The Bark Stop™️ Force Free, Reward Based Puppy & Dog Training

I can't thank Joe enough for transforming my boy from an over-excited and reactive guy into one that could sit in cafes and walk by other dogs. Khoai completed the 12 week program but even from just the first week the difference was amazing. Joe was able to teach both Khoai and I in a very approachable way that focused on the positives and helped me steer away from any bad reinforcements and habits. Khoai has surpassed all my expectations with Joe's help and he was always ready to answer any questions I had and give his best tips when I provided progress updates. Most of all he connected with Khoai on a level thatade both my boy and I very confident and comfortable to learn and handle new situations. I can't recommend Joe enough as a trainer and look forward to future day training days for Khoai to continue developing his social skills. 🐾

UPDATE: Bandit and I have celebrated our one-year anniversary together, and let me just reiterate how Joe changed our lives. Time and time again, in just regular, everyday situations that arise, I am grateful for all the things Joe taught, not just to Bandit but to me as well. The biggest thing is that owning a dog like Bandit is learning that it's a partnership where his needs and mental comfort are just as important as my own. Recognizing that it's give and take for both of us, and living that balance in our daily routines makes trying new things- things I thought were impossible- now something we can conquer together. Thank you, Joe! Lots more fun and adventures to come! ~~~~~ What can I say to adequately express how happy I am with our training. Joe literally changed Bandit and my life. Bandit was a rescue who had been returned after being adopted as a puppy then spent spent 8 months back in the shelter. He had lots of “shelter habits” as well as just very little trust or confidence. From day 1 it was like I was seeing a different dog, and as we worked through our 12 sessions, Bandit went from leash pulling, resource guarding, and occasional accidents to sitting in coffee shops, loose leash walking, and having Joe and guests being able to enter and exit my house without a big reaction from Bandit. “Worth every penny” is an understatement- Joe will literally set you and your dog up for success for the rest of your lives together. Highly recommend!

Unfortunately, my experience with Joe and private training was not a positive one. I originally signed up for a 12-session package that cost $1400, a significant investment for me, because I wanted help with my year-and-a-half-old mini Aussie Teddy’s reactivity and ability to have calmer, more appropriate interactions with other dogs. A major goal was helping Teddy become more comfortable in real-world social settings so that we could safely enjoy more dog-friendly places and activities, as well as interactions in our own neighborhood. Throughout our time working together, I found it increasingly difficult to collaborate with Joe on Teddy’s training goals. I frequently asked for more real-world training opportunities, but arranging those sessions was often challenging. Even arranging a session in our own neighborhood, only about a mile outside of Joe’s travel radius, was difficult. I was disappointed to learn only after purchasing the package that locations more than three miles away required an additional $50 travel fee, and there were limitations around outdoor training during the summer. These were important parts of the training I was seeking, and I wish those limitations and additional fees had been communicated clearly before I signed up. After a few weeks, I became concerned that the program was not providing the type of real-world training I expected. I often felt that I had to repeatedly advocate for and negotiate the types of training situations Teddy and I needed rather than feeling that we were working together toward the same goals. I asked to end the package and receive a refund for my unused sessions, but I was told Joe did not offer refunds, so I continued and genuinely tried to make the training relationship work. Unfortunately, the same challenges persisted. When I reiterated what I wanted to focus on during our remaining sessions, I was given a hard time for repeating myself and was even told that I “just want what I want.” Our final session was the breaking point. We were working on Teddy walking calmly around another dog on-leash, and I asked how we could progress toward an on-leash greeting, which was also my understanding of the focus of this session from our previous communication. This was particularly important to us because most of Teddy’s interactions with other dogs in our neighborhood and everyday lives happen on-leash. Joe ultimately told me, “I don’t do that.” The discussion became contentious, and it was clear that Joe and I were no longer a good trainer/client fit. Joe agreed to end the program early and refunded me for the remaining sessions, which I appreciate. I understand that every dog, parent and trainer relationship is different, and Joe has many positive reviews from other clients. I can only speak to my own experience. I was looking for a trainer who would work collaboratively with me on Teddy’s reactivity and social skills, communicate kindly, respectfully and openly and help us practice those skills in real-world situations so that Teddy and I could enjoy more of our favorite activities together. Unfortunately, this training relationship did not provide that for us. I hope you find this helpful in making the right training choice for you and your fur baby. If you’re like me, they are our children, we love them so much, and their well-being is the most important thing to us in the entire world.

Joe is a fabulous dog trainer! We love that his training style is positive reinforcement. Joe walks you through actions and what to say to help your pup reach their goals. The progress has been nice to witness and to be part of the training process through hands-on demonstration. We got to take our pup, Zuko, to a store to train him in a busier environment. Zuko is a different dog after all few sessions with Bark Stop. Zuko loved training with Joe and you can tell he loves what he does. We would trust Joe with Zuko anytime!