Big Job for Canine Therapist

Back in October 2004 when Sam and Dave Fairman of Willesborough, Kent became the proud owners of 4 month old Rodney, an American Cocker Spaniel, they had no idea what a mess he was about to make of their lives.

Rodney, joined the family straight from the breeder where he had been in kennels since he was born and it was his lack of house-training that led to problem.

“We knew that Rodney might be a bit tricky to toilet-train but we had no idea that over 2 years on we would still not have solved the problem’.

And boy what a problem it was.  Every morning Sam and Dave would come down to a stinking kitchen filled with doggie deposits, both solid and liquid with no idea how to solve the problem.

The couple tried everything they could think of and even sought professional advice, but nothing they did stopped Rodney soiling in the house every night.

‘We knew that it wasn’t a physical problem because on the odd occasion that we left Rodney at my parents overnight he was fine and there was no mess’ says Sam.

Over two years on and with Sam expecting her second child things got desperate.

‘It was bad enough having to live with the mess, but the thought of getting up in the night to feed the baby knowing what would be waiting in the kitchen was just too much’.

This was on top of the fact that the mid-wife had warned Sam not to clear up the dog mess to avoid any risk of infection and risk damage to her unborn baby; consequently it was down to Dave to brave the kitchen clean up every morning.

‘It got to the point when I really believed there was nothing for it but for Rodney to be re-homed’ admits Sam.

It was only the thought of having to tell 10-year old daughter Ellie of their decision that delayed the couple.  And thank goodness, because it was at this time that Sam spotted a small advert for Bark Busters home dog training in the local paper and which brought her the help that she so badly needed.

Totally at the end of her tether and with no real belief that anyone could solve her problems, Sam arranged for Tina Edwards, a canine behavioural therapist with Bark Busters to visit.

That was when the Fairman’s 2 year ordeal was ended.  Rodney became a good, clean dog who never toilets in the house.

‘Everything Tina showed us and told us made perfect sense and amazingly it did the trick’.

As Tina explains what she actually did was work out why Rodney was feeling the need to toilet in the kitchen and make changes to his life so that he no longer felt the need to behave like that.

‘After talking with Sam and her husband, Dave, for some time, I began to see a pattern in Rodney’s behaviour and talked through with them why he felt the need to leave his calling cards every night!  I advised a number of practical suggestions, including sleeping arrangements and his general regime, explaining why they would help Rodney to feel safe and allow him to sleep contentedly at night. Rodney is a great family dog and an especial favourite of Ellie, so I was really happy to have helped sort out this deeply upsetting situation. Sam can now look forward to enjoying her new baby without the worry of Rodney’s problem”

Tina also worked on Rodney’s general obedience so that he no longer pulls on the lead; a huge benefit for Sam, who will soon be pushing a pram as well as holding the dog’s lead.

“What Tina has done is fantastic and even now I can hardly believe it is true. I will be eternally grateful to her and can now look forward to the birth of my little boy, who is due in 2 weeks time, knowing that I have a perfectly house-trained dog who we all love and enjoy very much’.

Bark Busters, the world’s largest, most trusted dog training company, started in Australia in 1989 and came to the United Kingdom in 1999. Since inception, over 400,000 dogs have been trained worldwide. With more than 230 offices in eight countries, Bark Busters is continuing its mission to build a global network of dog behavioural therapists to enhance responsible dog ownership and reduce the possibility of maltreatment, abandonment, and euthanasia of companion dogs. Bark Busters is the only international dog training company that offers a lifetime guarantee. Therapists will provide future sessions free of charge if problem behaviours recur, or if any new problems develop. For more information, call 0808 100 4071 or visit www.barkbusters.co.uk, where dog owners can complete a Dog Behavioural Quiz to rate their dogs’ behaviour.