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Matthew BerryMy real passion is working dogs.  I actively trained and worked Tracker dogs in the SADF whilst serving my national service with the Equestrian and Dog school.  We were working on a Project which had us using dogs and horses together on long distance tracking as well as working with the patrol, explosive and narcotics dogs.  This gave me huge exposure into the use and training of all Military dogs.  Working on the Zimbabwean border near the Kruger Park, it was fantastic to be exposed to Africa in its raw state and who better to share it with than my best friend "Blaze", a yellow lab and top notch tracker dog.

This planted the seed and from the first week of coming home I was training dogs for friends and family.

 

I then joined up with Professional trainer, Don Pead who taught me much of what I know today.  He instilled in me a deep understanding for dogs and taught me the finer arts of Obedience, Protection and Tracking.  I then branched out on my own in 1991 and moved into the Hillcrest area only to join forces with Don a year later again.  My interests moved into sheepdog work and I successfully trained "Dash", a rescue border collie into Natal Juniors Champion and competed on Seniors level, all the while training dogs professionally.  I worked dogs for many of the Shutzhund clubs on the bite work side and helped many handlers qualify their dogs in breed survey and Shutzhund.  Along the way I trained up countless specialised tracker and security dogs for Farm watch operations.  I started working groups with farmers focussing on  personal protection dogs and had a fantastic group of Australian Cattle dogs herding cattle in Underberg.

 

I have always had an interest in animal behaviour and now consult on Canine Behavioural issues with referrals from many of the vets in KZN. 

 

My working dog interests shifted to gundogs and since have developed a team of trainers who compete regularly in the Retriever Trials and HPR trials.  I run a kennel in Vrede, OFS which specifically trains dogs for wingshooters and field trialists.  I breed Deutsch Drahthaar, Labradors and Pointers.  In 2007 I was appointed as Chairman of the Natal Hunt, Point and Retrieve Club.

 

At present I  and am currently developing projects with farmers in the Eastern Cape and Free state utilizing Stock guarding dogs, making farming more profitable  by humanely controlling predators and offering a deterrent against stock thieves. I have become involved with “Drugdogz” an initiative to utilize dogs for the indication of the presence of drugs within the school environment thus bringing awareness and a deterrent factor, making our schools a safer place for our children.
  

     

A Few words from Matthew:

    

Things have definitely changed in the last few years.  On the positive side there was the fantastic shift to positive reinforcement techniques and a greater understanding and awareness of animal behaviour.  On the negative side, dogs seem to be getting the short end of the stick.  Our lives have got busier, more demanding and definitely more restrictive from the dogs’ point of view as many of us flock to “Estate Living”.

Where does that leave the family dog?

That is the reason why we have revised our existing Training Courses and developed new Training Solutions.  So whatever your dog’s training needs, we have the Training Solution to suit you and your dog.

    

Working with dogs takes passion and commitment that is what my team and I guarantee you.  We have worked with thousands of people and dogs over the years and developed an understanding of what is needed to create a harm- onious relationship between man and dog.  Our job is not only to train your dog but to educate you.  This is not always easy as the dogs behaviour is easier changed than yours.

My belief is that a dog should have a purpose, his instincts utilised correctly, his education process developed positively and discipline administered fairly and kindly.