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Siberian Husky: Training Insights & Behavior Traits

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Siberian Husky Traits, Temperament & Training Challenges

According to the American Kennel Club, here are some breed characteristic you can find in Siberian Huskies. 

 

  • Height

    21-23.5 inches (male), 20-22 inches (female)

  • Weight

    45-60 pounds (male), 35-50 pounds (female)

  • Life Expectancy

    12-14 years

  • Coat Type/Length

    Double/Medium

  •  100 Affectionate with Family
  • 100 Good with Young Children
  • 100 Good with Other Dogs
  • 60 Trainability Level
  • 100 Energy Level
  • 100 Barking Level
  • 80 Shedding Level
  • 20 Drooling Level

Understanding the Siberian Husky Breed & Natural Instincts

Siberian Husky were used by the Chukchi Eskimos of Northeastern Asia to haul long distance loads over rough terrain. The Chukchis lived inland and needed to get to the sea to hunt and be able to haul back a sled full of walrus meat. Huskies were ideal sled dogs. They were also known for herding reindeer.

They arrived in the United States and Canada in 1909 via Alaska during the Nome Gold Rush to help with transportation and compete in races. Originally named the Alaskan Husky, their name was changed to the Siberian Husky as a salute to their originating country - Siberia, Russia.

Some historians believe the breed could be 27,000 years old, as suggested by DNA from the ancient bones of an Arctic Wolf.

A true hero of dog breeds, the Husky used to race across the rugged tundras of Alaska delivering life-saving medicine to remote areas. Today, this breed still glides gracefully across ice, and loves the cold!

The graceful, medium-sized Siberian Husky’s almond-shaped eyes can be either brown or blue—and sometimes one of each—and convey a keen but amiable and even mischievous expression. Quick and nimble-footed, Siberians are known for their powerful but seemingly effortless gait. Tipping the scales at no more than 60 pounds, they are noticeably smaller and lighter than their burly cousin, the Alaskan Malamute.

As born pack dogs, they enjoy family life and get on well with other dogs. The Sibe’s innate friendliness render them indifferent watch-dogs. These are energetic dogs who can’t resist chasing small animals, so secure running room is a must. An attractive feature of the breed: Sibes are naturally clean, with little doggy odor.

Siberian Husky Breed walking in snow

Train A Siberian Husky

While Siberian Huskies are intelligent and active dogs, many owners seek professional training help for common challenges like leash pulling, poor recall, excessive energy, and other unwanted behaviors.

Bark Busters specializes in in-home dog training that addresses real-life challenges where they happen—right in your home.

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Siberian Husky Temperament: How it Impacts Training and Obedience

Train Your Husky

If you are looking for a guard dog, a Husky would not be a good choice as they love people too much! They might tell you a stranger is lurking about, but they have no concept of protecting you. In fact, they may lick a burglar to death. Nor are they one-person dogs. However, if you want a dog that looks stunning, is outgoing, sensitive, mischievous, and great with children, the Husky is your breed!

Although Huskies can look intimidating and their Arctic temperament makes them determined and self-sufficient, they are extremely sensitive. They are the original Houdini dog and can dig under a fence faster than you can fill the holes, and over the fence quicker than you can catch them. In fact, the average fence won’t even stop them. They can leap over gates and escape from leashes and collars if not trained properly. Because of their wanderlust, they should be microchipped and identified with a tag at all times.

Huskies are highly intelligent but not needy. They are territorial but not aggressive. Be careful of cats and smaller pets because the prey instinct is ingrained in a Husky. They can be trained as great therapy dogs, as they are sensitive to a drop in blood sugar or the beginning of a seizure.

Socialization

Think of the “energizer bunny” and that’s a Husky! This breed wants to be by your side at all times. Huskies don’t like to be left alone, so pet parents need to be wary of separation anxiety. Huskies are not content to snooze by your side on the couch and want to be out and about among other people and dogs. If you’re thinking of leaving them outdoors by themselves for hours at a time, expect to come home with a crater in your yard!

They will get along well with other dogs but early socialization is important. Why? So your dog gets used to new people, things and places and doesn’t develop any fears that turn into phobias. Also, so they develop pleasant associations, such as going to the park is fun! It’s even important to take them to the vet early on so they aren’t frightened by the experience.

Is A Siberian Husky Right For You?

Physical Characteristics

The Siberian Husky, often called a Husky or Sibe, is a medium-size dog. They are less burly than their cousin the Alaskan Malamute and easier to train. The Husky has a wild, wolf-like appearance with a muscular body. You may often see a white and black or red and white pattern on its head. The ears are shaped like triangles and eyes can be either a gorgeous blue and brown or a combination of each. Their small ears are designed to maintain body heat, unlike the large ears of the Chihuahua, which are designed for cooling.

Huskies like to dig! A Husky’s feet often function as snow shoes and the hair between their toes keep their paws toasty. Their claws make it easier to dig through ice and snow and burrow themselves into a hole to stay warm. Huskies can curl up in the snow to sleep and still survive.

The Husky tail points downward when they are relaxed and curls up when they are on the move. Their whiskers are especially sensitive which come in handy when they are hunting at night.

  • Average Height: 21 to 23.5 inches (male); 20 to 22 inches (female)
  • Average Weight: 45 to 60 pounds (male); 35 to 50 pounds (female)
  • Average Life Expectancy: 12 years

Unique Breed Traits

Less known as sled dogs today, Huskies are great family pets and companions. With a great sense of humor, the Husky will keep you laughing with his antics. At the same time, their energy requires these dogs to be well exercised daily or there is a strong potential for digging and destructive behavior.

Unique Traits:

  • Intelligent, affectionate, mischievous
  • Great with kids
  • Great with other dogs
  • Happy-go-lucky and even-tempered
  • Always on the go
  • Innate desire to work
  • Adapts easily to new environments
  • Stubborn

Fun Facts

  • The Disney movie “Eight Below” is based on the true story of the 1957 Japanese expedition to the South Pole and stars six Huskies.
  • A statue of the Husky named Balto stands in Central Park, NY
  • The color of a Husky’s nose reflects the color of his coat. If the dog is black, brown and gray, his nose is black. White dogs have a flesh-colored nose and copper dogs have a liver-colored nose.
  • Huskies in colder climates shed less than Huskies in warmer climates.
  • Husky howls can be heard up to 10 miles away – pet parents will swear they can “talk”.
  • The indigenous Chukchi people used Huskies versus nannies to watch their children.
  • Huskies have a “snow nose” which appears is winter and goes away in the summer.
  • When they sleep their tails touch their noses – known as “the Swirl.”
  • Many universities – such as the University of Washington and Northeastern University have the Husky as a mascot.
  • In the story of The Husky, there will be no appendix, as this bred doesn’t have one!
  • Huskies have been banned from Antarctica since 1994 due to fears they could bring canine distemper to the seal population.

Common Siberian Husky Behavior Problems & Training Solutions

A Husky may not be the best choice for a first-time pet parent. The phrase “obedient Siberian Husky” is something of an oxymoron. Too many Huskies end up in shelters because pet parents choose them for their classic looks and aren’t ready for their challenging nature. Sometimes referred to as “canine divas,” Huskies will often ignore your commands unless you learn to speak their language.

The Husky typically doesn’t respond well to punishment or treats. Instead, you must establish yourself as the “Top Dog” and communicate using voice tones and body language. This is how Bark Busters produces such awesome training results – we “speak dog.” Bark Busters trainers love working with Huskies as they are highly intelligent and loving, if you understand their needs.

One of the behavioral issues we encounter with this breed is ‘escaping’ - they won’t stick around if they see an opportunity to bolt. This stems from their need to belong to a strong pack. As a pet parent, if you don’t provide leadership, they might look elsewhere.

Also, Huskies can have barking and howling issues, although they howl more than bark thanks to inherited wolf howling behavior. It’s not enough to know that a dog barks or howls, it’s important to know why!

Huskies are not as people pleasing as some other breeds and can be known for the following mis-behaviors:

  • Escaping
  • Chewing, mouthing, and digging
  • Destroying when bored
  • Howling
  • Difficulty house training, requiring consistency and patience

Adult Huskies can be rambunctious and their puppies are even more high maintenance. Huskies need the equivalent of three to five miles of exercise four to five times a week. Exercise will help your husky maintain strong and healthy bones, a healthy heart, and proper growth. Don’t forget that the best exercise of all is ‘mental exercise’ so find ways to stretch your Huskies intellect daily - simple training exercises can do the trick!

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Siberian Husky Dog Training: Understanding Common Breed Behaviors

Siberian Huskies are fascinating dogs on many levels. Although dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years, they do retain some of their wild ancestors’ characteristics and Huskies probably more than most. They have even retained very wolf-like looks although their gentle eyes will give them away.

Like wolves, Huskies have a very strong pack drive and many of the Husky owners we’ve worked with have multiple Huskies. This pack drive makes them have a strong need to be included in activities. It also means that the people they live with need to understand and practice pack leadership because if they don’t, their dogs will take over and run things their way, which rarely aligns with human thinking. Luckily understanding and practicing leadership is not a physical endeavor but involves understanding canine psychology and communication.

You may have heard a Husky pet parent state that their dog can “talk.” They will readily “voice” their opinions on everything with loud yips and howls. But they are not typically nuisance barkers. They are also not typically very good “watch dogs.” Their social nature can make them friendly to everyone, yet they feel very territorial if they perceive a threat. It’s that pack mentality again coming into play. 

Like wolves, Huskies are athletes. If you are a marathoner, you won’t go wrong if you get a Husky to run with, although some of these dogs will think the marathon is just the warm-up! These dogs can run all day while pulling many times their own weight. As with human athletes, they need more than physical exercise – they need mental exercise as well. They also love to pull, so teaching them to walk with you and not drag you can be a challenge. Remember they are “mushers” at heart. 

Huskies are smart dogs and love learning but once they learn something, unless they view you as the pack leader, they may not do what you ask them to do. They can be stubborn and frustrating in that regard, so patience and determination will be required. Be creative in finding things that hold their interest, other than just running, which is their first love. Speaking of running, if there are young children around who leave the doors open, a Husky will escape and take off sprinting. Did I mention that Huskies love to run? 

Huskies are definitely not the breed for people with allergies, because no matter how much you brush them, dust bunnies will fly about. You will also need a bucket or towel by the door.

Huskies, like wolves, burrow. They will dig holes, mainly to curl up in. Their relatives in cold climates do that to maintain their warmth and even in Florida, they will dig holes when left outside without supervision. Expect worn paths where they run in the yard and holes where they curl up to rest. If you are an avid gardener, expect help from your Husky although it might not be the kind of help you want. 

We are often consulted by Siberian Husky Rescue in Florida regarding helping some of the more troublesome dogs in their wonderful care. Their close relation to their wild cousins can make them challenging to make part of your family. Often these troublemakers are really seeking leadership. If they don’t find it in the humans they live with, they do try to take that role on themselves.

Understanding the dynamics of the pack is crucial to having calm, happy Huskies. They are wonderful dogs, but they are not for everyone. Bark Busters’ trainers can help you understand these wonderful dogs and teach you how to become the leader of your pack without drama. It is well worth the effort.

Games to Play with Your Husky

Running at speeds of up to 28 mph, it’s hard to get a Husky to slow down. In fact, if you love to bike or jog, a Husky would make a great sidekick especially for going long distances.

Since most of us don’t live in the tundra, many Huskies still enjoy “urban sledding.” Urban sledding is a form of mushing and may involve one or more dogs. Activities include carting, sled dog racing, scootering, biking, canicross, pulka, freighting, weight pulling, and other activities. Originally developed to keep sled dogs in shape during the off season, dryland sledding is growing in popularity.

Walking Your Husky Correctly

As we said earlier, Huskies have been bred to be sled dogs and “pull” things. This does not work out so well for pet parents on a walk. Huskies love to roam, so it is best to always walk yours on a leash or you’ll tune your head and they’ll be chasing a squirrel or rabbit.

Siberian Husky Wellness: Health & Grooming

Huskies are double-coated with a top coat that is straight and a bottom coat that is thick. They shed year-round so they need to be brushed weekly. In Spring and Fall, their undercoat sheds known as “blowing their coat.” A lint brush, coat rake, and vacuum are must-haves if you own a Husky! Fastidiously clean and with little body odor, their coat can keep them warm in temperatures as low as negative 50 degrees. Yikes!

Huskies have great teeth, so if you brush them twice a week your Husky will have pearly whites.

Bark Busters Home Dog Training Services

Excessive Barking

Huskies are known for their vocal nature, but excessive barking can signal stress, boredom, or confusion. Bark Busters helps address the root cause using calm communication methods your Siberian Husky naturally understands.

Learn About Excessive Barking

Separation Anxiety Training

Huskies can become vocal, destructive, or anxious when left alone. We address the root cause of separation anxiety by improving communication, building confidence, and creating calmer routines at home.

Learn About Separation Anxiety

Home Dog Training

We provide personalized, in-home training designed for your Siberian Husky’s unique personality. By working where behavior happens—at home—we improve communication, reduce unwanted behaviors, and build better obedience.

Learn About Home Dog Training

Severe Dog Behavior Issues

We specialize in resolving common Husky behaviors like excessive barking and howling, separation anxiety, destructive chewing, and leash pulling. Our in-home training helps you better communicate with your dog for lasting results. 

Learn About Dog Behavior Training

Puppy Training

Our Siberian Husky puppy training builds trust, good manners, and positive habits from the start. We help with potty training, crate training, leash walking, and common puppy behaviors like jumping, nipping, chewing, and barking.

Learn About Puppy Training

Aggression Training

Siberian Husky aggression can stem from fear, overstimulation, resource guarding, or frustration. Understanding the root cause is the first step toward creating a calmer, safer, and more manageable home.

Learn About Aggression Training

What Siberian Husky Owners Say About Bark Busters Training

We were at our wits end with our Husky Jimmy. He would not stop barking and lunging at other dogs on walks. He also had terrible jumping habits when guests would come over. Heather helped so much within the first visit. She showed us how to train him with simple language and no treats. We tried training before, without the results we wanted. We are working with him daily and have seen such an improvement! Bark Buster's methods work and we could not be more grateful. Thank you Heather!!
Liza J.
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I have a 4 month old Husky puppy. I honestly thought on my own I have been doing a lot when it comes to training and felt it couldn't hurt to have another opinion and guidance now while she is young. With just 2.5 hours of work with Robert I realized she was training me more than I have been training her. He taught me boundaries, proper leash walking, area and boundary control as well as impulse control in just our first session. I always struggled with crate training because I was never fully for it, but he taught me alternative methods so it becomes a comfortable process for both me and my puppy. I highly recommend Bark Busters- they are on your side and really guide you and give you confidence when it comes to raising your pup!
Stephanie Stawniczy
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10 stars! We adopted a 3rd dog. Now we have 3 husky females and a sibling rivalry going on. The first few weeks were chaotic and our family was losing it. Keith came and we saw an immediate difference. We were given techniques to obtain leadership over the pack. Scheduling is easy, Keith is always available to help. We have some time with Keith and our girls inside the house, on walks and in the fenced in yard. We're getting our sleep back and the doggies are progressing and getting along much better.
Ross R.
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I don't usually write reviews, but Bark Busters deserves this and so does my trainer! Karina fully exceeded my high expectations. She is a top-shelf professional with impeccable customer service a genuinely caring demeanor. And most importantly, Karina knows her training stuff. After a brief chat she assessed my dog's behaviors and put me to work! We spent the next three hours going over hands' on exercises- which were immediately successful! Karina supplemented me with written and video descriptions of my homework and left me with a snazzy packet and training chart ;) Karina also made wonderful recommendations for better food and toys and remedies to reduce my dog's level three separation anxiety, and all are on their way! Finally, Karina assured me that we would stay in contact and prepare for our follow up visit. Here are a few concrete improvements that I have seen in Chase since starting YESTERDAY: My husky mix is no longer is out of control on walks, no longer attaches to me at every turn, no longer overreacts to a door knock, and can go five full minutes without barking/howling/or hurting my house after I leave. And it will only get better. I am proud to have made The call to Bark Busters after seeing a television program highlighting their approach. Yes, it is expensive, but worth it for anyone who loves their ailing dog and wants to be the alpha dog mom they crave and deserve. Call Bark Busters, you won't be disappointed.
Katy B.
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We absolutely love Bark Busters. We own a Siberian Husky, Nova is her name, and it's been hard so far but with Derek's help we have made so much progress. Super grateful for the help it has been so stressful! Thank you!!
Destiny C.
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I would highly recommend Kevin as a dog trainer!

My partner and i rescued a 18 monthish old Australian shepherd named Dune who had some bad habits that we needed help nipping in the bud. Dune would try to herd guests around the house by nipping at their butts (lol), had pretty bad separation anxiety (would panic and bark constantly after more than a few minutes alone), and had some leash reactivity and liked to pull constantly on walks

pretty much all of that is solved now after a few sessions with Kevin! Kevin was able to move his schedule around and get us our first session like 2 days after we reached out and after the first 2 sessions his separation anxiety and nipping at people around the house were basically gone and after the first dedicated session to leash manners we got that mostly taken care of as well. The way Kevin taught us how to communicate with Dune was so valuable and he really set us up well to know how to work with him going forward on new stuff!

And the lifetime support if new situations arise is such a big stress reliever for us! Could not recommend Kevin more!!
Johnathan D.
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Kevin has really done an amazing job training us and our dog, Plissken. We had tried several positive reinforcement styles of training before meeting Kevin. Now we see that treating our dog like a dog, works wonders. Plissken is calmer, seems happier and responds much better to directions. We are still working with Kevin and look forward to seeing even more progress. We definitely recommend Bark Busters.
Kimberly S.
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Kevin has been great! My dog was biting strangers and now she's so sweet. very grateful to this company.
Kayli F.
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We are late on this review not because Kevin wasn't professional every time we met or because the results were terrible. When Kevin entered our lives we had a puppy that was dangerously food protective and generally unruly. We have had other dogs in the past that we traditionally trained. They were the neighborhood standard of well behaved dogs. August through us for a loop. Kevin came in and over a year thought us how to communicate with August. He has Great Pyrenees breed traits. Kevin gave us boundaries, communication tools, patience, and most importantly real honest expectations. We just celebrated August's 2nd birthday and today his reactiveness is minor, his food and toy aggression is non existent. He is starting to respond to commands without treats. He has always been the most affectionate dog we have owned, but today Im happily to report he is now a well behaved socialized dog. Thank you Kevin for everything you did for us and our beautiful boy. Also knowing that they are there if we need follow-up training, is an unmeasurable comfort. If you are willing to realize that it's not your dogs fault but how you interact with your dog. Then you are ready to be a caregiver to your pup and you are ready for Bark Busters! Find the love language between you and your furry love and get a Bark Busters trainer! Xxo
Will N.
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We lost our sweet, chill Lab of 10 years March 2024. And we went for awhile without a dog... but missed having that companionship. So we adopted Crispin (Irish Terrier mix?) from the shelter August 2024. He is a lovable, goofy dog... but 100% different from our previous dog and we found ourselves completely stymied by his reactivity and behavior.

We reached out to Bark busters, and from the first conversation we were met with really excellent information about who they are, what they do, how the process works, etc. We're really lucky to have Kevin come work with us. He has absolutely changed the trajectory of our relationship with Crispin!

Kevin is easily reached and very flexible about meeting times. He has a great, calm demeanor around dogs and never skips a beat in answering our many questions. The way he explains the training process and then demonstrates how to do things with Crispin has been great. I really enjoy the Bark busters psychology and speaking to dogs in a way they understand. It's really evident to me every time Kevin is explaining something and shows us with Crispin. And as he said, you get used to "bahhing!" your dog in public. I was slightly embarrassed at first, but have no problems with it now.

Crispin is still a work in progress, but the difference between when we started several months ago and now is distinct. I'm very glad we found Bark busters!
Alex L.
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We've been working with Kevin from Bark Busters for a few months, and I can't say enough good things about the experience. He is incredibly patient and understanding, which was so refreshing after trying multiple other trainers (including board-and-train programs) with little to no progress.

Kevin's approach was completely different, and much more forgiving, allowing us complete flexibility on how often to have training sessions & check-ins. He never made us feel pressured to be "done" by a certain point and accommodates our pace and schedule.

He focused on helping us understand how our dogs are communicating and how to respond in a way that makes sense to them. It felt like he wasn't just "training the dogs," but actually empowering us as owners with the tools and knowledge we needed. For the first time, I feel like we're truly making progress and building a better relationship with our dogs! We feel a lot more in control, and while we know they aren't perfect - we can finally feel confident we are working together in the right direction.

I highly recommend working with Kevin and the Bark Busters method!
Jessica L.
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I've only been working with Kevin for two months and already see a huge difference in my dogs behaviors and confidence levels! I have two middle-aged chihuahuas who love to bark, are reactive to strangers, and are very anxious. I had low hopes that I would ever be able to control their behavior, but decided to give this a try.
The first time Kevin came over we spent a long time talking about their behaviors and going in depth about how to best communicate with them. Since then we've worked on decreasing their reactivity when people enter the house, exercises to help improve their listening, and their behavior on walks.
After only two months and three training sessions, they're significantly less reactive to new people and most importantly seem more comfortable and confident in themselves.
I'm so happy that I found Kevin! I can't wait to see how my kiddos continue to progress.
Lauren M.
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highly recommend Kevin. after only two sessions there is a big difference in our dog's behavior. granted the humans must practice the skills but it seems to work ! worth the $ when you consider less damage and less frustration .
Claudia B.
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Kevin is an amazing trainer that understands dogs. Kevin educated me and my husband on how to better communicate with our puppy and why it's so important to think from our puppy's perspective to build a relationship based on trust and respect. Even after just one session, our puppy's bad behavior was drastically reduced and we acknowledged that we should change our routines and communication methods as well. We're hopeful that we will be able to develop and maintain a healthy, loving relationship with our puppy.
Kristie K.
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I couldn't be more thankful for Kevin!! He took the time to explain the purpose, approach, and benefit to Bark Busters training methods. It taught me a great deal as it relates to communicating with my pup in terms she can understand and respond to, as I was lost in that department. I've seen a positive impact to her readiness to listen and obey (although we are still working on outside distractions - but I'm confident we can get there). She respects the front door area now when guests are entering, and no longer pulls on her leash while taking walks. Kevin has been extremely communicative in checking-in and flexible with my busy schedule. Also very calm with my pup - she feeds off energy quickly and loves him! Thanks for everything you do!
Erica P.
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Wow. So grateful for the tools Kevin gave our family with our new pup Frank. The time and attention on us and how we help support him learn good habits was amazing.
Expect a long first session with the building blocks that really help set the tone and confidence in the process. The training was simple but it is our job to stay consistent with it. We saw quick results in the first session and were amazed at how our wild puppy did.
Highly recommend the lifetime membership with continuous support. Be prepared to put in consistent effort but it's so worth it to have balance in your life and your pups life!
Monika C.
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We're so incredibly lucky we found Bark Busters, and specifically, Kevin. We have two rescue dogs, both 3.5 years old, who were exhibiting behaviours we needed to fix. After learning more about the uniqueness of the BB program itself (nationwide trainers, full-life trainer commitment) we booked our first visit. Kevin is great and has been incredibly helpful. He has a down-to-earth and casual approach to the sessions making it easy to understand and follow. We identified the issues and have begun tackling them one at a time. But most importantly, the dogs have responded in the best way. It almost feels like we've unlocked a new form of communication with them. Once you get over the funny sounds and barks you have to do, it's pretty powerful how responsive the dogs have become. Within days we saw noticeable improvement with some of our issues. We look forward to continuing the journey with Kevin and Bark Busters and definitely recommend it to others!
Josh R.
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We love our Malshi pup Benji, but he has suffered a pretty bad case of separation anxiety. He would howl and whine when we would leave our place and at times caught him digging and being destructive. He also has trouble focusing and social anxiety issues. Kevin has been great in providing the necessary tools and advice on how to go about easing Benji's separation anxiety and overall behavior, and we have seen improvement since our first session! He's taught us how to properly communicate to our pup and has been responsive whenever we have any questions or concerns. It's nice and relieving to know that Kevin will be by our side during Benji's growth and development!
Amanda M.
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We could not be more grateful for the time Kevin spent with us and our 2 year old husky, Akasha. We adopted Akasha from a shelter where she was for 5 months before we brought her home. We now have such a better understanding of her needs and how to communicate and establish our own needs and boundaries with her, and it has made a huge difference in our day to day lives. Akasha now knows what to expect from us and what's expected of her and it has made for a much calmer dog - something we never thought would be possible!

The tools and training are very simple and very effective. All it takes is commitment + consistency and results are inevitable over time and (some things even rather instantly). She respects and trusts our leadership but is still the fun loving girl we fell in love with.

A big THANK YOU to Kevin and his team, we could not recommend them more!!!
Grace H.
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Kevin was a life saver. I have two dogs. Initially I thought I only needed training for the one dog I have, but they train your dogs as a pack. my other dog definitely needed some help as well. My frenchie was such a sweetheart but was destroying our house and had zero trust for us and would no follow any commands. I was so stressed out and felt like I couldn't enjoy my pet. Kevin was so helpful in helping my pets and I build trust and helping me to understand what my dogs needed and how to be the pack leader without having to lose my cool. I'm able to enjoy my Frenchie Donut and he no longer destroys things. I can leave him home alone without fear that my things with be ruined. He seems much happier and we definitely are. I love how he trained our dogs in their environment in their home too.
Amber S.
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Working with Bark Busters has been a massive weight off my shoulders, and I'm happy I decided to use their services. Kevin possesses extensive knowledge of dog behavior and is a caring, professional, and skilled trainer who understands our dog's needs to provide the best possible assistance and help. He uses positive training techniques, which are vital in helping the relationship between my dog and me grow.

Recently, Kevin has helped me work through some behavioral issues with my dog, and I cannot express enough how thankful to his guidance. Kevin's patience and willingness to enter into a true partnership with me and my dog are phenomenal. He is very invested in the success of correcting behaviors which is something you often do not find in the dog training community. Thanks for the help and continued mentorship, Kevin!
Neil P.
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Couldn't recommend Kevin enough. After just one session my wife and I received the tools necessary to start properly training our dog. We have a very high energy Aussiedoodle (2 year old) that we weren't sure would calm down and give us the respect we needed. Since working with Kevin and Bark Busters we have only seen improvement. Before Kevin came into our lives our dog Sol was definitely confused. Now he isn't and understands the hierarchy in our home. The simple tools and guidance he has shown us are super effective. Very grateful to have Kevin in our lives!
Alex S.
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I couldn't recommend Bark Busters more, my husband and I were in shock when, only after the first session, our dog Coco was already behaving so much better and listening to us as she never did before.
Kevin literally explained to us dog psychology, he taught us how to communicate with our little bud in "dog" which is the only language dogs know!
Coco is a rescue from the streets of Mexico, she survived as a puppy completely on her own until she was found and brought to California. Once she realized that she had her own place, she became incredibly protective of it and she wouldn't let strangers into the house without barking her head off. Kevin showed us some super effective exercises that changed the game completely. Now Coco is happy to have guests and she respects us more than ever.
Walks also improved drastically. Before Kevin's intervention, Coco was the worst puller on the leash. Kevin's method worked so well that I can't explain in words how happy and satisfied we are. We love Bark Busters, they changed our relationship with Coco and now we are a happy little family, nobody barks anymore and all is left is love and cuddles. :D
Cristina L.
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Wonderful experience and would recommend especially for aggression and dominant energy dogs. I have a 10 year old 120lb Doberman Pinscher named Ares. He is very intelligent and also very assertive. I have had a power struggle in the house since he was 2 years old and he started becoming aggressive when I gave him commands to get off of furniture or drop items. He was also aggressive toward my 1 year old child. After being told by our vet that putting him down was the recommended solution, we called Kevin at bark busters, After our 3 hour first training session, Ares was a different dog. Learning to communicate with Ares in terms he could understand, (Body language, barks and growls) , has completely changed our relationship. Although Ares will remain separated from my child for safety, he will now get to live the rest of his life at home. Thanks Kevin
Andy T.
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We are first-time dog owners. We got our puppy at eight weeks and were over our heads. Ever since Kevin came, we have seen improvements with our puppy Jazz immediately. He always assesses the situation to figure out where Jazz is and gives us great building blocks and pointers on handling each situation within each phase we head into with her each time we see him. He is an awesome trainer. He makes himself available and is always responsive when we text him to guide us on addressing what we are dealing with. We highly recommend this training. You will see improvements if you stay consistent with their guidance.
Michelle B.
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This review is a little early to give because we've only had two training sessions with Kevin and Christen...but I think they are on their way to earning 5 stars.

The first visit was with just Kevin, he explained the Bark Buster methodology and to be perfectly honest, me and my husband were a little skeptical about the training and weren't sure if we wanted to go with the company. The training is based on body language and "growling" at the dog when you are displeased (there are no treats involved!). There are no specific commands and seemed too simple and general to work.

We told Kevin we'd have to think about if we wanted to go with the Bark Busters route (we were looking at other trainers at the time too). We tried the "growling" for a few days and were surprised to see improvements in our pup's behavior.

We've been working with Kevin and Christen for about a month now and have had two private (1.5 hour) sessions with them. Our dog never had terrible behavior issues, our main concern was her aggression towards other dogs/humans. Since we started the training: her ability to walk in a heel has drastically improved, she no longer uncontrollably barks at the door when someone knocks, she doesn't lunge/bark at other dogs when out on walks, she waits for us to walk through a doorway before she does, and she seems overall more patient with us.

So far we've avoided greeting strangers and politely disengaging when they try to pet her. Or stepping away when another dog comes to sniff her instead of snapping/growling. We hope to work up to these situations with Kevin and Christen in the future.

Kevin and Christen are both very encouraging and attentive. During training they give pointers but are there as coaches and don't interact with your dog (it's all about the dog and the owner...not the dog and the trainer). They are easy to get a hold of and respond to questions about training that I've sent via text. I was definitely skeptical about the training methodology in the beginning but am now a believer.
Gidget
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We have two rescues with two completely different personalities. We needed help managing their behaviors. Kevin has been working with us for the past few months, but after his first visit we noticed significant improvements with our dog Peanut. Love working with Kevin. Thank you for being so patient with our pets.
Maria M.
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Overall happy with my experience with Kevin, and bark busters. I personally like the flexibility, as well as me getting the full hands on experience of training. I love to learn.

We adopted our dog Grace almost a year ago, who is around 4yrs. A friend of mine recommended Kevin's service since she saw great progress with her dog that was around the same age and adopted as well. Grace was already a very chill dog, but as she opened up a little more she began to lunge toward people, bikes, other dogs, and cats. Making walking a little tough for my husband and I. After a few sessions, and us putting the work in with Grace, she starting adapting fairly quickly to the command. There are still some moments she might attempt to lung, but definitely a 180 degree difference from where she started.

I am looking forward to more on time training/sessions.
Chelsey A.
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This was the best investment I could've made for my 2 yr old American Eskimo mix, Ryder. He suffers from serious separation anxiety which led to other problems like aggression, constant barking and shadowing me everywhere. Christen helped educate me on how this is all connected and showed me some simple yet effective exercises that worked within the first hour of training.

I chose Bark Busters specifically for its flexibility in support wherever I move to, and I'm so happy with how it's going. I had my first two sessions with Johnny when I lived in OC who has been so thorough with his explanations, and now I have been able to train with Christen after moving to Pasadena. The trainers are always a text message away if I need any questions answered.

It's definitely an investment, but you get what you pay for. It's definitely worth it considering how much easier my life is now that Ryder and I can communicate better. Highly recommend!
Courtney J.
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