About Us
Who are we?
Southdowns dog services is run by Joseph Hooper and his partner Cheryl Dunning.
Joseph has:
Ofqual regulated level 3 in Canine training and behaviour.
Ofqual regulated level 3 in Canine studies.
Ofqual regulated level 4 in Canine Welfare, training and behaviour.
An Accredited Pet Gundog Instructor.
An Accredited Manners not Mayhem Instructor.
Cheryl is studying to achieve:
Ofqual regulated AIM Level 3 in Canine nutrition.
Ofqual regulated AIM Level 3 in Canine training and behaviour.
An Accredited Pet Gundog Instructor.
An Accredited Manners not Mayhem Instructor.
The Pet Gundog qualification allows us to teach the original Pet Gundog courses that go hand in hand with Lez Grahams series of award winning books. This covers all the aspects of gundog training and gundog breeds.
The Manners not mayhem qualification enables us to teach the courses that go hand in hand with Lez Grahams award winning book Manners not Mayhem which covers non gundog breeds in control and behaviour
techniques, so you and your dog are totally in sync with each other.
Joseph is presently a part time gamekeeper, Working test secretary for Arun and Downland Gundog society, and head picker up on the Southwick estate.
Joseph also enjoys competing in working tests and trials with his spaniels, winning and coming placed many times in various competitions. He is also a keen clay shooter and also part of a shooting syndicate.
Joseph has had a life long passion for dogs and grown up with various breeds, had two successful business of which he now focusses exclusively on this one as he gets great satisfaction out of helping dogs and their owners communicate and get the best out of each other. He loves being a professional dog trainer, working with gundogs and working dogs.
Cheryl is Josephs better half and helps run the business, she has had a life long passion of dogs and horses which is deeply rooted in her family. Cheryl enjoys country pursuits such as beating and picking up.
Cheryl enjoys teaching and helping clients break boundaries or difficulties they have. Joseph has a passionate fascination with how dogs behaviour, communication, body language, and motivation can be changed between dogs and their owners, helping clients increase their bond and communication, using common sense positive but not permissive methods.
Between them they run a full time friendly, professional service which caters for every breed and their individual needs. Showing clients how to understand their dogs breed deeper and what motivates them whilst still showing them how to switch the dogs off!
Services offered
- PetGundog Courses
Hampshire's and West Sussex's only Accredited PetGundog Instructor. Running courses aligned with the PetGundog series of books. All levels accounted for!
These courses are designed to help anyone who has a working breed of dog which is kept as a pet. the course will help you harness the dogs breed specific behaviours and manage them so your dog has a fulfilled life and you also have a pet which is able to switch off and enjoy being a dog you can take down the pub with you.
Equally the skills you learn on the course enable you to go on and ether work your dog or even enter working tests.
- Manners not Mayhem Courses
Hampshire's and West Sussex's only Accredited Manners not mayhem Instructor. Running courses aligned with the Manners not Mayhem book.
These courses are designed for non gundog breeds although gundogs can attend them, however the PetGundog course above is more breed appropriate for working dogs. the course covers all the training you will need for a well balanced and happy calm dog.
- 121 lessons and small groups.
Whether you need 121 assistance to really get into your dogs head or to learn how to train your dog correctly, or you want small controlled groups with the added bonus of two instructors we offer both. the above courses are also taught as 121 or group option depending upon availability.
- Behaviour and problem solving
Dealing with majority of behaviour or training problems. Access to our own dogs to assist in the training of yours. Bespoke plans and advice given totry and solve common issues with dogs or owners.
- the working dogs
Help with certain areas of gundog work like hunting or retrieval progression. preparing you and your dog for the field. steadiness training and advancing it.
- Competition training
Working test or trialling training., helping you polish up and tweek dogs pre competitions.
- General common issues
Heelwork, recall, steadiness and obedience training.
- Scent work courses
teaching you how to train your dog to do scent work or track.
- Dog walks
- Home checks for pets
- Dog holidays and boarding
- In house training packages