Chicago Dog Training Services
Training Adventures
Your dog goes on field trips with a trainer to practice their obedience skills around distractions. We work on loose leash walking in parks, train calm greetings in dog-friendly stores, settle on patios, and drill coming when called at the beach. Dogs return home content and tired, every time.
Training Club Membership
You’re a dedicated dog owner who values training and enrichment for your pup, but you still also need flexibility for those occasional “human-only” activities in your life. With this membership, you will have access to a list of all drop-in classes. That means you can mix and match, take a break or double up on classes.
For Facility Owners
Cori has an eclectic dog training background, with experience working and teaching at facilities as different as "force free" and "Nepopo." With over ten years of full-time professional dog training experience, Cori has a unique and thoughtful perspective on training methodologies and the dog industry.
Training Philosophy
Cori believes in the importance of the relationship between dog and handler, always customizing every behavior plan for each individual situation and giving thoughtful consideration to the big and small pictures. Their primary focus is on minimizing stress and maximizing practicality for the human and the animal.
FAQ: About V&MK9 Dog Training Services
This is a lot of info! Can I just talk to you on the phone?
Yes, please contact us to set up a phone call.
What is your most popular training service?
Our most popular service is in-home private lessons. Coaching humans on how to work with their dogs is at the heart of Venus and Mars K9's mission.
I want the absolute fastest results possible. What service would you recommend?
For the fastest results possible, you should choose either a vigorous schedule of in-home private lessons or the in-home intensive program. The main difference between these two options is that the owner doesn't need to be present for all of the sessions in the in-home intensive program – in other words, the trainer can work directly with your dog while you are at work.
I'm on a really tight budget and need affordable dog training. What do you recommend?
If money is tight, please feel free to be upfront about your budget. To make training more affordable, we can space out in-home private lessons, and you will be assigned more homework in between lessons so that you can keep up training progress on your own.
Additionally, for those in need, we offer sliding scale options for virtual lessons. You can mix and match these options by doing some lessons in-home and some lessons virtually.
For dogs who are eligible, group class is the most affordable training option. Gotham City Dawg Sports is an affiliate Chicago community training club that also accepts sliding scale payment.
Finally, we have many free training guides here.
Where are you located?
Venus and Mars K9’s home base is in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago. We travel all over the city and (depending on availability) sometimes the suburbs.
Do you require all dogs to use a certain tool in training – for example, every dog wears a harness, or every dog wears a prong collar?
No, every training plan is customized to the individual dog and owner. You can read my article about the woes of “cookie cutter dog training” here.
What Training Techniques Does Venus and Mars K9 Use?
Coaching Humans to Train Dogs: Everyone Has a Different Learning Style
The learning style of the human is typically a severely neglected subject by dog trainers, and likewise, many trainers prefer animals over humans. However, Trainer Cori is equally as invested in teaching and coaching humans as their dogs, and Cori's thoughtful and flexible instructing techniques reflect that. Since your dog does not live with the trainer, it is important that you learn what to do!
Adjusting to the Human’s Needs: Do You Need to Change Your Whole Life Just to Train Your Dog?
Lifestyle, schedule, stress, anxiety, neurodivergence, physical disability – all of these factors are critical when assessing what training choices to make. Cori will communicate with you about what feels practical, what feels too hard, and what’s confusing.
Creative Solutions: How Do You Troubleshoot Dog Training Problems?
Cori’s eclectic training education (from working in dog daycares to interning at police dog training kennels) along with their commitment to open-mindedness allows for fast troubleshooting and problem-solving if progress gets “stuck.”
Advanced Mechanics for Sport and Trick Skills: How Do You Take Intermediate Dog Training to the Next Level?
High-level training requires clear communication and understanding between dog and handler. When appropriate and accessible, Cori loves to get into the nitty gritty of learning theory, timing, and all of the other facets of creating advanced skills.
Health and Genetic Fulfillment: Does Your Dog Need a Job?
A good trainer must have an eye for health concerns, in general and as they relate to behavior problems. A clean bill of health from your vet is a prerequisite to training.
Similarly, dogs need to be physically and mentally enriched in order to have a healthy life. Addressing problem behaviors through enrichment outlets may be a part of your behavior modification/rehabilitation plan.
Environmental Exposure: How Do We Socialize Dogs and Build Community for Humans?
For many dogs, working on obedience (aka life skills) and reducing/eliminating leash reactivity is necessary so that they can live a happier life. If big feelings from your dog cause you to keep them home and hide them from other dogs and people, we can create a plan to push you and your dog’s comfort zone and expand your world. With training strategies on board, you’ll have the opportunity to join group classes, where both of you can make new friends.
Positive Reinforcement: Can Rewarding Good Behavior Be Used in Real Life?
With dog training content so readily available on social media these days, most people now understand the value of using positive reinforcement in dog training – such as treats or food rewards, praise, attention and pets. Trainer Cori works with a dog’s natural instincts to maximize positive reinforcement opportunities in order to teach intermediate and advanced behaviors, including in real life scenarios with challenging distractions.
Natural Social Behavior: Does Play Belong in Training?
Simply delivering food rewards to dogs during training does not fully utilize your dog’s social nature. You will learn how to read your dog’s body language and utilize play to unlock the full potential of your relationship.
Humane and Undramatic Punishment: How Do You Tell Your Dog “No?"
Setting boundaries and communicating “no” without damaging your relationship or scaring your dog is imperative to being a good handler. Fixing previously taught “bad” punishment is often an important part of our work.
Leash Handling: How Do You Stop Leash Pulling on Walks?
Many handlers lack an awareness of how to properly use their leash. This can lead to safety concerns when a dog constantly pulls on the leash, and it can also evolve into leash reactivity or leash aggression – barking and lunging on walks. V&MK9 teaches you to change your dog’s perception of leash pressure from something to ignore – or worse, a force to defy! – into an effective training tool.