Scott Argus drives around town in a van with an unusual license plate: TLKDOG. In his van, there's a water cooler and a portable air conditioner to keep his "demo dog," Rufus, cool while he visits homes with dogs that need behavioral training.

Argus, a retired Stanford University biomedical research engineer, is a dog behaviorist and has owned a Bark Busters franchise in Honolulu since 2004. He's trained dogs since he was 15 and acknowledges that dog training has come a long way since then.

Bark Busters originated in Australia, using training techniques based on the premise that dogs think and act like gray wolves. By creating a hierarchy in the pack, with humans at the top, behavioral issues go away.

Argus has trained more than 700 "packs" (the word he uses to refer to families) in their own homes.

Recently he visited with Alvin and Cynthia Char in Liliha. The Chars got Terri, a terrier mix, as a puppy from the pound more than five years ago.

"The problems began when we got our second dog,"says Alvin Char. Whitey, a Spitz-mix pup, was added to the household a year ago. Terri has been acting aggressively toward Whitey since he has been challenging her authority.

The home training is one extensive session. It took more than three hours to acquaint the Chars with the Bark Buster techniques, assess the problem, teach the family verbal corrections and praise and have them practice using Argus' demo dog, Rufus, a 100-pound malamute-Great Dane mix before practicing with their own dogs.

During the meeting, Terri started to bark, unhappy that she was kept outside on the deck. "Baaahhhh!!!" said Argus in a booming voice. The sound mimics a dog growling. Terri stopped barking.

To praise her for stopping, Argus said "Gooooooood girl," in the very next breath. He used a high-pitched voice, loud enough for the neighbors to hear.

At the end of the session, Argus left the Chars with a "homework/training package," which they'll practice with both dogs daily for two 15-minute sessions for five to eight weeks.

When I followed up a week later, the Chars are now the alpha dogs at home. They continue to practice twice a day.

"Scott did a great job. Whitey and Terri are getting along well. We know it's a work in progress and we'll keep trying. We are happy with the results," said Alvin Char.

The session fee covers the lifetime of the dog. "With Bark Busters, it's a one-time fee for life, and you see results on the first day," Argus says. If refresher training is needed, Argus will come back at no extra charge. He says about 50 percent of clients will ask him to come back, and he's happy to do so. Phone calls and questions are always welcomed.

Argus is the official trainer for the Oahu SPCA. He takes two dogs at a time from the shelter and trains them in his Kaimukí home. His job is to get the dogs ready to be adopted to good homes.

"The Oahu SPCA has the deepest respect and gratitude for the talents and insight Bark Busters has contributed to our mission," Oahu SPCA co-founder Stephanie Ryan said.

"Thanks to the dedication of Scott Argus, unadoptable feral and abused dogs have been transformed. With patience, understanding and training, every dog deserves and can have a second chance."

If you have dog with a behavior problem, Argus is willing to help. Call him at 734-3440.

Animal lover Leslie Kawamoto has been with the Advertiser for 19 years, or 133 in dog years. Check out her blog at www.HonoluluAdvertiser.com/Blogs.