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.

Servicing: Albertville, Andover, Anoka, Becker, Belle Plaine, Bethel, Big Lake, Blain, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Buffalo, Carver, Cedar, Champlin, Chanhassen, Chaska, Chisago City, Circle Pines, Cologne, Coon Rapids, Crystal Bay, Dayton, Delano, Eden Prairie, Elk River, Excelsior, Forest Lake, Golden Valley, Green Isle, Hamburg, Hamel, Hanover, Hopkins, Hugo, Isanti, Jordan, Lake Elmo, Lindstrom, Long Lake, Loretto, Maple Grove, Maple Plain, Marine On Saint Croix, Mayer, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, Monticello, Mound, Navarre, New Prague, Norwood, Norwood Young America, Osseo, Plymouth, Prior Lake, Robbinsdale, Rockford, Rogers, Saint Bonifacius, Saint Francis, Saint Michael, Saint Paul, Savage, Scandia, Shakopee, Spring Park, Stacy, Stillwater, Victoria, Waconia, Wayzata, Willernie, Wyoming, Young America, Zimmerman

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.

About Michael & Lydia

Dog Trainers Lydia and Michael O'Leary

Home Dog Training in Minneapolis & St. Paul!

Meet Michael and Lydia O’Leary, Dog Behavioral Therapists and Dog Trainers for Bark Busters Home Dog Training in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and their northern suburbs.

Let us introduce ourselves and tell you a little bit about our story. My name is Michael O’Leary. I was raised in Eden Prairie and am a proud St. John’s University graduate. My wife, Lydia grew up in Sauk Rapids, MN and graduated from St. Cloud State University.  We found the Bark Busters method after trying countless other training methods with our dog, Raleigh. Like some of our clients, we had a dog that pulled nonstop on leash, jumped on everyone at the front door, and had a difficult time listening when she was too excited. We knew we needed to get her anxious behavior under control before we grew our family. After seeing the results with our own dog, we couldn’t wait to get involved to help others. 

Our dog training system is based on natural canine communication which dramatically increases the pace of learning without using harsh or painful methods. We love helping our clients learn how to communicate effectively with their dogs in a natural way that builds a stronger bond, trust, and respect.

Bark Busters trainers have worked with more than a million dogs and their dedicated owners. We would love to learn more about your needs and goals for your dog and family.

Dog-friendly methods. Bark Busters uses positive, dog-friendly communication techniques that dogs instinctively understand. This typically speeds up the education process, without using treats, clickers, or any harsh or physical methods. We will never use prong, pinch, shock (e-collar), or choke collars, nor will we ever force a dog to do anything. We help clients teach their dogs to think and make good choices. The training method is so effective, that immediate positive results are often seen within the first 2-3 hours of training.

In home training. Dogs learn best when they can focus on the dog owner and dog trainer without distractions. In their home, dogs are less stressed, and therefore we can focus on the issues and they learn very quickly. It's also important for you to know how to control your dog in "real life" situations and we will assist with this by going to public places if desired and when ready.

Any age, any breed, any problem. Bark Busters was initially founded to help people whose dogs had behavioral problems and were in danger of being abandoned or euthanized. This mission is one of the reasons why we are here today. Whatever your specific need is, we are here to help.

Veterinarian recommended. Please feel free to contact your veterinary clinic for a reference, the majority of the clinics in the area personally recommend us and Bark Busters to their clients.

Contact us today

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What Makes Bark Busters Minneapolis-St. Paul 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul, 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.

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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

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.

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Get Started Now

Free, No Obligation Consultation. Call 1-877-500-BARK (2275)or enter your zip code.

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Minneapolis & St. Paul Client Reviews

See what our clients have to say

Michael was patient and kind during our whole process. After our first session with him we have seen significant changes in our dog! I highly recommend his services. He taught us how to successfully train our dog! (And to be honest me, I needed the training too!)
Melissa Nelson
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I have trained my puppy with the Bark Busters method to get him to stop chewing on unwanted things at home and counter surfing (success.) Now we are more focused on leash manners and not jumping on people. My Golden Retriever pulls on his leash a lot! After just one session with our trainer Michael he stopped doing it. I literally saw results after one hour!
I can’t thank Michael enough for being so gentle and giving me such valuable information and strategies to help my dog be the best!
I love how the Bark Busters method doesn’t involve treats! The dog waits for you to guide them just by using your voice.
Adriana Castelo
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We had our first initial training session with Lydia from Bark Busters, with in minutes when we start the interactive session our Frenchie was a new puppy.

We have problems with him barking and jumping on our guests. We could not have a conversation without him barking or climbing on us or our guest. Within minutes we were able to claim our area and have him quietly sitting in an area near us. He did not move or make a sound until I gave him the ok to move.

We thought once Lydia leave we’ll be back to barking and jumping but we were able to take what we learned and applied it to other area and situation through the rest of the day and today. We’re able to claim our dinning area without him trying to climb into our lap or beg while we eat and assure him that we are fine when we go to open a knocking door and we don’t need him to jump or rush to the door and bark. We were able to talk to our landscaper without him barking non stop. We’re looking forward to our next visit to work on a peaceful outdoor walk!
Jo Y.
Hugo, MN
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Michael made the training extremely easy to understand and follow. We started seeing a different within a couple of days. One of our dogs took some extra care (she is super sensitive), but we had good success after some practice. It really does depend on your work habits with your dog. If you put in the time you will see results.
Ryan W.
Belle Plaine, MN
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We just had the first session with Michael, and so far we are completely satisfied with our Bark Busters experience. Communication has been excellent our trainer laid out the steps in a way that was easy to understand, and we have already seen results from our training.
We have scheduled a follow up appointment, but for now we are going to work hard at the skills Michael taught us so our pups become the best they can be!
Mike O.
Golden Valley, MN
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I work at a vets office and have been seeing fliers for Bark Busters for a while! I wanted to check them out because my own dog could use some training and I wanted to be able to reccomend them to our clients based off first hand experience. I loved it! My fiancé and I were so impressed with our personable the whole experience was. Our trainers name is Michael and I would say anyone is incredibly lucky to work with him. We are looking forward to working with our dog and applying everything we learned. We can already tell a behavior change and it even seems as our dog is happier! Lots of mental exercise! I would highly suggest giving them a call!
Nadia I.
Saint Paul, MN
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Lydia came and helped us learn how to continue working through our dogs separation anxiety. She was respectful to us and our dog, and ensured we learned how to be great trainers. She never made us feel bad for anything that we have done prior to this session that wasn’t beneficial for our pup. She was thorough in explaining what we were doing. After one session, I have a lot of hope that we will be able to help our dog lessen his anxiety as he was a different dog when she left
Emily F.
Saint Paul, MN
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Believe me…if you live in Mpls and have any issue with your dog(s), you must call Lydia and Michael of Bark Busters! I could kick myself for procrastinating (as I always do) for weeks after hearing about them from a relative. Moving from our big house in Duluth to a one-bedroom apartment in Mpls was a big adjustment for both Lucy and me. In the past 6 to 7 years Lucy had only guarded her bones, but now she slowly started guarding household items. It wasn’t fun watching this cute, previously funny vizsla take total control of my life. Of course, I was smart enough to figure out how to get my phone, shoe, remote back, but it was time consuming, enabling, and totally embarrassing. It took years for this problem to develop, and I couldn’t imagine how it could be solved. And then Lydia arrived at my apartment! That night I walked into bedroom to find Lucy standing over my phone. I said ‘drop it’ in a low, quiet voice……AND SHE DID!

I still can’t believe that in ~ two hours Lydia trained both of us and I became the leader in this pack of two. Guarding was the most disruptive issue she helped us with, but my training list went on: front door barking, attentiveness, jumping up on guests, barking at other dogs, pulling on her leash. See what I mean by magic?

Lydia is such a fun person to deal with and she obviously loves dogs and people! You can feel totally comfortable inviting this team into your home, so don’t wait like I did…call them!
Margy B.
Minneapolis, MN
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Michael is an excellent dog trainer. He is good with both people and dogs. He's extremely pleasant, patient, and has a deep understanding of dogs and their behavior. Our dog seems in awe of him. Michael has helped us a lot with our rescue dog and taught us how to help Charlie be happier and more manageable. I really recommend his services.
Aurelia W.
Saint Paul, MN
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Michael O’Leary from BarkBusters came to our home for a revisit/retraining session. It had been over a year since we started working with Michael. We have a 9 ish year old American Eskimo mix named Levi. We just adopted him about a year and a half ago. He had many issues but mostly we need help with aggression toward not only my husband but people and other dogs in general. He has come a long way, but we have had an escalation of barking at the front door, side door and yes, the back door. When Michael arrived at the front door, Levi was his true self. He was barking, jumping in the window sill and at one point growling. I tried all of my tricks, but it actually turned into quite a circus. Me trying to claim the space and him running around and avoiding me and my existence. Finally, I got a leash on him and brought him to his bed. I felt very defeated.

Michael was very good at helping and reminding us that we needed to take back control. After about an hour of instructions and demonstrations and trial runs we feel back in control. Towards the end of our session and I was feeling confident about how to deal with claiming my space a neighbor just happened to knock at the door. I used the methods taught to us in the last hour and Levi stopped barking and immediately went and laid down in the other room. Exactly what I wanted him to do. The difference between when Michael arrived and when he left was NIGHT AND DAY. Amazing!! I highly recommend Michael O’Leary at Barkbusters.
Tammy S.
Saint Paul, MN
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Very impressive session with Michael O'Leary teaching us how to establish boundaries with our 9 year old Cocker Spaniel, Zeva. We just needed a brush up course, to deal with a few issues. Excellent advice and pointers from Michael will surely do the trick. Thanks so very much, Michael!
Charlie & Jean J.
Saint Paul, MN
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I didn’t know what to expect with Bark Busters home training all I knew was there was nowhere else to turn. Our house was chaos and my Morkie was out of control. Barking, excessive biting, showing his teeth and tearing up the house I couldn’t imagine how things would change. Michael the trainer spent three hours with Jack my dog, and myself going over methods to work on these behaviors. He was so patient, and professional going over everything we needed to work on. I couldn’t ask for a better trainer. After our session I felt hopeful that Jack and I would have a great relationship and that we would enjoy the life I had hoped we would have. I have been doing my homework and I see improvement already. I thank Michael so much and I am looking forward to the the continued relationship With Michael and the Bark Buster team.
Nancy K.
Brooklyn Park, MN
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Bark Busters literally changed my life! Michael is so patient and positive while he worked with my family and our fur baby. I had so much stress and anxiety with my dog’s constant jumping and general bad behavior, that I didn’t even feel comfortable walking her in my own neighborhood. Now Sophie listens to me and I 100% feel comfortable bringing her places. Cabin weekends with her are finally relaxing! I highly recommend Bark Busters. Thanks Michael for your help!
Marissa H.
Saint Paul, MN
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Michael and the Bark Busters method are amazing!!! My rescue dog came with a barking problem, and there was no way I could get it under control. I was embarrassed when someone would come to the house, and he frightened people and dogs in my neighborhood. Because of this, I didn’t have much hope that Michael could help. During his first visit, there was an incredible change in my dog’s behavior…truly remarkable! I am so encouraged. Michael continues to be available for encouragement, support, and training.
J H.
Saint Paul, MN
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We began to see results immediately with a senior dog who we love, but his behavior was becoming a possible liability. Working with BarkBusters taught us a few simple moves that immediately got his attention and helped him be a "good boy." Now it's up to us to practice, practice, practice!
Janet W.
Minneapolis, MN
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We hired BarkBusters to help with an out-of-control adolescent dog who at times seems resistant to training. Michael came to our home and in the first session, we were able to establish some basic control and listening. He taught us really low-tech and simple solutions, grounded in dog behavior, that has been working well so far! We have more work to be done, and I love that with this program you sign up for lifetime support. We can email or call with a specific question and get support or a visit, so we don’t feel alone in this journey.
Sarah S.
Minneapolis, MN
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A+!!! Bark Busters is amazing. Even by the end of our first session, we saw results and felt empowered, and confident that we WERE going to have a well-behaved canine member of our family. We literally went from feeling hopeless about our current situations to feeling excited about our future with our dog. It’s a game-changer, people!!! Much thanks and genuine gratitude for the help from Michael with Bark Busters.
Stefany U.
Minneapolis, MN
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Michael has been extremely helpful as we train our dog, who can be problematic with resource guarding. Michael helped us take a step back and address the issue from a psychological perspective. Neither my husband nor I had ever had a dog before, so this service has been extremely valuable. It’s much better than trying to Google problems yourself and was more beneficial than traditional puppy obedience school as well. He is very prompt with email and scheduling and is always on time!
Christine L.
Minneapolis, MN
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My German shepherd mix has some issues I was having trouble addressing. Michael knew just what to do and I have already seen amazing results. I am a better leader and she is a much happier "pack" member. A GREAT experience!
Joann K.
Blain, MN
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Mike was amazing to work with! He provided amazing insight into our dog's behaviors in a way that was both professional and empathetic. Saw huge improvement in our dogs behaviors and anxiety levels in just one session. Can't wait to use the tools and skills Mike taught us to continue to work with our dogs. Could not recommend this program more! Thank you Bark Busters!
Margie A.
Coon Rapids, MN
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HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! We needed someone to help us with our little literal ankle biter. Michael was extremely knowledgeable and patient with both the pups and the humans. We saw a noticeable change in behavior with everyone after only 1 session! Thank you!
Emma R.
Coon Rapids, MN
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Really excellent service provider. I would characterize this as learning to communicate with your dog. Michael's methods were really intuitive for our dog and we have really been surprised at how easy and quickly our dog's behaviors have been improved. Highly recommended!
Jim M.
Saint Paul, MN
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Lydia is an excellent trainer! Very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. She listened to the multiple issues my new lab and I were experiencing and was able to address them all by providing knowledge of dog behaviors and why. Our training sessions were insightful and easy to understand and implement. Within one session I experienced a huge difference in my dog’s behaviors. He stopped dragging me during walks, jumping up on me, waiting for me to enter doorways first, and gives me space when needed now.

Thank you Lydia and Bark Busters! Wasn’t sure I was going to be able to keep him and now we have a happy home.
Lauren P.
Minneapolis, MN
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We are so pleased with our Bark Busters initial training for our little Anita. She came to us from Mexico, where she had been attacked by another dog. She was left with multiple bite wounds, her leg broken in two places, and serious trust issues. Since she came to live with us, she was very reactive with other dogs and people. Michael spent more than the planned 3 hours with us, first discussing Anita and all we wanted out of this training. Next was teaching us how to "talk dog" and claim "leader of the pack" status. By the time he left, Anita was a different dog. She is learning that she isn't in charge. Her job is to be our companion. We have daily practice to do, and many of the techniques are already part of our daily routine. Hiring Bark Busters is an investment but worth every penny to us. We feel reassured knowing that we will have support for the rest of Anita's life as circumstances arise. We highly recommend Michael and Bark Busters.
Judy S.
Robbinsdale, MN
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With the very first session, we saw a big difference in our pup's behavior. He is so much more attentive now and is really learning his boundaries. This method makes so much sense and is truly effective. I highly recommend this company.
Sandra O.
Saint Paul, MN
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Michael is wonderful. Prompt, enthusiastic, patient, creative--he clearly loves his work and loves dogs. What I really appreciate is that he quickly picked up on how my dog and I operate (or try to operate!) as a team and continues to come up with training ideas that work for us. Michael is very easy to work with, and the Bark Busters approach (learning to speak dog) has worked very well for me and my Lou! Well worth the investment!!
Chris P.
Minneapolis, MN
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