Shooting Gazette

Demonstration Testimonials

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

Stephen and Poppy’s act was delightful – highly entertaining as well as educational, a Diamond performance for our Jubilee celebrations. Poppy was a real treat and the crowd loved her!

Polly Mason, Salisbury City Council

Salisbury City's Diamond Jubilee Fun Day

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

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

Hi Stephen,

I have witnessed dozens of gundog demonstrations in the 40 years I have been involved with Gundog displays. But yours was the most entertaining and informative display of man and dog working together that I have ever seen! Just brilliant!

It was clear that the dogs were clearly enjoying what they were doing (not always the case in some demonstrations) and you were informative on what you were asking the dogs to do and informing the public of this. I thought the range of tricks your dogs performed was stunning!

Best wishes

Brian Willis, Secretary, West of England Heavy Horse Championship

Wessex Heavy Horse Show