The breeder told me I was asking for "trouble" when I purchased two Samoyed puppies. He warned me that they were very intelligent and head-strong, and that I would have my hands VERY full with two of them. Alas, I was determined to have this brother and sister pair, and would settle for nothing less. I was asking for Trouble....... Max (the male) and Trouble (the alpha female) entered our lives six years ago and turned our world upside down. Trouble was dominant from the beginning with her docile and submissive brother, and quickly learned how to manipulate "her people pack". We knew that obedience training was a necessity; so at six months, we took Trouble and Max to a highly recommended and well qualified private trainer. As a trainer of police K-9 dogs, he was very stern, strict and effective. Trouble, on a choke chain, was heeling and automatically sitting within a matter of minutes. After ten weeks and $900 dollars, both dogs behaved extremely well...as long as they were on lead with a choke chain. In fact, they were both Delta certified as therapy dogs by the time they were one year old. Yet, all of the heeling, sitting, down and stay did not address the behavioral issues that persisted with Trouble. Trouble is a control freak. If she is outside and wants to come in, she incessantly scratches on the door until we succumb to let her in. We could not watch certain television shows because if there was a dog, cat, horse or other creature on the show or commercial, she would bark continuously at the TV. If she wanted attention, she would scratch our legs until we petted her. Mealtime was a nightmare because Trouble would sit at our feet and drool on our legs waiting for a morsel of food to fall. She was a constant source of embarrassment and irritation for me. After six years, we had resigned ourselves to the fact that nothing could be done to control Trouble's neurotic behavior. At the insistence of Karen Guignard, we relented to give Barkbusters a try. However, I was convinced that nothing would work, considering that we had previously participated in dog training...we knew all of the commands. And what's up with this "BAAAAAH" correction? The approach seemed utterly ridiculous to us. However, Karen was confident that if we established our dominance with Trouble, we could eliminate her annoying behavior. I listened half-heartedly to Karen's presentation and scoffed at growling "Baaaaah" when Trouble misbehaved. However, when we corrected Trouble that evening as she was barking at the TV, she immediately stopped barking!! When we spoke the command to "come" Trouble ignored us, until we stood and repeated the command, at which time she responded immediately. She no longer scratches our leg or the door when she wants attention. She behaves so much better! We now correct her with the appropriate "language", and praise her for her obedience. Finally, we can enjoy dinner with guests in peace! (And without drool on our legs!) We have our lives back...and Trouble is no longer in control. Thank you, Karen; and thank you, Bark Busters!
The breeder told me I was asking for "trouble" when I purchased two Samoyed puppies. He warned me that they were very intelligent and head-strong, and that I would have my hands VERY full with two of them. Alas, I was determined to have this brother and sister pair, and would settle for nothing less. I was asking for Trouble....... Max (the male) and Trouble (the alpha female) entered our lives six years ago and turned our world upside down. Trouble was dominant from the beginning with her docile and submissive brother, and quickly learned how to manipulate "her people pack". We knew that obedience training was a necessity; so at six months, we took Trouble and Max to a highly recommended and well qualified private trainer. As a trainer of police K-9 dogs, he was very stern, strict and effective. Trouble, on a choke chain, was heeling and automatically sitting within a matter of minutes. After ten weeks and $900 dollars, both dogs behaved extremely well...as long as they were on lead with a choke chain. In fact, they were both Delta certified as therapy dogs by the time they were one year old. Yet, all of the heeling, sitting, down and stay did not address the behavioral issues that persisted with Trouble. Trouble is a control freak. If she is outside and wants to come in, she incessantly scratches on the door until we succumb to let her in. We could not watch certain television shows because if there was a dog, cat, horse or other creature on the show or commercial, she would bark continuously at the TV. If she wanted attention, she would scratch our legs until we petted her. Mealtime was a nightmare because Trouble would sit at our feet and drool on our legs waiting for a morsel of food to fall. She was a constant source of embarrassment and irritation for me. After six years, we had resigned ourselves to the fact that nothing could be done to control Trouble's neurotic behavior. At the insistence of Karen Guignard, we relented to give Barkbusters a try. However, I was convinced that nothing would work, considering that we had previously participated in dog training...we knew all of the commands. And what's up with this "BAAAAAH" correction? The approach seemed utterly ridiculous to us. However, Karen was confident that if we established our dominance with Trouble, we could eliminate her annoying behavior. I listened half-heartedly to Karen's presentation and scoffed at growling "Baaaaah" when Trouble misbehaved. However, when we corrected Trouble that evening as she was barking at the TV, she immediately stopped barking!! When we spoke the command to "come" Trouble ignored us, until we stood and repeated the command, at which time she responded immediately. She no longer scratches our leg or the door when she wants attention. She behaves so much better! We now correct her with the appropriate "language", and praise her for her obedience. Finally, we can enjoy dinner with guests in peace! (And without drool on our legs!) We have our lives back...and Trouble is no longer in control. Thank you, Karen; and thank you, Bark Busters!
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