TV's Weighty Wallace transformed by Bark Busters
Channel 4 - 15th March 2006
The Spaniel who went from fat and naughty to slim and obedient thanks to Andy Waterhouse of Bark Busters as shown on Channel 4's 'Fat Pets' (Wednesday 15th March, 9.00pm).
Six year old Wallace, a King Charles Spaniel was featured with his owner Millie Marshall on ‘Fat Pets’ on Channel 4. He was put through his paces by local Bark Buster dog trainer Andy Waterhouse.
Wallace's loving owner, Millie Marshall, was told her flabby furry friend had just months to live unless he learned to slim down - and pronto. The vet advised that Wallace must be put on a diet or he wouldn’t be long for this world especially since he had a weak heart. But how was Millie going to cope with Wallace's tantrums, his ability to open cupboard doors and help himself to snacks? Would she ever have a happy, healthy dog who would be a pleasure to own? Could little more than a couple of hours work with Andy Waterhouse of Bark Busters put Wallace and Millie on the road to salvation? Yes...And it was fun too.
Andy, the South London based Bark Buster Therapist has been helping dogs round London and Kent for the last three and a half years but Wally certainly presented a weighty problem.
‘Wally is a delightful dog and although he certainly did need a healthy diet and some work on his behaviour, as you will see the results have been tremendous’ says Andy
Millie admits that six months ago her life and that of her King Charles Spaniel, Wallace, were in a downward spiral. ‘We were both overweight, unhealthy and utterly miserable. And it was all my fault.’
Millie adores Wallace, who she has owned for six years and also has two Chihuahuas, Cookie and Lola. Wally was on his way to Battersea Dogs Home because friends with a young family couldn’t cope with his destructive, disobedient behaviour. They dropped by on their way to see if Millie would take him. ‘There was no way I could let him go’ says soft-hearted Millie.
‘Wally was generally a very good dog, but he was a bit of a handful - Spaniels are just full of beans and Wally was no exception’ says Millie.
While Millie was under pressure with college work and exams the rot set in and both she and Wallace hit the biscuit tin in a big way.
‘I began eating a lot and, whatever I was having, from curries to chocolate, I'd always give Wally a little bit. That was my big mistake.
Gradually, Wally became very demanding - he sort of took me over and became the boss. He even learnt how to open the bottom kitchen cupboards where we kept the dog treats. It was easier just to give him what he wanted, otherwise he'd start barking or jumping up’ admits Millie.
As the weight piled on, the risk to Wally's and my health was huge. By coincidence, we both have enlarged hearts, so carrying extra pounds can be very dangerous. And Wally also has arthritis which was also worsened by weight gain’ says Millie.
The vet told Millie that at 18kg, Wally was actually clinically obese and, as a result, his life was going to be cut short. Millie had also been told by her doctor that she too was at risk from heart problems if she didn’t lose weight.
It was a dog-walking friend of Millie’s who saw the advert asking owners of 'fat pets' to ring a TV production company.
‘It was the turning point I'd been looking for. Taking part in the show was the best thing that's happened to us’ says Millie.
‘Wally wasn't the actual problem, of course - I was. I had been letting him walk all over me. Then I met Andy, the dog behaviourist from Bark Busters. He taught me how to regain dominance over Wally by using body language and simple commands. It worked immediately. He stopped barking, jumping up and coming into the kitchen. In later sessions we did lots of outdoor work. Wally always had to be walked on a lead or else he would head for the hills, but Andy showed me that I could always be in control. Now Wally can be let off the lead and I know he will come back’
The great news is both Millie and Wally have lost weight - Millie a stone and Wally 2kg. And what’s more Millie is back in charge!
‘Wally and I are back to our old selves, thinner, healthier and happier. The vet says Wally's fine now - he doesn't even need to take the arthritis medicine he'd been on for the past two years. As for me, I'm so much more confident and am merrily job hunting’.
Is your pooch as pampered as Wobbly Wallace and is his behaviour as bad or worse than Wallace’s? If so why not call Bark Busters?
