About us

Hartmoor Gundogs is a family-run gundog training business owned and operated by Chris Holland MGoDT, based in the beautiful, wild moors of the North Pennines in the North of England. Training takes place in real working country, producing honest, capable gundogs suited to life in the field as well as steady, well-balanced dogs at home.


Chris has a lifelong passion for gundogs and many years of hands-on experience training and working dogs in demanding terrain and conditions. His approach is rooted in practical fieldcraft, backed by a deep understanding of canine behaviour, learning, and the working heritage of gundog breeds. He has trained and worked across all gundog types — Retrievers, Spaniels, and HPRs — with experience in breeds including Labradors, Golden and Flatcoat Retrievers, Springer and Cocker Spaniels, Hungarian Vizslas, German Shorthaired Pointers, Weimaraners, Portuguese Pointers, Slovakian Rough-Haired Pointers, and Bavarian Mountain Hounds.


Training at Hartmoor Gundogs is straightforward, effective, and fair. Methods are modern and positive, but always practical and field-tested. Chris works dogs for real work — from steady picking-up and driven days to hunting, pointing, tracking, and blood trailing. Whether your aim is field trials, working tests, shooting days, or simply developing a capable and fulfilled gundog, training is tailored to the level and purpose you want to achieve.


Chris currently owns and works Hungarian Vizslas, a German Shorthaired Pointer, and Bavarian Mountain Hounds. His particular focus on HPRs has led to extensive study of their origins, instincts, and working abilities, allowing him to train them honestly and to a high standard. He also specialises in blood tracking with breeds such as the Bavarian Mountain Hound, where success depends on understanding ground conditions, scent, weather, and the dog’s physical and mental state — and being able to read the dog in real time.


Training is approached holistically but without gimmicks. Each dog is treated as an individual, with methods adapted to suit their temperament, drive, and physical capability. Chris also works closely with handlers, adjusting instruction to build confidence, clarity, and strong teamwork. All training is designed to be constructive and rewarding, producing dogs that work with purpose, resilience, and reliability in the field.


Chris is a Specialist Dog Trainer registered with the Guild of Dog Trainers and a signatory of the Registration Council of Dog Trainers and Behaviour Practitioners.


Qualifications


  • Level 3 OfQual Diploma in Canine Training and Behaviour
  • Level 3 OfQual Diploma in Canine Studies: Care & Welfare
  • Level 3 Diploma in Canine Behaviour and Training (Distinction)
  • Level 4 Diploma in Canine Behaviour and Training (Higher Distinction)
  • Level 5 Diploma in Canine Behaviour and Training (Distinction)
  • Level 3 Diploma in Canine First Aid & CPR (Higher Distinction)
  • Level 3 Diploma in Canine Nutrition
  • Level 3 Diploma in Kennel Management (Higher Distinction)