When I decided to welcome a Labrador into my life as my trusty airgun sidekick, I had visions of a classic gundog—one who would stand sentinel, mark, and retrieve with the grace of a seasoned professional. I certainly wasn’t expecting a furry dynamo with a predilection for chasing anything that dares to move swiftly. But if you believe the old chestnut that a dog often mirrors its owner, then Alfie, my lab, is a perfect match.
Alfie has taken to the air rifle like a duck to water. Mind you, the urge to bolt after anything that moves is still there, but at seven years old, his obedience is now on point. Off-lead, without a gun in sight, he’s like a greyhound at the races, chasing anything with a pulse. But stick him by my side with the scent of gun oil wafting through the air, and suddenly he’s the model gundog. He works a few yards ahead, ears swivelling, eyes darting, on the lookout for quarry. He has a cracking nose and an enthusiasm for diving into cover to flush out the bunnies. A mere whisper will drop him like a stone, letting me take my shot—and if I so much as raise the rifle to my shoulder, he stops and sits, anticipating the action.
Anyone else out there have a trusty dog by their side for hunting?
