Meet the people behind CHUK

Camilla Hamilton

Based near Ballymena, Milla is Ireland’s only Level 2 Advanced Accredited Hoopers Instructor and proud recipient of the prestigious CHUK Super Trainer Award. With more than seven years of experience in the sport, Milla has become renowned for her holistic and motivational approach to training, focusing on the partnership between dog and handler to bring out the best in both.

Through her club, Allsortz Dog Sportz, Milla runs weekly classes, workshops, competitive shows, and her now legendary Hoopers camps, attracting participants from across Ireland and beyond.

Her passion and energy have played a key role in developing the Hoopers community, inspiring handlers of all levels to achieve their training goals in a fun and supportive environment.

When not coaching, Milla can be found competing with her 12 dogs—10 spirited Papillons and 2 cheerful Westies—in both Hoopers and Agility.

An all-round animal lover and competitor, she also excels in dressage, riding her horse Polly to an advanced level.

Milla’s commitment to canine sport and her deep understanding of teamwork make her one of Ireland’s most dynamic and sought after Hoopers instructors.

Hayley Laches

Hayley is based in South Lincolnshire and runs Taming Canines, a dog training club based near Billinghay. Hayley has been the driving force behind bringing Hoopers to the UK and has been successfully teaching and running Hoopers/NADAC style competitions since 2015.

Hayley also competes in agility using distance handling with a range of different breeds currently spanning grades 3 to 7 at the Kennel Club. When not training or competing in agility and hoopers, Hayley spends her time competing in Bikejor and doing other dog related activities such as K9SUP, heelwork to music freestyle and working with dogs with behavioural issues.Hayley does a lot of 1-2-1 training specifically aimed at problem solving for handlers and their dogs. Hayley only teaches using positive methods that involve games and free shaping.

Hayley has applied her many years sports training experience along with her professional training qualifications to develop and deliver our Accredited Instructor Programme throughout the UK, her passion for developing trainers and sports dogs is evident.

Find out more about Hayley and the services she offers here: www.tamingcanines.co.uk

Jan Smith

Jan Smith has been doing Hoopers since 2018. Prior to this she competed in agility, running at KC Championship level. Whilst waiting for herhip replacement she swapped from Agility to Hoopers. Learning distance handling was just what she needed and she has never looked back. Unfortunately Jan lost her Hoopers dog back in January 2021. In May Jan rehomed a Lurcher Collie Cross who is now 11 months old and they are embarking on their new Hoopers journey together.

Jan is a Level 2 Advanced Accredited Instructor and she teaches at Top Farm Hoopers and also for Felthorpe Hoopers.

Jan is also the area rep for Norfolk and is often found helping others out with shows and events.

Jessica Burrow (Moorcroft)

Jessica is a Level 2 Advanced Accredited Hoopers Instructor based in Birmingham, just a short distance from Cadbury World, where the smell of chocolate often drifts by on her dog walks!

She discovered Hoopers at the end of 2020 and quickly fell in love with the sport’s inclusive and fun approach. Jessica now teaches weekly Hoopers classes, helping dogs and their owners grow in confidence, teamwork and have fun together.

Alongside teaching, Jessica runs MoorPaws an award-winning pet care services business, which she started at only 18 years old. She also holds a First-Class Honours degree in Mathematics, achieving an extra award for the highest overall mark at her university. She now private tutors GCSE and A-Level Maths weekly. Her love of numbers even helps when working out the perfect angles for hoopers courses!

Jessica shares her life with her wonderful yellow Labradors: Effy, Lily-Ann, Myra and Bailey- who she shares with her mum. Each of them has their own wonderful personality and brings endless happiness and quite often laughter!

Martin Hart

Martin is based in Scotland, just outside the outskirts of Glasgow.

I am a L2 Advanced Accredited Instructor. I run my own hoopers club on the Isle of Cumbrae which is a 10 min ferry Journey from Largs on the mainland. Everyone in my group is just starting out on their hoopers journey. There is not a lot for dogs to do on the Island in the way of any type of training. I thought hoopers would be an ideal and accessible dog sport for people to get involved in and so started my own club, Millport Canine Hoopers, from scratch.

I am also running a Glasgow based club Hoopers at Hart. I have two dogs which are both rescues, Lola who is a almost 4 year Lab Rottweiler cross and Sam who is a 2 year old Border Collie who did not take to sheep.

I got into hoopers as I knew I was taking on a big dog who would need something to keep her enriched and that it would also be fun for both of us. I understand what it is like to compete with a yellow dog, as my Border Collie can be quite nervous but we work through that either using NFC or exploring other training methods.

Learning the new skills through CHUK. I decided that it would be great to teach others how great their dogs and themselves could be, so I decided to become an instructor. I judge at all levels at most of the CHUK shows in Scotland as well as the Tri-Score and National Finals . I am often seen chatting to people and noseying about their dogs and their progress. I have a keen interest in dog training and dog behaviours, being involved in hoopers training has really inspired my interest to work towards qualifications in other areas of dog training and behaviour. It has helped me understand what can be possible for a dog and never to give up on them.

I served in the Army as a Telecommunications technician for 9 years and now work at an IT consulting engineer and lead a team of consultants. I also practice Taekwondo in the little spare time that I have and I am currently a Green belt with Blue Tags.