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Bulldog: Training Insights & Behavior Traits

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Bulldog Traits, Temperament & Training Challenges

According to the American Kennel Club, here are some breed characteristic you can find in Bulldogs. 

 

  • Height

    14-15 inches

  • Weight

    50 (male), 40 pounds (female)

  • Life Expectancy

    8-10 years

  • Coat Type/Length

    Smooth/Short

  •  80 Affectionate with Family
  • 60 Good with Young Children
  • 60 Good with Other Dogs
  • 80 Trainability Level
  • 60 Energy Level
  • 40 Barking Level
  • 60 Shedding Level
  • 60 Drooling Level

Understanding the Bulldog Breed & Natural Instincts

Bulldogs were inducted into the American Kennel Club in 1886 and their main purpose was bull baiting. This is why they have a low center of gravity and an under bite (making it easier to bite, grip and hold, while still able to breath). Their wrinkles kept the blood from the bulls from flying into their eyes. In bull baiting, numerous dogs were used (with wagers placed on each) pitting the dogs against a tethered bull. The dog that grabbed the bull by the nose and pinned it to the ground was the winner.

Bulldogs were originally bred in England dating back to the 16th century. When bull baiting was outlawed in 1835 (the Cruelty to Animals Act), the Old English Bulldog was crossed with the Pug to create a more affectionate family pet. The Bull dog retained its protective and fearless nature, but aggressive and ferocious tendencies were removed from the breed. When the English brought their bull dogs to America, the breed was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York on November 29, 1904.

Now bulldogs are known for being lovers not fighters!

Bulldog

Training A Bulldog

While Bulldogs are intelligent and devoted to their families, many owners face challenges with stubbornness, leash manners, and other unwanted behaviors.

Bark Busters specializes in in-home dog training that addresses real-life challenges where they happen—right in your home.

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Bulldog Training: Understanding Common Breed Behaviors

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The average bulldog is 12 – 15” in height, weighs 40 – 50 pounds and generally lives between 10 – 12 years. A bulldogs coloring is usually red, fawn, white, brindle and piebald (pigmented spots on an unpigmented white background) or a combination thereof. There are usually thick folds of skin under their eyebrows, jowls under their neck and an under bite with an upturned jaw. Their tail is naturally short and either straight or screwed.

Bark Busters has trained hundreds of bulldogs because behind that affectionate nature is a stubbornness and willfulness to be in charge! Early training and socialization and constant leadership is suggested or you will have a dog that is “bull-headed”!

Helping Your Bulldog Thrive at Home

Even though this breed looks grumpy, a bulldog’s personality is by nature lovable and sweet. However, it’s tenacity and resolve mean that it's difficult to change his mind once he decides to do something. It is important that you establish right from the start who is the leader of the pack, or else he will try and take control. They respond well to the Bark Busters style of training which is based on all natural and positive techniques.

Remember that dogs learn how to communicate with each other as a member of the pack on their Mother’s teats. Their Mom gets them to behave not by using treats or prong and shock collars. That is exactly what the Bark Busters style of training teaches these dogs – how to communicate between human and dog. We teach you how to set rules and boundaries early on. Good training involves repetition, positive reinforcement and consistency. You have to let your bull dog know that you mean what you say.

The good news is that although bulldogs are slow to mature, once they have grown up, they seem to stay out of trouble. We have seen bulldogs with serious cases of food guarding, which is why we don’t recommend feeding them around children or other pets.

 Although most bulldogs generally get along with other pets in the family, we have seen many bull dogs act aggressively toward other dogs of the same sex. Others don’t seem to get along with cats. It takes a tremendous amount of serious teasing to make this dog mad, but once he is, look out!

Most bull dogs are friendly with strangers, but some can be politely reserved.

The bulldog gets along best in temperate climates. They may want to be couch potatoes, snoring away, but you need to get them up and exercising every day since the breed can be prone to obesity. However, remember that bull dogs are intolerant of warm weather, and may die if overheated. Too much exercise or stress can make it difficult for them to breathe.

As with other breeds, bull dogs seem to have a face that some people find adorable, whereas others can’t take their drooling, snorting, wheezing and farting! Even though they are not barkers, you can hear their “dog noises” from far away!

Is A Bulldog Right For You?

Points of Interest

  • During World War II, the Bulldog was often compared Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his stance on Nazi Germany.
  • Bulldogs often have to be delivered via C-section because their heads are too big to fit through the birthing canal.
  • Bulldogs are brachycephalic (a condition caused by their short snouts), which leads to their snoring and drooling.
  • Bulldogs are the mascot for many universities and sports teams, like Yale University and the U.S. Marine Corps.
  • They have suffered the most airline deaths because of their respiratory issues. Don’t fly in extreme temperatures,
  • Many Hollywood stars own bulldogs including Leonardo DiCaprio, Reese Witherspoon, Martha Stewart, Hugh Jackman and more.
  • Bulldogs can’t swim. Their big heads and short legs make it hard to float. Be very careful with bulldogs around water especially if you have a pool or live near a lake.

Personality and Temperament

Bulldogs love kids, which makes them great for families. Loving as they are, a bit of the old- world bulldog endures, which also makes them well-suited for the night shift guarding the house. Because of their gregarious nature, you’ll find bull dogs to be people magnets wherever they go.

Bulldogs love to snuggle under the covers with you…don’t try and tell them they are not lap dogs!

  • Affectionate, easy going
  • Not much of a barker but can be a great watch dog
  • Great with kids
  • Considered a companion dog by the AKC
  • Sensitive, can mature slowly
  • Prone to comical and silly antics
  • Dignified but amusing

Capabilities

  • The bulldog was bred to be strong, powerful, effective, determined and assertive. It’s not typically an agile breed and does have some limitations to its capabilities. Having said that, we see many bulldogs riding skate boards, surfboards and jogging along with their humans and even playing football. This will depend on the personality and energy levels of your particular dog.
  • It’s always wise to begin any exercise regime with short bursts of activity, making sure that you build your dog’s exercise routine up gradually.
  • Shy personality types might shun public life, preferring to stay at home where they feel safe and secure, surrounded by things they know. Outgoing and confident personalities will want to join in outdoor activities and will more than happy to join in most activities.
  • Just remember to monitor your dog’s activities and don’t let them overdo it. After all they need you to look after their welfare.

Bark Busters Trainers Marc and Karen Deppe on Bulldogs

As a Bark Busters trainer, I spend my days working with a huge variety of breeds with an equally wide array of behavioral issues. Like humans, each dog has a unique personality that may or may not match a breed stereotype. There are however, some traits that just seem to fit certain breeds.

Bulldogs (in my experience) are affectionate, strong, curious, tough and can be very, very stubborn. When training a bulldog, it is critical to have the resolve required to follow through with training until the dog complies. This doesn’t mean it will take months to train a bulldog. I normally see huge improvements with bulldogs in the first training session. That said; it often takes more time, and determination and lots of energy to get the dog to comply with each training exercise. It’s definitely challenging but it makes the behavioral transformation that much more rewarding!

The similarities I see in bulldogs extend beyond breed traits. There are behaviors that seem to repeat over and over with many of our customers. These include:

  • Pulling on lead. This includes pulling simply to lead their human, pulling toward other dogs and animals and sometimes toward vehicles or just about anything. To resolve leach pulling in a bulldog, it’s critical to work with the owner to gain full control/respect with the dog inside before starting leash work. The exterior stimuli make it difficult to address a bulldog’s behavior that was already getting his own way inside. Get your wins inside BEFORE working on leash training. Even with great interior control, it often takes some effort to get a bulldog to give up the leadership role when on lead and to gain the focus required.
  • What is it about vacuum cleaners?? I have had several bulldogs that just really hate vacuum cleaners. They literally go nuts and attack (the vacuum, not the operator) whenever it comes out. Sometimes, it need not even be turned on. Fortunately, this is relatively easy behavior to remedy and it generally fully resolved during the first training session. The resolution always involves teaching the owner how to communicate effectively with the dog using binary input (teaching the dog how you will indicate, what it is right or wrong).
  • Because of their strong nature, sibling rivalry issues are common with bulldogs. If the owner is not in firm control as leader of the household, the bulldog is likely to step into the role. This results in the bulldog correcting the other dogs and sometimes it can be very aggressive and quite daunting for the owner to address without professional help. This behavior is typically fully resolved when the owner fully dispels any misconception in the dog’s mind of any notion that the leadership role in the house is available.

Bulldogs are challenging to train but also incredibly rewarding to own. They are lovable, cuddly balls of energy that when properly trained are wonderful family members. Don’t be discouraged by their stubborn nature! Embrace it and have some fun with training!

Bulldog Temperament: How it Impacts Training and Obedience

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The Right Training for Your Bulldog

This very lovable breed is trainable, but you must be patient and be prepared for their over-enthusiasm when trying to please you. To begin with, start out slow, with small and brief exercises each day and build on these depending on your dog’s personality and energy levels.

Making sure you allow lots of stops for your dog to have a drink of water.

It is not wise to give your bull dog too much to do in the beginning or you could tire him, which could lead to your pet trying to avoid any efforts towards training in the future.

The best approach is to keep everything you do calm and your body movements to a minimum as this breed is easily distracted.

Best to initially start out on a leash around the home and advance to some off-leash training as your dog learns what you want.

They definitely have the intelligence to learn anything if you have the patience but you have to understand the breed’s capabilities and personality to understand what is possible.

As previously mentioned, the bull dog does not like the heat and it can run out of steam quite quickly on a hot day. It is best to train them during the cooler parts of the day and only in short spurts.

Your local Bark Busters trainer is very experienced at helping you with the training of your bulldog and knows the best way to get the most out of your pet.

Our training is based on communication, no harsh methods and more than 30 years-experience in dealing with all breeds. We can teach your bulldog basic obedience (sit, come, stay) as help you to overcome tougher issues like aggression, sibling rivalry, separation anxiety and leash training.

Do’s and Don'ts of Training for Bulldog Owners

  • Don’t yell your commands, your dog has excellent hearing
  • Don’t use a gruff voice if you are asking your dog to come to you.
  • Do use the right tone of voice; normal tone for commands, high tone for praise and firm tone to address any unwanted behavior.
  • Never strike, hit, poke or prod your dog
  • Never drag your dog back to the ‘scene of the crime’. You must see them in the act and address the behavior without being physical.
  • Don’t be inconsistent as dogs hate inconsistency.
  • Do keep your exercises short.
  • Do praise your dog when it does what you ask of it.
  • Do be patient, remember your dog does not speak English, it Speaks Dog!

Separating from Your Dog

Most bulldogs just want to be where you are, but that can lead to situations where separation might rear its head. So practice exercises where you separate from your dog for a while, to ensure that they learn to cope being left alone.

Many people nowadays sleep with their dogs and we don’t have any issues with that, providing that your dog’s behavior is not related to this practice. Even so, it is still wise to make sure that your dog can cope alone some nights, so your dog is used to being separated and learns how to, every now and then, be without you without feeling anxious.

Children and Bulldogs

Although bulldogs are known to be patient and loving with children, never assume this. Never introduce ANY dog to a child when unsupervised. Remember that the bull dog was originally one of the bully breeds that received a bad rap but was later classified as a “nanny dog”. Why? Because they are generally so good with children.

All dogs, regardless of what breed they are should receive some basic education about how to behave around children. Likewise, children also need some guidelines on what is permitted when it comes to interacting with the dog or games to play.

Introduce your child to your bulldog with a watchful eye on both. Both puppies and children can be unpredictable in how they react to certain situations and do not understand the consequences of their actions. Both can make innocent mistakes that are costly and dangerous. Children often think they can poke or prod a dog and then act surprised when the dog rebels. Children should be taught to never pull, hit or rough house with a puppy. A bulldog puppy that is abused can develop phobias and psychological scars that can be carried into adulthood.

With the proper training, your bull dog will more than likely be a great companion and loyal watch dog with your children.

To be on the safe side, never leave dogs and children alone together. They always need supervision.

Common Bulldog Behavior Problems & Training Solutions

Bulldogs are in general well-behaved, but when we are called in, it usually for one of the following reasons:

  • Dog aggression
  • Over-exuberance
  • Barking at visitors
  • Jumping on visitors and humping them
  • Pulling on the leash
  • Sibling rivalry
  • Chasing the cat
  • Jumping on children and family members

Remember what the bulldog was bred to do. It was originally bred for bull baiting and had to be tough, determined and tenacious to confront something as formidable as a bull.

Puppy Play

Just because a bulldog is not up for running marathons doesn’t mean he doesn’t like to play. In fact, many bulldogs are extremely playful!

Every dog likes to play differently, depending on their breed and their individual personality. But once you figure out which games make your dog happy, you can use them to give him exercise, mental stimulation, and more.

Most bulldog pups enjoy being active, playing games, and participating in activities like fly ball, agility, tracking, and obedience. Playing in shallow water can be fun for your bulldog, too! Although not a retriever, many bull dogs even love to play Fetch.

Playing games will keep your bull dog more confident, more independent, and less scared when you are not around. It keeps them feeling more secure in general which leads to a happier pup!

They are more active on cooler days, so keep them cool during the hot weather.

Also be sure that your puppy is fully immunized before venturing out. Speak to your vet who can advise you as to what immunizations are required.

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Bulldog Wellness: Health Issues & Responsible Ownership Tips

Common Illnesses and Injuries

Bulldogs have personality and physical traits that may make them more prone to certain conditions—the short snout of a Bulldog makes it more sensitive to warm weather and prone to heat stress. The wrinkles and folds of a Bulldog also make it prone to skin conditions.

Bulldogs have a tendency towards infections in the folds of skin on their faces if they are not kept clean and dry. This can be challenging so it’s important to establish a routine as soon as possible. This is certainly an instance when an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. More than a few times we’ve been asked to help when bull dogs have developed infections and the folds needed to be cleaned and medication applied. The infections cause the area to become very sensitive and many of these dogs will become reactive to attempts to clean their faces.

At any stage of life, here are some of the most common injuries and illnesses you should be aware of when bringing home a Bulldog:

  • Bone and joint problems
  • Hip and elbow dysplasia
  • Eye problems
  • Bladder and kidney stones
  • Respiratory conditions
  • Heart disease
  • Skin conditions
  • Cancer
  • Dental abnormalities
  • Reproductive conditions

Genetic Health Concerns

Like many popular breeds, the Bulldog has its fair share of hereditary based issues, like hip and elbow dysplasia and heart conditions.

Most reputable breeders now have their breeding stock checked and scored for these hereditary ailments by a veterinarian. You can request proof that the puppy you are purchasing comes from parents that have been checked for these issues.

Because many other health issues are also hereditary, you should do some research on the ancestry of your puppy and any health issues of that particular breed.

Many rescue organizations also check for common-ailments before making them available for adoption.

If you are ever concerned about your dog’s health, your local veterinarian is a great resource—no matter how small the question.

Bark Busters Home Dog Training Services

Home Dog Training

We provide personalized, in-home training designed for your Bulldog’s unique personality. By working where behavior happens—at home—we improve communication, reduce unwanted behaviors, and build better obedience.

Learn About Home Dog Training

Puppy Training

Our Bulldog puppy training builds trust, good manners, and positive habits from the start. We help with potty training, crate training, leash walking, and common Bulldog puppy behaviors like nipping, chewing, and barking.

Learn About Puppy Training

Severe Dog Behavior Issues

We specialize in resolving common Bulldog behaviors like excessive barking, separation anxiety, jumping, and leash pulling. Our in-home training helps you better communicate with your Bulldog for lasting results.

Learn About Dog Behavior Training

Excessive Barking

Bulldogs are known for their stubborn nature, but excessive barking can signal stress, boredom, or confusion. Bark Busters helps address the root cause using calm communication methods your Bulldog naturally understands.

Learn About Excessive Barking

Separation Anxiety Training

Bulldogs can become vocal, destructive, or anxious when left alone. We address the root cause of separation anxiety by improving communication, building confidence, and creating calmer routines at home.

Learn About Separation Anxiety

Aggression Training

Bulldog aggression can stem from fear, overstimulation, resource guarding, or frustration. Understanding the root cause is the first step toward creating a calmer, safer, and more manageable home.

Learn About Aggression Training

What Bulldog Owners Say About Bark Busters Training

I recently did training with Kyle for my bulldog Dolly, and it was the best decision I’ve made for my dog! My mom found out about him through a radio interview on WRVA, and I’m so glad she was listening at that time. Kyle was great from the start - before I even booked him, he agreed to have a phone call with me to talk about the process and answer my questions. My bulldog was having some issues with other dogs and thinking she had to protect me, and barking at dogs or people through the glass door. After just the first session with Kyle, I started to see a change in her behavior. Kyle helped me to teach Dolly that I’m the one in charge and don’t need her to protect me all the time. Since our sessions, she’s become a happier dog - she's not stressed or worried all the time about having to protect me, and she’s able to just be a dog. Kyle was great with dolly, he’s an amazing dog trainer, and more than that he’s just a great person. I’d recommend him to anyone looking for a trainer to help their dog have a happier life!
Kaki A.
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Bark busters is awesome. They have been working with our English bulldog since he was only a few months old. Not only have they helped us train him but have also given us advice on the proper food, leashes, and any other product you could imagine. All of their recommendations are amazing and have solved our dogs problems whether it be throwing up or dandruff. They also are ALWAYS available to answer questions, I always get a text back instantly when I have a question. They also are great at re-enacting real life situations in order to do hands-on training. For example, we were having a problem with our dog when we took him to Target, so they met us at Target for our training session and helped us on the spot! We are so thankful for them and would highly recommend their services to anyone!
Gabby B.
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The knowledge and expertise Bark Busters Boston North offers is unmatched and I couldn’t recommend their services more. Not only has Kayla been patient with my French Bulldog Enzo, but with me as well - as I learn how to incorporate training into our day-to-day lives. She’s always there to answer questions as they come up, constantly thinking of solutions when Enzo throws us another obstacle, and continues to elevate our experience with her ongoing support.

Investing in this training is investing in the long-term happiness of my pup - which is all I’ve ever wanted! I’d do it again in a heartbeat and look forward to continuing to grow with the help from these amazing people.
Johanna A.
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We recently got an English Bulldog from a rescue & very quickly realized that he had some trust & “aggression” issues. After two incidences of him almost biting friends we decided we needed a trainer. I ultimately chose Bark Busters because of the in home training but ended up getting so much more out of it. We have another dog so he had to participate in the training also. In the beginning we were under the impression that our first dog didn’t need training. So far from working with Noah we have been in awe with what we have learned. One thing you need to understand beforehand is that he does not train your dog for you. He equips you with the knowledge & tools to understand & help your dogs, all while being an amazing support system. We very quickly learned that a lot of the behaviors our dogs were showing were not respectful & that we were giving them the opportunity to overpower us. Upon working with Noah we have completely new dogs. We understand them better & have been working very hard on helping them understand what we are asking of them. As for Zeus’ aggression issues, Noah taught us that we were expecting too much of him too soon. We were putting him in situations where he was very clearly telling us he was uncomfortable & getting upset when he didn’t respond the way we expected. Since learning his body language & techniques that works best for him, we are able to gauge what is too much too soon. He was trying to bite people because he didn’t trust that I had the situation under control because I wasn’t paying attention to his body language. We are so excited about what we have learned & so eager to learn more. Thank you Noah!
Carly L.
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Google Review: "My precious little rescue dog had been through a lot prior to finding her permanent home with me. Because of that, she had lots of triggers and fears which caused her to act out.
Finding Bark Busters has been a real blessing! They are teaching us how to communicate… Speak the same language. These two ladies know their stuff! I was amazed how quickly my little dog Responded! I especially love that they come to my home. With their help, I am confident that we will have a more peaceful environment and a greatly enhanced quality of life in our home and out in the world. Thank you ladies!"
Vicki A.
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Bonnie was amazing with our dog. She was a rescue dog that was super anxious, was trying to be the leader of our pack, and was aggressive at times. She came in and taught us how take control, of her and how to correct her behaviors. She also worked with my kids to be able to control our dog as well. Highly recommend Bonnie
Peter F.
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Sharon is amazing! I was so overwhelmed with 2 puppies and a few life events thrown in, training was always put off. They quickly hit the 10 month old mark and I felt like they were teaming up on me with bad behavior. Sharon spent a few hours training ME how to communicate what I expected from the pups. They were very responsive to her cues and caught on pretty quickly! I still have my work cut out for me, but feeling very positive and hopeful now. Like "I got this" and Sharon is always just a phone call away. Wish I made the call sooner, but ya can't go back!
Laura H.
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We seeked out dog training primarily due to our dog’s reactivity to other dogs on walks. Roxy is over 100 pounds and my wife was not comfortable walking her independently. We have reached this goal and then some. Omar is an expert and goes above and beyond to be sure you are comfortable with settings expectations for your dog. He was patient with all our questions. Roxy has come a long way as we continue to work on all the skills of an obedient dog. Omar also is making sure we have all the tools we need. The harness we were given is perfect and I have recommended it to friends.
Clark F. .
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As first-time dog owners, bringing home our Bernedoodle puppy felt equal parts exciting and overwhelming. She was quiet and a bit confused in those early days, and we honestly didn’t know what “normal” even looked like.

We started working with Jared literally the day after we brought her home, and that made all the difference. What stood out right away is that he doesn’t just train the dog, he helps you understand your dog’s psychology. That shift was huge for us. Instead of guessing or reacting, we started to feel like we actually knew what she needed and how to respond.

He guided us through the basics like potty training and getting her to sleep through the night, and once those clicked, life got dramatically easier. More importantly, he gave us a framework we can keep using as new challenges come up.

Our puppy still has some separation anxiety and chews stuff and can be a bit needy, but now it feels manageable. We’re making steady, incremental progress and feel confident we have the tools to keep going.
Jared has also been great with our whole family. He builds trust quickly, explains things clearly, and makes everyone feel comfortable and capable. You never feel judged or overwhelmed.

If you’re a first-time dog owner, especially with a young puppy, I’d strongly recommend working with him early. It sets the right foundation and saves you a lot of stress down the line.
Vijay
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Rob was efficient thorough and a pleasure to work with , we were left feeling confident and excited to learn the skills that were taught to us, Highly recommend Five Star!!! Bark Busters Thank you from the Bavaro's
Jennifer B.
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I honestly cannot say enough good things about working with James. Dealing with behavioral issues with dogs you love can be stressful and emotional, and one of the biggest things for me is that James has never made me feel judged or like I did something wrong. He looks at the situation for what it is, figures out what is actually going on, and focuses on the best way to move forward.

James has also gone above and beyond in a way I haven't experienced with other trainers. He checks in, asks for updates, and makes himself available for calls when something comes up or I need help figuring out how to handle a situation. It really feels like he cares about the progress being made outside of the actual training sessions rather than just showing up for an appointment and leaving you to figure out the rest.

His approach to training is probably what sets him apart the most for me. He is very gentle and patient with the dogs, but everything he does has a reason behind it. A lot of what he teaches is actually about how you, as the human, are communicating with your dog and how to better understand what your dog is communicating back to you. He explains the “why” behind things, which has helped me understand my dogs and their behavior so much better.

He has also taken extra steps that other trainers haven't to make sure everyone is comfortable and that the dogs are being assessed fairly. He pays attention to their personalities and body language and doesn't immediately make assumptions based on a behavior. There is no one-size-fits-all approach with him.

More than anything, I really appreciate how professional and nonjudgmental James is. There is never any blame or making you feel bad about how you got to where you are. He takes the situation in front of him and works with you to figure out the best approach for your dogs. I feel so much more confident understanding and communicating with my dogs since working with him, and I am genuinely grateful for how much time, care, and effort he has put into helping us.
April V.
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We called James for help with Cookie and Coal’s persistent barking and after a couple of sessions, he’s helped us get them under control! I plan on having him back for refreshers periodically - more to keep me on track with my skills than anything!

James is easy to work with and the dogs respond really well to him. We’re looking forward to a much more quiet and peaceful home, and less anxious pups :)
Laura F.
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We couldn’t recommend James more highly. He has been absolutely exceptional with our dog, Finn, and the transformation we’ve seen has been incredible. Under James’s guidance, Finn has become extremely obedient, confident, and genuinely a master of his class.

What really sets James apart is his combination of expertise, patience, and communication. He is incredibly well spoken and has a remarkable ability to explain not only what he is doing, but why it works and how we can reinforce the training at home. His feedback and follow-up are exceptional. After the sessions, he provides carefully crafted, detailed reports that clearly explain Finn’s progress, areas to continue working on, and practical recommendations for us to follow.

James clearly takes enormous pride in his work and genuinely cares about the dogs and families he works with. He goes far beyond simply teaching commands, he has helped us better understand Finn and given us the tools to build a stronger relationship with him.

Most importantly, James is just a fantastic person. He is reliable, thoughtful, professional, and an absolute pleasure to work with. Over the course of Finn’s training, he has become not only someone we trust completely with our dog, but also someone we are very happy to now call a friend.

Finn absolutely loves him, and so do we. We would recommend James without hesitation to anyone looking for an exceptional dog trainer. He truly goes above and beyond, and we feel incredibly lucky to have found him.
Pierfilippo N.
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James was absolutely amazing with our 1 year old dog Brew. He has serious stranger danger and would bark incessantly at anyone who came to our house or approached him. We were really concerned about having people over or bringing him around public places because we didn’t know how he would react. Within 1-2 lessons, James had taught us the skills needed to have control over Brew and teach him that he doesn’t need to necessarily love everyone, but that he doesn’t need to be the protector of the house. Our dog now only shows minimal reaction to people, and we know this will only continue to get better with practice. James also spent time with us teaching him how to walk on leash in an obedient manner, making adjustments on leash type etc. as he saw fit. Our walks are so much more enjoyable now. Working with James was the best decision and we feel so lucky to have found him, and that he’s in our corner for life now! Thank you for everything James!
Melissa L.
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Our family has had the opportunity to work with Kayla with our dogs, and I can’t say enough good things about her. She is incredibly knowledgeable about dog behavior, patient, kind, and very good at explaining not only what to do, but why it works.

What has always impressed me about Kayla is that she gives you the tools to work with your dog yourself. She demonstrates techniques, answers questions and helps you understand what your dog needs from you. She also makes it clear that consistency and practicing what you’ve learned are a big part of getting results.

Kayla genuinely cares about the dogs she works with and wants them and their families to succeed. She is honest, realistic and extremely knowledgeable. Our family has benefited so much from her advice and guidance over the years, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for help with their dog.
Cailyn
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I’m so happy I found Sharon through Bark Busters! We were struggling with potty training, jumping, pulling on walks, and other puppy behaviors, and after our very first session we already noticed a huge difference. Sharon is incredibly knowledgeable and does a great job explaining not just what to do, but why your dog is behaving a certain way. She’s patient, amazing with the dogs, and always quick to respond when I have questions. She has taught me so much and made me feel way more confident with training my puppies. I genuinely can’t recommend her enough! 🦮🐾
Sam L.
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Scot was great, made good points to redirect us humans to think before an action, I liked Scot’s technique not using e-collar as other trainers do
Dagmar V.
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Scott was amazing with our 2-year-old rescue, who has been showing aggression toward other dogs and can be very protective of his territory. We would highly recommend him! He answered all of our questions and taught us what to do in an easy-to-understand way. We feel much more confident knowing how to help our dog, and we are so grateful for all of Scott’s help!
Emily C.
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Rob gave us so many useful tactics for our 4 month old puppy. He is super patient and listened to every concern. We have implemented them and have seen an improvement already. We were able to walk him around the block on his leash and manage his directions. We are able to get him in his crate now as well without a struggle. We highly recommend !!
Kate .
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We’ve had three training sessions with Omar so far, and the difference we’ve seen in our dogs has already been incredible. We also brought our newborn son home three weeks ago, so having better structure and communication with our dogs during such a huge transition has been especially important to us.

Since starting training, their barking has decreased significantly, they’ve adjusted really well to having our baby in the home, and they are noticeably less anxious when visitors come over—something we struggled with quite a bit before.

Omar has been great to work with. He explains what he’s doing and, more importantly, teaches us how to communicate with our dogs and continue working with them between sessions. We still have more we want to work on, but seeing this much improvement after only three sessions has been really encouraging.

We’re very happy with our experience so far and would absolutely recommend Omar to anyone looking for help with their dogs, especially families going through a major transition like bringing home a new baby.
Tyler E.
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I was unsure if Bark Busters could help my six year-old dog who is stubborn and not food-motivated. We’ve had lots of training over the years but some behaviors stuck around. I was so surprised at how much Deb helped us in just one afternoon, and without treats, clickers, or any of the usual tools. My dog Betty is learning some new rules very quickly, and I’m looking forward to our follow up visit with Deb!
April W.
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Deb at Bark Busters did a great job training us how to handle our two dogs. She was great with follow up, and we always felt supported in our training goals. I like that she gave us homework to do and ensured that we were held accountable as it’s easy to neglect dog training with our busy lives.
Patricia K.
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Omar was amazing at helping us train our shar pei puppy. He gave lots of good advice on socializing and basic training. With this training, I now have a dog that is calm and confident even when strangers come into house. Omar also helped us train recall, and Im amazed to see that our under 1 year old dog has near perfect recall and I can trust him to listen in any situation.
Colleen K.
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Roman is a very nice guy, but his exuberance is sometimes a problem. Michelle taught me some methods to keep him from “running” the house, keeping him away from the door when we have visitors, staying out of the kitchen during dinner time, not jumping on people. She helped with several things immediately. Of course Roman is a work in progress and his reactivity to other dogs is problematic, bit I am very happy with being able to make some immediate improvements.
Susan
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The best dog behaviorist in Pinellas County. I highly recommend her for she is amazing. You will see a huge difference with her first meeting. I have recommended her to three of our neighbors. We all agree it was the best investment for us and our little fur babies. 5 star.
Will S.
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Jeri Wagner was a pleasure to meet, work with and we thoroughly enjoyed our training experience with her. She was clear, concise and she made sure that we understood all her teaching concepts. Lincoln was afraid of Jeri when she first came to our house (normal behavior for him…..that is going to change now:)) She didn’t push herself on him and showed US exactly how and what to do in situations that were problematic for us and Lincoln. It was such a beneficial time and Lincoln responded well to what we put into practice after Jeri left. He even stayed out of the kitchen area! I think Jeri would be proud!!! We look forward to working with Jeri again and couldn’t imagine a better trainer….she’s terrific!
Tanya N.
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I would highly recommend Kevin as a dog trainer!

My partner and i rescued a 18 monthish old Australian shepherd named Dune who had some bad habits that we needed help nipping in the bud. Dune would try to herd guests around the house by nipping at their butts (lol), had pretty bad separation anxiety (would panic and bark constantly after more than a few minutes alone), and had some leash reactivity and liked to pull constantly on walks

pretty much all of that is solved now after a few sessions with Kevin! Kevin was able to move his schedule around and get us our first session like 2 days after we reached out and after the first 2 sessions his separation anxiety and nipping at people around the house were basically gone and after the first dedicated session to leash manners we got that mostly taken care of as well. The way Kevin taught us how to communicate with Dune was so valuable and he really set us up well to know how to work with him going forward on new stuff!

And the lifetime support if new situations arise is such a big stress reliever for us! Could not recommend Kevin more!!
Johnathan D.
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Kevin has really done an amazing job training us and our dog, Plissken. We had tried several positive reinforcement styles of training before meeting Kevin. Now we see that treating our dog like a dog, works wonders. Plissken is calmer, seems happier and responds much better to directions. We are still working with Kevin and look forward to seeing even more progress. We definitely recommend Bark Busters.
Kimberly S.
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