Bark Busters Reviews and Customer Testimonials
19th November 2024 - Kelly McClelland
Kelly dealt with Aggression, Chewing, Hyperactivity, Jumping up, Pulling, Puppy management, Recall, Separation anxiety, Toileting
A masterful delivery of helpful advice and of training instructions. Kelly held our interest over the 2 hour session, ( difficult when her students are old fossils) and managed this by injecting humour and by drawing on her wealth of stories relating to her history in her training of innumerable pooches ( and their carers) over the years.
Trainer note from Kelly
Thank you both so much for engaging with Bark Busters for training, I thoroughly enjoyed our lesson, and guiding you both into new ways of approaching training, to get results! Hugo, your Cavoodle, is a delightful wee pup, but his jumping up, barking, over guarding when people walk past, pulling on lead, and lack of recall skills was certainly causing you both stress! We worked on all of these things at lesson one, and Hugo was a very calm and mentally tired puppy by the end - and he showed such amazing improvements so quickly! I'll see you both soon for lesson 2, where we'll add distractions to the training, to focus on his external manners. Massive well done, you're both amazing!
Thank you both so much for engaging with Bark Busters for training, I thoroughly enjoyed our lesson, and guiding you both into new ways of approaching training, to get results! Hugo, your Cavoodle, is a delightful wee pup, but his jumping up, barking, over guarding when people walk past, pulling on lead, and lack of recall skills was certainly causing you both stress! We worked on all of these things at lesson one, and Hugo was a very calm and mentally tired puppy by the end - and he showed such amazing improvements so quickly! I'll see you both soon for lesson 2, where we'll add distractions to the training, to focus on his external manners. Massive well done, you're both amazing!
19th November 2024 - Kelly McClelland
Kelly dealt with Barking, Jumping up, Puppy management, Recall, Separation anxiety
Extremely happy with our puppies progress after only the first session.
Trainer note from Kelly
Ziggy is just all legs! What a gorgeous Amstaff x Staffordshire Bull Terrier you have, a kind natured pup, and so willing to learn. It was lovely to spend time with your family, to get Ziggy on the right path - you have done amazing early work with him, and we fine tuned his toilet training, separation work, barking, crate training and started on his lead work. As you engaged with our unique in-house "Lifetime Support Guarantee", you also received a session of puppy school free of charge! Attending week #3, we saw Ziggy go from shy and unsure (as he hadn't been able to socialise yet, due to his vaccination status), to playing and inviting the rumble by the end of the lesson! We kick started his heeling work, learning how to stay, door manners and recall. Great job everyone! I can't wait to see you all for lesson 2!
Ziggy is just all legs! What a gorgeous Amstaff x Staffordshire Bull Terrier you have, a kind natured pup, and so willing to learn. It was lovely to spend time with your family, to get Ziggy on the right path - you have done amazing early work with him, and we fine tuned his toilet training, separation work, barking, crate training and started on his lead work. As you engaged with our unique in-house "Lifetime Support Guarantee", you also received a session of puppy school free of charge! Attending week #3, we saw Ziggy go from shy and unsure (as he hadn't been able to socialise yet, due to his vaccination status), to playing and inviting the rumble by the end of the lesson! We kick started his heeling work, learning how to stay, door manners and recall. Great job everyone! I can't wait to see you all for lesson 2!
16th November 2024 - Kelly McClelland
Kelly dealt with Barking, Recall, Other
Kelly was informative about appropriate nutrition and toys for my toy Caboodle. She also provided tips on how I should become the alpha dog to assist with my dog’s anxiety around other new dogs. Although it has only been a few days, Finn is responding well to requests and I look forward to more advice on how to overcome his apparent fear of strange dogs.
Trainer note from Kelly
Thanks Cherrie, your kinds words and feedback mean a lot to me! You have done some amazing pre-training with Finn, you have consistent rules and boundaries, and you already have a lot of experience - thank you for allowing us to assist with the fine tuning! Barking, fence running, jumping up, gate manners and recall were all worked on in lesson #1, and you both picked up the training super easily! I am looking forward to lesson 2 with dog to dog scene setting and management, as that is the major issue - nice and calm, nice and positive for the win! See you soon!
Thanks Cherrie, your kinds words and feedback mean a lot to me! You have done some amazing pre-training with Finn, you have consistent rules and boundaries, and you already have a lot of experience - thank you for allowing us to assist with the fine tuning! Barking, fence running, jumping up, gate manners and recall were all worked on in lesson #1, and you both picked up the training super easily! I am looking forward to lesson 2 with dog to dog scene setting and management, as that is the major issue - nice and calm, nice and positive for the win! See you soon!
3rd November 2024 - Kelly McClelland
Kelly dealt with Digging, Hyperactivity, Pulling
Kelly was extremely helpful and kind during the first lesson. So much information was given. To truly understand what my boy needs has been a big insight to what I need to change . She was so lovely to talk to and has made the decision to take this opportunity so much easier to take on board.. I think there was an overload of information, but I know I can contact Kelly at anytime for her help.
First session was so much more than I expected. I am so grateful to have met her, And can't wait to see what I can achieve with my beautiful Hudson đź’™
Trainer note from Kelly
Your dogs are so wonderful! Having a dog that is storm phobic, and panic escapes, is terrifying for the owner (and how ironic that our first lesson was in the middle of a thunderstorm LOL!). Thank you for allowing me to assist with Hudson's training, he responded like a dream. Being a herding breed, if you don't get given a job, they will make one, so working his brain to allow him to relax was very important. Lesson 2 was literally perfect, you have both followed through with consistent training, and his road walking was amazing! Go you! The plan for lesson 3 is walking with distractions and dog part entry manners, which I am looking forward to. Well done to you both!
Your dogs are so wonderful! Having a dog that is storm phobic, and panic escapes, is terrifying for the owner (and how ironic that our first lesson was in the middle of a thunderstorm LOL!). Thank you for allowing me to assist with Hudson's training, he responded like a dream. Being a herding breed, if you don't get given a job, they will make one, so working his brain to allow him to relax was very important. Lesson 2 was literally perfect, you have both followed through with consistent training, and his road walking was amazing! Go you! The plan for lesson 3 is walking with distractions and dog part entry manners, which I am looking forward to. Well done to you both!
27th October 2024 - Kelly McClelland
Kelly dealt with Aggression, Chewing, Puppy management, Recall, Separation anxiety, Sibling rivalry, Toileting
Kelly was knowledgeable, caring and beyond helpful. We have recently taken on a rescue dog and we have done a lot of training previously with other trainers with our 5 year old dog. However, I learnt so many new things that went far beyond what I thought I needed to learn to solve some challenges we've had with our new addition and the change in the family dynamics. We have two very content and stable dogs and a much more relaxed household thanks to Kelly's input. Nothing was beyond Kelly's scope including food, toys, training and implementing things for different family members such as our 4 year old son. I was feeling like I had lost my way with both dogs and now thanks to Kelly I have confidence in knowing what to implement so everyone is looked after! I can not talk higher of Kelly's knowledge, skills and coaching.
Trainer note from Kelly
What an amazing dog owner you are! So much knowledge, and so much applied skill, has made Tilly (Labrador) so well behaved! Bringing Winnie (Poodle x Border Collie) into the mix absolutely changed the dynamics, and when the owner gets caught up in a dog brawl, confidence goes out the window super fast. Recognizing where Tilly was (passively) pushing the point, and then balancing that with gaining Tilly's trust, was our main focus at lesson 1. Being a rescue, Tilly was a blank slate for education and by the end, her fear of me had subsided and I was able to show her all the positive pats that come with being such a good girl. We understand that having dogs that pull on lead on walks makes that exercise time incredibly frustrating, so we fine tuned that at lesson 2 - it was so rewarding to watch your confidence grow instantly, once they walked with you, not dragging you! Congratulations to you both for your consistency and hard work with training - I can't wait for our lesson 3 walk around the block and to the dog park :-)!
What an amazing dog owner you are! So much knowledge, and so much applied skill, has made Tilly (Labrador) so well behaved! Bringing Winnie (Poodle x Border Collie) into the mix absolutely changed the dynamics, and when the owner gets caught up in a dog brawl, confidence goes out the window super fast. Recognizing where Tilly was (passively) pushing the point, and then balancing that with gaining Tilly's trust, was our main focus at lesson 1. Being a rescue, Tilly was a blank slate for education and by the end, her fear of me had subsided and I was able to show her all the positive pats that come with being such a good girl. We understand that having dogs that pull on lead on walks makes that exercise time incredibly frustrating, so we fine tuned that at lesson 2 - it was so rewarding to watch your confidence grow instantly, once they walked with you, not dragging you! Congratulations to you both for your consistency and hard work with training - I can't wait for our lesson 3 walk around the block and to the dog park :-)!
24th October 2024 - Kelly McClelland
Kelly dealt with Aggression, Barking, Chewing, Digging, Hyperactivity, Jumping up, Pulling, Separation anxiety, Toileting
Absolutely thrilled with the help we received from Kelly for our Frenchie, BOSS! He was definitely the boss of us, and we felt completely overwhelmed. After two years of struggling, we were on the brink of giving up, but Kelly's training was a game changer.
By the end of our first 3.5-hour session, we had a new understanding of BOSS and his behavior. We even switched his food to address his hyperactivity, and now we're working daily on the techniques Kelly taught us. I genuinely wish we had done this sooner!
The methods we’re using aren’t hard or time-consuming at all—far from what I had expected! If you’re feeling defeated like we were, I urge you to reach out to Kelly. The love and bond with your fur baby will only grow stronger as the hard work becomes manageable.
Thank you, Kelly! You’ve made such a difference in our lives!
Trainer note from Kelly
Your family has been so wonderful to deal with, you are all so lovely, and it was very clear to me from the second I arrived that you all love Boss dearly, but that his behaviour was almost pushing you to the point or surrender / rehoming. Correcting his visitor reactivity at lesson 1 was the main aim, positive crate training had some fine tuning, door answering solutions were presented and we started on his door work. Lesson 2 was just WOW! What a change! Even with incredibly difficult time restraints (work, kids, etc) you have all done a superb job, and his improvements were absolutely noticeable. Even road walking, stays and having him standing so close to me, a visitor, without reacting? Very rewarding indeed, and I was thrilled for you all. Huge well done!
Your family has been so wonderful to deal with, you are all so lovely, and it was very clear to me from the second I arrived that you all love Boss dearly, but that his behaviour was almost pushing you to the point or surrender / rehoming. Correcting his visitor reactivity at lesson 1 was the main aim, positive crate training had some fine tuning, door answering solutions were presented and we started on his door work. Lesson 2 was just WOW! What a change! Even with incredibly difficult time restraints (work, kids, etc) you have all done a superb job, and his improvements were absolutely noticeable. Even road walking, stays and having him standing so close to me, a visitor, without reacting? Very rewarding indeed, and I was thrilled for you all. Huge well done!
10th October 2024 - Kelly McClelland
Kelly dealt with Hyperactivity, Puppy management, Other
Kelly was full of information and friendly.
Trainer note from Kelly
Thanks Brian! It was so lovely to work with you both, and gaining and understanding of how we could get the behaviour of Benny, your Cavoodle, to work in better with your requirements, was crucial. Teaching in to walk nicely near the mobility scooter, without getting tangled, only jump up when asked, barking, and recall. In both lesson 1 and 2 we focused on all of these, as well as setting kitchen boundaries and positive crate training, and starting his obedience journey towards a PAT. Well done, great job!
Thanks Brian! It was so lovely to work with you both, and gaining and understanding of how we could get the behaviour of Benny, your Cavoodle, to work in better with your requirements, was crucial. Teaching in to walk nicely near the mobility scooter, without getting tangled, only jump up when asked, barking, and recall. In both lesson 1 and 2 we focused on all of these, as well as setting kitchen boundaries and positive crate training, and starting his obedience journey towards a PAT. Well done, great job!
26th September 2024 - Kelly McClelland
Kelly dealt with Barking, Chewing, Hyperactivity, Jumping up, Recall
What Kelly showed us was nothing short of magic. Lily is a very good dog but was quite erratic and barked at everything. After one session with Kelly she bearly barks and only for good reasons. This allows was worth every dollar.
Trainer note from Kelly
Thanks Michael! Lily is a gorgeous little girl, but wow, what a screaming bark she had LOL! When the owners have a home office, a barking dog is a major issue, and of course a high balcony over-looking everything is a perfect set up for a dog to over guard. At lesson one Lily responded like a dream - she was so keen for someone to take the leadership role, it was wonderful to see how quickly she picked things up. And WOW, lesson 2, what a change! No barking as I walked up the driveway, she was polite at the door, no jumping, and so so calm and relaxed. Massive well done to you both, your consistency and the way you have applied the training to your day to day regime has made all the difference. Lily now has 2 FOC sessions of group training to attend, and I'll see you when you're ready! Super job!
Thanks Michael! Lily is a gorgeous little girl, but wow, what a screaming bark she had LOL! When the owners have a home office, a barking dog is a major issue, and of course a high balcony over-looking everything is a perfect set up for a dog to over guard. At lesson one Lily responded like a dream - she was so keen for someone to take the leadership role, it was wonderful to see how quickly she picked things up. And WOW, lesson 2, what a change! No barking as I walked up the driveway, she was polite at the door, no jumping, and so so calm and relaxed. Massive well done to you both, your consistency and the way you have applied the training to your day to day regime has made all the difference. Lily now has 2 FOC sessions of group training to attend, and I'll see you when you're ready! Super job!
26th September 2024 - Kelly McClelland
Kelly dealt with Aggression, Barking, Hyperactivity, Jumping up, Puppy management
After we've been tearing our hair out for 7 months trying to find solutions for our dominant and hyperactive 10-month-old Groodle's behaviour, Kelly had results within 10 minutes of walking in the door, calming our girl down in no time. Kelly explained her approach clearly, before moving to work through the various strategies and exercises to apply with our pooch each day. It was like we had a different dog two hours later and, while she's still testing the boundaries a few days later, there has been a significant breakthrough in how calm she is and, when she does become excited, how quickly we can cause her to come down, all with some simple and effective strategies provided by Kelly. It's also so good to know that we can call Kelly at any time (which I did the next day to clarify a few things) and that it isn't a one-off session. We look forward to continuing to understand how best to work with our girl for everyone's benefit!
Trainer note from Kelly
What a cheeky and happy girl you have! Groodle's can tend to be a handful during adolescence, but she responded like a dream to our gentle and easy training methods. The aim of all training is to have a happy, balanced and well behaved dog, and as your parents care for her regularly, even more so, so no one gets accidently hurt from her being too rough. We focused on jumping up, recall, walking politely and barking, and at the next lesson, we'll show how to control public manners like lunging, dog excitability and pulling on lead. I can't wait to work with you all again soon!
What a cheeky and happy girl you have! Groodle's can tend to be a handful during adolescence, but she responded like a dream to our gentle and easy training methods. The aim of all training is to have a happy, balanced and well behaved dog, and as your parents care for her regularly, even more so, so no one gets accidently hurt from her being too rough. We focused on jumping up, recall, walking politely and barking, and at the next lesson, we'll show how to control public manners like lunging, dog excitability and pulling on lead. I can't wait to work with you all again soon!
25th September 2024 - Kelly McClelland
Kelly dealt with Hyperactivity, Jumping up, Pulling, Recall
Had my first training session for myself and my 2 dogs on Saturday. Was a very detailed session and quite informative as to how to address some of the issues I am experiencing with my dogs. We then commenced with the dogs behaviours and interactions when people are at my house and I was blown away with how both of my dogs responded to Kelly. I have not seen them respond so quickly as to improving their behaviour, especially when a stranger was present. We ran through a number of lessons which I now am completing with each dog on a daily basis until our next training session. I am seeing and improvement already and this has given me the confidence that this training is going to work. It is early days, but am very happy with how this is going so far.
Trainer note from Kelly
Thanks Allana! Working with rescue dogs, especially when one is terrified, has to be done slowly, calmly and with confidence. You had your girls responding within 5mins of us stepping into the yard, which was wonderful to see. Over the course of your lessons to date, we have shown how to control unwanted barking, fence running, jumping up, door manners and overall confidence - no food, no yelling, no shock collars, just direct and clear training that is easy to implement. Park manners are our current focus, working on coordinating corrections, getting their focus and timing for back lead training to manage dog to dog issues. I can't wait for our next catch up, massive well done, they are so much more relaxed!
Thanks Allana! Working with rescue dogs, especially when one is terrified, has to be done slowly, calmly and with confidence. You had your girls responding within 5mins of us stepping into the yard, which was wonderful to see. Over the course of your lessons to date, we have shown how to control unwanted barking, fence running, jumping up, door manners and overall confidence - no food, no yelling, no shock collars, just direct and clear training that is easy to implement. Park manners are our current focus, working on coordinating corrections, getting their focus and timing for back lead training to manage dog to dog issues. I can't wait for our next catch up, massive well done, they are so much more relaxed!
17th September 2024 - Kelly McClelland
Kelly dealt with Digging, Jumping up, Pulling, Recall
Kelly was awesome, Poppi has been so calm and is listening and that's after one lesson ,can't wait to see what happens over the next few weeks
Trainer note from Kelly
Ahhhh, the joys of an adolescent Golden Retriever! Poppi is such a sweet girl, but had certainly worked out how to push everyone's buttons and not in a good way! Gaining control over the door (to prevent rushing and racing), lead manners (pulling), obedience and barking were all covered at the first session. Your family are all on the same page, and Poppi loved the attention and boundaries provided. The shining moment for me? Watching your daughter being able to handle Poppi's lead for the first time, comfortably and without fear - absolutely perfect! Be nice and consistent and we'll work on manners in public and road safety at lesson #2 :-)
Ahhhh, the joys of an adolescent Golden Retriever! Poppi is such a sweet girl, but had certainly worked out how to push everyone's buttons and not in a good way! Gaining control over the door (to prevent rushing and racing), lead manners (pulling), obedience and barking were all covered at the first session. Your family are all on the same page, and Poppi loved the attention and boundaries provided. The shining moment for me? Watching your daughter being able to handle Poppi's lead for the first time, comfortably and without fear - absolutely perfect! Be nice and consistent and we'll work on manners in public and road safety at lesson #2 :-)
27th August 2024 - Kelly McClelland
Looking forward to continuing our work with Kelly. She has given us the tools and motivation to help Tobi with his behaviour problems - things we didn't even realise were a problem!
Trainer note from Kelly
Tobi is an absolute pocket rocket, and I can certainly see how his at home manners were causing so much stress, especially with a new (human) baby! Controlling barking, recall, door answering, door racing and lead work has certainly gotten you on the right path, and I am looking forward to starting at the door @ lesson #2, and doing walking with the pram manners. Excellent work!
Tobi is an absolute pocket rocket, and I can certainly see how his at home manners were causing so much stress, especially with a new (human) baby! Controlling barking, recall, door answering, door racing and lead work has certainly gotten you on the right path, and I am looking forward to starting at the door @ lesson #2, and doing walking with the pram manners. Excellent work!