Article: Dog Days
Dog Days
What does it take to train elite protection dogs while juggling life on a busy dairy farm and showcasing it on social media? Calf rearer, dog trainer and influencer Ella Burnett explains.
Words by Molly Haynes
Ella Burnett takes a break from dairy farming in Cheshire to train with her Belgian Malinois, Juixe.
Wearing her Women's Kodiak Gilet in Russet with the Women's Infinity Leggings in Navy.
For Ella Burnett, it was love at first sight dog. “I’d always wanted a German Shepherd, but my mum said no. When I moved in with my boyfriend Johnny, I was determined to get one. But then a friend suggested Belgian Malinois, as they’re sportier.”
To see the breed in action, Ella’s friend took her along to the Crown PSA (Protection Sports Association) club in Cheshire. Popular in America, the sport sees both the dog and handler work through obedience and protection routines, with three levels of competition. Each level must be passed twice. It’s so challenging, there are only 32 PSA Level 3 dogs globally.
“As soon as I met Roo, I knew she was the dog for me,” says Ella. “I worked with my trainer April – who brought PSA to the UK – and achieved my entry level Protection Dog Certificate. But Roo wasn’t capable of going further. So I got Juixe, who’s passed Level 1 and should get Level 2 by the end of the year.”
Watching Ella put the dogs through their paces, it’s clear they’re as enchanted with her as she is with them. “Training the dogs with Crown PSA has given me a community of like-minded people,” she says. “I love meeting them at training and trials. It makes a change from talking to the cows. Johnny enjoys it, too.”
‘Training the dogs with Crown PSA has given me a community of like-minded people I love meeting them at training and trails. It makes a change from talking to cows.’
Ella met Johnny when she started working at his parents’ farm eight years ago. “Mum’s a beautician and does Johnny’s mum’s nails. At the time I was working at a cattle market and his mum suggested I try a job on the farm. Johnny and I didn’t speak for the first year – he thought I was intimidating, but I’m actually just shy.”
Farming wasn’t always on the cards for Ella, who once set her sights on the Olympics. “I was a gymnast from the age of 4 and trained with Team GB.
But eventually injuries and the frustration of missing out on life, made me stop.” Ella says the discipline of gymnastics has helped her both with PSA training and farming. “Having a competition mindset helps me focus during PSA trials,” she says.
“With the farm, the days are long like gymnastics, but I love it. I’m up at 5.30am to walk the dogs, then head to the farm. First it’s milking, feeding the calves and sorting them out. We do it all again at 2pm before ending the day with a dog walk and sleep.” She laughs as she admits her mum does her washing. “If I did it, it would sit in the machine for three days. The farm always comes first.”
Ella, a former Team GB gymnast, swapped balance beams for a life in the country and Crown PSA training.
Eight years in, Ella still gets attached to the calves who she cares for from four days old. “At first I cried daily if there was anything wrong with the calves. But I’m getting better at focusing on the herd rather than individuals. I don’t think I’ll ever change though – I’m soft-natured.”
Ella has won a legion of fans showcasing her life on the farm and PSA training on Instagram and TikTok. As well as sharing photos of her lurcher puppies, Foxy and Tig. “It started as a bit of fun, but I’d like to do it more,” she says. “I always try and do the latest TikTok trends though.”
Some of Ella’s most popular videos have over 1 million views as she uploads playful footage of her work and hobbies. But she admits there’s some negativity, usually criticising her outfits and connecting it to her ability as a farmer. “When that happens, the support I get from the farming community in the comments is amazing,” she says. “It makes me more determined to change the perception that girls can’t farm.”
Ella enjoys showcasing her Ridgeline brand partnership on social, too. “I like Ridgeline because it’s not just for farming. I can wear it when I’m training the dogs, riding, or just out and about. Right now, my Kodiak Gilet is an essential layer and I love the leggings because they don’t snag.”
As she increases her farming experience, Ella’s also thinking about what’s next. “I’d like to set up dog parks with agility and training, plus a petting farm where visitors can feed the animals. There’s not much locally for people who want to do things like that,” she explains.
And what does her mum think of her chosen career? “I think she thought it’d be a blip of me wanting to be country and I’d get over it. But then as the years went by she realised it wasn’t. She’s really proud of me and can’t believe how well I’m doing. She still does Johnny’s mum’s nails, although probably for free now.”
