Welcome to One Man and His Gundogs

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Oct 022013
 

GUNDOG DEMONSTRATIONS

An entertaining & educational demonstration of dog training methods, gundog skills and a wonderful array of tricks – a real crowd pleaser at any event!  Stephen & his team have appeared all over the country from Cornwall to Yorkshire including at the New Forest Show, Buckham Fair, Frome Show, Salisbury Jubilee, Wessex Country Fair and Ellingham Show as well as at many village fetes.

“You and your dogs, their love for you and their pride in doing what they love doing was amazing to behold! Simply astonishing. What you can do with your dogs will stay with me for ever! You are my inspiration – honestly the best dog show I have ever seen!” Claudia Vigo

TRAINING

“Stephen’s encouragement, enthusiasm and gentle training techniques, coupled with structured training methods, have enabled us to reach a standard I thought unattainable on lesson one! His firm but fair approach has given me a new found confidence and Moose is a much happier, more focused young dog. The future looks much rosier for owner and dog! THANK YOU Stephen.” Angela Knight

Read more about Stephen here

Video of one of our Demonstrations

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Sep 282018
 

Here’s a video summary of the first demo we staged this year. It was a charity event held at a private house on the same day as THE Royal Wedding when most of the population was glued to the box! I went on my own and took only half the team of dogs we normally take.

I knew my good friend Ernie McKenna was videoing the event, but I had no idea he would spend weeks editing the 40 minute show into this brief snapshot.

Like many people watching themselves on video, I cringed when I watched it. But it does give a flavour of what we do, with the emphasis much more on education and entertainment than showing off robotic gundogs doing things that may be beyond the average pet dog owner.

Anyway, cringeworthy or not, here it is – just me and 3 dogs having fun!

End of an Era

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Sep 112018
 

The Frome Show on Saturday saw us put on our last appearances not only of 2018 but also for the foreseeable future. We put on 2 of our best performances, perhaps because there was that end of term atmosphere. The feedback from this show has been unparalleled.

Kim Swain, who has been my training partner and who has appeared alongside me in dozens of shows, has decided to call it a day. This, coupled with the fact that Poppy will be 11 next year and showed signs this year of struggling with some of the tricks we do, means that it is probably time for me to step back from shows too.

We’ve had a fantastic time: Poppy and I have done 105 shows together; and Andrea, Kim, Alan and Max have been there every step of the way. The real stars have been Poppy, Daisy, Tilly, Bee, Snip and Dot – they know the routine now better than I do! I owe them all a huge debt of thanks.

What next? Who knows. Let’s get the shooting season out of the way before we decide on where we go next. Maybe it’ll be a case of Aga, pipe & slippers. But maybe not!

Men Behaving Badly at Buckham Fair on 19 August

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Aug 132018
 

Here we go again – always our favourite show of the year, Buckham Fair near Beaminster, Dorset, takes place this year on 19 August.

Martin Clunes’ annual fair is in its 10th year and he’s expecting over 20,000 people at this wonderfully relaxed and friendly show with the biggest array of dogs’ and horses’ events – all done for charity. The schedule in the multiple arenas is mind-blowing, from every shape and size of horse, to fun dog competitions – even a world record attempt at the most number of dogs to sit to a single command! I think there are 11 rings for the horse and fun dog events alone, many judged by Martin Clunes himself together with his badly-behaving partner, Neil Morrissey. 

Just take a look at the map to see how amazing this event is:

We’ll be located in the Dog Village (bottom of the map) and we’re performing in the main display ring at 2.15, right after the sheepdog and duck display (more tempting titbits for the dogs!) with our new routine. 

Parking is free, entrance is only £8 and children under 16 go free. It really is one of the best family-oriented and fun Country Fairs of the year and a must for all horse and dog lovers. Check out the website for more details: https://www.buckhamfair.co.uk

Please come along and see my dogs behaving badly! 

Wessex Country Fair – Sunday 5 August

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Aug 032018
 

Sunday sees us performing at our 6th consecutive Wessex Country Fair at Wilton House. Gates open at 10 and we’re in the main arena at 1pm.

The organisers were good enough to call me this morning to ask my advice on whether the numerous dog events should be cancelled due to the heat. With paddling pools, hoses and spray areas strategically placed everywhere, combined with great areas of shade provided by the magnificent trees adjacent to the show ground, we felt it would be OK to continue – on the understanding that the plug would be pulled at the first signs of any distress. In addition, the car parks will be patrolled constantly looking for any dogs that are left in cars – I guarantee it’ll happen!

Anyway, there are loads of displays and have-a-go attractions for dog owners as well as many other displays and stalls. I’ll be judging the numerous classes in the fun dog show after our display.

It’s always well attended, not least because all proceeds go to the Salisbury Hospice Charity. So please help swell the coffers and come along on Sunday!

 

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