Peter Ross, MBIPDT
As a child, Pete was never without a dog and this has continued to the present day. His vocation was starting to show at an early age. At just 7 years old he had trained the family's Black Labrador followed shortly after with his own Fox Terrier "Trixie" and by 11 years of age had trained 4 dogs, adding a friend's Rough Collie and a neighbour's Heinz 57 cross-breed to the list. In his late teens Pete owned his first German Shepherd Dog "Lady" and having some success with his own style of training he thought he'd like to attend proper dog training classes so took up Pet Training at his local Dog Training Clubs. In no time Pete found he enjoyed Competition Obedience and was competing in Club Obedience matches and local Obedience Shows which gave him valuable experience. He gained his Instructor's Certificate in 1974.
The next dog in Pete's life was Spartan, another GSD who became a prize winner in both Working Trials and Obedience disciplines.
Pete is justifiably proud of the achievements of his beloved Kelly, a very small rescued Collie. Kelly had been rejected from four previous homes. When he first met her she was a frightened, timid little dog but with Pete's gift she was transformed into a winner. In her first ever Trial she qualified with only 7 hours total tracking experience and went on to compete around the country gaining many prizes and gained CDex, UDex, WDex and TDex. This amazing little dog even got TDex (the top qualification in Working Trials) at the first attempt and with a high mark.
Around this time Pete found and trained a sad Welsh Springer Spaniel who became a top working Gun Dog on the Parmoor and Hampden Estates in Buckinghamshire. Pete also trained him to CD Working Trials Standard.
At times Pete would also handle other people's dogs for enjoyment and win prizes with them, both Working Trials and Obedience.
Around the age of 40 Pete acheived one of his greatest ambitions. He trained his own beautiful big hairy GSD Pacer to become Working Trials Champion CDex UDex WDex TDex, a magnificent achievement. Pacer qualified TDex many times after this.
During his career Pete has attended numerous Instructor's courses and is familiar with all the current methods of training.
He feels very lucky to have trained with and been influenced by some of Dogdom's greats - trainers with exceptional wisdom and ability.
Norman Hills (Totnes), Norman Braithwaite (Kiniver), Charlie Whyant (Littlebourne), Bill Hardaway (Southern Alsatian Training Society
and now Vice Chairman of the Kennel Club) and several of today's other top handlers.
Pete has had strong connections with the two biggest societies, the Associated Sheep, Police and Army Dog Society and the British
Association of German Shepherd Dogs, both as a competitor and a judge. These two societies host many of the major events.
Pete is also a qualified KC Good Citizens Dog Scheme assessor.
Other honours also include Judging the British Doberman Club Working Tests in 1966 and the German Shepherd League of Gt. Britain North vs South competition in 2000. These were both prestigious special events.
