FORMER Wellington rugby player Bradley Field has opened a new dog training facility next to the Cave Vets in West Buckland.

Bradley, 35, who went on to play professionally for Gloucester, Hartpury and Doncaster Knights, started playing rugby at Wellington at the age of five.

He began his dog training career in 2016 after he retired from rugby. “Within four years I have managed to build a solid reputation for helping clients and their dogs with my one-to-one training,” he said earlier this week.

“I am also in the process of setting up my sister company Somerset K9 Cuts dog grooming studio which will be run by a local groomer.

“When Covid hit I was really worried about my business but I sat back and wondered how I could make it better, and so I started to make enquiries in regards to having my own place where clients could come to me on a one-to-one basis.

“Now I have this facility I can now not only help with behaviour modification but also train dogs in bite work and protection. Every month I travel to Bradford for decoy and protection dog training with my own dog and to learn more from the best in the country.

n Bradley’s last match before retiring was for Doncaster Knights who played Bristol in the Championship final at Ashton Gate. His retirement was brought on by injuries and this enabled him to pursue his dog training career full-time.