facebook instagram

Welcome to Bark Busters of Southern Connecticut

I help clients live a happier life together with their dogs!

The most important thing you can teach your dog is that you are their leader. This is true in virtually all aspects of their lives. I teach and coach my clients, using natural communication methods that dogs understand, how to be the “leader of the pack.”

Doing private behavioral dog training in your home is important. In your home is where we can best get your dog’s attention.  In your home is where most problems occur. It’s also where we can obtain the fastest results. Clients often see results in the first session!

I use only dog-friendly, non-food-based, and non-physical methods (no shock collars or harsh methods ever!).

I can help you with all dog behavior and dog training, including:

  • aggression
  • barking
  • housebreaking
  • separation anxiety
  • jumping up
  • door rushing
  • nipping/biting
  • pulling on the leash
  • obsessive-compulsive behaviors
  • chewing/destructive behavior
  • leash reactivity and aggression
  • over-exuberance
  • sibling rivalry
  • MORE!

You name it … ANY AGE, ANY BREED, ANY ISSUE!

 

My Approach:

Every dog is different, and there is no cookie cutter approach. My job is to customize what I’m teaching to better accommodate a particular dog or owner personality, family situation, environment, etc. The beauty of our program is that the dogs ultimately “get it,” and we accomplish your goals together in a way that builds and enhances the dog-owner bond.

As your trainer, I pride myself on listening to my clients and their concerns and needs and delivering results that address those.

I come into the home and assess the situation and design a training plan that will get my clients the best results quickly. Sometimes assessing the true root of a problem behavior requires us to do a little bit of detective work. No matter how simple, seemingly complex, or unusual the problem may be, together, we’ll devise a solution to address it.

 

About Michael DiStassio:

I’ve been a dog lover my whole life.  Like humans, I love that each dog has their own unique personality.

I became familiar with the Bark Busters philosophy when I, myself, hired a Bark Busters dog trainer seven years ago. My English Bulldog was not in love with the fact that she now had to share the spotlight with twin babies. She was stressed and fearful. What should have been a joyous time, the birth of my twins, was now one that had me anxious.

What I witnessed in the first lesson alone was magical. It gave me the confidence to establish myself as my dog’s leader. Seeing my pup’s transformation happen right in front of me was nothing short of amazing.  Fast forward several years later, and now I’m the one helping clients to live in harmony with their dogs.

When I em-“bark”-ed (pun intended?) on this journey to become a Bark Busters dog trainer and behavioral therapist, I couldn’t imagine the fullfillment.  I am passionate about what I do. And, I’m grateful that almost daily I get to touch people’s lives.

I help clients live a happier life together with their dogs!

Welcome to Bark Busters of Southern Connecticut

Bark Busters

Training Types

Behavior Therapy

Behavior Therapy

Jumping up, pulling on the lead, biting, mouthing, nipping, inappropriate toileting, aggression towards dogs, food aggression.

Puppy Training

Puppy Training

Our customised puppy management program includes fast track housebreaking and toilet training, general obedience, walking to heel, sit / stay.

Obedience Training

Obedience Training

Full obedience training for dogs of all ages and breeds; sit, down, stay, loose lead walking, attentiveness, distance control and recall training.

Bark Busters

Packages

Lifetime Support Guarantee

Lifetime Support Guarantee

The Bark Busters worldwide dog behaviour training support guarantee is unique in the industry. It is designed to help owners resolve their dog behaviour issues and dog obedience issues and to provide our customers with ongoing peace of mind. It provides for the following:

  • Written: Clients receive a written, signed copy of the dog training guarantee on their Bark Busters receipt which is an official Bark Busters Australia document and outlines all the training methods which must be adopted to resolve your dog’s behaviour problems.
  • Backed Up: The Bark Busters guarantee is backed up by the world’s largest dog training company. Copies of all guarantee receipts are retained at Bark Busters’ Australia & New Zealand Head Office.
  • Service Guarantee: The Bark Busters guarantee simply states that if the owner continues to carry out all of the training instructions provided by the therapist at the training lessons, the Bark Busters therapist will continue to work with the owner, to achieve the desired results, for either one year, or the life of the dog (depending on the service obtained) at no additional charge. Most clients prefer the lifetime support guarantee because they receive peace of mind for very little additional cost.
  • All Problems Covered: The guarantee provides for ongoing, free assistance no matter if the same problems recur, or if new problems arise. There is never an additional charge when your trainer returns, except for transportation costs if agreed in advance in certain areas falling outside the geographical area covered by your trainer.
  • Guarantee Moves With The Dog: If for any reason the dog needs to be re-homed, the remaining term of the guarantee passes to the new owner for a nominal fee. In the case of the lifetime support guarantee, the new owner will be trained and will receive the benefits of the guarantee for the life of the dog. The one-year guarantee applies if the re-housing is done within the first year. Clients can upgrade to the lifetime support guarantee for an additional charge.
  • Guarantee Moves With The Owner: If the owner moves to another location, the guarantee continues to be valid, either for the life of the dog, or one year from the date of the first lesson, depending on the service. If there is a Bark Busters therapist reasonably close by, services will be provided at no charge. If a trainer is not close by, Bark Busters will provide assistance by phone and email. People who move to parts of the world where Bark Busters has offices, ongoing assistance is also covered at no additional charge.
  • Limitations of Cover: The guarantee may not be transferred to another dog. The guarantee is not a money back guarantee. If the dog is euthanised or the dog dies the guarantee is rendered null and void. All training advice must be adopted by the owner in order for the guarantee to remain valid. If the owner adopts an alternative form of training without prior discussion with their therapist this will render the guarantee null and void.
  • Over 27 Years of History: Bark Busters has grown to be the largest dog training company in the world, with over 1 million dogs trained. The guarantee has been part of the company since 1989 when company founders, Danny and Sylvia Wilson, decided that it would help to significantly reduce the number of dogs that were being euthanised and provide customers peace of mind for many years. The company is expanding rapidly internationally and can be counted upon to fully honour its guarantee.

Areas

We Service

Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Bethlehem, Branford, Cheshire, Derby, East Haven, Hamden, Madison, Meriden, Middlebury, Milford, Morris, Nantucket MA, Naugatuck, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Northford, Oakville, Orange, Oxford, Prospect, Seymour, Siasconset, South Britain, Southbury, Southington, Thomaston, Wallingford, Waterbury, Watertown, West Haven, Wolcott, Woodbridge, Woodbury

Enter Your Zip Below...