A New Direction For Tessleymoor

I have been training gundogs for many years now here at Tessleymoor. During that time, I have seen many changes in the shooting world. Over the last year, these changes have accelerated. The pandemic decimated last year’s shooting season. While this year, many shoots are active again, they are facing a whole range of challenges. Restrictions on travelling in vehicles together make transporting beaters and guns around the shoot very difficult. Coupled with this, there is constant political pressure, particularly on grouse shoots, to restrict the freedom to pursue this sport. Moorland that would previously be reserved for the shooting season is now used for other recreational purposes to raise an income for the landowner.

As a result, I am seeing a decline in enquiries for training working gundogs. Many guns seem happy to have a peg dog that will retrieve, without pursuing a broader set of skills. It’s also true that with the industry under so much pressure, fewer people are pursuing careers in country sports, for which a well-trained dog is essential.

The Tessleymoor Farm

As I have observed these trends, I have made adjustments to my own business activities to reflect this. The Tessleymoor Farm, which I began less than six months ago, has really taken off. I am receiving a huge amount of interest and support from the farming community and my social media channels. The Farm combines my passion for working with animals with creating sustainable and locally sourced produce.

As my livestock increases, I will be dedicating more time to the farming side of my business. I will of course always train gundogs and continue training of domestic dogs through both virtual and practical lessons. I’m looking forward to this next exciting season of my life and will continue to share both my farming and dog training activities here on the blog and through my social media channels.

Posted: September 22, 2021