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: American Canyon, Belvedere Tiburon, Bolinas, Corte Madera, Crockett, Daly City, Dillon Beach, El Sobrante, Fairfax, Forest Knolls, Greenbrae, Inverness, Kentfield, Lagunitas, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Napa, Nicasio, Novato, Olema, Petaluma, Pinole, Point Reyes Station, Port Costa, Richmond, Ross, San Anselmo, San Francisco, San Geronimo, San Pablo, San Quentin, San Rafael, Sausalito, Stinson Beach, Tomales, Vallejo, Woodacre

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 Karen & Adam

large karen gaines

Home Dog Training in San Francisco & Marin County!

AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator The Association of Professional Dog Trainers


Welcome! Our mission is to help our clients become "the leader of their pack" using dog-friendly, non-food based techniques (no shock collars or harsh methods ever!). We want your dog to love and respect you, not fear you. We will work with you to address issues such as anxiety, aggression, barking, biting, leash walking, puppy nipping, and much, much more.

We can help you with all breeds, all ages, all issues! From puppy nipping to full adult aggression or any behavioral issue with any breed, we have your back. You'll be amazed at what your dog will be able to do once you learn to "speak dog." 

About Karen Gaines

Adam and I have approximately 16 years of experience between us as Master Trainers in San Francisco & Marin as Bark Busters Home Dog Trainers.

We continue to attend advanced classes and learn from our large network of more than 200 Bark Busters trainers here in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia. We always knew that dogs were a part of our lives and wanted to help make a difference. We have both individually rescued, fostered, and adopted several dogs through our lives so we know first-hand what issues come up and what it takes. Happy dogs and happy families!

I moved here from Massachusetts in 1987 and have since owned and operated three other small successful businesses in Marin. I have worked for a logistics company and had four exciting years in the music industry, but after I rescued my dog Jake, I found my calling. That was in 2006.

I originally rescued Jake in 2002, who was a fun-loving dog but reacted anytime a bird flew close, a bike or skateboarder went by, or I left him alone. His separation anxiety got the best of him and he chewed everything while I was at work, including most of my furniture. He even chewed a hole in my front door and one wall. I loved Jake very much but I knew I had to do something to help him and myself with his dog behavior problems. I read books, took classes, watched videos, and even took him to "boot camp" for four weeks. I spent a lot of money and nothing worked. 

Then in 2006, I found Bark Busters - the perfect business opportunity for me and a great solution for Jake. Jake thrived in this program, he began to relax, listen, and life became so much easier and fun. He didn’t need to protect me anymore, and he didn’t need to be afraid. He just got to be a happy dog.

About Adam Kravetz

Adam joined Bark Busters approximately seven years ago while working his way through college at San Francisco State. Adam assisted, lived, and observed the dramatic results with our clients and personally with Jake, which in turn gave him the confidence to rescue his dog Django.

Django is now a 6-year-old Drever/lab and was a handful at the age of 2. Talk about flight risk. Yikes. Nightmare! Not to mention stranger-danger and possession aggression. Through Adam's hard work and determination, he is a great dog Dad and has become a successful dog trainer. Django is a changed dog and we can honestly say, he is a sweetheart.

When appropriate, Adam and I bring our dogs Kayla, Django, and Bodi as often as possible on lessons as they are a safe and huge asset. They help us help you and your dogs with socialization, dog aggression, off leash training, leash aggression, and puppy lessons.

We do believe in giving our dogs treats, but don’t believe in becoming a “treat dispenser,” and who always has treats in their pocket? We train the brain, not the belly. We teach you to think canine, and to top it all off, we give you a “Life of the Dog Guarantee.” That’s great peace of mind. We believe that for your dog, your calm, safe, and loving home, and your love and affection should be the treat! Dog training does not alter your dog’s personality for the worse, it improves it.

We are Recommended By:

Blue Cross Pet Hospital, San Francisco Larkspur Landing Veterinary Hospital, Larkspur Marina Pet Hospital, San Francisco Park Animal Hospital, San Francisco Presideo Way Veterinary Hospital, San Francisco San Anselmo Animal Hospital, San Anselmo San Francisco Pet Hospital, San Francisco Sunset Veterinary Hospital, San Francisco VCA Animal Wellness Center of Marin, San Rafael

Contact Us Today

 Visit our Dog Training San Francisco Website

What Makes Bark Busters San Francisco and Marin County 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 San Francisco and Marin County, 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.

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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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San Francisco & Marin County Client Reviews

See what our clients have to say

Karen’s experience and expertise was evident the minute she walked in the door. She immediately commanded our dog’s respect.

From the time she walked in, to the time she left, she was training our dog and teaching us how to think like a pack leader.

Her training addressed everything we needed help with: jumping, impulse control, door manners and walking on a leash. We could tell how effective the session was by how mentally exhausted our dog was afterwards!

Karen is a true pro. We were super impressed with how well she understood dog behavior and how quickly she was able to get results. Thank you Karen!
Gary Philips
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Karen is the best! In our first session, she fixed what I couldn't in eight months. My puppy was a play biter and the nipping did not stop even after her adult teeth came in. Although she had full bite inhibition, her teeth left us with marks all over our arms and legs-- to the point where my doctor thought I had been cutting myself-- when in reality it was my baby shark. It's been a year, and her play biting problem has not resurfaced-- she learned her limits in two hours and I cannot thank Karen enough for it!

Karen is direct, honest and down to earth. She is very responsive via text and she always has suggestions or ideas to modify behaviors. We just saw Karen to work on a couple of new things my puppy picked up and it is always so useful. I learn so much every time I see her and I feel more confident interacting with my dog and other dogs. Overall, I am so happy Karen is our trainer! Best call ever. She's got our back and I know I can reach out to her no matter what happens... that feeling is priceless!
Jess B.
San Francisco, CA
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Up until a week ago we were chronically stressed by our doggie's behavior. If we didn't have a treat available, his counter-surfing, jumping on visitors, and lunging at other dogs was unstoppable. Then Karen helped us.

Karen taught us "how to speak dog" and I am in awe. Buster is a changed dog, just after one day. This first week post-training we feel a weight lifted off of our shoulders. Thank you Karen. We feel so much gratitude for your help.

We highly recommend Karen Gaines, she is observant, patient, a great communicator, not to mention has TONS of experience training dogs with all sorts of behavioral problems. She is an absolutely excellent teacher and dog-trainer.
Alexa K.
San Francisco, CA
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Before finding Bark Busters, I was so traumatized because of a bad training experience we had in the past with someone else. Honestly I was so excited when I found Bark Busters because I learned that they don't use any physically punishing methods with dogs and that's just what I was looking for. Karen was amazing - super respectful, kind, my dog ​​was very happy during our training session, and his behavior was incredible. I recommend Karen 100%. My dog was having some aggression issues and bad recall but I’m so confident now that I will be able to train my dog without making him feel scared or hurt him. If you love your dog as much as I love mine then Karen and Bark Busters training is perfect for you.
Valeria C.
San Rafael, CA
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My partner & I rescued a German Shepherd mix in August of 2021 who is sweet as can be but struggled with severe separation anxiety. We worked with several trainers before meeting Adam and didn’t have much success, which meant we couldn’t leave our dog alone at all. Adam taught us how to communicate with our dog better and was thoughtful and patient in his training process. He understood our dogs unique needs and provided us with successful solutions— we are now able to leave her at home while we work without her being disruptive or destructive. It’s honestly a miracle! Thank you Adam! Our rescue girl is living her best life knowing that being alone at home while we work is only temporary!
Riley R.
San Francisco, CA
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Karen was very patient and compassionate with us, quickly becoming very attuned to my rescue cattle dog mix with separation anxiety issues. I was very impressed by her reading of our relationship, and immediately felt we were in good hands and could finally get the personalized training we needed without relying on bribery (my dog is very stubborn and very not treat-motivated).
She gave me simple and clear instructions on how to make Jolene feel incrementally more confident, but the content of the training mostly focused on modifying my own behavior so as not to inadvertently make my dog worry or feel like she needed to look out for me at all times.
I feel so fortunate for having Karen in our lives, after moving to the city for a new job I was incredibly stressed about leaving Jolene at home alone, knowing she would be howling and pacing. Our relationship is much stronger now and I can finally make plans without constantly worrying.
Kelly S.
San Francisco, CA
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Up until a week ago we were chronically stressed by our doggie’s behavior. If we didn’t have a treat available, his counter-surfing, jumping on visitors, and lunging at other dogs was unstoppable. Then Karen helped us.

Karen taught us “how to speak dog” and I am in awe. Buster is a changed dog, just after one day. This first week post-training we feel a weight lifted off of our shoulders. Thank you Karen. We feel so much gratitude for your help.

We highly recommend Karen Gaines, she is observant, patient, a great communicator, not to mention has TONS of experience training dogs with all sorts of behavioral problems. She is an absolutely excellent teacher and dog-trainer.
Alexa K.
San Rafael, CA
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I read the reviews here and figured we had nothing to lose - I adopted an abused puppy from Africa while working there, and he had severe separation anxiety and fear aggression. I was almost at the point of giving up - he would rip items to shreds when I was not home, and on walks would lunge and sometimes bite people (and occasionally, try to bite me). When Adam first visited us, he spent almost 3 hours observing, asking questions, and giving us tools to use to change our dog's behavior. Setting boundaries, showing the dog who is the boss, correcting bad behaviors quickly - Adam offered lots of solutions. It's not even 4 months later and I'm happy to say my now "teenaged" 1.5 yr old dog is completely changed. He walks closely and confidently with my husband, me, and our other dog, no longer lunging at people and other dogs. His separation anxiety (and with that, chewing and peeing) is gone, because he is now calm and comfortable. Most of all, thanks to Adam, my husband and I gained the confidence *we* needed to be strong dog parents to be able to correct (or, unlearn) our dog's bad behaviors. I cannot even believe it is the same dog. It's nice to know we'll always have Adam to call on should any other problem behaviors appear, he's just a text message away. Thank you Adam!
Pamela H.
San Francisco, CA
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Bark Busters saved us. We were at the decision to use a ‘boot camp’ style training facility or locate a home trainer, and Bark Busters/Karen Gaines was the right choice. It didn’t feel right to send our little guy away. What were we going to learn from doing that? Our little puppy is intelligent and started to not respond to treat training, and sometimes used the treat training for his benefit. Yum! Training without food is so much better. Also, it’s based on our individual needs, and those needs can change. That’s the benefit of Bark Busters, customized attention and solutions for the unique challenges presented now and thereafter.
Karen C.
San Rafael, CA
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I have only glowing, positive comments about Karen! She has helped us with our very rambunctious, energetic 7-month old Pit bull. As he grew from a little, frisky puppy into an enormous 65-lb dog made of solid muscle, he began to get aggressive as a fear response to cars, other dogs and even small children. We knew we had to act fast and ensure that our dog remained just as gentle and lovable outside the home as he was inside the home with our family and older, smaller dogs. Karen's approach was methodical and we mastered it quickly and easily. Our dog took a little longer and over several weeks we graduated to more restrictive - but never painful or punitive - leashes and training methods. Finally, we found the perfect solution! Here is a recent text I sent to Karen in joy and gratitude for her help: "OMG thank you so much for the gentle leader leash and the training your provided us! I just returned from a 45-minute walk around the neighborhood with Smokey, what a difference! At first I stayed close to the house, but as I grew more confident because he remained so calm, I ventured further and further out. We passed cars, children, even other dogs - and he got excited, but he did not lunge or bark and remained close to me the entire time. Occasionally he tried to paw off the gentle leader leash, but I was attentive and distracted him immediately. I talked to him the entire time, I gave him frequent treats but always at random intervals. The contrast was stunning. Thank you for transforming our walks from ordeals into pleasurable excursions!" She has given us our lovable puppy back - inside and out outside our home!
Daniel K.
Corte Madera, CA
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Karen is an incredible dog whisperer! She just has to enter the room and my daughter's puppy turns into a little angel....and stays that way long after she is gone. Karen offers wonderful advice to overcome any behavioral issue you might be encountering - demand barking, counter surfing, separation anxiety, and more. Her techniques are easy to implement and immediately effective. She is a fabulous resource and has made the whole process of rearing a puppy manageable and enjoyable. It is so helpful to have one person that you can contact for tips as new issues come out. I am confident that Murphy will develop into a well-trained companion for my daughter!
Lisa P.
San Francisco, CA
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Karen came to help us with our two dogs. We have an older dog and a puppy and they were not getting along. Our puppy was constantly barking at our older (highly anxious) dog. We were at our wits end with what to do. Karen spent 2+ hours with us and once she left, the dogs behavior was almost 100% improved. We now have tools to use to deal with issues that come up. But, honestly, the dogs have been incredible since our meeting with Karen. We were all on edge and stressed from the dogs before Karen came. Now, the house is calm and the dogs are so much better. Thank you, Karen. After only 1 session, you have turned the dogs around. We still have to work on some problems that we didn't address but I am certain we will figure it all out in future meetings.
Susanne C.
Greenbrae, CA
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Adam was amazing! Our dog Bernie was showing signs of resource guarding (spoiled only dog child problems) and being a little brat. He was also getting aggressive with some dogs at the dog park when he had been super friendly for the first year of his life. He is only 16 months and we new we wanted to get it under control right away. We are super social and wanted to feel comfortable taking Bernie with us places and not having to worry. Adam helped us establish boundaries and we saw a noticeable difference after one session. Seriously one session. It was great. We have had follow up sessions since and Bernie continues to improve. We are so thankful for Adam and his work with us and Bernie. I would highly recommend Adam and we are so pleased with our progress.
Kesley T.
San Francisco, CA
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Karen was terrific, hire her! Honestly, Karen is the best dog trainer; she is kind, easy to talk with; her techniques are gentle and easy to learn. Karen walked me through everything I needed to do and she followed up after every session.

I was surprised how easy the training was for my dog and me. It's worth every penny, don't hesitate these guys are the real deal.

Thank you, Karen.
Lynda G.
Fairfax, CA
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As a vet, I am perhaps more concerned about dog behavior issues than the average person since I see the worst case scenarios on a daily basis of what can happen when a challenging situation isn't addressed properly. I should also note that many of us vets end up with dogs that come from hard places. Here's the thing though, we're good at medicine and spoiling our pups, but we're not always great at training. When I recently took in a one year old foster pup, I immediately identified some behaviors (dominance, guarding, over-exuberant barking at other dogs) that I knew could morph into a much bigger challenge down the line. Cue Karen and bark busters. Karen is incredibly patient and down to earth, and her recommendations are practical, gentle, and easy to follow. By the end of the first session, I had several new training tools that immediately alleviated many of the behaviors our little foster pup was dealing with which left me with an incredible sense of relief. The foster pup is now officially ours, and we couldn't be happier. Karen continues to check in and offer advice. I couldn't recommend Bark Busters and Karen more! She's great.
Kate S.
Sausalito, CA
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We’ve been working with Karen @ Bark Busters for about 3 months now. When we reached out to Karen our puppy Remy was about 6 months old. We had success training her on some basics (potty training, sit/stay, etc) but were really struggling to make progress on some larger items. Remy’s friendliness & curiosity often got the best of her when we would take her out on walks. When she wasn’t picking up trash from the sidewalk, you could find her jumping on other dogs or their owners. Yikes! Needless to say, we were frustrated. Karen met us in our home (huge perk) but more importantly took the time to listen & really get to know us & Remy. She catered her training program around our areas of focus & within a couple of weeks, Remy had learned to contain her excitement! We’ve continued regular training lessons with Karen & have been able to move on to more advanced things like airplane behavior & off leash training. Working with Karen has been a dream & it’s so reassuring to know that we have her as a resource throughout Remy’s life!
Walker W.
San Francisco, CA
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Let me start by saying I was not a dog person. I am a cat person. I have two Siamese cats. When my Mom passed away, I promised her I would take her chihuahua which was VERY important to her. Unfortunately Maizy did not like my cats and chased them all over the house and . I thought I was going to have to give her to the shelter, but then I remembered my promise to my Mom and I just couldn't do it. In desperation, I called Karen. I was pretty skeptical that anything would change but I had to try because I couldn't break my promise to my Mom. What a difference one lesson can make! Maizy no longer chases my cats, no longer barks uncontrollably, and no longer steals their toys. It's been one week and I don't even have the same dog. Karen is fun, knowledgeable, patient, answers every single question I have, and is always available. Her technique to say the least is amazing. Thanks to Karen, not only did I keep my promise to my mother but I think I’m becoming a bit of a dog person. If I could give her 10 stars I would.
Mary K.
San Rafael, CA
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Karen is truly a lifesaver! We used to walk down the street scared of how our dog luke would react with other dogs, he was always such a sweetheart in our house, but on the street, it was a different story! Hed either spiral out of control or just lunge. The way people looked at us was so embarrasing. After just one visit Luke was a different dog! The techniques that Karen uses are simple but effective, Luke has become the dog we always knew he could be. He is a pleasure to walk on a leash now and is so much better in the house in terms of barking at the door and leaving us alone while we eat. We were skeptical at first but desperate to try anything, and I am so glad we did. I promise you after one meeting with Karen, your dog will be a different dog as well! The best part is that Karen is just a phone call or text away and is always willing to help.
Lisa F.
Daly City, CA
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Adam is awesome!! We can't say good enough things about him. Before finding Bark Busters, we had used other highly recommended dog training companies and spent so much money on hourly session here and there, where we saw such little progress with our very energetic pooch.

In as little as one session with Adam, we saw huge progress (we have an 18 month old Lab/Dachshund mix). Before working with Adam, our pooch would skirt the tabletop, chew at everything and bark at everyone that walked by the house. Adam taught us techniques for effectively communicating with our dog. Within one session, our dog was listening to us and following our commands.
We particularly love how the techniques used can be easily incorporated into daily life, without the need for a big time allotment for training every day. Our dog seems like a calmer happier pooch, who knows the pecking order and is much better behaved.
If you have a high-energy dog who needs some training, call Adam!!
Allen C.
San Francisco, CA
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I vetted and called literally dozens of trainers before settling on Karen. Getting the right trainer is important to me. There are some trainers in the bay area that charge you thousands of dollars to just basically use shock collars. No way was I ever going to use a shock collar with my little guy Mr. Pickles. Karen is different. I went with her because she uses dog/human psychology to make sure she is effective while keeping the bond strong with my dog.

Karen is a genius!

Training with her was worth every penny. She is patient, direct and effective. I have a high-energy Australian Shepard and she tailored the training to be effective for his breed and energy level.

Overview:
- easy to schedule
- patient
- non-abusive
- the techniques she was teaching me were effective within minutes (you still have to be consistent and keep them going)
- you see results within 1 day
- in-home training and practicing to make sure you can do it once she is gone
Debbie L.
San Francisco, CA
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Adam is a lifesaver! My dog Chase was afraid of everything ... men, dogs, his shadow, and me leaving him. He had horrible separation anxiety. When I would leave, he would almost hurt himself. I was at my wit's end. Adam to the rescue. In just one lesson, he taught me how to communicate with Chase and calm him down. He trained me more than the dog! I especially liked that he didn't use any harmful methods ... no prong or shock collars. It was really tone of voice. I would highly recommend Bark Busters and Adam!!!
Theresa Z.
San Francisco, CA
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I've had my dog Merlin since he was a puppy. He has always been an absolute sweetheart,or so i thoughtt.. but he had a lot of behavioral problems. My dog was, dog aggressive, would bark at anything that would walk by our porch, he would try and eat his leash, he would pull on his leash so bad that he has actually made me fall down the stairs and pulled me down. I was at my ultimate lowest when he tried to attack and kill two dogs. I was absolutely stressed, and overwhelmed and scared. I was terrified taking my dog out to go to the bathroom, I was terrified that something bad was going to happen and I would have had to put down my best friend. At Merlin and my all time low, my mom found Karen. Merlin and I have only had one session so far, and got the lifetime guarantee. But all I can say is Karen is wonderful! I saw improvement in my dog with the first 45 minutes. I was able to walk him around the neighborhood with a loose leash, and him staying right by side. His attitude has changed, he is back to being my sweet boy I used to know. Earlier today he watched another dog walk by on the porch and did nothing about it. This morning I've been able to leave the sliding door open to my porch, while dogs have been walking by, and he has continued to stay by me instead of running out there and barking. This was all in the first session! I'm so happy to see such improvements in my best friend. I'm very excited to see what the future holds for me and Merlin and I look forward to more sessions! Thank you so much, Karen! I recommend her to anyone that thinks that their dog is un-fixable, I thought mine was, and now I finally have hope!
Fran B.
San Francisco, CA
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We called Karen after our dog Elko started showing signs of aggression to other people. We had rescued him just 2 months previously and noticed things about his behavior that concerned us and we wanted to fix it quickly before it escalated into something more dangerous. Elko would not let people enter the house, would bark and lung at strangers in the street when out walking on his leash, would chase and bark at everything that moved including people, dogs and cars and it was becoming very stressful. Karen was very calm, professional and patient as she explained everything to us and put our minds at ease. She talked us through why Elko was behaving the way he was and the techniques we needed to use to help eliminate these unwanted behaviors. She was patient and kind as she taught us and within 30 minutes Elko was a different dog, he was the happy, relaxed little guy we had been hoping for. Just 30 minutes previously Elko was throwing himself at the patio doors and growling and barking at karen as she arrived. Within a very short time of working with Elko, he sat on her knee and had made a new best friend. It was fantastic to see Elko behaving this way with a stranger. By the end of session 1 we couldn't believe the positive changes, Elko was walking nicely on the leash without pulling, ignoring other people and dogs we passed, he was calm and relaxed in the house and would allow people to enter through the front door. I was surprised and delighted that these changes happened almost immediately. Its been 6 days since Karens first visit and we are continuing to practice the techniques daily and pleasantly surprised every day by Elkos progress and positive changes. Karen is the real deal and we are very pleased with our decision to work with her. SHe is the best!!!
Maureen H.
San Rafael, CA
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From the moment Karen came to the house it was clear she was evaluating us and our fur babies. 2 generations of guardians and three generations of dogs! She was great! Seems to know exactly what the dogs needed while recognizing the challenges that we have as 'trainers'. We know there is no miracle cure, but we are confident in the tools that Karen shared with us like effective voice commands and establishing our roles! We are all excit d for lesson number two and are seeing some changes already. She gave me tips for the new puppy and gave mom some ideas for a barking Pomeranian!
Maura H.
Novato, CA
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My wife and I were very pleased with the training we received to help our dog behave properly. Our instructor Karen was insightful and very knowledgable in the manners of dogs and how to break them of bad habits. We have been working on her techniques so far and in our next training we hope to have Millie behaving like she should. Thanks Karen.
Dale G.
Novato, CA
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The Barkbusters Training is the most successful and BEST training method we've experienced! And we have tried many!! We really shortchanged ourselves by going to several trainers after thinking Barkbusters was out of our financial scope. Turns out we wasted alot of money and time and subjected ourselves and our loving dog Elvis to methods that were not a good fit for our family. With one Barkbusters training with Karen, we saw IMMEDIATE improvement in Elvis and were better able to understand the motivation behind insecurities that read as aggression. Karen Gaines has dramatically improved our family life by giving us so much insight as to what we were doing to sabotage our communication with our dog, and was able to offer common sense advice and all kinds of support... And with a sense of humor! Elvis instantly acclimated to her and from the moment we opened the front door, we felt comfortable trusting in her expertise 100%. We just returned from a successful outing at the beach with Elvis and thanks to Karen's amazing training every trip to the beach is more enjoyable than the last! My wife and I swear by this method! Thank you Karen, you're the best!!!
Tal M.
Novato, CA
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Karen provided a calm productive environment and gave me some effective training tools to establish pack leader mentality to practice with our year old lab mix with a dominant personality. I met with Karen two more times and made significant progress with the dog. Karen helped give me the confidence to maintain the leadership of the "pack". Really enjoyed working with Karen and would recommend her to anyone needing help training a dog.
Kate M.
Novato, CA
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