Bark Busters Reviews and Customer Testimonials
6th March 2024 - Philippa Dakin
Very clear approach to training that has been very doable and practical thus far. Philippa was very helpful, answering all of our questions and giving us solutions that have helped us to lead our dog better by showing us how to “speak dog.” I highly recommend Philippa, who is an attentive and kind professional.
Trainer note from Philippa
Thank you for the review. Great to meet you and Suki and the rest of the family. Suki a sensitive Blue Heeler is responding so well. Helping with barking, recall, and learning to relax. Keep up the good training and I look forward to the next visit.
Thank you for the review. Great to meet you and Suki and the rest of the family. Suki a sensitive Blue Heeler is responding so well. Helping with barking, recall, and learning to relax. Keep up the good training and I look forward to the next visit.
5th March 2024 - Glen & Maureen Guelfi
No fuss, common sense approach from Glen. Duggie needed some fine tuning and Glen has worked wonders in one lesson, giving us confidence to work with Duggie.
Trainer note from Glen & Maureen
Thanks Alison, American Staffy x Boy Duggie is great, it was my pleasure to help you tidy up some behaviors.
Thanks Alison, American Staffy x Boy Duggie is great, it was my pleasure to help you tidy up some behaviors.
4th March 2024 - Michelle Howell
Really helpful with understanding the power dynamic that was leading to unwanted behaviours. Even in only a few days we've noticed a huge difference in the respect our dog shows us, we were hesitant at first but understand now it's just speaking in a language he understands
3rd March 2024 - Kelly McClelland
Kelly’s strategy and techniques in dog training got us all in awe. She truly knows her craft, her demonstrations are on point and effective. We also appreciate that we can call her if we have questions and her personalized approach. She’s very responsive to our messages as well. Our rottie Chop Chop is much more loved cause he now follows our calls and obeys commands. Kelly’s Australia’s dog whisperer :) we are grateful for all your help. Thank you!! 👍👍👍
Trainer note from Kelly
Hi Beth, your family were so amazing to work with! Chop Chop is an adorable Rottweiler, and at 10 months, a very very large puppy LOL! Looking at the issues such as lead chewing, pulling, barking, over guarding, jumping up, visitor excitement.....all of this was tackled at our first session, and wow, isn't he a super smart pup! I can't wait to fine tune the obedience work, get him out the front and do walking with distractions, and have him heeling nicely on your daily walks! Then, onto group training for social skills - he is going to be amazing! Thanks again for inviting me in, I really appreciate everyone's involvement :-)
Hi Beth, your family were so amazing to work with! Chop Chop is an adorable Rottweiler, and at 10 months, a very very large puppy LOL! Looking at the issues such as lead chewing, pulling, barking, over guarding, jumping up, visitor excitement.....all of this was tackled at our first session, and wow, isn't he a super smart pup! I can't wait to fine tune the obedience work, get him out the front and do walking with distractions, and have him heeling nicely on your daily walks! Then, onto group training for social skills - he is going to be amazing! Thanks again for inviting me in, I really appreciate everyone's involvement :-)
3rd March 2024 - Kelly McClelland
After two sessions we have a completely different dog. He responded immediately to training and continues to do so with reinforcement. Couldn’t recommend highly enough for anyone having even slight issues with their dog
Trainer note from Kelly
Thanks Todd! You both love Freddie so much, and he was certainly living up to the stubborn French Bulldog reputation! However, identifying the areas of concern, barking, over guarding, fence running, barking at people walking past off the verandah - all of that stopped after the first lesson, and at today's second lesson when we did scene setting, one correction....JUST ONE!....and he stopped, returned and sat quietly. Go Team!!! Today we also focused on his lead pulling, and starting actioning the on lead reactivity. By using the calm and gentle Bark Busters methods, you were heeling down the street like a star! Next time I will either bring a dog, or we're off to the park for distraction work. Well done!
Thanks Todd! You both love Freddie so much, and he was certainly living up to the stubborn French Bulldog reputation! However, identifying the areas of concern, barking, over guarding, fence running, barking at people walking past off the verandah - all of that stopped after the first lesson, and at today's second lesson when we did scene setting, one correction....JUST ONE!....and he stopped, returned and sat quietly. Go Team!!! Today we also focused on his lead pulling, and starting actioning the on lead reactivity. By using the calm and gentle Bark Busters methods, you were heeling down the street like a star! Next time I will either bring a dog, or we're off to the park for distraction work. Well done!
28th February 2024 - Kelly McClelland
Hi Kelly, we really enjoyed our first lesson with you. The attention to detail of our little Storm that you gave us from the moment you walked in was really appreciated. Every explanation of 'how to' to the practical was with patience and all questions answered. Since our session, we have improved our communication with Storm, which in turn is allowing him to understand better behaviour and we enjoy him a lot more. We look forward to our next session. Thank you
Trainer note from Kelly
Firstly, let me say thank you for taking on a rescue/rehome, you are a wonderful and kind family! We love working with rescues, as we don't always have the full background story, so need to take things slow to work out what works for the dog, and what needs attention. One of the biggest concerns early on with your Frenchie, Storm, was his unwarranted reactivity, and concerns around potential snapping at children. We put safety measures and corrections into place, and now his BFF is your youngest family member, and it is a beautiful relationship to watch! We now have his walking in hand, jumping up and door answering have ceased, and he no longer barges through the door when opened. Looking forward to road and park work next lesson - keep up the consistency, you're all doing so well :-)
Firstly, let me say thank you for taking on a rescue/rehome, you are a wonderful and kind family! We love working with rescues, as we don't always have the full background story, so need to take things slow to work out what works for the dog, and what needs attention. One of the biggest concerns early on with your Frenchie, Storm, was his unwarranted reactivity, and concerns around potential snapping at children. We put safety measures and corrections into place, and now his BFF is your youngest family member, and it is a beautiful relationship to watch! We now have his walking in hand, jumping up and door answering have ceased, and he no longer barges through the door when opened. Looking forward to road and park work next lesson - keep up the consistency, you're all doing so well :-)
27th February 2024 - Kia Parke
I had just about lost all hope in being able to find someone to help me with my out of control, fear aggressive and leash reactive Chihuahua until I found Kia Parke from Townsville Barkbusters.
My Chihuahua (Bandit)has bitten 2 people and tiny though he may be (2kg), he behaved like a Rottweiler and I was beginning to hate walking him as he reacted to anything and everything.
In our very first session (and in under 20 minutes) Kia was able to be in the room with Bandit off leash with his attention focused completely on me. Wow! Bandit tolerated a total stranger (Kia) in the house without trying to eat them alive from the ankles up! I was truly left thinking “Did that just really happen?” And not one single treat involved!
Kia certainly knows exactly what she’s doing and is very professional, approachable and friendly. I feel I can really trust her in regard to her instructions in training my dog and for the first time in almost 2 years I have a real hope that Bandit can be rehabilitated. I can already see it happening!
We have just had our second session this morning with Kia where she was able to again enter the house and this time get to meet Bandit. Within a few minutes Bandit was up on her lap wanting a chest massage from her. Again Wow! We also did some more training and Kia gave me some more instructions to follow for the next few weeks.
The difference in Bandit in even under 2 weeks has been nothing short of amazing and all thanks to Kia from Townsville Barkbusters.
If you’re hesitant about getting a dog trainer I’ll say this about Kia from Townsville Barkbusters…it will be the best money you’ve ever spent as long as you follow her instructions and do the homework with your dog.
I am really looking forward to future sessions with Kia and watching Bandit totally transform. And even though I know there will be a bit of a journey ahead, I believe Bandit will get there under Kia’s expertise.
26th February 2024 - Catharina Jeffery
We have just had our first session with Cat and can already see a huge difference in our little pooch. She was very uneasy with our newborn and highly stressed about the situation, snapping and growling as our bub is starting to crawl. She’s more relaxed and following our commands clearly now that we know how to speak her language :) thanks very much Cat we are very grateful for the changes already seen and look forward to learning more!
Trainer note from Catharina
It was great to work with you and Vada (4 year old Pomeranian cross Chihuahua). Even though she is a anxious dog it was wonderful to see her respond to you both as you gave her the leadership and guidance through the training. I love that she has taken to her crate so well and she now uses that as her safe space. I look forward to seeing her progress at our next session (although it is great to see her improvements already over text) and then start to work on her dog reactivity/fear and lead training. Thanks for leaving a review, and well done on putting this great training system in place for Vada :)
It was great to work with you and Vada (4 year old Pomeranian cross Chihuahua). Even though she is a anxious dog it was wonderful to see her respond to you both as you gave her the leadership and guidance through the training. I love that she has taken to her crate so well and she now uses that as her safe space. I look forward to seeing her progress at our next session (although it is great to see her improvements already over text) and then start to work on her dog reactivity/fear and lead training. Thanks for leaving a review, and well done on putting this great training system in place for Vada :)
26th February 2024 - Glen & Maureen Guelfi
Glen was amazing He helped us understand how to train our 10 month old Cookie. Fantastic results in such a short time. He walks on the lead beautifully now and is responding to our commands. A much calmer household. Glen was clear and knowledgeable
Trainer note from Glen & Maureen
Thanks very much, Glad all is going well.
Thanks very much, Glad all is going well.
25th February 2024 - Kelly McClelland
Kelly did an amazing job in our first session, Diesel has already changed for the better and listens and responds to commands now
Trainer note from Kelly
Diesel is such a funny, and very cool, American Staffordshire Terrier, and I can see why everyone loves him so much! He was getting confused with the commands, and expectations, and once we set some boundaries, and house rules (that everyone agreed on), he relaxed almost immediately. Being such a big, strong dog, his walking needed some help, so he could get out and about more - prior to our training, he was being very on lead reactive. We put measures into place to gain focus off site, and at the second lesson, to see him walking up the street at heel, without worrying about anything else, was truly golden!!! Massive well done, huge changes in your gorgeous boy :-)
Diesel is such a funny, and very cool, American Staffordshire Terrier, and I can see why everyone loves him so much! He was getting confused with the commands, and expectations, and once we set some boundaries, and house rules (that everyone agreed on), he relaxed almost immediately. Being such a big, strong dog, his walking needed some help, so he could get out and about more - prior to our training, he was being very on lead reactive. We put measures into place to gain focus off site, and at the second lesson, to see him walking up the street at heel, without worrying about anything else, was truly golden!!! Massive well done, huge changes in your gorgeous boy :-)
25th February 2024 - Kia Parke
Kia was very helpful. The techniques she showed me have been very effective so far with the dogs finding it easy to learn. Still early days but I’m hopeful that they will continue (with ongoing training) to improve and eventually we’ll be able to go for walks without having to worry about other dogs.
22nd February 2024 - Kelly McClelland
Within 24 hrs we saw a massive turn around with Chicas behaviour. She was a hyperactive dog but now she has really calmed down. We feel more in control of situations
Trainer note from Kelly
Chica is a rather delightful Frenchie, who was causing you both so much stress, purely because things felt "out of control". It is always so frustrating for the owner to not have good recall, have a dog that races out doors between your legs, marking / toilet training is an issue, and on lead reactivity. Your consistency and passion for Chica showed again at the second lesson - heeling, sitting on the kerb, completing stay exercises with such a calm demeanor - so much control gained! We started ground work for walking past other dogs without reactivity, too, and we will continue with this at lesson 3. Thanks for allowing Bark Busters to come and help :-)
Chica is a rather delightful Frenchie, who was causing you both so much stress, purely because things felt "out of control". It is always so frustrating for the owner to not have good recall, have a dog that races out doors between your legs, marking / toilet training is an issue, and on lead reactivity. Your consistency and passion for Chica showed again at the second lesson - heeling, sitting on the kerb, completing stay exercises with such a calm demeanor - so much control gained! We started ground work for walking past other dogs without reactivity, too, and we will continue with this at lesson 3. Thanks for allowing Bark Busters to come and help :-)