Tails of the City: Barkhaus Instills Pack Mentality
Barkhaus owners Andres Monasterios and Natalie Sanchez share what it takes to successfully train dogs.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
Twenty-plus canines calmly trotting in unison along a mountain trail is quite the sight. But it’s just another afternoon for Barkhaus dog trainers Andres Monasterios and Natalie Sanchez, who help pups develop obedience and social skills.
“Most dogs are underexercised and most issues stem from understimulation,” Monasterios says. The couple first started Barkhaus in Miami in 2012, before moving to O‘ahu in 2018. Monasterios previously trained animals at Florida’s Santa Fe Teaching Zoo, while Sanchez worked as a tech at animal hospitals.
Barkhaus training takes place at homes, at sites where a dog is having issues, and during group walks. “It’s not physical strength as much as mental,” Sanchez says of leading packs. “You end up in this flow state where the dogs are respecting you, you’ve set the right pace … ” Monasterios finishes his partner’s sentence: “You’re so in sync, you become one unit.”
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