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Monday 9am - 4:30pm Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm Thursday 9am - 4:30pm Friday 9am - 4:30pm

Bark 4 Joy Dog Training, LLC

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United States
Helena, MT
Bark 4 Joy Dog Training, LLC

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

02/07/2026

HELLO EVERYBODY!! 🐾

It’s me, Chewy! 🤎🐶 Ready to wiggle my way into your heart!

Today, I had the BEST opportunity to go with a Bark 4 Joy trainer to Carroll College to learn and explore! 🌲🎒

We practiced manners around other dogs and humans (because I really like to talk 🐕💬), and worked on not snatching treats before I earn them (apparently that’s called impulse control 🙃🍪). The trainer said I was a total pro by the end of our outing! 😌🐾

A few more fun facts about me:
🐾 I’m about 1.5 years old
🚗 I’d do great in a home with another dog or a dog-savvy cat
🐕 I’m VERY treat-motivated and super smart
🥾 I’m an adventure guy. Wherever you want to explore, I’m in!
🏠 Once my energy is out, I’m a total love bug

The trainer said I’m a fast learner who loves figuring out how to earn treats! 🍖🧠 I picked up leash manners and public manners quickly and just need consistency to keep leveling up! 🌟🐕‍🦺

So if you’re looking for an adventure buddy who will happily earn his way into your heart, come meet me at Lewis and Clark Humane Society! 🏡🦴💙
I can’t wait to find my forever home! 🐾💫

lewisandclarkhumanesociety

02/06/2026

Warning: excessive jokes ahead 🐾❤️

Our doggy Valentine’s cards are here and they’re equal parts sweet and ridiculous 😂

We are grateful for all of our furry Valentines! 💘

02/04/2026

Teenage stage got you feeling looney? 🥴 Us too!

Join us in this 4 session course to work on coping skills, activities to ensure you're not overwhelmed, and engage in thought provoking training!

This course is designed for dogs 🐕(or really their humans) suffering from behaviors categorized as adolescent - not listening, jumping, fearfulness, barking, and more. Ages 5 months to 1 year are welcome! Contact us if your dog is outside of this age range for pre-approval.

Ready to sign up? Follow this link 🔗

https://portal.busypaws.app/customers/bark-4-joy-dog-training-llc/online_bookings/select_time?booking_attempt_id=3470169&selected_location_id=1201&selected_series_id=3539

02/01/2026

Most recall problems aren’t stubbornness 🫣, they’re habits we accidentally teach.

Here are 3 common mistakes with recall👇
🐾 Only calling your dog when playtime ends
🐾 Repeating “come” over and over
🐾 Expecting too much too quickly

Here’s what to do instead ✔️
✨ Reward every recall
✨ Say it once
✨ Practice in new places and use management techniques

Make “come” the BEST part of the dogs’ day! Treats, praise, and sometimes sending them back to play will set a dog up for success.

🛟 Save this for your outdoor adventure!

01/31/2026

Meet Reba 🤎🐾

This 6-month-old chocolate Lab is working with us on strengthening her recall and learning polite greetings 👋🏻

Like many adolescents, she’s full of enthusiasm, so we’re focusing on impulse control, coming when called around distractions, and keeping four paws on the floor.

Reba is smart, motivated, and already making great progress—we’re excited to keep building these skills with her! ♥️

01/28/2026

Choosing a dog trainer? Here’s why continuing education matters. ⬇️🐾

Dog training is always evolving, and the best trainers evolve with it. Trainers who actively pursue ongoing education bring more skill, safety, and science-backed methods to every session🎓📚✏️

When you hire a trainer committed to learning, you get:
🧬 Up-to-date, evidence-based training techniques
💪 Safer handling and stronger focus on dog welfare
🧠 Better problem solving for challenging behaviors
🏫 Education based training plans tailored to your dog
💬 Clearer communication and stronger owner coaching
‼️ Advanced knowledge for reactivity, anxiety, and aggression cases
🧑‍🎓 A higher level of professionalism, ethics, and accountability

Continuing education isn’t just a bonus, it’s a commitment to delivering better results, better care, and better outcomes for you and your dog 💕🦮

01/25/2026

Sherman, Bark 4 Joy’s Field Worker, decided to have a crafty Saturday ✂️

What human activity is your dog doing today? Maybe typing on a computer 💻? Perhaps cutting up carrots 🥕?

Share your photo below!

01/19/2026

January is National Train Your Dog Month, so here’s our 5th tip!

Dogs repeat behaviors that work for them‼️

If you like it, reward it. That means noticing and reinforcing the small, everyday choices your dog makes like -
🚨Checking in with you
🚨Lying calmly
🚨Choosing not to bark
🚨Walking nicely past a distraction

Training isn’t just about cues; it’s about shaping the dog you live with by consistently rewarding the behaviors you want to see more of.

Here’s an example 📚
SMART-50 stands for See, Mark, And Reinforce Training – 50 times a day. Today, set a goal to reward your dog for 50 good choices they offer on their own. Keep treats (or kibble) in a jar or pouch and mark (with “yes” or a click) and reward calm, polite, or thoughtful behavior throughout the day.

👉 Comment “SMART-50” if you’re in—and share one behavior you caught and rewarded!

01/18/2026

🐶 “The dog training industry is unregulated.”
You’ve probably heard that phrase or something close to it… but what does it actually mean?

✨ In simple terms:
There’s no official rulebook for dog trainers.

👉 Anyone can call themselves a dog trainer
👉 No required license, degree, or certification
👉 Training methods aren’t legally standardized
👉 Certifications exist, but they’re optional and vary widely

⚠️ This means:
• Advice can differ a lot from trainer to trainer
• Outdated or harmful methods could still be used legally
• Dog owners are responsible for doing the vetting

💡‼️Why it matters:
Unregulated doesn’t mean “bad”… but it does mean education, ethics, and transparency are incredibly important for dog welfare, public safety, and owner trust.

🐕‍🦺The Bark 4 Joy Impact:
At Bark 4 Joy, we strive for continuing education and meeting you and your dog where you’re at. Each team member is equipped with various experiences and education that can help you reach your goal! Check out the “About” tab on our website for more information.

🐾 The takeaway: Ask questions. Learn the methods. Choose trainers who value continuing education and your dog’s well-being.

01/17/2026

Ready to take your dog’s training to the next level?

Our 6-week AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Group Class is designed to build real-world manners, confidence, and reliability—then put those skills to the test!

📅 STARTING TONIGHT!! and runs for 6 weeks

🐕 What we’ll work on:
✔️ Polite greetings
✔️ Loose leash walking
✔️ Reliable sits, downs & stays
✔️ Calm behavior around distractions
✔️ Handling, grooming & real-life scenarios

🏅 The best part?
At the end of the program, dogs will have the opportunity to test for the official AKC Canine Good Citizen title right here with us.

Perfect for:
✨ Dogs who have completed basic training
✨ Future therapy dog or service dog prospects
✨ Owners who want a well-mannered, confident companion

📩 Message us or visit www.bark4joydogtrainining.com to enroll!

01/16/2026

HELLO!! 🐾💙 Hemi here 🤎🐕

Yesterday, I had an AWESOME opportunity to explore the walking mall with a Bark 4 Joy trainer! 🌳🐾

First, I returned my book rentals to lewisandclarklibrary! Next, I took a stroll down the walking mall and paused outside of the windbagsaloon where I posed for a photo 📸 After, we wandered to tenmilecreekbrewery where I took a seat and had a drink 🥃 (just kidding 😉), and lastly, I viewed the menu at bigdipperhelena!

Phew 😮‍💨 I was a busy boy! I even saw a statue for the first time, but it didn’t phase me.

A few fun facts about me:
🐾 I’m about 5 years old
🤎 I love the country life, but I can adapt with a little love!
🐕 I enjoy making eye contact, especially if freeze dried beef liver is involved
🚶‍♀️ I love walking and exploring
🏠 I’m a speedy learner!

I’m considered “extra large”. I thought they meant an extra large fry 🍟, but apparently it’s because of my size! With a little exercise (maybe even with Bark 4 Joy’s Woofs & Workouts program), I’ll be a nice, healthy, and fit boy! Come meet me at Lewis and Clark Humane Society! 🏡💙

I can’t wait to find my forever home! 🐾✨

01/15/2026

It’s important that our board and train pups feel special 💅

Whether that be relaxing music 🎶, a tasty snack 🥕, or stairs into the car 🚙!

Meet Comet 💫 He’s a 16 week old (yes, you read that right!) St. Bernard Poodle, and he’s as soft as he looks 😂

Comet not only had a hard time entering and exiting a vehicle, we also wanted to ensure his safety. His young age and fragile bones/joints make it unsafe for him to jump in and out of a car. To make him most comfortable, we utilized our car stairs! He does amazing with these 😁

Want to know how we would make your dog feel like part of the family? 💙💜 Drop a comment below!

Address

Helena, MT
59601

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 4:30pm
Thursday	9am - 4:30pm
Friday	9am - 4:30pm

Website

http://www.bark4joydogtraining.com/

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A little more about Bark for Joy

Madie Sanford is a dog lover, just like you!

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.