Hi, I’m Sam, operating out of the mysterious and occasionally muddy lands of GL12. Here, I help you and your dog master the ancient arts of cooperation, tail wagging, and the highly sophisticated biscuit bribe. No crazy promises or secret tricks — just plenty of laughs, treats, and training that even the most practical person would approve of.

From kennels filled with rehomed dogs to raising future Guide Dogs for the Blind, I’ve seen it all — and learned that no two dogs are quite the same (nor are their humans, but let’s not talk about that). My first dog, Lucy — a whirlwind Kelpie x Border Collie — pretty much rewrote my entire training manual with a wag of her tail and a cheeky bark. She’s the reason I fell head over paws for modern, enrichment-filled training that’s all about boosting bonds and having a laugh along the way.

I’ve picked up some cracking tips from Helen Phillips at Clicker Gundog, who taught me that patience, treats, and understanding make all the difference. My motto? Every dog and human duo is a unique recipe — and training should be just as tasty!

At Ricochet, we do practical, fun training for real life. Whether it’s day training, scent work (sniff sniff!), or gundog basics for pet homes, we help dogs and humans find their groove — with plenty of tail wags and high fives.

I’m currently sharing life (and snacks, mostly snacks) with Callisto, my energetic Working Cocker Spaniel who never lets me forget that chasing tennis balls is serious business. Meanwhile, Cassidy, my cheeky Cockapoo puppy, is the new scent detection prodigy in training — sniffing her way to greatness while Callisto proudly holds the crown as our undefeated beating hunt dog (no pressure, Callisto). Between the two of them, my days are filled with wagging tails, unexpected zoomies, and the occasional mysterious scent to investigate.

Oh, and I’m busy collecting fancy City & Guilds qualifications in Scent Detection Dog Handling and Instruction with The College of Scent Dogs— because when it comes to sniffing, you need to be properly qualified, obviously!

I’m also working towards a Teacher Training badge from the Gundog Trainers Academy — fancy, right? That means my training is top-notch, ethical, and backed by the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC). No nonsense, no shocks, just kindness and science.

Plus, I’m a proud member of the Pet Professional Guild, which basically means: no pain, no fear, no fuss — just fun, effective training that makes tails wag and humans smile.

What My Clients Say

Here’s what my clients say about my tailored approach:

• “Sam was amazing with my reactive lab! By the end of our first lesson, my girl was relaxed and happy. We’re having so much fun learning and always look forward to lessons. Highly recommend!”* - Lisa

• “Classes are very well taught and always fun. My dog and I learn loads every time.”* - Beccy

• Sam’s knowledge and kindness are just what every dog parent needs. She’s thoughtful, reads dogs’ body language beautifully, and her approach is both kind and respectful. Can’t recommend her enough.”* - Helen

• “Sam has been incredible when it comes to training my dog Nellie, and indeed training me! Although Nellie had the basics sorted when we came to Sam, she had no interest in retrieving or walking to heel. Following on from our first course with Sam; Nellie was retrieving and walking to heel while on a lead. Following on from our second course Nellie can now be instructed to retrieve different dummies in order, retrieve dummies which are hidden in foliage, walk to heel on and off lead, understand multiple whistle commands including: recall at a long distance, sit/stop command, and a "keep looking, you are near the dummy" whistle. Nellie has also been introduced to following a scent.

  Not only have the outcomes of the training been fantastic, but Nellie (and myself) absolutely love training with Sam. Sam's positive and fun attitude to training means that Saturday morning training has swiftly become an hour of wonderful bonding time between Nellie and myself. As a result Nellie has become brilliant at understanding my body language and what I want outside of specific commands. This means that while we are out and about she is incredibly well behaved and I often get comments on how well she behaves and how well she responds to me.

  In short, it doesn't matter if you want to pursue gundog training to go on a shoot or just to improve the relationship between your dog and yourself, Sam/Ricochet should be your first and only stop for all training!”* - Sam

At Ricochet Dog Training, I strive for one outcome: happy clients, happy dogs.

Let’s embark on this training journey together!