Many years ago John Lewis’s wife, Lesley, bought him two lab puppies and a book on how to train gundogs in an attempt to give him a hobby away from running the UK operation of a major U.S. global company. Unfortunately, the idea backfired as he enjoyed such rapid success with one of the pups that Lesley saw even less of her husband!

Over the ensuing years John’s passion for training, working, breeding, and competing with his dogs have resulted in consistent awards in both Field Trials and Working Tests in his native England. It has also led to a steady stream of people beating a path to his door looking for either fully trained dogs- or for their own dogs to be trained.

The needs of John’s customers vary from providing basic obedience, fully trained shooting companions, through to dogs trained to Field Trial standard. The majority of the customers since moving to the United States are people who want both a family pet and a very useful retriever when they go hunting.

 

An avid bird hunter himself, John is able to provide training for both dog and handler for those customers who shoot either walked up or driven game. Since arriving in the United States, John’s ability to work six dogs on different retrieves simultaneously ensures that he and his dogs are in high demand on the finest pheasant release and tower shoots from New Jersey to Virginia.

With both their children living in Virginia, John and Lesley decided to reunite the family by leaving the United Kingdom and moving to the beautiful country side of the foothills of Skyline Drive.