Me with Poppy and Charlie by Coniston Water 2009



My name is Wendy Shufflebotham and I live in the village of Biddulph Moor which is situated in the Staffordshire Moorlands, on the edge of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-biddulphgrangegarden.htm
 
I have a 2 Chocolate Labrador's, Charlie and Poppy. Charlie is our second 'Choccie' as my beloved Holly passed away very unexpectedly at the end of 2007. Poppy was born on New Years Day 2009. She has a great temperament (many thanks to Jane Kelly of Donisthorpe Labradors for breeding such lovely dogs) and she comes to work with me to demonstrate exercises and to help dogs that have had poor socialisation. Poppy has her own page on my site, so that everyone can follow her training and development.  I also hope to breed from her in 2012.   

I always knew that I would end up working with animals, one way or another, as my Grandparents ran a farm. I also wanted to be a vet when I was 12. I have worked in an advertising agency, a ceramic transfers studio and an antique restoration studio but this is where I belong as I have a great love for dogs.

I met my partner Paul and when we got our house we decided to have a Chocolate Labrador puppy which we called Holly. I always wanted to properly train a dog so enrolled at a local class. Holly was a clever girl and we soon rose to the advanced class where we learned competitive obedience but we never competed. We did however complete the Bronze, Silver and Gold KCGCDS. I then had the opportunity to rescue a Labrador and I took Holly with me and she chose Charlie, a darker Chocolate Labrador. Charlie had a few problems but over time we have overcome a lot together and he has a great character and we love him to bits. 

As a 'family' we enjoy days out to the seaside but as soon as they smell the sea its like having a car full of excited kids! 

Myself, Paul and our MG's (my ZT-T, Paul's MGF and our MGB roadster - no room for dogs!) enjoy classic car shows and now and then we take Charlie and Poppy with us as there is plenty of room in my ZT-T. 

I began training dogs full time in 2002, training all breeds of dog of all ages and I love it.   

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