Picking Up with Gundogs: The Backbone of the Shoot

When it comes to driven shooting, the spotlight often shines on the Guns and the flush of birds from the beating line. But the real work — the steady, essential recovery of shot game — often happens quietly behind the scenes. Enter the picking-up team and their gundogs.

These dogs aren’t just part of the day — they are central to its success. Trained to retrieve game efficiently, gently, and respectfully, picking-up dogs help ensure nothing is left behind, waste is avoided, and the shoot runs with professionalism and care.

What Is Picking Up?

Picking up refers to the process of retrieving shot game during and after each drive. The picking-up team usually works behind the line of Guns, observing where birds fall and using gundogs to collect them — both seen and unseen.

It’s about more than just fetching birds. Pickers-up are often the last safeguard in bird welfare and shoot standards. Their role ensures every shot bird is recovered quickly, minimizing suffering and maximizing respect for the quarry.

Qualities of a Good Picking-Up Dog

Picking-up is a job that demands a particular kind of dog — calm, patient, intelligent, and focused.

1. Steadiness:

Perhaps the most important trait. A picking-up dog must sit quietly during a drive, ignoring the noise of gunfire and the temptation to bolt after birds until given the command.

2. Memory:

These dogs need sharp recall — not just in training but mentally. They often mark several birds down in one drive and retrieve them minutes later in the right order.

3. Nose:

After a drive, there’s often a lot of scent around. A strong, discriminating nose helps dogs locate wounded birds and those hidden in thick cover.

4. Soft Mouth:

All game must be delivered in good condition. A gundog with a soft mouth ensures no unnecessary damage.

5. Obedience and Handling:

Retrieving seen birds is just the start. A good dog must also take hand signals and voice commands to hunt unseen birds or make long, blind retrieves.

Ideal Breeds for Picking Up

Several breeds excel at picking up, each bringing something special to the job.

• Labrador Retrievers: The go-to picking-up dog. Calm, focused, and easy to handle. Their soft mouths and trainability are unmatched.

• Golden Retrievers: Similar to Labs but often a little more sensitive. They work best with patient handlers.

• Flatcoated Retrievers: Stylish and capable, with excellent noses and drive.

• Spaniels: Especially useful for finding pricked or hidden birds in cover. Often used in tandem with retrievers.

Training for Picking Up

Training for picking-up starts with basic obedience and builds toward more complex tasks.

• Steadiness First: From a young age, teach your dog to sit calmly around distractions — other dogs, gunfire, moving birds.

• Marking and Memory: Practice throwing multiple dummies and retrieving them in different orders. Memory exercises are crucial.

• Handling Skills: Use whistles and hand signals to guide your dog to unseen dummies or birds. Precision is key.

• Game Handling: If you can, carefully introduce real game (under legal and ethical supervision) to accustom your dog to scent, weight, and mouth contact.

On the Day: Picking-Up Etiquette

Being a good picker-up isn’t just about dog work — it’s about working smoothly with the whole team.

• Stay Behind the Line: Don’t push forward during the drive — let the Guns shoot without distraction.

• Mark Falls Carefully: Watch for each bird and note where it lands. Communicate with fellow pickers-up to avoid duplicate effort.

• Prioritize Wounded Game: Always retrieve wounded or pricked birds first — welfare comes before numbers.

• Be Discreet: The best picking-up is calm and unobtrusive. Avoid crowding Guns or arguing over retrieves.

Why It Matters

Picking-up is as much about respect for the quarry as it is about efficiency. A good picking-up dog ensures that no bird is wasted, every retrieve is completed with care, and the shoot leaves the land and the game in the best possible condition.

Beyond that, it’s a deeply rewarding partnership. Few things compare to sending your dog on a long blind retrieve and seeing them emerge from cover, bird in mouth, tail wagging. It’s not about the applause — it’s about quiet competence and shared satisfaction.

Final Thought:

Whether you’re working your dog for the first time or you’re a seasoned picker-up, the heart of the role remains the same: respect, responsibility, and a love for the working gundog. In the quiet moments after the Guns have moved on and the dog brings back that last bird, you’ll know why you do it.