The Bark Stop - Force Free, Reward Based Puppy & Dog Training, Orlando FL

When we first adopted our pup Esme, we were a bit in over our heads when it came to training. Joe not only helped Esme become more attentive and engaged with us, but also helped me and my fiancé build our confidence to help her be successful. She’s now a pro with loose leash walking, follows almost all of her cues almost all of the time, and is enriched mentally and physically by the toys and tools that Joe recommended. We are so thankful we found The Bark Stop and I would 100% recommend Joe to anyone looking for a stellar trainer!

As new owners of a German Shepard puppy, my wife and I were looking for a great trainer to help us socialize, teach, and engage our pup with a reward based and effective manner. Joe was the absolute best trainer— providing key training and guidance to not only our puppy but us as owners in areas such as the PLACE, STAY, WITH ME, and DOWN commands. He also supported key socialization skills and how to effectively walk our puppy. Beyond that, Joe taught us how to train our puppy with fundamentals, tips and tricks for all other commands, behaviors, and tricks. We highly highly recommend Joe and his great services to anyone looking to enhance their training!

Joe at barkstop has been fantastic to work with. We've done several training sessions, stay and trains, and group training with our pug pup Momo. She's very high energy and can be a struggle at times but she instantly took a liking to Joe. Her ability to now focus and listen while not yet perfect, is so greatly improved from Joe's help and training. During the training he works with momo directly in a positive reinforcement approach and walks us through the process and ideology along the way so we can reinforce and continue the training at home. It's not just learning commands though, he's helped us work on socializing with other dogs and people as well as general behavior.

He also takes amazing videos and pictures during training. They are both helpful as he demonstrates the training but they are also fun and cute.

I chose Joe’s force-free training program because of the wonderful reviews and I’m so glad I can be one of them. Lily and I both learned so much from 6 sessions with Joe and her fear-based reactivity has really improved. He provided many training tips but most importantly every session was really geared towards Lily’s needs. We trained in multiple environments like my house, his house, parks, and Petsmart, to practice with different distractions. I knew my dog’s reactivity and socialization training would be a long term effort but this program was the best foundation I could ask for. I’m so thankful to Joe and Viv for their help & highly recommend the Bark Stop!

My dog absolutely loved his training time with Joe. He especially enjoyed the socialization events that we all did together. I can now take my dog out and rely that he will be calm and confident in public settings. Thanks Bark Stop!

I brought my 1yr old dog to backstop for the meet and greet thinking I had a shy and anxious dog but once there I was able to see that he was an outgoing dog who could play well with others. Joe and Viviana gave me confidence in Gus the he could participate in group play and training during bark day with other dogs that they thought he would get along with. After just 4 sessions Gus completely transformed and I saw great improvement in his stress levels and reactivity. He gets so excited when I turn onto their street because he knows it’s bark day! He is the happiest when he is playing and training there learning new skills and working on proper socialization with force free positive reinforcement. I get videos, pictures, and training tutorials the whole time he is there which gives me peace of mind and new skills to work on at home with my dog.

I reached out to Joe because my dog Peanut was highly reactive and was creating a lot of stress for himself and for our household. After adopting a second dog, Brie, and starting to see her pick up bad habits I knew we had to get help. Joe taught us (Peanut and me both) how to boost up endorphins and downplay environmental stressors. What surprised me most was how much I learned about Peanut. He has a friendly social self inside of him that was just waiting for the opportunity to express itself. Joe's training immediately highlighted Peanut's true personality and helped me understand how to give him what he needs to be his best. I loved the flexibility to train at our house, at Joe's house with other dogs and offsite at pet stores and dog parks to really apply the training in real world situations. Our new addition Brie also got in on a few sessions and we nipped her fear in the bud! I highly recommend Joe and his training methods. Every session was positive, informative and transforming. He followed up each session with detailed notes and training tips. It has been a game changer for us!

Couldn’t have asked for a better experience! It’s not easy training a 4 month old puppy but Joe makes it look easy. He is encouraging and tailors each training session to both puppy and owner’s needs. If you want your dog behaving a specific way or breaking habits, Joe definitely gets creative to get you exactly where you want to be. Absolutely love the concept of force free training for building a deeper bond with my dog and role modeling the manners he needs for every occasion. Would highly recommend The Bark Stop!

I cannot recommend Joe's force-free dog training program enough! Working with him has been a game-changer for me and my pup. Joe's expertise, insightful information, and ability to involve my family in the sessions have made the training process enjoyable and effective. The convenience of having him come to our house for sessions, at a reasonable additional cost, has been incredibly helpful. He was even able to accommodate for us doing a “Train and Play” day while I was out of town (a session I also highly recommend). Joe is, without a doubt, the best trainer I've worked with. If you're looking to train your dog force-free, Joe is the go-to expert!

Joe worked with myself, Bodhi & Seamus to improve on the dogs’ manners, and their impulse control while also working with me to find good practices to continue training the dogs at home and post training. Over our six session program, we saw dramatic improvements with the dogs, and the encouragement of treats, toys and good boys definitely was more powerful than a forceful approach many of us are guilty of leaning into at times. The sessions enforced the trust and bond between me & the boys (the dogs), and their behavior at home when asked them to do something is much more instant & agreeable compared to before. We still have some room for growth, but Joe has taken us such a long way, and I encourage anyone considering his & Viv’s training to take a leap of faith with them because they truly do care for your dog, and want to help you let your dog be the best version of his or herself. A happy dog is a happy home. Highly recommend!

The Bark Stop has been an absolute game changer for my eight-month-old pug Oliver, and myself. Joe, now “Uncle Joe” to us, and the team’s six-session training program transformed not just Oliver’s behavior but our entire relationship. Through their force-free approach and consistent use of cues, not commands, Oliver showed how smart he is and flawlessly learned all his obedience cues (he loves the training board). The team's warmth and professionalism made the sessions enjoyable and effective for both of us.

The ‘Day n Train’ program was fantastic. Oliver had a blast spending the day playing and learning. Their modern training space in Audubon Park was clean and safe, and I felt like I was at my own home. They also have daycare services that we will be using often. I can’t recommend The Bark Stop highly enough for anyone seeking exceptional, force-free puppy and dog training. Seeing Oliver grow, learn, and bond with him more deeply has been more than I could have asked for, and knowing that the team is always available to us is invaluable. Thank you greatly to The Bark Stop!

We could not recommend Joe and Viv at The Bark Stop more highly for dog training.

We brought our 11 month golden retriever Riley to them a little less than a month ago. We were really struggling with her high energy and bad manners!

We have used a combination of one on one in our home, multiple day n train sessions, and a 3 day stay n train. This progression really seemed to build everything in a positive direction. The in-home session allowed Joe to see how we were managing her behavior at home, the day n train sessions provided all of the socialization, exercise, and mental stimulation that she needed, and the 3 day stay n train just really seemed to reinforce and solidify all of that training. In less than one month the change in her behavior and ability to listen and respond to cues is truly amazing!

The first things you will notice about Joe are that he loves dogs, is passionate about helping them to live happy fulfilled lives, and is an amazing teacher. Add to that a deep knowledge of dog behavior and how to shape it through positive reinforcement, and you have the absolute best dog trainer! Add to that top notch communication including detailed notes following training sessions, multiple training videos and pictures during sessions, and frequent availability to answer questions, and you couldn't ask for more from a dog trainer!

The Bark Stop is a very positive, happy place for your dog and you to learn and will set you up well for continued success!

I recently had the pleasure of working with The Bark Stop, and I am absolutely thrilled with the results. Joe is nothing short of amazing. From the moment he walked in, I could sense his genuine love and passion for dogs.

The training sessions were not only effective but also incredibly enjoyable. He tailored the training program specifically to my dog's needs, and the progress we made together was astonishing. He was patient, knowledgeable, and always ready to address my concerns.

What truly sets The Bark Stop apart is their dedication to creating a positive and supportive environment. They not only train dogs but also educate dog owners, ensuring a long-lasting bond between pets and their families.

I can't thank The Bark Stop enough for the transformation they brought about in my dog. The results speak for themselves, and I wholeheartedly recommend their services to anyone looking for top-notch dog training. Five stars doesn't seem enough for the exceptional experience I had!

Raven loved her time at The Bark Stop. She learned a ton (place, sit, down, off, stay leave, etc.). We will definitely be doing play dates during the week.

My pup stayed 3 weeks while I was on vacation and not once was I worried about my dog’s care. Joe and Viv are amazing trainers and were excellent at communicating with lots of pictures and videos on my dog’s progress. Many thanks to the both of them!

Joe was patient and helpful with our questions and concerns. Our rambunctious huskies have come along way since working with Joe and the guidance he gave us.

My dog and I had a great experience with Joe! I had already trained by boy when he was a puppy so he was already familiar with basic cues (sit, down, leave it, etc). However, I needed help with “come” and also with keeping him attentive to me when he was faced with outside distractions. This is where Joe came in. He helped me gain the tools and confidence to be able to redirect him when he didn’t want to listen and to finally start coming to me when I called. My dog loves learning and we have continued to practice and work on his skills. I highly recommend The Bark Stop. Joe teaches your dog how to make the right choices without using force. He also teaches you, the parent, how to confidently work with your dog. I plan to bring any future puppy to Joe for training.

This is the absolute best place to take your pups for training, socialization & train & stay/board programs! Joe and Viv are so easy and fun to work with. Their extremely high levels of knowledge and passion are amazing & impressive. Our two Goldens just love going to The Bark Stop for force free training, play and boarding. Their new home away from home where they’re equally spoiled and always come home happy, tired and better behaved. Call them now! Joe will also come to your home for training sessions. 10 stars ️