Panicky pooch chosen as valley's worst dog


Rockne pictured with the couch he's destroyed. Reminder submitted photo

We have a winner.

After reviewing the wacky and wild behaviors of each four-legged contestant in our Bad Dog Contest, we at Reminder Publications had no choice but to give the "bad dog" title to "Rockne," a nine-month-old Standard Poodle.

Rockne is terrified of walks, his crate and being alone. These fears are so severe that Rockne has soaked his crate in saliva, ran into the house in fear of a walk and will destroy just about anything.

This notorious chewer has victims all over the Pierce family's Wilbraham home, ranging from towels and comforters to the bottom half of a love seat. His owners, Mary Lou, Sandy and Amanda Pierce are at their wits' end.

"He is just from outer space," Mary Lou said about her pooch's problems. "I'll try anything at this point."

In a desperate letter, Mary Lou added that even Rockne's veterinarian recommended the mood-altering drug Prozac.

"He is such a good dog with such good qualities," Mary Lou said of Rockne when he is relaxed. "I have to get a hold of this anxiety because he's crazy and he makes our family crazy."

The grand prize, which the Pierce family will receive in the upcoming weeks, is a free training session with Scot Masamary of Bark Busters. With only the Bark Buster's system of dog training, Masamary will tackle Rockne's bad habits and help to make the Pierce home more peaceful.

"What we need to do is gain leadership," Masamary said when briefed of this daunting task. "When they become the leaders, that dog will say, 'I don't need to be doing these things.'"

"Much of this behavior is stress related," Masamary added. "By taking leadership away from Rockne, he will feel safer and calmer."

"Separation anxiety can be caused by many things including incorrect conditioning," Masamary said. "Including leaving the house in high pitch voice. This tone of voice is telling the dog that he should be worried."

While Bark Buster's methods are guaranteed to correct "any age, any issue," Masamary will certainly have his hands full with Rockne.

In the March 19 issue of The Reminder, we will update Rockne's progress to see if Bark Buster's was able to tame this petrified pooch.

For more information about Bark Busters, call 726-2911.