It’s easy when you know how ……

Apr 142017

Everyone’s good at something. I’m useless at DIY. But I’ll always have a go. The results are usually utter rubbish – just take a look at some of the shelves in our house!
So, today it’s time to make some more placeboards for dog training. I have 4 but find myself needing more to lend to clients. The aim will be to have them looking vaguely similar to the photo above.
So, the cordless drill is charged, screw pack is open, odd items of wood are ready, 6mm ply is waiting to be sawed, artificial grass strips are trembling in anticipation. Now all we need is the final ingredient: me and my unique skills as a craftsman.
Salisbury District Hospital is on standby.

Demonstration Testimonials

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

David Coley, organiser of the Shrewton Show, wrote:

It was another great display - and new material as well! It does not surprise me there was such good feed back."

Kayley Cowd wrote:

Brilliant! I just wanted to say how much we enjoyed your display. I can honestly say that it was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. We've seen quite a few dog displays, but never one like this. How do you get dogs to behave like that?

26 July 2014 - Shrewton Show

Over the years we have seen many dog training demonstrations but this was one of the best. Stephen’s style was so engaging and even though we are unlikely to ever go shooting we were inspired to get the clicker back out!
It was fun as well as instructive, if only we had a fraction of his skill, how happy would our cockapoo be!
Look forward to seeing him and his dogs again.

Sally Watson

Dear Stephen,
Thank you, you were amazing! Very many people have said how much they enjoyed your display. Comments included things like "great display", "so engaging", "he was just brilliant", "great to watch", "amazing dogs" and one of my friends (who is an animal behaviourist & dog trainer who works at Kingston Maurward College) said "that guy really knows what he's doing, it's excellent to watch" - she was definitely very impressed.
Thank you hugely again Stephen - as far as we and many others are concerned you were definitely the star of the arena events!

Linda Nunn, Director Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB

6 October 2013 - Cranborne Chase Woodfair

Steve put on a very entertaining and informative display recently at the Ellingham & Ringwood Show. All aspects of dog training were demonstrated, from the very first actions with your brand new puppy to the high levels of training expected of more experienced dogs that are ready to go into the shooting field. Added to these elements were some of Steve's special tricks showing that dog training can be fun. The crowd around us certainly enjoyed watching the display as much as we did; there was something for every person at the show ground to enjoy.

If you are ever able to watch one of Steve's displays we would highly recommend you do so; it's guaranteed that you will enjoy it and there are always plenty of tips and advice to take home with you. It will certainly be different to any other display you are ever likely to see.

Matt & Martine Blake.

8 August 2015 - Ellingham & Ringwood Show

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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