ABOUT

We are an international dog training school, with an expert team and quality facilities, based in Perthshire – Scotland.

Our Story

Our Experts

Our Facilities

|  OUR STORY

Mordor Gundogs was founded in 2003 by Charlie Thorburn with the ambition to create a dog training school for family pets that work in the shooting field. What started as an individual endeavour, soon became a family business, and eventually an established company with a skilful team onboard. Since those early days, Mordor Gundogs has grown arms and legs, with an ever growing international reputation for quality dog training and breeding. Our dogs are now spread across the globe, from the South Island of New Zealand all the way to north of the Arctic circle in Alaska, and plenty of stops in between.

© Yellow Dog Photography

Charlie Thorburn was born into a British Army family, moving permanently to Scotland at the age of three. His childhood was spent surrounded by working gundogs and, later on, at university he acquired his first ‘trained’ dog – Moss, a springer spaniel. After an arduous first formal shoot together, Charlie expanded his gundog training interest into a serious hobby to ensure better results. Hours were spent watching videos, reading books, seeking advice, asking questions, watching other gundog trainers and handlers, then putting it into practice with Moss. After a great deal of trial and error “the Mordor way” started to be developed. Not long after, Charlie acquired a second working dog – Jasper, a cocker spaniel, then a gamekeeper friend offered him Rhum, a labrador puppy (which turned out, to this day, to be the best gundog he has ever had). These three dogs became the forefathers of all that Mordor Gundogs is today, so far stretching across twelve generations. Thanks to Charlie’s entrepreneurial spirit, vision and growth mindset, along with a lot of hard work and a great team, he built his business around his passion and has never looked back. Mordor Gundogs is a dream come true.

|  OUR EXPERTS

Meet our team of specialist professionals.

Charlie

General Dogsbody

Charlie is the face of the business and leads the team by example, without hesitating to get involved in all work. He is always busy, “if you want something done, best ask a doggy person!”.

Antonia

General’s Assitant

Antonia married Charlie in 2011, but had already long since been part of the team. She’s head of morale, ever keen to assist and look after everyone, while also being a host for clients staying with us.

Fiona

Office Manager

Fiona has been a key team member for a long time. She is our Office Manager, taking care of all the intricate admin and being the first point of contact, who knows all clients and dogs alike.

Ben

Trainer

Ben joined the team in 2019 after working  for Sealpin Gundogs. He’s responsible for many of the fully trained gundogs, as well as in charge of the demos team, performing at various events.

Cat

Trainer

Cat joined the team during the 2020 lockdown and her enthusiasm for all things ‘dog’ quickly led her to look after the puppies, help raise them and, eventually, train most of the family pets.

Ash

Trainer

Ash has joined us recently but his willingness to roll up his sleeves, learn and help with a gentle smile are now a trade mark. Once a gamekeeper and barber, his true passion and skill is indeed dogs.

FIFI

Trainer

Fifi has been a valued team member for many years, with a contagious passion! Beside gundogs, she’s our assistance dogs expert & also qualified in canine laser therapy, with a veterinary background.

Lauren

Trainer

Lauren has joined us from a dog loving background. She’s attentive to detail & the tidiest, most organised person we have ever met. In-between training family dogs, she keeps the place spick and span!

Freddie & Jack

Troublemakers

Freddie & Jack are vital to our ‘family pets that work’ philosophy. Their wild presence & mischief tests the dogs (and trainers!), but ensures they are prepared to cope with almost anything.

|  OUR FACILITIES

We pride ourselves on keeping all dogs in the highest standard of accommodation. Since 2006 we’ve invested in high quality, custom built facilities to house them, which more than meet the regulations set by the professional kennelling authorities. Our indoor kennels include eco heating from biomass boilers and underground drainage, to help maintain a comfortable and immaculately clean environment for the dogs. We ensure that they have plenty of human and canine company every day and, of course, that they enjoy the stunning Scottish countryside — a perfect place to raise and train them.

COME VISIT THE MORDOR GUNDOGS HEADQUARTERS

© Yellow Dog Photography

|  CONTACT DETAILS

Get in touch and find out how we can better help you and your dog.

HOW TO REACH US AND WHERE TO STAY

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