Kim Lummis
Dog Training & Behavioural Therapist
Brighton, Gatwick Area
Call now on 0808 100 4071
Read Client Testimonials
e-mail Kim direct
Now we have some sunshine again, it's the perfect opportunity to get your dog training underway. We can often notice some issues with our dogs which we have been able to avoid in the colder months. Those problems might be dog aggression, barking outside when the neighbours are doing their gardening, pulling on the lead or chasing skateboards or bikes down on the beach.
I understand how a dog's problems can not only embarrass and frustrate its owner, whether it is chewing, jumping up or toileting, but can cause real stress within a home.
Many years ago my dog, Preston, suffered from separation anxiety and I made the sad decision to re-home him when nothing the experts recommended worked. If only Bark Busters had been around then, as I now know that the training methods that we use would have worked for Preston.
I now own two rescue dogs. My Jack Russell Bob had similar problems to Preston when I first had him and I am now glad to say he is a happy little dog! My younger dog is Brook a Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross.
My dog training with Bark Busters has given me the opportunity to help hundreds of owners and their dogs from chasing Collies to tugging Terriers! One dog who springs to mind is Molly, a German Shepherd who had severe aggression issues; food aggression, dog aggression and also towards strangers coming to the house. Her owners had been told to put her to sleep as aggression could not be cured. The great thing about the Bark Busters training method is how quickly you can see a difference in your dog's behaviour. I worked with Molly's owners and by end of the first session they had the control back again and the tools to change Molly's behaviour permanently. Everyone, including Molly, is far more relaxed and now people can come to the house again and she has recently even started to play with other dogs.
Click on my testimonials link to see some feedback from my clients.
Just like Molly's owners, your dog's behaviour may be of real concern, or you have just picked up your first puppy. Training your dog is fun as well as rewarding. I will teach you how to think and act dog, so that your dog understands what you want and what you don't want him to do. You don't have to be frustrated and embarrassed by your dogs behaviour.
Whatever the problem I can help. No dog is a hopeless case. Contact me to see how I can help you to build that rewarding relationship with your favourite friend.
What My Clients Say
Bark Busters value feedback so we give every customer a feedback form which may be returned freepost to our Head Office. Where permission has been given, these testimonials are taken from those feedback forms...
I know that Kim is going to be instrumental in the lives of both Otto and myself. After only two sessions it's more about what I have learned about me. I have to change before Otto can!
C.T. - Brighton, East Sussex
29th June 2010
It's difficult to believe that we re-homed our terrier cross almost ten months ago, after losing another much-loved, re-homed terrier. H had been found as a stray, in a poorly condition and was very unsettled confined in kennels, yelping and fretting and the staff at the Dog's Trust wanted to find him a loving home, ASAP. Having managed to calm and train our previous, three-times re-homed, hyperactive tear-away, we felt able to take on another dog that needed more than the usual dedication. After several rather frantic walks, he came on a visit to our home; he cutely offered each of us his paw, lay down quietly, sighed blissfully and fell asleep... for hours! We couldn't send him back, he had decided to stay! After all, he was quiet, calm and happy in our house. However, we soon realised that there was more to this dog than initially met the eye..or should I say, 'ear... and it gradually sank in that his unsettled, noisy behaviour was a deep-rooted, stressful pattern that had become his way of coping with everyday events! As soon as we went outside, he began to whimper and squeak, pulling frantically ahead and looking over his shoulder, to see what might be there....although he was desperate to get in the car, once in there, he yelped incessantly, in an unbearably high pitch...NOTHING would stop him...he could keep it up forever! When he spotted another dog, he would throw himself about, barking, lunging on the lead, often taking us off balance, with the lead cutting our hands. Owners would 'tut' and turn the other way, protecting their poor pooches, making critical comments about our lack of control - we felt terrible...embarrassed...pathetic. Not to be beaten, we persevered, with strict codes of behaviour, eating first, restricting areas of the house, ignoring until we were ready to pet/play, whistles, rattling tins, squirting collars, DAP collars, zylkene recommended at the vets...you name it, we tried it....and spent a fortune along the way! We read articles, training books, talked to experienced dog-owners...the noise and stress continued...frustration...exhaustion.. to the point of tears ..but still determination not to give up on this loyal soul, who had decided he loved us! We needed help! We would have to acknowledge the problems were too great for even us! We emailed Kim...a kind, non-pressurising email arrived by return...we weighed up the money already spent, the hours of time and the strain it was putting on the family. Common sense prevailed. Enter Kim! Kim was friendly, calm, assertive, non-judgmental and supportive. She made it clear that we would have to work hard and be consistent and we were happy to do so. We saw some changes after the first session but remained a little sceptical about permanent improvements. However, following advice to CHANGE HIS DIET, the results began to shine... sheer enjoyment of ALL meals, instead of picking nervously, much calmer and far less, smelly mess! We worked on the simple training exercises and began to see results. We had some good days and some very bad ones. One bad day, I called Kim in the evening and she was here the next morning, calmly and intently listening to our concerns, observing him in action and giving us sound advice, to address each and every issue. All advice was realistic, manageable and written up, for our reference. Kim has now spent four long sessions with us, patiently addressing every issue raised and importantly, giving us the strength to persevere! She is very knowledgeable, always has an answer and although our dog has some way to go before taking the medal for Crufts obedience, with Kim's help, he has been able show us that he IS capable of being a calm, well-behaved dog, that we can really enjoy....at last! He now sits for his collar to be put on, quietly moves away from people entering, walks to heel, sits quietly in the car for reasonable lengths of time and most importantly, is beginning to really ENJOY HIS LIFE, rather than 'sweating the small stuff'! I would fully recommend Kim Lummis to anyone with dog behaviour problems and feel that she has offered impressive value, through her on-going, comprehensive, excellent quality support. Thank you Kim!
B.H. - Littlehampton, West Sussex
10th June 2010
Kim is excellent, patient and helpful. I have already recommended her.
R.P. & I.M. - Brighton, East Sussex
20th June 2010
