About Jill

Gundog trainer, handler and lifelong student of dogs

I’ve been teaching dog owners since around 2011 and started Develop Your Dog in 2013, but my involvement with working gundogs goes back even further.

I’ve spent nearly 20 years in the shooting field, initially beating before moving into picking-up, something I still do regularly throughout the shooting season with my own dogs.

That practical experience is an important part of how I teach. I don’t just teach gundog exercises; I train and work my own dogs, experience the same challenges as my clients and continue learning from every dog I have.

Because however long you’ve been training dogs, there’s always another one ready to teach you something new.

Training should be fun

For me, training a gundog is a journey. It takes time, patience and occasionally a rethink when something isn’t quite going to plan.

But it’s also hugely rewarding.

One of the things I love most about training is that moment when the communication clicks. Your dog suddenly understands what you’re asking, enjoys doing it and you realise you’re genuinely working together.

That’s what I want my clients to experience too.

I use positive, reward-based training and break skills down into achievable stages, adapting the training to the dog and handler in front of me.

I’m not interested in rushing dogs through exercises simply to get results. I’d rather take the time to build understanding and give both dog and handler the confidence to progress.

Trustpilot review: Jill is the most fantastic teacher and really helped us with our young springer spaniel from the very early stages. The lessons were fun and enjoyable and it was so fulfilling to watch our dog develop. The interactive videos that Jill sent us after each session to consolidate the training were really helpful. Jill is a wonderful trainer and we were delighted to be introduced to her. We could not recommend her highly enough. Phil and Tina.

Learning from my own dogs

My dogs have probably been some of my best teachers.

They’ve taught me that there is rarely only one way to train something, that what works for one dog may not work for the next, and that sometimes slowing down is the quickest way to make progress.

Ezra

Ezra was my first competitive gundog and, being an incredibly biddable and forgiving Labrador, he tolerated quite a lot of my learning along the way!

Wanting to progress meant that, at times, I was probably a little too eager to get results rather than taking the time to make every stage as thorough as it could have been. He’s taught me the value of slowing down, establishing strong foundations and not being in a hurry to reach the finished exercise.

We’ve gone on to enjoy success together in working tests. In 2026, Ezra was placed second in an Intermediate Working Test and was awarded a Certificate of Merit in the Open Working Test at Windsor Great Park.

An injury also taught me another important lesson: developing a working dog isn’t only about teaching the skills.

Rehabilitation and conditioning became an important part of getting Ezra back to doing what he loves, and maintaining his strength, fitness and physical capability is now just as much a part of his training as his gundog work.

Kiwi

Kiwi has been a very different training experience.

He’s a more sensitive dog who has needed me to break exercises down into smaller stages, give him more time and think carefully about how I communicate what I want.

He’s already accompanied me on the shooting field and we’re continuing to consolidate his training, with plans to give him more experience picking-up this season and hopefully begin some competitive work in the future.

If Ezra taught me not to rush, Kiwi continues to remind me why.

The rest of the team

Not every good gundog needs to be a competition dog.

Meg is a fantastic picking-up dog and has taught me an enormous amount about adapting training to the individual dog.

Wilf is currently training to join me picking-up, with the aim of starting his working career this coming season.

Different dogs. Different strengths. Different challenges.

And that’s very much how I approach the dogs who come to train with me too.

Experience backed by education

Alongside my practical experience, I’ve continued to develop my professional knowledge and qualifications.

I am a:

Qualified Gundog Trainers Academy Instructor
Gundog Club Instructor and Assessor
Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) Animal Training Instructor
Advanced Canine Behaviour and Psychology Diploma holder

My qualifications give me the science and theory behind how dogs learn. Years spent training, working and competing with dogs give me the practical experience to apply it.

And teaching owners for more than a decade has taught me something equally important: training the person at the other end of the lead matters too.

I want you to understand why we’re doing something, recognise when it’s working and know what to change when it isn’t.

Still learning

I don’t think you ever finish learning to train dogs.

Every dog presents something slightly different, and my own continue to challenge my thinking, improve my timing and occasionally remind me that I don’t know quite as much as I thought I did!

That’s part of what makes gundog training so enjoyable.

It’s not about racing towards a finished dog. It’s about developing skills, understanding each other and enjoying the process along the way.

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GunDOgs

Puppies

Jill Thorpe’s puppy and gundog training

qualifications and other accreditations

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Gundog Trainers Academy qualified instructor.

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Full instructor & assessor for the Gundog Club, teaching grades 1-3.

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Animal Training Instructor with the Animal Behaviour & Training Council

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Advanced Canine Behaviour and Psychology Diploma with the PETbc.

Jill regularly attends workshops and seminars to keep her knowledge up to date.

Here’s some feedback from clients Jill has helped

Family Springer Spaniel

I have been training with Jill in both 1-2-1 and group classes since my 2 year old Springer Spaniel, Max, was a puppy and would highly recommend her. She has a vast knowledge and is very supportive through all the highs and lows of dog training. All sessions are extremely informative, great fun and Jill is always happy to discuss any aspect of our training. I was new to gun dog training and, although I have no intention of working Max, I’m now hooked! Thank you Jill.

Jill has helped me to understand why Frankie does what he does and addresses our issues

“Please do not be misled into thinking that Develop your Dog, Jill Thorpe, is only suitable for people who want to take their dogs on a shoot or enter gun dog trials.

I have a very cheeky working cocker, who is fundamentally the family pet. We had tried traditional puppy classes held in a village hall but they really weren’t stimulating enough for either of us and failed to address his challenging behaviours.

Jill has helped me to understand why Frankie does what he does and addresses our issues with activities that are broken down into manageable stages and allow us to have fun.

Jill’s enthusiasm for her work and commitment to force-free, positive training is so apparent in her love for the dogs. She’s very patient with the owners too!

I fully recommend Develop your Dog to anyone wanting help training any dog. I’m so glad we found her and can’t imagine what I’d have done without her!”

To help control Sasha whilst on walks and with her behaviour towards other people and dogs.

“We are now more confident on walks as we now know how to deal with her. We are no longer avoiding people when out but are actually looking for people to walk past. Sasha has responded well to the training techniques you have shown us and we are continuing to follow what you have taught us. The changes in Sasha are visible inside and outside the house.”

Gundog Training Courses

Have you got a gundog breed at home? Would you like to train him/her for the shooting field, or would you just like to train your dog to a high level? I can help with these scenarios.