She Leads the Field – Emily | Cottershot Working Labradors
Finding confidence, one Labrador at a time
Emily’s journey into field sports wasn’t planned, polished, or predictable – and that’s exactly why it resonates with so many women watching from the side lines, wondering if they belong.
Growing up, Emily had exposure to hunting and countryside life, but gundogs weren’t part of the picture. That changed when she met her partner Paul, a gamekeeper, and slowly began stepping into the field herself. What started tentatively soon became something far bigger. Today, Emily spends around 120 days a year picking up, breeds Labradors, and runs Cottershot Working Labradors, but confidence didn’t come first.
In her early days, Emily openly admits she struggled. The idea of turning up somewhere unfamiliar, especially without people she knew, was overwhelming. “I’d rather not go,” she recalls. But over time, the dogs changed that. Her first Labrador, Myla, taught her everything – not just about training, but about trusting herself. That foundation shaped the way Emily works today and laid the groundwork for the line she now breeds from.
Emily works almost exclusively with Labradors, particularly red Labradors – a choice that started out aesthetic but quickly became deeply practical. “I always said I’d never have a Spaniel,” she laughs. What she loves about Labradors is their versatility: dogs that can beat in the morning, pick up in the afternoon, and sit quietly by a pond in the evening. That adaptability mirrors her own approach.
Her training philosophy is simple and refreshingly honest: go with the flow. Emily doesn’t subscribe to rigid systems or perfect straight lines. Dogs are individuals, and training evolves as they do. Problems are fixed as they arise, not hidden behind filters or forced routines. It’s an approach that’s earned her respect – and a loyal following – precisely because it’s real.
Working in a traditionally male-dominated space hasn’t been Emily’s biggest challenge. Confidence has. Early on, she questioned whether she was good enough, whether she belonged. Over time, experience replaced doubt. “Now I’ll go anywhere,” she says. And that confidence wasn’t built overnight, it was earned, day by day, dog by dog.
Emily is candid about misconceptions in gundog work, particularly around Labradors. Many assume they’re born half-trained. While some may be forgiving, others need experienced handling and without it, dogs can be ruined. Social media, she says, doesn’t always help. The polished highlights rarely show the bad days, the setbacks, or the long road behind a good dog.
It’s this honesty that makes Emily such a powerful ambassador for women in field sports. She wants others to see that you don’t need the perfect background, endless confidence, or a flawless kennel. You just need to start. “You can only have a go,” she says. “You learn from your mistakes, every single day.”
Partnering with Nordic Field & Sport felt natural to Emily because the kit works as hard as she does. Waterproofs that are actually waterproof. Clothing that performs in the field but doesn’t feel out of place anywhere else. Practical, reliable, no fuss much like her approach to dogs.
Looking ahead, Emily’s focus is on enjoying the journey. Continuing to work her homebred dogs, staying grounded, and giving people a reason to follow along not through perfection, but through progress.
Quick-fire
- Must-have kit: Waterproofs, always more than one coat
- Post-field drink: Fizzy drinks (and a Monster every morning)
- One word in the field: Chaotic