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David Thomas

@davidthomas_aberglen

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• Gundog Training (1:2:1, Group, Residential & Online Coaching) on a beautiful #countryestate in #Monmouthshire
• George Millie and the 🐶 🐈 🐓 🐎

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Finn doing his thing.

Hell of a day with the #wolfpack as the season draws to a finale.

#lovemywoofers #labradorsofinsta #aberglen #gundogsofinstagram by @davidthomas_aberglen

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9 months ago

Morning team!!

Sunday morning. Beautiful out here!!

Woofers out. Let’s gooooo!!

#sundayfunday #wolfpack #rollcall #mannersplease #lovemydogs #gundogsofinstagram #gundogtraining #aberglen #monmouthshire #letsgooooo taken in Monmouthshire by @davidthomas_aberglen

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3 years ago

Morning team!!

One hell of a #coronationweekend!! The wee man managed to squeeze in some training in between hymns!! 😂😂😂

Loves his dogs and loves his training. Amazing to see the dogs in and around George. Just another day in the #nuthouse!!!! #livingthedream

#mastergeorge #younghandler #sonandheir #aberglen #wolfpack #nextgeneration #goodfoundations #humblebeginnings #lovemyboy #guinnessthelabrador #boothecocker #labradorsofinstagram #instalab #workingcockersofinstagram #homebred #monmouthshire taken in Monmouthshire by @davidthomas_aberglen

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3 years ago

The estate’s signature drive.

Sit there. Watch. Enjoy!!

Boo, Bracken, Freddie, Poppy & Mr Wilson.

Poppy’s first proper driven day with the #wolfpack. Nicely composed and picked a few lovely retrieves.

Clearly loves a runner so extreme care when sweeping as she would have gladly ended up in Radnorshire given half a chance!! 😂😂😂😂

One hell of a day.

They’ll sleep tonight!! 😴 💤 🛌

#aberglen #gundogsofinstagram #lerêve taken in Brecon Beacons by @davidthomas_aberglen

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21 hours ago

Lunch is served.

The daily feeding ritual.

Mr Wilson on raw (venison today) with kefir and blueberries. Rest of the boys on @wyevalleycountrystore venison grain free accompanied by kefir and pineapple.

Just another day in the #nuthouse. #lerêve

#aberglen #gundogsofinstagram #alwaystraining taken in Monmouthshire by @davidthomas_aberglen

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11 days ago

BLINK and you’ll miss it!!

Mr Wilson and Freddie sat on peg.

First run through of the Waterfall Drive at Dyfi Falls and it did not disappoint!!

Always good to have the team out on peg early in the season. Stimulation coming from all angles and a real challenge for the boys.

Sit there. Do nothing. Maintain composure. Easier said than done!! 😂😂😂

A fantastic showing of birds with a great host and keepering team. Days out in the field with great friends. You can’t beat it!!

So easy to underestimate what goes on behind the scenes to put on such a brilliant day. From the shoot lodge, the mown verges, combining farming seriously challenging upland ground and wildlife and woodland management. A seriously impressive estate from all angles.

One seriously brilliant start to the season.

#aberglen #gundogsofinstagram #dogsintraining taken in Powys by @davidthomas_aberglen

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14 days ago

Freddie & Bracken sitting on peg………with the odd distraction.

Sharing a peg with your mate and a couple of dogs has to be one of the best way to spend a day in the field.

A fantastic day with @cambriansporting.

#aberglen #pegdog #gundogsofinstagram taken in Welshpool by @davidthomas_aberglen

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16 days ago

Piston & Major.

Social media is full of perfection so let’s see what happens when it goes wrong and how we deal with it with our dogs.

Cool, calm & collected with Major and Piston. Both medium to high drive and here I’m working on them both maintaining composure in a more stimulating environment. A level of stimulation that will only go up as we look towards our days in the field.

When it goes wrong, and it often does, I always try to think of it as an opportunity for learning as opposed to thinking of it in a negative way.

The beauty of training dogs means it is not a one size fits all. We all have our own different approaches.

No hooting and hollering here. Regain control, take a breath, let it simmer and then press the button.

I have Edward Martin’s words etched in my mind having watched his sporting scene videos some 20 or 30 years ago. I recall him working a springer spaniel called Zola in the white grass fields above his kennels up in the borders. A piece of handling I carry to this very day. He knew, the dog knew, they both knew where that particular pigeon was. He just wanted a little more control before pressing the button.

Super easy to rush into these retrieves particularly when setting out a series of memories and the dogs know exactly where they are. Process process process, control control control.

Both lovely boys and a joy to train.

Just another day in the nuthouse!!

#aberglen #gundogsofinstagram #shootdayprep #lerêve taken in Monmouthshire by @davidthomas_aberglen

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20 days ago

Morning team!!

Sunday morning in the kennels. We’re in the midst of a big redecorating. Can’t wait for it to be finished!!

Building impulse control with Storm at breakfast. The turkey flavoured @wyevalleycountrystore grain free on the menu.

A super way to get the reps. All about energy and body language!! Next to no verbal communication.

16 weeks and coming on super well. A temperament to die for!! Keeping it simple. Keeping it real. Happy woofers is what we’re about.

Have a great day team!! Let’s get after it. #letsgooooo

#feedingtime #breakfastisserved #happywoofers

@thebritishretrievertrophy taken in Monmouthshire by @davidthomas_aberglen

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21 days ago

Animal Management.

A topic I could talk about for hours.

Poppy just coming back into work after her season. Slow and steady away akin to a couple of mornings trotting up as opposed to doing a full canter.

@williepmullins comments after the sad passing of Hurricane Fly earlier this week struck a cord with regards to the management of our animals. We hear this a lot in the Racing world but not so much in the dog world.

Something we would do well to listen to more of!!

Slow and steady wins the race with Poppy. She will be fit and ready to go the middle of our season. A lovely female with a huge amount of natural ability.

Just another day training woofers. #lerêve

#aberglen #gundogtraining #monmouthshire #dogsintraining taken in Monmouthshire by @davidthomas_aberglen

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23 days ago

Morning Register.

A super simple but seriously effective exercise we do every single day. Boys out. Girls having breakfast.

Whether you have one or lots, this is a super useful exercise.

Even if you have just the one, throw a few random names in and see how they react. It’s very telling!! Are they moving on simply your voice, or are they really listening?

The added distraction of the chooks 🐓 is always a good test of impulse control. Which some need more than others!! 😂😂😂

Have a great day team!! #letsgetafterit

#aberglen #gundogtraining #dogsintraining #wolfpack taken in Monmouthshire by @davidthomas_aberglen

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24 days ago

Very fortunate to start the week visiting @harryderhamracing yard.

Some cracking horses and the boss was very giving of his time. Many thanks indeed!! A real treat.

Back to the canine variety as the season hots up. #justanotherdayinthenuthouse

#aberglen #gundogsofinstagram #dogsintraining

@olbg taken in Berkshire by @davidthomas_aberglen

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25 days ago