Matthew Berry's Boavida Canine Training Centre Matthew Berry

Dog trainers of Distinction

BOAVIDA KENNELS- Boavida Kennels and canine training centre is situated in Umlaas Road ,Camperdown.We started boavida Kennels in June of 1997 and since then things have really grown.We have developed from a one man show to having 10 permanent trainers who are specialist in their field.Our boarding kennels are very popular with dogs being walked at least twice per day on the farm .
MATTHEW BERRY-My real passion is working dogs.I actively trained and worked Tracker dogs in the SADF whilst serving my national service with the Equestrian and Dog school .We were working on a Project which had us using dogs and horses together as well as working with the tracker,patrol,explosive and narcotics dogs .This gave me huge exposure into the use and training of all Military dogs ,which was a totally exhilarating experience.Working on the Zimbabwe border near the Kruger Park it was fantastic to be exposed to Africa in its raw state and who better to share it with than my best friend "Blaze" a yellow lab.This set the seed and from the first week of coming home I was training dogs for friends and family .I then joined up with Professional trainer Don Pead who taught me much of what I know today.He instilled in me a deep understanding for dogs and taught me the finer arts of Obedience ,Protection and tracking.I then moved out on my own in 1991 and moved into the Hillcrest area.My interests moved into sheepdog work and I successfully trained "Dash" and made her into Natal Juniors Champion, all the while training dogs professionally. I worked dogs for many of the Shutzhund clubs and helped many handlers qualify their dogs.Along the way I trained up countless specialised tracker and security dogs for Farm watch operations .I started working groups with farmers with personal protection dogs and had a fantastic group of Australian Cattle dogs herding catlle in Underberg.At present I am actively running Boavida Kennels which has been in operation since 1997 and specialises in In-board training systems ,Boarding,and classes throughout Natal.
We breed Rottweilers ,Labradors, pointers,Deutsch Drahthaars and Anatolian Shepherds. I am the Chairman of the Natal Hunt,point and Retrieve Club and am currently developing projects with farmers in the Eastern Cape and Freestate utilizing Stockguarding dogs and Gundogs.