Hairy Hounds Professional Dog Grooming

02/12/2025

All Wagged Out offers expert dog training and behaviour support in West Dunbartonshire, including Dumbarton, Balloch, and Alexandria. Positive, reward-based training for happier dogs.

27/12/2024

Amazing pawtraits if anyone fancies getting one done I can highly recommend!

14/06/2024

17/07/2023

August classes!

Mantrailing intros
🐾6th one space
🐾19th two spaces

Saturday
🐾Fun dog Gundog class 2 spaces

Tuesday night
🐾Puppy class One space

Thursday night
🐾SOLO Scentwork (One2One class) one space

🐾Puppy class Sold out

🐾Good dug club one space

📍Held at our woodland training venue in Balloch.

Book online NOW! Before it’s too late!

https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=22432530

02/06/2023

The dog training industry is unregulated which means anyone can set up and call themselves a trainer or behaviourist.
It's very much a buyer beware market.

I've been saddened this week to hear some of the stories new clients have told me about the advice they have been given.
It breaks my heart to hear of dogs and people being treated badly in the name of training when it's so unnecessary.

Don't let a trainer criticise you and make you feel you have to use a certain approach and it's your fault.

A good coach should empower you, teach you skills to become a competent handler and fill you with self belief.

If you're a woman don't let a male trainer tell you your dog is a man's dog or it needs an alpha male or you're not 'strong' enough to handle the dog. (This one gets the feminist in me raging 😆)

A good coach should be able to find a training solution that fits both the dog and handlers personality to build a mutual relationship based on safety and trust.

Don't let a trainer tell you positive reinforcement training doesn't work with all dogs, or some dogs or high drive dogs.
If a trainer tells you , you can't do something. Maybe they mean they can't...

There's plenty of trainers out there doing it and doing it well. Positive reinforcement trainers are good at reinforcement and motivation simply because they do it more than those that don't.

Check out qualifications and certification as there are also good and bad dog training courses out there. Also worth considering that a learner only gets out, what they put into a course.

There are trainers out there using different approaches. Some are skilled at what they do and some are not, regardless of the methods. Don't assume a particular method equals competence.

Some of the best trainers I've learnt from are those that compete in sports. They learn how to teach complex and reliable behaviours that are performed under pressure.

It also seems to now be popular for new trainers to spend time and money on business coaches and marketing than actually becoming a good/better dog trainer. So watch out for that too!

Do your research, ask questions and find a trainer that fits in with your beliefs and values, question everything.

Have a great weekend 🐾

Jane Ardern BSc Hons Dip Cabt
Author of Mission Control How to Train the High Drive Dog
The Gundog Club Approved Instructor and Assessor
ABTC Registered Animal Trainer
ICAN Accredited Behaviourist
Kennel Club Dog Trainer of the Year 2015

29/12/2021

Following last weeks witness appeal for the attempted robbery of a dog in Alexandria, here are some tips on how to keep your dog safe when you are out and about.

🏡 Keep garden fences secure to avoid your dog escaping and to prevent easy access to trespassers. Perhaps install a sensor light or bell gate to be alerted of trespassers?
🐶 Always keep your dog in sight on walks and in your garden. When out walking your dog, make sure your dog is trained to respond to a recall command.
🛒Never leave a dog tied-up outside a shop or left alone in a car. If you’re going in to a shop or to a café, for example, why not check if your dog is allowed inside? You may be surprised!
📱Ensure your dog is microchipped, has up-to-date contact details, and is wearing a tag with YOUR name, phone number and address on it. All of these are legal requirements and will ensure your dog is easily returned, should they go missing.
⌚Varying the times and routes you take when walking your dog will help to prevent your dog from being targeted.
💬Be careful of strangers asking you a lot of questions about your dog.
🖥️If you plan to use services such as a dog walker, groomers, house sitter or a boarding kennel, do your research to ensure you are using a legitimate and reputable service.
🐕If you are a dog breeder, be careful about who you are inviting into your house for viewings.
📵Social media can be viewed by thieves in many instances, so be careful about what you post. Be particularly careful with details of where you live, the type of dog you have and where you walk.

If you know anything around the witness appeal from last week, please contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 3400 of 22/12/21.

05/11/2021

Great advice from Cat 🐶

💥 F I R E W O R K S 💥

I know it's my second post about this this year but it can be such a scary time for our pets that it's important we do all we can to support them through it whether it's their first time experiencing it or they've struggled in the past. I've sadly already read about a couple of deaths this year from dogs scared by fireworks and it happens year after year.

🧨 KEEP YOUR DOG ON THE LEAD. Even if your dog hasn't shown signs of distress at fireworks in the past it is a completely normal behaviour to startle at a sudden loud bang. Don't take the risk of an unexpected firework going off nearby while you are walking and your dog taking fright and running. Keep them on lead in a well fitted harness that they won't be able to slip out of.

🧨 LAST WALK BEFORE DARK. Take them out their last walk before it gets dark when you are less likely to hear fireworks. If you have a garden and you let them out after dark make sure your garden is secure, supervise your dog closely and consider keeping them on lead even in your garden. A startled dog can jump surprisingly high or squeeze through small gaps in an attempt to escape.

🧨 BUILD A DEN. Give your dog a safe space where they can hide if they are feeling scared. A covered crate (with door open), a blanket den or a small room with the curtains drawn.

🧨 GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO DO. Give your dog a stuffed Kong, chew or lickimat to keep them occupied and help them stay calm.

🧨 MASK THE NOISE. Put the radio on (Classic FM will have a special Bonfire night show between 6pm and 10pm tonight with calming music) or look up Taiko drumming videos on YouTube (the low frequency drumming has been found to be very effective at masking the sound of fireworks)

🧨 COMFORT YOUR DOG. It's an old misconception that you can reinforce your dogs fear by comforting them. This is no more true than if you were scared/upset and your friend offered you comfort, you wouldn't feel more scared as a result, you would feel supported. If your dog comes to you for comfort be that friendly support for them.

🧨 MEDICATION AND BEHAVIOURAL SUPPORT. If your dog really struggles with firework phobia then speak to your vet about appropriate medication to help lower their anxiety and get in touch with a behaviourist to start putting in place a plan to help them cope better next year.

🧨 OTHER PETS. Fireworks effect all our pets and also the local wildlife. Keep your cats indoors and bring any outdoor pets inside if you can.

Cat x