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Staffordshire Bull Terrier: Training Insights & Behavior Traits

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Staffordshire Bull Terrier Traits, Temperament & Training Challenges

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

 

  • Height

    14-16 inches

  • Weight

    28-38 pounds (male), 24-34 pounds (female)

  • Life Expectancy

    12-14 years

  • Coat Type/Length

    Smooth/Short

  •  100 affectionate with family
  • 100 good with young children
  • 60 good with other dogs
  • 100 trainability level
  • 80 energy level
  • 60 barking level
  • 40 shedding level
  • 60 drooling level

Understanding the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breed & Natural Instincts

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier originated in England and is a tenacious and courageous short coat breed. It was one of the breeds used for bull and bear baiting before the 19th century when sports such as cockfighting were common place and animal rights not yet fully in place.

As far back as the 16th Century, there was a common practice at the cattle markets to set dogs on the bulls and cattle as a way of tenderizing the meat and providing entertainment for the spectators. Fights with bears and other animals were also organized as entertainment.

Eventually the practice of these blood sports was phased out or eliminated in 1835 as animal rights organizations like the RSPCA came into being.

However, the practice of dog fighting still continued, where folks could test the fighting strength and courage of their dogs in secret locations. Dog fighting was a form of entertainment and involved gambling. These dog fights usually took place in a pit and the last dog standing was declared the winner.

Despite its violent history, the modern-day Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a breed that has the ideal temperament to be a family dog and trustworthy companion.

The early bull dogs and terrier types were remarkably different from the breeds of today and were selected mainly for their gameness, inbred courage and aggressiveness. Terriers and other popular dogs of the time, bred with bulldogs, provided the ancestral foundation stock for the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

 

Staffordshire Bull Terrier in a grassy field

Training A Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Staffordshire Bull Terriers are intelligent and people-oriented dogs, but their strength, enthusiasm, and energy can sometimes lead to behavior challenges without proper training and guidance.

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

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Staffordshire Bull Terrier Dog Training: Understanding Common Breed Behaviors

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is rated high on Bark Busters’ list of popular breeds, coming in as the 4th most popular trained breed in the USA, and 3rd in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand

They are energetic, fun loving dogs and in great demand as the all-round family dog. Staffordshires are a very loving breed that want nothing more than to settle down for a cuddle with you after a fun-filled day. It is their sweet nature, their ability to romp and play and then cuddle and chill out, that keeps them near the top of the ‘most popular breeds list’ around the world.

This breed is generally over-exuberant in their display of affection and all Staffordshire’s possess that trait of squirmy jumping and licking as they greet their human when they arrive home. This is what most Staffie parents love about the breed, but it can be a turn off for those who can’t cope with the ‘rough and tumble’ behavior. With patience, education and training, they can be just as well behaved as any breed. They are definitely worth the effort.

The breed has a defined muscular appearance that can look intimidating, but their natural love of people shines through and wins everyone’s heart in no time.

The Staffie (as its affectionately referred to), is classed as a medium sized dog with a similar appearance to the much larger, more powerful American Staffordshire Terrier and American Pit Bull Terrier.

According to the American Kennel Club, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is brave tenacious, a bit stubborn but also gentle, playful and clever. Authorities generally agree that the breed can be traced back to the Mastiff-like dogs through the old bull dog which, when crossed with British Terriers, produced the first ‘Bull and Terriers’. The old-fashioned bull dog was a fierce, courageous animal used in the spot of bears and bull baiting as early as the mid-sixteenth century.

Bark Busters Trainer Michael Konstantaras-Lower Coastal CT, on the subject of Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

As the owner of a female Staffordshire Bull Terrier and a male Pit Bull, I look upon the differences in the two breeds as follows:

My experience with owning and working with Staffies has been great. Although every dog has its own temperament and personality, I've found them to respond remarkably well to Bark Busters training. Smart, outgoing, and energetic. I'd describe them as being Porsches while the standard American Pit bulls being Jeeps.

Is A Staffordshire Bull Terrier Right For You?

Capabilities

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a tough breed of dog, full of confidence and self-reliance. Fun to have around and definitely capable of being a lap dog, they would love nothing more than to be with you wherever you are.

They possibly are not the world’s greatest guard dogs because of their love of people, but their looks can be a deterrent.

Although they are good with kids, always monitor their behavior and never leave dogs and children unattended.

Are you an outdoor enthusiast? They are a great hiking companion.

Do you have other animals? Staffies are good with other animals and dogs if introduced properly.

A very trainable and cooperative breed of dog.

Points of Interest

  • Short hair and easy care coat
  • Muscular, formidable appearance, rarely found in a medium-sized breed.
  • All round fun-loving dog with an even temperament.
  • Ensure that their over-exuberant personality can be brought under control. Dogs and kids must never be left alone unattended.
  • Loyal and loving nature.
  • Adaptable to most situations.
  • Enthusiastic breed, very athletic-great companion for the fitness enthusiast.
  • Outgoing personalities that can be prone to becoming easily excited.
  • Great staying power, high energy levels and always ready to be active.
  • Need lots of entertainment and brain stimulation.
  • They are known to play rough and can hurt you just through their play.
  • Barking from excitement can be an issue, but usually easy to control.
  • Very capable of doing things that the larger breeds can do.
  • Naturally friendly towards most strangers, but capable of protecting you if the need arises.
  • Common issues are mild dog aggression, walking issues and over-exuberance.

Personality & Temperament

Anyone who has a Staffordshire Bull Terrier will tell you that they adore this breed. They are lovable, adaptable and very trainable. They are a great family dog that loves to join in any activity.

Don’t let their looks fool you – although they look tough on the outside, they are sensitive, loving and very low maintenance. These dogs are very trainable and Bark Busters training methods suit their intelligent personality and we find them very trainable and quick to learn.

Although very trainable, they do need training, so that the energetic energy they possess is channeled in the right direction. 

Don’t leave your Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy confined for long hours because they don’t do “Home Alone” too well; they can become frustrated and behavioral issues could surface. These dogs love company and need to be kept active.

Create a place in your home that contains everything your Staffie will need for those times when you need to leave him alone. 

Staffordshire Bull Terrier Temperament: How it Impacts Training and Obedience

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a very adaptable and trainable dog. They just want to please and are always full of energy. However, you do need to have patience when training, or their fun-loving personality can wear you out. They always seem to be ready for the next big thing and keeping their full-attention is always challenging.

The over-exuberance in Staffies (jumping nipping and barking) is one of their best and worst traits. They need their owners' and people they meet, to always keep calm and ignore them until they are calm. They are a very soft natured dog, so they go from manic to submissive in a second.

Staffies tend to be over-zealous with other dogs. A lot of their excitable behavior with other dogs ends up with them humping the other dog, and because they are so strong, this can cause problems with other dogs. The other dog will try and get away, but the Staffie holds tight and this invariably leads to a fight.

Staffies like to play fetching games. So spend some time teaching them to bring their ball back, hiding their ball and sending them to find it.

I find that by keeping the exercises short and fun, they stay focused on what I am trying to teach them.

"Positive-only" dog training is a big fad right now. Treats can be great motivators for training Staffordshire Bull Terriers, but if your dog will only obey for a treat and you need to have treats always on hand to get the best out of your dog, then the dog is in charge of things, not you and this is not conducive to controlling a lively, energetic breed

I find that ‘communication’ built from consistent education, is the key because we always have our voices with us and as long as you keep the sessions short, you will get great results from this breed.

Case Study -Clancy-6 year old Staffordshire Terrier

Behavioral issue: Dog Aggression, pulling on the leash and general disobedience.

His human parent told us that ‘Clancy’ started out as a fun-loving puppy, a well-adjusted puppy who loved all dogs. She told us that she could not wait to take him to the ‘dog park’ and show him off to all the other dog parents there, but she had to wait for him to have his shots and be cleared by the vet before she could take him.

Before his training, a side issue from his dog aggression was his leash manners. He would pull her down the street and she was just along for the ride.

His first day at the dog park went okay, there were just a few small dogs and one puppy there. They all seemed to hit it off. Clancy was the life of the party and played until he dropped.

Then one day as she entered the park with her excited little charge dragging her through the gate, a large dog pounced on him and knocked him flying. Clancy screamed in shock and tried to get away, but the big dog kept persisting. It was obviously the King of the Park and wanted Clancy to know that he had no ranking at all.

The next time they visited the dog park, Clancy refused to get out of the car. Visits to the ‘dog park’ where then completely halted, but as Clancy grew he started to become aggressive to all dogs the moment he saw them.

Success at First Lesson: Clancy’s human mom called Bark Busters.

We were able to stop Clancy’s dog aggression at his first lesson and he also learned quickly not to pull on his leash and to walk sedately at his human’s side and to listen. Who said you can’t teach and old dog new tricks?

Our methods are dog-friendly and are based on the natural way that dogs communicate. We teach you how to Speak Dog and earn your dog’s respect, with kind and dog friendly methods.

Common Staffordshire Bull Terrier Behavior Problems & Training Solutions

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The Right Training for Your Staffordshire Bull Terrier

‘Staffies’ are keen to please their human and will play the clown or the serious role with ease. Most behavioral issues in relation to ‘dog aggression’ stem from their unwillingness to walk away from a fight that they generally didn’t start and the inability of their owner to control this behavior.

The most prevalent behaviors we are called upon to deal with are dog aggression, biting the leash during the walk, excitable behavior and a small amount of human aggression, which usually stems from poor breeding or lack of training.

More often than not, their pet parents do seek out professional training to deal with their over-exuberance.

Savvy dog fanciers understand the importance of locating the right training for their Staffie; a training that is kind and humane, dog friendly and taught by experts who have the skills to deal with their particular breed.

People who lead hectic lives find that Bark Busters in-home dog training suits their lifestyle. Why in-home? Because this is where most problems occur, this is also where dogs feel safe and have fewer distractions. The modern-day dog parent is looking for fast results without having to use any harsh methods.

We have mentioned the common behavioral issues and traits of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier that are easily addressed with consistent education and training. They are not the type of breed that wants to constantly test you.

Grabbing the leash

This is an issue that does occur regularly with this breed and generally stems from either frustration on the dog’s part or a learned behavior from when it was a puppy and was first introduced to the leash.

Most Staffies stop this annoying behavior if it is addressed properly and at the precise time that your dog is grabbing the leash.

Be sure you don’t turn the exercise into a battle of wills or the dog will win. You have to be in control and let your dog know that this behavior is not acceptable

Freeze your actions and clap your hands at the precise moment your dog opens its mouth to grab the leash.

Do not hit, try to grab your dog, or drag the leash out of your dog’s mouth. Neither of these actions will build trust. Be patient and in control.

Dog Aggression

Because of its breed history, the Staffie is not one to walk away from a fight. It is not usually the first one to start a fight, but has been known to finish the odd one or two.

Most of the dog aggression Bark Busters encounters stems from a ‘bad experience’ that the dog has had as a puppy or adolescent.

Let your dog know that you are the boss and take control if it displays any aggression. If you find yourself in over your head, seek professional help.

Recall - Come when called

The Staffie is generally not deliberately disobedient. We usually find that its inability to ‘come when called’ stems from a lack of proper communication. Practice calling your dog on leash first, and in a controlled environment or fenced area, then let the leash trail on the ground and call your dog to you in a pleasant and encouraging way. Staffies need to understand your intentions and what you want from them or they will just bound away to investigate more interesting things.

Over-Exuberance

Over-zealous behavior is synonymous with most Staffordshire Bull Terriers. If you want to quell this over-exuberant behavior, practice some calm interaction with your dog. Don’t turn on your ‘excitement meter’ when you arrive home, enter the home and interact in a calm way. The worst thing you can do with an excitable breed is to act in an excitable way. They will just match your behavior and ramp it up.

If you are determined to take your dog to a doggy park, we recommend that you wait until they have reached 12-months of age. The concern about dog parks is the natural intimidation that older dogs display when they encounter puppies. This can give your puppy a lasting bad impression, which can later lead to dog aggression as your puppy reaches maturity.

The areas where scuffles and ‘power plays’ usually occur is near the entrance to the dog park, where the established dogs like to check out who is requesting entry to their domain.

Staffies are not the type of breed to take a backward step if another dog provokes them. This could cause you long term problems and mean that your dog never gets to go back to the park for fear of fights with other dogs. So be patient and let your dog mature first and allow it to develop a trust that it does not have to worry about other dogs when it goes out.

Even other puppies can bully and intimidate your dog, so don’t rush off to a dog park. Let your puppy enjoy pleasant experiences with well-behaved dogs or puppies.

If fully immunized, you can sit with your puppy on your lap in a public area or park, where it can watch the world from a safe place. This way it won’t be intimidated or frightened by over-exuberant mature dogs or other puppies.

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Staffordshire Bull Terrier Wellness: Health Issues & Responsible Ownership Tips

Common Illnesses and Injuries

Your Staffordshire Bull Terrier’s health concerns will change over the course of their life. A puppy might be more prone to eat something they shouldn’t, a 2-year-old Staffie may be more likely to develop allergies, and a senior Staffie is far more likely to develop arthritis as they age. Staffordshire Bull Terriers also have personality and physical traits that may make them more prone to certain conditions—an active Staffie that loves to run around the yard may be more prone to rupturing their knee ligament.

At any stage of life, there are some of the most common injuries and illnesses you should be aware of when bringing home a Staffordshire Bull Terrier:

  • Cataracts and eye problems
  • Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
  • Joint Problems
  • Cruciate Ruptures

If you are ever concerned about your dog’s health, your local veterinarian is a great resource.

Genetic Health Concerns

Like many popular breeds, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier has its fair share of hereditary based issues, such as hip and elbow dysplasia. Most reputable breeders now have their breeding stock checked and scored by a vet for these hereditary ailments. 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.

Bark Busters Home Dog Training Services

Home Dog Training

We provide personalized, in-home training designed for your Staffordshire Bull Terrier’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 Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy training builds trust, good manners, and positive habits from the start. We help with potty training, crate training, leash walking, and common puppy behaviors like jumping, nipping, chewing, and barking.

Learn About Puppy Training

Severe Dog Behavior Issues

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

Learn About Dog Behavior Training

Excessive Barking

Staffordshire Bull Terriers thrive on companionship, exercise, and clear leadership, but excessive barking can become a challenge when those needs are unmet. Bark Busters helps create lasting behavior change through calm, effective communication.

Learn About Excessive Barking

Separation Anxiety Training

Staffies 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

Staffordshire Bull Terrier 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 Staffordshire Bull Terrier Owners Say About Bark Busters Training

Since Lexi is a American Staffordshire Terrier, it was very help to know that Damon is very knowledgeable about breed.
Damon was able to identify the good and bad things that I was doing which made it much easier for me to figure out what
I needed to work on between myself and my dog. Also, he was able to show how to be a leader toward my dog and got
immediate results right afterwards. I like how the training resembled how dogs command respect and leadership from each
other like how a mother commands respect and obedience to her pups.
Nana A.
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Bark Busters is an excellent service for training your dog. After just four visits with a trainer our two dogs are night and day different than they were before they were trained. We have a 5-year-old Lab/Pit Bull mix and a one and a half year old American Staffordshire Terrier. I highly recommend you use Bark Busters for dog training.
Josh B.
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I adopted my first pet this January. She is a Staffordshire Terrier Mix, so very similar to a pitbull. She is 7 years old and bears the scars of fights with dogs on her face and legs, and also the scars of being returned to the shelter twice before I adopted her. She is very very loving, but also very very aggressive towards other dogs. She also barked at everything and everyone that came near the place, or just at noises she would hear. And, she needed to be by me 24-7, followed me everywhere. After working with Deb, she explained how Bella was feeling, and why she was reacting the way she was. We have had two sessions, and really the second session was to show off how well Bella was doing. Don't get me wrong, she is not perfect now, but she is much more manageable in terms of listening to me, not needing to be around me all the time, walking by me and not leading me, and lastly, not lunging aggressively and barking at every dog we see. I don't think Bella will ever be a dog that can be around other dogs, but with Deb's training, I have learned to be more alert than Bella and calm her before her adrenaline kicks in to start barking or going after another dog. Deb has great skills and lessons to teach, but she is not teaching your dog, she is teaching YOU. You have to listen, and do the work, and with her lessons, you can have a well-behaved dog. I've gotten compliments now on the changes in Bella's behavior, and listening to me. I'm more confident walking her now, and now, she will only bark once when the bell rings, before I give her the command and she goes to where she is supposed to. Thanks Deb for all your help, and I am so thankful for the option of continual support.
Melodie K.
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Have a 4-year old lab/staffy mix who has gone through two trainers and a board & train. She would bark and charge at the door if she saw anything (sometimes when she just saw the wind blow), jump over the couch (and yes, over people sitting on the couch) to get to the door faster and pull so hard on her leash during walks. My husband was on the cusp of wanting her gone because we were about to have our first baby and we didn’t feel comfortable with her energy levels. He felt he had no control over her. I found Bark Busters through Google search and decided to reach out because I didn’t want to get rid of my dog. I thought, Third trainer’s a charm!
Amanda is a great trainer and good people! My dog responds well to the training and she doesn’t run our household anymore. She still barks at the door and that’s fine because she isn’t as wired and bossy as she was 2 months ago AND doesn’t pull on walks anymore. But most importantly, she has been great with our one week old son. She listens more to us because we have established more leadership.
The homework Amanda gives you is very helpful and you’ll have access to those resources forever if you ever forget some steps. It’s also lovely how reachable she is for any questions or concerns you may have. I definitely feel that my dog is being taken care of.
Davielle W.
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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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Kevin has been great! My dog was biting strangers and now she's so sweet. very grateful to this company.
Kayli F.
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We are late on this review not because Kevin wasn't professional every time we met or because the results were terrible. When Kevin entered our lives we had a puppy that was dangerously food protective and generally unruly. We have had other dogs in the past that we traditionally trained. They were the neighborhood standard of well behaved dogs. August through us for a loop. Kevin came in and over a year thought us how to communicate with August. He has Great Pyrenees breed traits. Kevin gave us boundaries, communication tools, patience, and most importantly real honest expectations. We just celebrated August's 2nd birthday and today his reactiveness is minor, his food and toy aggression is non existent. He is starting to respond to commands without treats. He has always been the most affectionate dog we have owned, but today Im happily to report he is now a well behaved socialized dog. Thank you Kevin for everything you did for us and our beautiful boy. Also knowing that they are there if we need follow-up training, is an unmeasurable comfort. If you are willing to realize that it's not your dogs fault but how you interact with your dog. Then you are ready to be a caregiver to your pup and you are ready for Bark Busters! Find the love language between you and your furry love and get a Bark Busters trainer! Xxo
Will N.
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We lost our sweet, chill Lab of 10 years March 2024. And we went for awhile without a dog... but missed having that companionship. So we adopted Crispin (Irish Terrier mix?) from the shelter August 2024. He is a lovable, goofy dog... but 100% different from our previous dog and we found ourselves completely stymied by his reactivity and behavior.

We reached out to Bark busters, and from the first conversation we were met with really excellent information about who they are, what they do, how the process works, etc. We're really lucky to have Kevin come work with us. He has absolutely changed the trajectory of our relationship with Crispin!

Kevin is easily reached and very flexible about meeting times. He has a great, calm demeanor around dogs and never skips a beat in answering our many questions. The way he explains the training process and then demonstrates how to do things with Crispin has been great. I really enjoy the Bark busters psychology and speaking to dogs in a way they understand. It's really evident to me every time Kevin is explaining something and shows us with Crispin. And as he said, you get used to "bahhing!" your dog in public. I was slightly embarrassed at first, but have no problems with it now.

Crispin is still a work in progress, but the difference between when we started several months ago and now is distinct. I'm very glad we found Bark busters!
Alex L.
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We've been working with Kevin from Bark Busters for a few months, and I can't say enough good things about the experience. He is incredibly patient and understanding, which was so refreshing after trying multiple other trainers (including board-and-train programs) with little to no progress.

Kevin's approach was completely different, and much more forgiving, allowing us complete flexibility on how often to have training sessions & check-ins. He never made us feel pressured to be "done" by a certain point and accommodates our pace and schedule.

He focused on helping us understand how our dogs are communicating and how to respond in a way that makes sense to them. It felt like he wasn't just "training the dogs," but actually empowering us as owners with the tools and knowledge we needed. For the first time, I feel like we're truly making progress and building a better relationship with our dogs! We feel a lot more in control, and while we know they aren't perfect - we can finally feel confident we are working together in the right direction.

I highly recommend working with Kevin and the Bark Busters method!
Jessica L.
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I've only been working with Kevin for two months and already see a huge difference in my dogs behaviors and confidence levels! I have two middle-aged chihuahuas who love to bark, are reactive to strangers, and are very anxious. I had low hopes that I would ever be able to control their behavior, but decided to give this a try.
The first time Kevin came over we spent a long time talking about their behaviors and going in depth about how to best communicate with them. Since then we've worked on decreasing their reactivity when people enter the house, exercises to help improve their listening, and their behavior on walks.
After only two months and three training sessions, they're significantly less reactive to new people and most importantly seem more comfortable and confident in themselves.
I'm so happy that I found Kevin! I can't wait to see how my kiddos continue to progress.
Lauren M.
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highly recommend Kevin. after only two sessions there is a big difference in our dog's behavior. granted the humans must practice the skills but it seems to work ! worth the $ when you consider less damage and less frustration .
Claudia B.
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Kevin is an amazing trainer that understands dogs. Kevin educated me and my husband on how to better communicate with our puppy and why it's so important to think from our puppy's perspective to build a relationship based on trust and respect. Even after just one session, our puppy's bad behavior was drastically reduced and we acknowledged that we should change our routines and communication methods as well. We're hopeful that we will be able to develop and maintain a healthy, loving relationship with our puppy.
Kristie K.
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I couldn't be more thankful for Kevin!! He took the time to explain the purpose, approach, and benefit to Bark Busters training methods. It taught me a great deal as it relates to communicating with my pup in terms she can understand and respond to, as I was lost in that department. I've seen a positive impact to her readiness to listen and obey (although we are still working on outside distractions - but I'm confident we can get there). She respects the front door area now when guests are entering, and no longer pulls on her leash while taking walks. Kevin has been extremely communicative in checking-in and flexible with my busy schedule. Also very calm with my pup - she feeds off energy quickly and loves him! Thanks for everything you do!
Erica P.
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Wow. So grateful for the tools Kevin gave our family with our new pup Frank. The time and attention on us and how we help support him learn good habits was amazing.
Expect a long first session with the building blocks that really help set the tone and confidence in the process. The training was simple but it is our job to stay consistent with it. We saw quick results in the first session and were amazed at how our wild puppy did.
Highly recommend the lifetime membership with continuous support. Be prepared to put in consistent effort but it's so worth it to have balance in your life and your pups life!
Monika C.
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We're so incredibly lucky we found Bark Busters, and specifically, Kevin. We have two rescue dogs, both 3.5 years old, who were exhibiting behaviours we needed to fix. After learning more about the uniqueness of the BB program itself (nationwide trainers, full-life trainer commitment) we booked our first visit. Kevin is great and has been incredibly helpful. He has a down-to-earth and casual approach to the sessions making it easy to understand and follow. We identified the issues and have begun tackling them one at a time. But most importantly, the dogs have responded in the best way. It almost feels like we've unlocked a new form of communication with them. Once you get over the funny sounds and barks you have to do, it's pretty powerful how responsive the dogs have become. Within days we saw noticeable improvement with some of our issues. We look forward to continuing the journey with Kevin and Bark Busters and definitely recommend it to others!
Josh R.
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We love our Malshi pup Benji, but he has suffered a pretty bad case of separation anxiety. He would howl and whine when we would leave our place and at times caught him digging and being destructive. He also has trouble focusing and social anxiety issues. Kevin has been great in providing the necessary tools and advice on how to go about easing Benji's separation anxiety and overall behavior, and we have seen improvement since our first session! He's taught us how to properly communicate to our pup and has been responsive whenever we have any questions or concerns. It's nice and relieving to know that Kevin will be by our side during Benji's growth and development!
Amanda M.
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We could not be more grateful for the time Kevin spent with us and our 2 year old husky, Akasha. We adopted Akasha from a shelter where she was for 5 months before we brought her home. We now have such a better understanding of her needs and how to communicate and establish our own needs and boundaries with her, and it has made a huge difference in our day to day lives. Akasha now knows what to expect from us and what's expected of her and it has made for a much calmer dog - something we never thought would be possible!

The tools and training are very simple and very effective. All it takes is commitment + consistency and results are inevitable over time and (some things even rather instantly). She respects and trusts our leadership but is still the fun loving girl we fell in love with.

A big THANK YOU to Kevin and his team, we could not recommend them more!!!
Grace H.
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Kevin was a life saver. I have two dogs. Initially I thought I only needed training for the one dog I have, but they train your dogs as a pack. my other dog definitely needed some help as well. My frenchie was such a sweetheart but was destroying our house and had zero trust for us and would no follow any commands. I was so stressed out and felt like I couldn't enjoy my pet. Kevin was so helpful in helping my pets and I build trust and helping me to understand what my dogs needed and how to be the pack leader without having to lose my cool. I'm able to enjoy my Frenchie Donut and he no longer destroys things. I can leave him home alone without fear that my things with be ruined. He seems much happier and we definitely are. I love how he trained our dogs in their environment in their home too.
Amber S.
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Working with Bark Busters has been a massive weight off my shoulders, and I'm happy I decided to use their services. Kevin possesses extensive knowledge of dog behavior and is a caring, professional, and skilled trainer who understands our dog's needs to provide the best possible assistance and help. He uses positive training techniques, which are vital in helping the relationship between my dog and me grow.

Recently, Kevin has helped me work through some behavioral issues with my dog, and I cannot express enough how thankful to his guidance. Kevin's patience and willingness to enter into a true partnership with me and my dog are phenomenal. He is very invested in the success of correcting behaviors which is something you often do not find in the dog training community. Thanks for the help and continued mentorship, Kevin!
Neil P.
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Couldn't recommend Kevin enough. After just one session my wife and I received the tools necessary to start properly training our dog. We have a very high energy Aussiedoodle (2 year old) that we weren't sure would calm down and give us the respect we needed. Since working with Kevin and Bark Busters we have only seen improvement. Before Kevin came into our lives our dog Sol was definitely confused. Now he isn't and understands the hierarchy in our home. The simple tools and guidance he has shown us are super effective. Very grateful to have Kevin in our lives!
Alex S.
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I couldn't recommend Bark Busters more, my husband and I were in shock when, only after the first session, our dog Coco was already behaving so much better and listening to us as she never did before.
Kevin literally explained to us dog psychology, he taught us how to communicate with our little bud in "dog" which is the only language dogs know!
Coco is a rescue from the streets of Mexico, she survived as a puppy completely on her own until she was found and brought to California. Once she realized that she had her own place, she became incredibly protective of it and she wouldn't let strangers into the house without barking her head off. Kevin showed us some super effective exercises that changed the game completely. Now Coco is happy to have guests and she respects us more than ever.
Walks also improved drastically. Before Kevin's intervention, Coco was the worst puller on the leash. Kevin's method worked so well that I can't explain in words how happy and satisfied we are. We love Bark Busters, they changed our relationship with Coco and now we are a happy little family, nobody barks anymore and all is left is love and cuddles. :D
Cristina L.
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Wonderful experience and would recommend especially for aggression and dominant energy dogs. I have a 10 year old 120lb Doberman Pinscher named Ares. He is very intelligent and also very assertive. I have had a power struggle in the house since he was 2 years old and he started becoming aggressive when I gave him commands to get off of furniture or drop items. He was also aggressive toward my 1 year old child. After being told by our vet that putting him down was the recommended solution, we called Kevin at bark busters, After our 3 hour first training session, Ares was a different dog. Learning to communicate with Ares in terms he could understand, (Body language, barks and growls) , has completely changed our relationship. Although Ares will remain separated from my child for safety, he will now get to live the rest of his life at home. Thanks Kevin
Andy T.
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We are first-time dog owners. We got our puppy at eight weeks and were over our heads. Ever since Kevin came, we have seen improvements with our puppy Jazz immediately. He always assesses the situation to figure out where Jazz is and gives us great building blocks and pointers on handling each situation within each phase we head into with her each time we see him. He is an awesome trainer. He makes himself available and is always responsive when we text him to guide us on addressing what we are dealing with. We highly recommend this training. You will see improvements if you stay consistent with their guidance.
Michelle B.
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This review is a little early to give because we've only had two training sessions with Kevin and Christen...but I think they are on their way to earning 5 stars.

The first visit was with just Kevin, he explained the Bark Buster methodology and to be perfectly honest, me and my husband were a little skeptical about the training and weren't sure if we wanted to go with the company. The training is based on body language and "growling" at the dog when you are displeased (there are no treats involved!). There are no specific commands and seemed too simple and general to work.

We told Kevin we'd have to think about if we wanted to go with the Bark Busters route (we were looking at other trainers at the time too). We tried the "growling" for a few days and were surprised to see improvements in our pup's behavior.

We've been working with Kevin and Christen for about a month now and have had two private (1.5 hour) sessions with them. Our dog never had terrible behavior issues, our main concern was her aggression towards other dogs/humans. Since we started the training: her ability to walk in a heel has drastically improved, she no longer uncontrollably barks at the door when someone knocks, she doesn't lunge/bark at other dogs when out on walks, she waits for us to walk through a doorway before she does, and she seems overall more patient with us.

So far we've avoided greeting strangers and politely disengaging when they try to pet her. Or stepping away when another dog comes to sniff her instead of snapping/growling. We hope to work up to these situations with Kevin and Christen in the future.

Kevin and Christen are both very encouraging and attentive. During training they give pointers but are there as coaches and don't interact with your dog (it's all about the dog and the owner...not the dog and the trainer). They are easy to get a hold of and respond to questions about training that I've sent via text. I was definitely skeptical about the training methodology in the beginning but am now a believer.
Gidget
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We have two rescues with two completely different personalities. We needed help managing their behaviors. Kevin has been working with us for the past few months, but after his first visit we noticed significant improvements with our dog Peanut. Love working with Kevin. Thank you for being so patient with our pets.
Maria M.
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Overall happy with my experience with Kevin, and bark busters. I personally like the flexibility, as well as me getting the full hands on experience of training. I love to learn.

We adopted our dog Grace almost a year ago, who is around 4yrs. A friend of mine recommended Kevin's service since she saw great progress with her dog that was around the same age and adopted as well. Grace was already a very chill dog, but as she opened up a little more she began to lunge toward people, bikes, other dogs, and cats. Making walking a little tough for my husband and I. After a few sessions, and us putting the work in with Grace, she starting adapting fairly quickly to the command. There are still some moments she might attempt to lung, but definitely a 180 degree difference from where she started.

I am looking forward to more on time training/sessions.
Chelsey A.
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