In-home dog training in St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Welland
Also serving Thorold, Pelham, Lincoln, Port Colborne, Fort Erie, Grimsby and Stoney Creek
✔ Dog Trainer
✔ Bark Busters Certified
Meet Lisa, Your Niagara Dog Trainer
I have had dogs my whole life, and I spent almost three decades in live theatre before I followed that love of dogs into a second career. Theatre taught me a lot about how people communicate, and it turns out that matters just as much when you are helping a family and their dog understand each other. Today I am a certified Bark Busters Behaviour Therapist and Trainer, and I have helped hundreds of dogs and families across Niagara.
My first dog was an Australian Shepherd and Labrador cross, and I was young and unprepared for a herding dog. I wish I had known about Bark Busters back then. Today I share my home with Holly, a two year old rescue Black Lab. She has been a handful, and she has made me a better trainer. We now have the kind of relationship I want to help every client build with their own dog.
I come to your home, whether that is a semi in St. Catharines, a family house in Welland or a property out toward Grimsby, and we work on the problem where it actually happens. My favourite part of any session is the moment a client tries a technique and gets an immediate, positive result. Read more about me and how I work.
My goal is simple: help dogs stay where they belong, in stable, loving homes with the people who care for them.
Ready to Transform Your Dog’s Life?
Take the First Step Toward a Well-Behaved Dog
Call 905-853-0195 or contact us using the form below.
Dog Training in Niagara at a Glance
- What we do: in-home dog and puppy training that fixes behaviour problems, including barking, pulling, jumping, aggression, separation anxiety and general obedience.
- Who you work with: Lisa Burke, a certified Bark Busters behaviour therapist and dog trainer.
- Where we train: your own home and neighbourhood across Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Stoney Creek, Grimsby, Lincoln, Welland, Thorold, Pelham, Port Colborne and Fort Erie.
- How it works: a first session of 2 to 2.5 hours where we assess your dog, show you what to change, coach you through the techniques and leave you with a written plan and your next steps. Follow up support can be scheduled as needed. Most owners see a difference in that first session.
- What it costs: one flat fee per dog that covers the assessment, the training sessions and your follow-up support. Call for a quote on your situation.
- Your guarantee: the Life Of Dog Support Guarantee, so you can call us for help with that dog for as long as you own them.
- Book it: call 905-853-0195 or request a free phone consultation below.
Hundreds of Dogs Trained in Niagara
In-Home Training
Certified Behaviour Therapist
Life Of Dog Support Guarantee
Niagara Dog Training for Aggression, Barking and More
Puppy Training
Separation anxiety in dogs
Dog Aggression Issues
Leash Training
Excessive Barking
Reclaim quiet in your home while keeping your neighbours at ease.
Food Aggression
Feed your dogs safely without tension, conflict, or stress.
Jumping on People
General Dog Obedience Training
We Understand How Frustrating
Dog Behaviour Problems Can Be
You love your dog, but their behaviour is wearing down the whole household:
- Your dog barks at every car, delivery and passer-by, and the neighbours have noticed
- Walks turn into lunging at other dogs, cyclists and joggers
- Visitors get jumped on, barked at or growled at before they make it through the door
- Your dog panics when you leave for work, and you come home to damage
- Your new puppy is biting, chewing and having accidents, and you are not sure where to start
- Two dogs in the same house have started fighting, and you feel unsafe stepping in
- You have tried classes, videos and different tools, and nothing has stuck
You are not alone. This is fixable, and we can help.
Why Niagara Families Choose In-Home Training
- We come to your Niagara home and fix the behaviour where it happens
- No punishment, no physical force and no shock collars
- We teach the whole family, so the results last after we leave
- One clear system for the front door, the yard and the walk
- Most families see a real change in the first 2 to 2.5 hour session
- Our Life Of Dog Support Guarantee means help is always a phone call away
Niagara Dog Owners Just Like You Are Finally Enjoying Well-Behaved Dogs
Patricia Henning, Niagara Falls
Kristina, Niagara Falls
Get Started Today
Where Lisa Trains Across Niagara
Lisa Burke trains dogs in your own home, right where the behaviour happens. Here is what she sees most often in the communities she covers.
Dog Training in St. Catharines
St. Catharines has older neighbourhoods with houses close together, plenty of semis and townhouses, and more apartments downtown and near Brock University. Lisa helps with barking at passers-by, jumping on guests and leash pulling, right in your home and on your own street.
Dog Training in Niagara Falls
Busy streets, visitors and tourist traffic give Niagara Falls dogs plenty to react to. Lisa works on calm walking, door manners and dogs who lunge at other dogs, so you can enjoy the walk again.
Dog Training in Niagara-on-the-Lake
From Old Town to the rural properties between the vineyards, Lisa helps with recall, fence running and barking at everything that moves, plus puppy training for families with a new addition.
Dog Training in Welland, Thorold and Pelham
Families in Welland, Thorold and Fonthill call Lisa for new puppies, dogs who pull hard on the walk and dogs who guard food or toys. She trains the whole family so everyone handles the dog the same way.
Dog Training in Port Colborne and Fort Erie
Dogs in Port Colborne and Fort Erie often have room to roam, which can bring its own problems: ignoring recall, barking at the fence line and over-excitement when visitors arrive. Lisa sorts out the leadership issue behind it in your home.
Dog Training in Lincoln, Grimsby and Stoney Creek
From Beamsville and Vineland to Grimsby and Stoney Creek, growing family neighbourhoods mean kids, bikes and other dogs on every walk. Lisa helps reactive dogs learn to walk past distractions calmly, and helps anxious dogs settle when you leave for work.
Every program comes with the Life Of Dog Support Guarantee. Call Lisa at 905-853-0195 to talk through what is going on with your dog.
Dog Training in Niagara FAQs
How much does dog training cost in Niagara?
Bark Busters offers complete programs rather than per-session pricing. Your program includes the initial in-home assessment, follow-up sessions and our Life Of Dog Support Guarantee. Pricing depends on your dog and your goals. Call Lisa at 905-853-0195 for a personalized quote.
Do you offer puppy training in Niagara?
Yes. Lisa comes to your home to help with house training, crate training, nipping and biting, chewing and early manners, so your puppy learns the rules in the place they will live. Starting early prevents problem behaviours from taking root. See our puppy training page for more.
Do I need a dog licence in St. Catharines or Niagara Falls?
Yes. St. Catharines requires a licence for every dog in the city, available through DocuPet or at City Hall. Niagara Falls requires you to register your dog every year and keep the City tag on your dog’s collar at all times. Other Niagara municipalities have their own bylaws, so check with your city.
What happens if a neighbour complains about my dog barking in St. Catharines?
Persistent barking breaks the City’s Noise By-law 95-198. Complaints go to Niagara Region Animal Services, run by the Humane Society of Greater Niagara, not to the police. If the barking continues, the owner can be charged, and a Justice of the Peace decides the penalty. Our guide to the St. Catharines barking dog bylaw explains each step. We find the cause of the barking and show you how to calm it.
My dog pulls on the leash. What are the leash rules in St. Catharines?
In St. Catharines, your dog must be on a leash no longer than 3 metres whenever they are off your property, and you must keep hold of it. If your dog pulls or lunges, we start in your home and on your own street, then build up to busier routes until your dog walks calmly beside you.
How quickly will I see results?
Most Niagara families see a clear change during the first 2 to 2.5 hour session, and you leave with techniques you can use straight away. Consistency between sessions turns that early progress into permanent habits, and your Life Of Dog Support Guarantee means you always have the support you need.
What if my dog is aggressive? Is training safe?
Aggression is one of our specialties. Every Bark Busters trainer learns our Stand Rite No Bite system and must pass a test on approaching aggressive situations safely. We use safe, effective communication techniques and coach you on how to address the root cause of the aggression to create lasting change.
Do you train all breeds and ages?
Yes! We have trained puppies, senior dogs and every breed in between. Our communication-based method addresses behaviour rather than breed, so no dog is too old or too stubborn to learn.
What does the Life Of Dog Support Guarantee really mean?
Your support does not end when the sessions do. You can call us at any time, even months or years later, for advice or follow-up sessions. There is no time limit. We are here for the life of your dog.
How long are training sessions?
The initial session is typically 2 to 2.5 hours. This gives us time to assess your dog, teach you effective techniques and start seeing results immediately. Follow-up sessions are typically an hour.
What areas do you serve?
Lisa trains in homes across St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Welland, Thorold, Pelham, Lincoln, Port Colborne, Fort Erie, Grimsby and Stoney Creek.