Feeling Flushed

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Sep 132013

Took the dogs up to Codford Circle today, a Stone Age arrangement of stones on top of the hill. Just so happened(!) that our route took us past Punchbowl wood in which there is a pheasant release pen. Was hoping to find a few recently released birds in the hedge line and I wasn’t disappointed. Daisy had her first flush of a cock bird: I’m not sure who got the biggest shock, Daisy or the pheasant!
Main thing is that Daisy froze and just watched the complaining bird clatter away. Next step: getting her to sit to flush, but we won’t start work on this until December / January. In the meantime, we’re starting to work on sitting to shot and encouraging straight retrieving lines.
It’s good to be concentrating more on gundog skills than preparing for demonstrations. Feeling quite flushed!

Demonstration Testimonials

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

Dear Stephen,

I was extremely happy and impressed at how everything went off. Our correspondence before the event was very plain and straight forward, which, from an organiser's point of view, was most helpful.

On the day your demonstration was extremely informative and presented in an interesting and friendly fashion. Everyone enjoyed the first Dog’s basic training display and how you built on each stage as time went on, for a young dog it certainly showed what could be achieved by kindness and expert knowledge. The little Dog has a bright future ahead!

Poppy, the star of the show, was quite brilliant, not only in all her Gundog training but also the very entertaining tricks etc. she performed on the day. It was a great display and demonstration.

Provisionally, I would like to book you for next year, it is always the last Saturday in July, I will confirm everything after our next committee meeting later in the month.

Well done for a great display and once again many thanks.

Best wishes,

David Coley, Show Organiser

Shrewton Summer Show

At the end of our demonstration yesterday in one of the largest arenas and in front of one of the biggest crowds we have ever seen (17,000), I was stopped by many people including by Lisa Tonks, a professional dog trainer based in Ringwood who runs "Paws4Reward". Lisa was kind enough to write to me after the show:

"How refreshing to watch a Gun Dog demonstration using reward based training, a clicker and treats. This showed how gun dogs can really enjoy not only working, they are also capable and enjoy preforming fun tricks.

It was obvious to all that Stephen loves working with his dogs and his dogs relish working with him.

The demonstration was full of great training tips and advise, for all dog owners and not just for Gun Dogs.

I hope many of my clients were watching. I certainly learnt new things today.

Lisa Tonks
Dog Trainer, Ringwood
lisa@paws4reward.co.uk
http://lisatonks.vpweb.co.uk/default.html
07967 640533

APDT 001152

I was also approached by Mr & Mrs Conlan. Mr Conlan, an ex VC10 pilot in the RAF, said that he had not wanted to come to the show but had been persuaded to do so by his wife. He said he had seen "hundreds" of Gundog demonstrations in the past and had said to his wife "Here we go again!" when it was our turn. But he said he was so pleased he had been persuaded to come along as this was the best and most entertaining show he had ever seen. He promised to write a testimonial and, true to his word, I received this email the next morning:

Dear Mr Harrison,

The high point of the Ellingham Show yesterday for both my wife and me was your demonstration. It was a delight to see the rapport you have with your dogs and their obvious enjoyment of the whole display. I suspect many of the attending dog owners watched with envy.

We look forward very much to seeing you and your team at future events.

Thank you once again.

Tom Conlon

And then, out of the blue, I received this from Christine Pomroy in Bransgore:

"At the Ellingham Show we were delighted to watch your gundog display. Your two dogs, Poppy and Daisy, were a credit to your training regime and entertained the audience with their routines and tricks. It was the best dog display that we have ever seen!"

9 August 2014 - Ellingham & Ringwood Show

The best gundog demonstration I have ever seen!

Jane Hawcroft

29 September 2013 - Wessex Heavy Horse Championships

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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