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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 2022, 2023, and 2024! Schedule a call to learn more about our program offerings today!

We provide holistic training that ensures the best welfare for your pup. We train basic manners, behavioral issues, and service/therapy/facility dogs. portal.busypaws.app/customers/bark-4-joy-dog-training-llc

08/19/2025

We FINALLY got to attend the dog pool event 🏊‍♀️

Sherman had such an amazing time! We can’t believe how many dogs were there…

👉🏻 Did we miss you? Share a photo of your pup at the pool!

08/14/2025

Meet Athena 😍

This sweet 5 month old pup is learning to be the bestest girl she can 🥰 Her mom has done an incredible job already, so we are providing guidance as Athena navigates her pre-teen months.

We absolutely love working with pups, and Athena is no exception 💙💜

Do you have a pre-teen or teenage dog that could use guidance? 🤔

08/12/2025

Get your water gear ready and meet us at Holter Lake Saturday August 23 🐾

This paddleboarding adventure will be from 10am-2pm ☀️ You’re welcome to join whether you have a paddleboard or kayak, even if your dog hasn’t been on the water before 😁

Check out our website for more information! We can’t wait to see you there! 🤿

08/11/2025

☎️ Communicating with your dog is easy, but communicating effectively? That’s something that takes time, practice, and skill.

The best way to speed up the learning process is through a bridge - a clicker or marker word such as “yes”.

💡Every time your dog offers a behavior you like, click or say “yes” and deliver a reward.

You can even “charge” this word. Here’s a homework assignment!

Grab 10 treats 🥓 the size of a pea 🫛. Click or say “yes” for any behavior you like and deliver the treat. After 10 repetitions, your dog should understand that a bridge = treats 😇

Drop a comment and let us know how it goes!

08/10/2025

Ewww… snakes 🐍

Don’t worry, we don’t like them either 🥶 However, we share their home when we venture out into the wilderness. This means it’s up to us to ensure our dogs are safe!

Join us for Montana’s only reward-based rattlesnake avoidance class 😁 While most avoidance clinics utilize an e-collar, this class will focus on skills and behaviors to teach your dog to avoid snakes independently. 👉🏻 Don’t worry, we don’t use live snakes!

This will be a 3-day class - August 27, 28, and 29th from 6-7pm. The investment is $195 per dog.

🚦Please note: This class does not 100% guarantee results. Each owner must put in the time and energy to continue training.

08/08/2025

Let’s get this girl adopted‼️ Please share 😇

Lucy is currently at LCHS where the staff is taking great care of her, but we’d love for Lucy to find a permanent home 🏠

She loves using her nose, so if you like participating in scent work, she’s your gal! Teach her to find lavender oil, antlers, truffles, and more 😄

🐶 If you’re searching for an adventure buddy, Lucy is ready to meet you!

She can be adopted 12-4pm Tuesday through Sunday at Lewis and Clark Humane Society.

08/06/2025

Summer is halting to a stop, but we are determined to enjoy every moment! ⛱️

Our paddleboarding class was so successful earlier this summer, so we want to try something new 🤩

👙Get your water gear ready for a half-day adventure at Holter Lake! This outing from 10am-2pm will provide so much information and fun, you’ll be talking about it through Christmas 🎄

🍉 Learn dog paddleboarding or kayaking skills

🍉 Enjoy a picnic on the beach (bring your own food)

🍉 Drink and talk with dog owners who share similar passions

🍉 Talk about safety regarding swimming, HAB, and more!

If we offered this in August or early September, who’s in? 🤩🥰

Comment below to let us know if this is your cup of tea 🫖

08/05/2025

We are so happy to welcome Rocket back!

2 years ago, he spent a number of months training with us to create lasting results ☺️

This training 🌟shined 🌟 through today when we encountered two deer in a neighborhood. He calmly observed, but he remained quiet and kept the leash loose.

Great job, Rocket! 🚀

08/01/2025

➡️ Are you tired? 😪

Tired of the lack of results? 😤 Tired and frustrated from ineffective communication? 🤪 Tired of not feeling supported? 👎🏻

At Bark 4 Joy, we strive to ensure our clients are supported, heard, and see clear results with our effective, holistic training methods 💪🏻

We have programs for every dog and every client, from our Joyful Foundations Puppy Program to our Calm & Confident Reactive Dog Transformation Program. We also have programs for everyone in between! 😁

Don’t settle for less than you and your dog deserve. You deserve better, and we deliver the best!

👩‍💻 What program are you interested in??

07/31/2025

Meet ✨Lucy✨

I had the privilege of training this amazing, sweet dog today 😍 We visited the Fairgrounds and reward her hard training efforts after with a Bark 4 Joy pup cup from Scenic Brew ☕️

I have NO idea why someone hasn’t snatched this cutie yet! She’s great with kids 👧, good with other dogs 🐕, and she does great on a leash ‼️

We took a nice long walk around the park, trained around deer 🦌 and birds 🦆, and then sat and watched the world go by.

This sweet girl has been at the shelter for almost two months 😫 She’s simply had situations fall through, so now she’s in search of the perfect family.

You can meet this gem 💎 at Lewis and Clark Humane Society! They are open 12-4pm through Saturday, and then they re-open next Tuesday.

07/30/2025

Next on our list is our popular day training programs, now called Brains & Biscuits Day School 🐶

🎓🚌 We developed this program several years ago when we saw a gap in the dog training community in Helena. Working professionals had to forego training; busy moms weren’t able to find peace in a busy household; traveling professionals had no where to turn for their young puppies. 😫 Now, this is one of our most popular, and most successful, training options 🤩

Dogs receive 8 hours with a professional trainer who meticulously creates a schedule for that dog and their specific goals 📚 Each outing provides high-level training, and a bundle of videos for the day allows clients to be part of their dog’s journey.

Day school packages can be just a half day (4 hours) or up to 8, 8-hour visits with the trainer. No matter the needs, we help clients succeed!

Ready to begin your dog’s training? Comment below! 🤓

07/28/2025

The first program we want to highlight are our membership options 😄

Our memberships are great for anyone!

🐾 New puppy? Let us help with a 6 or 12 month membership to build confidence and resilience.

🐶 Scared, lunging dog? A membership is the perfect way to have continued support through a difficult time.

🐕‍🦺 Just adopted a shelter dog? Start your new lives off on the right paw with support from a professional trainer.

⏩ With 3, 6, and 12 month membership options, you’ll receive access to a number of our best selling services 🤩

These spaces are limited to ensure each client receives the best care, so don’t delay!

Drop a comment below for more information 🌻

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.