'Hopeless' gundog competes
A dog deemed "hopeless" by a training class instructor is set to compete against some of the UK's top working gundogs.
The two-year-old English springer spaniel, named Bramble, was disobedient and lacked interest when she attended her very first training class.
Owner Tina Hayes reported that that the instructor's final words to her were "Good luck with that one – you're going to need it!".
However, just over a year later, Bramble is ready to take part in the Kennel Club Gundog Working Test, which is held on the Chatsworth House Estate in Derbyshire between May 29 and June 2.
Bramble will be competing on Saturday, June 1, against some of the best novice spaniels in the country.
"When we first started our training it wasn’t just Bramble who was hopeless, I too was way out of my depth," said Tina. "After that first training session I felt a bit lost and worried that there really was no hope for Bramble."
After some research, Tina found a Kennel Club gundog training day for novice handlers and decided to give it a try.
"The trainer on the day, Bob Aldenton, told me to think of training Bramble like learning to drive a Ferrari – something that has always stuck with me.
"Bob was wonderful and took us under his wing, working with us throughout the year to build on Bramble’s training and she is now competing at the biggest gundog competition of the year - I could not be prouder!"
Image courtesy of the Kennel Club
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
