Bark Busters

Bark busters was hired by home owner I was house sitting

They came out and essential trained me as necessary to carry out the necessary steps to take control as leader of pack and it worked on 2 dogs

Its up to you as the owner to keep up with and try and do what they teach you and actively practice it daily and several times a day for best results

I had a damn near perfect result within a couple weeks to a month of being trained

Unfortunately the owners when returned from vacationed for several months who hired them to train me

You absolutely must listen and take it seriously in order to see results

And

Price seemed steep but compared to others who do the training it was worth it in the end

And they did do follow up visit and the last was scheduled for the owners return to train them

We reached out to Bark Busters for help with our rehomed dog who had problems with barking, anxiety, and stubbornness. However, our main concern was his tendency to bite during grooming and handling.

When I first called about our issues, they assured me that they had experience with these problems and would be able to help. Even though the fee was high, we were willing to pay it because we were desperate for help.

We were excited during our first session and listened intently as the trainer explained her training methods. She even attempted to help us apply ear drops to our dogs ears, which did not work out too well. Our dog was very aggressive and despite all the bahs, water squirting, and chain throwing, he did not calm down.

In fact, it seemed like he became more distressed. Even though that grooming attempt did not go well, we were still willing to try all their methods and do our homework. We thought that over time, he would improve. The next day, he was more anxious than before and was shaking.

Although we thought this was strange, we went to work on the worksheets. Looking back at this point, I am glad I did not write a review like they requested after just one visit. I always like giving good reviews but decided to wait and see what the training would produce.

After 4 weeks of checking off all the boxes and implementing all the homework, we contacted them for another visit. When the trainer rang the bell, our dog barked and we had a difficult time getting him to stop.

She told us that he still did not learn submission and respect for us. I remember feeling so ashamed and defeated because we genuinely tried everything they said. That day, we went to the field to work on recall and even the trainer had a difficult time getting him to listen. There was a point when we lost all his focus altogether because he had seen something and would not break his attention away from it.

It was here we noticed that the trainer did not give us any new strategies when the bahs, water squirting, and chain throwing did not help.

Even after the unsuccessful visits, we still had faith in the Bark Busters method and convinced ourselves that if we continued to be consistent, we would see results. And believe me, we tried and tried and tried.

After more weeks and months of working on our dog, we noticed negative changes in him. He not only was more fearful and anxious around the house, but he also became more aggressive during grooming and handling. Instead of the mild warning bites he used to give, he was now giving us injuring bites.

Both of us have received severe bite injuries on our hands. Mine has left a permanent scar and my husbands injury has left his finger partially numb. (These bites were not caused by disrespecting or mistreating the dog). Many tears have been shed because of this.

Although it was a hard thing to do, we came to the realization that the training did not work. This was difficult because we wanted it to work so badly. But our dog was not the same since the training they gave us.

After he gave my husband that severe bite, we were at the point of surrendering him because we could no longer take his bad behaviours. However, because we love him so much and were so attached to him, we decided to give him another chance.

We hired another trainer and put our dog in her board and train program.

He came home to us a new dog! His anxiety has dramatically decreased, he is listening to all our commands, his walks have been amazing, and he is no longer biting us. Overall, our home has become more relaxing and peaceful. He is now happy and living his best life.

We did further research on dog training and found that it is not a one size fits all solution.

Each dog is different and training should be tailored to fit their breed, temperament, and specific issues. This is something that we feel Bark Busters did not provide us with. It seemed like the only solution they gave us to all of our dogs problems was to bah him, squirt him with water, and throw chain bags at him to correct him. We feel that this made him afraid of us and kept him from trusting us.

I have seen the same sentiment online from other owners whose dogs had similar issues as ours. Furthermore, I do not see how barking at a dog will get him to learn obedience commands such as sit, stay, and place.

I understand that their methods may work for some dogs, but they certainly do not work for all. I hope that, in the future, they are more careful with their business claims.

We are very disappointed in ourselves that we chose Bark Busters for help with our dog.

We feel that the amount we paid was unjustified when all we received was a more anxious and fear-aggressive dog and instructions on a one size fits all strategy. We wish we had found our current trainer first before Bark Busters.

I phoned to inquire about their methods and training program. The rep was wanting to know what I was looking for from a trainer then basically regurgitated my words back to me.

He wanted to take a deposit which is normally non refundable however since the pup was a foster if for any reason I changed my mind he would refund it. He also said he would email my receipt with the statement that he would refund my deposit if I changed my mind. To date I have NEVER received that email receipt! I had to phone him back on the 3rd day asking for my receipt for my records and to send me over their contract.

I received the contract 4 days latter. The total for the training would amount to $1500.00! The trainer would come out for 2 hours and leave pamphlets ( homework) for me to do. Nothing in the contract was as the rep explained.

Since my foster was a breed that would be made more adoptable having training I was willing to put my own funds into her.

I had to contact my credit card company to challenge the deposit. PLEASE BEWARE OF THIS GROUP!!

I feel like I threw $800 out the window. They come to your house for two-2.5 hours and go over information and their little booklet and then they teach you how to growl at your dogs to control them which is not reasonable and is ridiculous.

I think my dogs know that Im not a dog. We never ever took the dogs out and work them at all.

I am hoping to pursue a class action suit against Bark Busters and I want to know if anybody wants to go in on it with me?

I hired Bark Busters due to the superficial glowing reviews and a promising website. I received a call from the franchise owner, explained my dog's issues (and that I wanted basic training for my second dog), said I liked that they didn't use aversive techniques, because I didn't want to cause more fear and anxiety to my fear reactive dog.

Everything said on that phone call was "right". I then talked to someone who had a very negative experience with her fear reactive dog. I called the trainer's office back and spoke to the office manager and asked about the specific aversive training techniques I'd been told about. I was told that these techniques were not used as this person described and that she must have had a rogue trainer.

Furthermore, I was told they did not use the mesh bags except on maybe the most extreme cases (and even then, never at or near the dog). My dog is fear reactive (not aggressive in any way) and nowhere near an extreme case, so I didn't think that would even come into play.

That was a lie. They use a loud growling sound (Bah) to correct everything or just get the dog's attention (it was scaring our other dog, who we had to put in another part of the house to keep her from becoming anxious). A water bottle sprayed from behind the ears was the next level, if the dog doesn't respond to Bah.

And then escalating to bean bags made of a wire mesh. During the training session, the trainer had us fill Ziploc bags with water to throw near the dog (near in quotes because the trainer's throw hit our dog's leg) but left with the mesh bags with us to use. They do not use prong or e-collars, but they still use aversive training.

During the training session, as the incresingly averse methods were added, I expressed concern. I was told we could stop the session, but I didn't feel like I could actually stop.

The trainer was condescending and made me feel like I didn't know anything, so my concern was misplaced. I've been around dogs my whole life, including aggressive and reactive dogs, and he had me questioning 4 decades of knowledge.

Our dog's fear and anxiety was worse after the session. We tried the training techniques for less than a week (they want you to practice 10-15 minutes a day for 5 weeks before the next session) before stopping. Even though I was apprehensive about the techniques, I had a sliver of hope that maybe this would work and could help quiet our pup's brain.

He was slightly better after we stopped. Weve had to earn our dogs trust again.

Additionally, there were 3 people shadowing. I had agreed to a shadow, but it was said in a way that it seemed like there would be only 1 person. One of those shadows was a smoker and covered the smoke smell heavily with cologne.

It caused me to cough during the whole session indoors and we had to air our house out after they left.

I started digging deeper after the session and discovered the reason why there are only glowing reviews: they give people refunds in exchange for either not writing or removing negative reviews.

We are now seeing a certified behavioralist who specializes in medication and her team of trainers who use positive reinforcement only (treats and praise).

(I uploaded a receipt as proof of purchase. They spelled my last name wrong.

I know I spelled it correctly on the online form. If I can't be found under the last name I have given, adding an R in-between G and I might help.)

On February 20th 2024: I sent the following text to Evan, BARK BUSTER, Macomb MI

"Is it possible to get refunded the 1395? There's a lot of things going on right now.

I would really appreciate it. Thank you."

NO REPLY TO DATE!

On March 24th 2024: I sent Evan a follow-up request:

Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail on Android... "Evan, last month I had left you a text message and inquired about canceling the program. Since my husband passed away5 a;;; few months ago, my financial situation had changed more than I realized.

After your first visit, I realized it's not what I had expected.

Please cancel the training and refund the amount paid. Thank you."

NO REPLY

WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE BESIDES SMALL CLAIMS COURT.

Good Afternoon,

I reached out to them because I was having severe aggressive issues with my dogs. I was told that they would be able to help with that.

I paid 2195 for two dogs. All I feel I received from that money was wasted time and a spray bottle. The first meeting was great. He seemed to know what he was talking about, mostly talking.

However, by the second meeting is started to seem like we were going nowhere. At one point it was suggested that we just keep the dogs separated. Something we were already doing. There were less incidents with the dogs, but they were not together at all.

Which was my goal to have them be able to interact. I truly feel like this was a waste of money. To the point where the trainer was frustrated with taking my lab on a walk and just turned around and we came back home one session. Then there was a time we needed to reschedule and then heard nothing back.

It wasnt till we reached out; his reason was that he is use to customers reaching out if they dont get a response. Once we realized this was a waste of time and money, we asked to cancel this. He refunded 1100 which was given to my partner I was not able to stay and finish the last session and when I got back he was gone. Leaving us with a balance of 1090 that I paid for three visits and no results.

It took me a while to send this, but it just seems like 1090 is way too much money to be giving away for absolutely no results. This is nothing against the trainer personally but I dont like that I have not paid over 1000 for a service that was no help.

8/9/2023 300 deposit

8/14/2023

1500 PayPal 395 on my debit.

How Can We Help? (Bark Busters, Website)

I reach out to your organization w a Heavy Heart.

My family have always rescued dogs. We have Never had a behavioral issue w any dogs. My sister hired Ryan Brown:C/S CO.. Ryan Brown informed us thru all the training our Sweet dog could be retrained (Freed frm anxiety) Result frm the training my Family had to Release our Once Sweet dog to a rescue organization!

My family has Never Released a dog!! Why? The training caused

our sweet dog to become Aggressive to a family member! My family is Heart Broken!!

We were informed by Ryan Brown/Trainer,C/S.CO. that the training &

diet change to raw beef would stop the anxiety behavior. End result of all the training & diet change caused this Loving

dog to become Aggressive!! The impact to our younger dog w/o her brother has caused issues in terms of her Regression.

My Family is Heart Broken,,,

Tell me Please how does your Company. Fix Our Loss???

My Family's Heart is Shattered