New Tricks for Old Dogs
A NEW generation of world-renowned Scottish gun dogs will start competing after the Duke of Buccleuch helped save them from the brink of extinction.
The prestigious Buccleuch Labrador bloodline has been continuous since it first began with Buccleuch Ned in 1882.
But the line was almost wiped out by the start of the Second World War, quarantine restrictions and a distemper epidemic in 1948.
Now with the help of champion field trial trainer David Lisett, the rare line has been successfully restored.
And next year the young Labradors will become the first ever generation of Buccleuch Labradors to compete at trials.
A state-of-the-art, purpose built kennels, called Chapel, will open later this year in Dumfries and Galloway to help safeguard the future of this exceptional breed.
Mr Lisett, a member of the Scottish Gun Dog Team, said he was excited at the prospect of setting-up the new centre.
He said: “The standards made possible by the Duke of Buccleuch’s Labradors to the beginnings of the breed are still the standards we maintain today.
“When I took over the challenge of reviving the breed in 2003, only one Buccleuch female remained.
“It’s been hard work but now two puppies, Oak, a dog and Opal, a bitch, are 23 months old now and almost ready to trial.
“It’s hugely exciting for everyone involved, not just me but the Buccleuch family, whose help has been invaluable and also for the Labradors themselves.”
In the 1830’s, the 5th Duke of Buccleuch was one of the first people in Britain to import dogs from Newfoundland to use as gun dogs on his Scottish estates.
A strong bloodline developed beginning with Buccleuch Ned in 1882 and Buccleuch Avon in 1885 and all Buccleuch Labradors can be traced back to those first imported dogs.
While Buccleuch Labradors were primarily working dogs and never competed, their bloodline has formed the ancestry of many champions, including the first Labrador to be placed at a retriever championship – FTCh Flapper in 1906.
Roy Green, Buccleuch Sporting Manager, says he had been anxious to help preserve the bloodline.
He said “In 1998, I became worried that we were in danger of losing this historic bloodline.
“It was not until I met David Lisett that I knew I had found the right man to continue to help train and protect this historic bloodline.”
Mr Lisett joined Buccleuch Sportings Ltd in 2003. Since then he has enjoyed multiple success in both the Irish and British Spaniel Championships.
He said the new kennel and training complex on the Queensberry Estate would hold up to 40 dogs.
He said: “I am always happy when I’m with my dogs and training them to reach their true potential is incredibly rewarding.
“Chapel will be invaluable as a centre to help these dogs reach great heights and see the dawn of a new era in excellence.”
Notes To Editor
David Lisett’s interest in training gun dogs started while he was working on his uncle’s farm as a young boy.
He began training Labradors and English Springer Spaniels in 1991 while taking part in a number of shooting syndicates.
He entered his first field trial in 1998 with immediate success culminating in winning the Top Spaniel at the Country Landowner’s Association (CLA) Game Fair in 2003 with Edwardiana Tweed.
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