Gemma at AC Gundogs has been absolutely wonderful. Her kind, encouraging and supportive approach to training makes every session such a positive and enjoyable experience. She doesn’t just train the dogs — she guides and nurtures you as a handler, helping you understand how to work with your gundog confidently and build a strong partnership together.
The private setting, with its varied terrain, obstacles and lake, gives you the opportunity to experience different challenges and to learn how to work through them in a calm and supportive environment. I have learnt so much already, and it’s been amazing to see our dogs confidence grow.
I absolutely love the group sessions. Training alongside such a lovely group of like-minded individuals makes the whole experience even more enjoyable, and there is always plenty of encouragement, support and shared learning.
Gemma’s knowledge, patience and genuine passion for what she does really shines through. I can’t recommend AC Gundogs highly enough — I feel very lucky to have found such a wonderful trainer, facility and community.
Thank you, Gemma, for everything you do for me and my dogs. Here’s to many more adventures and plenty more learning Huw, Mabel & Biscuit! 🐾❤️
I can thoroughly recommend Gemma as a sympathetic and kind gundog trainer. I have a ESS who has confidence issues around people and dogs, but she has become much better and has even learnt to retrieve happily in water. She has found doggy friends who have helped her, and we both enjoy the classes in a superb gundog training ground. I am looking forward to running her in a test one day…Tina & Pip
Gemma is an amazing trainer. At our first lesson B was so naughty and totally without focus. Now he listens. We are learning so much, and getting some.of it right
I can’t recommend Gemma and her gundog training enough. When I first started training with Mabel, I knew she had plenty of potential, but I also knew we had a lot to work on.
Mabel has progressed so much, particularly with her retrieving, memory work and water retrieves. She is now starting to retrieve to hand, which is something I’m incredibly proud of, and it’s been amazing to see her confidence and ability develop.
I’m so grateful for everything she has taught both Mabel and me, and I’m really looking forward to continuing our training journey together. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for knowledgeable, supportive and genuinely passionate gundog training…Tina and Mable
I can't recommend ac gundogs and Gemma highly enough. Gemma is very patient and attentive to individual needs even in group lessons . My retriever and myself have learnt a lot through training at these amazing facilities. We also have a lot of fun together and have met some great people …Ian and Wally
The group lessons are full of training techniques and helpful tips about getting the best from our dogs. We have great support and encouragement from Gemma who always remains calm and positive. It's great to be with such a happy group of people. B is not destined to be a working gundog as he is not very brave. This training enriches his life and that makes me happy…Chris and B
With her knowledge, patience and understanding of both dogs and their handlers, Gemma has helped us come such a long way. The training is always positive, practical and tailored to the individual dog, and she has given me the confidence to understand Mabel better and work with her rather than against her.
What I love most is that Gemma genuinely cares about the dogs she trains. She takes the time to understand them as individuals and is always on hand with advice and encouragement.
Tia is a very intelligent, highly active working cocker spaniel. We have been going to Gemma for 18 months during which time both myself and Tia have learned so much together.
On occasion, I am asked where I take my dog for training and when I say that I go to Gundog training people often say ‘but I don’t want a gun dog’.
Gemma’s methods are not only about gundog training, but for me it has been about steadiness, being calm in different situations and building a bond between me and my dog enabling us to get the most out of our relationship together. I am looking forward to earning my badges in the near future!
I would highly recommend Gemma and all at AC Gundogs…Carole and Tia
Marcus and I have been training with Gemma for 18 months now and absolutely love it! He was always naturally excited about gundog work but now I’ve also built a level of excitement about what we can do together. The work we do with Gemma is fun, she’s encouraging, knowledgeable and positive, so our sessions are the highlight of the week. I’m so pleased to have found Gemma and would recommend her highly… Lisa and Marcus
Nikki has been an incredible support for us since we got our gorgeous working cocker spaniel, Bailey. We first met Nikki at our local vet’s where we took Bailey to a puppy pre-school session, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Nikki shared some useful insights with us that were most welcome as we were trying to find our feet in those first few weeks.
We knew from early on that Nikki would be able to help us get the most out of Bailey, and give her the best life with us. We signed up for her puppy classes which Bailey and we loved as we saw Bailey came on leaps and bounds but also because who wouldn’t want to spend time surrounded by puppies every week? Nikki creates a really friendly environment, sharing lots of tips from methods of training to behavioural cues.
From there we moved to the beginner gundog classes and we cannot believe the results. The gundog world was completely new to us, so it wasn’t only Bailey that needed some training! Once again Nikki created a friendly environment utilising positive training methods to get the foundations in place before tackling more advanced drills. It was very rewarding seeing it all come together with Bailey. Nikki was also incredibly kind and generous with sharing her knowledge with us, so that we understood gundog world and the way it works.
After completing the beginner gundog classes we continued weekly training with Nikki where she’d help push Bailey with different drills that we would then go away and work on. These weekly check ins acted as a way for us to pick Nikki’s brain and she always had good advice for anything dog related.
Nikki has spent hours with us helping Bailey become an incredible working dog, at a very young age. She attended her first shoot before she was 2, and has received compliments from the shoot organisers on both the shoots she’s done. We’ve been welcomed back, which is a huge compliment and Nikki has been instrumental in where we are with her today. She is so knowledgeable and is also great company! We feel very lucky to have Nikki as our trainer, and Bailey feels the same - she absolutely loves her!
Nikki is absolutely amazing and has so much knowledge! She takes so much care and time over each individual dog in training and really tailors each lesson to the progression of the pooches. We started with puppy classes when our dog was around 4-5months old and he has come on so well since. With lots of information on things to practice at home as well as the Facebook group for more info - you can really train your dog to their full potential. We do gun dog lessons which has helped Milo, our working cocker massively! He is a bit of a nutcase but this gives him a really nice focus. As I mentioned, Nikki takes so much time on each dog to ensure we get the required teachings and tips we need, as well as giving you confidence and time to try again if things end up not quite right! I really look forward to my Saturday morning dog training sessions with Nikki and the rest of the dogs!...Georgia and Milo
Nikki explains each exercise clearly, provides personalised guidance whenever needed, and celebrates every success, no matter how small. The sessions are well organised are enjoyable whilst creating a positive learning environment for both dogs and owner.
I couldn't be happier with Molly's progress and would highly recommend Nikki to anyone considering beginners' gundog training. I'm already looking forward to booking our next training sessions…Charlotte and Molly
I cannot recommend Nikki highly enough, especially her Gundog classes. Nikki has an incredible knowledge of dog training and behaviour. Her ability to work with each individual means she adapts every exercise to suit each dog, making the sessions feel very inclusive.
Her classes are well-structured, she always sets realistic
training goals, and every session builds on something that we’ve previously
worked on making each new lesson feel achievable.
My working cocker spaniel absolutely loves coming to class.
Without Nikki’s expertise, my dog wouldn't have the rich, fulfilling lifestyle
she needs. I couldn't ask for a better trainer! Callum and Inca
Training alongside Nikki for the past 4 years has had a lasting impact on both my own dogs and the way I work with clients dogs. The gundog skills and concepts she’s taught me have become an integral part of my training and I regularly use them to help dogs build confidence, improve recall, develop engagement and overcome challenges such as reactivity and over-arousal.
The skills and concepts she teaches aren’t just for gundogs—they’ve become an invaluable part of my everyday training toolkit. I’ve used them successfully with pet dogs of all breeds to improve recall, build engagement and encourage calmness. The practical exercises are easy for owners and handlers to understand and more importantly, they produce real, lasting results.
As a professional dog trainer accredited with IMDT, I regularly incorporate these techniques into my own training sessions because I’ve seen first-hand how effective they are. Whether I’m working with a pet gundog or a family companion, the foundations I learnt through Nikki’s gundog classes continue to benefit both the dogs and their owners.
If you’re looking to develop practical, ethical training skills that translate into everyday life—not just the shooting field—I couldn’t recommend Nikki’s Gundog Training classes more highly. Nicole Watson IMDT ‘Bea Pawsitive’
Throughout the course, Nikki has helped to build both my confidence and Molly's ability to work around other dogs. Thanks to her guidance, Molly is more focused, driven and we have seen a noticeable improvement in her manners both during training and at home.
Nikki is a fantastic trainer, and we've loved every session with her, from puppy classes through to beginner gundog training. She's incredibly knowledgeable, makes every class informative and enjoyable, and adapts her training to suit each individual dog. Every dog gets the opportunity to learn in a way that works for them while having fun. We've learned so much and have thoroughly enjoyed training with Nikki. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend her! Jasmine and Rusty
Nikki’s passion and enthusiasm for Gun Dog training has helped to instil the fundamentals ready for further development and has helped us to relate these skills to every day life…Sam and Lehto
As a canine professional, I'm always looking for exceptional instructors who can deepen my knowledge and ultimately help me provide an even better service to my own clients. Nikki exceeded every expectation.
The Beginner Gundog Class was outstanding from start to finish. Nikki's knowledge is exceptional, but what impressed me most was her ability to apply that knowledge to every individual dog in front of her. No matter the personality or challenge presented, she adapted her approach with remarkable skill, always setting both dog and handler up for success.
Her passion for gundog training shines through in every session. She explains not only what to do, but why it matters, making the learning experience engaging, practical and grounded in a genuine understanding of canine behaviour. The classes were welcoming, well structured and full of valuable exercises that I have already been able to apply beyond the training field.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Nikki to anyone interested in gundog training, whether they have a working dog or simply want to build a stronger partnership with their dog through thoughtful, reward-based training. I'm already looking forward to joining the follow-on class and continuing to learn from such an inspiring instructor.
Ligia Wright-Turincio
Owner, Velvet Paws Retreat
Higher Standards 5-Star Licensed Dog Boarder
