Trainer & Support
I am Gill I don't have any nick names that I know about or care to make public. I have been a "dog trainer" for 8 years and you can read more about me on the About Speaking Spaniel page. I am from Cheshire and lived in Hampshire for the last 25 years and moved to Shropshire during the summer of 2024. I am so looking forward to continuing my Speaking Spaniel journey with you and your fabulous dogs. I specialise in Spaniels, Cockapoos and other spaniel cross breeds as I have two who I have introduced on this page and I just love their passion for life and loyalty. But have also experienced the more challenging sides of their personalities such as their sensitivities, hunting instincts and independence which I initially tried to address using general pet training methods. These methods worked to a point but I soo realised that each breed of dog has it's own needs, personality, and natural instincts that one person could never master them all. I therefore decided I to expand my knowledge so I could specialise in a particular group of dogs and where better to do this than with my own amazing dogs. who had already taught me so much. In 2022 Speaking Spaniel was born and has developed over the two year to what it is today and while I continue to learn it will develop further. My focus is on helping my clients to understand their dog's individual needs, personality and instincts while focussing on their communication confidence & connection. I only use gentle and pain free methods and will never use pain or coercion to achieve results. When I am not helping clients I am hoping to get involved int the local community and make new friends through my love of the countryside and photography
Wing Dog
Mo is my first "wing dog" he is a older and very gentle man. He is as Springer x Cocker and will be 14 next birthday so he is living his dream in a more leisurely way as he is now deaf and has stiff joints. He competed in agility for a number of years but now just loves hunting and "spanielling" around. His favourited thing these days is finding something lovely to roll in or eat. This morning it was a fully plucked bird carcass probably thanks to a sparrow hawk and we do a weekly tracking session which he adores. Mo was the reason I became a dog trainer and then a spaniel specialist as when he was 2 or 3 he chased a hare over 2 fields and a road and was hit by a car on his way back to me. Fortunately he was repaired by some fantastic vets and is still a happy dog over 10 years later. Apart for hunting and finding dead things he loves carrying socks and shoes, cuddles and food. Since his accident though he does have anxiety issues around other dogs and if we get to work together and you would like me to I can tell you the whole story.
Wing Dog
Cleo is my second "wing dog" , she is a7 next birthday and is a crazy working cocker who I adopted at 6 months as she was too much for the family with small children she came from. Cleo is as mad as a box of frogs who has two speeds asleep or 100mph. Her working traits are amazing she will hunt and chase all day if allowed so we ensure she gets to use theses skills in appropriate and safe ways and she is my partner when I am learning new skills and techniques to use with my clients. Cleo did start agility but when the pandemic hit we stopped and didn't go back. We now do regular mantrailing, tracking and scentwork which I am hoping to add to my services soon. Apart from hunting, tracking Cleo loves water , she can find it anywhere we go even if it is a trough, she is a very tactile and needs to be on or attached to you hence her name "Chocolate Armrest" as that is where she spends all here evenings on the sofa next to me.