Learning About Dogs - Wag More Bark Less

Welcome to Wag More

Wag More Bark Less is more than just a logo, it is the way we believe dog training should be:

Effective - through understanding canine psychology and the science of learning

Stress Free - for you, for your dog and for us

Empathic and understanding - based on our knowledge and love of dogs

Teaching our dogs to fit into a modern society is a complex challenge. A “well behaved dog” is regarded as a dog that never causes problems, is hardly ever noticed, does exactly what it is told to do, and melts into the furniture until required. Psychologically, this is a depressed dog, this is not a normal dog. A dog should be mentally alert, but not anxious, happy in its environment and enjoy relationships with everyone in the house. It should take time to play, just because the moment arises. A dog should enjoy the sunshine, your company and offer limitless affection.

Because we are dog people we enjoy a dog full of character, one that may be naughty - but can tell the difference when being cheeky does not cut it!

We love the dog that gives you hassle until you pay attention and begin to forget the stresses of everyday life - let’s walk!

We love to play games with the dogs and remember the simple pleasures.

We love to give and receive affection from our dogs - that’s why they share our lives - they make us complete.

What’s Coming Up ....

Wagmore Holidays

I hope you have been enjoying this exceptionally dog friendly April weather? The wild life enthusiast in me is suffering with the trees and plants that are trying to grow without proper amounts of water, but the dog’s body is enjoying a relatively clean house, mud free walks, and dogs enjoying all the garden space (and lack of grass cutting duties).

We are looking to the Summer Season of Wagmore Holidays - and sprucing up the countryside for you to visit. A great range of 3 full week holidays to enjoy from the very active to the knowledge seekers. You can come for all week or pick a few days to relax and enjoy dog-quality time.

Activities Holiday Week for High Energy Dogs and People
Jul 16-20

Very busy mornings, afternoons and evenings. Agility, cross country, search dogs, tracking, dancing dogs, flexigility, substance searching, games, etc. Teaching control to the off-the-wall dogs, building movitation with self control to channel the energy. No previous experience necessary, workshops will be held for all levels of learners. Some workshops outdoors. Includes picnic lunch. £255

Learning About Dogs Week
Aug 13-17

Mornings, with a selection of gentle versions of our activities: agility, tracking, dancing dogs, flexigility, substance searching, games and play school. Afternoons exploring the world of dogs. A selection of workshops and presentations: nutrition, exercise, grooming and massage, the science of learning, history of dogs, puppy development, living with dogs in the 21st century with evening workouts. No previous experience necessary, workshops will be held for all levels of learners. Includes picnic lunch. £255

Wagmore Holiday Week
Aug 27-31

Busy mornings with activities and workshops, Afternoons stretching your dog training and clicker skills, evenings exploring the world of dogs. No previous experience necessary. Includes picnic lunch. £255

Single days on any holiday can be booked at £58 per day, which includes Morning, Afternoon and Evening and lunch. Wednesday is only a Morning and Evening session at £33 and does not include lunch.

Judge Kay

I hope you enjoyed my foray into Celebrity land on The Underdogs Show on BBC2 through March and April? This finished April 24th with the final, and the kids show followed the same format on Fridays at 4.30 - BBC1.

The picture is of me (I need to mention that I’m the one on the left, as you would not recognise me with all that slap and posh frock stuff), Peter Purves & Annie Clayton

The final was quite exciting with a nail biter to the last minute - Selina Scott and Chump won. A truly great journey and demonstration of training skills from both Selina and Steve Mann the trainer. Chump is now enjoying a wonderful new, appreciative, home as are all the featured dogs.

Although there was some controversy (well, there’s a surprise) over the “tests” the dogs were put under, some handlers showed a great investment of time and training and came through with flying colours.

This show was a melting pot of different ideas and perspectives on dogs and training:

The training enthusiasts could all recognise that progress was expected at an alarming and unrealistic rate (as is normal I’m sure, with the Dancing format or the Skating format or the Show Jumping format) - but isn’t that the nature of the beast?

Rescue dog enthusiasts saw wonderful strides of achievement in a mixture of dogs from different backgrounds. Great partnerships developed and made the dog loving public focus on the potential of second hand dogs.

Celebrities - the handlers, were probably unaware of how much hard work would be involved - as Mishal Husein said she learned a lot about self discipline, awareness and teaching.

The dogs - better than another day in the kennels, regular baths, lots of attention and some quite good treats. Cool!

The Judges were presented with the challenge of finding specks of gold, rewarding budding skills and astonishing progress - most especially from the awesome children’s show.

A commentator that needed to provide interest, explanation, background, excuses, reasons, compliments, excitement and atmosphere - all in 90 seconds! Without any repetition, deviation or hesitation.

The TV producers were looking for a show of entertainment, emotion, conflict, challenges, hard work, exasperation, frustration, characters and “good TV”.

hmmmm ... and it was a live show .... a certain recipe for something to go “tip-up”.

So many different agendas all pooled into one format. All in all I think everyone was satisfied to some degree, but I don’t think this format would EVER make completely happy bunnies. There was too much conflict between the ambitions of the various elements, but I enjoyed the experience and now have unmeasurable admiration for TV presenters!

Julian Clary did a sterling job of refereeing the whole circus, live (I say again LIVE!), a bunch of out of water celebs, uncomfortable trainers, dogs that believed plastic studio grass is just ordinary grass, judges that were on a weekly learning curve, (I say again this was LIVE! - my list of words I couldn’t say grew longer each week) professional crew that learned VERY fast to read canine body language and an ear piece directing him from one second to the next and whilst reading an auto cue at 50 paces.

Who would want that sort of job?

Our experience of Wagging More

We are dog people, providing teaching, training and education in many formats.

You can benefit from our experience of living with dogs. We breed and raise youngsters, we teach all our dogs to be part of our families, we nurture the elderly, sick and rescued dogs.

We enjoy their company so much we train most days, spend time in work and competition with them, and love being with other dog folk to share our knowledge and passion.

We offer a rich curriculum through workshops, seminars and courses on the whole dog.

We produce books, videos, magazines devoted to dog training.

We shop for the best dog stuff your dog can enjoy - toys, games, leads, gear, jumps, jackets AND we only recommend stuff we use ourselves.

We are qualified in teaching and training, run courses for other trainers instructors, and teach our WagMore brand of working with dogs across the world.

We lead the way in innovative and effective teaching for all types of dogs learning all types of skills.

Kay Laurence

Days at WagMore Barn are filled with a mixture of learning, quality time and good company, and leave you inspired to progress. WagMore training is the complete enjoyment of the canine mind and time spent with a good friend.

Overview of our Courses

Our websites

We have a variety of websites to provide you with information and service:

Our main site covering all our courses, workshops, material, events. For pet dogs, sports and hobby trainers, professional trainers.

Especially for pet dog folk. More details for everyday training, our workshops, holidays and weekends. (You are here).

Divided into 3 sections: pet dog, sports and hobby enthusiasts and dog professionals.
Book for workshops, buy toys, books, videos, games, equipment, training gear.