Ever wondered about the name?

"Ricochet" isn’t just about dogs bouncing off the walls (though I’ve met a few). It’s a Bowie track. And a nod to my original gundog roots. Fast, focused, full of energy. Like a bullet. Like a bolt of learning, in the right direction.

Because training should be practical. Powerful. And maybe a little legendary.

Hi, I’m Sam. Based in the occasionally muddy Wotton-under-Edge GL12, I help dogs and humans work together without losing their minds. No flashy nonsense or magic solutions. Just clear training, good laughs, and more biscuits than anyone admits to.

I’ve worked with all sorts. From rehomed dogs in kennels to raising Guide Dog pups. But it was Lucy, my Kelpie x Collie tornado, who really taught me how to train. She turned my world upside down in the best possible way and dragged me into modern, enrichment-based training that actually works.

I've picked up proper knowledge from Helen Phillips at Clicker Gundog, and now run Ricochet: practical dog training for real life. Think scent work, gundog games, day training, and helping dogs figure out how to fit into the human world (and vice versa).

Callisto, my Working Cocker, is a full-time tennis ball addict. Cassidy the Cockapoo pup is shaping up to be a scent detection whizz. They both keep me sharp, muddy, and well-practised in the art of biscuit bribery.

Qualifications matter as does CPD and I’m collecting plenty. Not for the showy letters, but because dog training should be ethical, effective and rooted in proper education. I follow force-free, evidence-based methods. No fear, no pain, no outdated nonsense.