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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.

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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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Karen has been an absolute lifesaver. I meet with her weekly to learn how to address Nellie’s issues with pulling, jumping up and recall. I truly cannot thank her enough for her outstanding patience…with both of us. She’s the very best!!
Lori P.
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Working with James has been an extremely rewarding experience. He is so knowledgeable and helpful. With his help my untrained, six year old, rescue has made tremendous improvements. All of his recommendations have been much easier than I expected. Coco and I have learned so much and we are able to practice the lessons James shares with us. I highly recommend Bark Busters and James to train your pet. I know you will be as pleased as I have been and you will not regret this worthwhile
investment for the life of your pet. Thank you, James. Coco and I appreciate you more than you’ll ever know.
Susan T.
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I reached out to Bark Busters to help with my dog's general behavior and his separation anxiety. Johnny was able to schedule with me really quickly, came to my house, and spent time listening to the challenges and giving us homework that he first demonstrated and had us practice in front of him. We started noticing improvements immediately, which meant we were able to start moving forward working on separation anxiety. We have made the most progress with the separation anxiety challenges since working with Johnny than all of our other attempts to fix this issue. Johnny is helping us build our confidence and our dog's confidence. He checks in if he has not heard from us in a bit to make sure everything is going smoothly - we are so grateful for all of his help!
Sarah H.
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Jared was great to work with. I was having trouble with my 1 year old Bernese mountain dog who was lunging and barking at people and dogs while on leash. Within three sessions my puppy became a model student, easy to walk and no longer a concern for me. I am very grateful for the advice and hands on support that Jared provided.
Thi-Sau
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We have been thrilled with James and The Bark Busters Home Dog Training Program in North County San Diego. We had a senior dog that passed away recently (he had moderate behavioral issues throughout his life that we never addressed properly). We adopted a 4 month old puppy in May, we have a 3 year old daughter and are expecting another baby girl in October. We knew it was important with all these new changes and a very energetic & wild puppy in the mix to seek support for any behavioral issues that may arise.

There was plenty to work on from the moment we took our German Retriever mix home. He was so excited to meet anyone new, he would nip & jump to the point of drawing blood. We needed immediate support with upcoming travel plans, knowing that we needed to establish better boundaries in order to leave our dog with the dog sitter and my in-laws. Koa, our puppy, was also very difficult to walk, pulling intensely and zig zagging all over the road. The idea of walking with a stroller, a toddler, eventually a baby & a puppy seemed impossible. We also wanted to be proactive with the baby coming, developing healthy habits with the dog early so we could be better prepared for a tiny human in the house. Lastly, we wanted guidance on how to properly socialize Koa since our previous dog did not do well with other dogs.

I found James based on rave reviews stating his approach was immediately helpful and we needed fast results! I also knew based on our 14 year experience with our previous dog, that issues arise throughout their whole life and so making the investment with James would be well worth it.

My husband and I are beyond satisfied with the level of customer care, the consistent and clear communication, and the results. We were able to leave on a 10 day trip after 2 sessions with James and the in-laws & dog sitter had positive experiences with Koa. My daughter's toddler friends can come visit and the interactions have gone very well. Walking Koa has been pleasant, we have far more control now and I can easily handle a double stroller with him.

I know we will continue to utilize James has we navigate adding a new baby to the mix and as Koa grows. I love that we have a reliable support to lean on. James clearly can teach you how to shift your dog's behavior & above all he is truly a kind and caring person to welcome into your home. We highly recommend his services! We have been thrilled with James and The Bark Busters Home Dog Training Program in North County San Diego. We had a senior dog that passed away recently (he had moderate behavioral issues throughout his life that we never addressed properly). We adopted a 4 month old puppy in May, we have a 3 year old daughter and are expecting another baby girl in October. We knew it was important with all these new changes and a very energetic & wild puppy in the mix to seek support for any behavioral issues that may arise.

There was plenty to work on from the moment we took our German Retriever mix home. He was so excited to meet anyone new, he would nip & jump to the point of drawing blood. We needed immediate support with upcoming travel plans, knowing that we needed to establish better boundaries in order to leave our dog with the dog sitter and my in-laws. Koa, our puppy, was also very difficult to walk, pulling intensely and zig zagging all over the road. The idea of walking with a stroller, a toddler, eventually a baby & a puppy seemed impossible. We also wanted to be proactive with the baby coming, developing healthy habits with the dog early so we could be better prepared for a tiny human in the house. Lastly, we wanted guidance on how to properly socialize Koa since our previous dog did not do well with other dogs.

I found James based on rave reviews stating his approach was immediately helpful and we needed fast results! I also knew based on our 14 year experience with our previous dog, that issues arise throughout their whole life and so making the investment with James would be well worth it.

My husband and I are beyond satisfied with the level of customer care, the consistent and clear communication, and the results. We were able to leave on a 10 day trip after 2 sessions with James and the in-laws & dog sitter had positive experiences with Koa. My daughter's toddler friends can come visit and the interactions have gone very well. Walking Koa has been pleasant, we have far more control now and I can easily handle a double stroller with him.

I know we will continue to utilize James has we navigate adding a new baby to the mix and as Koa grows. I love that we have a reliable support to lean on. James clearly can teach you how to shift your dog's behavior & above all he is truly a kind and caring person to welcome into your home. We highly recommend his services!
Kayleen W.
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James is an amazing trainer for both of our high energy breeds. He is very responsive and always willing to meet with us or for a call as needed. Highly recommend him for anyone in the market for a new trainer!
Tom
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We’ve had a great experience working with Johnny Jumper and have seen huge improvements in our dog’s behavior after only four sessions. Our dog is a shelter dog, and we came to Johnny with a few challenges, including lunging and barking at other dogs and people on walks, crate training, and going to the bathroom in the house. The progress has been pretty incredible. After just one session, the lunging and barking on walks improved dramatically. Crate training has been a huge improvement as well, and we’ve also been able to resolve the issues with peeing and pooping in the house. Johnny is kind and patient, but also confident and extremely knowledgeable. He’s great at explaining what he’s doing and giving us the tools to continue the training on our own. We’re only four sessions in and already feel like we have a completely different dog. Highly recommend Johnny!
Zion F.
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We had a great morning getting trained by Scot! He was so engaging, easy to learn from, and knowledgeable! Scot provided us with manageable strategies that we can use to build a positive relationship between us and our pup. We learned so much in such a short amount of time! Thank you for giving us the jumpstart we needed to train our dog and develop good habits and behaviors!
Katie B.
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Today was our fifth (I think) lesson from Miguel. We have been in awe of his performance since day one. Poppy is a 5-1/2 month old mini Bernedoodle. Miguel like to say she is full of “puppiness.” That’s a bit of an understatement. Yet after every lesson ( usually two weeks apart) we have seen remarkable, repeatable progress. Miguel is thoughtful, observant, very insightful and extremely effective; all of his with good humor and natural warmth.
Ron and Linda Kaplan


Ron K.
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Five stars isn’t enough! Not only is Justin a proven expert trainer, the amount of compassion and commitment he has shown is unreal and truly heartwarming. He says his passion is helping people and their dogs, and I have no doubt about that.

A month after separating from my partner and moving out to my own place, my leash aggressive, two year-old cane corso, Zeke, lunged at another dog in my apartment complex and took me with him. Fortunately, aside from a few cuts and bruises I sustained, everyone was OK. But the anxiety and emotional trauma that was left behind made me avoid taking Zeke out for walks all together and when I did my hands would start shaking. Thinking that I would be able to do it in my own, I watched hours and hours of dog training videos and even tried using an E collar, none of it helped. Not only were things stressful outside of the house, but inside of it too. My 14 year-old cocker spaniel and poodle mix, Lexi, is very reactive towards Zeke. Because her senses are not what they used to be. She has even mistaken me for Zeke and has snapped at me. The thought of me potentially losing my apartment, having to give up Zeke, and the fear that Lexi may accidentally bite one of my children caused even more stress on top of what I was already going through from the separation, so I knew I needed to get professional help.

After just one phone call with Justin I already felt a weight lifted from my shoulders. We have only been working together for two weeks and have already seen improvement, not only with Zeke‘s responsiveness to corrections while on walks but with my confidence in leading my pups to a calm and happy life.

Justin really set me up for success by giving me tools, demo videos, and tips - making me confident in my ability to correct Zeke’s leash reactivity. Walks with Zeke are so much more calm for us both!

So grateful for what Justin does and how he does it. He is so responsive and genuine, really making us a team with the same goals! Can’t recommend him enough! THANK YOU, Justin!
Jane
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Omar originally came to our house to help us teach our dog how to greet people appropriately at the door and how to handle the excessive barking at everything that passes by the front of the house.

The technique that Omar uses makes so much sense and works! We have tried multiple trainers and much to our frustration, nothing has worked like the technique that we have learned from Bark Busters!

We continue to learn new things that we can work on with our dog. We are excited to keep learning and keep teaching.

Thank you, Omar. We are so happy with the progress!

Mike and Betsy
Betsy H. .
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Brisket is a 2–3-year-old rescue who was ready for some training after a month of acclimation and recovery in her new home. My research of local trainers brought up lots of qualified folks but Sharon at Bark Busters kept coming up again and again. Several doggie-day-care facilities even handed me her card; turns out Sharon trains a lot of folks (pups too)!
Our 3-hour session was completely different than expected and just what I needed. No treats, just quiet visuals; we didn't even utter the first verbal command until the beginning of hour 3 for that rare situation it might be necessary.
I worked with Brisket for the last two days to see how she was doing with my new training (yes, I got trained) and I just can't believe how well it has gone.

Brisket played with other dogs for the first time off leash and was such a good girl and even recalled perfectly in spite of all the beautiful chaos happening around her. She also has less separation anxiety now that I know what to do.
Paul Y.
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Johnny did a fantastic job with our two dogs. Our dogs had some behavioral issues that needed to be corrected. This included leash pulling, resource guarding, and for one of dogs an anxiety separation problem. Johnny helped and guide us through how to address these problems and since then our dogs have gotten much better. The key for dog owners is to stay consistent with the training or else your dogs will regress into their old bad habits. We learned that the hard way early on but the consistency since then has made an everlasting difference. Thank you Johnny and Bark Busters!
Mahir H.
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It was so helpful and our puppies were able to respond appropriately after a few times.
Joseph B.
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John was very pleasant and knowledgeable. A lot of information to absorb. Hopefully Remy will become more manageable with John's guidance.
Renee K.
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It went so very well.
Kathy W.
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Today went better than I could have imagined. John was not only kind but trained our dog out of his bad habits in just 3 hours. Very patient and very happy with the results!
Ariana K.
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After just one session with Sharon, our 3 dogs are behaving so much better. They are getting along better with less competition, which is a huge relief! They're no longer attacking the vacuum or biting the kids in the bottom when they play basketball in the game room. Her techniques are easy to implement and the dogs have responded so well. I highly recommend Sharon and Bark Busters Dog Training Pinellas County!
Beverly H.
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Working with Sharon from Bark Busters was such a great experience! She texted before arriving at our home so we could start strategically by learning how to de-escalate the mayhem that happens when a new person comes into our house. She explained many tactics to my husband and me while demonstrating with the dog. We did not use any treats and Sharon never used any harsh methods. She used dog behavioral strategies. I have always had dogs, but never heard of tuning into the dog's perspective, but once I did, it made so much sense! From day 1, my dog now looks at my face when I go to enter or leave the house, waiting for me to signal before I proceed. We now know how to tell him, effectively, without ever raising our voices, not to jump up on us, and he responds appropriately! Sharon was very professional and friendly and it is obvious that she loves what she does. She followed up with us 2 days after her visit and was extremely helpful in answering some questions that came up since our meeting. We are completely satisfied! We are foster dog parents and will be able to put these lessons into practice with every dog that comes through our home in the future. Many thanks to Sharon and Bark Busters Dog Training Pinellas County.
Beth M.
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We learned multiple ways to communicate with our dog on his terms, allowing us to properly communicate when he shouldn't do certain things. We learned many exercises to help use communication to implement long term positive change.
Tali N.
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We enjoyed a very informative session. George, our standard poodle, is already exhibiting truly improved behavior!
Kathy W.
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John was fantastic! Very knowledgeable! We totally enjoyed our 3 hour visit and saw improvement immediately.
Diane N.
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We learned so much in such a short amount of time. John is very knowledgeable and really took the time to answer our questions.
Stephanie H.
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Surprised with how effective the first lesson was.
Kelli S.
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