Green light for Perthshire luxury doggy hotel

Planners back economics and job creation

The owner of Mordor Gundogs has described himself as a ‘eager to get going’ after plans for a new South Perthshire luxury ‘doggy hotel’ and vet practice was given the green light.

Charlie Thorburn started Mordor Gundogs from a run down farm near Dunning in 2003 and has now sold gundogs in 37 countries worldwide, outgrowing the current Craighead Farm premises.

His training videos have been known to achieve 1m views on YouTube and Mordor, which started out as ad hoc training for friends and peers’ dogs, is now arguably one of the biggest gundog breeding kennels in Europe.

Pooch pampering

The next stage of the owner’s business evolution has now been cleared by planners and the ‘Dog Ranch’ which will contain boarding and a high-end luxury kennel, with on-site grooming, for older dogs and pets, is set to proceed.

The blueprint will also fill a void locally, creating a new small-animal vet practice for the surrounding rural towns and villages around Auchterarder and Aberuthven which are currently under-serviced.

The vision was backed by planners, with 17 new full-time jobs to be created, on the proviso that the cottages which will house staff and students on-site are to be ‘employment-linked affordable housing’.

Contamination checks will also have to be undertaken at the Craigrossie Quarry site, which the Dog Ranch sits within, with the quarry being used for mineral extraction most recently.

Win-win

The development also fits council objectives to have sand and gravel quarrying ceased earlier than anticipated and the site restored; something which was subject to a separate application.

Restoration of the wider quarry site will now conclude in 2027, with work set to commence on the Dog Ranch imminently.

“The proposed Dog Ranch and associated gundog training facility would deliver clear and measurable economic benefits for the local area through direct job creation and wider rural diversification,” said the council’s report recommending approval.

‘The facility will attract clients, students and visitors from across the UK and internationally, generating expenditure within the local economy and supporting secondary businesses such as accommodation, transport and services…’

50% more capacity

The 1.9 hectare ranch will include a boarding kennel which would instantly double the business’ current boarding capacity as well as luxury boarding and gundog-specific kennels.

Puppy kennels, training and demonstration areas, an indoor training area and a vet practice will all be contained on site, with staff and students being accommodated as part of the blueprint.

Mordor has trained over 10 000 dogs to date and pooches will be given round-the-clock attention due to staff being located on-site, guaranteeing their welfare.

The surrounding quarry will be reworked to include pond and habitat creation and restored agricultural and natural land, managed by grazing.

To find out more about Mordor Gundogs, see: Mordor Gundogs - New Vet Practice