Clients
Our clients work hard every day to achieve success with their dogs. Read their stories here
Bec
My gundog journey started in 2018 with my first working labrador Ted, and I soon fell in love with training him and picking up together on local shoots. We welcomed another labrador Bodhi to the family in 2020 and he couldn’t have been more different; a big challenge but he’s also taught me so much. In 2023 we entered our first working tests, and we continue to enjoy picking up on shoots in Gloucestershire. It is fair to say that training and working with my dogs has become my absolute passion, and also inspired a change of career, as a Clinical Canine Massage Practitioner.
I was thrilled to discover Carla and Severncrest Gundogs in Summer 2024, and now regularly enjoy the weekly group sessions, as well as standalone workshops and 1-2-1s. This brings structure and focus to our training, and allows us to work through any training issues with consideration,compassion, and individuality. It’s great preparation for working tests, and for the picking up season. But mostly, it’s a lot of fun!
I love being a part of the friendly and supportive training environment that Carla has created, alongside the community and friendships that come with being a part of the Severncrest Gundogs family. There really is nothing better than spending time with, and learning from, others who share your passion!
Bev
Harry and I started attending Severncrest Gundogs socialisation classes in December 2023. Early 2024 we had a month of 121 lessons with Carla in various locations to combat some of the teenage issues I was experiencing with Harry. It worked wonders, we now attend the weekly training classes and various workshops that are run, we even competed in working tests in the Summer. Carla has become a great friend as well as our trainer.
The group lessons and workshops are so welcoming, everyone is friendly, supportive and non judgemental. It’s a great environment to train in
We have just started attending shoots just to watch and learn, exposing Harry to this environment in a safe and controlled way. I would like to take part in more working tests and with Carla’s fantastic training and support have a well rounded gundog in the future
I have also recently taken on the role of working test secretary for the United Retriever Club, Border Counties and Cotswolds which I am very excited about. It’s a great opportunity to learn and meet new people within the sport.
Kymmie
Hi my name is Kymmie and I’m thrilled to be a Severncrest ambassador!
I found Carla back in March when my youngest lab Ida was just 5 months old. I started to attend the Severncrest socialisation sessions with Ida and my then 1yr old black lab Orca, I was so nervous turning up with two young dogs but the whole experience was so relaxed and friendly nothing like I’d experienced before!
Carla is inspiring and so knowledgeable and we soon signed up for the gundog foundation lessons on a Saturday morning! I quickly learned that Orca my black lab was not very driven and much preferred to play more of a supporting role as the Severncrest community mascot she comes along to all the training days and sessions and it is a fantastic opportunity for her to learn steadiness and good manners as a pet dog, she absolutely loves it and everyone she meets! Baby Ida on the another hand has the drive of a steam train and is a very ‘hot’ dog who absolutely loves to work! Carla has really helped me teach Ida the basics and given me all the tools I need to harness her drive and focus her energy!
The thing I love most about Severncrest is the community, Carla is without doubt the best ‘Captain’ and has created a group of likeminded friends who want the best out of their dogs with absolutely no judgement and a fair, safe and kind training style. I have made friendships that I know will last a lifetime and for that I will be eternally grateful.
Carla’s training sessions and workshops provide a safe environment for our dogs, she makes the time to listen to any concerns and provides invaluable advice and training techniques to work through the different stages of training a gundog. Ida is now almost 13 months and doing so well, she has won two Certificates of Merit at Severncrest workshops and the future is looking very bright! In the Spring we plan to enter into some Working Tests and she has also experienced her first shoot day. The end goal for me is to enjoy time with my dogs and giving them the best life possible and who knows what the future will hold for us but one thing is for sure, I know the Sevencreast gang will be with me every step of the way!
Natalie
I decided to get my first working Lab four years ago, I’d been shooting for a few years and decided I’d love to have my own dog on peg and in the hide with me. I heard of Figs litter when I was working in North Yorkshire, fast forward to the October and I drove back to Yorkshire to collect him. There our journey started… I’ve spent a long time working with Fig and his quirks. In 2023 I decided to expand my pack and when Figs sister was confirmed in pup then had only one black boy (what I’d always wanted) I decided to go for it and Hen joined Fig and I.
I met Carla on a cold game training day and was following her journey with Hudson and Harris. When she started her socialising sessions I signed up immediately. Hen was old enough to start going along and it benefited Fig no end dealing with different people and socialising in a calm and sensible manner.
It’s been one hell of a journey and I’ve realised I can achieve so much more with Fig, I plan on running him in some NDNH tests in the future and hopefully once Hen starts to mature a little more I will also run him. My aim is to have a nice steady pair of dogs that fit in with all of my endeavours be it a day on peg, picking up, a day in the hide or a day with my family and nieces and nephews.
I’ve found lifelong friendships through Severncrest and my confidence is slowly growing with my dogs and realising our dreams can be reality through hard work and consistency and the right support behind us!
Olly
I got my Red Labrador Retriever, Oak, from Redvalci Labradors with the aim of getting into gun dog training. It was through Oak’s breeders that I was introduced to Carla. She got a puppy at a similar time to me and watching her daily social media content has been extremely helpful to me.
Since Oak was 14 weeks old, we’ve been on an incredible training journey together. Starting with socialization classes, we moved on to foundation lessons and one-to-one sessions, steadily building Oak’s skills and confidence.
Being part of the Severncrest team has been a fantastic experience. I’ve learned so much, made lasting friendships, and had the chance to take part in exciting activities like shoots with Carla, attending workshops, and helping out with cold game work.
I’m proud to be part of the Severncrest community, and I look forward to continuing Oak’s journey while encouraging others to discover all that Severncrest has to offer.
Wayne
My journey began in December 2021 when I bought home a pointador puppy called Lola . The family's intention was to have a pet and for 2 years that's what we had a fun and adorable dog but not trained to how we wanted her to be.
Fast forward a year we still have the fun and adorable dog but now we have a dog that doesn't pull, has good recall and is good with other dogs. All this comes from attending firstly Severncrest gundogs' socialisation classes then on to gundog beginners training and progressing to the intermediate gundog training which we still attend every weekend. We have also done workshops which are very well organised and a whole lot of fun.
All this has only been achieved because of our wonderful trainer Carla. Carla has created something special at Severncrest gundogs, she works so hard to make sure your needs are met and everyone gets on so well. I cant wait for the next year to see what we can achieve together.