Scott literally changed our dog's wild behavior in 1 visit! We adopted a 1-year old German Shepherd from a shelter, and, within a week, Ash was out of control: hard mouthing on wrists, legs and ankles (he is a big pup!), counter surfing, stealing things right out of our hands, grabbing human food, jumping on people, digging, barking, not responding to any commands, etc. After a few episodes of very hard mouthing during his "play" and getting badly bruised by him, I became fearful of Ash and his unpredictable mouth to the point that I did not want to be alone with him. It was like having a little terrorist in my house that could explode and get playful-aggressive with me at any time. I was also very worried for our 6-year old son getting hurt by Ash. We researched internet and tried things on our own but nothing seemed to work. We got to the point that we considered returning Ash to the shelter. Luckily for us and for Ash, we called Scott instead. Since I was so frustrated with Ash, I had very high expectations for Scott even before Scott's first visit. Amazingly, Scott was able to exceed even my high expectations. At the very first visit, he was outstanding and was able to communicate to Ash right away that people were in control and in the leadership role, not vice versa. I have not seen anything like this before: without using any devices, like shock/choke collars, etc., Scott was able to transform Ash from a wild animal into an obedient and sweet pup. It is like we got a brand new well-behaved dog who now pays attention to us much better instead of running wild. Importantly, we are now able to speak our dog's language, maybe not perfectly but well enough to communicate. I am not fearful of Ash any more as Scott gave us tools that do work with Ash, unlike the other things we have tried on our own. We are now practicing exercises with him and, even though, we need to remind Ash from time to time that we are his leaders, his behavior never gets as bad as it was before Scott. We are looking forward to working with Scott long-term on getting Ash to be the best dog he can be and settling into a happy long relationship with Ash. read more

We have a 6-year old blue heeler/pitbull mix. While he is a super great dog, he has a few undesirable behaviors that we couldn't get corrected, including overreaction to someone coming to the door (ie, excessive barking, crowding the door, hardly giving space for people to enter), his "herding" of strangers in our house, severe pulling when walking on a leash and aggression towards other dogs while on leash. We enlisted the services and expertise of Scott at Bark Busters and couldn't be more pleased and astounded at the results. Scott spent 30-40 minutes talking with us about the philosophy behind the training and the techniques used. His explanations and instructions were thorough and clear. We then spent the next hour and half working directly with our dog under Scott's guidance. The results were immediate. We could hardly believe how our dog responded to the training and exactly in the manner in which Scott explained would occur. We have been working with our dog for two months now and continue to have great response. One point of note, is the importance of consistency in working with your dog. As many reviewers have indicated, and as Scott told us the first day, this training is most successful when given attention daily. The more consistent we are in the training, the better the response in our dog. Even though we saw immediate change, the training isn't a magic pill, rather it has equipped us with better understanding and tools that we implement in our everyday interactions with our dog. The great part about this training is that the same basic principles and techniques are applied regardless of the situation at hand. This provides continuity in addressing any situation. Scott is friendly and professional and provided us with great instruction and support and provides very prompt response to any issues or questions. There is comfort in knowing we have an expert resource to turn to with questions or should additional needs arise. read more

Scott was an amazing help with my Australian Shepherd who was getting bad separation anxiety. He would bark nonstop when I left the house, even if I was gone only 10 minutes. He was also barking and jumping on people at the front door, and just about anything that moves outside. I searched around the area for trainers, but many of them want to use shock collars and prong collars, which I think is unnecessary, or they want to overfeed him with treats. He has food allergies, so that was not going to work for us at all. When I searched for training that does not use physical or treat training, Bark Busters stood out like a shining star. The company's history is quite fantastic. Scott has been with them since just about the very beginning, so I felt like I was getting an oracle to come out to my home. Lol. He's very calm and friendly, and certainly has a deep understanding of a dog's brain. He went through a short instructional on how the training works, and what our roles are in this process. As the pack leaders, it's up to us to implement the leadership education on a consistent basis. After the presentation, he began walking us through the training exercises. I have to admit I was in complete shock that in the first lesson Scott was able to prevent the barking and running to the door, and jumping up on my guests. I literally had to snap out of it. I kept wanting to say it was something else because I just couldn't believe what Scott was able to accomplish in a few minutes. As for the separation anxiety, we kind of knew it would take a little longer to overcome, and that's okay. Knowing that Scott will be there with us all along the way gives us much reassurance. He imparted a new piece of knowledge onto us and now we have the tools to make sure our dog lives a less stressful, and more obedient, life. Thank you so much Scott! I am recommending you to everyone I know!! read more

OMG Scott is AMAZING! I initially sought out a trainer as my elderly dog who is 14 years old, who was used as a bait dog before I adopted her, is aggressive when she sees other dogs. Like seriously, she can spot them from a mile away and will even growl, jump, and lunge when she sees them on TV. I contacted Bark Busters-Scott, as I was DESPERATE. We could not go on one normal walk EVER, without her growling at other dogs and wanting to lunge, jump and pull on the leash every time she spotted one from far away. While on walks I can only describe it as her walking me, instead of the other way around. When I called to set up an appointment for her, I was told Scott could take me but not until the end of July, and admittedly I was disappointed as I was just SO DESPERATE for help with her. When he was told of our situation he was able to move his schedule and booked me for the 3rd of June instead. Within the first 10 minutes I noticed a huge improvement, not only with my dog Jaz, but mainly with me as I am not usually a very authoritative person. He helped me SO QUICKLY after starting our session. I liked that we practiced in doors before even heading outside to try to attempt to go on a walk. I was FLOORED once we walked outside and she didn't even bat an eye at other dogs while walking at the lake. My jaw dropped and i'm pretty sure its still on the floor, because my dog has never EVER been as attentive and in sync with me throughout the four years i've had her. I am excited to work on homework with her, because if she was able to listen, stand by my side, and not lunge, growl, pull on the leash within 20 minutes of the session, I cannot imagine what consistent practice will do. I have nothing but great things to say about Scott. I am floored!!! If you are on the fence about it, it is worth EVERY PENNY and you should call immediately to book their services! read more

After researching several training philosophies we decided to give Bark Busters a call to help us train our Golden puppy. We wanted a training method that would work anywhere/anytime with no props or treats and we needed it to be positive and not punitive. The woman we spoke with initially was extremely helpful. We have small children and wanted an appointment with Scott (we had read all of his amazing reviews) sooner rather than later because our kids were becoming afraid of the puppy due to the nipping. She worked with Scott and he squeezed us into his schedule so we could start to decrease negative behaviors immediately. We were hesitant about the one time fee but have already seen the benefits from the lifetime at home training. Scott definitely has a special gift working with dogs but he is able to share his knowledge and we have seen immediate behavior changes after each visit so the carryover and generalization of strategies is quite impressive and very motivating. He provides you the rationale of the training as well as general information about how dogs communicate. During the first session we received written information with tips on training as well as time to practice the new skills. Thanks to the initial information we received our pup has not destroyed our home and is the perfect pet for our family. Scott is busy but is responsive to phone calls and texts and and is very reliable. We could not be happier with our experience and highly recommend him! Thank you! read more

I called BarkBusters and made an appointment for a one-time training appointment to help resolve some behavioral concerns I had been experiencing with my new doggy. Jake (the dog) had begun pulling on his leash while walking with me, as well as playing with/biting the leash and nipping at me when we were crossing the street. Clearly, these were undesirable and potentially dangerous for both of us. Scott worked with my dog and me for about 90 minutes. After Scott evaluated us, he worked with both of us to teach me how to "speak dog" to my dog. Using Scott's tools, I have been able to correct Jake's problematic behavior immediately and on a consistent basis. In less than a week since the training appointment, my dog has stopped pulling on his leash, knows that I expect him to wait for an "ok" when we go through doors, and walks across the street like a perfect gentleman. Other issues that have resolved include his (past) tendency to "herd" his family members, including myself and my daughter, by nipping at us. I know that the cost seems prohibitively high. Our fee was $300, which sounds like a lot, but it was worth every penny. I was skeptical that one session was going to help me and my dog, but it really works. Your relationship with your dog will improve so much because you will be less frustrated with problematic behaviors and your dog will enjoy knowing what you expect from them. read more

After lots of research, I called Scott. His assistant, June, answered my many questions effectively, was patient and positive. We have two labs, around 6 years old, and the male Jake believed tha our iron fence was not to be approached by others - dogs, strangers, kids. He would bark a lot, and his back would go up. His partner in crime, Bella, would bark sharply and often. They knew if their bark collar or training collar was on or off. No amount of "Stop" etc. would work though they are well-trained in many other areas, such as bird hunting, and can be kenneled with other dogs and get along with the dogs. Jake now sees me as his pack leader also (instead of just my husband) and is happily heeling and needs only a soft touch of my finger on the leash (with special collar that is kind and humane) to keep him from walking in front. How relaxing! Scott explained what Jake was thinking and effectively taught us how to change his attitude and behavior. Another trainer was going use an electric fence for a couple months, but these dogs know when this sort of thing is active or not. We must continue to work with the dogs - it's only been 2 days- but we know what to do and Scott's techniques are very effective and cause no harm nor negative reactions from the dogs, rather, they look to you for direction and praise. We will happily call Scott for any additional issues or corrections. read more

My vet, Dr. Jenkins at Highlands Animal Clinic recommended Scott to me after I told her about my failed attempt at training with Noble Beast. I was a little skeptical at first when I called and realized that Bark Busters is a franchise. However, I set up a complimentary consultation with Scott anyways and I am SO glad I did. My boyfriend and I have two dogs with very different needs, one is a very shy puppy and the other is an outgoing sweet as can be Australian Shepherd but turns into a completely different dog when the leash goes on. We have tried multiple methods and trainers to help with leash aggression and nothing has worked. Scott was able to correct 6 years of bad behavior within an hour of meeting Buckley. To say I was shocked would be a complete understatement. I didn't think it was possible, especially in such a short time frame. We have continued working with Buckley on this and the change is still astounding. Scott gives a dog owner the tools they need and does not promote dependence on him. With very few in person visits, he is able to initiate big changes and is consistently available via phone/text/skype when specific questions come up. We have a few more things to work on in person with Scott but feel comfortable and confident that this approach will make both our lives and our dogs lives much easier read more

I heard about Scott at Bark Busters from a friend who said he was magic and worth every penny and after having just one training session with Scott we couldn't agree more! Our rescue pup had quite few issues that were getting worse, all stemming from her alpha attitude. I was so anxious about surprise interactions with neighbor dogs, having people to our house and taking her to the park but a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders because now I have an angel baby. Scott gave the right tools and the knowhow to get our pup to listen and let us be in charge. Scott was organized and communicated with us so well. Our dog responds so well to the training and immediately corrects when she starting to be aggressive and we use the interventions. I had such a proud moment at the dog park when a small dog circled her, barking and she remained calm after one correction! I feel like I am adding years to her life because she is totally chill now. It is a large expense but it will change life. They also let us do a payment plan which was a huge help. And its a lifetime guarantee, which is pretty amazing. I feel confident that all the issues that she has now and any issue that comes up in the future will be resolved with Scott's help. read more

I am very impressed with Bark Busters so far, and particularly impressed by the skills of Scott Schwab. His understanding of canine behavior and cognition is truly exceptional. He identified problem behaviors in two seconds that we never would have recognized as such in a million years. I was also impressed with how Scott made absolutely sure he understood where we were with our dog, Odin, at the beginning, and what our concerns and goals were. After the very first visit, our dog is so much happier, so much more relaxed, is no longer hypervigilant, and the communication between ourselves and Odin has vastly improved. The training tools and advice provided by Scott have been invaluable and show a great deal of awareness of dog cognition and social structure. I'm just so impressed how well he knows how differently dogs operate from us, and how well he is able to communicate those differences to us so that we aren't just performing an action, but we truly understand why we are doing something and how it will impact Odin's psychology. Odin is a rescue and so he came to us with some issues (one being anxiety). Thanks to Scott, we have a much happier doggo who continues to improve with every visit. Thank you, Scott! read more

WOULD RECOMMEND SCOTT!!***** Here's why: My boyfriend and I are new dog owners. My boyfriend has had family dogs, and I have never lived with a dog. Our dog is a rescue, female, mix (lab, pit, American bully, boxer, other). She is about 10 months old and so sweet and well behaved. However, we live in an apartment and she would growl and be afraid of anyone coming into our apartment. We had guests stay with us for a week and every time they entered the room she would bark and growl at them. We want our loved ones to love our dog as much as us, but this was making it very hard! Enter Scott-Bark Busters is an expensive investment and we were really on the fence about calling them BUT Scott was only in our apartment for 15 minutes and our dog ended up laying under his chair and falling asleep on the kitchen floor. He taught us how to signal we are the leaders, not our dog. This put our dog at ease and we think she seems so much more relaxed since his visit. Scott's tactics make a lot of sense and helped us immensely when guests were visiting over the thanksgiving holiday. We are looking forward to our next sessions. read more

Worth every penny!!! We recently adopted an adorable rescue that was FULL of energy and bad habits. After a few things getting destroyed in the house, my arm almost getting dislocated from walking her, and the huge amount of stress it was putting on me and my boyfriend, we knew we had to get some help. We tried everything. E-collar. Clickers. Treats. NOTHING WORKED!! Our dog is so smart and learns quickly but getting her to focus and pay attention to us was so incredibly difficult. When I got the pricing for Scott, I balked. How could anything be worth that!? After reading the reviews - I called Scott to see if we could do one class and then I could decide from there if we were ready to invest that much in training. 20 minutes in and I was ready to give him every penny in my bank account. I have never seen Scruffy react so quickly and learn so quickly. We've only had one session and already I can get Scruffy to stop throwing herself at the door when someone knocks and I know the beginning steps to get her to follow me on a walk. I am so incredibly excited to have a well behaved dog! THANK YOU, SCOTT!!!!!!!! read more

We were at a point where we were thinking about finding our dog, Brody, a new home. He had always been a lot to handle and stressful. When we brought our son home from the hospital it escalated and Brody was aggressive towards the baby. We had some tough conversations and decided to give it one more solid effort with Brody. We had already tried numerous things which hadn't worked. We called Bark Busters and met with Scott. We liked that the methods were not aggressive such as choke collars and things like that. After our first training session with Scott we had a different dog in our house. Scott has been back a few times since and has always been available for questions and support between visits. Brody is such a good dog now! We have had numerous friends ask us what we have been doing because everyone can see a huge difference with him. It used to be embarrassing to have anyone over because he was so wild. Now guests don't stress us out. He hasn't shown any aggression towards the baby since working with Bark Busters. We are so thrilled that Brody can stay with our family. We love him very much. read more

It was such a game changer to have Scott come teach (mostly me) and my dog how to communicate. Like many other people, my large heeler/husky mix was a 6 mo old rescue that showed some aggression, was very mouthy, and hard to control at times. It's a very frustrating feeling & I wanted the tools to properly correct and train my large pup. Enter Scott. I love the methodology and how the program really teaches you to "speak dog" instead of needing harsh devices or even positive reinforcements that require having treats on hand at ALL times. Scott's knowledge and ability to explain the motivation behind bad behavior is so helpful during the training process. I was absolutely SHOCKED at the amount of change I saw within the first 10 minutes. Crazy how much of a difference it makes when you can take control as alpha and lead them instead of vice versa - also crazy how minor corrections solidify that position, but they can be counter-intuitive so having an expert helps tremendously! If you're feeling hopeless at all and not sure where to turn I highly recommend Scott and the Bark Busters program. read more

We should have called Scott sooner! We have a strong willed but loving mixed breed. After some incidents at doggy daycare, our dog became very fear aggressive around other dogs she did not know and pretty much all strangers coming into our home. We routinely avoided other dogs when we walked her and got to the point that we stopped inviting guests to our home for fear of poor behavior from the dog. Our once happy dog clearly needed help and we needed to get our home back. In the first visit, Scott taught us techniques to effectively lead our dog and provided guidance on how dogs think and the affect our actions have on our dog's behavior. Even better, our dog responded immediately to Scott's direction and to us when we used the techniques Scott showed us. I think we learned as much as the dog! We had family stay in our home just a few weeks after our training started and everyone was surprised how much better behaved and relaxed our dog is now. It is such a huge relief for us and I know she is happier, too. Scott and Bark Busters is worth every penny!! read more

We first hired Scott around 2 months ago and the difference in our dog Ava has been night and day. Ava had been showing signs of aggression towards both dogs and people, Scott has since given us tools to manage both areas of aggression and given us tools to handle so many other scenarios as well. Ava was never particularly good on leash and now she can do 40 minute walks without leaving our side. Scott explains to you what your dog is likely feeling from their point of view and is able to advise dog owners on how best to approach situations without ever making the owners feel as though they had screwed up or were bad dog owners (this is not something that we can say about a good portion of trainers that we have talked to). Scott is very flexible, able to meet with people on the afternoons and weekends in their own home which is incredibly helpful as me and my fiancée are both working full time. I would and have recommended Scott to anyone who is wanting to train their dog. I and so thankful that we have Scott's help while training Ava. read more

I adopted a 2-year old silver lab mix from a shelter a few months ago, and though he is the sweetest dog alive with me, he was NOT good with strangers or new people coming to the house. He would bark, growl, jump - basically just enter a state of frenzy. He would even nip at strangers. I tried everything (and I mean everything), but nothing was really getting through to him. After one session with Scott (where he mainly just taught ME what to do), I can totally feel the power balance shifting between me and my dog. I love that Scott's method has levels of corrections, and really what I was most impressed with is how well he understands dogs. I feel like I can talk to my dog in a way that he understands now, and I know how to set boundaries that he will respect. I can't wait to have more sessions, and I think the lifetime guarantee will absolutely be worth it. The difference I saw in ONE SESSION was so encouraging, I'm looking forward to doing daily training and homework. If you have a difficult rescue, DON'T give up - call Scott! read more

I've only had 2 visit from Scott so far and I am thoroughly impressed with the results. Scott is an all around nice guy. He is friendly, easy to work with, and clearly explains what you should be doing while you're training your dog. He coaches you and allows you to train you dog while providing feedback and advice. This seems more effective because it helps show you how to accomplish your dog training goals. In the first 10 minutes of his visit we already started to see results and the efficacy of their style of training. You're showing the dog that you are pack leader and that they should look to your for cues on what to do in a given situation. I won't belabor the point, but Scott and Bark Buster's methods have worked wonders. Our dog no longer bum rushes the door, she doesn't race up the stairs underfoot, and walking her is now a simple task rather than a chore. She looks to us for guidance and seems happy to have found her role in the pack. Long story short - if you're looking for a dog trainer I say give Scott a try. read more

Scott is incredible! A dog whisperer so to speak! Within 10 minutes my 8 month old rescue dog (border collie/terrier mix) behavior changed from just a few simple tweeks and stances/movements/assertions. She was responding in ways I never knew were possible. If you're stressed out or frustrated or just totally at a loss on how to get your pup or dog to respect & obey you- Scott is your trainer! My pup had all the control and I didn't even realize it. She's fearful/anxious but also extremely protective and I had no idea how to handle her & the disobedience/aggression. I was at my wits end, and found Scott and thought I'd give it a shot! My husband was skeptical, but after the initial one 2-hour training session, he completely changed his perspective and got on board! Totally worth the time & money! It might seem expensive, but it really won't be in the long run! Bark Busters are very professional and client oriented, and Scott is phenomenal with dogs! Very happy with this investment! :-) You won't regret it! read more