Police Reject Who Terrified Owners Now Reformed Character

Ben, a 2 year old German Shepherd, was adopted by Julie and Chris Baugh of Llanfrechfa, Cwmbran. The couple adopted the dog when police handlers decided that he wasn’t going to make the grade as a police dog.  For the first week or two Ben was fine in his new home, but then the trouble began.

Ben took to growling and then lunging at Julie, leaving her frightened of being in the house alone with the dog.

‘It was awful’ admits Julie.  ‘I loved him and was frightened of him at the same time.  I often went and hid away upstairs, just to get away from him when I was in the house on my own with Ben.  It is scary when a dog lays on the floor growling at you’. 

Ben also on occasion lunged at Julie and she was lucky not to be bitten.

Although Ben initially appeared to be better with husband Chris and two teenage children, this was to change when one day Chris went to stroke the dog and was bitten.

Things were no better outside the house either.  Ben would bark and lunge aggressively at any passing dog and was very difficult to walk.

It was suggested to the couple on several occasions that it would be best to have the dog destroyed, but as far as Julie and Chris were concerned this was never an option.  Eventually however, the couple decided that enough was enough and that Ben would have to be re-homed. 

‘It was ridiculous’ says Chris. ‘Julie couldn’t relax and was frightened to be in her own home’.

Chris and Julie managed to find a couple to take the dog and reluctantly let him go.

‘It was dreadful’ says Julie ‘The day that Ben went, I cried all night. The next day I knew we had to get him back’.

Julie needn’t have worried because the following day Ben was back anyway.  He hadn’t settled with the dog that the new owners already had and so they were unable to keep Ben.

‘Even though he frightened me and his behaviour was awful, I was absolutely delighted to get Ben back’ laughs Julie.

It was around this time that Chris’s mother saw an advert for Bark Busters and suggested that the couple gave them a call.

‘It was the best thing we ever did’ says Chris.  ‘From the very fist visit Ben was like a different dog.  We couldn’t believe how quickly he was turned around and it was so easy once we understood what had gone wrong and how we needed to change our behaviour.  He is now so affectionate and he is wonderful with Julie’.

It was Jinny Hatton, of Bark Busters Home Dog Training who resolved the dog’s problems and she is absolutely delighted with the improvement she has seen in Ben. 

‘Ben is a lovely dog, but he has a very nervous temperament and his aggression stemmed from fear. I showed Julie and Chris how to become effective leaders to Ben and as a result he is now relaxed and able to enjoy a loving family life. This certainly wasn’t always the case, Ben even had the audacity to growl at Julie when she tried to take her hand away after stroking his tummy’ laughs Jinny. ‘It is wonderful to see a dog like Ben given a better quality of life. Chris and Julie are terrific owners and cases like this make my job all the more worthwhile’.

Ben is now perfectly behaved both in and out of the home

‘He really is fantastic now.  He shows no aggression and if anyone comes to the house he just gets his toys out and wants to play. He also walks on the lead as good as gold’ says Chris.

‘We just did exactly what Jinny told us and he responded so quickly it was unbelievable’ says Julie.

Asked if Ben is now home for good Julie replies ‘Absolutely.  Ben is part of our family now and he’s not going anywhere.  We adore him and he’s here to stay and that’s all thanks to Bark Busters’.

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.