DOG TRAINING

At Bark Avenue Daycamp, we provide both obedience and behavioral dog training.  The dog trainer’s ability to build a trusting relationship with dogs of all sizes and breeds makes her a very effective trainer, capable of addressing even the toughest issues.  As a dog owner, you will work with the trainer to learn the skills necessary to bring out the best in your pet and to ensure that they are well-behaved at all times.  Bring your dog or pup from Hoffman Estates, St Charles, Elgin or Schaumburg to our dog training center. You will learn the importance of providing leadership to your dog in addition to the love and affection they already receive from you.  Above all, you’ll build a relationship based on trust and respect.  Combining leadership with love and affection creates an unbreakable bond between you and your pet.

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If these dates/times don’t work for you, call us and we can set up a special appointment that accommodates your schedule and dog training needs.

This class is recommended for puppies ages 8 weeks-6 months. Puppy Playtime is open to all clients and non-clients.

No registration necessary, simply check is at the front desk when you arrive.

Sundays, 12:00-1:00pm

Start your puppy off on the right paw with Puppy Preschool! This class is designed to give puppies and their families the tools they need to navigate the exciting—and sometimes challenging—early stages of puppyhood.

Through fun, positive, age-appropriate training, we’ll help puppies build confidence, learn good manners, and develop skills that will carry them into adulthood.

*For puppies under 4 months.

Puppies and their families will learn about:

• Handling — Teach puppies to feel comfortable and cooperative with everyday handling, grooming, nail trims, and veterinary care.
• Confidence Building — Help puppies become comfortable and confident when experiencing new people, environments, sounds, surfaces, and situations.
• Drop It & Leave It — Build impulse control and teach puppies to safely disengage from objects and distractions.
• Jumping — Encourage polite greetings and teach puppies appropriate ways to interact with people.
• Potty Training — Learn practical strategies for creating successful potty routines and preventing accidents.
• Crating — Create a positive relationship with the crate and teach puppies that it is a safe, comfortable place to relax.
• Nipping & Mouthing — Understand why puppies nip and learn appropriate ways to redirect and manage this normal puppy behavior.
• Feeding & Mealtime Manners — Establish healthy routines and teach puppies to be calm and polite around food.
• Puppy Calm — Build the ability to settle, relax, and make good choices instead of constantly being “on.”

Puppy Preschool is about more than teaching commands—it’s about teaching you how to understand your puppy and helping your puppy learn how to succeed in the world. Our goal is to build a confident, calm, and well-mannered companion while giving you practical skills you can use every day.

10/10-11/21, Saturdays, 9:00-9:30am (NO CLASS 11/7)

Build a strong foundation of communication and obedience with our Fundamentals dog training class. This class focuses on teaching your dog essential skills while developing focus, engagement, and reliability.

Dogs will learn and practice:

• Attention Getter — Teach your dog to focus on you and respond to your cue.
• Sit — Establish a reliable sit on cue.
• Down — Build a calm, controlled down position.
• Stay — Increase duration, distance, and reliability while remaining in place.
• Place — Teach your dog to settle and remain on a designated spot.
• Heel — Develop loose-leash walking and focused movement by your side.
• Recall — Build a dependable response when called.

Whether you’re starting from the basics or looking to strengthen your dog’s existing skills, Fundamentals provides the tools and structure needed for better communication, focus, and obedience at home and out in the real world.

Recommended for dogs at least 4 months old. If dogs are less than 4 months, we recommend Puppy Pre-School. Note: If your dog is reactive/vocal towards people and/or dogs, please contact us for other training options.

9/30-11/4, Wednesday, 6:30-7:15pm

10/10-11/21, Saturday, 9:30-10:15am (NO CLASS 11/7)

11/11-1/6, Wednesday, 6:30-7:15pm (NO CLASS 11/25, 12/23, 12/30)

Take your dog’s training from the classroom into the real world with Everyday Manners! This class is designed to build reliability, impulse control, and calm behavior around the everyday distractions and situations dogs encounter at home and out in the community.

We’ll focus on practical skills that help your dog become a polite, well-mannered companion in a variety of environments.

Dogs and their families will work on:

• Guest Greetings & Jumping — Teach polite greetings and appropriate behavior when visitors arrive.
• Advanced Drop It & Leave It — Strengthen impulse control and build reliable responses around tempting items and distractions.
• Thresholds — Teach your dog to wait calmly at doors, gates, cars, and other boundaries.
• Distraction Work — Build focus and responsiveness around people, dogs, sounds, movement, and other real-world distractions.
• Outdoor Work — Practice skills in more realistic environments where distractions and challenges are greater.
• Begging at the Table — Teach appropriate mealtime manners and calm behavior around food.
• Long Line Work — Develop freedom and responsiveness while maintaining communication and control at a distance.
• Duration — Increase your dog’s ability to maintain behaviors for longer periods of time, even when distractions are present.

Everyday Manners is about creating skills that work beyond the training room. Through progressive practice and real-life scenarios, we’ll help your dog become more focused, patient, polite, and reliable—making everyday life easier and more enjoyable for both of you.

Requirement: Completed Fundaments or equivalent or have Trainer’s approval.       

10/1-11/5, Thursdays, 6:30-7:15pm

10/10-11/21, Saturday, 10:15-11:00am (NO CLASS 11/7)

11/12-1/7, Thursdays, 6:30-7:15pm (NO CLASS 11/26, 12/24, 12/31)

Get ready to have some fun! Adventure Class is designed to challenge your dog’s mind, build confidence, and strengthen the bond between you and your canine companion. This class combines a variety of fun activities and enrichment exercises to keep dogs engaged, thinking, and learning.

Dogs and their families will explore:

• Agility — Introduce fun obstacles that encourage coordination, body awareness, focus, and teamwork.
• Nosework — Put your dog’s natural scenting abilities to work through engaging scent games and search exercises.
• Tricks — Learn fun and entertaining tricks while building communication, focus, and a willingness to learn.
• Puzzles & Enrichment — Challenge your dog mentally with problem-solving activities that encourage them to think and work independently.
• Confidence Building — Help dogs become more comfortable navigating new experiences, surfaces, obstacles, and environments.

Adventure Class is all about having fun while learning! Whether your dog loves to explore, sniff, solve problems, or show off new tricks, this class provides a variety of activities designed to keep them engaged, confident, and excited to learn.

Come ready to play, learn, and discover a new adventure with your dog!

10/10-11/21, Saturday, 12:30-1:00pm (NO CLASS 11/7)

At-Home Dog Training

Cost:  $1,080 – 5 Pack + 1 private lesson
           $2,130 – 10 Pack + 2 private lessons
           $4,050 – 20 Pack + 3 private lessons

Dog obedience is paramount for a happy and safe dog at home. The number one most important training for any dog is obedience. An obedient dog is a happy, stable and controllable dog!  Between work, family, home, and hobbies, few people have the time to train…we’re here to help. Our trainers will come to your home to train your dog, customize an immersive training program to achieve your dog’s training needs and goals, including obedience and behavioral issues.

Requirements: Owners must be home during training session(s) and live within 15-20 minutes from Bark Avenue.

Board & Train Program

Duration: 3-6 weeks
Cost: 3 week (minimum) – $3,200.  Each additional week – $900.  In-home (trainer’s home) training available – $175 per week additional.

The most popular, time-efficient, and comprehensive form of dog training is our Board & Train program. Our programs are designed to work with your dog while he/she stays at our facility or our in-home program. Your dog will experience a unique approach to training and will learn new skills through our balanced training program. Our training methodology rewards positive behavior and emphasizes dog-friendly and proven training practices.

During your dog’s stay, the trainer will work with your dog to develop obedience skills, improved behavior, as well as address areas of concern you may have. We work with all breeds and behavioral issues.

Training Process

Week 1 – This week will focus on teaching basic obedience skills and will introduce the training tools that will be used throughout the stay.

Week 2 – Distractions will start to be introduced in the facility to build the dog’s ability to comply with commands.

Week 3 – During this week, your dog will be put into “real life” situations to learn how to be successful with demonstrating good behavior in all situations and with many uncontrolled distractions. This is where your dog will learn how to live in the world without being reactive, scared, or anxious.

Weeks 4 – 6 – These weeks will mirror weeks 2 & 3 as needed to address behavior issues. When a dog is demonstrating behavioral issues, the training becomes very customized to the situation in the home.

What’s included?

• Midway update between owner and trainer:  This session will give you a look into the work that has been done to date and to show you the progress your dog has made thus far. This usually takes place during the 2^nd week of training. ($120 value)
• Final Go home meeting between owner and trainer: This session will show you the final results of the training and give you the tools to keep the training going once you are home. You will work with your dog so that the trainer can observe you and give you feedback to ensure your success. ($120 value)
• Everyday Manners class – You will be enrolled in 6 weeks of our Everyday Manners class. These classes are key to continuing to build confidence in you and your dog on their obedience skills with a high level of distraction. ($180 value)
• Unlimited phone/email/text follow-up for the life of your dog.