We've only had two visits with Michael so far, and the difference in my dog is absolutely incredible. My boxer was anxious and very reactive, but now he's noticeably calmer and much less reactive. It honestly feels like we have a new dog. Michael is truly the best. He's patient, knowledgeable, and always happy to walk us through any situation or question that comes up. You can tell he genuinely cares about both the dogs and their owners. I can't thank Michael enough! He's made a huge impact on our lives and completely changed the future for my dog. I'm so excited to see the progress we continue to make! read more

Bark Busters Ventura County - Pet Training Near Me

I want to start by saying the trainer we had Michael is a kind and responsive person. You can tell he really cares about dogs and takes his work seriously, which I truly respect! We spent over $1,000 hoping to improve our dogs' reactivity issues. We followed the homework that was given to us, stayed consistent, and while there was some minor progress, we eventually hit a wall. The BAH method is the foundation of their training approach, and while it might work for others, it just didn't lead to the results we needed unfortunately. What made it more disappointing for us is that even though the company offers lifetime support, it didn't feel like there was anything drastically new or helpful to move us forward after a certain point. Again, I commend for the trainer for trying his best and truly caring, but we hit a wall. We were basically told we were doing everything right, but the problem still wasn't getting better. This review isn't meant to discredit the trainer or the business. I'm sure he's helped many other clients successfully. Unfortunately, in our case, it didn't live up to expectations given the cost and the goals we had. Sidenote: I'm not looking for a debate or follow-up--just sharing my personal experience in case it helps someone else make an informed decision. read more

Michael is a true professional! We reached out to bark busters to help us with our husky Steele. We just rescued him from the Ventura animal shelter, and wanted to make sure we gave him the best possible training we could. He showed some resource guarding tendencies and we've seen dramatic improvement from the work we've done with Mike in a short couple of months. Highly recommend Bark Busters! read more

MICHAEL came out. It was about $800 for three hours of instructions for the owners. Nothing hands-on much then you could call for 30 days with any questions. I was really expecting something more hands-on so it's good to know what you're paying for and do your research We ended up going to Petco for $100 and they work with the dogs as a group so they learn easier.was all hands on. read more

hard to believe how much my dog (and I) have changed since training with Michael. I really didn't think I would ever be able to walk him and had given up hope that it was possible. Now we walk daily and it is incredible! We had some other behavioral issues and they are solved too. I've used a couple trainers in the past and had some negative experiences with methods that feel punitive but with Bark Busters it's so refreshingly positive. It is simple and easy to follow. If you are on the fence about training- GO FOR IT! I am so thankful for Michael and cannot recommend him enough. Huge beneficial impact on our dog/human relationship and that is priceless. read more

Our training with Michael using Bark Buster's methods has been incredible. While the methods are quite unconventional and at times we fully thought Michael was joking when he asked us to do things like growl at our dog, the methods WORK! We have a one year old Australian Shepherd who struggled terribly with anxiety, trust, food aggression, and lots of fear. He was a stray before we adopted him and we had a ton to work through. We tried other training methods and spent thousands, only for those methods to not work. Finding bark busters was our saving grace! Michael taught us how to understand Milo's behavior and meet his needs to allow him to flourish. We have addressed our struggles with Milo and are now able to take him to the beach, hiking, walking around crowded areas such as parks and outdoor shops, etc. Don't let the unconventional methods scare you, they truly work and it is amazing to see how the dogs respond to them! read more

Bark Busters Ventura County - Pet Training Near Me

Michael was responsive over the phone and easy to get a hold of but I was unpleased with the way our sessions went with our puppy. We used the techniques we were told to use between sessions but the improvements were very minimal. While I have nothing poor to say about Michael himself, our dog is a better behaved dog through a different agency. The Bark Buster tactics of "speaking" to your dog were ineffective. Like I said, I have nothing poor to say about Michael as a man or his passion as he truly does care about dogs on a deep level. But we didn't see improvement with the methods we were taught during our time training with and without him. I appreciate and respect the effort put in, but our dog no longer bites, barks unnecessarily, or makes messes through a different agency (which does not include anything inflicting physical pain on the dog through devices and/or our hands). read more

We love Bark Buster! Of course we also love our personal trainer Michael Hagan. He is very prompt with replies to our problems and has been spot on with our Lab mix, Buddy. Our big baby has a lot of problem and is a very anxious dog, I hate to use the word "reactive" because it is so over used. We had problems with aggression towards other dogs. Pulling on the leash and going after other dogs off leash that approached him ... very scary. Michael showed us some specific leash controls to start with Buddy and we had great success. When we moved we had a complaint from our neighbors of barking. Our first response was not our baby but after buying a camera we saw that we had a problem and again Michael had great insight and came through with a regimen for separation anxiety. Which I am happy to say has worked and we now have happy neighbors and a happier Buddy. We did opt for the gold membership and we are glad we did as we have had to call a few times for a short consult via phone and it has worked perfectly for us. Michael is very knowledgeable, kind and supportive. He has great insight in dog behavior and is quick with a response to solve our behavior issues with Buddy. read more

Bark Busters Ventura County - Pet Training Near Me

Michael's knowledge and strategy in his dog/ People training abilities made me feel hopeful and optimistic, I am so grateful we found him! I have definitely seen a positive outcome! what a difference in my dog and my ability to communicate! read more

It's amazing what people expect from a dog trainer miracles and Magic especially if there are not willing to put any time into it dogs are not machines. It depends on the breed and age of the dog but of course it's your fault if things don't work out. I had a lot dogs in my life and I know it's very difficult to turn a husky into a chihuahua and vice Versa But they think they can throw a little bit of money at it and then it's your fault every dog I ever had. I was grateful for they make me happy and I love them but I think sometimes the owner needs training. read more

We engaged with bark buster. Com to home train our dog FERN. Fern is a rescue dog 5yrs old. And has a fear of other dogs. Fern became aggressive when encountering other dogs. Bark buster Trainor Michael Hagan gave us the knowledge and tools to correct fern's behavior. And just 5 weeks and 3 visits from michael we have successfully corrected the behavior and we can calmly walk fern with other dogs. The training only included dog speak word commands and no treats or devices were used. read more

I would like to start with me just stating that I was very skeptical about hiring someone to help train my dog. I figured in my head that I would invest this money into my dog and most likely get very little back out of it. My dog would show some signs of training weeks or months after starting a training schedule Let me tell you how wrong I was. Bark Busters called me back within a couple of hours and we set up our first training session. Micheal showed up on time and was very professional. He started off by going over the program and I don't want to give their secrets away, but I could not be happier after just our first meeting. My dog Nala is like a whole new dog. I even rant and raved to my family who came over the next day and they couldn't even believe it was the same dog. I can't express my gratitude and appreciation for Bark Busters and the way their training worked for my dog. I honestly could not be happier With every aspect of my dealings with Bark Busters. From the way they make training my dog very easy to understand. To all the knowledge Micheal passed on to me about the training and the important parts that can make a difference in the success of my training. Thank you SO much Micheal. A+++ 5 * business. read more

My brother and I rescued a big 80lbs lab/mastiff mix who had no prior training and needed to learn some serious manors! I have been slightly worried about being able to control/train some of his behaviors due to his size and strength. Micheal came and spent almost 3 hours at our home not only teaching us how to train our dog Scrappy but explaining why Scrappy does the things he does! To say I learned how to train and help my dog is an understatement. I was worried about some of Scrappy's behaviors but having Micheal come into our home and teach us was not only insanely beneficial but also cleared any doubt I had prior. Micheal is always available for us with all our questions or concerns and is so fantastic at what he does! I am so excited about our future with Scrappy and cannot wait to spend the next couple months continuing the training with Michael. If you are looking for a trainer, look no more!! Thank you Michael!! read more

Called inquiring about at home help with my elderly parents rescue dog. Only training program offered is over $2100! No hourly or anything else. read more

my 8 year old dog has had an amazing transition following the training of Michael and BarkBusters. He was a "jumpy barker" and after just one visit he is vastly better behaved. One the most important change has been him absolutely staying off our new furniture. The cost of the training (it is expensive) we long be forgotten - the results will be and are what I remember thank you Michael and BarkBusters read more

We engaged with bark buster. Com to home train our dog FERN. Fern is a rescue dog 5yrs old. And has a fear of other dogs. Fern became aggressive when encountering other dogs. Bark buster Trainor Michael Hagan gave us the knowledge and tools to correct fern's behavior. And just 5 weeks and 3 visits from michael we have successfully corrected the behavior and we can calmly walk fern with other dogs. The training only included dog speak word commands and no treats or devices were used. read more

We had our first and only training session with Micheal on 4/2/21. It lasted 3 hours. I was a little confused when he said that dogs don't understand English and that is why you yell Bah instead of stop. He gave us instructions and said to follow them and email him my progress after 2 weeks. I did and he replied 2 days later. The training and yelling Bah at my dog did nothing. He said he would come back after 5 weeks. I have never heard back from him, biggest waste of $1100. I would write this review on their website, but can only read reviews and not write them. I have since started training my dog myself with great success and guess what I use English words and he totally understands me. Maybe this would have worked if I had a more on hands trainer. Most of the trainers I have contacted said it is usual that the trainer is coming at least once a week to see the progress and it is unusual to do a follow up 5 weeks later. Good luck with your training especially if you use Bark Busters. read more

after spending 2k for our two dogs we are not much better than where we started off. The energy from our dogs seemed to be way too much. After weeks of struggle with training we were recommended to neuter both our dogs. we originally never wanted to but seeing how progress was not being made we decided to do so. after more time training still no progress when it came to control of dogs so now trainer recommended to put our dogs on medication to train them and that is where we drew the line and knew we chose the wrong company. Even after everything never did our trainer reach out to see how it was going especially since our dog ruined his training dummy dog. please do yourself the favor and save your money. here we are over 3k later and still can't take our dogs on a calm walk. read more

What can I say.......Mike and his methods are AMAZING. I have a Puggle named Ruby who is extremely confident and at times pushy in her wants. She's stolen food from my plate, is very protective of our home barking at anything and everything seen as a threat. Not to mention her leash behaviors. She pulls until choking and can be a bit aggressive towards those who are invading of her person space. Mike arrived on time and made us feel like this wasn't actually our fault. Dogs see humans differently and within a 2 hour lesson we had a TOTALLY different pooch. Ruby was beyond calm, respectful of our space and we practiced leaving food out with not even a movement from her. Unbelievable actually. After we did work inside we then went outside and after practicing some techniques for about 20 minutes we walked her calmly, by our side, ZERO pulling and we met three dogs along the way and she didn't even care. These methods are well worth the cost and are humane, no treats or shock collars. The homework is easy to follow and Mike is there when needed. Thank you Mike. We will stay on it. We appreciate your efforts. Give Mike a shout. He can help. read more

update. Michael is trying to discredit my negative review. This company very aggressively squelches or discredits any negative reviews. Michael H you came to our house twice to "help" us train Toby. Didn't really help much at all. Stop trying to suppreas negative reviews, my opinion is valid. You need to accept that not everyone loves Barkbusters. Original review: This system is terrible. Overpriced and yields limited results. The trainer is "training you" how to train your dog.. Which is another way of saying we don't spend any time training your dog then we blame you when the system doesn't work. It only works because pretty much any attempt to train is going to yield some results. Their system has you growl gibberish at the dog, throw things at the dog and spray water at them. The only value we got is understanding that it might be a good idea to consider a dogs pack hierarchy and how they communicate, which is in the sales pitch. So the only real value is watching their promotional materials. Save yourself money and research how to train a dog on YouTube. Or spend your money on a reputable trainer who actually does real work with your dog. Don't pay these guys 250 per hour for 4 hours of telling you that you aren't doing it right. Do the math... They only visit a couple times for a couple hours... A total rip off. They are somehow squelching any negative reviews. This is a marketing scam, it's about getting your money, not training your dog. You can learn their approach or a better one, with a bit of research. Buy a book, hit YouTube, or get a real local trainer. read more

This was easily the best dog training I've ever experienced. I have a high energy, stubborn German/Husky mix and Michael was able to get her behaving better than ever within a couple of hours. I learned all the tools to continue training her to be the most well behaved dog out there. Not only did my dog learn a ton of new tricks, I became much more knowledgeable about dogs and dog training myself. I 10/10 recommend this training program to anyone and everyone that wants help with their dog in any way. read more

Bark Busters Ventura County - Pet Training Near Me

I am so happy I decided to go with Barkbusters for training of my problem dog, Rowdy, an Irish Terrier. Trainer Michael Hagan is wonderful and amazingly I saw results during his first visit. During that visit Michael spent a lot of time with me and my two dogs, explaining everything. The method makes a lot of sense to me. I followed his directions, keeping up with the training after he left, and continue to see improvement. I went from feeling very frustrated and alone in dealing with my sweet dog to seeing that things can change. And I feel secure knowing that Michael is always there for me. Follow his advice, do the work, and you will also see results. I can't recommend his services enough. He is not the first trainer I have worked with, but he is the best! read more

Michael is a wonderful communicator and helped our family to understand our dogs, which is helping us to make changes to help our dogs feel secure. I hadn't realized how much pressure my dogs had been feeling because I wasn't giving them the security I thought I was. I feel like I have had a complete revelation and perspective change thanks to Michael's knowledge and communication. I didn't feel like a failure as a dog parent, even though I certainly can see where I have changes to make for my dogs emotional security. Micheal was thorough and informative, and he clearly cares deeply about the quality of life of all dogs. I appreciate the time he spent with our family and look forward to a new way of communicating with my fur babies. read more

We have been so happy with Henley's progress. We have consistently worked on a variety of his exercises with the exception of our vacation over the past weekend. Nonetheless, our parents did their best to use Bah, etc. They reported that he seemed like a different dog and he as very well behaved. We have run into a few occasions last week where Henley gets on the couch and doesn't get down even with the clap and spray but this week he has stayed away from furniture or gotten down immediately. Thank you! read more

Some background; I rescued a 6 month old pitbull named Kona in 2017 and an 8 month old pitbull named Noodle in 2019. Kona was abandoned and abused and Noodle was hit by a car and had a broken leg. Both were fearful of men and strangers and overly friendly to other dogs. Noodle is extremely reactive to anything that moves (bikes, skateboards, kids, vacuums...). Kona has been stuck in her ways of running the house for 4 years with little training other than basic commands. When adopting Noodle we knew we had to train the bad habits out of Kona so Noodle would not pick up on them... (wrong!) Kona antagonized Noodle into behaving badly for her. Noodle is our Tasmanian devil/firecracker. She has so much puppy energy and gets overwhelmed when new people come into her space. I had been thinking of training her (them) for a while, but all the trainings I found were sending the dogs off for a week to a boarding and spending $$$$$$. I came across Bark Busters (which is totally affordable) and Michael was sent to us. My family was pretty skeptical at first but after they saw the changes in the girls they became amazed and now spread the word to other families!!! The first session was Michael explaining to us the "why" behind the girls behavior and how we are feeding into it subconsciously. He goes over canine language, pack leaders, green and red zones, and body language. We didn't think it was possible, but within MINUTES the girls were behaving and listening to us!! We did training and programming in the house, the backyard, and outside on walks (where they misbehave the most). We do have our own homework to do and with any training, the more consistency the better; but the reward and the outcome is worth the 10-15 minutes of training and programming a day. It doesn't happen overnight, and after 4 years of Kona's stubbornness and Noodle's trauma to moving things after being hit, it took a little for them to readjust to the new rules, but I'm honestly speechless when I see how far they have come. I am so proud of my girls (even on their bad days) and would definitely recommend Michael and Bark Busters training to everyone! read more

Bark Busters Ventura County - Kona (left) & Noodle (right) - Pet Training Near Me

Michael has been absolutely amazing with helping us train our dogs! After just the first visit, we could already see a huge difference in our two pups! Michael is incredibly knowledgeable, kind and passionate about what he does! We will forever recommend Bark Busters to all our dog owner friends! read more

Simply put, Michael's training is awesome. I am absolutely amazed by the progress we saw during our first virtual session and after just one week of practice. Our 1-year old golden, Yeti, definitely has a mind of his own and Michael really went in depth explaining the psychology and underlying causes of the behavior and the psychology of creating new behaviors. This was so interesting and very helpful. And his techniques worked so well and so fast! We are well on our way to a perfectly well-behaved dog. And I'm loving working with Yeti at home and growing our bond :) Thank you!!! read more

Michael is awesome. I can't thank him enough for all his help. We have a foster dog who has some agressive tendencies and the exercises he has given us are to work on are so helpful. Michael is very knowledgeable, professional, and patient. I would recommend him to anyone without reservation. Thank you Michael! read more

Michael came out today to help us with some behavioral issues with our dog and he was amazing! Our story is we have a 3 year old Great Dane with separation anxiety. We thought we had it under control with medication until last weekend while working in the front yard he escaped the back yard to come find me. On the way he met with a small dog who was on a walk. He proceeded to pick up in his mouth like a toy. He did not hurt the dog, he truly was only trying to play with him, but scared his owner. My husband and I thought his behavior stemmed from his separation anxiety so I searched for an dog behaviorist because our dog has already had obedience training and I am not sending him to boot camp to possibly be physically harmed. I also wanted someone who would come to our home, assess our dog and his surroundings. Michael was exactly what I was looking for. He confirmed that our dog was not aggressive, but his separation anxiety was severe and he feels a need to protect me. After spending a little over 3 hours with us our dog was already understanding and making behavioral changes. He had already stopped barking at the doorbell and understood his boundaries. I love the technique they use for correction as well as rewards. I cannot say enough good things. We are very pleased and will recommend him to all our friends. I honestly think the hardest part is going to be training me, not the dog. read more

I have met with 4 trainers, some over the span of months, and had 0 results until my first session with Michael. It's been 3 days since and I'm already astounded at the progress my dogs have made. I wouldn't have believed it was possible if I hadn't experienced it! They are calmer, they listen better, they're already barking significantly less. And Michael's good with people too! My boyfriend is always a skeptic when it comes to dog training but he's SOLD on Michael & his advice - you just can't argue with the results! My household is calmer and the relationships between each dog and each person are stronger because they trust us to guide them and protect them rather than the other way around. I previously worked with a different trainer for my sighted dog, and one day I asked her if we could work with my blind dog. She said "I don't know how to work with blind dogs, you'd have to find somebody who specializes in that." Well, Michael didn't hesitate for a moment, and his methods have worked equally well with the sighted and blind dog. He creatively modified a few of the training exercises, but other than that, the training works the same. Keep in mind, all this progress is after one session which happened to be a Zoom meeting (thanks rona). This man will make it work!! I can't wait to update with results over a longer period of time. read more