AFTER 27 years of taking the lead, a dog training couple have decided its time to go walkies.

Tails were wagging as John and Wendy Manifield waved goodbye to their canine friends at their last JWM social dog training class in Parkstone on Wednesday.

In almost three decades, the popular Blandford couple have trained thousands of dogs across Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and beyond.

Claudette Evans, who is taking over the canine school, said John and Wendy had “lived their dream” of doing a job they loved so much.

She said: “Both John and Wendy approach their 70th birthdays and their 50th wedding anniversary next year.

“So they felt it was time to hang up the dog leads and direct their attention to the overseas travel they both enjoy.”

JWM was founded in 1984 and has trained dogs in Bransgore, Iford, Charlton Marshall and as far afield as Southampton and Salisbury.

The school has also appeared on TV and radio several times. On top of the dog training, John and Wendy raised thousands for Dorset charities over the years.

They included Ferndown-based Woofability, which trains assistance dogs for the disabled.

John and Wendy’s final donation was made to Purbeck View, a school for autistic children in Swanage.

The school will now run under the name of the Pawfect Dog Club and classes will resume at the Newtown Conservative club tomorrow.

Claudette said she will carry on teaching socialisation and obedience, but also add an element of tricks and agility to the classes.

For more information go to pawfectdogclub.com.