Puppy Training Classes in Chicago

• Training skills.  The course teaches skills such as
  
  
  • Walking without pulling
  • Staying focused on you instead of all of life's distractions
  • Coming directly to you, such as at the dog park
  • Waiting patiently before a command is given
  • Not jumping on people or other dogs
  • Leaving items alone, such as food on the sidewalk
  • Dropping an item, such as another dog's toy
  • Handling feet and ears
  • And more
  
  
• Off-leash socialization.  Each class also includes play time, where the puppies get to run and play with the others off leash. This is important for building their socialization and confidence. The trainer will give you advice about what to allow and watch for during play, and how to correct your puppy's behavior in an effective manner. If you do not feel comfortable with off-leash play, it is fine to temporarily wait outside the room during this time.



• Access to TrainTrack™. Our proprietary online tool for supplementing your training instruction, that includes:
• Videos of all the exercises taught in class
• Written descriptions of all the exercises taught in class
• The homework for each session
• Ability to log your exercises and keep track of what you need to work on next
• Bonus materials


• Equipment. To help ensure you are as successful as possible:
• Treat pouch
• Optional clicker

What if my puppy is not learning?

Your puppy should start to get the hang of everything pretty quickly. You will be amazed at how fast they can learn, even at a very young age, and most people are blown away at their puppy's progress by the time graduation comes. But most importantly, we are going to give you home exercises, and that is where the real learning takes place, with lots of repetition.

What if my puppy does not have all of the vaccinations completed?

It is OK if your puppy is still in the process of getting vaccinations, as long as your veterinarian believes that he is on track. The benefits of the class experience and socialization outweigh vaccination risks, especially since they are all puppies in the room.

What if I need to miss a class?

All of the exercises taught in class are available on TrainTrack, our online portal. Just watch the videos of the exercises, practice the exercises during the week, and you should be fine. We don't recommend missing graduation, just because it is so fun! Please note that you cannot bring your puppy to a makeup class, because most of our classes are full, and this would cause too many to be in the room at once. In addition, the dogs get used to each other throughout the course, and it can be disruptive if a newcomer enters the class.

Are you going to train my puppy in class?

Yes and no. Yes, we will be practicing a lot of important exercises in class, and your puppy will be getting trained by virtue of participating in them. However, we are training YOU how to train your puppy, because the classes last an hour but much more repetition is needed through the week. That is why we assign you homework exercises and give you the videos to rewatch if necessary.

Is there a guarantee that my puppy will learn all of the skills?

No trainer in the world can make such a guarantee. However, we can say with certainty that if you come to every class, follow the trainer's instructions carefully, and practice at home, your puppy should really start to learn the behaviors quite well. Some puppies take longer than others due to factors such as anxiety or genetics, but just be patient and positive - you should be amazed at the results.

Can I get a refund if my dog can't handle it, my schedule changes, etc.?

Classes are non-refundable if they start within 14 days. This is because by giving a space to you, we took it away from someone else. If your puppy can't continue in the class, you can still attend without him. In addition, there is still great value in following the home exercises on our TrainTrack online portal.

Can I transfer to another course once I enroll?

As long as it at least 14 days before the course starts, you can transfer to another with no problem. If there is less than 14 days but the course hasn't started yet, call us to discuss. Once the course starts, you are not able to transfer.

Is off-leash playtime mandatory?

Off-leash playtime can be a fun and important part of puppy classes, as it can help teach socialization in a safe environment. However, it is not mandatory - if you do not want to participate, you can wait outside of the room during that time.