Learn to train proactively! We’ve been voted Best Dog Trainer in MT since 2022. We provide holistic training that ensures the best welfare for your pup.
We train basic manners, behavioral issues, and service/therapy/facility dogs. Schedule a call to learn more about our program offerings today! portal.busypaws.app/customers/bark-4-joy-dog-training-llc
04/05/2026
🐰 We hope you and your pup are having a wonderful Easter Sunday!
☀️ With the warm weather, there’s lots of fun things for your pup to sniff! If you haven’t already, try putting some treats in an egg and watch your pup open a delicious surprise on their own easter egg hunt!
💛 Full of love and cuddles, the Bark 4 Joy team wishes you a very Hoppy Easter!
🥚 Did your pup get anything from the Easter bunny? Let us know in the comments below! We would love to share the excitement 🐣
04/04/2026
Want to meet the cutest corgi? Bryce is your guy 😎
This young pup was with us for a board and train to work on his skills in new places around people and dogs. While it takes him a little while to warm up to someone, he quickly becomes your best friend ❤️
Our priority is to ensure the safety, welfare, and happiness of each pup we work with. Because Bryce was nervous, we protected his well-being through structure, routine, and training exercises to build his confidence.
Thanks for joining the Bark 4 Joy family, Bryce 🐾
04/02/2026
⭐️ Meet Honey!
✅ Honey just completed her multi-day Brains & Biscuits Day Train program for the month!
This smart cookie worked on:
☀️ Loose leash walking
☀️ Coming when called
☀️ Reliably responding to cues
☀️ Working through distractions
Honey came leaps and bounds while working on us! She went from blowing off cues to excitedly responding in a timely manner. We are so proud of her progress and are excited to see her continue to learn!
⁉️ Considering placing your pup in one of our programs to assist you in your training goals? Reach out to us to book a call and get started on your journey!
🍯 Great job Honey!
03/30/2026
✨ It’s not typical for a dog to refuse food in a safe, comfortable environment ✨
This often equates to thinking such as “my dog isn’t treat-motivated”, but what it really gives us is 🧠 information.
Information that our dog may be -
😬 Scared
😩 Overwhelmed
🤺 In fight or flight mode
This happens because eating is a behavior that requires safety! If a dog refuses food in a location, it tells us their system doesn’t feel safe enough to accept food.
This isn’t a personality flaw or training failure, it just means we need to adjust the environment!
Training should start with how the dog feels, so if they are feeling unsettled, how can you change their environment for success?
Give us some thoughts below ⬇️
03/26/2026
🔎 Wondering if starting your dog training journey with Bark 4 Joy is right for you?
👉 Look no further! These PAWsome pets are currently participating or recently participated in a variety of our programs.
⁉️ Wondering if we have a match for your needs? Check out our website! We offer a wide range of programs from private sessions, to day trains, to group classes!
⭐️ We love finding the best way to help you and your pup. Book a call with us today to find out where to start!
🐾 We will see you soon! 👀
03/26/2026
Look at these smart doggos! 👀
During our Obedience and Manners class tonight, we worked on impulse control. The owners were instructed to cut up carrots and celery while the dogs ignored them.
Next, we “accidentally dropped” these goodies to practice real-life scenarios! 👍🏻
Great job, Gracie and Rico ❤️
03/22/2026
It’s the most wonderful time of the year 🎶
It may not be the holidays, but it is the Best of Montana contest season 😊
We have been crowned Best Dog Trainer in Montana since 2022 when the contest began. We strive to earn this title through real nominations and votes from our clients, so we need your help ‼️
Here’s what we need you to do-
🐾 Tap the link in the comments
🐾 Find “Pets & Animals” or if you’re already there, find “Best Dog Trainer”
🐾 Enter “Bark 4 Joy” (with spaces!) and hit nominate - We don’t have a physical address, so the business won’t populate, but you can still nominate us
You can submit a nomination every day until April 20th, so please go back and enter us again! 🫶 The website will enter you to win a $500 cash drawing 💰
Let us know in the comments why you’re nominating us! Thank you from the bottom of our paws and hearts 💕
03/18/2026
We have space in our group class that starts TOMORROW ‼️ It is from 5:30-6:30pm, and we will be in East Helena.
Our Obedience and Manners course covers a variety of topics to help you feel more prepared for dog training and life in the real world 🌎
Join us in the 4 class sequence to learn more about dog communication and training, plus get access to our expansive virtual library! 📚
Message us for the sign-up link or visit our website.
03/10/2026
🐾 Big news from Bark 4 Joy owner, Madie Brustkern ‼️
I’m currently training my most important new client yet — a tiny human! Baby is on the way, due September 2026! 💛 I’ve trained a lot of puppies over the years… but, this will be my first human.
While I’m so excited for this next adventure, it does mean a few small adjustments to training over the coming months. For safety reasons, I’ll be prioritizing dogs who can keep all four paws on the ground during greetings. If your dog is still perfecting their Olympic-level jumping skills 😂, we may need to postpone sessions or look at alternative options for now.
Some services may also have slightly more limited availability while I prepare for this new chapter and balance business and baby. I will continue updating everyone as changes occur!
Thank you all for your continued support, flexibility, and for helping keep both trainer and baby bump safe during sessions. I feel so lucky to work with such wonderful people and their dogs! 🐶
03/04/2026
Don't forget to sign up for the classes you want to take this month!
Thankfully, we have tons of different group classes prepared for and your pup to stay on the grind 💪🐾
Head on over to our website at www.bark4joydogtraining.com and go to the “Classes” tab to learn about which class would be the best fit for you! 📝🏃
Can’t find what you are looking for? Shoot us a message or email! 🫶💖
We are excited to see you there! 👋🤭
03/04/2026
The service dog world can be tough to navigate, but with Bark 4 Joy by their side, these clients are more prepared! 💪
Our clients go through rigorous training and education to ensure their dog is properly behaved. We hold our clients to high expectations, so it isn’t an easy program… But, it is rewarding‼️
Caspian is one of our newer service dog clients, and he’s here with us for a board and train! He’s learning the ropes to public access to ensure he’s always in a working position and out of the way of others.
We are at full capacity for in-person service dog clients currently, but don’t hesitate to reach out to learn more about our program!
02/28/2026
Reward hierarchy 🐾✨
🦴🎾 A reward hierarchy is simply a list of what your dog finds most valuable. Ranked from “low value” to “high value”, your puppy can distinguish doing a good job to doing a GREAT job just by the treat you give them. For some dogs, kibble might be a great start. For others or more advanced skills, it’s cheese, tug, a squeaky toy, praise, or even getting to chase a ball that drives them!
🦮🐕 Every dog is different. What motivates one dog might not motivate another, and what’s high-value in your living room might not cut it at the park. Distractions matter!
💡🧠 Knowing your dog’s reward hierarchy helps you communicate clearly, reinforce behaviors effectively, and set them up for success in training. The right reward makes learning faster, more fun, and more reliable!
Tell us your dog’s favorite treat or toy in the comments 👇👇
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She is among the first few hundred people in the United States to receive a Bachelor’s in Anthrozoology. She studied horses and dogs and had the opportunity to train in many disciplines. Trish, one of Madie’s dogs, was trained in her undergraduate program. There, Trish learned narcotics detection, tracking, and an array of therapy/service tasks. Madie also worked with a friend to fully train a psychiatric service dog in just six months. While training the service dog, Madie assisted in rewriting Montana’s service dog law and testified as a proponent for the bill on two occasions.
Madie owns two dogs of her own: Trish (or Patrisha) and Sherman. Trish, who came from a shelter, is a Border Collie/Cattle Dog mix. Sherman was recently adopted from a rescue out of Fort Worth, TX called SPIN. Madie enjoys working with her dogs to help keep her training skills sharp.
Bark for Joy Dog Training was founded in 2018, the summer before Madie’s senior year at Carroll. She has been professionally training dogs ever since. She specializes in PTSD/psychiatric service dogs, but also does basic obedience, scent work, therapy training, and trick training. Currently, Madie is preparing to take her CPDT-KA exam. She also is earning her master’s degree in Companion Animal Science. Her thesis is on the environmental effects on canine olfaction.
Here at Bark 4 Joy, we like to call ourselves positive reinforcement enthusiasts. We use treats and praise for good behavior, but also utilize time outs when a dog engages in the incorrect behavior. We pride ourselves in ensuring your dog can continue to be themselves while also not developing any negative feelings towards you. Our mission is to ensure that your reach your training goals. To do so, we believe that it isn’t just the trainer’s responsibility to train but also yours! This means that Madie strives to teach you how to train your dog. After all, life is better with a (trained) dog!
