Our Anxious Puppy Program is designed to help your puppy reduce anxiety and fears. This can help clear the path for working on manners training and living a happier, more comfortable life together. We can help with topics such as crate anxiety, fear of being outside, distrust of other dogs, low confidence, and much more.
Topics We Can Cover
How the Program Works
- $175 per session
- $10 additional per session if we come to your home, plus any parking fees that we incur.
- You can add our Puppy Starter Program, where we work on potty training, crate training, play biting, and socialization.
Puppy socials are an hour of games, training exercises, and rest time, all with puppies of a similar size and temperament.
You can learn more about puppy socials by going back to the main Puppy Training page, and choosing Puppy Socials.
FAQs
Is it better to work at our home or the training facility?
It can be helpful if we come to your home, so we can see the environment and make any recommendations. In addition, your puppy could be anxious about coming into our facility, if he has a fear of unfamiliar places and people. However, it could be beneficial to come here for at least some of the sessions, as we have many resources to help build confidence.
What if I want to work on puppy manners such as leash walking?
Generally speaking, we recommend addressing fears and anxiety before attempting manners training, which involves outdoor leash walking, recall work in an open space, and more. If your puppy is highly anxious, success with leash walking will very likely be impeded.
What if I want to add or change behaviors?
This is not a problem, within reason. The program can be customized, and we can certainly add sessions and tackle additional behaviors. Having said that, if a behavior is likely too challenging until others are learned, we will discuss that with you. Just talk with us about your goals and we will help achieve them.
What if my puppy is not finished with all rounds of vaccinations?
If we are coming to your home, that is not a problem. If you are coming to our training facility, it is not a problem as long as your vet believes your puppy is on track and you have completed at least two of the three rounds. Rabies is not required for puppies.
How long does it take to overcome a fear?
That depends on your puppy. You could be battling factors such as genetics, breed characteristics, a change in the environment such as coming here from a rural area, or a prior traumatic event. Having said that, we have games and exercises that can certainly help relax your puppy. For many of them, six weeks is plenty of time to build their confidence, while others may take longer.
Our Travel Radius
One of our trainers can home to your home if you live within our travel radius. We routinely go all throughout Chicago each day, including to Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Bucktown, Wrigleyville, Gold Coast, River North, downtown, East Loop, West Loop, South Loop, and all neighborhoods in between.
These boundaries go north to Irving Park Road, east to the lake, south to Roosevelt, and west to Western Avenue.
If you live a few streets beyond these boundaries we can likely still come to your home.
Otherwise, you would need to come to our training facility.
Our Trainers Travel All Over Chicago
Positive Reinforcement Methods
Tucker Pup's only uses positive reinforcement methods. We do not use prong collars, choke chains, shock collars, poking, yelling, leash popping, or other aversive methods. Dominance can easily cause your dog to distrust you, and to only comply in order to avoid a negative outcome. This isn't truly learning, and can cause your dog's behaviors to become much worse.
Positive reinforcement is much more effective for creating long-term learning and a stronger relationship with your dog. Dogs love training when this style is being used, are much more responsive to their owners, and are much happier in general. In short, positive reinforcement gives you the best chance of success, and can be the fastest way to get results. If you are hesitant, please trust us on this one and feel free to ask us questions.
Positive reinforcement combines an encouraging tone of voice, clear instruction, relaxed body language, the use of rewards (e.g., treats, favorite toy), patience, and empathy.
If you are concerned about giving treats, keep in mind that they work very well for most dogs, you can phase them out at your discretion, and it is possible to use something else that your dog values, such as a favorite toy.
Customer Reviews
Yelp has listed Tucker Pup's as one of the top 100 local businesses in the country in 2025. We are the only pet business who made the list from Chicago, and the only pet resort / training business who made the list nationally.
See the List
Neighborhoods We Serve
Tucker Pup's is located in the West Loop / Fulton Market District neighborhood. People come to us from all over Chicago, especially from Bucktown, Gold Coast, Lake View, Lincoln Park, Old Town, River North, River West, South Loop, Streeterville, Ukrainian Village, University Village, West Town and Wicker Park.
