Testimonials

Great training sessions with Abbie and her team. My older dog loves the water training and now my young puppy has just started her classes. The training teaches the owner how to get the best out of their dog and to use consistent techniques to achieve this. Can’t commend them highly enough.

I don't have a competitive Labrador at the moment! I have a 10 year old picking up dog and a 14 month puppy! However I do have an HPR, a German Wirehaired Pointer who I bred ( still have her mother)! Winter has been joining Riverlily classes (spasmodically I admit) to improve her retrieving skills! She seems to hold her own now in the Open/Working dog groups and her water work has vastly improved!

We ran 5 trials this season with awards in two, the second thanks to long distance marking that we had done in classes  It's no good finding and pointing birds for guns if you can't get them back!

I have been training with Riverlily Working Dogs for over 10 years. Abbie Reid and her Team are very enthusiastic and professional.  I would highly recommend them to anyone wishing to train their gundogs.

Riverlily was recommended to me by a chance chat with another dog owner while walking my young Labrador nine years ago; acting on that recommendation was the best thing I did in my new life as a dog owner. I now have two Labradors, both trained at Riverlily, and both happier, more stimulated, better behaved, life enhancing dogs for it. My dogs are very different, one hot headed and driven, one eager to please and can lack in confidence, Riverlily has been amazing for both and has adapted the dogs (and my!) learning for their personalities. Riverlily has, and continues to be, a place of friendship, fun, new skills, beautiful fields and woods and a magical way for me to bond so closely with my dogs. I really recommend Riverlily to become part of every dog owners’ life. 

Thanks to Abbie and her team who have welcomed Hugo my super keen Labrador and I into the Riverlily family. We have learned a lot and appreciate the time and patience you have given to us on our gundog training journey. Looking forward to many more fun training sessions. Thanks Claire and Hugo x

Abbie and her team ‘get ‘ dogs and their training works . No issue is too difficult. They have that rare ability to ‘read dogs and communicate to owners, solutions that are clear, encouraging , positive and that work. Labs and cockers love to work and gun dog training is a great way of channelling their natural abilities into a strong, trusting dog/owner relationship. Gun dog training with Riverlily has added a huge, new and enjoyable dimension to owning a Labrador .

Abbie is a great dog trainer but more than that she is good with people.  As the saying goes you train the dog in front of you… Abbie goes further and appreciates how important it is to  train the person in front of her.  She is welcoming, approachable, calm and kind. I have always enjoyed the workshops that I have attended and I look forward to booking more with my two youngsters.

I’ve been training my dogs for picking up for 14 years and discovered Riverlilly Working Dogs in the last 2, when I was looking to enter some working tests and wanted more specific instruction. I learn something new in every training session and it has given me the confidence to start competing. They have also been great with my young dog who lacked some confidence. There is a lovely social side to the training as well and it is such a comfort to see so many familiar friendly faces now when I turn up to a competition. Thank you!

I have been training with Abbie at Riverlily Working Dogs for the last twelve and half years. Abbie has helped me work with my four Labradors over this time, teaching me how to produce, well behaved, reliable, steady dogs.

We are invited to shoots on a regular basis, which is such a compliment. Training is always lots of fun, with like minded people. I highly recommend it.

The trainers at Riverlily are so positive and supportive. A great community has evolved with us all providing encouragement to each other, making the training very enjoyable and effective whether it is just to have better behaved dogs at home, compete in working tests, or to take them out in the shooting field.

I have been visiting Abbie at Riverlily with Monty and later with Nala since 2017. The training methods are easy to understand and implement without over complicated steps thrown in until you and your dog are ready for them. The individual needs of dog and handler are understood and the support from Abbie and her team allows us to work at our
pace to get the best from handler and dog. I say allows us! As I still regularly attend training to brush up and reinforce commands during the competition season. The training at Riverlily uses positive praise and treats as reward and the improvements with both my dogs over the years have been excellent. Without the guidance from Abbie I doubt that I would have been as successful with Nala as I have been.

Abbie and the team are always professional,  enthusiastic and patient no matter what the British weather. Training is aways fun and varied and I always learn insightful tips as to how to get the best out of my dog. They also happily put up with some owners not doing their homework  (it is normally the owners rather then the dogs that need the work). I highly recommend them even if you are not interested in your dog actually becoming a gun dog or going entering tests, as you will end up with a highly trained and happy dog.

I very quickly came around to the fact that I am having the lessons rather than the puppy. The dog instinctively seems to know what to do as long as I tell her in the right way…. and it is extraordinary how Abbie at Riverlily knows and is teaching me the right way for every situation. I am not sure who enjoys the lessons more, the puppy or me …. you can physically see the enjoyment in the puppy when she gets it right! I couldn’t recommend Riverlily more, Abbie is very knowledgeable, extremely patient with me and great fun to work with. This is the first dog I have had lessons with and what a difference it is to have a well behaved dog that does as it is asked (most of the time)….

Abbie and her team at Riverlily are fantastic! They create a positive and friendly atmosphere, taking into account every individual’s (dog and human) aims and requirements, and setting exercises up accordingly.  

They are encouraging at the same time as being honest….the perfect balance, even on the days when your dog has other things in mind! 

I would 100% recommend Riverlily’s sessions to anyone, whether just starting out, or wanting to progress with any aspect of their training.

As a trainer, finding a trainer with the same training ethos, and the same approach to training can be daunting and difficult. I am so pleased my path crossed with Abbie of Riverlily working dogs and that I now have a trainer I can confidently train my dog with, and who's methods I trust completely. I travel quite some distance to train with Abbie, and it is totally worth it. Thankyou Abbie

I started training with Riverlily when my labrador was 6 months old and it was the best decision. Training classes were always fun and so informative and we had attainable goals to take away and practice. The bond that has  developed between me and my dog Monty is priceless, and it’s all thanks to our Riverlily training. On top of that I have made many friends through gun dog training and everyone is encouraging and supportive of each other; it’s a lovely community.  When out and about and other dog walkers compliment me on Monty’s good manners, I always acknowledge and wholeheartedly recommend - Riverlily! 

I started training at Riverlily 4 years ago with our black labrador puppy.  I had never done anything like Gundog training but, as our puppy came from such a good line, it made sense to explore the mystery of a well trained dog! Abbie and the Riverlily team have been fantastic. Always encouraging, with good practical tips to master the more challenging commands. But training is also great fun and I personally love the fact that Abbie will share her 'disaster' stories which makes the mistakes we make easier to accept! The grounds they have access to are varied which allows for a good range of training from woodland to water and open fields.  We love training with Riverlily.