The East Bay Dog Trainer Families Trust

Personalized in-home dog training and puppy training for families in Walnut Creek, Concord, Pleasanton, Danville, San Ramon, Livermore, Lamorinda and surrounding East Bay communities. Your Bark Busters trainer, Dan Lan Franco, comes directly to your home to address the behavior issues that matter most, including leash reactivity, aggression, separation anxiety, barking, jumping, leash pulling, and more. No group classes. No sending your dog away. Just practical, personalized training designed to create real, lasting results where behavior actually happens.

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Bark Busters Dog Training Services in Walnut Creek, Concord, Pleasanton

Dog standing on welcome mat

Home Dog Training

We provide personalized, in-home dog training in Walnut Creek, Concord, Pleasanton tailored to your dog’s unique needs. We work with you where behavior happens—at home—building lasting obedience, reducing stress, and strengthening communication.

Dog with anxiety Bark Busters Home Dog Training

Separation Anxiety Training

Separation anxiety often comes from unclear leadership or unmet needs. We address the root cause by understanding your dog’s environment, behavior, and relationship with their owner to restore balance and confidence.

An example of Bark Busters Home Dog Training for aggressive dogs.

Aggression Training

Dog aggression often stems from fear, uncertainty, or unclear boundaries, not personality. Understanding the cause of your dog’s aggression is the first step to a safe and calm home. Bark Busters Walnut Creek, Concord, Pleasanton can help.

Woman training a dog in the backyard

Puppy Training

Our puppy training builds trust, respect, and positive habits from the start. We guide you through crate, potty, and leash training, addressing nipping, chewing, and barking to set the foundation for lifelong obedience.

A dog barking upward

Stop Excessive Barking

Excessive barking often signals stress, anxiety, or confusion. Bark Busters in Walnut Creek, Concord, Pleasanton helps you correct barking from the root cause with dog barking training that uses body language and voice tones dogs understand.

An anxious dog scratched and damaged a bathroom door due to separation anxiety.

Severe Dog Behavior Issues

We specialize in resolving issues like aggression, separation anxiety, sibling rivalry and more in the East Bay. Our canine behavioral training will help you, and your dog, achieve lasting results.

Joybound Around Town on Broadway

Join Us on Broadway!

Date & Time: Sunday, September 13 @ 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
Location: Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek, CA

Bark Busters is proud to support Joybound Around Town on Broadway, a fun-filled community event celebrating the special connection between people and pets. Check out the one-mile Paw-rade Pet Walk around Broadway Plaza, followed by a pet wellness festival featuring pet-friendly activities, local organizations, vendors, and the popular Best-Dressed Pet Contest.

Bark Busters will be there! Come by, say hello, and find us at the event. We’re proud to support Joybound and the important work they do to help pets and the people who love them.

Meet Dan, Dog Trainer & Dog Behavioral Therapist

Dog Trainer in Danville

Home Dog Training in Walnut Creek, Concord, Pleasanton, CA!

Welcome! I’m Dan Lan Franco, a Bark Busters Dog Trainer serving families throughout Walnut Creek, Concord, Pleasanton, and surrounding East Bay communities.

As a Bay Area native, I was born, raised, and educated here and have been around dogs for as long as I can remember. Growing up, our home always had one or two dogs, and I’ve also fostered dogs along the way. Today, I share my life with Bumi, my sweet and gentle 9-year-old French Bulldog, and Toph, an energetic puppy who came into my life after I found her abandoned while walking with clients. Bumi loves joining me at lacrosse practice and has even become a bit of an unofficial mascot at the school where I coach.

My background in leadership and coaching has shaped the way I work with both people and dogs. I graduated summa cum laude from Dominican University of California with a degree in Business Administration and Management and a minor in Leadership. I’ve also been a leader on football and lacrosse teams and now coach lacrosse at my former high school. Teaching, mentoring, and helping others reach their goals have always been important parts of my life, and I bring that same approach to dog training.

Before becoming a trainer, I was a Bark Busters client. I hired Karen Gaines in Northern California to help with my previous dog, Linus, who struggled with separation anxiety. Experiencing the Bark Busters approach firsthand showed me how much thoughtful communication and effective training can improve a dog’s behavior and bring greater harmony to a household.

Today, my goal is to help East Bay families better understand their dogs and learn how to communicate with them clearly and confidently. By teaching you to “speak dog,” I can help you build a stronger relationship with your dog and create lasting improvements in your home and everyday life.

If you’re ready to get started, contact me today to begin training with your dog.

Dog Training Reviews & Testimonials

See what dog owners in Walnut Creek, Concord & Pleasanton have to say

...Dan has given us clear tools, straightforward directions, and training methods we can actually use consistently. Our dog's behavior changed after spending just an hour with Dan and it's continuing to improve as we practice what Dan advised. I recommend Dan to anyone looking for an effective in-home dog trainer.
...After just three in-home sessions with Dan, I've already seen such encouraging progress. Doug is doing beautifully--he's a star at the dog park, walks nicely on leash, and has learned to respect the boundaries I've set around attention and behavior. Things like digging up the backyard and jumping into my face have stopped, which has been such a relief. Dan's guidance has made a meaningful difference, and staying consistent with the lessons has been key to Doug's success. Dan's availability by phone or text is a game-changer as I don't have to wait until our next scheduled visit to get guidance if new, unexpected and undesirable behavior arises between visits.

Next week marks Doug's and my three-month anniversary together, which feels both exciting and emotional. We still have more to learn, but I'm so proud of how far we've come already. I'm grateful for Dan's support and look forward to continuing this journey--helping Doug grow into the very best boy I know he can be.
We highly recommend Dan from Bark Busters in Walnut Creek. We got Mr. Moose - a "mini" bernadoodle right before covid hit and think that much of his reactivity and anxiety stemmed from the shut downs. We tried some training classes, but he was really hard to walk on a leash, jumps on people and horns into our space with bumps to get pets. He was also very tough in the kitchen, counter surfing for anything he could grab - it made cooking really challenging. After our first session with Dan we could walk him easily with no pulling or darting. We also solved the kitchen problem by establishing that it was no longer Mr. Moose's space - it was AMAZING - I no longer have to cook with a baby gate around me! More recently, he taught us that we could use the same technique to get him to sleep anywhere else but our bed. We were sure that he would cry and whine, but once again we had success and we now can stretch out on our own bed! The great part of Bark Busters is that you can have Dan back as needed without paying anything additional. We are deeply appreciative to Dan for all of his common sense training (of us).
We've been working with Dan from Bark Busters to train our french bulldog, Bleu.. and we couldn't be happier! From the very first session, Dan was super knowledgeable, patient and incredibly helpful. Bleu responded so well to Dan's techniques, we started seeing positive changes right away!! Dan took the time to understand Bleu's behavior and gave us clear tools and guidance to continue reinforcing everything at home. As we continue to work with Dan, we feel much more confident as dog parents now thanks to him! Highly recommend Dan to anyone looking for real results with their pup!
We rescued Charlie, our dog, from the SF SPCA when he was 5. After two months with us, his behavior worsened—he became reactive, aggressive, and confrontational, even biting three people who tried to pet him. Despite trying various online courses, self-led training, and other resources, progress was slow or nonexistent. On walks, Charlie would react to every person and dog, leaving us anxious both at home and outside. Desperate, we turned to Bark Busters for help.

Dan Franco quickly taught us things about Charlie that we never knew. His methods made an immediate difference—Charlie went from aggressive and reactive to calm and obedient in just one day. Now, we can walk Charlie without issue, and he’s often calm enough to ignore other dogs entirely. Dan has truly transformed our lives, and I can’t recommend him enough.

Like a different dog within Dan's first visit.

Our beautiful mutt is almost 3 years of age. She is extremely loving, however we have always dealt with issues due to her high energy, like jumping very high when excited, wanting to kiss strangers, and overstimulation in general which leads to excessive pulling of her leash and loud barking. This program has dealt with it all. Dan is great at teaching you how to understand the dog vs. human thought processes, and why you need to be assertive/show control. We loved that this a torture-free, treat-free method of getting you dog to actually listen to you. From the first few hours in (less than 3) our pup started showing very different behaviors, like not launching herself after food that falls on the ground and understanding invisible boundaries. Dan is attentive and patient. He is willing to work at your own pace. Our pup seems more relax and calm after just 3 visits. She now listens and self-corrects her inappropriate behaviors. The only regret we have is not knowing and investing in this dog training program earlier, which would have saved us many headaches. Do yourself and your family a favor and call Dan. It is a life-changing decision that ultimately makes your everyday life dynamics and your pups' better, happier and healthier.
Dan is an amazing trainer. Within 15 minutes, Piper was already listening better. She stays by my side and doesn't react to other dogs around us anymore. Taking Piper on walks is now an enjoyable experience instead of a battle. Dan trained Piper (and me) about a year ago and this session was a refresher session. I am so happy I found Bark Busters!
Dan is absolutely amazing!
We have a young rescue Anatolian Shepherd who is a little darling but who is extremely territorial with guests in the home and who also suffers from separation anxiety.
Within minutes of arriving, Dan manages to explain what's going on and how to approach correcting the behavior. He then coaches us humans on the techniques needed and "Bam!" it works, there and then - all within 45 minutes!!
Obviously, it is now down to us to practice and reinforce the human training, but this really works and Dan is simply fantastic! It's also so reassuring to know that he is there for us should we need any more guidance.
My husband and I needed leash-tugging training for our golden retriever puppy after I had a bad fall on a walk. We found Barkbusters here on Yelp and could not be happier with the decision to invest in this training. After 1 outdoor/walking session, the tugging stopped.
We thought the idea of bridging the communication gap with voice commands made more sense than treat training - and can now report that it absolutely works! Our puppy is a joy to walk, and at almost a year old we've worked on biting, barking, jumping and recall, with the continued lifetime support paying off as he grows and changes.
We must add that Dan is the BEST. He is knowledgable and provides honest insights and answers all of our questions fully. He is calm, on-time and we always feel like we've got a handle on training after we meet with him. The tools he has given us to help with training, such as a harness, have been extremely effective, too.
If you live in the east bay, we highly recommend Dan!!
Dan is amazing. We have a lovely 3 year old rescue who is great with people but had a lot of leash aggression issues. Every time we would walk by another dog, she would start snarling. It got to a point where we felt like we were apologizing to other people more than we were actually walking.

We contacted Dan and described the situation. He took the challenge and we scheduled a time for an in-home visit. After just 2 hours, we felt like we had a different dog. She behaves on walks now, often ignoring other dogs. Granted we are still doing a lot of work to keep everyone in check, but Dan's tips and guidance put us on the right path.

We are now continuing to work on other training - respecting the door, walking at heel, etc - and feel like we're going to continue to make huge progress.

Our only regret is not contacting Bark Busters sooner. We can't recommend Dan enough.
Dan is awesome!
We just had our first session with Dan and he was friendly and full of helpful advice. He really knows what he's doing and I'm looking forward to working with him on our next session.
Glad I called Dan. Hands down the best investment/money spent. We have a 9 month old golden retriever. She is unlike any golden we have had in the past. Very energetic but easily distracted. Training her to walk on a leash, ignore other dogs or stop jumping on guest was a challenge. After two sessions with Dan our sweet girl went from distracted to focused. Dan is calm, patient and teaches us humans how to speak dog. I highly recommend Dan for all your training needs.
Dan is the best! I have the sweetest boy, but his hyperactivity and anxiety were getting in his way. Dan helped me realize that with proper stimulation, everyone (including me) could see the best out of Charlie. Training your dog is just part of the equation. Giving them a fulfilling life is the other part. I was skeptical at first, but the results are more than I ever could have asked for. If you're struggling with an unruly pup, please call Dan!
We first contacted Dan last year when we got our first dog. Though my husband has experience with dogs, I'm a new dog owner and had no clue what I was doing. Dan was very patient with us, and like most dog trainers will tell you, was clear that dog training was really about training the owners and then us being consistent with our dog. When we contacted Dan, I was in a bit of a panic because we had rescued our dog not knowing that she was extremely reactive to other dogs while on leash. He quickly taught us how to address it - it wasn't an overnight cure and it took time, patience and consistency. Dan is very reliable and responsive - he replies quickly to emails or calls and always manages to find time to squeeze in a quick check in session at our home. He runs through training exercises with you and has you do the exercises with your dog in front of him so he can watch and critique. He comes to your home and works with you privately and in a way that is very tailored to the layout of your house, the members of your household, etc. I'm so happy to report that we can now walk her on leash without her losing it around other dogs.

Fast forward 8 months, and we were asked by a rescue organization to adopt a second dog. We met the dog, fell in love and took him home. It turns out that Dan had briefly worked with our second dog when the dog was with his former owners, so it was just amazing luck that Dan had some background knowledge and experience with our second dog. We worked with Dan again to help with some basic behavior issues with this second dog. And again, Dan has been consistently reliable, comforting and patient with us as we found our way with both of our dogs.

I originally had a little trouble with some of the methods Dan was teaching me - this is a me issue, to be clear. I really love that Dan was very supportive of me trying to incorporate elements of what he was teaching in a way that I could actually do. He was non-judgmental and always kind and understanding as I was finding my way as a new dog owner. Thank you, Dan!
Dan has been so helpful in achieving our goals for our dog. We are first time pup parents and a bit in over our heads. We thought Dan was a dog trainer, in fact, he is an excellent owner trainer. Yes, he has trainer magic and Charlie behaves like a prince when Dan has the lead. But Dan's strength is teaching us some of that magic. Thanks to him, we have gone from a house run by a canny border collie poodle mix to having a well trained, respectful, joyful companion in Charlie. At two years old, Charlie passes his Public Access test on his first try. Thank you Dan for your ongoing support.
My wife and I grew up with dogs and for the most part, simple training (house breaking, general responsiveness) worked just fine. However, we quickly realized that was not going to be the case when we adopted our good boy, Gus, from ARF when he was 1 year and 3 months. Gus is a Pitbull/Mastiff/Terrier and is much more active and athletic than any other we have had.

Gus has high prey drive, extremely curious, stubborn and independent, highly active and a bit destructive, and took some time to learn his new name (previously Catamaran and prior to that a number)

Given all this, we felt it necessary to call in help and it could not have been a better decision - Dan and the BarkBuster principals are a game changer.

There is no magic bullet and Dan made that very clear - it is on every Dog Parent to DO THE WORK!

However, with the the tools, knowledge and routines Dan has given us, Gus is able to have more freedom to explore and we are more confident in introducing him to new experiences, places, people and other dogs.

He went from absolutely ignoring me any time we went outside to a (developing) off leash dog who is hiking right at my side and extremely attentive to the core commands (Wait, No, Come and Heel). He went from not knowing how to play with other dogs and respect boundaries, to being best friends with a Dachshund and part of a pack.

When we first told people how much we were paying for training they thought we were crazy. However, these are now the same people commenting on what a good boy Gus is and how calm and attentive he is.

Some dogs can afford to be untrained (we have had them our whole lives). Gus was not one of them. And we felt we owed it to Gus and ourselves to call in help and we are so grateful we did.

Thank you, Dan, for giving us the confidence, tools and knowledge to live our best life.
What a life saver Dan is. I was at my wits end with potty training, and he gave me such great tips and the confidence boost I needed. Winnie is doing great, and responds well to all of the tools Dan has given us for keeping her on her best behavior and improving her skills every day. excellent communicator and easy to work with. Thank you, Dan!!
Dan is seriously a magician! He is thorough with his training and knowledgeable. He is personable and wants to make sure you understand his training. Within one training, I’ve got better lead on my puppies behaviors. Plus, if something arises, I can text Dan the problem and schedule something within a week. What a convenient solution! Absolutely recommend Dan!
We recently rescued a 1.5 year old Border Terrier from the Oakland SPCA. While we have had pets for years we have never engaged in any formal training. This time we decided to give it a try. My wife looked online and found Dan Lan Franco from Bark Busters. We liked his stated philosophy and certainly the reviews that he has received. That said, after the first session (2.5 hours) we were impressed with Dan, his delivery, the information we received and our hands-on training. We were amazed at how our dog, Perry, interacted with him and behaved. He left us with basic homework to do each day for 10-15 minutes, which we have done. We had another session 2 weeks later to check in and report that Perry was doing quite well and he continues to do so. Needless to say, we are thrilled with Dan and his methods, and we look forward to continued success!
2 days ago my 6 month old Australian labradoodle was like a bull in a China shop.

3 hours with Dan and he has gone from sassy to sweet.

After one session Kona does not run to the door barking ready to greet my latest Amazon package. In one session and my 15 minutes of homework a day, he hears the doorbell he sits away from the door at a place designated for him and waits for me to come at my voice. It's pretty darn amazing.
Dan has been so great with our 8-month old cattle dog-mix Minnie. She is a super-sweet and smart ball of pure hyper puppy energy, and Dan has a very gentle bur confident way of taking charge while still allowing her to be the curious and excited little pup that she is. He is very reassuring, practical, and enthusiastic about his work.. I know Minnie will have an even-happier life thanks to the solid training we're starting her out with. Thanks y'all!
Our dog Luna is an angel when alone with us, but is very anxious and loud in unfamiliar situations. A few sessions with Dan has made a huge difference! Luna used to bark at random noises, jump on house guests, lunge at other dogs, and refuse to go on walks. She has shown such an improvement in all these behaviors, and while she still has a ways to go, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Our previous trainer would keep recommending harsher punishments for her, but we knew that wasn't what she needed. Dan understands the root of her behavior and gives us creative ways to help her. We really appreciate Dan teaching us to work with Luna's anxieties so we can all live a happier life.
We tried 2 other dog training companies before Bark Busters and were so frustrated with the lack of success. We were thrilled after the very first session with Dan Lan Franco of Bark Busters!!! Dan really knows dogs!! And the fact that he comes to our home where the behavioral issues happen makes all the sense in the world. Being with a trainer at a public park with the other companies didn't work to address our shitzu's barking when we leave the house or when a stranger comes. We are so grateful to have found Dan.
Dan is fantastic, we have been so pleased with his training. Our rescue has been very challenging, with anxiety, reactivity, and aggression. Dan is masterful with him, calm and very effective at teaching us how to communicate with both our dogs. The training exercises are clearly presented and effective -- and not overwhelming at all. It's basically just working a few tweaks into what you are already doing. The fact that it has such a big impact is a testament to Dan. We were not expecting such significant results already at all! Cannot wait to see Jun continue to develop into the calm, happy dog we know he can be.
This is the best way to get training for a wonderful relationship with your pawrtner.
This training is unique and perfect because you sign your dog up and you can continue the training as needed for the life of the dog. I started my great dane with Dan and we got a good start on basics. Next my dane was dragging me down the street trying to chase other dogs. One more lesson with Dan and she was a new dog.
I love that I'm not using shock collars or prong collars, they just didn't work for my girl. My prior trainer insisted.
Dan is the best. It is way more realistic to train over time, which this process allows and accommodates. If you have a big dog like mine, this is the best training you can get and my dog loves me for it :)
Dan is a lifesaver! Zoe is a 5 year old strong willed Corgi who constantly was barking, pulling, jumping and overall not listening. After the first lesson with Dan, my boyfriend and I saw a major improvement with how she was walking and she was starting to understand that she was no longer in charge. After our second lesson with Dan, my boyfriend and I saw a new well - behaved Corgi. She understands how to walk with us, she grasps that certain areas of the house are not her space but my boyfriend's and mine, and she is understanding the commands when we tell her not to bark. I did not think it was possible to see her improve and the fact that she did and turned the corner so quickly was very impressive! This is all thanks to Dan!

Get Real-Life Results from Dog Training in Easy Bay

No two dogs are alike, so every Bark Busters training plan is customized to your dog’s personality, behavior, and your family’s goals. See how families across the East Bay can transformed their dogs’ behavior with our proven in-home training approach and achieved lasting results.

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Your Questions Answered About Dog Training in East Bay

Bark Busters takes a personalized, in-home approach to dog training in the East Bay. Instead of group classes or a training facility, Dan comes to your home and works with you and your dog in the environment where behavior actually happens. Your training plan is tailored to your dog, your household, and your goals, with practical guidance you can use in everyday life.

As a Bay Area native and former Bark Busters client, Dan understands the needs of local dog owners. And with ongoing support, you can continue to reach out for guidance as you work with your dog.

Many dog owners see noticeable improvements in barking, jumping, leash pulling, and overall responsiveness after their first in-home dog training session. By training in your home, where your dog feels comfortable and where most behavior happens, Dan can address real-life challenges and create a plan tailored to your dog and your family.

Your first private lesson begins with an assessment of your dog’s behavior, your household routines, and your goals. Dan will guide you through the Bark Busters method with clear instruction, demonstrations, and hands-on coaching so you can confidently communicate with your dog.

With consistent practice and Dan’s ongoing support, these skills help create reliable, long-lasting results for you and your dog.

We work with dogs of all breeds and ages across East Bay. Dan regularly helps families with: 

  • Leash pulling
  • Jumping on people
  • Excessive barking
  • Aggression
  • Reactivity 
  • Biting or nipping
  • Separation anxiety
  • Sibling rivalry between dogs
  • Destructive behavior
  • Door manners
  • Housebreaking
  • Recall and listening issues

Whether you’re dealing with a new puppy or a long-standing behavior issue, there’s a good chance we've has helped other local families work through the same challenges.

If your dog’s behavior is causing stress at home or on walks, we can help. Not sure what’s driving the behavior? Take our dog behavior quiz to learn more.

Yes, Bark Busters Walnut Creek, Concord, Pleasanton provides private home dog training in Alamo, Benicia, Canyon, Clayton, Concord, Danville, Diablo, Dublin, Hercules, Lafayette, Livermore, Martinez, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, Rodeo, San Ramon, Vallejo, and Walnut Creek.

Contact us today to confirm availability in your area.

With Bark Busters’ Life of Dog Support Guarantee, included with Gold Service, Dan is here to support you for the life of your dog at no additional cost. You can also reach out to Dan with follow-up questions as you work with your dog at home. If a new behavior challenge comes up or an old habit returns, he’s here to help you get back on track. 

And if you move, your support moves with you. If a Bark Busters trainer is available in your new area, they can provide in-person help. If not, remote support is available to help you and your dog continue making progress.

What Makes Bark Busters Walnut Creek, Concord, Pleasanton 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 Walnut Creek, Concord, Pleasanton dog trainer, Dan, will work with you outside and around real distractions — in your neighborhood, on your streets, where it matters most.

Bark Busters Life of Dog Support Guarantee Logo Trademark

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 Walnut Creek, Concord, Pleasanton our Life of Dog Support Guarantee means Dan will always be just a call away — ready to help at no additional cost.

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 the East Bay.

Local Dog Training Services in Walnut Creek, Concord, Pleasanton and Surrounding Areas

Our dog training experts provide personalized, in-home dog training throughout the East Bay helping dogs and families overcome common behavior challenges, including barking, leash pulling, aggression, separation anxiety, and puppy training.

Our service area includes: Alamo, Benicia, Canyon, Clayton, Concord, Danville, Diablo, Dublin, Hercules, Lafayette, Livermore, Martinez, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, Rodeo, San Ramon, Vallejo, Walnut Creek

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