The Resume

(May 9, 1910-July 9, 1988)
Born in Rathfarnham, Ireland
Birth name was Barbara Blackburn
Hosted the BBC series ‘Training Dogs the Woodhouse Way’
Wrote ‘No Bad Dogs,’ ‘Dog Training My Way,’ 'Talking to Animals’ and ‘The A-Z of Dogs and Puppies’

Why she might be annoying:

Her way of getting to know an animal was to breathe into its nose.
She was bossy.
Her endorsement of choke collars was controversial.
Her catchphrase was ‘Walkies!’
When talking to owners, she usually addressed them by their dog breed rather than their name (ie., ‘Mr. Doberman,’ ‘Mrs. Poodle’)

Why she might not be annoying:

She also trained horses.
She personally trained over 17,000 dogs.
She demonstrated the importance of tone of voice by successfully running an obedience session using ‘potatoes’ and ‘carrots’ in place of ‘sit’ and ‘heel.’
She said she was ‘flabbergasted’ when she was named British female television personality of the year (1980).
She said, ‘There is no such thing as a difficult dog, only an inexperienced owner.’

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 09]
• I Died in 1988 (Ranked: 78)
• I Had a Stroke [Cerebral Vascular Accident]
• Look at Me and My Pet
• Pit Bull Owners
• Profiles 22001-22250 (Ranked: 22083)
• Satirized on the Simpsons
• Tree Names

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 16 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 10 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 29 Votes: 65.52% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 79 Votes: 39.24% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 30 Votes: 50.0% Annoying