Kendall-Will County, Illinois Serving: Big Rock, Bolingbrook, Bristol, Lockport, Montgomery, Naperville, Newark, Oswego, Plainfield, Plano, Romeoville, Sugar Grove, Woodridge, Yorkville Click here to contact the trainer who services your area. or call 1-877-500 BARK.
Patty Rosignal with Sadie

Do you “love your dog” but “he’s driving you crazy?” Is he answering your door for you, jumping on your guests, barking at the neighbors, taking you for a walk?

At Bark Busters, we work with these issues on a daily basis. And, best of all, we can make a difference in your life and the life of your dog in about 2 hours! Conveniently taking place right in your own home, your dog will be able to learn in a familiar, secure environment and free from distractions.

Bark Busters has been training dogs since 1989. Since that time, we have become the largest dog training company in the world and have trained over 300,000 dogs. How did we do it? By getting results! With our proven methods, we will teach you, the dog’s owner, to become the leader of the pack and we will teach you how to communicate with your dog in a language that he understands.

Best of all, you will receive our Life of the Dog Guarantee assuring you the peace of mind of having a trainer for life.

As for me . . .

I have been a resident of Naperville for the past 23 years. I have always had a great love of dogs and have always wanted to own my own business. I was fortunate to have find Bark Busters because now have the best of both of these worlds!

I will admit, I was one of those dog owners who had the dog that would sit, stay and lay down if told. On the other hand, she told me when it was time to eat, when we would go out, who would be allowed in our home, and sometimes, would even tell me when my children could sit next to me! This caused some definite challenges in the family. Now, I know that these issues can be taken care of in just a few hours!

I look forward to getting to know you and your dog(s). I will work with you to reach whatever goals you find important. I will listen to your needs and guide you, your family and your dog to live in harmony and peace. The result will be a greater relationship between you and your family pet based on love, trust and respect.

So, give me a call. I look forward to speaking with you and getting to know your dog!

Puppy pandemonium: It's a dog's life at McCarthy house
printed in the Plainfield Enterprise
by Shannon McCarthy

"This story is right up your alley," my editor wrote in an e-mail, suggesting I write a piece on a local dog training company for our business section.

It's well known at the office that I'm obsessed with pooches. I'm always bragging about my dog's latest agility triumph or ooh-ing and aah-ing over the humane society's pet of the week, so I was the obvious choice to do a story on a Plainfield Bark Busters franchise.

With franchises in eight countries, Bark Busters promises its trainers can cure any dog of its bad behavior in just 2-1/2 hours.

As a pet owner, I was intrigued. How could that be possible? Thinking of my own little furry bundle of joy -- an 11-month-old golden retriever named Abby - I knew I could use some pointers when it came to convincing a stubborn animal to obey. Even so, I thought, my pooch can't be that bad, right? She's a good dog, right? Wrong.

I logged on to www.barkbusters.com and took the company's behavior quiz, only to discover that my beloved doggie earned a dismal grade of D.

During my school days, I was mortified to get anything less than an A. Naturally, I was horrified. I was sure Abby had been cheated - until I scrolled down the list of problem behaviors.
Jumping up on people? Check.
Not coming when she's called? Check.
Destroying furniture? Check.

It turned out the dog I coaxed through three levels of obedience school had in fact trained me to cater to her every whim.

Despite her sweet face and wagging tail, my little Abby had all but taken over the house, telling me when it was time to eat, to go outside and to give affection.

Even worse, my soft-spoken boyfriend, Joe, could get no respect from her. Each time he gave her a command, Abby seemed to scoff, turning her nose up as if to say, "I don't take orders from you, pal. I know who brings home the puppy chow in this house." Curious to see how much difference 2-1/2 hours could make, I asked Bark Busters behavioral therapist Patty Rosignal to evaluate my pup.

While I won't give away too many tricks of Rosignal's trade, I will say this: By the end of the visit, my typically hyperactive dog was sitting still while guests rang the doorbell - and, to my complete shock, she wasn't even jumping up on visitors. She came when I called her.

She willingly obliged Joe when he told her to sit, lie down and stay. Best of all, she went outside to potty without tearing up my lawn or trying to eat my plants.

As I write this, the dog I lovingly call "my little lunatic" is lying at my feet, calmly chewing her bone.

Not shredding the papers I have stacked on my table.
Not chewing on my chair.
Not even shoving her toys in my lap for a never-ending game of fetch.

Will it last? Only time - and my skills as a newly empowered pet owner - will tell.

But so far, I'm impressed.

Shannon McCarthy can be reached at (815) 436-2431 ext. 105 or smc carthy.enterprise@comcast.net.