Training Resources: Dogs in Chicago, Pet Industry Analyses, and Extracurricular Learning

If you have a high energy dog, sometimes going for a walk can get a little boring. Or maybe it’s raining, or you’re tired, and you’d rather play a game with your dog at home. Here are 7 agility (or “faux-gility”) props that you can use to make an obstacle course for your dog at home – maybe for free!

Learn about how newly adopted rescue dogs adjust to their new life, beyond the common 3-3-3 rule. We discuss signs of stress, high energy play as an additional stress outlet, and how to tell if problems will go away on their own with time.

This is a guide on where to work on dog training in a park in Logan Square. Especially for owners working on behavior modification training goals like leash aggression or leash reactivity, it is important to know the lay of the land in new training locations. Our homes and neighborhoods may prove more predictability, but providing opportunities for your dog to generalize in new locations can help with their resilience and long term success.

Dogs who are fearful, shy, and anxious often require special training techniques and accommodations. We discuss what to do and what mistakes to avoid when owning a fearful dog.

Grab a coffee, pastry, or a dog treat. This guide reviews and rates the training level difficulty of dog friendly cafe windows in Logan Square and Wicker Park. For this list, we’re going to focus on where we can order outdoors, without needing to tether our dog or leave them inside to get a quick fix of coffee or a snack.

This article covers some common dog training techniques and strategies for increasing confidence in dogs who are scared, anxious, shy, etc.

This article addresses the common issue of "but my dog knows when we're training and knows when we aren't in class!" There are many dog training techniques to consider when trying to turn obedience skills into real life good behavior.

Learn why do dogs pull, how to teach loose leash walking, how to train heel aka how to train your dog to walk by your side, walking past distractions, and what matters for you and your dog based on your lifestyle and training environment. Additionally, we address the issue of harnesses, collars, head halters, and other training gear.

Leash reactivity in general can be difficult to deal with. When dogs lunge and bark at people going by on wheels, emotions can be high, and it doesn't make a good impression on your neighbors! In this guide, we talk about what's going on with this behavior and how to potentially solve it.

Learn the ins and outs of crate training depending on if you have a newly adopted rescue dog, puppy, or adult dog that failed previous crate training. Form positive associations, encourage relaxation in the crate, and discourage barking with techniques that consider your dog’s natural learning style and preferences. Different dogs benefit from different crate training methods.

With fears of hot pavement and heat stroke dancing through your head, how do you train your dog through the Chicago summer?

How does leadership affect anxiety, and what makes good leadership in dog training?

Winter brings some unique challenges for dog training. Your hands freeze, their paws hurt, and when you run back to hide inside, your dog can become a bored, destructive maniac. So, here is a list of cold-weather specific tips and recommendations for you!

Do you have a bored dog? For many dogs, just going outside for walks is not going to cut it. Here is a list of enrichment ideas that can help satisfy your dog’s natural desires and instincts–written by a professional dog trainer–including behavioral and safety considerations when relevant.

Tres entrenadores (Daphne Mendoza de adogtrainerlife, Cori Pedota de Venus and Mars K9, y Veronica Laureano) se unen para crear este emocionante proyecto para la comunidad. En esta clase, enseñaremos habilidades para vivir en paz con tu perro: Caminar en correa, comportarse con distracciones, y más.

Planning is going to look and feel different for every individual. Sometimes planning too meticulously takes the wind out of one’s sails...

This is a comprehensive guide for my general leash reactivity training program for moderate to severe cases who live in the city.

Dog play and social behavior is oftentimes misleading to the human eye. Learn about canine communication, body language, dominant posture, aggression, and healthy play behavior.

Everything you need to know about raising your new puppy, from vaccines and socialization to potty training and leash walking.

Resource guarding can be complex and confusing, and there is lots of contradictory advice out there. This guide aims to clear that up!