Bark Busters

Our experience with Heather Crawford at Bark Busters of Columbia was extremely negative. The contract and lifetime support promise felt misleading and was not honored in good faith.

When we needed help, we felt like we had to beg for it.

As long as we were complimentary, communication was fine but the moment we expressed concerns or said things werent going well, the tone changed dramatically.

Responses became blame-shifting and accusatory rather than supportive or collaborative.

This completely damaged the trainer client relationship and made it uncomfortable to even ask for help. Despite this breakdown and the lack of meaningful support, a refund was refused.

Given the cost and expectations set, we would not use this trainer or company again and strongly encourage others to reconsider before signing a contract.

Huge scam.
We had our first visit after paying the $300 non-refundable deposit. Being desperate for our new rescues, I agreed. No additional information was given in regards to how the sessions would go.
The first visit was mostly spent talking to us. We spent maybe an hour with our 3 dogs, one who really doesn't need it in our opinion. We, stupidly, signed the contract because we're just so ready for them to stop talking.
After they left, my husband and I discussed it, and we felt that their methods were not what we were looking for with our rescues.
I felt that the loud noises and spray bottle were ridiculous, and I don't know why I have to bah like a sheep to my dogs. We did see some results at the time, but having to use loud noises and a squirt bottle is not how we want to train our dogs. We are not trying to scare our rescues who have spent time in loud kennels.
When we contacted them to say we wanted to cancel, they said the best they could do was $600 back out of $2100. Not wanting to lose so much money after only 3 hours of 'training,' we decided to commit and are hoping for the best. The majority of the things they said for training I had found on the Internet for free.
I feel like this place is a huge scam.
Definitely a big mistake on our part.
Avoid at all cost!

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 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