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45 entries on 5 pages
Alistair Branxholme Gundogs
19/04/25 09:52:33
thank you Aleksandra for your review. As you know already, it was a completely new experience for me working with a BT!...Bernie was amazing..I'd take him shooting any day. 👍
Aleks Tkacz
19/04/25 09:50:53
Thank you so much for your help with our Border Terrier Bernie!
Alistair was really informative when working with us and Bernie, he took lots of time to explain lead walking, recall and general behaviour which was something we were struggling with! It was incredible to see how well behaved she was and how she responded to his training methods. We are implementing these into our own training now. Thank you again for your help! :)
Alistair was really informative when working with us and Bernie, he took lots of time to explain lead walking, recall and general behaviour which was something we were struggling with! It was incredible to see how well behaved she was and how she responded to his training methods. We are implementing these into our own training now. Thank you again for your help! :)
R Hunter
11/04/25 09:08:00
Alistair was very patient, knowledgeable & provided clear, easy to follow guidance on improving basic obedience for our young dog. After a short period of practice we are starting to see noticeable improvements. I would definitely recommend visiting Alistair.
Gill Lamont
31/03/25 20:09:09
My husband and I took Archie our 16 week old cocker to Alistair for his first training stint. We have now just realised that we have been reading too many methods with conflicting views on the WEB. Do this and do that from one site to another! Alistair made everything simple and uncluttered and once you see how effectively they work you tend to stick with them. Archie is walking to heel (on lead at the moment ) and he isn't shooting off too far any more so we are delighted with his progress. Thanks again.
Carol Reid
06/12/24 10:43:43
I took our 16 month old pet Lurcher Cross bitch, Mabel, to Alistair yesterday. He started helping us with Heel Work and basic obedience training. I honestly think I can see a difference in her already. It was a very enjoyable hour, packed full of practical hints and tips. Anyway, we came away (like Kate, below) with 'homework' to do before our next lesson in the New Year.
Thank you Alistair.
Thank you Alistair.
Kate East Linton
24/11/24 10:09:09
Hi Alistair, hope you’re well. Sorry for the delay in getting this over to you but here is my review 😊
‘I took my 7 month old working cocker spaniel puppy along for a 121 session with Alastair and it was fantastic. As a first time dog owner I was looking for some training which would help my pup throughout her life - not necessarily as a gundog. Alastair was very knowledgeable and had a great training manner. He gave me lots of hints and tips for me to go away and work on. Already I am starting to see the difference. I can’t recommend Alistair enough. ‘
‘I took my 7 month old working cocker spaniel puppy along for a 121 session with Alastair and it was fantastic. As a first time dog owner I was looking for some training which would help my pup throughout her life - not necessarily as a gundog. Alastair was very knowledgeable and had a great training manner. He gave me lots of hints and tips for me to go away and work on. Already I am starting to see the difference. I can’t recommend Alistair enough. ‘
Tina Stackhouse
18/11/24 14:50:51
MY husband and I had a great training session with Alistair and our 14 month old puppy Otto last week. Alistair helped walk us through the basics of training and we very quickly realised where we were going wrong. Otto relaxed into the session and started following Alistairs' instructions. We've retuned home to work on our new learnings and have noticed that walks are a lot more enjoyable already. Thank you!
Alistair Mackay
17/10/24 16:27:07
Well, I had the strangest experience in Gundog Training of the last 25 years recently. A lady wrung me on the Saturday from Penicuik and asked if she could book her spaniel in for a lesson...a further 10 minutes ensued whereby she discussed the form of the training that I could offer as she had had a couple of lessons from another trainer in the Borders that she wasn't all that impressed with... ..No problem with that, but she could have been forthcoming with a wee bit more information on the 'issues' that the dog had.
On the Sunday morning she arrived and again we had a chat before I asked her to get her dog out the back of her car....and then! OMG...I was then informed that the dog would bark constantly when it got out the car and that it didn't like males more to the point! What the h-ll was I expected to do I asked myself and then to the lady in question. I then tried various things for a further 10 minutes but to no avail. After the loud barking in that time I was getting concerned for the noise (and my neighbours might have been in Cornwall it was that bad). It snarled when I took my hand out of my pocket so that was the game changer.
Anyway I had to admit defeat and declare that sorry, I can't help you and that your poor dog has major issues that needed to be addressed by a Dog Behaviourist. I asked her to let me know what the result of any further consultations she may have in the future.
The point I am making is that if this lady had been truthful with our initial conversation I could have saved her a one and a half journey in her car and thirty quids worth of diesel ! and whats more, about an hour of my time as well. Don't ask if I was offered anything for my time and advice!... it would have been declined in any case.
On the Sunday morning she arrived and again we had a chat before I asked her to get her dog out the back of her car....and then! OMG...I was then informed that the dog would bark constantly when it got out the car and that it didn't like males more to the point! What the h-ll was I expected to do I asked myself and then to the lady in question. I then tried various things for a further 10 minutes but to no avail. After the loud barking in that time I was getting concerned for the noise (and my neighbours might have been in Cornwall it was that bad). It snarled when I took my hand out of my pocket so that was the game changer.
Anyway I had to admit defeat and declare that sorry, I can't help you and that your poor dog has major issues that needed to be addressed by a Dog Behaviourist. I asked her to let me know what the result of any further consultations she may have in the future.
The point I am making is that if this lady had been truthful with our initial conversation I could have saved her a one and a half journey in her car and thirty quids worth of diesel ! and whats more, about an hour of my time as well. Don't ask if I was offered anything for my time and advice!... it would have been declined in any case.
JACK Badshot
14/10/24 12:37:19
Thank you once again for another enjoyable lesson. Anyone that shoots with a dog should experience the company of Alistair at Branxholme Gundogs for an hour before the start of the shooting season. This is the 3rd year I have visited with Marky my 5 year old Labrador. I can rest assured that even after a bad day with the gun (and they seem to be more common these days) I know that I will not have embarrassed myself with the behaviour of my dog on that day. And you know what!... I think that pleases me more. See you next year Alistair.
Mary Deas
05/10/24 15:04:19
Thank you Alistair for arranging our lesson at short notice. Harla has really been enjoying her new games and tasks. After just a few days the waljing experienxe imoroved ten fold. I would never have believed how much the palm of my hand could have changed my little minx into the little goody 2 shoes that she now is. I only hope that it's not a temporary change!.. We will be back in 6 weeks as you suggested. It was nice of Alistair to suggest 6 weeks instead of the 3 weeks that we wanted to come back!...He is definitely considerate of my pounds rather than his own. 5 Stars for Branxholme Gundogs.
mackay@branxholme.com