Heeling lessons

It is a story John Sullivan hears over and over again: A dog owner loves her pet, but the dog's behavior simply became unacceptable.

Mookie, a nearly 2-year-old Yorkie, had bad manners and was not listening to his owner, who preferred her name not be used.

The owner took Mookie to other training classes, but Mookie would get intimidated by the other dogs. So, Sullivan's training method was perfect because he makes house calls.

"Most of the time, (clients) have been through other training methods," said Sullivan, a dog behavior therapist and trainer. "What's different about my training method is that I know how to speak dog ... I have to pass along my knowledge as a trainer to you."

Sullivan is a trainer for Bark Busters, an Australian-based company that has grown to be the largest dog training company in the world. Sullivan travels to homes to work with canines, although he might say he is teaching the dogs and training the humans.

Sullivan's approach is much like the approach of the Dog Whisperer in that at the end of training the dog is responding to its owner's voice, because the owner or owners are now the pack leaders.

"All dogs -- no matter what age, what breed, what issues -- speak the same language," he said.

That language is less about the words humans are saying and more about the sound they are making.

Corrections are spoken in a deep tone, commands in a normal tone, and praise in a high tone.

Mookie's bad behavior included jumping on visitors, which Sullivan taught the dog not to do by speaking the word "off." Sullivan chose "off" because simply by saying it, the voice is in the more guttural range.

One of the most important lessons Sullivan leaves with his clients is that for every correction there must be praise when a dog does something right.

Sullivan's first visit typically lasts two hours and usually is conducted all within the client's home. He usually does not take the dog outside for lessons on the first visit so the dog can learn initially without distractions.

Once clients are left with information and techniques, they are told to work with their dog for 10 to 15 minutes per day.

"Twenty percent of my lessons are one time," Sullivan said. "The average is two, three or four times. It really depends on the owner, not the dog."

But, if a dog does not get it the first try, Sullivan will come back out; the training has a written, lifetime guarantee.

Training costs vary, and the guarantee follows the dog even if the dog has to change homes.

"The hardest part in this process is the first couple weeks," he said.

Although it might seem self-explanatory, a dog is truly trained when the owner is sensing the bad behavior and correcting it before it even happens.

For more information on the training method, visit www.barkbusters.com. To contact Sullivan directly, e-mail him at SWsuburbs@BarkBusters.com.

And keep your eyes on www.HeraldNewsonline.com for an upcoming blog about Sullivan training my dog at a home with small children.