Want Boot Camp for your Dog? We've Got a New Training Progam for You!

Jump Start your Dog's Training

AnimalSense's New Program Offers Alternative to Boot Camps

August 2012

New Live Chat

AnimalSense is excited to bring our website users another cool feature: Live Chat.

Go to animalsense.com and click "Chat Live with our Staff" to get immediate response to your questions. If we aren't around, you can enter your contact info and we'll get back to you asap.

We promise: only humans will be manning the chat!

A Night Out in West Town

Our friends at Chicago Canine Concierge know how to throw a party!

Join us this Tuesday for the weekly West Town Pup Crawl. Each participating location (Mahoney's, J. Patrick's, Clutch, Aberdeen Tap, and The Matchbox) features food and drink specials on their dog-friendly patios.

Meet up with us at Mahoney's (551 N. Ogden Ave.), where 50% of the proceeds will go to It's a Pittie Rescue.

Tuesday, August 7
6pm-9pm

Thanks for a Wonderful Wicker Park Fest

Thanks to everyone who came out to see us at Wicker Park Fest last weekend. Dogs who visited our booth had a ball bobbing for hot dogs.

Charlie (shown above) was just one of the many new faces we met. He'll be joining us for puppy class soon!

Training Tracks

Get on course with our new Training Tracks program. It's one year of dog training that will last a lifetime!

Make a commitment to three group classes in a year and save over 20%. Courses offered for both puppies and adult dogs.

Learn more.

Ask a Trainer

Have a dog training question?

Submit questions on our website that will be answered by our trainers in future blog posts. Put us to the test; we are here to help!

Submit your question.

Our Amazing Partners

Biscuits & Bows
Canine Crews
CanineLink
Central Bark Doggy Day Care
Glenview Animal Hospital

The LaundryMutt

Out-U-Go
Pet Ki Do
Pet Vets Animal Hospital
Soggy Paws

Introducing Jump Start

We are jumping for joy over our brand new training program: Jump Start. It's the ideal solution for those of you who want to kick off your dog's training to success but don't have the time to do it yourself. Instead of traditional boot camps where you send your dog off for a few weeks, our trainers come to YOUR home and work with your dog one-on-one for 8 hours. A dog can be more successful when they learn on their own turf!

Here's how it works:

First, our experienced trainer meets with you and your dog to assess skill level and discuss goals.
Next, our trainer works with your dog for 5 half hour sessions to teach and solidify basic behaviors. You get a worksheet after each session so you know what your pup accomplished that day.
A one-hour session with you in the middle of the program lets you see the progress your dog has made so far.
Then, it's on to 5 more half hour sessions of training with our trainer and your dog while you go about your day.
Finally, you receive a one hour wrap-up session with our trainer to transfer everything they have done with your dog so you can continue on the road to success.

Our goal is to get your dog doing the basic desired behaviors with mild distractions, then we pass those skills on to you to maintain the behaviors over time.

Our Director of Training, Nicole Stewart, outlines how this program is different from traditional boot camps and how your dog could benefit from it in her latest blog.

What Will My Dog Learn?

Sit, Down, Stay, Come, Find it, Leave it, Leash Walking and Go to Place, including attention and focus exercises.

Who's Eligible?

Jump Start is designed for puppies and adult dogs who show no sign of aggression.

What's the Schedule Like?

Schedule your dog's training to fit your busy schedule. Ideally, the program should be completed in 2 - 3 weeks to create consistency for your dog.

What's This Gonna Cost Me?

You get 8 hours of training for just $750. That's $250 savings from our regular private training rates! But this introductory price won't last long, so don't delay. Want even more savings? Bring your dog to our training facilities for all 13 sessions and pay just $550. Offered in Old Town, Oak Park and Glenview.

Is there a Guarantee?

We don't guarantee the "perfect dog" when the program is over. Training is a process that works towards reliability, but that can only be achieved through consistency and repetition throughout the maturation process. We do "the hard part" of getting dogs over the hump of learning a new behavior. We can't guarantee reliability at the end of 8 hours... or ever.

How Do I Get Started?

Woof! Summer II Classes Begin Next Week

It's been a crazy hot summer in Chicago, but it's not over yet! Now is the perfect time to focus on your dog before the craziness of back to school time begins.

Need your dog to pay attention to you first and foremost? Try our Focus class.

Get a handle on your dog when outside with our Recall & Leash Manners class.

Got a puppy? We have three different classes to make sure your pup is in the same class with dogs of her age. Puppy Pre-School, Puppy Grade School and Middle Management. Take all three for the ultimate training base with our Training Tracks program.

View our entire Summer II schedule.

AnimalSense is now offering classes at 10 Chicagoland locations. Don't see a class offered in your area yet? We'll come to you! Check out our in-home Private Training packages offered seven days a week to fit your schedule.

The Magic of TTouch

We are now offering two different levels of TTouch® Workshops with our friends from PetKidDo.

Tellington TTouch® Workshop
Wed., August 8

7pm-9pm
Oak Park
$40/person and dog
Register here.

Tellington TTouch® Workshop Wed., September 5
7pm-9pm
Glenview
$40/person and dog
Register here.

TTouch® 2 Workshop
Wed., September 12

7pm-9pm
Glenview
$40/person and dog
Register here.

Please note that previous experience with our beginning TTouch seminar is required for TTouch 2.

Welcome our New Trainer

AnimalSense is pleased to welcome Nicolette Meyer to our training team. A recent grad of CanineLink Training & Behavior Academy, Nicolette was inspired to delve into the world of dog behavior by her pup Otis. "I wanted to know more about the causes of his behavior and what I could do to help," said Nicolette.

Nicolette also works for Out-U-Go, one of AnimalSense's preferred partners for pet sitting services. She says her new dog knowledge allows her to assess situations with dogs better. "Whereas before I may have been fearless in some cases, I now have a level of respect and understanding of what dogs are trying to tell me, and how to approach them based on their communication," said Nicolette.

Nicolette will be assisting classes at Oak Park during the Summer II session. "I am beyond excited to not only hone my skills as a trainer, but to also be a part of, and aid to, the special bond between owner and pup that is forged in these classes," said Nicolette.

Reading Man's Best Friend

A lot of dog training experts claim to "speak dog", but what exactly does this mean? While our human conversations can only be one-sided with dogs, dogs also have ways to express themselves. CanineLink's Canine Communication Seminar will give you insight into how dogs communicate with each other, as well as us four-legged types! Perfect for pet professionals or dog lovers.

Saturday, August 11

10am-4pm
651 W. Washington Blvd. Suite 103, Chicago
$45/person

Two-legged friends only, please.

Reserve your spot today.