Richard shares his family home with 4 working spaniels and typical of many modern gundogs, enjoy living indoors as pets with a handful of days each winter out on the shooting field, or as many as Richard’s busy schedule allows. As such the dogs need to know what’s expected of them both in and out of the home, and be well mannered, as well as well trained for the job in hand.
Richard has trained under Lez Graham, the author of the Pet Gundog series of books and, as well as being one of the first Accredited Pet Gundog Instructors in the UK, he also has the distinction of being the first instructor to gain Advanced Instructor status. This training has included 2 OFQUAL accredited Level 3 Certificates in Canine Studies and Canine Training and Behaviour as well as the 18-month Accredited Pet Gundog Instructor course, itself.
Since 2018 Richard has co-tutored with Lez on the Accredited Pet Gundog Instructor courses, teaching both the theoretical and practical elements. Richard is passionate about teaching and knowledge sharing and is a tutor with The Professional Canine Academy, helping to bring canine education to a wider audience.
Understanding and appreciating the value of regulated theoretical qualifications, Richard has also achieved a Level 4 Diploma in Canine Welfare, Training and Behaviour and a Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice, both of which are Ofqual regulated and sit on the National Qualification Framework.
Richard is a registered Master Professional Trainer with the Guild of Dog Trainers.
In addition to teaching one to ones and group classes at Home and Field, Richard coaches for the Mid-Norfolk Gundog Club and can be found during the spring and summer months doing demonstrations with his dogs at the East Anglian Game Fair, the CLA Game Fair and the Royal Norfolk Show.
