Efficient, Holistic, and Results-Oriented Dog Training in Central Maryland

Experiencing behavioral issues with your dog? Our compassionate, in-home dog training in Central Maryland empowers you to overcome challenges fast. 

We teach in your home, where your dog feels the most secure. Through our focused, results-driven approach, you’ll learn how to lead and communicate clearly with your dog, so you can enjoy a calmer, happier life together.

Call Now

Personalized Dog & Puppy Training

Every dog is different. That’s why we work with you to create a tailored training plan and bring our experienced trainers to your home on your schedule. Whether you’re looking for puppy training in Central Maryland or help with an older dog, we’ve got you covered!

Nurturing, Dog-Friendly Approach

We don’t rely on bribes or punishment. Our proven methods are based on respect, leadership, and trust, the core values that build lasting changes and better behavior.

A Lifetime of Support

With our Gold Service, your Bark Busters Central Maryland trainer is a single call away and ready to help at any point in your dog’s life at no additional cost.

Common Dog Behavioral Issues We Address

Our expert puppy training, dog training, and dog behavior services in Central Maryland resolve the most challenging dog behavior issues including:

  • Aggression
  • Adjusting to New Home
  • Barking
  • Biting
  • Chewing
  • Destruction
  • Digging
  • Focus & Listening
  • Housebreaking
  • Improving Confidence
  • Jumping
  • Leash Pulling
  • Marking/Peeing
  • New Baby Preparation
  • Obsessiveness
  • Respecting Other Pets
  • Running Away
  • Separation Anxiety
  • Sibling Rivalry – in House Tensions/ Fights


Not sure where your dog could use improvement? Take our free behavioral quiz today.

Meet Chris, Your Local Professional Dog Trainer

Contact Me Today
Dog trainer with happy Golden Retriever in a sunny garden

Home Dog Training in Central Maryland!

You love your dog, but you don't have to love, or live with, your dog's bad behavior! Are you struggling with dog behavior issues? Are you looking to get your new puppy foundational puppy training? Do you want to live a happier life together with your dog?

I'm here to help you! Bark Busters Home Dog Training is the worldwide leader of in-home dog training. We resolve all your dog behavior issues, teach dog obedience, and puppy training - all in your home!

I am Chris Pellatiro, your local Bark Busters dog trainer and dog behavioral therapist and I'm here to help you live a happier life together with your dog!

Dogs follow their instincts, the main one being that of survival. To survive, dogs have to either be led by a strong leader, or will take the lead. Dogs crave leadership because it makes them feel safe and secure. When you learn how to communicate in your dog, and provide your dog with the safety, security, leadership, nutrition, and entertainment your dog needs, you've got a calmer, happier, and secure dog. You also build the bonds of trust and love stronger than ever before with your canine companion!

Bark Busters methods are completely humane and natural, no gimmicks. We don't use electronic, prong, or choke chain collars. We teach you to use voice tones, body language, timing and exercises to train your dog. We listen to what you want and need, so we can help you with the problems you are experiencing with your dog. We make the exercises simple, so you look forward to practicing them with your dog.

We conduct in-home, private, dog behavioral and dog obedience training because that is where we can get the most attention from your dog, it's where most of your behavior problems occur, and it's where we can obtain the fastest results. Clients see results literally in the very first session!

Client Reviews

See what our clients in Central Maryland have to say

Chris is amazing! I adopted my 5-year-old Pitbull in November 2024. He came with a troubled past—and the scars on his face told part of the story. Despite that, I could see he was a sweet dog who just needed some extra care and structure.

I reached out to Bark Busters when I was at a breaking point. My dog had already attacked my boyfriend twice, and I was seriously considering returning him to the shelter. That’s when Chris stepped in and truly changed everything.

The in-home training with Chris gave us the tools and techniques we needed to succeed—not just inside our home, but out in the real world too. With consistency and dedication, my dog has come such a long way. He now listens well, respects boundaries, and sees me as his leader.

I really appreciate that Chris’s methods don’t rely on e-collars or any harsh tools. It’s all about communication and leadership, which has made a huge difference. Chris has also been incredibly supportive outside of our sessions—always just a text or call away when I need guidance.

Thank you, Chris, for helping us turn things around. I truly couldn’t have done this without you!
Kiara S.
Google Rating
See All Google Ratings
...I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and that I can be the leader my dog needs in order to obey my commands and respect boundaries. It’s hard asking for help sometimes but do not feel insecure about your decision to work with Chris and Bark Busters, he will lay the foundation for you and your dog to have a healthy relationship. If you’re thinking about training your pup do not hesitate to contact Bark Busters.
Melissa S.
Google Rating
See All Google Ratings
Chris was wonderful during our session and leading up to it. Our rescue dog of a week experienced aggressive behavior towards my mothers dog and I did an inquiry. Was on the phone within an hour with him scheduling the initial visit for the next day. The methods are very effective and we learned a lot in just one session. Would highly recommend!
Melanie S.
Sykesville, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
We adopted a 10-month-old hound mix, and as first-time dog owners, our trainer, Chris, has been instrumental in our training process. He’s always available via text if we have any questions, and he meets with us regularly. From the time the first time we met with Chris, our ability to communicate with our dog increased significantly. Chris listens to us and our dog and helps us determine the best way to navigate his behaviors. We highly recommend him to any first-time dog owners or anyone in general who is looking to understand their dog better.
Cassidy Atkinson .
Belcamp, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
(Lengthy but TRUE!) Chris is amazing! I adopted my 5-year-old Pitbull in November 2024. He came with a troubled past—and the scars on his face told part of the story. Despite that, I could see he was a sweet dog who just needed some extra care and structure. I reached out to Bark Busters when I was at a breaking point. My dog had already attacked my boyfriend twice, and I was seriously considering returning him to the shelter. That’s when Chris stepped in and truly changed everything. The in-home training with Chris gave us the tools and techniques we needed to succeed—not just inside our home, but out in the real world too. With consistency and dedication, my dog has come such a long way. He now listens well, respects boundaries, and sees me as his leader. I really appreciate that Chris’s methods don’t rely on e-collars or any harsh tools. It’s all about communication and leadership, which has made a huge difference. Chris has also been incredibly supportive outside of our sessions—always just a text or call away when I need guidance. Thank you, Chris, for helping us turn things around. I truly couldn’t have done this without you!
Kiara S.
Pasadena, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
Today I met with Chris for the first time, I knew as soon as he walked in the door that he was the dog trainer I needed. He was calm and collected and cool. He reassured me and made me feel confident about training my dog. I honestly had no idea what I was getting into and was apprehensive about paying someone to teach me about training. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and that I can be the leader my dog needs in order to obey my commands and respect boundaries. It’s hard asking for help sometimes but do not feel insecure about your decision to work with Chris and Bark Busters, he will lay the foundation for you and your dog to have a healthy relationship. If you’re thinking about training your pup do not hesitate to contact Bark Busters.
Melissa S.
Glen Burnie, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
My experience with Bark Busters has been great. I was able to use the tools they taught me immediately and correct my dog's pulling on walks the first day. Learning how to communicate with and control my dog better relieved stress I didn't even know I had.
Taneshia
Baltimore, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
Chris was exceptional!!! Our first visit was comprehensive, addressing our collie's reactive behaviours and history. During subsequent visits he patiently used multiple strategies to train both our dog and his owners. We highly recommend Chris to dog owners who experience difficult dog behaviour patterns. Thank you, Chris.
Ian
Towson, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
Bark Busters has been such a great resource after relocating with our pets and needing to address some reactive behaviors with our dogs. The Bark Busters method has already shown great improvements with our blended cat & dog family! Having our Bark Busters trainer come to our house and see the behavior in context has been the missing piece! We are SO GLAD to continue working with Chris!
Elizabeth B.
Baltimore, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
Chris was incredibly kind and genuine, he gave us lots of practical tips to use with our dogs. We’ve seen significant improvement in their behavior. Especially helpful was the ongoing support Chris provided in between lessons.
Caroline K.
Owings Mills, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
Chris is super communicative and just what Mason needed as a trainer. Mason is a very reactive Corgi that barks at anything and nothing at the same time. Chris has given me a lot of tools to build a stronger relationship with Mason and ensure that we can effectively communicate with each other.
Michelle D.
Lutherville Timonium, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
I reached out to Chris last week and explained the issues I was having with my dog. He quickly responded, was flexible in regard to my schedule and had me on the books for a visit immediately. Shortly after, he provided me with some quick tips to work with my dog in the meantime prior to the first visit itself.

Upon visiting, he was on time, professional, and kind. After explaining one issue in particular being aggression towards my twin brother, Chris listened intently to my brothers experiences, made sure to include him in the training and let him know that he is available to him for questions as well.

His knowledge on dogs and training was evident, I immediately knew I was in good hands. He opened my eyes to the differences in how we as people see the world as opposed to dogs. This understanding especially was eye opening and helpful. The training session itself was delivered in a simple, effective way, making it easier to be consistent continuing these methods in the future as an owner.

I can’t say enough positive things about this experience. With this base knowledge to put into practice, and knowing I can reach out to Chris as a resource I am confident I will see the positive changes I am looking for in my dog in the future.
Nick D.
Glen Burnie, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
One of the smartest calls I have ever made! We rescued a 6 month old mixed terrier from North Carolina. Huck is a great dog and we are so lucky to have him, but he was struggling with separation anxiety. He would not leave my side and he was exhibiting all the bad signs when we would leave him to run errands. I needed help because I knew I didn’t want to live like this and I knew Huck didn’t want to either! Chris came and explained to me that I need to put in the work with training him when “small” anxious behavior was happening. By doing that, I will be building his confidence so when we would leave the house, he could rely on that training to make it easier on him when we left. IT WORKED!!! I am so grateful for Chris’ insight and teaching me how to create a great life for Huck!!
Amy J.
Lutherville Timonium, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
Chris demonstrates exceptional professionalism and helpfulness! He displayed remarkable patience with our dog, transforming her behavior from incessant jumping to calmly staying put within just one session. His invaluable tips for on and off-leash training truly made a difference. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking assistance with their canine companions.
Maegan H.
White Hall, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
I adopted my dog, Daisy, from a shelter, and for the first couple of weeks, we didn't have any issues. After she settled in, she began to lunge and bark at other dogs. I tried several different things on my own (no harness, harness, and gentle leader) and watched countless YouTube videos with very little if any progress being made.

After over a year of this, I contacted Bark Busters since it wasn't improving and Daisy was now doing this to people on walks (and barking even more at guests in the house) as well. Chris P. was great when he first came out! He was nonjudgemental, made sure I understood everything, and helped give me back my confidence about walking Daisy. After the first meeting, the next day, we had an unfriendly interaction with another dog who had gotten away from its owner and ran-up on Daisy. It really set us sideways! Chris was great and answered my call that day when I asked for help on how to make her more comfortable and make sure I didn't reinforce any bad habits that she would develop after this interaction.

That bad interaction did set us back a bit, but after almost two months of following the training plan from Chris and four sessions with him, Daisy is lunging at about 1 of every 10 dogs she sees and has made significant progress with allowing people into the house. We can now even walk with dogs across the street from us which we hadn't been able to do since I first got her! Chris P. has made walking my dog fun again! I would highly recommend Bark Busters for anybody who has a reactive dog, is looking for long-term training help, and wants a training program that doesn't use negative reinforcers or constant treating to get the results.
Katherine B.
Finksburg, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
Chris came to home and introduced himself. He was professional, warm and has a friendly personality. We have 2 dogs, pit bull mix and American Bully XL. They are 5 and 6 yrs old. These are my grand dogs who are sweet in their own right but can be very intimidating with some bad behaviors, jumping on people, barking like crazy at everyone and always in your space. First visit Chris showed us how to reclaim our space and worked with them and just like that they stayed in place.until called. What??? Also showed us how when they bark to intervene to get them to stop barking and listen. We are working on leash walking and the doorbell sets them off still but so much better than they were and we have just had our 3rd session and learning techniques. I didn’t think we would have this much success as quickly as it has happened but Chris is a dog whisperer and can really help you have happier better behaved dogs. I did get the lifetime program and it has been worth dollar. These pups were rescued from dog fighting very young and are sweet boys. Still scary because of the breed but so much better behaved than 6 weeks ago. Everyone can see how much calmer they are getting. Call Chris at Bark Buster’s and help your pup be the best he can be! Outstanding 5 stars to Chris. I’m so grateful and happy I found this company and our trainer!
Patricia J.
Westminster, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
Chris’ training has been insightful and effective for Squints and our family as we have seen a steady improvement in Squints’ behavior since starting training with Chris and Bark Busters.
John P.
Reston,
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
Chris is the real deal! Down to earth and flexible, has the knowledge and experience to handle all questions and advise in any situation. Extremely responsive and available! We are working with him to insure our 12 week old lab is able to become a fully registered therapy dog to service veterans , children, Elders and Cancer Patients. His knowledge and experience is most impressive. His guidance is impeccable!

Having been an educator and an education professional for more than 29 years I find it most impressive to meet someone who is in tune with both animals and their owners meeting all needs.

I highly recommend Chris for all your training needs. You’ll not be disappointed and will be most pleased with the results.
Maura E.
White Hall, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
Chris from Bark Busters was absolutely amazing with our rescue Golden Retriever pup. He was patient, firm, and always clear with what he was doing and why.

Our walks are much more pleasurable, and safe, no more pulling and freaking out, me and the dog!

he training methods were straightforward and easy to follow. We have noticed such an improvement (and so have our neighbors)in just a month. The folks we dealt with setting up our account were also first rate.
Sally J.
Glen Burnie, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
Chris with bark busters is helping us with our fearful pup. We’ve only had two lessons so far but have seen a lot of improvement with Hank. His most difficult behavior is his fear of outside and other dogs so Chris has been working with us to build Hank’s confidence and get him more comfortable walking in leash outside. We’re happy we found Bark Busters and Chris as he’s been so helpful and responsive to our concerns.
Tiffani S.
Pasadena, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
We purchased a lifetime package with Bark Busters over a year ago, Recently my dog started acting up and we needed to reinforce his training, I called them and they assigned me to Chis Pellatiro who is a great trainer. He came by and helped us with the training and the price was already included with the package
Pedro F.
Lutherville Timonium, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
Chris came to our house and was able to help us with a unique situation. My husband has cancer and as a result, isn’t able to speak or vocalize in any way. Chris came with a detailed training plan using hand signals and body language to help us adapt…. And BOY was it effective! We were amazed how well our pups responded. Our babies have a bit of an age gap, one is 10 years and one is 8 months, and Chris helped us communicate with both without any hitches. We’ve already started our follow-up exercises and can’t wait to see how well they develop. Chris- thank you!!!
Andrea C.
Westminster, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
I would like to start out by saying i have had 9 dobermans in my lifetime, most lived to be between 12 and 3 actually to 15 years. I thought i had seen it all. Never needed a trainer. Well our newest puppy challenged us. Our pup extreme high energy, very excitable, and out of control with puppy biting and jumping like a kangaroo. I had to resource to a trainer. No success the first 2 trainers and their methods, so we tried barkbusters. Chris, came to our home, and had immediate success on one command with our puppy, at the time 5 months old. I have to compliment the training methods suggested by Chris and barkbusters because they were successful, and totally humane. But the key as to anything is consistency. I am not going to say we are over the hump just yet since we are approaching 9 months and getting challenged daily with his new teenage doggy interests and challenges, but the overall experience was well worth it, Chris was great, and the best thing??? He is just a text, call or email away forever, and very quick to respond to our ongoing needs if necessary. highly recommend!!
Vonnie D.
Hampstead, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
Pony Express is a rescued mutt and his inner-Chihuahua loves to show up all the time. He loves to bark at every noise and movement, and our guests would get yelled at by him for simply standing up to use the restroom. We tried other training, but the problem is that he'd act like a complete angel when we weren't at home. Chris and the Bark Busters method has been amazing. They are clear and upfront about their pricing and strategies, and they come to your house to see how he behaves naturally. Chris was an extremely calming presence, and stayed with us for hours on our first session as we worked through the psychology of Pony and how to gain control and respect. The homework is reasonable and easy to tackle. A few weeks later, we could share the great strides we and Pony have made on reducing some of his anxiety, and we started working on more techniques. He even brought and provides physical tools and equipment where it would help. He even set up some dog models out on our street and practiced introducing Pony him to animals, which was the first time I've seen that.

The lifetime action is a great reassurance. While we obviously can't know what the future holds, neither does Bark Busters, and they promise to work with whichever problems come in the future. That is much better than dropping hundreds on a class just to have no clue what to do after the session is over, and you have to drop hundreds more for retraining! We should all know how much a dogs personality can change over time, and not always for the better.

So our experience so far has been fantastic, and we've already recommend Bark Busters to someone in our area and will continue to do so. The home visit, the great techniques, the recurring attention... Highly recommend. (It wasn't a problem for us, but they also handle dogs who bite, we've heard)
Shawn S.
Pasadena, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
What can be said about this amazing company?! Bark Busters Home Dog Training of Central Maryland has been a blessing to our family. When we adopted our sweet pup at 6 months from The Washington County Humane Society, we had very little background information for him. We soon realized that Auggie was going to need some professional training for excessive jumping, aggressive play biting and extreme pulling while on walks. After doing some research, I came upon Bark Busters and Chris Pellatiro, our trainer, came to our rescue!
Chris thoroughly explained the company’s main objective was to implement “proactive training exercises.”
He very patiently demonstrated using expressive body language, clear voice tones, and helping our dog to refocus at the appropriate moment. He also reminded us that training Auggie had to be a part of our daily routine. We have been so pleased to see positive changes in Auggie’s behavior. With Chris’s ongoing training and helpful suggestions, Auggie has been a joyful addition to our lives.
Please consider hiring Bark Busters, you will not regret your decision!!
Thank you,
Linda Larson
Linda L.
Sykesville, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings
Highly recommend training with Chris! If you want a trainer that is knowledgeable, patient and truly dedicated to doing what’s best for you and your pup, then look no further. I would definitely recommend Chris to anyone who has a pup with behavior problems!
Steve M.
Towson, MD
Bark Busters Rating
See All Bark Busters Ratings

Let's Get Started!

Connect with us
Call 1-877-500-BARK (2275)
or enter your zip code.

Please begin by confirming your zip code.

What Makes Bark Busters Central Maryland Unique

Bark Busters is a global leader in home-based training, with more than 30 years of experience helping families create better relationships with their dogs. We focus on the root cause of behavior problems by improving communication between you and your dog.

Dogs learn best in a safe, familiar setting, which is why we come to you. Your trainer works with you where behavior matters most, then helps you build skills that hold up around everyday distractions.

We teach you how to communicate through body language, tone of voice, timing, and calm leadership so your dog can follow your guidance with confidence.

Any breed. Any age. Any issue. We are here to help you move forward with clarity, support, and results.

Home Dog Training

Our Services

Bark Busters trainers conduct the one-on-one training in your home, without the distraction of other dogs or the stress of being sent away for dog obedience training at a kennel. Once you and your dog are ready, your Central Maryland dog trainer, Chris, will work with you outside and around real distractions — in your neighborhood, on your streets, where it matters most.

Explore Our Dog Training Services
Life of Dog Support Guarantee

Life of Dog Support Guarantee

Bark Busters Home Dog Training provides a Life of Dog Support Guarantee that is unique in the industry.

For families seeking in-home dog training in Central Maryland our Life of Dog Support Guarantee means Chris will always be just a call away — ready to help at no additional cost.

Learn About Our Support Guarantee
Dog Behavior Issues

Tips & Advice

We're here to help. From general dog training tips, to puppy toilet training best practices, to learning about various dog breeds we've worked with, Bark Busters offers our free tips and advice on common dog behavior problems including guidance tailored to dog owners in Central Maryland.

Get Dog Training Tips & Advice

Professional Dog Training Near You!

Servicing: Baltimore, Boring, Brooklandville, Brooklyn, Butler, Cockeysville, Curtis Bay, Finksburg, Freeland, Gibson Island, Glen Burnie, Glyndon, Gwynn Oak, Hampstead, Hunt Valley, Lineboro, Lutherville Timonium, Manchester, Marriottsville, Maryland Line, Owings Mills, Parkton, Pasadena, Pikesville, Randallstown, Reisterstown, Riderwood, Sparks Glencoe, Stevenson, Sykesville, Taneytown, Towson, Upperco, Westminster, White Hall, Windsor Mill, Woodstock

Stay Connected

Learn more about Bark Busters in Central Maryland!

  • Facebook

Get Started Today!

CALL 1-877-500-BARK (2275) OR ENTER YOUR ZIP CODE TO SEND US A MESSAGE.

Please begin by confirming your zip code.