The following article was featured in Bark Busters USA's Tips 'N' Tails newsletter (Volume IV - Winter 2005). The complete newsletter can be downloaded in PDF format from
www.barkbusters.com.
Brett Silk, National Training Manager for Bark Busters USA, met with the Tips ‘N’ Tails editor to explain Bark Busters training techniques and how they have helped propel Bark Busters to become the world’s largest dog training company. Brett is the son of Bark Busters co-founder Sylvia Wilson. He is a "Grand Master" dog trainer and has personally trained over 11,000 dogs. Brett is married to Dr. Lisa Lenzo, a veterinarian in the Denver Colorado area.
Editor: Give me an overview of the Bark Busters techniques and what sets them apart from other methods.
Brett: Back in the early 1900s, most dog training was very harsh or hard. Typically, dogs were hit, newspapers used, noses rubbed, dogs dragged, and the like. Most trainers at that time were men. Later in the century, many more women became involved, and techniques became softer. The new approach was to reward dogs for good behaviour, using only methods of positive reinforcement. The fact is that dogs are descendents of wolves and even though they are domesticated, they still fundamentally think like a wolf. Instinctually a dog, like a wolf, learns best from both correction and praise. When my mother, as the manager of an Royal Society of Prevention to Cruelty of Animals (RSPCA) in Australia, studied how dogs learn, she discovered their method of communication and began applying it in her training of dogs. That was the beginning of Bark Busters, and it has spread throughout the world in only 16 years.
Editor: What makes the Bark Busters training methods different from others, and what is the advantage?
Brett: We train dogs’ owners to communicate with their dogs based on how dogs communicate with each other. Dogs misbehave because they don’t know what the owner wants. We humans typically use our English language to communicate with our dog. We say, “Stop barking” or “Get off the couch” or “Don’t pull on the lead”. The dog hears, “blah, blah, blah”. When dogs are addressed within their own language, it’s almost shocking how quickly they respond. That’s why most Bark Busters training takes only about two hours. A dog’s language is simple; whereas, trying to teach a dog English is impossible. We call the technique “motivational communication therapy”, which simply means using the dog’s language to motivate him to do what we want.
Editor: So, you use both correction and praise?
Brett: The dog’s natural instinct is to expect both correction and praise, so that’s what we do. Therefore, we “sit” in the middle between hard and soft techniques, so to speak. By correction I don’t mean abuse. In fact, Bark Busters techniques never involve anything physical. We don’t use shock collars or anything like that. We train owners to correct their dog’s mistake using the dog’s language, and the dog gets it. I’ve seen many veterinarians who believed for years that positive reinforcement was the only way to train dogs until they saw how quickly dogs learn by owners using the dog’s language. It just makes sense.
Editor: What is a dog’s language and how hard is it to learn?
Brett: Dogs communicate basically in four ways. First, through their body language, next with their voice, then by snapping their teeth, and finally by being physical. Each of these methods is an increasingly stronger way to assert themselves and gain dominance. Dogs respond to other dogs based on dominance, or said another way, respect. Position in the pack is based on respect. Those higher in the pack are respected more; those lower are respected less. Misbehaving dogs in the household must learn to respect their owners as “leaders of the pack”. Fortunately, a dog’s language is very simple to learn. We don’t need to teach it to dogs; they already know it. Bark Busters has developed a very simple way to teach owners the language and how to apply it.
Editor: But why doesn’t Bark Busters use positive reinforcement since that appears to be the way most systems work nowadays?
Brett: First, Bark Busters does use praise, extensively. When a dog corrects his behaviour, the owner is trained to praise the dog lavishly. This reinforces the new behaviour. But most positive reinforcement methods utilise treats. Bark Busters methods are based on dogs’ natural communication methods and instincts, which do not involve treats. Treats are a form of bribery, and while they might cause dogs to be distracted from their naughty behaviour, they do not command respect. Our techniques result in the dog respecting the owner and doing it with simple communication methods that are always available, unlike treats.
Editor: Why do you only train in the home? Most others train in group sessions.
Brett: Dogs learn through association. For example, if you want to train a dog not to bark at the fence, you must use the fence at which the dog barks to do the training. You can’t simulate the real fence in a group training session. The learning will not transfer to the dog’s own environment. Dogs, like humans, need to have the right environment for learning. Taking the dog out of his home and asking him to learn in a strange environment adds a lot of stress to the dog and makes it very difficult for him to learn. At home they are relaxed and learn very quickly.
Editor: Anything else to add?
Brett: Only that I wish all dog owners would invest the small amount of time and money to train their dog so he becomes the perfect, loving companion they dreamed about having. Many people go through their lives tolerating their dog’s bad behaviour and never getting to the point where they have the emotional bond that we know can exist. It’s pretty amazing!
