what dog owners say about Alex Fraser
Dog Training & Behavioral Therapist
You can filter these results to find reviews related to behavior problems of interest.
21st April 2014
Alex Fraser dealt with:
Our new rescue dog had such severe Separation Anxiety we thought we would not be able to keep him. after a couple of hours with Alex, the change is remarkable, we are not there yet but the condition is now manageable hopefully in a few weeks he will be over it completely. Thanks Alex,
Resolving separation anxiety issues often takes time and a lot of hard work, however i was delighted they started to see a difference in his behaviour as quickly as they did. They clearly put a ;ot of time in with their new dog - good work!!
Permalink: www.barkbusters.co.uk/dog-training-review/4844
Rochdale, Greater Manchester (Testimonial)
15th April 2014
Alex Fraser dealt with:
Alex has provided us both with a really good insight into Ellie's behavior and we have seen improvements immediately following on from each of his three sessions with us to date. In a short space of time Ellie's house manners changed hugely and she now waits to be invited onto furniture and we have much greater confidence in letting her off her lead in open spaces and a local woods. She has always returned to us even when she has met and played with other dogs and pups which is a big relief for us. Ellie was finding road walking quite stressful (and so were we!) and she was barking and leaping at passing cars almost continuously. We have followed Alex's advice carefully and we are now seeing a much calmer Ellie and she has almost completely stopped her barking at cars.
Ellie is a lovely dog, but initially she had a major issue with walking past cars. Firstly we worked on her behaviour inside the home. With any dog that has behavioural issues outside the home it is crucial that the behaviour in the home is spot on. Although we saw immediate improvements inside, outside took a little longer. I am however delighted with her walking now compared to my first visit, and if they continue to be consistent with her training, she will certainly continue to improve. Keep up the good work!
Permalink: www.barkbusters.co.uk/dog-training-review/4840
Middleton, Lancashire (Testimonial)
11th April 2014
Alex Fraser dealt with:
With a new baby on the way we are really pleased our dog has calmed down since Alex's first visit. we were really worried about his aggression and we really wanted him to know who was boss before the baby came along. By the end of the first session we could see a massive improvement and I know if we keep putting the time in we will all get a lot out of it. Thank you
Benny is a lovely dog with a cracking personality, but he did think that he ruled the home. By the end of the first session he had already started to show signs of improvement and he was much calmer. His walking on the lead was also much better. With a consistent approach to his ongoing training I am confident Benny will welcome the new addition to their family with open paws!
Permalink: www.barkbusters.co.uk/dog-training-review/4838
Manchester, Greater Manchester (Testimonial)
8th April 2014
Alex Fraser dealt with:
Alex was wonderful, after his first visit I felt more confident.
Harvey our 16 month old Bernese Mountain Dog liked to pull like a train, bark , jump up at visitors as well as eating rubbish , sticks and not coming back when let off the lead!!!! Which made walking him a nightmare. I usually came back more stressed!!
Alex explained everything in detail and went over things each visit . After the first visit, I felt in charge .
We have made good progress and enjoy our sessions with Alex. I now let him off the lead and he is always looking where I am and bounds back.
Although he still manages to eat one or two bits, he is 80 % better , I am not as stressed. I know with continued training Harvey will go from strength to strength .
Thank you very much Alex. I wish we had discovered Bark Busters sooner. Home , one to one training definitely works for us . Knowing that with the lifetime guarantee we can call Alex , should we need too, is a real bonus.
Liz & Harvey x
It's not always just about the dog and any behavioural issues they might have. Sometimes it is also about empowering the owner so that they feel they have full control of their dog both inside and outside of the home. Harvey was great fun to work with and I would happily have smuggled him out in my pocket and taken him home, if it wasn't for the fact that he was far too big to fit in my pocket. I really hope Liz and Harvey keep me posted on how they are doing and it would be great to catch up at some point in the future and go walking.
Permalink: www.barkbusters.co.uk/dog-training-review/4832
Bury, Lancashire (Testimonial)
1st April 2014
Alex Fraser dealt with:
Alex has been a real help with our new puppy Border Terrier. Emphasising the positive way of training, he is contributing to Stanley becoming a well behaved and well-rounded dog. Early one-to-one training is proving to be a great way of helping Stanley develop.
I love working with owners and their puppies and watching the puppies grow and develop into well-behaved dogs. Just like young children, puppies need to have ground rules so they understand what behaviour is acceptable when living with their family. It's important to never rush sessions and often, more frequent, but briefer sessions work best, touching base with the owners to make sure everything is on track. Puppies can be a lot of work, but put the effort in from the start and remain consistent, and you will have a well-behaved dog. I am really looking forward to future sessions with Stanley!
Permalink: www.barkbusters.co.uk/dog-training-review/4802
Manchester, Greater Manchester (Testimonial)
18th March 2014
Alex Fraser dealt with:
Alex could see straightaway some of the behaviour we needed to correct in Tilly, the main reason we got in touch with Alex was because Tilly had started to seem nervous of my partner and was behaving aggressively towards him. The techniques were so easy to learn but really effective, Tilly started to respond to the growling straight away. She also walked much better on the lead quickly. I am confident that with some hard work we will have a much happier dog!
When I first arrived it was clear to see that Tilly thought she was somewhere near the top of her pack (I hadn't seen a dog use its owner, who was stood at the time, as a springboard before. Quite impressive, but unfortunately not a behaviour we want). We needed to put some ground rules in place.
In regards to the aggression Tilly has shown to one of her owners, it is important that we don't rush things. Tilly needs to realise that both her owners are solid pack leaders. They will both have to be consistent and practise the exercises that were set. I am confident they will get there... especially looking at how well she walked to heel by the end of the first session in comparison to how she used to pull like a train beforehand. Keep up the good work and I'll see you soon.
Permalink: www.barkbusters.co.uk/dog-training-review/4787
Scholar Green, Cheshire (Testimonial)
21st February 2014
Alex Fraser dealt with:
Hemlock & Prue are both rescue dogs, who came into our home with some complex behavioural issues. We had managed to unpick a couple to the root cause, but didn't have the knowledge to understand how to deal with it. To be honest we were pretty much at breaking point with Hemlock, who being a large Dobermann just seemed to be so unwieldy and out of control. However within half an hour of meeting us with our dogs Alex had assured us that the dogs were not 'broken' and with time, patience and consistency we could 'fix' them ... or was it fix us? We soon learnt that their problems was as much our doing as their own 'baggage' they had bought with them to our home. Alex just seemed to be able to read deep inside their heads and reply to the cries of help.
Results were soon evident, the techniques easy to use (we have been known to use them automatically on the cats now, but they really do look at us as if we are strange). Before you realise you are doing many of the techniques without actually thinking about them, it becomes second nature. The dogs respond instantly to them, both the correction and the praise. They know where they stand, they are more comfortable having these boundaries and are so much calmer now.
Hemlock (dobie) wanted to guard us, Prue (boxer), the house, pretty much anything and everything, only thing is he was all bark and no b@lls and this just stressed him out. Alex soon had us teaching him that his 'job' is to sit n chill and we'll do the guarding: turns out our barks (growls) are pretty impressive too!
Prue was a bit different, she came to us with a history of more physical abuse (Hemlock's was primarily psychological). She was most un-boxer like, quiet and withdrawn. Together with Alex we have helped her realise that humans can be kind and she ought not to be so fearful of us all. She's a cheeky little lady now, has made some huge progress, but still lots to achieve. Prue's major issue was toilet training, she was used as a breeding bitch and as such had no concept of appropriate toileting. With Alex's guidance we have made a breakthrough but it is slow going, but we wont give up.
Both Hemlock & Prue were a nightmare on the lead, they would pull, and Beth wouldn't take Hemlock out unless he was on his canny collar because she didn't have the strength to hold him, or be able to cope with any silliness should he decide to go off on one. Alex taught us various lead and collar techniques and now both dogs walk beautifully with little correction needed. No nasty or painful techniques, just done by speaking the dog's language and plenty of praise when it all goes right (regardless of how fleeting that initial success may be). We are both happy to walk either dog and are looking forward to starting recall training with them very soon with Alex's help.
As a result we now have two contented and happy dogs who we feel we have a decent amount of control over. We are looking forward to advancing these skills. That's not to diminish the progress we have made so far. In the early days it would take 10 minutes to get Hemlock into his bed, he didn't see it as a safe place and once there would soon be off. Now, not only does he take himself off to his own bed, but also to Prue's (at least one size smaller than his own). He is so much more relaxed.
Alex is an affable man, who puts you at ease, is so easy to talk to without making you feel silly. Instructions are always clearly explained, as is the rationale behind them. Alex has become a welcome visitor to our house. Would we recommend him? Yes, we already have!
I am so so pleased with how both Hemlock and Prue have improved during the time I have been working with them. I was told by their owners on my first visit that they were at the end of their tether with both dogs (especially Hemlock who would bark throughout the night at the slightest noise!). On entering the house for the first time the dogs were a little chaotic to say the least, but whenever I go round now both dogs wait calmly in their beds when I enter and only come out when called! Their owners have worked hard and they are now certainly reaping the benefits of the work they have put in. I am very proud of them all.
Permalink: www.barkbusters.co.uk/dog-training-review/4765
Heywood, Greater Manchester (Testimonial)
20th February 2014
Alex Fraser dealt with:
WITHIN MINUTES OF MEETING ALEX WE KNEW WE WERE IN SAFE AND CAPABLE HANDS. HE EXPLAINED EVERYTHING IN A CLEAR AND CONSIDERATE WAY, TOTALLY UNDERSTANDING OUR CONCERNS AND ADDRESSING OUR DOGS' NEEDS HOLISTICALLY.
WE HAVE SEEN IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENT IN BOTH OUR DOGS' BEHAVIOUR, NOT JUST IN THEIR SIBLING RIVALRY, BUT IN THEIR GENERAL ATTITUDE AND DEMEANOUR. THE WHOLE FAMILY, INCLUDING THE DOGS, IS MUCH HAPPIER AND MORE RELAXED.
WE TOTALLY RECOMMEND ALEX AND BARK BUSTERS.
I really enjoyed working with these two bulldogs. It was however clear that the female thought she was not only in charge of her brother, but she also thought she was in charge of the house. It is really important in sibling rivalry cases that both dogs are viewed and treated equally and in turn they see their owner as a solid pack leader. The first session went really well and I can't wait to visit them again soon. Keep up the good work!
Permalink: www.barkbusters.co.uk/dog-training-review/4764
ROCHDALE, Greater Manchester (Testimonial)
1st February 2014
Alex Fraser dealt with:
We were amazed, we had trainers before, they usually gave up on our Dobies or we refused to have them as they suggested methods like ear pinching or hitting them, or ignoring them in general unless we give commands (why would you have a pet and ignore it?). So Alex came and took his time, there was no rush, we had coffee while he observed how the dogs interacted with each other and us, sometimes he told us to give them a command and just watched how they responded and took his time to assess the character of each dog and their trigger points.
He spent 4 or 5 hours with us, part of it was inside training, we started a bit on outside training and lead training (our biggest problem) and I was surprised how well the dogs responded. All in all he kept it fun for the dogs and us, so my other half didn't even mind missing the Welsh Rugby game (and he is Welsh), and the dogs loved it as much as we did. We keep joking that the dog body snatcher was around and replaced our dogs with those obedient creatures.
Both dogs are rehomed and have issues as they went through several homes, I can't praise Alex enough for getting inside their heads and treating each dog the way it would respond the most, not the usual "one fits all" approach, but tailoring it to the needs of each dog, sussing out the communication between them, and what we thought were major problems and lots of work was really just minimal adjustments we had to make to communicate better with the dogs (and train the dogs versus the dogs training us). All in all, Alex possibly trained us more than the dogs, but that helps the dogs to understand the commands better. And as I said before, it was so much fun that we look forward to the next lesson, because it doesn't seem to be hard work but fun for us and the dogs.
After less than a day we don't have to chase them off the furniture, they understand they aren't allowed on it and happily settle in their beds, don't snatch treats but wait until they are told to take them.
The life long guarantee seems like a really good deal, as in the past we spent a lot more on trainers who eventually walked out or tried to use methods that seemed simply cruel (causing the animal pain if they refused to cooperate), Alex showed us that it's not just correction but also praise that counts, and yes, they do respond!
Doberman's are amazing dogs but quite strong willed and a bit overly sensitive, I think Alex achieved more in one afternoon than most trainers achieved in months. I haven't seen my dogs that happy and content without being exhausted myself, as Alex explained, it's important to stimulate brains and body.
I deliberately didn't clear the remains of our dinner but told the dogs no (along with the growl Alex showed us when they tried to sniff it), and we left it there and went to another room. Surprise, the dogs didn't take it (previously unheard of as they are skilled thieves and robbers).
I'm so looking forward to the next training session, Alex doesn't believe in breaking a dog's character or spirit (unlike our previous trainers) but working with it, to achieve the desired results. Our dogs are still their quirky selves, just much better behaved than they were. Since this is the result of just ONE session, I'm almost scared that the dogs will have much better manners than we do after a few sessions.
And yes, I would recommend him to anybody without reservations!
I couldn't have summed up what the training is about better myself, thank you. As with anything, you only get out what you put in, and you must also take credit, as success is also down to you and your hard work and dedication. All four of you are a pleasure to work with and I look forward to our next session.
Permalink: www.barkbusters.co.uk/dog-training-review/4743
Macclesfield, Cheshire (Testimonial)
31st January 2014
Alex Fraser dealt with:
Alex was a real pleasant guy who appeared really interested in our issues with Marley. He asked lots of questions to get as much information as needed to help us help Marley.
He did not rush in anyway and was very methodical and explained in great detail all possible resolutions.
Alex offered us the opportunity to call him at any point to discuss any issues or to arrange any further visits to our home. Before he left he did an in depth re-cap of his visit to re-enforce his session.
He was an all round happy, enthusiastic guy and most importantly interested in helping us.
He is a total credit to Barkbusters
Marley's owners used Bark Busters around five years ago and they achieved great results. In the last 12 months however, following 2 new additions to their family, Marley started to demonstrate some frustrating behavioural traits. The 'Life Time Guarantee' meant that although I didn't carry out the initial sessions, I visited them at no further charge to help them with Marley. It is important to note how impressed I was with Marley's overall behaviour and the control his owners demonstrated. They did however need help with a couple of issues and I was delighted I was able to help.
Permalink: www.barkbusters.co.uk/dog-training-review/4740
Salford, Greater Manchester (Testimonial)
The Bark Busters worldwide home dog training service guarantee is unique in the industry. It is designed to help owners resolve their dog's behaviour and obedience problems and to provide customers with the satisfaction of ongoing support and peace of mind.