about barkjitsu behavioral arts
Before Barkjitsu Behavioral Arts, I observed and studied the many ways a dog communicates, having spent nearly three years alongside a pack of dogs. Communication among dogs is mainly done through body language. Similar to unwritten social rules in the human world, the dog world has them too. A large theme in dog communication is about giving and taking space. Coincidentally, this theme is also present in martial arts. There are many similarities between the human and dog world. There are rules and playful roughhousing that helps establish bonds between peers. When I observe two dogs playing, I see them use similar movements and throws similar to the ones found in the grappling arts. And thus, Barkjitsu was born. I have experience with a wide range of dog breeds and sizes. Knowing how a dog communicates helps maintain order and encourages positive interactions between pack members. I can assist in building foundations for a bond that lasts a lifetime, gaining confidence and control of your pack in the process. With my experience managing up to 50 dogs at a time, I know what it takes to lead. And you can too.
Testimonials
Jaxx & Milo
We absolutely love Johnny and so do our Aussies, Jaxx and Milo! Milo was our "grumpy" dog and Johnny helped us understand his behavior. Milo is a different dog. Milo seems happier and we can communicate with him now that we understand his personality and non verbal ques. Johnny also helped us train our very energetic Jaxx. We now enjoy walks without him constantly pulling on the leash and he listens so well. We love that Johnny did the training in our home in our environment so he could see exactly how the dogs would behave and interact. Well worth the time and money spent to make everyone happier!
Josey
Johnny was an amazing trainer for our rescue puppy. After attempting two previous trainers, Johnny was amazing with our puppy. Our only regret was that we didn't find him sooner. He was able to assess our dog's behavior immediately and what we thought was aggressive truly wasn't. She listened to him and walked amazingly with him immediately that we were so sad when our sessions were over. He consistently worked with our teenage son who our puppy was constantly nipping at and jumping at and he came up with creative ways to train us as well as our dog. I can't recommend him enough!
Charlotte
Johnny was our trainer. He is very knowledgeable and taught me a lot about my reactive pet and how to calm her. I was very concerned for her safety because we have a lot of squirrels, deer, coyotes and other animals in the area. But now I am much more confident. My pet responds better to my commands after a few short lessons and I feel she trusts me now as well. Excellent overall experience - I highly recommend! I'm actually slightly jealous on how much my dog loves spending time with Johnny, he made such a difference - I truly cannot tell you how grateful I am.
Penny Lane
Johnny was very patient with our 4 month old Aussie and was able to teach all of us basic commands.
Winnie
My dog is very unsure of people and has a bit of anxiety, but her trainer was so understanding. He was able to work with her and show me so many ways to build her confidence. She is now ready for daycare and I couldn't be happier. I will definitely recommend to anyone who needs help and they will be the first to call if I need anything else with training.
Bugs
We worked with Johnny due to our corgi's resource guarding, mainly with food. Over the course of 5 sessions, we were able to notice an immediate difference in our dog's obedience, but also our own confidence in handling our dog. Johnny was incredibly calm and took his time to explain and educate us in our dog's behavior. We were able to better understand the subtle signs and ways our dog was communicating his dislikes and discomforts. He was also always available for consult in between training sessions. He was thorough with his responses and broke down videos by the second to hone in on specific behaviors.
Kalea
We needed help with our 8 year old dog who had aggressive behavior on a leash when encountering other dogs. We reviewed and talked to different dog trainers. We had Johnny who was amazing. After 1 lesson our dogs behavior improved by more than 50%. We also had my daughter's puppy joining our home which we knew would be a huge issue for our dog. With 1 hour of Johnny working with both dogs when they arrived at our house the dogs were okay to be together with supervision. Johnny would text us back in regards to questions or schedule changes. We are 1000% happy with having lessons with Johnny!
Despy
Owner & Trainer, Building Bonds
Dog Training
Johnny worked with us as a trainer, and from day one, he impressed us with his deep, intuitive understanding of dogs. Drawing on his prior experience in dog daycare, he brought with him a keen awareness of canine body language, instincts, and motivations that aligned seamlessly with our training philosophy rooted in dog psychology and leadership. Johnny consistently received 5-star reviews from nearly every client he worked with. He has a natural ability to help dog owners truly understand their dogs and teaches them how to become the calm, confident leaders their pets need. One of Johnny's standout skills is his work with reactive dogs and those exhibiting aggressive behaviors. Behavior that appears aggressive does not necessarily mean the dog is aggressive and this differentiation is crucial in determining the right training approach. This ability to assess and address behavior with precision and compassion is part of what makes Johnny such an exceptional trainer.