Lights …Camera …. Action!

Apr 102017

We took advantage of yesterday’s lovely weather by organising a professional photo shoot of the dogs on Salisbury Plain.

Corinne Stokes, a local and very talented photographer, spent 2 hours clicking away, taking individual, group and action shots.

New imagery is needed to populate my website, replace the outdated photos on my truck and provide material for marketing information as I attempt to relaunch myself following the sadness of leaving Mullenscote.

The dogs were all Divas, demanding their own dressing rooms, make up artists, stylists and bowls of fresh Skinners before mincing on to the set and strutting their stuff!

Can’t wait to see the completed portfolio.

Demonstration Testimonials

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

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

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

What a fantastic informative joyful performance with beautifully trained dogs enjoyed by everyone.
Kim Swain, Warminster

You were all fantastic today!!! Meerkat!! A really eye opening demonstration that gives me hope for our daft lab-collie haha thank you!!
Andrew on Facebook

Your gundog training display at Cranborne Chase Woodfair was so entertaining and informative. Your guide to foundation work for puppies was very clear and helpful but the highlight was Daisy and Poppy's intricate 'collar and sausage-stealing trick' which was amazing.
Thank you for the one-to-one help you gave us in your busy dog training clinic afterwards, to see our dog walking willingly to heel for you has inspired us to have lessons. Thank you.
Anne Filkins, Norridge Farm, Upton Scudamore

Our neighbours have seen you twice at country fairs & have raved about your techniques. Can you help us with our dog?
Pip Davidson, Wimborne

I saw Stephen and his Gundogs at Cranborne Chase wood fair, this past weekend. I was wandering around the demonstration area, trying to get my daughter off to sleep in her pushchair, when Stephen started his presentation.
We have a 7 month old Lab/Collie at home who just about sits, but mostly chews on whatever she can find, mainly us. Hands, jumpers, hair, you name it, she is all over it!
Anyway, when I heard Stephen say that all that you need are three things, he grabbed my attention straight away. Although he had use of the entire arena, Stephen showed that you only need a relatively small area, the size of a small front garden, in which to teach your dogs the basic skills set, before opening up the area for more adventurous activities.
Stephen has a very engaging voice and his character is such that even a new dog owner is drawn to a demonstration that is as seemingly effortless as it is entertaining.
Both the dogs Stephen used were fantastic characters in their own right and certainly, during the second part of his demonstration, this was allowed to shine through in Stephen's demonstration of party tricks (MEERKAT)!!
All in all, Stephen has inspired me to try and have a go at training our little beastie at a few of the less adventurous of the activities. Maybe walking to heel, but I am not holding my breath!
After the demonstration, Stephen took the time to chat to as many festival goers as he could, with their dogs and give free advice and tips.
I highly recommend seeing Stephen, if you get the chance, as he is, without a doubt a fantastic crowd pleaser even before you add in the charm of his gorgeous dogs!!
Andrew Predeth, Oborne, Dorset.

Cranborne Chase Woodfair 2015

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