Butterfly cuddles!

Jul 182015

Cuddles after training!

Demonstration Testimonials

At today’s Warminster Carnival, gundog trainer Stephen Harrison and his dog Poppy gave a training demonstration and performed tricks to rapturous applause.

Fans of “Britain’s Got Talent” will have seen the dog “Pudsey” win the show and with it, £500,000 doing tricks like walking on his owner Ashleigh’s feet, walking on his hind legs, albeit flawlessly to music. Poppy did all this and more, including balancing a sausage on her nose until being allowed to eat it and carrying another sausage to her master, also uneaten.

Warminster Web

Warminster Carnival 2012

Hi Stephen,

The Wessex Country Fair was thrilled to welcome you and your dogs back for a second year by popular request. Both you and the dogs were a huge hit again: the audience was once again thrilled by the level of obedience and skill shown, and thanks to your unique approach of breaking down the training to show how the dogs are taught, everyone was held spell bound for the whole display. I'm sure some went home inspired to improve the obedience of their own dogs!

It was lovely to see you and your team again, and please pass on my thanks to them for giving up their day to support the hospice.

Thank you so much for all of your support, and for adding so much to the show.

Kind regards,

Rachel Turnbull

Fundraising Officer, Salisbury Hospice Charity

16 August 2015 - Wessex Country Fair

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

Stephen Harrison , who presents “One Man and his Gun Dog” display for public events is the perfect attraction. Little Poppy, the charming brown and white spaniel gundog, is really the star of the show, running, stopping, standing, waiting, retrieving all on command of his masters voice and whistle.

A definite crowd pleaser, and everyone falls in love with Poppy, and the audience also get a chance to talk to them both afterwards and learn how to control or command their own dogs. Thoroughly recommended.

Gary Nunn, Chairman of Wilton Community Carnival.

Wilton Carnival 2012

Mrs Kim Swain of Warminster wrote:

This was the first time I have seen your display and I have to say that the show was a fantastic day for both owners and dogs alike . Not only did you do your brilliant display, but you did all the judging for the dog show too.

It was amazing and, along with the other spectators, I was blown away by your performance, with the highlight being Daisy's collar act!

Kim Swain

Mrs Anne Filkins of Warminster wrote;

Dear Stephen, You were brilliant! It was tough on you to judge every class and run commentary - and THEN do your turn! You and the dogs were very well received, all the folk around me were in awe of you and your girls. Wowed and amused in all the right places. For me it was a chance to see where my piece of the jigsaw might eventually fit into the bigger picture. The show was a great success, largely thanks to you.

Anne Filkins

7 June 2015 - Sutton Veny Dog Show

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