hired Bark Busters about 1.5-2 years ago for in-home training for my elderly mother's dog. Before…read morebooking, I had multiple conversations with their office explaining that my mom had memory issues (she has since been diagnosed with Alzheimer's). I made it very clear this would be a more complicated situation and that the trainer would need to be aware of her limitations. I was repeatedly reassured that their trainers were experienced with elderly clients.
I also clearly stated multiple times that my mother needed to pay with a credit card and not a check, as I could not be there. Despite this, when the trainer, Karen Briggs, came out, she had my mom write a check. I called immediately and asked if it could be stopped so I could provide a credit card, but it had already been deposited. Given my mom's cognitive issues, this was very concerning.
Karen did spend about three hours at the initial visit and went over training, which I appreciated. However, I explained again that my mom would not retain much of that information due to her memory issues. I was told that paperwork was left for her to follow, and that Karen would return in about three weeks. It ended up being closer to six weeks due to multiple postponements.
When she did return, visits were brief and spaced weeks apart. During those visits, my mom was essentially told to continue working on the same things as before, but due to her condition, that was not realistic without consistent support. There was also repeated complaining about the distance and drive, which I found unprofessional. If the location was too far, I would have preferred to be told upfront before committing to a $1,600 "lifetime" program.
Ultimately, the structure of this program did not work for someone with memory loss. I had expected more consistent, hands-on follow-up given the cost, but that was not the case. Because of how the situation felt, I stopped scheduling further visits, even though I paid for a lifetime plan, as I felt like I was inconveniencing the trainer.
At this point, I am now having to take time off work to train the dog myself so my mom can bring her into assisted living. This has been frustrating and disappointing.
I don't necessarily think this program is a good fit for elderly clients or anyone with cognitive challenges, as it requires a level of consistency and follow-through that may not be realistic. I also feel there was a disconnect between what I communicated to the office and what was actually carried through during training.
This was a learning experience for me, but I hope it helps others understand what to expect before making the same investment.