About Keith

The Dog Guru

Keith Mathews ‘The Dog Guru’

The term ‘EXPERT’ is freely used when the media, in particular, wish to garner the opinion of an informed individual on any given topic.

It is therefore refreshing to find an individual for whom the term might have been invented !

Television Dog Trainer

Keith Mathews aka ‘The Dog Guru’ is Ireland’s most famous Dog Trainer, Gundog Trainer and Canine Behaviourist.  Star of his own hit Dog Training Television Series ‘Good Dog Bad Dog’, which aired on the BBC which specialised in dealing with domestic dogs and their behavioural problems and broadcaster of the Internationally acclaimed “Retriever Training – Guru Style” Series of Gundog Training DVD Programmes.

Keith has also appeared many times as the canine expert on the BBC One flag ship programme ‘The One Show’ which reaches audiences in excess of 8.5 million people.  It was through this show that his BBC producers give him the name ‘The Dog Guru’.

International Field Trial Judge For Retrievers

Keith Mathews is an International ‘FCI’ ‘A’ Panel Field Trial Judge for Retrievers with the Irish Kennel Club as well as a Field Trial Judge with the English Kennel Club.

Keith has Judged Field Trials and Working Tests in many countries around the world including Denmark, England, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Scotland, Sweden & South Africa.

Breeder of  The Copperbirch Champion Labrador Retrievers

As a breeder, Keith’s Copperbirch Labrador Retriever line is one of the most sought after Irish working lines in the world and has been the Top Producing Labrador Retriever Kennel in Ireland for the last decade.

Keith has bred The Irish Retriever of the Year. The three times winner of the Icelandic Championship. The Australian Retriever of the Year, The French Retriever Champion and Field Trial Champions who have been placed in the Irish Championship as well as Field Trial Champions who have qualified for the IGL British Retriever Championship. Keith has bred numerous  Field Trial Champions globally as well as over 40 Labradors who have gained Field Trial awards in several different countries around the world.

Gifted from a child

Born and raised by a family of animal lovers, in the beautiful Co.Armagh countryside close to the town of Tandragee. From an early age Keith’s parents both noticed that he had a natural and unique mystical connection with dogs.

While growing up as a young boy Keith embraced his gift and passionately studied books on dog psychology and training. But it was through his own observation and awareness and first hand experience that Keith developed his own unique formula for dog training.
Experimenting with his parents dogs first then his own it was clearly visible that Keith had the ‘magic touch’ when it came to training dogs.

A Dog Trainer at 12 Years Old

At the age of twelve Keith began holding obedience classes for wayward dogs and owners on Saturday mornings at the field in front of his parents home.

Word, about this remarkable and gifted young dog trainer from Tandragee began to spread and people travelled from as far away as Monaghan, Belfast and from all over Co.Armagh to attend his Saturday morning obedience classes.

Dogs owners were intrigued by this young twelve year old boy, who could help them overcome the problems they were experiencing with their dogs. Indeed his parents watched with pride, as their only son captivated an adult audience.

School Boy Business Man

Keith’s interest and involvement with dogs and their culture intensified as he grew older. By the time he was 16 years old he had built and was running a boarding kennel on his parents land.  Keith did not allow his interest in dogs to interfere with his education.  At his secondary school, where he was deputy head boy, he was found to have an aptitude for business & science related studies.  However on completion of his ‘A’ levels he decided, much to the chagrin of his parents that a university education would narrow rather than broaden his avenues of opportunity.

Dog Groomer & Pet Shop Owner

Over the next few years Keith sampled and developed various business ventures designed to enhance his vision of a canine embracing future. Dog Kennelling, Pet Shop ownership, Pet Grooming. These were chosen deliberately to increase his knowledge of dogs and their unique world. By close observation of dogs in his care during these activities Keith was greater able to understand what ‘Made Them Tick’.  At one time Keith was the youngest business man with high street premises in Tandragee (his home town).  However one aspect of his business remained constant, Dog Obedience Classes. Initially in Tandragee and gradually throughout Belfast and Counties Armagh, Down, Tyrone, Antrim, Derry and Fermanagh.

During the next few years Keith developed a marketing company ‘Copperbirch Marketing Ltd’ which eventually enabled him to finance his dream ‘Keith Mathews ‘The Dog Guru’’.  After studying Canine Psychology and Behaviour and through his eclectic repertoire and experiences of working with animals, Keith pursued his passion of dog training & canine behaviour in a full time capacity.

Keith’s careful study of wolves behaviour patterns in the wild and his study of dogs during puppy play and interaction in adolescent & early adulthood has enabled him to deepen his understanding and so allow him to share his knowledge with others. His careful attention to detail in his study of all aspects of dogs upbringing and his fusion of ideas and practices taken from an eclectic range of sources have allowed him to develop a unique style of dog training, his highly successful and acclaimed “Calmness Leads To Reward” Dog Training Formula’.

We hope that for many years to come this remarkable dog trainer will continue to delve into the beautiful and mystical world of man’s best friend and entertain us with his informative and entertaining television appearances and we as a dog loving nation will be all the richer for it !