Old Dog Taught New Tricks

Following a complaint from a neighbour, the Environmental Health Office recorded the noise that Basil, a Lurcher/German Shepherd cross, made when left home alone.  Even Lindsay had to admit it was awful.

‘To be honest when I heard the din that Basil was making I couldn’t believe that my neighbours had put up with the noise for so long.  I had no idea that he howled for hours when left home alone’.

With a warning letter from the council Lindsay knew that either the barking had to stop or Basil would have to go. ‘I realised that it would have been a matter of re-homing him, or moving house if the noise didn’t stop’ says Lindsay.

As well as wanting to sort the problem out for the neighbours sake, Lindsay was also desperately concerned to hear her dog sounding so distressed. ‘I did try an anti-bark collar which did absolutely nothing and even considered a surgical procedure where the vocal chords are cut, but I really wanted to know that Basil was happy when left, not just quiet’ she explains.  This became even more important to Lindsay when her other dog, Archie a twelve-year-old cross-breed died just before Christmas.

Lindsay recruited the help of Bark Busters home dog training who, as the name might suggest, deal with canine behavioural problems including unwanted barking.

Lee Hardy of Bark Busters worked with Lindsay to stop the barking and howling.  He also put an end to the destructive chewing that took place when Basil was left on his own.  Basil had in fact chewed his way through 2 three-piece suites and a couple of armchairs.  His behaviour outside the house has improved immeasurably too and Basil no longer lunges aggressively at passing dogs.

Nothing had prepared Lindsay for the enormous change she would see in her dog ‘He really is like a different dog and is 100% better than he was.  I can honestly say he is now super.  He has not only stopped howling, but is also a much happier, more relaxed dog and is totally controllable when people come to the house.  He also listens to me when we are out and doesn’t show any aggression.  What’s more he hasn’t chewed a thing since the training’ says Lindsay.

The neighbours are delighted at the new quiet dog next door.  At nine years old, Basil has proved that it is possible to ‘teach an old dog new tricks’.

For more information about Bark Busters take a look at www.barkbusters.co.uk

To contact a Bark Buster Therapist call Freephone 0808 100 4071

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.