Some people spend years searching for the right career. For Brenda Ray, your Bark Busters trainer in Barrie, Muskoka, and Simcoe County, it started with a laugh, some reflection, and a morning that changed everything.
We asked Brenda how she went from computer science to canine communication, which dogs hold a special place in her heart, and what she wishes every owner understood.
What Brought You to Dog Training?
“I had just finished the rollout of a new point-of-sale system for a major convenience store chain, and I had had enough of computers! I was looking for something different and found Bark Busters. I laughed about it to myself for about a week. Can you imagine making a living from being a dog trainer?
Then I woke up one morning and realized it was not a joke. It was the career change I was looking for! I have never looked back.
It is so refreshing to work in a field that never has a version upgrade! Dogs still run on the same operating system they have understood for millennia.”
What Is Your Favourite Breed?
“Like potato chips, who can pick just one? My favourites are the ones with big attitudes! Chihuahuas, Terriers, the little dogs with larger-than-life personalities.
My heart always goes out to the worried dogs that need the most help. Often they are the softer, timid, shy temperaments, and they come in all breeds.”
What Is a Favourite Moment From Training?
“I was on a lesson with an extremely worried dog. The family also had an older, very calm dog. The worried dog came barking at me three separate times, and I had the owner move him away from me twice.
The third time he came barking at me, the older dog got up, moved the worried dog away from me, paused until he saw the worried dog lie down, and then went back to where he had been lying.
How smart he was, to observe what we were attempting to do and then, in expert dog fashion, complete the task perfectly. I was in amazement!”
What Do You Wish You Could Tell Every Dog Owner?
“Dogs try really hard to figure out what you want, but most are not good at interpreting humans. They do not misbehave because they are naughty. They misbehave because they are not understanding you.
If a dog jumps up and you say anything, the dog does not understand the word you said. It understands that jumping got your attention, so it must be the right thing to do, and the behaviour repeats. We are in fact teaching the dog to jump.
We think they are not listening, but the behaviour you are getting is what the dog understands from your actions. When the humans learn to communicate in a way that the dog can understand and does not have to interpret, we get the behaviour we want.”
Ready to Work With Brenda?
If you live in Barrie, Innisfil, Orillia, Muskoka, Simcoe County, or the surrounding areas, Brenda is your local Bark Busters trainer. She specializes in puppy training, aggression, separation anxiety, leash pulling, excessive barking, and general obedience, all in the comfort of your home.
Every Bark Busters training program comes with our Written Lifetime Guarantee, so you will have ongoing support for the life of your dog.
Contact Brenda today to schedule your in-home training session.
(Not in Brenda’s area? No problem! Scroll to the bottom and fill out the form to be connected to your local trainer!)
