Dastardly Dogs to Perfect Pooches

Defeated dog owner Jane Kenway of Platt, near Seven Oaks, contacted Bark Busters in despair. Her beautiful 5 year old, Great Dane cross German Shepherd was out of control and showing aggression and on top of this her husband’s Springer Spaniel made her a prisoner in her own home.

Milo, the Great Dane cross, had become increasingly aggressive to both people and dogs, lunging at any dog who came near him and barking in people’s faces. This was extremely worrying because of his size and build. Jane explains that ‘When Milo was a pup it was at the time of the foot and mouth outbreak and so there weren’t many places to take him to socialise with other dogs as I mainly walked in local fields. Then on one of his first encounters with dogs several months later he was attacked and from that point on he was highly aggressive if other dogs approached him’.

Because of this aggression Jane was left searching out quiet places to walk Milo in order to keep him away from other dogs. His anti-social behaviour was so bad that he couldn't go to kennels and that meant the family haven't been away on holiday for years! His aggressive tendencies weren’t confined to dogs either and he took to aggressively barking in people's faces. The final straw came when Milo barked right in the face of a toddler. ‘I actually thought that he had bitten the boy’s face and as the mother snatched him up, I was waiting to see the injuries to his face; it was a terrifying experience’. Thankfully the dog had not bitten the child, but this was the point when Jane knew enough was enough and believed that the dog would have to be destroyed.

Jane describes Milo as if he is one of her children and you can therefore imagine the heartbreak at the thought that he might have to be euthanased. In desperation and as a last resort she contacted Bark Busters and now just weeks later, she feels as if she has a different dog. ‘When Tina arrived at the house I was terrified and covered in goosebumps fearing that Milo would turn on her and by this point hardly anyone came to the house. But I needn't have worried it was fine because Tina knew what she was doing and the training has been amazing. Milo now walks to heel and other dogs can pass without so much as a woof, he is good when visitors come to the house and just settles down and takes no notice and the aggressive barking simply no longer happens.

I really hadn’t believed a bit of training would work - for 4 years I had tried to walk Milo only when I thought other dogs wouldn’t be about and had no idea how to stop his aggressive behaviour. The difference really is miraculous’.  'Milo now walks like a dream and we have got to the point when he will walk side by side with another dog, something I would never have believed possible' says Jane. Jane has 4 children and youngest, Amber 8 years, had never been allowed to have a sleep over because of the dog’s behaviour, but following the training on her eighth birthday she had 3 friends to sleep over and two of those were frightened of dogs! It went like a dream and Milo behaved like the model dog.

On top of Milo’s behaviour, Jane also had Lucy to contend with. Lucy, a 6 year old Springer Spaniel, who belongs to husband Paul had Jane a prisoner in her own home. ‘Lucy would regularly bite me and often I had to hold the broom in front of me to stop her attacking’ says Jane. On one occasion Jane found Lucy on the table eating a meal that she had laid out. ‘I managed to get her outside and then shut her out for an hour or 2 because I was so cross with her, but the minute I opened the door to let her in she raced passed me and straight back up on to the table in defiance’. Tina has also worked with Jane and Lucy and relations are now thawing and Jane even managed to shower and trim Lucy’s fur the other day without so much as a growl.

When Jane’s family called round after the training, they couldn’t believe the difference ‘I think my sister really was in shock’ laughs Jane. So what did dog tamer Tina Edwards of Bark Busters actually do? ‘The combination of a nervous dog and tense owner escalated Milo’s fear and Lucy’s aggression. Once I had shown Jane how to take control and communicate effectively in a way the dogs understood everything just fell in to place. Aggression is usually caused by fear and if the owner knows how to be a strong, calm leader then the dog is able to relax and trust the owner to make all the decisions, including whether or not another dog or person is a threat. In Milo’s case he now trusts Jane and knows that he is safe when approached’. Tina points out that often in our desire to show our dogs love we tend to treat them like people and ironically if you treat a dog like a person it isn't be long before they treat you like a dog! Jane reports that Milo is 100% better and that she can see big improvements in Lucy’s behaviour too. The result is 2 happy dogs and 1 happy owner

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.