CASTLEMANS GUNDOGS
'ARE' DOGS FOR LIFE
Castlemans Gundogs / Dogs for Life
Philippa is based in Yorkshire, where she lives with her husband to be Hugh & their Labradors, Goldens, Cockers & Pointer/Lab cross.
She has been fortunate to have had people visit from as far as Japan, Australia, America Singapore, Finland and Sweden & the continent, some of whom originally saw her Training Dogs video which she had the pleasure to make with the late John Fisher.
Each dog and handler will be taken on their own merits and individual requirements will be met to bring out the best in every partnership. We pride ourselves in being able to accommodate a great selection of breeds that have come to enjoy themselves with our style of training.
Philippa Williams
Mainly from March to September
Philippa takes small weekly group lessons on a daily basis, double whammies which consists of an afternoon lesson then staying over for another lesson the next day which gives people the opportunity to travel if they are not local but need help support & advice. Your own groups plus 1-1’s can also be arranged when time permits.
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Since 1999 Philippa has demonstrated at Crufts, and also in the main arena just before best in show, of course, you can't get a better acknowledgment than that, the biggest Dog Show in the World and also at the Game Fair and many other Country events throughout the UK.
During the shooting season – August to January
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She is invited to work her dogs on many estates throughout England, Scotland and Wales – and will work up to 8 dogs at a time.
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She competes in Field Trials and is also a B Panel Judge
In the 2002 season her efforts resulted in her Golden Retriever Dog, Castlemans Beaver becoming Top Golden Retriever Dog in England, Scotland & Wales, gaining the most points in Field Trials.
In the same season her Golden Retriever Bitch Castlemans Classic Mood was awarded by the United Retriever Club, Top Dog or Bitch gaining the most points in Field Trials and Working Test.
Her Golden Retriever Bitch Castlemans Crunchy Lima also won the title for the most successful brood bitch with progeny gaining the most points for the season.
2005 – trialling her working cocker Secret and gaining various different awards (and was a famous celebrity in her own right at Crufts. See You Tube displays.)
2008 Philippa qualified for the International Gundog League Championships with Levenghyl Isle of Aaran (pet name -Monkey) who was and trained and handled by her. Monkey was included for the third day but later dropped.
2010 Monkey was made up to Field Trial Champion
2011 she ran Tweedshot Thistle of Levenghyl (Mango) in the International Gundog League Championships at Nevill Holt and gained a Diploma of Merit. Mango was the youngest dog competing that year at two and a half years old.
2012 Tweedshot Thistle of Levenghyl (Mango) was made up into a Field Trial Champion & she was only 2¾yrs of age.
2013 FTCH Tweedshot Thistle of Levenghyl (Mango) qualified again for the IGL Championships at Lauder in Scotland, getting through to the end of the second day.
2014 FTCH Tweedshot Thistle of Levenghyl (Mango) qualified for the International Gundog League Championships for the third time, this was held at Windsor Great Park by kind invitation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth on 1st, 2nd & 3rd December.
2016 FTCH Warranbank Monkeyson of Castlemans (Sparra), a son of Monkey's, qualified for the Championships twice that year. He got to the 3rd day & down to the last 6 dogs - which is very respectable.....
2017 - Philippa ran her home bred Golden Retriever, Castlemans Soul Mate, (Jai) at his first trial which he won.
2018 - In September, Castlemans Soul Mate, (Jai) won the Open Working Test at Chatsworth & was Top Dog in the singles. He won his second All Aged Stake, and also Guns Choice, and the youngest dog (at just two and a half). That same year he also qualified for the IGL Championships at Packington getting through to the last but one retrieve on the third day.
2019 - Castlemans Sonoran "Sunny", a son of "Mango", had his first open trialing season, gaining a couple of awards.
2021 - Botcherghyll Elder aka Timmy Train Set arrives at nearly a year of age & Philippa was his fourth home.
NGRA, All Aged Stake - 1st & Guns Choice & Best Retrieve of the day at Hy-Fly
2022 - YRFTS Guns Choice & Best Retrieve of the day at Dalton
2023 - LGDS 1st at Nevill Holt
2022 - Tay Valley 2 day open WIN on 21/22nd October at Strathallan Estate
The Yellow Labrador Club 2nd place on 23/24th November at BowHill.
IGL Championships at Holkham Estate though to the second day.
This is just a brief look at what Philippa has achieved personally over the years to date.
MAX FURNANDIZ
Maxine Furnandiz (known as Max to all) joined as a Dogs for Life member back in 2006 when she first came on a dog holiday
Max continues to do some of the admin for Philippa.
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She currently owns 3 Labradors and 3 Working Cockers.
Alongside everything else Max will see clients for foundation levels and problem solving issues and currently enjoys Hoopers alongside her gundog interests.
Photography is another passion
MAIKO ISONO
After 7 years as a student with DFL Maiko has now returned to Japan & took back with her Vespa, Berry and Puffin - who she has had multiple success with. She runs her own business - "Mighty Canine Campus" with huge following & Philippa goes out to Japan as often as she can to support her. Maiko returns to the UK as often as she can to top up her training/education with us & has even managed to bring her Golden Retriever which she bred in Japan so she can compete in the UK & has gained awards over here now as well as in Japan.
Whilst Maiko was training in the UK she achieved many things:
In October 2014 she ran in her first Novice Field Trial with Vespa one of Philippa’s dogs which they won and also got Gun's choice She also showed a Labrador "Mellow" in the Gundog class at Crufts & also won. This was her first attempt at showing with a dog that had never been in the show ring & won the class of thirty.
She passed the KC J'Reg's in FT Mgt exam too.....
So as we can see Maiko is very talented.
SIDNEY TILGHMAN
Sidney came into our lives in 2016 whilst researching and writing a piece on working dogs in the U.K.
In the time since the scope of Sidney's project has expanded and evolved, and she is now working on a book-length piece about Phillippa and her dogs. Sidney now lives & teaches back in Vermont & owns a Foxhound called Racer.
DAWN ASH
Dawn Ash- Bunting worked for me for 7 years she now runs her own very successful Pet Dog & Behaviour Training Business called No Longer in the Dog House and has a BSc (Hons) ABT.
Dawn is a veterinary recommended dog trainer and behaviourist with over 14 year’s experience offering bespoke training for both you and your dog.
Dawns ethos with every case is to look at the whole picture not just the behaviour and always uses positive reward techniques to ensure a happy learning journey for the whole family
CLAUDIA ATKINSON
Hiya! I'm Claudia,
I've been working along side Pip since 2015. I spent four of those years learning with Pip and her dogs.
I'm now fortunate enough to be running my own training business, but you can still find me throwing dummies when I'm needed!
I have now stepped into Philippa Shoes at Crufts by keeping the demonstrations going in the small arena.
I'm looking forward to seeing some old friends, and meeting some new faces going forward.