Personal profile - by Luke Hura

EARLY TRAINING DAYS

I began in 1973 when I purchased my first dog a Labrador Retriever named Rusty. In July of that year I began obedience training at Port Adelaide Obedience Dog Club. By February of 1974 I entered my first obedience trial. We obtained three straight passes in Novice and went straight into Open where again we received our title in just three straight trials. Within twelve months of completing Open we gained our Utility title. Just two months later we travelled to Canberra where we competed in three trials including the 1975 Australian National Obedience Trial. We not only won our class at each of the trials but we either gained the highest score or were deemed the best of the winners. The highlight of all three trials was being awarded the highest scoring dog at the National after a run off.

After two years of success in obedience trials my interests began to change. I began training dogs for people who had problems with not only obedience, but also training in protection work also. Later through the tracking club of S.A, I was fortunate enough to meet Mason Clarke and be guided by him in the areas of protection training- and tracking. Mason was Kennel Master at Weapons Research in South Australia during the 50's and 60's. Over a fifteen-year period he trained some very famous dogs mostly in the areas of tracking and also gave me my first contacts in the television industry.

INTRODUCTION INTO THE FILM AND TELEVISION ARENA

In 1980 I did my first television commercial. To date I have amassed well over 400 commercials, numerous television series, films' photo shoots and theatre plays. This was with not only dogs but also many animals including cats' pigs, rats, chickens and cows, to name a few. During this early stage I also ran my dog training Centre. Over a four-year period, I trained over three hundred dogs from terriers to St Bernard's. I dealt with many temperaments varying from nervous, aggressive, neurotic, abused or just good pets. I consider this time as my apprenticeship.

Some' of' the productions we have trained animals for include: Neighbours, Blue Heelers, Halifax, Stingers, Driven Crazy, Me Myself 1, Muggers, Sally Marshall is not an Alien, Thunderstone, Good guys Bad guys, Queen Kat Carmel and St Jude, The Adventures of Lano and Woodley (series 2), Full Frontal, Doom Runners, Man From Snowy River, State Coroner, Law of the Land, A Country Practice, Bob Morrison Show (series 1&2), Simon DC Bouviour Babies, Mission Top Secret, Correli, Janus, The Damnation of Harvey McHngb, Miraculous Mellops (series 1&2), Chances, Good Vibrations, Boys from the Bush, Dingo, to name a few.

Current TV Commercials include: Solo, Trim & Terrific Milk (cow), Zyrtec, RACV Mercedes Benz, Physical, Whiskas, Bristol Paints, White King & Maxibon, Sentinel and Berger Paints.

Since starting in 1980 this has become a full time business employing all of my family including my wife Anne, son Jason, and daughter Leeza. I also employ many other people on a casual basis. Currently I am regarded as Australia's most experienced and successful film and television dog trainer.

To Book Luke for seminars and workshops please contact Canine Events

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Links checked26/4/07
Code checked 26/4/07