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Hello,

I’m Karen Gaines

Hi! I’m Karen Gaines, your local dog trainer and behaviorist, serving all of San Francisco and Marin County.

Using refined methods, proven in over 25-years of results with over one-million dogs across the globe, I will solve your dog’s behavioral problems.  I will come to your home and evaluate your dog and customize solutions to address your dog’s unique challenges and train both of you right in your home (where all behavioral issues originate).  I will use positive, dog-friendly techniques that are easy, accessible, and quick for you to master, producing dramatic results that are guaranteed for life.  

Here are some of the benefits you will experience from our Bark Busters dog training methods:

  • Refined and proven methods—Bark Busters has trained over one-million dogs across the world over the last 25 years, using a carefully refined method of dog obedience training, developed by Bark Busters founders, Sylvia and Danny Wilson.  The Bark Busters system is host to the world’s largest network of dog trainers and has the benefit of more-than-25 years of real experience and results from dogs and trainers all over the globe.
  • In-home training—I come to your home, aka “the den”, where all behavioral issues originate, to assess your dog’s issues and develop a customized plan to resolve those issues.  After we succeed at correcting the behavior in your home, we can venture outdoors or to locations off-site to work with distractions.  When appropriate, I bring my dogs as a “tool”, an added benefit to work with dog aggression to off leash training.
  • Customized, personalized solutions to address your unique challenges— I will assess your dog and your situation and tailor an approach that will work for whatever the specific situation dictates, making adjustments as we observe how your dog reacts to the techniques.  Your dog is an individual, and your family and home has a unique “personality” to it. I will design a program to address your specific needs.  
  • Positive, dog-friendly techniques—The Bark Busters methods foster a positive relationship between you and your dog, creating a lasting emotional bond with trust and respect, which aids in addressing your dog’s behavioral challenges.  We will achieve great results without having to use any kind of force (i.e., shock collars, choke collars, pinning, or other types of intimidation) or food extortion/bribery (i.e., treats and clickers).
  • Universally effective—No matter if your dog is a puppy or senior citizen, a Chihuahua or a Great Dane, from a breeder or a shelter, regardless of what behavioral issues your dog has, I can help!  Any breed, any age, any issue!
  • Flexible scheduling—I’m available 7 days a week (including evenings) to work around your hectic schedules and to allow time for the whole family to be involved!
  • Organic approach—The natural Bark Busters approach uses the same type of communication that dogs instinctually use as part of their pack, focusing on body language and voice tones.  I will teach you how to “speak dog”, to communicate with your dog in a language he already innately understands, almost instantly reducing stress and anxiety and resulting in a relaxed, well-mannered canine companion.   
  • Efficient, cost-effective system—Because we are tapping into a communication style your dog innately understands, you will see results after just one session, and dramatic improvement with your consistent practice and reinforcement.  Then, in follow-up sessions, we can fine tune and address any lingering issues.  This is significantly more cost-effective than group classes and other individual private lessons, where you might have to attend lessons for weeks or even months to achieve results.
  • Guaranteed lifetime support—Bark Busters is the only international dog training company that offers a worldwide written lifetime guarantee.  If your circumstances change and your dog starts acting up a couple of years down the road, call me, and I’ll come for a visit, and we’ll get the problem solved!
  • Life-saving behavior modification—The Bark Busters method has succeeded where others have failed.  These unique, simple techniques have saved countless lives of dogs with behavioral issues from being separated from their families and left to languish in shelters or be euthanized.  25 years of results from across the globe, the largest network of experienced trainers with expertise in the world… whatever the issue, we will come up with a solution.  Please don’t give up on your dog!  Call ME!

Bark Busters is recommended by :

 

Contact Karen Gaines & Adam Kravetz
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Bark Busters

Training Types

Behavior Therapy

Behavior Therapy

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

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Puppy Training

Puppy Training

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

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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.

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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.
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Areas

We Service

Albany, Belvedere Tiburon, Bolinas, Boyes Hot Springs, Corte Madera, Crockett, Dillon Beach, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, El Verano, Fairfax, Forest Knolls, Greenbrae, Hercules, Inverness, Kentfield, Lagunitas, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Napa, Nicasio, Novato, Olema, Petaluma, Pinole, Point Reyes Station, Port Costa, Richmond, Rodeo, Ross, San Anselmo, San Francisco, San Geronimo, San Pablo, San Quentin, San Rafael, Sausalito, Stinson Beach, Tomales, Vallejo, Vineburg, Woodacre 94005, 94014, 94015, 94025, 94027, 94030, 94044, 94062, 94080, 94089, 94101, 94102, 94103, 94103, 94104, 94105, 94106, 94107, 94107, 94108, 94110, 94111, 94112, 94114, 94115, 94116, 94117, 94118, 94119, 94120, 94121, 94123, 94124, 94125, 94126, 94127, 94129, 93131, 94133, 94135, 94136, 94137, 94138, 94139, 94140, 94141, 94142, 94143, 94144, 94145, 94146, 94147, 94150, 94151, 94152, 94153, 94154, 94155, 94156, 94157, 94158, 94159, 95160, 94161, 94162, 94163, 94164, 94165, 94166, 94167, 94169, 94169, 94170, 94171, 94172, 94175, 94177, 94188, 94199, 94403, 94525, 94530, 94558, 94559, 94564, 94569, 94581, 94589, 94599, 94706, 94801, 94802, 94803, 94804, 94805, 94806, 94807, 94808, 94820, 94901, 94903, 94904, 94912, 94903, 94914, 94914, 94915, 94920, 94924, 94925, 94929, 94930, 94933, 94937, 94938, 94939, 94940, 94941, 94942, 94945, 94946, 94947, 94948.