Yes and no. We required dogs to be fully vaccinated to attend our day school program. This is for their own safety. Your puppy should be fully vaccinated around 16 weeks. For younger puppies we are able to offer one-on-one puppy training sessions, or we can do a 3 week Puppy Foundations Board & Train, in the home of a puppy trainer. See our programs page for more details.

Absolutely! Whether your dog is nervous and will shy away from people, or if they have developed some fear-based-aggression, we can help. The training program starts by building your dog's confidence, which is the key to building trust in their handler. With a solid relationship, and a dog trainer or owner who is clear in their communication, we can teach your dog better ways to focus their attention. The goal here, at least initially, is helping your dog be more neutral in environments they previously couldn't handle.
Note: programs for dogs that really struggle, will be a week or two longer than a basic obedience program; a huge part of this time is for relationship building.

No. Your dog doesn't need to be spayed or neutered for training. We offer mostly one on one handling with each dog.

Yes. We have safety protocols in place to keep them and ourselves safe while we build a relationship. While this is a case-by-case scenario, it would include things like muzzle conditioning, controlled environments & being trained by an experienced trainer with the appropriate skill set.

Easy. Just fill out the form on the contact page and send it. Someone will reach out in the next couple of days!

We don't charge a fee for an evaluation.

You don't need to bring anything to the evaluation. You can, however, bring anything you might think relevant. The consultation is for us to talk about what is going on and for me to meet your dog. If they have allergies, you could bring some safe treats.

Yes, Vaccinations are required. Per the City of Chicago, we need proof of the following vaccinations from your vet: Rabies, Distemper, Parvovirus, Bordetella, and an up-to-date negative fecal.
You can email your vaccination records to Vaccinations@MccChi.com

24 hour notice for cancellations or rescheduling. Our initial evaluations are FREE. You may cancel or reschedule any time, however, if your evaluation is missed without the aforementioned notice, the fee to reschedule is $125. This is a non-refundable deposit which will be applied to a program or package when you join our pack.

We don't have a parking lot. However, there is free street parking on Wallen, our cross street, and metered parking on Clark Street out front. We also have a standing zone right on the corner at Wallen which is effective during drop-off and pick up hours.

Right now, we offer either a day school approach, where your dog attends Monday through Friday, followed by parent teacher sessions so you can keep up with them. Or we have some Board & Train options which will vary depending on your (or your dog's) needs. Take a look at the programs page here for specifics for each program. We also offer one on one sessions, either at the facility, in your home, or elsewhere. Group classes outdoors at Warren Park. Pack Walks, where we can walk as a group to help your dog get used to being around others.

We can and do cover many things in our programs. Each program will be tailored to the dog and owner to make sure they are getting what they need out of training. Things like - Basic obedience skills such as stop jumping on people, stopping excessive barking, stop nipping, leash pulling - Advanced Obedience like leash skills, doorway etiquette, Place (relax on cue), socialization - Owner Skills like marker training, luring, understanding leash tension.

Absolutely. While this opinion is subject to change pending our evaluation of what is going on, in most cases, dogs with human-aggression will be much more successful in the Complex Canine program. It allows us some extra time to really get to know and understand them. Training while boarding means your dog is completely immersed in the training system which gives us a clean slate to build from. Safety is a huge priority, and the faster your dog bonds with a new person, the safer it is for everyone.

Throughout any program, you will be updated regularly and given advice on how to continue at home. In a daycare program you see the trainer daily and also your dog daily, which means you will be working with your dog every day in addition to your weekly sessions. If your dog is in a boarding program, you will receive updates in the form of messages or videos, which you will then work on in your weekly sessions.

The first thing to realize is why your dog was listening to the trainer and not you. The most important job of your trainer isn’t actually training your dog, it is making sure that you have the correct understanding and skill set to continue the training and see the same improvements. This means teaching you how they are doing what they do, and making sure you understand the nuances that provide the clarity you need. Consistency on your part is the next big thing.

Start having your dog work for their food to ease the transition. Feed meals as rewards—ideally from your hand. Take breakfast on the morning walk, and reinforce sits or sit-stays with a handful of kibble..

Don't forget to fill out the vaccinations form and send over the documents.

When you bring your dog in for drop off, please exercise caution. Don't allow your dog to run up to other dogs.

When you enter the trining room, there may be dogs on Place. Please give them space. This also applies to YOUR dog. Approaching them, or talking to them could excite them and cause them to break.

Unfortunately, your pup can't attend with an upset stomach. Any bouts of sickness or diarrhea could potentially get the other dogs sick.

Your dog shoud have had no sickness / diarrhea for 3 days prior to starting.

If your dog is sick or has diarrhea for more than a day, you will need to see the vet for a fecal test, and 3 days with no issues, to be cleared to continue

For intestinal parasites or Giardia, you will need two negative fecal tests, two weeks apart.

Our Canine Development daycare training program is ideal for most dogs. The length of the program may vary depending on certain factors like level of anxiety. The program is not intended for aggressive or extremely reactive dogs.

The Canine Development Program starts at 2 weeks of day school — that's 10 days of training and enrichment.

$1500 for the 2 week basic obedience program. For programs that run longer, we have The Canine Development Program (CDP) Extension, which is $650 per week.

Just a couple of things.

1. A flat or martingale collar. You can still walk them in on whatever you use (harness, training collar etc.). I just need the regular collar there for safety.

2. Food. The daily ration. No need to feed breakfast. I will hand feed it for motivation / reinforcement.
That's it. We supply blankets (when allowed), bowls, and chew toys for kennel time.

We have options for Board and Train so we can tailor a program to fit any dog's needs. It is a great option if you have a busy schedule and can't make it back and forth to day school, or when you go on vacation. Young dogs who need to learn some patience or manners would be perfect for our 2 week program. Anxious or reactive dogs may mbe better in a 3 week program. Then we have our Complex Canine program for the slightly more complex dogs, where boarding is required.

Our boarding programs also start at 2 weeks and the length varies depending on your dog's needs.

Our basic obedience boarding program starts at $2,200 for the 2 weeks. For extended program rates, please check the program pages for the individual pricing.

Like with day school, your dog needs:

1. A flat or martingale collar plus whatever you usually walk them on.

Their food and medication. These should be labeled and come with written instructions - including name, quantity per day etc. We will also send you a boarding-specific form that will collect this information.

Please do not bring bedding, bowls, toys etc. We provide everything else your dog will need.

We offer our dog training and dog obedience classes in Chicago, IL. The facility is located at 6624 N Clark St in the Rogers Park neighborhood. It is easily accessed by surrounding neighborhoods and suburbs like Andersonville, Edgewater, West Ridge, Evanston, Skokie.

Yes. If you want to support a family member or friend’s training journey, just reach out.

Yes—This is a new offering and we are finalizing details. Very soon we will be making video/phone coaching available for clients anywhere.

Yes, we can work on age-appropriate training, based on your specific situation, so everyone can be involved.

Dynamic Daycare is our turbo-charged daycare which is available for our graduates. This is where they can continue to come in to refine their skills and maintain their good behavior. Enrichment activities, daily exercise, a walk in the park.. We like to change things up. Due to limited space, we require an attendance of at least once per week.

Note: Dynamic Daycare is not currently available. We should be able to reinstate it in the coming months.