Barkbusters dog training - would anyone recommend them? It's just that we've booked an appointment with them in a few days and I'd like to get an idea....

Should have asked first, really :roll:
http://www.barkbusters.com/

I used Barkbusters for my 2 staffy's a few years ago, it was the biggest waste of money Ive ever spent! I was so unhappy with the service I asked for a refund and managed to get half of the money back.

They use chains to throw at the ground near to the dog and by shouting a BARRR sound at them to stop them in their tracks when barking, jumping on furniture or at people. It was based on praise and reward the good and BARR at the bad techinique!!

The man who came out to us was really pushy on introducing the bones, raw meat and veg diet to my dogs as he said they were chewing skirting boards whilst im at work because they are "hungy" :confused: This was the main thing that I didnt agree with because he was blaming a lot of their behaviour on their diet and would not stop pushing the whole Barf thing at us.

The diet was called Barf if you want to look it up!

It didnt work for us but if you can afford it and want to give it a go then do. I found it was really expensive for what it is.

I have to agree with Sall I have had nothing but bad reports of these people. Their methotds are all punitive, which I dont agree with.
I guess that's really not what you wanted to hear though.

You can always cancel.......

I've never used them but Sall, the methods you describe are ones used by top trainers all over the country :confused:

Positive reinforcement really is the best method of training - is it just that you didn't like the way they explained it/enforced it?

I understand positive reinforcement is the way to train dogs but charging nearly £300 to tell you how to do it is unreasanably high. You can see it done on "Its me or the dog" or read how to do it in a book.
My main problem was that he was pushing the Barf diet too much and blaming the fact that his techniques wern't working by saying its down to their diet.

DT, we have quite a few threads on training already, and quite a few recommendations. I was impressed with Kim Hunt when I met her, but I'm not sure Lindsey took to her the same way

Basically, it's impportant to find a trainer on the same wavelength as yourselves and who can make a difference

I'd suggest the first person you ask to meet your dog is Lotti - she's looking for experience in dog training so she can take it up as a career

I was also going to ask if Fergus fancied keeping Brude company for a week - now he's missing Jade the Rottweiler. It's surprising how well other dogs who have stayed here have looked to Brude to see what does or doesn't need barking at ;)

Barkbusters is a franchise and it all depends on who actually comes out.
I know the techniques that they use - in fact they did come out to my bullys ages ago and it definately did shock them into listening to us.

Now i know more - i don't think its the best way of training - BUT it did work. If my male bully decides he is going to be a pain in the BUTT and goes into switch off mode - i can rattle a chain at him, and it cuts through for him to listen.

Also, a lady who took on a couple of rescue dogs recently (the dog is featured on our rehomed page), was at her witts end and was looking to rehome the 2nd more dominant dog. She had a lady who i believe was from Sheffield way - from Barkbusters - she had also used her before - and they have sorted out the problems and she now feels comfortable to keep them both together.

So many behaviourists though dont go with the theory of barkbusters - but as long as you have good back up and get long term results - who can say.

Good luck and please keep us informed of what the problem is, what they recommend and if it works - we would be really interested.
good luck
rr

I was also going to ask if Fergus fancied keeping Brude company for a week - now he's missing Jade the Rottweiler. It's surprising how well other dogs who have stayed here have looked to Brude to see what does or doesn't need barking at ;)
Bloody hell, if we didn't have him for a whole week and realised how easy life was without him, you'd have to squeeze him through the letterbox to give him back :hihi:

Just for anyone who feels I'm being a little dog unfriendly here, we have a twenty month old toddler who takes up most of our time - since he was born, Fergus (the dog) has got much more disobediant (attention seeking?) - after all he used to be the 'baby' and centre off attention and now he isn't.....

Plus all his other bad habits :roll:

He's a happy affectionate little dog really though *goes misty eyed*

Strix, thanks, I'll tell longshanks of your offer re fergus's potential holiday with Brude :thumbsup:

You'd miss him if he was gone that long DT ;) - the house would be too quiet without him :hihi:

You'd miss him if he was gone that long DT ;) - the house would be too quiet without him :hihi:

*Tries to remember the good old days of quietness* :roll: :hihi:

Give him a break DT - then when he gets back, start on the new 'rules' Lotti says she can help you establish

that way there's no extra time needed for 'training sessions', and if the thread we had at the end of last week is anything to go by, you'll have results pretty quickly

*goes to look for link*

there you go (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=205738) :thumbsup:

I've been talking about you though :hihi:

Give him a break ......

Erm *coughs*
Todays diary....

1/ Knock at door - Fergus has to be forcibly removed from door into other room - continues to bark until caller goes away

2/ Tries to have postmans fingers off whilst barking uncontrollably. Shreds mail.
(Fortunately for postie I fitted a finger guard....)

3/ Outing to Graves Park - fergus barks all the way to the car. Resumes out of control whining and grizzling as we approach park - this gets worse as I get young 'un out out of car seat and into trike.

4/ Fergus whines and pulls on his halti so much he has to be taken back to car after five minutes.

5/ On our return, I let Fergus off the lead onto the grassed area - big mistake, fergus spots picnickers I failed to see and steals food.
As I approach him he legs it off to the duck pond to gorge himself on leftover bread. evades capture until he is full.

6/ Home, get Fergus from car - barks and whines untill he reaches front door - on entering house, runs aroung barking and whining.

7/ Attempts to steal food from the table.

8/ Continues to grizzle at the slightest outdoor noise

8/ and it's still only one o'clock :roll:

You wouldn't beleive how cute he is, would you? Here:
http://www.geocities.com/draggletail2/

Erm *coughs*
Todays diary....

1/ Knock at door - Fergus has to be forcibly removed from door into other room - continues to bark until caller goes away

2/ Tries to have postmans fingers off whilst barking uncontrollably. Shreds mail.
(Fortunately for postie I fitted a finger guard....)

3/ Outing to Graves Park - fergus barks all the way to the car. Resumes out of control whining and grizzling as we approach park - this gets worse as I get young 'un out out of car seat and into trike.

4/ Fergus whines and pulls on his halti so much he has to be taken back to car after five minutes.

5/ On our return, I let Fergus off the lead onto the grassed area - big mistake, fergus spots picnickers I failed to see and steals food.
As I approach him he legs it off to the duck pond to gorge himself on leftover bread. evades capture until he is full.

6/ Home, get Fergus from car - barks and whines untill he reaches front door - on entering house, runs aroung barking and whining.

7/ Attempts to steal food from the table.

8/ Continues to grizzle at the slightest outdoor noise

8/ and it's still only one o'clock :roll:

You wouldn't beleive how cute he is, would you? Here:
http://www.geocities.com/draggletail2/



Sounds like a regular day in my house too :(

Sounds like a regular day in my house too :(
Lindseyw, I actually find some comfort that I'm not on my own with this :D

Lindseyw, I actually find some comfort that I'm not on my own with this :D

No you are not, I am pulling my hair out with mine. I am hopefully going to be calling on Lottie soon to help us !!

Oh dear :(

I did mean a short holiday when I said 'break' though DT ;)

Barkbusters is a franchise and it all depends on who actually comes out.
I know the techniques that they use - in fact they did come out to my bullys ages ago and it definately did shock them into listening to us.

Now i know more - i don't think its the best way of training - BUT it did work. If my male bully decides he is going to be a pain in the BUTT and goes into switch off mode - i can rattle a chain at him, and it cuts through for him to listen.

Also, a lady who took on a couple of rescue dogs recently (the dog is featured on our rehomed page), was at her witts end and was looking to rehome the 2nd more dominant dog. She had a lady who i believe was from Sheffield way - from Barkbusters - she had also used her before - and they have sorted out the problems and she now feels comfortable to keep them both together.

So many behaviourists though dont go with the theory of barkbusters - but as long as you have good back up and get long term results - who can say.

Good luck and please keep us informed of what the problem is, what they recommend and if it works - we would be really interested.
good luck
rr

I've often wondered about this method of reinforcement..today Ive bee ncatching up on my hoemwork (online gcse psychology am doing in my [Ha!] spare time) and have come across this example which makes me wonder how ethical it really is when applied to dogs...

The Little Albert experiment -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Albert_experiment

Draggletail I laughed out loud at the story of your day. Sorry. Its only because some of it sounds so familiar.

When we had one dog we were fine- all well behaved. Then this dog was found that nobody would have and being suckers we kept it. Of course there was reason it was lost and nobody came forwards. Methinks it was lost accidentally on purpose. She has made good progress but now I am pregnant- which doesnt add to my dog handling skills as I am heavy, achy, and not quite as calm. Now its damn chaos!!!

We are doing some training though which seems to be working. Your description of high pitched whining amused me most as one of ours does this whenever he thinks he is going for a walk (which may just mean me putting my slippers on- and no I dont walk them in my slippers) and it drives me completely insane :rant:

Hope you have a breakthrough with Fergus

Draggletail I laughed out loud at the story of your day. Sorry. Its only because some of it sounds so familiar.....


We once chased him all round Hyde Park after he nicked a picnicing couples sandwich, he had a great time - he'd let us get within two feet of him then hare off. The couple, understandingly had a real sense of humour failiure until we offered to reimburse them.

Then there was the time on the beach on holiday, in the space of half an hour he nicked a picnic tea towel, upset a bucketful of small crabs a little lad had caught (he got one pincered to his chops - the look on his face.....)

Then he tried to eat someones fishing bait, and discovered half a dead bat - he ate it slowly (we couldn't get anywhere near him) every time he chomped down, the bat wing hanging out of his chops flapped up, then down.....

Another holiday he disapeared into a womens tent and came out with a pair of.... well I think they were nickers - I didn't go anywhere near him - I'm not about to chase a spaniel around a field trying to prise nickers out of his chops :suspect:

I'm laughing now thinking about it all - he's snoozing peacefully :roll:

Take it easy with your pregnancy, and all the best :)

:hihi: absolute comedy dog. i will go to bed smiling now. can imagine how terribly embarrassing it is though. our dogs do some mortifying things but yours wins the prize. sounds like keeping your sense of humour is the way forwards. he deserves his own comedy sketch :)