Reviews

Harold (the dog) spent 5 days with Ian – the difference is profound! Ian’s calm manner and simple instructions meant my previously errant pointer was focussed on me and following my every command, passing every test with sheep, deer and fowl, in a purely positive way. I cannot thank Ian enough and am excited to continue our training at home.

A recommendation from me for Anvilstone dog training in South Molton. I spent 4 days with Ian Whittaker training my two year old GWP rescue bitch from Bulgaria. We went there with a long list of problems including but not limited to: no recall, pulling, reactivity with other dogs and people and resource guarding. Olive was generally a very nervous and unsettled hound! By the end of 4 days I had a happy, calm dog with recall, great on the lead, able to communicate with me and who seemed so much more relaxed. I too felt relieved and much more relaxed. The best thing about training with the dog is that I now have a tool box of activities that can continue to use to keep us both in check! The other thing worth mentioning is the utterly GORGEOUSNESS of the location! The farm is in a beautiful valley with a gushing river running through it.. Heartfelt thanks to Ian who knows this breed inside out.

We took our 4 year old GWP rescue Fell to see Ian last week and spent 4 days on his beautiful farm training with him.

We rescued Fell about 7 months ago and hadn’t been able to let him off of the lead since we got him, despite trying our best at home with recall training. When fell got a scent there was nothing we could do to get him back (or if he just fancied pretending he couldn’t hear us!) by the end of our time with Ian Fell was walking through woods with scents of deer, pheasants, hares, cows and sheep and responding to every recall request. We also took him through fields of cows and he was fantastic, it was incredible to see the change in Fell in just a few short days.

Ian’s farm is the most perfect training ground for dogs, the land, the scents, the animals, it’s safe and enclosed whilst providing the perfect setting to train in, it’s also incredibly beautiful, we feel very grateful to have found Ian and been able to work with him to help fell have a better and more happy life off the lead.

Fell was also quite anxious being left and whimpered a lot. He was waking us up in the night and chewing his way out of his crate. All of the training we did with Ian has completely stopped this behaviour. Fell feels more happy and secure with us and Ian has helped us to understand Fell better and what he needs and how to provide that for him.

Ian’s dogs were also wonderful and I think Fell is missing them already. We had great time at Ian’s, the training was so rewarding for us as well as for Fell and Ian is great company as well as being a fantastic dog trainer. Thank you so much Ian!

Armed with more hope than confidence, last week, we arrived at Anvilstone Dog Training in South Molton, Devon, not really knowing what to expect.

Eva, our 4 year old GWP, (our second GWP rescue/rehome), had very poor recall, especially in an environment where potential prey was present…birds! Also, she was a real pain pulling on the lead.

After 3 full days of extremely informative and positive training, Ian Whittaker gave us the tools, knowledge and confidence to return home with a transformed, well behaved, GWP!

We now have complete confidence with Eva’s recall and feel we can now let Eva walk and play off the lead, in any environment, not just the rare few selected “safe areas”.

For this Ian, we will be forever grateful.

10/10 experience with Ian. Took my 16-month-old Spinone as pulled on the lead, recall was not perfect, and he was getting distracted when out by other dogs/animals and people. He would jump /lunge up at people and chew his leash.

After four days of training with Ian, the difference in his behaviour was amazing. Ian was patient and gave clear instructions with positive reinforcement techniques to take leadership of my dog.

With the help that I received from Ian, I can now walk my dog off-leash past people/dogs, etc, and he pays them no attention.

I spent 2 days at Ian’s farm with my dog and another couple. We did lots of drills to help my dog overcome his fear of other dogs and to also work on his obedience & recall.

We can now walk past other dogs without my dog cowering on all fours. His recall since the training is 100% so far. Thank you Ian

Was directed to Ian as I was literally at my wits end. ‘Morse’ my three and a half year old GWP whilst a wonderful family dog ..he had issues. Poor recall and aggressive towards nearly all other dogs and none family members .. especially other men, and indeed had bitten them. He is my/our fourth GWP so thought I knew what I was doing.. errr no I didn’t! Prey drive like you would not believe .. continually escaping our grounds, so not very popular with my farmer/neighbour. Tried with local trainers but with only at best average results. If you have a GWP that needs training .. it needs to be Ian.. he seems to have a special understanding of how these beasts think. In my experience GWP they are unique and require the gift of Ian’s wisdom .. thank you again Ian

We brought our 2 GWP’s to Ian as Angus (5yo) had poor recall and Molly (4yo) had a strong prey drive.

We expected to spend at least 5 days with Ian, but by the end of day 2 we were on our way home with 2 brilliantly behaved dogs.

We cannot thank Ian enough. By the end of our 2 days Angus and Molly were walking off lead through fields with cows and in forests with deer!

We also walked down a path whilst horses were cantering up and down the field next to us and we kept them both under control.

The reviews certainly do not lie and Ian was absolutely fantastic.

Thank you Ian for all your hard work on training us to train our dogs. Angus and Molly are now off lead so much more and are enjoying life as dogs should.

100% recommend.

Ian was an absolute god send. We were at a point where something had to change with our GWP adolescent dog after a run of trauma – running into traffic, running off into woods, bad recall, aggression towards my older dog and general poor behaviour because we had not been able to identify the right way to train our dog. One week later, Fen left a different dog. One I can take anywhere and one who gets many complaints for his good behaviour. Still not perfect recall but we work on it every day and it’s getting better. Without Ian’s help we would no doubt have had to surrender Fen to a rescue or rehome him privately.

The training Ian has done with Walter, my 4yr GWP male, has been nothing less than transformational. With behavioural issues, reactivity to other dogs & people ,noise anxiety, lead pulling & recall all of which was limiting our relationship & his potential of being ok with the world. Ian’s reward based purposeful training on his farm & a variety of busier locations out with my permission has focussed the attention of my GWP on his person seeking leadership which he waits for & responds to. He is focussed, responsive, no longer anxious & impressively clever! Ian trains you too to follow through with the tools which with consistency & practice you can perfect ably assisted by your dog. Without a doubt the best investment I have ever made for me & my gorgeous GWP……thank you so much Ian!