An Episode from Grey’s K9 Anatomy?

Jan 152017

Daisy recovers from her foot injury and then ……..

Now it’s Poppy’s turn. A deep rip into her stomach cavity caused by jumping through a barbed wire fence during a day’s shooting. A trip to the emergency out of hours vet on Saturday evening (£ hundreds just to have an appointment before any treatment!), back to the vet tomorrow for more surgery and then off games for a long time.

To round off a really crappy month, Daisy then goes lame in her right leg on the same afternoon, so soon after her last injury.

We’ve been so unlucky this season. More injuries than in an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. If it wasn’t so painful (and expensive), it’d be funny. Perhaps we should take up tiddly winks instead. 😟

Demonstration Testimonials

Dear Stephen

Many thanks for coming to our Fete: the feed back has been marvellous, you were just wonderful!

My husband said that you were the Star of the Show. You inspired the Secretary's Grandchildren to do their own Dog show in the arena!

Many thanks for coming.

Best wishes from Debby

Debby Underhill - Fete Organiser

Dear Stephen,
I should like to congratulate you on the show that you put on. It was both very entertaining and educational. Perhaps I should praise your dogs more so given the faultless performances they gave. They really are a credit to you and your training methods.
I'm very grateful for the fact that after the show you devoted so much time to patiently answering my questions on training. In particular your demonstration on dealing with lead pulling which already is having very positive results.
I look forward to seeing your demonstration again and have made a note of the Wessex Country Fair in my diary.
Regards, Steve Whitfield

Nunton Fete - 9 July 2016

Bryn Parry OBE, co-founder and CEO OF Help for Heroes, wrote:

It was good to meet you this afternoon and to see your superb dog demonstration and to get advice on wayward spaniels! Good to meet you and I look forward to meeting again.

Best wishes

Bryn

Samantha Male, the Regional Coordinator at Help for Heroes, wrote:

Thank you so much for attending our first ever Band of Brothers and Band of Sisters summer fete. Your gun dog show was fantastic, and I am so glad that you could be a part of the day.

Ali Richmond, a Manager at Help for Heroes, wrote:

Thank you so much for coming along to the Fete at Tedworth House. The dog display was fantastic and we have had some great feedback. I have got a large hairy golden doodle that could do with some of your magic touch!

Help for Heroes

Warminster Journal

Friday 13 Sep 2013

"Highlight of the day was Stephen Harrison's demonstration of dog training methods, gundog skills and tricks - with the help of Springer Spaniel Poppy and Labrador puppy Daisy.

He showed basic dog training techniques and also how gundogs hunt and retrieve.

The most popular part of the 30 minute show was a fun display of tricks by Poppy worthy of Britain's Got Talent's Pudsey. She balanced a sausage on her nose, danced, walked backwards, walked on Stephen's toes, did meerkat impressions, saluted and won everyone's heart".

Warminster Carnival 2013

The best gundog demonstration I have ever seen!

Jane Hawcroft

29 September 2013 - Wessex Heavy Horse Championships

I was lucky enough to watch One Man and his Gundogs at The Wessex Country Fair recently and even luckier to chat with him after the demonstration. On mentioning writing a review of his demonstration, Stephen, tongue in cheek, informed me of the correct spellings for some adjectives I might need for the review-

Stephen told me “there are two p’s in appalling and two b’s in rubbish”!

Of course these are two adjectives I would never have need of using when reviewing one of Stephen’s demonstrations, however, it highlights his wonderful humility and sense of humour which shines through fantastically when you watch him.

Stephen starts with some classic dog training but makes it accessible for anyone. He follows with a brilliant display of his Gundog’s skills which is a joy to watch. You leave feeling you can achieve great things with your dog too, which is wonderfully empowering and an amazing achievement from one man in a demonstration with his dogs.

Then there’s the fun and tricks which always gets the audience going! Stephen does “voices” for the dogs and a brilliant array of tricks which particularly appeals to children but entertains the adults brilliantly as well. The trick at the end with Daisy “fooling” Stephen is genius and brings laughter all round!

It is the very fact that Stephen doesn’t take himself too seriously that is part of the charm of the show. If it’s hot and his dogs don’t perform perfectly, that’s fine. I love that. There’s no pressure and therefore it ends up being a lot of fun to watch.

You cannot help but smile and feel good when you watch One Man and his Gundogs. In this world of increasing connectivity, competition and complications, the fact that a man in a field with his beloved dogs can achieve this and enrapture and lift his audience is nothing short of astounding.

Thank you and the dogs so much for a wonderful show Stephen.

Lorraine Taylor

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