Live a Happier Life Together With Your Dog

Are you experiencing behavioral issues with your dog? Our dog-friendly training methods can help you overcome these issues quickly. We train in your home where you and your dog are most comfortable. With our efficient, results-oriented training program, you can achieve the communication and leadership you want with your dog.

Dog Training Services

Common Dog Behavioral Issues We Address:

  • Aggression
  • Barking
  • Biting
  • Change in Address
  • Chewing
  • Destruction
  • Digging
  • Focus & Listening
  • Housebreaking
  • Improving Confidence
  • Jumping
  • Leash Pulling
  • Marking
  • 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 Michael, Your Certified Dog Training Professional

Michael DiStassio Bark Busters Dog Trainer Southern Connecticut

Home Dog Training in New Haven County, including Milford, New Haven, Orange & Seymour!

Greetings, I am Michael DiStassio, your Bark Busters Dog Trainer and Dog Behavioral Therapist in New Haven County. I’ve had a passion for dogs my whole life. A dog's personality is so unique; their loyalty and companionship are unmatched. The stimulating part of my job is helping the owner connect with their dog in a natural way so they can live in harmony. So many of my clients are living in stressful situations that are causing them great anxiety. Most of them have lost hope and are just living with undesirable behaviors. It's so rewarding to help remove the stress from the home. The thing I hear most is, "I wish I called you sooner."

I became familiar with the Bark Busters philosophy when I, myself, hired a Bark Busters dog trainer 12 years ago. My English Bulldog was not in love with the fact that she had to share the spotlight with twin babies. She was stressed and fearful. What should have been a joyous time, the birth of my twins, had me anxious. What I witnessed in the first lesson alone was magical. It gave me the confidence to "speak dog" and establish myself as my dog's leader and provide her with the instinctual need to feel safe. Fast forward several years later, and now I’m the one helping clients to live in harmony with their dogs as a Bark Busters Dog Trainer and Behavioral Therapist.

As your trainer, I pride myself on delivering results that address your needs and concerns. I come into your home, assess the situation and design a training plan that will get you the best results quickly. Sometimes assessing the true root of a behavior problem requires a little bit of detective work! No matter how simple, seemingly complex, or unusual the problem may be, together, I'll devise a solution to address it and certainly always be honest if I can't. 

The Bark Busters method is dog-friendly, non-food-based, and non-physical - no shock collars or harsh methods ever! Every dog is different, and there is no cookie cutter approach. My job is to customize what I’m teaching to better accommodate a particular dog or owner personality, family situation, environment, etc. The beauty of our program is that the dogs ultimately start to think rather than react and we accomplish your goals together in a way that builds and enhances the dog-owner bond.

Contact me today    visit my Dog Training Southern Connecticut website

Southern Connecticut Client Reviews

See what our clients have to say

The training Michael has provided to my dog and me is incredible! My dog went from exhibiting very unruly behavior ie, being aggressive at the door, jumping on visitors and in general making it very stressful to have people visit, to basically ignoring them.
It was also impossible to take her on a walk, especially if there were other dogs nearby. Michael again provided guidance and now we can stroll about in a calm and relaxed manner.
I can't say enough positives about Michael's approach to traing. He gives clear instruction and is very patient. I was frankly amazed at how quickly my dog responded to the training and the positive changes Michael has helped her make. In my opinion, the training has been worth every penny!
We got Maggie (10 month old boxer mix) a little over a month ago, and every day seemed to be worst than the last. From leash pulling to barking, and even separation anxiety, Maggie was testing our every nerve.

Michael came and showed us that it was not about dominating your dog, but leading them. Through just a few verbal and visual cues we were able to help Maggie understand that she did not have to be the leader, and that we would take care of her. Now she is happy to sit back, relax, and let us take the reins. She is an absolute gem on walks now.

Knowing that we will have Michael throughout Maggie's lifetime is a relief, because we know that he will be able to guide us through any future life hurdles.

Thank you, Michael!
We have a pack of Shih Tzu's ages 1 - 10. Decided recently that the cute poster that says "Dogs have owners but Shih Tzu's have Staff" is cute but was getting too close to reality. Mike arrived and gave us a new look at how to interact with our little guys and after the first lesson watching Mike get a pack of barking dogs sit and wait to be told what to do next, we were on our way.
The second visit by Mike helped us realize that we were so thrilled with the success from the first visit we were slacking on follow up training. Mike is natural with our best friends, and we hope we can develop some of those talents.
We are amazed at the results after our first session with Michael. Can't say enough about this training method. Results speak for themselves
I cannot say enough wonderful things about Michael Distassio and Bark Busters!!!
My two dogs were incessant with their barking. Any time someone would walk by the house, or if a delivery was being made they both would react aggressively and bark without any control. Within the first half hour of our training session with Mike, my two dogs changed their behavior and were easily controllable. It was a true miracle!! We continue to use the techniques learned through Mike and Barkbusters and are thrilled with the results. Our lives have changed immensely! Mike continues to help us and is always only a phone call away.. Don't hesitate, call now! I promise you wont be sorry!
A Magical Experience with our Dogs!!! In one session we all learned so much and applying our learning with our dogs! Michael is Excellent in training us for our dogs and I thank you also to Bark Busters! Highly Recommended to all that need assistance with learning Dog Training ! A++++
We learn so much from our first lesson. Hannah is already not barking at everything that passes by the door. Amazing results
I am & have always been skeptical about dog trainers ( after having several bad ones ) & now by far I am convinced it CAN HAPPEN FOR EVERY DOG BECAUSE IT HAPPENED FOR OUR WILLOW by Michael coming out & literally teaching us how to get the dog we loved to enjoy her the way we’ve wanted to but couldn’t. He’s soo personable happy genuine and extremely knowledgeable ( more then I have space to write ) but we my family are beyond thankful, grateful & elated that our willow is now such an amazing WELL BEHAVED HAPPY PLAYFUL DOG can’t thank Michael enough I truly can’t rave enough but anyone out there at all hesitate DONT BE THERE’S HOPE & HE WILL MAKE IT WORK, TRUST ME!!!! Highly recommended just a phone call away so make it you won’t regret it !!! I am PROOF & OUR WILLOW / golden doodle
We have had an amazing experience with Michael. We had him come to assist in dog behavior in preparation for an infant. His knowledge and ability to assist us within the hour was fantastic. We asked him to come back 7 months later for walking assistance and again within the hour such progress. Highly recommend him to anyone with dog issues or concerns. Of course we had to keep up with his recommendations but amazing results.
Our (nearly 6mo) pup was showing resource guarding and possessive behavior. This kind of thing can become serious if it’s not addressed, so I contacted Michael to help us nip it in the bud.
From the first phone call, I felt like it was the right decision to contact Bark Busters, even though our dog is still young. We all felt calmer and more hopeful after Michael’s fun and informative visit. Not because our pup was such a big “problem” before, but because now we would have a better way to communicate within “the pack”.
The technique we learned has already worked to disengage Forest from a toy he was guarding. That in itself has been a revelation.
Now we have tools to work on other behaviors like barking and jumping on people. Forest picked it up right away and he’s learning fast. I love the fact that this was not a one-time visit. As first time dog owners, I’m glad we can ask Michael to help us if any other issues come up as our pup gets older. It gives us great peace of mind. Thanks so much!
Michael was great- he really helped us get our Skooch's bad habits in check. Thank you!!
We adopted our Border Collie mix Mattie about 6 years ago. As time went on Mattie became more aggressive and possessive of me and her property. After on session with Michael we have made amazing progress. Mattie no longer barks excessively at every car or person who goes by. Truly amazing!
We got Maggie (10 month old boxer mix) a little over a month ago, and every day seemed to be worst than the last. From leash pulling to barking, and even separation anxiety, Maggie was testing our every nerve.

Michael came and showed us that it was not about dominating your dog, but leading them. Through just a few verbal and visual cues we were able to help Maggie understand that she did not have to be the leader, and that we would take care of her. Now she is happy to sit back, relax, and let us take the reins. She is an absolute gem on walks now.

Knowing that we will have Michael throughout Maggie's lifetime is a relief, because we know that he will be able to guide us through any future life hurdles.

Thank you, Michael!
Our dog took to Michael and his training he showed us right away! It's been a week and Colby has significantly stopped his barking, destructiveness, and improved his crate training! We're excited to continue working with Michael! I'm glad I got us this training before it got any worse.
I couldn't be happier with our decision to choose Bark Busters. Michael was fantastic! He took the time to answer all our questions and really get to know our two dogs and their issues. We have an 11 yr old American Staffordshire Terrier and adopted a 4 yrs old Boston Terrier in November. The two were fighting almost daily and nothing we tried seemed to work. Michael taught us techniques to change the behaviors in a way they understand. After 2 hrs with Michael's help they are showing so much improvement. We were able to eat dinner without one in a crate and no fights for the first time ever tonight only hours after our first session. My only regret is that we didn't ask for help sooner.
Michael was first and foremost very accommodating, as I live in a town just outside the towns they service. I was desperate for help and he was very calming just in the first conversation on the phone. I was hopeful, but after our first visit I was just AMAZED to say the least! I know we still have to continue our work and training but he gave me so much hope that I want to continue, it’s not work for me. I love my girls and I can’t ever imagine having to lose either of them.
Michael tought me so much in our first session, Loki is doing so well with what we learned! I couldnt be happier!! I highly recommend Michael and Barkbusters
I rescued a puppy just about a year ago and wanted to make sure this puppy lived a good life which meant she needed training as did I. Finding myself overwhelmed with all the types of trainings out there I came across Bark Busters and thought I'd give it a shot. Well, i couldn't be more pleased. Bark Busters (Michael) have been nothing but a pleasure to train with over the course of the year. Cali is a VERY energetic puppy that responds to Michael and his teachings. His calm, knowledgeable, dedicated, gentle and patient demeanor is a recipe for you and your dogs success. You will enjoy training and learning right alongside your pup. If you are on the fence, just go for it! It's the best decision you'll make!
We have a 7 month old male German Shepherd who was showing signs of fearful aggression and separation anxiety. Within 1 day of using the tools MIchael showed us, we had a major turn around in Thunder's behavior. He no longer barks at strangers and other dogs and follows our commands (usually, since he is still a puppy!). Michael is the best trainer we have ever worked with. His process of training the owners and not the dog really works. Life with our dog is so much easier, and Thunder is clearly happier. We give Michael the highest recommendation.
Michael is awesome! After our first session with our rescue dog Stormi we're already noticing dramatic improvements. Stormi has become more calm on the leash and less aggressive towards other animals. He no longer jumps all over visitors at the door and actually sits quietly when the doorbell rings. Don't hesitate ... ca;; Michael today.
Michael is very professional and clear with his instructions. He makes the training easy to grasp for the owners but it is extremely effective and most importantly it is not harmful or abusive to your pet.
I am so pleased with Michael being our dog trainer. Everything he taught me was such a good natural way to train Aries where she understands and listens! It has been three days of working on her training and she has improved significantly around the house! I finally feel confident to bring her out and about again! Thank you so much Michael!
Michael was very friendly and professional during the entire first visit. He was patient with us and took his time to go over all the details. I will highly recommend this experience to family and friends in need of this service!
Thank you!!
Michael made my wife and I feel so comfortable with introducing our newborn daughter to our dog. We both were beyond nervous as to how our dog would react to our baby since our dog has a bit of history. Michael was extremely hands on and really modeled the appropriate way on how to correct our dog's behavior. It is quite a lot of work, but the training has allowed us to see that it will get better. Our dog has responded well to the training techniques and equipment that Michael provided us. Our newborn has been in the house for only a week, and it feels like night and day with how much she has improved. Keep up the great work Michael!
Michael did a great job at our first lesson making us feel at ease. I was very nervous about another trainer as we have had several in the past, which didn't seem to work. But Michael went through the information and was very relaxed and confident that this would work. I also liked that Michael made himself available at any time via phone or email so I knew that if any question came up, I could contact him. The training is already working! I look forward to meeting with Michael again to continue with outside/leash training and car training. Thanks Michael!!
I have a 3 year old shepherd (115 lbs) who has been leash aggressive. Duke and I went through a few trainers and I was using a prong collar and still he pulled and He excessively barked at everything. He ran around the house and yard out of control. When Michael came here he explained that because I was not showing my dog that I was the boss, duke felt always on alert as my protector. Within our first 15 minutes of training, duke actually calmed down noticeably. I was amazed! I am practicing at home on day 2 and he is like a changed dog! I look forward to continuing on this road with the training as Duke seems so calm which makes me calm. Highly recommend!

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Watch Bark Busters Southern Connecticut on WTNH Channel 8 News

News8 with Michael DiStassio and Nicole Martel

Protecting your Pets in the Winter Months

Michael DiStassio from Bark Busters brought Daisy the pug and Boston terrier mix into the News 8 Studio to show us how to protect our pets in the winter months.

What Makes Bark Busters Southern Connecticut Unique

Bark Busters is the worldwide leader of in-home dog training, helping over 1 million families and their dogs around the globe since 1989. We wholeheartedly believe in our methods and 30+ years of results. At Bark Busters Southern Connecticut, we clear up the miscommunication between dogs and humans at the root of many behavioral issues by teaching everyone to speak the same language – dog!

Our nurturing, dog-friendly approach teaches you, the pet parent, the same natural communication methods that dogs understand instinctively. Our efficient, results-oriented, training program prioritizes clear communication and leadership while addressing issues in the locations they occur.

This means faster, longer-lasting solutions for you and your dog.

Dogs learn best in a familiar, safe environment, free of outside distractions and disruptions. That’s why we come directly to your home, on your schedule to build an effective foundation for better behavior. We work first to build an effective foundation for better behavior. We teach you how to communicate with your dog. Dogs naturally live in families and look their family leaders for guidance, safety, and love. Most people don't know how to appeal to a dog's natural sense of leadership or communication. We teach you how to use friendly, canine leadership and to "speak dog" using your body language, voice tones, and timing so you and your dog communicate better! You will see results. You want to see a change in your dog’s behavior, preferably sooner rather than later.

Any Breed. Any Age. Any Issue. Get Started Today!

We customize our training sessions to achieve your specific goals and meet your dog’s unique needs. When you Learn to Speak Dog the Bark Busters Way, you get real results – and nurture positive relationships and lasting emotional bonds with your canine family member.

Learn More about Bark Busters

 

Home Dog Training

Our Services

Bark Buster 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. After learning in your home, our behavioral therapist and trainer will work with you as needed outside and around real distractions, once you and your dog are ready.

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. It is designed to help owners resolve their dog's behavior and obedience problems and to provide customers with the satisfaction of ongoing support and peace of mind.

Behavior Issues

Resources

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 and more.

Professional Dog Training Near You!

Servicing: Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Bethlehem, Branford, Cheshire, Derby, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Lakeside, Madison, Meriden, Middlebury, Milford, Naugatuck, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Northford, Orange, Oxford, Plainville, Plantsville, Prospect, Seymour, Southbury, Southington, Stevenson, Wallingford, Waterbury, Watertown, West Haven, Woodbridge, Woodbury

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