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/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.

About Theresa

large theresa nichols

Home Dog Training in Greater Columbus, GA & Auburn, AL! 

My name is Theresa Nichols, your local Dog Trainer and Dog Behavioral Therapist with Bark Busters Home Dog Training in greater Columbus & Auburn. Let me help you live a happier life together with your dog!
 

My passion for these four-legged family members is what landed me with Bark Busters and their training methods. My goal is to help you better understand and effectively communicate with your dog(s). Tell me your concerns and let me empathize with your struggles conveniently in your own home.

I take the time to explain and teach you what is causing your dog's unwanted behaviors and how to solve them. I resolve the most challenging dog behavior issues - aggression, destruction, separation anxiety, sibling rivalry - as well as address issues like nuisance barking, digging, jumping, leash pulling, territory marking, whining, and more.

I also teach basic dog obedience and puppy training/management, all in the comfort of your home, where you and your dog are most comfortable and will learn the quickest and most effectively.

Bark Busters offers a guaranteed lifetime support program, giving you peace of mind and a dog training partner - me! -  for the life of your dog. Any breed, any age, any behavioral issue.

One of the things I love about our Bark Busters techniques is that we only need our hands for pats and voices for praises.

Your praise, love, and affection will be your dog's primary motivation and we'll use these natural methods to teach your dog what you want them to do. This technique builds a strong trust bond and makes it so much easier to communicate than trying to physically control your dog.

When humans and dogs form a family, or a "pack," someone is always getting trained. Let’s make sure you are not being trained by your dog. I can help you build trust and respect with your dog by communicating in a way that your dog understands. If we partake in this training together with full commitment, it will bring extraordinary results.

Contact Me Today

What Makes Bark Busters Columbus & Auburn 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 Columbus & Auburn, 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 is 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 to 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.

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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.

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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 and more.

Learn More

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.

Client Reviews

See what our clients in Columbus & Auburn have to say

Theresa was wonderful. She listened to what we wanted to gain out of this experience with attentiveness. Her passion for what she does is infectious. It is Day 3 after she left us with our homework and we can already tell a major change in our little pack of pups. I can’t wait to see what other magic she can work!
Colin W
Auburn, AL
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Theresa has been amazing throughout this entire process. When we started training our dog Diva, she couldn’t relax at all and was aggressive towards everyone. After one session we were able to get her started on the road to being a much better behaved and well trained dog. Using nothing but positive and vocal commands we’ve been able to train Diva to do a number of things she hasn’t been able to do the entire time we’ve owned her. The biggest improvement though is Diva’s interactions towards people now. Before she would bark and snap constantly at them, now Diva will investigate the person and then calmly come lay down and relax with a complete stranger in the room. We can’t thank Theresa enough for the amazing job she has done and continues to do to this day.
Jesse H.
Opelika, AL
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I adopted a 3-year old rescue from the Humane Society 7 months ago. She is a sweet and wonderful dog but has some behaviors that need correcting that I haven't been able to do myself. Theresa came today and started teaching me how to effectively train Willow. I have seen an improvement in her in just one lesson and am so excited for what's to come. I highly recommend Theresa.
Carol J.
Pine Mountain, GA
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Today we had our first session.it was above and beyond my expectation.Theresa is awesome! I was at the point of giving up training our puppy. She is very knowledgeable and thorough making sure our goals were being met. Not only was my puppy learning, but we were also learning. I’m so pleased with the progress my puppy made in the first session and moving forward.
Rebecca
Cusseta, GA
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We just completed our first meeting/training session with Theresa and couldn't be happier with the experience. She is extremely knowledgable and we appreciated her calm and gentle techniques with a small dog. We can't believe how quickly Charlie is already responding to the these new techniques and it's only the first day. We are excited to start this new journey and highly recommend Theresa Nichols to anyone struggling with a challenging pup!
Clare B.
Columbus, GA
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Theresa is wonderful! We had been having a few behavioral problems with our puppy. He was getting into everything and digging. Theresa came in, assessed us, our pup, and knew exactly what to do. She explained why he was having these behaviors and showed us how to correct them without spanking, collars, or treat influence. Within two weeks, he became a brand new dog. I highly recommend Theresa. She is lovely and takes the time to help you understand why your pup is behaving a certain way and what to do to fix it! If you need any training, pick Theresa, she’s the best!
Andi R.
Auburn, AL
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Awesome Dog Training! Totally works, with consistency! Super pleased with the outcome so far! Theresa Nichols did an amazing job with our Ridgeback!
Greg B.
Auburn, AL
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The trainer was super knowledgeable and easy to talk to. I saw a huge improvement in my dogs behavior after the first visit and I am super excited to continue with the process. Only getting better from here.
Maya B.
Valley, AL
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I love how she explained everything and asked what our personal goals were. It felt like it was on a personal level and not just there for the job. I saw a huge improvement with my dog after just one visit! I am super excited about our future with my dog and her training!
Kyndal B.
Valley, AL
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Let me start by saying I was a total skeptic. We have two German Shepherd pups from the same litter with a bond so strong, they had no respect for us. But then we found Theresa from Bark Busters and she is a miracle worker. Theresa came to our house and immediately put us at ease. Her passion for dogs is undeniable, and she took the time to understand our needs. We honestly didn't think these dogs were trainable but after one session we saw improvement. We have learned that we don't need to get angry at our puppies, but rather use positive reinforcement. We are on day two of training and I cannot believe the improvement that we are seeing already. We are finally enjoying these puppies and the best part is that Theresa will be back in a couple of weeks to teach us more! I definitely recommend Theresa to anyone that needs help with dog training!
Kimberly S.
Fort Mitchell, AL
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Working with Theresa on our initial session was the best experience! We learned so much information on how to communicate and bring a stronger relationship to our dogs. We have been dealing with our 2 male dogs fighting with each other. After this initial session, we have gained better insight into our dogs’ behaviors and what we need to do to make our home environment better. Theresa was awesome! I highly recommend her!!! She is full of knowledge and you are able to start seeing changes by the end of the initial meeting.
Lenn B.
Columbus, GA
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Theresa is amazing! We had almost given up hope on our dog. Our first session was amazing. We saw improvements immediately . She not only trains the dog, she trains the owners! Many things that we didn’t realize that we were doing wrong. Be prepared to do your homework, because a well behaved dog is sooooo worth it!!! Snickerdoodle and the rest of the house thank you!
Betty R.
Richland, GA
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Theresa was knowledgeable, explained the process well and was very thorough.
We’re ready to start working the plan and look forward to much success.
Lynn W.
Salem, AL
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I had my first training today and it went better than expected. I was demonstrated how to do many training techniques that I can practice with my dog. She was very nice and articulate.
Jenna F.
Auburn, AL
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Working with Theresa on our initial session was the best experience! We learned so much information on how to communicate and bring a stronger relationship to our dogs. We have been dealing with our 2 male dogs fighting with each other. After this initial session, we have gained better insight into our dogs’ behaviors and what we need to do to make our home environment better. Theresa was awesome! I highly recommend her!!! She is full of knowledge and you are able to start seeing changes by the end of the initial meeting.
Lenn B.
Columbus, GA
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We had Shadows first home training today with Theresa and it went well. I am very hopeful that now knowing how to communicate with my dog Shadow I can help him to feel safe to ease his anxiety and aggression. I am thankful to have found Bark Busters to help with Shadow.
Holly S.
Columbus, GA
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Theresa is knowledgeable and thorough. She took the time to explain in detail and demonstrate the techniques to help my dog with his behavior issues. I am excited to see my dog become more confident and a better member of our family. I would definitely recommend anyone who is having behavior problems with their dog to schedule a time to train with Theresa.
Heather C.
Opelika, AL
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Theresa is very professional and patient. We are already seeing improvement in our dog’s behavior. We definitely recommend her and look forward to her continued support.
Kim H.
Phenix City, AL
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Theresa was great! She is knowledgeable, passionate, and patient with her craft. We loved working with her and can’t wait to continue training to keep our dogs happy, safe, and in harmony. Do not hesitate to book today!
Jenna F.
Fortson, GA
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This year we got our first puppy - Phil. Phil is a fun loving energetic Australian Shepherd. Through a freak accident, Phil broke his tibia and was hospitalized and went through extreme period of recovery. Through this time, Phil was not able to run, jump or even go for walks. He was medicated around the clock for 6 weeks. He was hurting and confused. He struggled with energy displacement and ultimately began nipping so hard that he was leaving bruises. Through trying to facilitate a strong recovery, we did not know what to do to stop the behavior and bring back our sweet puppy. Theresa came into our home, heard our worries and concerns and totally changed our understanding of how to approach our Phil. Through the first 4 weeks Phil totally turned the corner. Theresa’s simple daily exercises and practices gave the power and leadership in our home. Phil did not only begin to drop the bad behavioral traits, but he also became the sweet and lovely companion we always dreamed of having. Theresa gave us our puppy back. We can not recommend her enough.
Kelsi M.
Columbus, GA
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Theresa has been great, helping me understand my dog, Nyla and helping me control her on our leash walks along with obedience around the house.
Robert G.
Columbus, GA
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Theresa has been wonderful! She is caring, knowledgeable, and patient! I am so glad we chose to get help with Bark Busters! Our dogs are learning and so are we!!!
Melissa C.
Eufala, AL
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Theresa was wonderful. She listened to what we wanted to gain out of this experience with attentiveness. Her passion for what she does is infectious. It is Day 3 after she left us with our homework and we can already tell a major change in our little pack of pups. I can’t wait to see what other magic she can work!
Colin W.
Smiths Station, AL
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Theresa has been so amazing with our dogs. We decided to try Bark Busters several months ago because our dogs had been marking inside the house repeatedly. Since starting Bark Busters we have nearly eliminated their marking habit. It is also easier to break up any tension between them and stop them from barking. We are also having a much easier time walking them. Overall very happy with our results.
Kayla S.
Smiths Station, AL
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We have 2 yorkies, Belle & Bouncer that we've had since they were puppies. At a little over 2 years old Belle started to have some aggression/resource guarding with Bouncer. It got so bad to the point he was scared to get in the bed for fear she would attack him. We had all sorts of tests & bloodwork run to make sure she wasn't sick. We put her on prozac which ended up making her a zombie & not our little girl. We knew we had to do something so we reached out to Barkbusters. We slowly weaned her off of the prozac & started training with Theresa. At first I thought Theresa's explanations on 'training us to train them' were odd but knew we had to do something to help Belle so I said what the heck let's try it. Theresa would teach us several things to then work on with them every day then she'd return a few weeks later to see where we were with it then move forward with our next goals. A couple months later now & Belle is like a different dog. She actually is more energetic & playful than before & the aggression is almost to the point of nonexistent but if it happens we know how to manage it better. If you have a fur baby that has some behavioral issues Theresa & Barkbusters are who you need to call! It is absolutely worth every penny & Theresa actually cares! She really has done an amazing job with getting us our baby girl back. Thank you times a million!

- Ryan & Charity Edwards
Charity E.
Auburn, AL
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Professional Dog Training Near You!

Servicing: Alexander City, Americus, Auburn, Auburn University, Box Springs, Bronwood, Buena Vista, Camp Hill, Cataula, Coleman, Columbus, Cottonton, Cusseta, Cuthbert, Dadeville, Dawson, Ellerslie, Eufaula, Fort Benning, Fort Mitchell, Fortson, Georgetown, Hamilton, Hatchechubbee, Holy Trinity, Hurtsboro, Jacksons Gap, Lanett, Leesburg, Leslie, Louvale, Lumpkin, Mauk, Midland, Midway, Morris, Notasulga, Omaha, Opelika, Parrott, Phenix City, Pine Mountain, Pine Mountain Valle, Pittsview, Plains, Preston, Richland, Salem, Seale, Shellman, Shiloh, Smiths Station, Smithville, Talbotton, Tallassee, Tuskegee, Tuskegee Institute, Union Springs, Upatoi, Valley, Waverly, Waverly Hall, West Point, Weston

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