The UK's SheepDog Resource
Sheepdog Trainers
All our Trainers are experienced in training the Handler.
This is the key to our courses.
Having your dog trained for you is fine if you already know how to handle a dog but if you do not then you could easily undo all the hard work that you have paid a dog trainer. Not to mention the waste of money.
All our Trainers recommend training the dog yourself. They are all quiet people and dogs respond to them in an almost uncanny manner. They read sheep and dogs in equal quantity.
This is part of the ‘bonding’ process.
You will see that our Trainers have a wide geographical coverage so that you do not have over far to travel to attend your course.
Here's a list of our experienced Sheepdog Trainers:-
Richard Alvis, Batheaston, Bath, Somerset.
Handlers and dogs from South Glos, Wilts and North Somerset meet at Richards Farm.
Richard reckons that he was never a sheep farmer, always milked cows. Says that the nearest to a shepherd in his family was Uncle George who looked after sheep on the Island of Sark. Richard lives on the farm where he was brought up and developed his interest in training dogs and handlers after many years of having to chase sheep around for his father!
Rob Hawke, Bishopstone near Salisbury
Contract Shepherd, and Trials enthusiast
Rob has his own flock at Bishopstone but also travels, in his role as Shepherd to several flocks in Dorset and Wilts. supported by his wife Anna and son Alfie who look after the home flock. Rob breeds about one litter a year and there is always a waiting list.
Jed Watson, Minehead, West Somerset.
Huntsman and Sheepdog Triallist. Jed combines his love of horses and dogs at the Kennels near Minehead, west Somerset where he is Master of the West Somerset Foxhounds. Highly respected Triallist in the south west, he is also Vice Chair of the Cornwall Sheepdog Society.
He keeps a large team of dogs and has a strong breeding programme.
Jed recently gained recognition at the English National Sheepdog Trials by becoming a member of the England Team, qualifying with two dogs - Rock and Rob. Rock won further honours by also gaining the National 'Driving' Championship. Currently Jed has left us for the Brecon Farmers Hunt from where he will, no doubt, be givng the Welsh sheepdog handlers a 'run for their money'.
Vic Pitts, South Devon near Exeter
Vic operates from his home in South Devon near Exeter. He has many strands to his bow. Besides being Flockmaster to some 1200 ewes, he and his son run a sheep shower business, raise organic chicken, and a multitude of other services for farmers in their area. Vic has been involved with helping train handlers for many years and in that time probably 150 people have visited his yard tucked away at Exminster.
John Whiteley, Somerset.
Another ex-cowman and showman (retired)
John and his wife Alex with whom he shared the Agricultural Show stage for many years came to live in south Somerset from Yorkshire about 4 years ago. Until recently he was involved in presenting corporate training for many of the large companies in the UK who needed to practise their ‘staff bonding’ techniques. His dogs have been show biz stars! He plans to do more Trialling with Clubs in Somerset and in his home county of Yorkshire.
Bill Muggeridge, Callington, Cornwall.
Retired horseman and shepherd.
Bill hails from Stoke Climsland, near Callington, Cornwall and is another long standing member of the Team.
We dragged Bill out of retirement some years ago and gave him a new lease on life!
At the moment he works exclusively in Cornwall where there is still Govt. Funding available through Duchy College. We say that we have loaned him out to the college.
Del Baker, Gwent / Forest of Dean
Small holder and sheepdog trainer.
Del is a Valleys boy who fell in love with sheep dog training as a boy and although he has to keep ‘the day job’ he runs about 6 – 7 dogs, trails them to Nursery level and almost always has dogs for sale. A Del Baker trained dog is utterly reliable and Del will not sell to anyone who does not meet his standard as a handler.
He is very well respected in the Gwent/ forest of Dean area.
Andrew Hendy, South Hams, Devon.
Farmer and Sheepdog Triallist
Andrew farms in the South Hams area of Devon and his stock contribute to a successful farm fresh meat company, run in conjunction with another local producer.
He has competed in National sheepdog trails, running the brace being a speciality.
Annette Turner, North Cornwall.
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Farmer and Shepherd.
Annette has successfully trained the family’s working sheepdogs for many years as did her father before her when the Agricultural Training Board was in existence. She lives and farms in North Cornwall where she is close enough to the county border for people from North Devon to reach for classes.
Stud Dogs and Puppies
Most of our Trainers have Dogs at stud and, from time to time, puppies available for purchase.