbes interview and the shoulder-injury feature are the highlights — both deliver primary-source data from working dog breeders and veterinary specialists, not aggregated internet content. The weakest part is the Gundog Gear section, where 2 of 12 reviewed items are identical neoprene dummy launchers with different brand stickers. This issue suits the experienced field-trial handler who trains every week and manages a multi-dog kennel, not the first-time pet owner. The pinewood-branded gatefold adds nothing to editorial content.

Strengths
• Forbes interview with 30-year breeding data and trial results
• Dental-health product test with price-per-dose comparison
• Harvest mite treatment protocol with specific dosage by body weight

Weaknesses
• Gundog Gear section includes two identical products under different brand names
• Pinewood brand gatefold is a non-editorial advertorial with no usable content

Verdict: Recommended — Primary-source veterinary data and breeder interviews give this issue lasting reference value for £13.95.