Chicago, IL

It's time...
Connect with your dog.

Your dog's interaction with the world around them should be calm and confident. Let me show you how to train from a relationship-focused perspective, with useful techniques that give them confidence in themselves, in the world, and in us.

All ages, all breeds, all behaviors are welcome here.
Every dog that joins our pack is treated like family — loved, respected, and given the chance to grow.

600+

Dogs Trained

10+

Years in Chicago

5.0

Google Rating

new programs from june 2026

my clever canine 2.0

All of our programs aim to give you, the owner, the understanding you need to build a stronger relationship with your dog.

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Canine Development

A complete communication system designed to build a strong bond between you and your canine. In our one-on-one sessions, we cover:

  • Clear Communication | Engagement
  • Life Skills | Confidence Building | Calm
  • Leash Walking | Doorway Etiquette
  • In-Person Sessions & Video References
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Board & Train

Your dog will stay in your trainer's home, living and working like one of our dogs. We have options for basic obedience, aggression rehabilitation, and we can really implement anything you and your family needs. B&T packages include: Your dog will live and traing like one of our dogs. It is a fast-track to a better way for them.

  • Environmental Exposures | Leash Walking
  • Basic Manners | Impulse Control
  • Written & Video Instructional References
  • In-Person Sessions Together
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Modern Dog Day Training

Great option for families with limited free time, and who still want the best for their dog. We come and train with them while you are at work. Now your dog's day can be as productive as yours.

  • Perfect For Busy Families
  • Daily Written Updates
  • Wrap-Up Session Together
  • Daily Program Keeps Everything Rolling
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Training Dogs.
Educating Humans.

I am your trainer too

I will be your dog's trainer for a few weeks - YOU will be their trainer for their lifetime. Of course, there is an initial learning curve, but our sessions will make you more confident in your knowledge, and your handling skills than you ever thought you could be.

Practical, Sensible Training

I make extra effort to teach you in a way that will make your life easier.
I won't ask you to practice something you won't follow through with, and we can work together to find solutions that work for everyone.

Real City Experience

I have spent over a decade working with Chicago dogs in real city environments — apartments, parks, busy streets. I know how chaotic the city can feel if you are trying to build your dog's confidence through the hustle bustle.

"Chicago's

#1 Rated Dog Trainer"

~ Xena

Happy Clients

Dogs & Owners We've Helped

"Words cannot express how grateful I am to have met Caz and I highly recommend her! I had been through two other trainers to address Blue’s fear based people aggression issues and I was feeling extremely helpless and hopeless that we would ever be able to move past them. At the initial evaluation, Caz spent nearly 3 hours with us, assessing Blue (and me to be fair 😉) and, despite Blue lunging at her a few times, she had Blue following her every command by the end of it. She had a list of recommendations for us to enact immediately to get on the road to recovery and also recommended a 3 week Board and Train to reset us both. As hard as it was to drop Blue off that first day, I had the utmost trust that Caz only had Blue’s best interest at heart, even with all the lunging 🤦🏻‍♀️, and I knew she would take amazing care of her. Caz kept me extremely updated on her progress, sending pics like the one below along with training videos that I could reference to stay on track once Blue came home. By the time I picked up Blue from her Board & Train, she had gained so many new skills, an immense amount of confidence, and a great love for Caz! We have come so far in such a short time and are looking forward to even better days ahead all because of Caz’s incredible training, guidance, and friendship!"

KM

Katie & Blue

Complex Canine Graduate

"Wow wow wow. We couldn’t have come across a better place for our puppy Greta. We heard many times that “she's a lot of dog,” but Caz is the puppy whisperer for sure. She is honestly the first trainer who has gotten to know our active German Shepard and really gotten to the bottom of things. Big plus, Caz can teach us how to maintain and continue to develop our girl. ❤️🐾🐾"

JS

Jenn & Greta

Canine Development Program

"If you have a dog with a unique challenge, My Clever Canine can help. My dog is deaf, with a bite history, had severe fear of humans and was quite reactive with dogs.."
"On top of that, has a bite history. He's gone through many trainers with very little progress...and then we met Caz. Within a few minutes, after Popcorn barked at her incessantly, Caz redirected him and started walking him, and soon earned his trust -- and that was only the beginning. Popcorn is more confident, less worried, calm and collected, even with triggers abound. I didn't think it was possible, but this program showed me and my dog, with compassion and assuredness, that not only was he *not* a hopeless case, but with some guidance and direction, he could be a happier and more social animal."
"I recommend Caz wholeheartedly, and will send every dog and dog owner I know to her doorstep."

DC

David & Popcorn

Complex Canine Graduate

"Por cuatro años, mi familia tuvo problemas en pasear a nuestra perra. Era tan terrible que incluso sacarla a pasear por solo 3 minutos, era demasiado para ella; simplemente no lo podía soportar el miedo. Debido a esto, no podíamos planificar viajes y tuvimos que hacer varias adaptaciones cuando salíamos de nuestra casa. No solo fue una lucha profunda para nosotros, sino también para nuestra perra, Belle; tenía problemas para socializar con personas y otros perros, y desarrolló una ansiedad severa por casi todo. Mi familia y ella soportaron esto por cuatro años, y cuando descubrimos My Clever Canine, decidimos aprovechar la oportunidad para cambiar esto para siempre. Al principio, teníamos muchas dudas: ¿realmente cuatro semanas de entrenamiento podrían cambiarla? ¿Valdría la pena el costo y cuánto podemos esperar de esto? Después de haber fallado con el "tratamiento" anterior (visitas al veterinario, entrenamiento en casa, etc.), decidimos dar un salto de fe e inscribir a nuestra perra en el programa de internado de My Clever Canine. No es por exagerar, pero esta fue la mejor decisión que hemos tomado hasta el día de hoy. En sólo cuatro semanas fuimos testigos de un comportamiento que jamás hubiéramos imaginado que nuestro perro fuera capaz de mostrar. Pasamos de simplemente luchar para llevarla caminando por el bloque a sacarla a pasear por 30 minutos o una hora completa después de solo 4 semanas. A lo largo de este programa en el que no teníamos a nuestra perra en casa, Cas se mantuvo en contacto con nosotros activamente y compartió el viaje de aprendizaje de Belle. Sabíamos que esto sería completamente nuevo y difícil para nuestra perra, que nunca había experimentado un evento así, así que cuando llegó el momento de dar nuestros propios pasos y llevarla a casa, Cas nos ayudó a ganar la confianza para hacer nuestro papel y apoyar a Belle en este logro. Desde la primera consulta hasta la graduación de Belle, Cas fue extremadamente comprensiva y solidaria no solo con Belle, sino también con nosotros. Después de haber enfrentado numerosos desafíos en esos cuatro años, Cas nos ayudó a comprender mejor a nuestra perra e incluso a nosotros mismos. ¡No puedo imaginar encontrar un entrenador de perros más generoso y atento que Cas! Si eres como nosotros, que enfrentas dificultades con tu perro y necesitas ayuda, considera My Clever Canine. A través de ellos, nuestra perra puede disfrutar de los paseos y de los hermosos bloques de Chicago como nunca antes."

LP

Lissette & Belle

Complex Canine Graduate

"I’m long overdue in writing this review, but Caz is the best! We worked with a few different dog trainers in the city but nothing clicked until we found My Clever Canine. Our dog James can be dog selective and struggles with impulse control. He was welcomed with open arms and we have made huge strides in our training since working with her. Caz treats James like family and there is no one else I trust more with his care. James is now so much better behaved and we can do activities that we didn’t think were possible before finding Caz. We (and James!) are so happy to have found her!"

KP

Kate & James

Canine Development Program

"We love Caz and could not recommend her training program more. Our rescue, Queso, was anxious and overwhelming to take care of. After only two weeks training with Caz, our relationship with Queso was transformed for the better. We couldn't believe how quickly he improved, gained confidence, picked up skills. Caz always communicated with us at the beginning and end of our training Day, giving us tips of how to work on him at home and how to communicate better with him. Not only did she train Queso, but she also did training sessions with us and taught us how to build trust and a mutually reassuring relationship. Before going to training, he was very difficult to walk - he would run ahead, tug the leash, react to every dog. Caz gave us the resources and confidence to work on this and taught Queso how to walk in a less anxious and reactive manner. We were so impressed with her training program that we continued to send him to daycare regularly and continue to see improvements every day. Queso is now thriving and we now feel comfortable with him in almost any situation. Thank you Caz!!!"

SV

Shruti & Queso

Canine Development Program

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