Verstone Gundogs

At Verstone Gundogs, we are well established Kennel Club Assured Breeders of both

English Springer Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels

our aim is always for steadiness and reliability

We have moved on a little since this photo, but here are Four Generations, L to R: Gt Grandparent; Cowernecourt Berberis at Verstone (Lace), 

Grandparent; Verstone Enchanted Beth (Beth); Parent Verstone Magickal Rite (Keira): Bronwen Dreams at Verstone (Seren) – we are currently breeding the sixth generation.

Our Aim ….

….. is simply to train most dog breeds and their owners for the task in hand ….

We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare.
And in return, dogs give us their all. It’s the best deal man has ever made.
– M. Acklam
 

Personal Profile

Derek Summers started professional training of dogs over 20yrs ago and has been breeding English Springer Spaniels since 1990 and Cocker Spaniels since 2007. Has studied basic Canine Psychology and over the years, substantial work has been undertaken involving problematic dogs with various rescue kennels and private owners.

The ‘specialist area’ of this work has become not only canine obedience but also dealing with and retraining canine aggression. It is a strong belief that, in the main, “aggressive dogs” are made rather than born – especially in breeds such as Spaniels. During this time with dogs he operated a successful Boarding & Training Kennels for 12yrs. Selling the kennels in 2003 and commencing full-time dog training and breeding Spaniels, Derek Summers is a Member of The British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers, and a Member of The Kennel Club Assured Breeders Scheme plus holds a local authority (SLDC) Breeders Licence.

Verstone Profile

Currently trading under the company name Verstone Gundogs Ltd, Verstone Gundogs has been established to not only train all breeds of dogs, but to breed and train Spaniels with a steadiness and reliability of temperament. Puppies are bred with the purpose of being strong powerful motivated working dogs or that ‘special’ pet & constant companion by the fireside

Cocker Spaniel: Verstone Gwanwyn Jess born 2009

Derek Summers:

Kennel Club Assured Breeder of: 

English Springer Spaniels &  Cocker Spaniels

 VERSTONE: Our KC Kennel Name / Affix

Derek Summers has been both working & breeding English Springer Spaniels since 1990 and Cocker Spaniels since 2007 under the Kennel Club Affix VERSTONE  

All our dogs and bitches are chosen and raised for their temperament, intelligence and pliability – the use of gentle, modern motivational methods based on guidance & psychology – when combined both are a very successful and also an agreeable formula to use.

Verstone bred Spaniels are now well established in several countries worldwide, they are known for their intelligence, speed and above all – their superb temperament, which enables them to be both excellent working dogs and pets in the home. All ESS & Cocker pups are homed from the minimum age of eight weeks and are Kennel Club Registered, Veterinary docked and dew-clawed as per The Docking of Working Dogs Tails Act 2007.

EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – please note, when providing a Puppy or Dog we may need to share limited customer information with: KC Agria Insurance, Purina ProPlan Puppy, Identibase Microchipping. We do not share information with any other organisation.

Puppy ‘List’

There is generally a short waiting list for pups in place and if potential purchasers would like to view either the ‘facilities’ or our Spaniels living here, please contact us and we will be happy to show you around.

Trained or Part-trained Dogs for Sale

Only very occasionally do we have trained or part-trained dogs & bitches for sale

Stud services for both English Springer Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels are available and we will be happy to discuss availability – details are listed on this website.

Local Authority Breeders Licence issued and regulated by South Lakeland District Council, Ref: DBR0002, for the breeding of dogs.

The Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme: Verstone Gundogs are members of The UCAS accredited Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme our Breeding Spaniels are health tested as required by The Kennel Club:

Eye Tested under the KC/BVA/ISDS Eye Examination Scheme for inherited eye disease:

GPRA Unaffected/Clear

CPRA: Unaffected/Clear

MRD Unaffected/Clear

Goniodysgenesis: Unaffected/Clear

DNA Tested or Hereditary Clear:

Fucosidosis: DNA Tested Clear (Non-Carrier)

PRA (Cord 1) Tested Clear (Non-Carrier)

Familial Nephropathy Tested Clear:

prcd-PRA Tested Normal/Clear

PFK Tested Clear

All our breeding dogs are:

Kennel Club Registered, 

Micro-chipped and/or DNA Profiled under the Kennel Club Identification Scheme

* For details of Health Testing undertaken – and what it means, please click here

Canine Behavioural Re-training for all breeds                                                               

• Basic & advanced Dog Training for all Gundog breeds
• Canine Behaviour Modification
• Residential re-training of problematical dogs

Choosing a dog trainer to suit your needs …..

… is often a matter of chance.

“…. the training of dogs has changed a great deal over the years and it is simply not acceptable, fair, or necessary, to use harsh methods in training. The use of gentle, modern motivational methods based on guidance & psychology are very successful and are also an agreeable formula for both the dog and the owner/trainer to use “

Here we do not ‘force train’ a dog to do anything … time, motivation and patience are the formula.

In today’s hectic society it is important that any dog should be trained in Basic Obedience. Simply because a trained dog can be safely taken out and about, he or she will usually have more freedom than an untrained one, and therefore will, overall, be a much more contented dog – with a happy, relaxed owner.

A trained dog nearly always has a better relationship with his or her owner and there is often a better level of understanding between them

We do not organise or run Puppy Training Classes nor regular Group Training Sessions, we work on a one-to-one basis… we will be pleased to offer advice to younger puppy owners that we feel would benefit from a little assistance

keytrainingoptions……..

Key options for Training or Re-training offered

Option 1 …. One2one training … We train you individually to train your dog; lessons are arranged at a time and frequency to suit you and your dogs’ progress.

Option 2 …. Behavioural Consultation … We can provide oral advice on your specific problem; following a personal consultation to identify & isolate the cause of the problems being encountered and the best course of action to follow.

Method – Time Structure – Professional Fees

It is important to realise that behaviour modification or retraining is not a simple process and we are often unable to offer a “quick fix” for training problems encountered by owners … training any animal is not an exact science and we do not make any guarantees other than to give your dog our best endeavours.

Gundog breeds are taken for one-to-one Training.

Over the years our training and facilities have evolved to enable us to generate what should be your shooting companion. No matter if it is a Spaniel flushing in the beating line or to be shot over, or Peg Dog.. All our training is based on steadiness and reliability. Firstly it is needed to gain both the trust and respect of your dog which in turn helps us guide your dog to voice, hand and whistle commands … through trust & respect, not fear.

All training depend on the age, ability, and experience of your dog – we no longer offer Residential Training, but can undertake to train you, the owner, on one-to-one basis, all clients and pupils are assessed as to their suitability to be trained for the tasks expected of them. In certain cases this can include time in our two acre Rabbit Pen usually stocked with both rabbits and pheasants – for training steadiness and desensitisation of any chasing behaviour.

Rabbit Pen 

A rabbit pen is an important part of a dogs training program; from puppy training, novice training, and refresher training. It is the best way to produce controlled multiple contact flushes in order to steady a dog.

Our Rabbit Pen (currently under repair and re-stocking) is usually well maintained and stocked all year round with rabbits and game birds to give the real feeling of the wild, it covers nearly two acres and consists of mostly natural cover such as bracken, bramble, woodland, brashings, etc – all well enclosed in order to create an ideal training environment for all gundogs.

 ~

A Rabbit Pen is a great asset to training, as it the best way to produce multiple contact flushes within a predictable, but natural environment, allowing the handler to introduce a young dog to hunt, find and flush game within a controlled environment.  

It can also be used correct faults such as chasing, running in, and other general bad habits – it really is an extra special aid for gundog trainers. If used correctly, it can help develop steadiness to fur to its highest degree in a relatively short time.

Puppy Training: It can also be used to give a reluctant puppy more enthusiasm when hunting and investigating cover – enabling you to teach a young dog a hunting pattern, hunting on scent and introduction to live game, as well as desensitisation to chasing

Novice Training: Encouragement and instruction on how to find hidden game while exhibiting steadiness to live game. Also, simple sit to flush, gun sense and retrieving amongst live game.

Using the Pen

For all breeds, only once they have been soundly taught basic obedience such as the sit & stay, and ‘stop’ the pen is perfect for added distractions such as thrown dummies; there is no reason why further or advanced obedience lessons should not be undertaken in the pen where the distraction of rabbits running past the stationary dog can be introduced.

Heelwork can also be practiced, making sure each time a rabbit runs by the dog remains steady, or better still sits down immediately.

The rabbit pen is an important part of a dogs advanced training program, and then as a refresher or maintenance training. Used during the summer months it is good way to keep a dog’s training up to scratch and ready for the coming season.

A controlled environment such a Rabbit Pen is a great asset to training as it allows the Gundog handler to introduce a young dog to hunt, find and flush game within. It can also be used correct faults in working Gundogs such as chasing game, running in, etc, but also unwanted behaviour in pet dogs; such as chasing, and other general bad habits.

The Rabbit Pen is used throughout the year but when used during the summer months it is good way to keep a working dog on form and ready for the coming season.

The rabbit pen is not available for general hire but can be made available for our existing students and training is offered to gundogs and handlers that are novice/advanced providing the dog has achieved a good level of control.