Dog Community

Hi everyone

Posted : 9/26/2006 9:01:12 PM

I haven't been on here in forever. I don't suspect most people will even remember me, but I have a dog name Lakota who had really bad dog aggression (among other issues). Anyhow, I'm still in college and still working with him...but I did get a lot of good advice when I was on here. After my neighbor recommended Bark Busters, I even threw the idea on a post here to hear some people's feedback (which was also positive). So...I wanted to let those people know (if they even remember me :-)

that I have successfully regained control of me dog [

]. Now, that is not to say he still doesn't challenge me each day. But he can now greet other dogs under relatively controlled situations (meaning, the other dog can't be going crazy or all over the place or off leash). But even in those crazy situations, Lakota and I have successfully been able to walk on by with barely any tension (well, in most cases anyway[

]).

Not only did Bark Busters teach me to find my inner strenght (which with me and my anxiety disorder, can be a daunting task) but Lakota himself, taught me to become calm and strong. Before, he was so scared of other dogs that he'd go crazy and didn't trust me to deal with it. He felt he had to handle every situation. Now...he knows that I'll handle every situation unless I let him know otherwise. But that is not to say he doesn't overstep his boundaries anymore. He definitely will ALWAYS try to get an inch in edgewise. And sometimes I subconsciously let him. Nevertheless, I'm not sure if Bark Busters is for everyone but after trying EVERYTHING else under the sun and feeling strong depression and defeat...I must say, it was the best thing that came my way.

jetty

Posted : 9/26/2006 11:41:26 PM

That's wonderful! I'm sorry I don't know Lakota's story - I will have to search for it!
I am working with an aggressive dog too so its nice to hear that you have worked up to some pretty great successes! You must be very proud!

spiritdogs

Posted : 9/27/2006 7:17:01 AM

Bark Busters claims to sit "in the middle" between current positive reinforcement techniques, and more traditional training, in that they claim to train the dog using language that canines understand. They also claim to use punishment that is not harsh, and which dogs would use with one another, but which is not physical. I "get" that you can often stop a dog with a so-called "body block" movement (Patricia McConnell elaborates on this in one of her books), or with a glance, since I've employed such techniques throughout my career with dogs - part of my toolbox. I'm very curious as to the exact methods that Bark Busters suggested for Lakota. While I don't agree with them that treats are "bribes" (so long as they follow a requested behavior, and aren't shown in advance), I am not opposed to other forms of reward, so if they are employing canine reward systems, fine. And, I agree that it is often better to teach a fearful or aggressive dog new behavior at home where the dog is more comfy, and then take it on the road later. How did they educate you, and do you find that you are able to continue the techniques on your own?
I rarely recommend in home training as the only training, since young dogs need the socialization aspect, but with Lakota, who already had a problem, starting at home was a good idea. I would love to hear more about your experiences with this company. How many visits did the trainer make, what were the techniques, was there follow-up and what was it?

Richard Dragin

Posted : 9/30/2006 10:32:19 PM

It sounds like you are learning from each other, congrats on your success. I'm all for using more than one technique as no one method is perfect for every dog. Please do eleborate on your experiance and keep up the good work. Many would have given up on the dog and we can only imagine where he would have ended up.