Hill Top gundogs

Call Directions

Hill Top gundogs breeder and trainer of hard hunting gundogs that go the extra mile!

Tarka a daughter of River.Very strong bitch with a lovely shape to her 💪She's still young and it will be a steady introd...
23/08/2026

Tarka a daughter of River.
Very strong bitch with a lovely shape to her 💪
She's still young and it will be a steady introduction to the season for her.

The Glorious 12th 😃Today must have been very tough going for people and dogs who were lucky enough to be out, so warm!Th...
12/08/2026

The Glorious 12th 😃
Today must have been very tough going for people and dogs who were lucky enough to be out, so warm!
The partridge season is almost here along with the duck season.
Personally, I prefer to start shooting duck in October but that's just my own preference.
October is when we kick off with the pheasant, partridge and duck and it's going to be a very busy one.
This season is going to be very different to normal with new shoots to attend and more time shooting on the peg.

Really looking forward to the coming season and it will soon be upon us.Its going to be a very busy one and we are more ...
06/08/2026

Really looking forward to the coming season and it will soon be upon us.
Its going to be a very busy one and we are more than ready.
People to meet old and new, retrieves to make, shots to remember and shots that leave you wondering how you missed.
Working the dogs is the main thing and it's what makes my day.
I love the tired feeling after a long day on a shoot with aching legs, the days events running through your mind and the dogs settled and soundly in a deep sleep after they've given their all for you.
All the calories I burn off on a shoot day always get put back on that evening in the form of a pub visit..... its tradition!
The day rounded off with a takeaway and "Match Of The Day" which i basically watch 15 minutes of it before I'm snoring like a pig much to my wifes annoyance.

Can't bloody wait, bring it on 😃

27/07/2026

River making a lengthy memory retrieve.
The dogs have had some time off from working and training, I feel it's good to give them a break.
I like to ease the dogs in with memory retrieves before going into the blind retrieves.
Rivers ability at memory retrieves has always been decent and I had full confidence in her that she could make the retrieve after a lengthy period of downtime. To help her out I used the tree as a strong marker.
I placed out the dummy and then walked the field and back to the point where I wanted to start the retrieve.
She did the job just fine although the others got a little excited on her return! no big deal as that can be sorted, my pack don't trial and I'm no perfectionist. As long as they can do a job for me then I'm happy.

Annual straw bale pic, always makes a good pic.Willow and Piper (reds) mother and daughter, River (right) and Tarker (l...
27/07/2026

Annual straw bale pic, always makes a good pic.
Willow and Piper (reds) mother and daughter, River (right) and Tarker (left) mother and daughter.
Also a Cockapoo chucked in for good measure, Rita is my wife's dog.
Although the working life isn't for Rita she does like tagging along on our walks.

Five years ago we collected River from Slingley Gundogs. Rivers a result of the mating between Luna × Reed.She's got eve...
26/07/2026

Five years ago we collected River from Slingley Gundogs. Rivers a result of the mating between Luna × Reed.
She's got everything that's needed from a very competent picking up dog.
Intelligence, keen pleaser, drive and one hell of a nose on her.
The past five years have been a privilege and here's to many more 🖤

My Daughter has recently setup a little Pyrography business. She's always been passionate about artwork and nature, she ...
21/07/2026

My Daughter has recently setup a little Pyrography business.
She's always been passionate about artwork and nature, she really is creating some lovely pieces. It really amazes me how she can get a piece of hard or soft wood and burn these images into them.
It would be really appreciated if you could like and share her page and i know it would mean a lot to her.
Her fb page is only new but there's already some great work on there and she's brimming with lots of ideas for up and coming work.

Thanks.

A steady mooch out this evening under a pigeon flight path.A couple of pigeons added to the bag but it wasn't about the ...
21/07/2026

A steady mooch out this evening under a pigeon flight path.
A couple of pigeons added to the bag but it wasn't about the number of birds shot as I just wanted to let a few shots off and a few retrieves.
The outing was purely a purpose of seeing where the dogs are with their steadiness and seeing if I can still shoot straight.
After a fairly lengthy period off of any work albeit some dummy training you can't beat the real thing to see what needs working on.
The first bird down and young Tarker ran in! No big scene made of it but just a steady word with her.
Second bird down and she started to run in again but stopped a few yards in after a firm NO!!
No big scene made again as she knew she'd made a mistake but "we" corrected it by her stopping.
She's young and eager, mistakes will happen but I was pleased she had the willpower to stop on the second bird I shot.
As for the experienced heads of Willow, Piper and River.. I couldn't fault them. There really is no substitute for experience.

At the end of every shooting season I always recap, what went wrong "no such thing as the perfect season"But also thing...
06/02/2026

At the end of every shooting season I always recap, what went wrong "no such thing as the perfect season"
But also things that went great!

As a hobby gamekeeper it's been a season of ups and downs. We've had some good day's but also some frustrating ones.. seems to be the case up and down the country this season for many shoots.
I think we all know the pheasant shooting season needs to start a month or so later but I guess we should be happy enough to carry on with this best of pastimes.

The end of the season is also time to reflect on the dogs!
In all honesty they started off a little rusty/naughty... whatever you want to call it! The blame was mine and mine only.
We soon rectified that and then they settle down to the season ahead and worked very well, they've been a pleasure to work.

Looking forward.... Willow is now 10 yrs old and she'll be worked for another season or two.
She's no longer the bramble basher she was, she really was fantastic in cover.
If a birds in the nasty stuff she's still in willingly but she no longer does it if its not necessary,
I wouldn't expect her to flog herself at this age. she's earned her stripes and the respect from myself and others 👏

What's the retirement age for a Gundog??
I suppose that all depends on the dogs condition and the handlers judgement.
My opinion... Gundogs willingly put themselves through the mill during their working life and they
absolutely deserve the best of retirements.
Yep, work them until the signs show but I like mine to have a few years of retirement.
They aren't machines!

Try telling that to a Gundog in its twilight years on a shoot day morning whilst your getting ready... the guilt is very real 😬

Rivers daughter "Bella"She's started her working life in great form! She looks fantastic. Keep up the good work 👏 Thank ...
14/01/2026

Rivers daughter "Bella"

She's started her working life in great form! She looks fantastic.
Keep up the good work 👏

Thank you Michael for the update 🙏

Address

Barnsley

Telephone

+447512041407

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Hill Top gundogs posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category