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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

01/11/2026

HELLO EVERYBODY!! 🐾💛

It’s me, Mini! 🤎🐕 Are you taking it easy this Sunday? How about some playtime or cuddles instead? 😉🧡

Yesterday, I had an AWESOME opportunity to go out with a Bark 4 Joy trainer to explore a few spots around town, including a park and a big open field! 🌳🐾

We worked really hard on politely passing other dogs and their humans. The trainer was so proud of how well I did and how nicely I walked on leash! 😌👏

A few fun facts about me:
🐾 I’m about 5 years old
🤎 I love leaning in for affection
🐕 I’m great at following your lead with new experiences
🍖 I learn quickly and enjoy training
🏠 I’m a trusting, loving boy ready to bond with my forever family

The trainer said she loved teaching me how to climb on the playground, and how I greeted her with my signature leaning hugs. I guess you could say I’m a bit of a charmer. ✨🐶

Don’t let my name fool you… if you’re looking for a big guy with a big heart and lots of love to give, come meet me at Lewis and Clark Humane Society! 🏡💙

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

01/08/2026

If you didn’t know, January is our favorite month - It’s National Train Your Dog Month 🥰

Tip #3 - Train the dog you have today!

It’s easy to expect more from a dog, but training works best when we meet them where they are at today from their age and emotions to their stress level and current skills. Progress comes from working with the dog in front of you, not the idealized version we’ve created.

Drop a comment below to let us know how you’re training the dog you have TODAY 💙💜

01/07/2026

Check out this training session we did with a client at Alpine Animal Clinic!

🤯This pup was never able to be at the vet without sedation, but with strategic desensitization, he is much more comfortable.

In this video, we are using a series of training techniques. First, gradient touch. We tell the dog touch is starting and the hand slowly moves towards the area of interest.

Next, we name the body part. This was conditioned early on and always ends with a treat 🥳

Lastly, we are using a head rest position. The dog can simply lift his head at any point if he is uncomfortable, and the touch would stop.

Vet visits can be scary 😱 We can help make them a little less chaotic!

Interested in a Victory Visit? 🤔 Drop a comment below, and we will reach out!

01/06/2026

January is National Train Your Dog Month! Join us for tips and tricks throughout the month ‼️

Tip # 2

Keep sessions short and frequent! 5 to 10 minutes is ideal. Not to mention, it’s a lot easier to fit into a busy schedule.

Short sessions help dogs stay more engaged and more successful 🥳

Try a quick 5 minute training session, and let us know what your dog conquered 💪🏻

01/03/2026

Bringing home a puppy is exciting…
and then the biting, chaos, and “am I screwing this up?” feeling kicks in…

Here’s the truth:

👉 Most adult behavior problems start in puppyhood, not because owners fail, but because puppies miss early, structured learning.

Research shows puppies who attend early training and socialization classes are:

🐾More confident and resilient
🐾Better with people, dogs, and new environments
🐾Less likely to develop fear or reactivity
🐾Less likely to be surrendered later in life

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior states that early socialization (before 16 weeks) is one of the most important factors in preventing future behavior issues.

Puppy class isn’t just about sit and down.
It’s about building emotional stability, communication, and trust for the next 10–15 years.
And it’s for you, too. A plan. Support. Confidence. Less Googling at 2am.

🐶 Puppy Class Details:
📅 January 14, 16, 21, & 23
⏰ 5:30–6:30 PM

Your puppy doesn’t need perfection. They need guidance at the right time.

Spots are limited. Comment PUPPY or message us to save yours.

Know a new or overwhelmed puppy owner? Tag them below ⬇️

01/03/2026

The Bark 4 Joy Family grew by one yesterday ❤️

CEO, Madie Brustkern, picked up her new Doberman puppy, Tater!

His full name is Tater Tot Casserole Graham Cracker Crust 😂 Lots of opportunities for nicknames as Tater grows!

If you see Tater out don’t be afraid to make it a training session. Madie is carefully socializing Tater which means occasional slow introductions are beneficial for his growth 🥳

Welcome to the family, Tater!

01/02/2026

January is National Train Your Dog Month! Join us for the journey filled with tips and tricks 🤗

Tip # 1 🐾

Training isn’t about dominance or control. It’s about building a shared language with your dog.

Every cue you teach and every reward you deliver strengthens trust. When dogs feel understood, behavior improves naturally.

Share a moment today when your dog showed trust, even if it is a small win! 🏆

12/31/2025

There are so many things we could say about 2025, but the only one that really matters is -

‼️THANK YOU‼️

Our clients, followers, friends, and family help this business be successful, and we couldn’t be more thankful 🥰

Every time someone hits the share button, talks about us to their friends, or purchases an online course or in-person program, they help support our business. To say we are grateful doesn’t even begin to describe the gratitude we feel ❤️

We are excited to see where 2026 takes us! Make sure to keep following our page and invite your friends and family, too 🤗

education

12/31/2025

Meet Tin 👋

She’s been in our Brains and Biscuits Day School building confidence and reducing stress, particularly around other dogs 🐕

Through welfare-focused training methods, we’ve seen some amazing progress! One of the ways we have helped Tin is by introducing decompression. For her, that equals sniffaris 🐾

🐘🐅 Not safaris with elephants and tigers, but walks focused on sniffing and exploration. This simple action introduces a dog to agency, as well as promotes sniffing! (💡Hint: Sniffing reduces stress!)

We’re so proud of Tin!

Interested in learning more about sniffairs? Comment an emoji with your favorite animal below!

12/28/2025

🔔Ring in the New Year with your new puppy in our Joyful Foundations Puppy Group Class!

This class is designed for puppies, ages 8-16 weeks of age. With a combination of off-leash play and training, we provide a well-rounded socialization experience from play to noises to textures.

We also emphasize problem solving skills and resiliency, necessary tools to cope with stress later in life 🤗

Join us January 14, 16, 21, and 23 from 5:30-6:30pm for a class full of smiles and puppies 🐶

Questions? Drop a comment below ⬇️

Need some more convincing? 🎉 January is National Train Your Dog Month! How fun is that? 🥳 Puppy classes have been researched and proven effective for puppies to develop necessary life skills‼️ We also can keep you dedicated and hold you accountable for training (at least during class 😂).

See you there 😉

12/25/2025

Wishing you a Merry Christmas from the Bark 4 Joy team! We hope you stay warm, feel loved, and sneak in some extra puppy love!

Enjoy the happy holidays!

12/23/2025

🐾 Remember that post about understanding your trainer’s background? We wanted to expand on it!

Your pup means the world to you 💛 and choosing the right trainer is an important part of giving them the care they deserve. When searching for a trainer, here are a few key things to look for 👀✨

🔹 Mission Statement
What methods do they use? What’s their overall goal? Most importantly, does it align with what you want for your dog? 🐶
You can find ours underlined in teal!

🔹 Education
Where did they learn to train dogs? Do they have hands on experience, formal education, or ongoing learning that supports their knowledge? 📚
Bark 4 Joy’s commitment to Continuous Education is underlined in purple!

🔹 Titles & Certifications
While certifications aren’t required to be a great trainer, they can give insight into a trainer’s background and areas of expertise. Each acronym means something, and many are tied to organizations worth exploring 🏅
We encourage you to research the letters behind a trainer’s name and the groups they’re associated with.

✨ Remember, not having a specific certification doesn’t make someone any less of a trainer. There are many reasons trainers choose to pursue or not pursue titles and certifications.

💬 Don’t be afraid to ask questions before signing up for a program!

Your dog deserves the best and so do you 🐕💙

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.