This was groomer number 3 that we tried. My dog loved this place! I inquired about day care and he…read morewas 'interviewed' to see what he was like with the others at daycare. He passed! Everyone here is super nice and my lab agrees!!

Jose was absolutely wonderful! He was very kind and really listened to exactly what haircut and…read morestyle we wanted for our puppy, Coco. Coco was pretty nervous at first about meeting someone new, but Jose was so patient and gentle with her. She came back happy, calm, and looking absolutely beautiful. We couldn't be more pleased with the experience. Highly recommend!

**Life-Changing. Truly.**…read more I don't write reviews lightly and I especially don't write emotional ones--but Bark Busters of San Diego quite literally gave me my life back. For years, I lived in silence and stress. I couldn't leave my home without my dogs barking, howling, scratching at their crates, and spiraling into panic. The mouth watering alone was enough to break me. So instead, I stayed home. I adjusted my life around their anxiety. I suffered quietly because I loved them and didn't know what else to do. Until one day I broke down completely. I realized this wasn't living not for me, and not for them. We deserved calm. We deserved peace. We deserved to live our "best" lives and this wasn't it. Some people complain in reviews that dog training "doesn't work." Let me be very clear: anxiety whether in humans or dogs is not something you fix by checking a box. A true behavioral therapist understands one thing above all else, "awareness". Anxiety comes from surroundings and perceived safety. The work is learning how to respond and create calm and that takes consistency. I spent three straight weeks training four hours a day, every single day. I cried. I doubted myself. I wanted to quit. But I followed the Bark Busters program exactly as taught--daily simulations, real-world scenarios, repetition, and patience. And then something incredible happened. My dogs slept. They relaxed. They trusted. Today, I can leave my home and my dogs are calm, quiet, and peacefully sleeping, knowing I'm coming back. Visitors come and go with ease. My 9- and 6-year-old Maltipoos are relaxed, confident, and happy. And so am I. Here's the truth people don't want to hear, there is no magic pill. There is no shortcut. The training never "ends" because leadership and love are lifelong commitments. And honestly? That's the gift. Once it becomes part of your daily life, it feels natural. I walk more. The cuddles are calmer. I'm no longer being climbed on out of anxiety I'm being loved in peace. And about the cost? Think about it. You've already spent more on multiple trainers, treats, wasted time, emotional exhaustion, and a very unhappy household. Bark Busters' training is guaranteed for life. If you move. If life changes. If new challenges come you're supported. That matters more than people realize. Justin and his team are beyond words. Compassionate. Honest. Direct. They don't just train dogs, they train families. Value your pet's life. Value the short, precious time we get with them. Happiness--for everyone in the home is worth the work.

I'm updating my original 6-month review now that it has been a full year since we hired Bark…read moreBusters to help with our rescue dog Mimi. As first-time dog owners, the early support really did help us. Having someone we could call during those overwhelming first months was a relief. Over time, though, I realized I was hoping the training would shift toward more positive reinforcement. The constant, harsher corrections worked at first but eventually didn't seem effective anymore and started affecting my relationship with Mimi. I noticed this during a family trip where Mimi, who is usually fearful of strangers, bonded more easily with my husband and his family. She gravitated toward them when scared, and I realized it might be because they weren't following the correction-heavy approach, while I was. I also asked for help with Mimi's fear and reactivity toward other dogs, but was told they didn't have dogs available for training and that I would need to bring a calm, socialized dog myself. As a non-trainer, that was very hard, but we tried by traveling many hours to introduce her to my husband's family dog. The experience ended up being chaotic since the family didn't fully understand what the process required, and new people and dogs kept appearing even though Mimi wasn't ready. Her reactivity came back in that environment, which made me feel like the training had only put a bandaid on deeper fear issues. Maybe I should have clarified expectations better from the start, but with a high-need dog and being new to all of this, I didn't know what to expect. Since then, we've switched to a positive reinforcement trainer who organizes structured group activities. Mimi is still scared of bigger dogs and can still be reactive, but she's improving slowly and has been able to meet a few smaller dogs. She's also still fearful of people, but she nips a lot less now, so progress is happening. Overall, Bark Busters helped us in the beginning, but long-term we found that a different, more positive approach has been a better fit for Mimi.

Cannot say enough good things! We rescued a 5 year old borzoi who was very sweet but had no…read morecommands and also no motivations to help train her, John helped us find one specific treat that worked for her and helped us learn how to work with all her other weird kinks and now our girl can settle at restaurants and has basic commands down! He helped her become more confident and comfortable in the world, book with John you won't regret it!

Summer of 2024 I had an anxious, reactive, fearful, unwalkable big rescue dog. She broke harnesses,…read morepulled me to the ground, was afraid of people, and snapped at strangers and other dogs. My friends nicknamed her Cujo, it was that bad. I couldn't invite people to the house. Summer of 2025 I have a dog that loves meeting new dogs and people and runs around OB dog beach off leash. She's not reactive, she has great recall, she makes friends, I can have people over, she listens to commands, and she's so easy to walk. I took her into the vet this week and they removed the 'bite risk' warning from her file, they said it's like a completely different dog. She's not anxious or fearful. She's confident, playful, and so happy. All of this was because of training with John. He is patient, gentle, and kind. I can't put into words how grateful I am that we found him. I recommend him to every dog owner I know.

Jared is the best! I have 5 rescue dogs--several with crazy aggression and bite records--but with…read moreJared's training and dedication we were able to rehabilitate them and keep the peace in the home. One is even training right now to be a service dog! I can't recommend Jared enough for your fur babies. He is kind, but straight forward and will be honest about your situation. My dogs absolutely LOVE him and respect him and even two years since seeing him last, they were stoked and yet still on their best behavior!

Jared has been absolutely amazing with my three dogs! He's been working with them for a couple of…read moremonths now, and the progress has been incredible. You can really tell how precise and committed he is to what he does, he doesn't just go through the motions; he truly cares about getting the best results. Highly recommend Jared to anyone looking for a dedicated and effective trainer!

Tip: Self-wash hours are Monday-Sunday 10am-5:30pm. The self-wash for the dogs are not open for the…read moresame hours as the store. We made the mistake of assuming that one time. Another tip: if you have a hairy dog like ours, I'd suggest brushing them before the wash and after since it helps de-hair them. We've taken our medium size dog to this wash for almost a year and it's been great. There's always a wash available. They provide: shampoo, hair brush, pink scrub brush, aprons and towels. We'll bring in our our shampoo and towels. And we'll buy the pup-friendly cookies to give our dog as motivation to stay happy throughout the bath. Overall, we're happy with this service and my only complaint is that they'd offer later hours on weekdays.

We have had nothing but great experiences bringing our beagle to be pampered by Espy. Our furball…read morehas lots of hair (sheds) that needs some extra attention and she comes home so clean and smelling good. Lots of tail wagging on our way through the parking lot, so I know our pooch is always excited to see Espy.

This may sound repetitive but Tara IS an amazing trainer! From day one we felt comfortable with…read moreher style of training. She was very understanding of my demanding schedule and was always willing to work with me. She's amazingly patient, which came in handy while training my three crazy fur babies. She's brought much needed bonding back into our lives, and for that I recommend her to anyone who is looking for a trainer. If you're looking for someone who trains because they truly care, you're in the right place!

Tara is a great trainer and she's very patient. She helped…read moreme with my aggressive pup and helped me be able to take him around other dogs. Highly recommend - Would use again.

Omg Isabel is such a life saver!!! Everyone was telling me to get rid of my dog Dolce because of…read morehis separation anxiety. It was so bad that I had to move apartments because of the noise complaints I got. He tore a hole in my wall, destroyed crates, and screamed when he was left alone. A friend of mine recommended her to me when I was at my wits end. We've only been working with Isabel for 2-3 weeks and Dolce can already be left alone while I'm at work for 5 hours. He stays in my bedroom with the door closed SLEEPING!!! I never thought I would be able to leave him that long without getting a sitter and it feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Not only that, but Dolce walks so much better on the leash. We did board and train for one week and are doing continued weekly trainings. I'm so thankful and so excited to see how much more he grows!!!

Isabel is a miracle worker! My doggie Charlie has never been around another dog, for all 13 years…read moreand Isabel had him over to her home to doggie sit AND HE HUNG OUT WITH HER 2 DOGS!!! A dream come true for me!! It was so wonderful knowing that my Charlie was being well cared for. She walked him, gave him his medication, sent me pics and updates throughout ANDDDD she told me that her husband watched TV and cuddled with him hahahaha! I am SO grateful to have found Isabel. I think he even came back a better dog :)

Took my babies to Petsmart to get her Christmas pictures. Everybody was so friendly and happy and…read morethey were so helpful trying to get my dogs to come down and give them treats. Really love this location. Everybody here is always friendly

I recently brought my poodle in for a grooming appointment and was disappointed by my experience…read more While I understand that groomers must make decisions based on a pet's comfort and safety, I felt there was very little effort made to discuss options with me as the owner. I was told that because of some matting around my dog's neck, the solution was to shave her coat. From my perspective, the rest of her coat was in good condition and manageable. Rather than working together to explore alternatives, such as addressing the matted areas while preserving the rest of her groom, I felt the conversation was immediately shut down. What was most disappointing was not the recommendation itself, but the lack of collaboration and customer service. As a pet parent, I came in looking for professional guidance and a solution that considered both my dog's well-being and my concerns. Instead, I left feeling dismissed. Because of this experience, I chose not to move forward with the appointment and will be seeking grooming services elsewhere. I hope management takes this feedback into consideration, as better communication and a more client-focused approach could make a significant difference. Nefetari was my dog name ! Just in case petsmart sees this her appt was June 6 2026 at 10:30an