The Miracle Worker------------------------------------------------------------Have you ever felt as though all you efforts to help your dog behave and be a productive member of your family are in vain? If so...read on. There is a savior!
I owned two french bulldogs--Rocky--3 years old and Gizmo--1 year old. Sadly, Rocky began having seizures daily. No medicines or surgery would help him. He was rushed to the emergency room last February and passed, not from an unsuccessful surgery but from the seizure he had AFTER the successful surgery, It was not only a heartbreaking day for our family but for Gizmo .
Weeks passed and Gizmo became very aggressive to other dogs on walks. He'd pull on the leash and tried to fight them all despite his small stature. He'd growl, tug, and jump up on us as if to say-- let me loose! Taking walks along the beach used to be his favorite hobby.. However, he was walking without his brother. Days turned into weeks---weeks into months--- his behavior was getting worse.
He would bark at the mailwoman, Amazon drivers, UPS drivers, friends, family, and anyone who just passed by our home-- walked on our sidewalk... He was a different dog....
He also became very protective over me-his mom. No one could come to our home without him barking incessantly at them. No one could walk near me....say hello to me..sit near me.....kiss me hello or goodbye without him attacking them.
My son owns a frenchie who is 5 years old... We all helped raise Grooty. He frequents "grammy's" home... Not any longer. We cannot havr him here because Gizmo attacks him. He wont let Grooty near me.. his toys... his couch... his bed... or near any of us.. I can't even pet my son's dog. I had to tell him he could no longer bring him here to our home.
That was my last straw-- or---the straw that broke the camel's back!
I was hopeless and helpless. I didn't know what to do... So, I grabbed my laptop and "googled" trainers. I scrolled through pages of trainers and read reviews. Then, I stumbled upon Michael DiStassio's reviews from Barkbusters.
I began reading. Five star after five star reviews!! I regained my HOPE... Have I finally found HELP???? YES!
I found Michael DiStassio's number and texted him this story. I told him we just had had our huge Italian Thanksgiving Family dinner and my french bulldog Gizmo was biting my guests--my family--his family!
I proceeded to tell Michael that after hours of me sitting with Gizmo on the couch, him literally on my lap for hours, me forfeiting my dinner, I picked him up and placed him in OUR bedroom (he sleeps with me).
My kids were leaving and tried to kiss their mother good-bye. Not allowed. Gizmo growled and leapt at them. I felt defeated. I asked Michael if he could and would help me...I told him I was hopeless and helpless.. I truly didn't know what to do. Saying "no" to Gizmo never worked..."Stop" never worked. "Time-outs" never worked. Neither yelling nor aggression were my mojo.
Michael literally messaged me back the day after Thanksgiving.. He told me not to worry.. He could and would definitely help me!! "Don't give up!" he reassuringly said in the calmest tone. He told me he would call me, and we could talk on the phone and set a date and time. I was ecstatic!
Michael and I agreed upon a time during the week when my husband and older children would be home.. Michael wanted everyone who had regular contact with Gizmo to be present for the training.
Michael texted me a list of instructions before his arrival.. He wanted to figure out my little guy's "issues."
Michael watched as Gizmo barked at him.. he was a tyrant.. I was actually embarrassed by his behavior; I didn't want Michael to think badly of me as a "Dog Mom."
Michael asked us all to sit down and explained so many behaviors to us all that we were impressed! Michael concluded that Gizmo was acting out because he had lost his older brother who was the ALPHA male. He determined that Gizmo was a "BOP" (bottom of the pack) dog. He wasn't meant to be the ALPHA. He was doing his brother's job yet didn't have the ability to do it. He wasn't cut out for that job. But, sadly, he would have to be employed to do so.
Michael gave us some homework, being a teacher and a mom, I was familiar with the term! Michael told me that I needed to show Gizmo that I was in charge--not him! I needed to be the ALPHA/OMEGA--not him. Showing my fresh frenchie that I had all situations under control meant that he was "relieved"of his duty to protect... What an epiphany!!!!!
After a month or so of me practicing my new teachings, Gizmo was a new dog. He was more relaxed..no barking at strangers...no biting our family...no more aggression. Wow!!!! I had just witnessed a miracle with my own eyes from the miracle worker himself-- Michael Distassio
The Miracle Worker------------------------------------------------------------Have you ever felt as though all you efforts to help your dog behave and be a productive member of your family are in vain? If so...read on. There is a savior!
PermalinkI owned two french bulldogs--Rocky--3 years old and Gizmo--1 year old. Sadly, Rocky began having seizures daily. No medicines or surgery would help him. He was rushed to the emergency room last February and passed, not from an unsuccessful surgery but from the seizure he had AFTER the successful surgery, It was not only a heartbreaking day for our family but for Gizmo .
Weeks passed and Gizmo became very aggressive to other dogs on walks. He'd pull on the leash and tried to fight them all despite his small stature. He'd growl, tug, and jump up on us as if to say-- let me loose! Taking walks along the beach used to be his favorite hobby.. However, he was walking without his brother. Days turned into weeks---weeks into months--- his behavior was getting worse.
He would bark at the mailwoman, Amazon drivers, UPS drivers, friends, family, and anyone who just passed by our home-- walked on our sidewalk... He was a different dog....
He also became very protective over me-his mom. No one could come to our home without him barking incessantly at them. No one could walk near me....say hello to me..sit near me.....kiss me hello or goodbye without him attacking them.
My son owns a frenchie who is 5 years old... We all helped raise Grooty. He frequents "grammy's" home... Not any longer. We cannot havr him here because Gizmo attacks him. He wont let Grooty near me.. his toys... his couch... his bed... or near any of us.. I can't even pet my son's dog. I had to tell him he could no longer bring him here to our home.
That was my last straw-- or---the straw that broke the camel's back!
I was hopeless and helpless. I didn't know what to do... So, I grabbed my laptop and "googled" trainers. I scrolled through pages of trainers and read reviews. Then, I stumbled upon Michael DiStassio's reviews from Barkbusters.
I began reading. Five star after five star reviews!! I regained my HOPE... Have I finally found HELP???? YES!
I found Michael DiStassio's number and texted him this story. I told him we just had had our huge Italian Thanksgiving Family dinner and my french bulldog Gizmo was biting my guests--my family--his family!
I proceeded to tell Michael that after hours of me sitting with Gizmo on the couch, him literally on my lap for hours, me forfeiting my dinner, I picked him up and placed him in OUR bedroom (he sleeps with me).
My kids were leaving and tried to kiss their mother good-bye. Not allowed. Gizmo growled and leapt at them. I felt defeated. I asked Michael if he could and would help me...I told him I was hopeless and helpless.. I truly didn't know what to do. Saying "no" to Gizmo never worked..."Stop" never worked. "Time-outs" never worked. Neither yelling nor aggression were my mojo.
Michael literally messaged me back the day after Thanksgiving.. He told me not to worry.. He could and would definitely help me!! "Don't give up!" he reassuringly said in the calmest tone. He told me he would call me, and we could talk on the phone and set a date and time. I was ecstatic!
Michael and I agreed upon a time during the week when my husband and older children would be home.. Michael wanted everyone who had regular contact with Gizmo to be present for the training.
Michael texted me a list of instructions before his arrival.. He wanted to figure out my little guy's "issues."
Michael watched as Gizmo barked at him.. he was a tyrant.. I was actually embarrassed by his behavior; I didn't want Michael to think badly of me as a "Dog Mom."
Michael asked us all to sit down and explained so many behaviors to us all that we were impressed! Michael concluded that Gizmo was acting out because he had lost his older brother who was the ALPHA male. He determined that Gizmo was a "BOP" (bottom of the pack) dog. He wasn't meant to be the ALPHA. He was doing his brother's job yet didn't have the ability to do it. He wasn't cut out for that job. But, sadly, he would have to be employed to do so.
Michael gave us some homework, being a teacher and a mom, I was familiar with the term! Michael told me that I needed to show Gizmo that I was in charge--not him! I needed to be the ALPHA/OMEGA--not him. Showing my fresh frenchie that I had all situations under control meant that he was "relieved"of his duty to protect... What an epiphany!!!!!
After a month or so of me practicing my new teachings, Gizmo was a new dog. He was more relaxed..no barking at strangers...no biting our family...no more aggression. Wow!!!! I had just witnessed a miracle with my own eyes from the miracle worker himself-- Michael Distassio