Welcome to the Sniffspot list of top-rated dog trainers for Reactive dog training in Chicago, IL. Based on feedback and votes from our Reactive dog training community, we've curated a list of top-rated trainers in the Chicago area.

CPDT-KA, CGC Evaluator
Aggressive dog training, Reactive dog training, In home training, Off leash training, Puppy training
Chicago neighborhoods and some nearby suburbs
I am a Chicago-based trainer that believes training should be fun, sustainable, and kind. I want to help you and your pup better understand each other and use training and management solutions that work with your individual needs and lifestyle. I rely on positive reinforcement training with a focus on science-based methods.

CDBC, FDM, KPA CTP, CTDI
Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Board and train, Puppy training
Huntley, IL
Ali is a graduate of The Karen Pryor Academy, earning her Karen Pryor Certified Training Partner title (KPA CTP). She is a certified dog behavior consultant (CDBC) and a certified family dog mediator (FDM). Ali continues her education and professional growth by attending several seminars each year. She makes every effort to provide her clients the individual training solutions their dog needs....

ABCDT
Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, In home training, Puppy training
Chicago suburbs, Rockford, roscoe, rockton, south Beloit, Beloit.
I am certified through Animal Behavior College (ABCDT) and have a wealth of continued education since my certification. I specialize in Reactive/aggressive dogs. And love the Canine sports as I hope to be adding more sporting options to clients.
My training outside of Canine sports is focused more on everyday application of obedience cues and applying them to everyday manners.
<...
CTC with Honors from Jean Donaldson's Academy for Dog Trainers, PMCT1 from Pat Miller's Certification academies, CPDT-KA, Fear Free Certified Professional
Aggressive dog training, Reactive dog training, In home training, Puppy training
Northwest Suburbs of Chicago including but not limited to Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Buffalo Grove, Roselle, Itasca, Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Park Ridge, Edison Park, and more.
Hi! My name is Mary Thompson, I have been working with dogs for almost my entire life and have owned by own training business, Happy Hound University LLC since 2017. I got into training the way most of us get into training: because of my problem dog Regis. Regis had dog reactivity, stranger directed aggression, barrier frustration, handling issues, resource guarding... pretty much everything wo...

CBCC-KA, AKC Evaluator, Certified Canine First Aid and CPR Instructor
Reactive dog training, Board and train, In home training, Puppy training
Chicago and north shore suburbs
I have been training dogs for close to 20 years. I started my career teaching all levels of basic through advanced obedience. Immediately I realized my love for working with anxious and fearful dogs, and how using positive reinforcement methods helps change the emotions behind the behavior. My goal is always to help dogs become more confident in their environment and to feel more comfortable an...

CTC - Certificate of Training and (behavior) Counseling - with honors - Academy for Dog Trainers - 2000 CTDI - Certified Trick Dog Instructor CCFC - Canine Conditioning Fitness Coach
Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, In home training, Off leash training, Puppy training
Chicago and Chicago-land suburbs
Debbie has worked as a professional dog trainer for over 20 years.
Her group classes are taught at For Your K9 - where she teaches Puppy, Basic, Canine Life and Social Skills/Canine Good Citizen, Tricks, and Rally Free.
Debbie is a long-time member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and the Pet Professional Guild.
She is one of just 70 trainers worldwide...

CPDT-KA, ABCDT, Fear Free Certified
Aggressive dog training, Reactive dog training, Board and train, In home training, Puppy training
Belvidere, Cherry Valley, Rockford, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Poplar Grove, Caledonia, Marengo, Garden Prairie, DeKalb, Kingston, Genoa
"I have been training dogs using positive training techniques since I was a child, luring my first dog with hot dogs through an agility course made of dressers, plywood, ladders and hula hoops."
Gina is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA). She graduated Animal Behavior College with honors, where she earned her Animal Behavior Certified Dog Trainer (ABCDT) certification. She ...

CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA
Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Agility training, In home training, Puppy training
Chicago
I'm one of a handful of certified behavioral consultants in Chicago and have been invested in the rescue community since 2009.

ABCDT, CPDT-KA
Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Agility training, In home training, Off leash training, Puppy training
Chicago
When I was younger, I was always told " you only get one more chance". Even at a young age, I felt the pressure of having to get it right by the second time. As I went through life as an adult, I noticed so many names of companies called "second chance..." and it brought me back to that feeling of defeat when I was a child. I made it my mission to give humans and dogs as many chances as it t...

LDFM-T, CPDT, CAP 2
Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Board and train, In home training, Puppy training
Chicago, Orland Park, Homewood, Tinley Park, Aurora, Oak Park, Aurora, Frankfort, Schereville
I started training professionally over 2 decades ago after adopting a Coonhound mix and soon thereafter ending up crying on the floor, surrounded by puddles of pee, not sure what to do! My commitment to learning and growing my knowledge has not stopped since then. I have multiple certifications, have completed many in-person and online courses, and have attended many learning expos and seminars...

Certified Professional Dog Trainer
Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, In home training, Puppy training
Chicago
I am the owner of Anything Is Pawzible Dog Training in Chicago, Illinois. I created this company 23 years ago and it has grown to the largest dog training company in Chicago. With 19 trainers on staff and 4 locations I am proud to offer so many unique classes and offerings to our clients. Anything Is Pawzible has classes ranging the entire span of a dog's lifetime from puppy classes to senior...

CPDT-KA
Reactive dog training, Agility training, In home training, Off leash training, Puppy training
Bartlett, Batavia, Campton Hills, Downers Grove, Elgin, Geneva, Maple Park, Naperville, St. Charles, South Elgin, Streamwood, Wayne, West Chicago, Wheaton, Winfield
Julia Lane, CPDT-KA, has been a professional dog trainer specializing in agility, obedience & reactivity for over 15 years. She owns Spot On K9 Sports, LLC, a 17,500 sq. ft. dog sports training facility featuring group classes, private lessons, seminars & agility trials. She also provides in-home dog training.

Wag! Certified trainer
Aggressive dog training, Reactive dog training, Agility training, Board and train, In home training, Off leash training, Puppy training
Chicago area and surrounding suburbs
As a lifelong animal lover, I finally decided to take the leap and start my own training business. I am especially passionate about rescuing animals (currently I have two rescues of my own) and exploring the many benefits of the animal-human connection.

CPDT-KA
Reactive dog training, In home training, Puppy training
Glenview, Wilmette, Winnetka, Northbrook, Northfield, Golf, Morton Grove, Park Ridge, Niles, Skokie, Evanston, Highland Park, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Wheeling
Nancy Paolucci, CPDT-KA did not discover her passion for dogs and training until she adopted her first dog in her 20's. Nancy graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa with a degree in Marketing and found herself in the world of promotional products where she met her husband. They adopted their first dog, Abby an English Setter, in 2007 and Nancy never looked back. She delved into trainin...

Karen Pryor Academy-Certified Training Partner
Aggressive dog training, Reactive dog training, In home training, Puppy training
Chicago and the entire Chicagoland Area
I worked in special education for 30 years. I started my journey as a school social worker and ended my career as the assistant superintendent of special education. I have loved animals all my life and have been pet parent to quite a menagerie including rats, birds, dogs and cats. About 9 years ago, I became the mama of a wheaten terrier puppy who had significant anxiety and reactivity to other...

KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA
Aggressive dog training, Reactive dog training, Board and train, In home training, Off leash training, Puppy training
Rockford, Rockton, Roscoe, Belvidere, Byron, Loves Park, Machesney Park, South Beloit, Davis Junction, Winnebago County, Boone County
Hi! I'm Yasmin Baylor, KPA-CTP and CPDT-KA. I am a Certified Training Partner and graduate of the internationally-esteemed Karen Pryor Academy, as well as a Certified Professional Dog Trainer through the CCPDT accreditation council.
After earning my Bachelors in Computer Science and Graphic Design, and working for years in the business world, I knew it was time to switch gears and comm...
CPDT-KA CPT
Aggressive dog training, Reactive dog training, In home training, Off leash training, Puppy training
Chicago
I've been a full time dog trainer for 2 years and use science-based, humane training methods.

KPA CTP, CPDT-KA
Reactive dog training, Off leash training
Megan and Jennifer started Capricorn Dog Training, LLC in 2012. After working her magic with many Chicago dogs and their owners, Megan relocated to St. Louis in late 2021. She now works in the behavior department of the Humane Society of Missouri. The dogs and people of Chicago will miss her extraordinary dog behavior and training knowledge. Megan is currently not taking new clients.

CPDT-KA, Cert. SAPT, CCDT
Reactive dog training, In home training, Puppy training
Chicago
I am a Chicago-based dog trainer focused on using science-based methods to improve the lives of dogs and their humans. I strive to provide quality training that is fun for everyone.

MPH (Master of Public Health), KPA CTP (Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner), CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed)
Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, In home training, Puppy training
Chicago and surrounding areas, as well as virtually
Kristina has a passion for helping families learn how to communicate better with their animals. She is both a technically skilled trainer and compassionate for the humans and animals she supports. A desire for science-based methods and an approach through which animals enjoy learning led Kristina to pursue training with the Karen Pryor Academy (KPA). The KPA Professional Dog Training Program he...

Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Off leash training, Puppy training, Agility training
My passion for dogs began at a young age. After several years volunteering in shelters and reading books on training, I finally decided to attend Triple Crown Academy. It was at TCA where I learned skills in Basic Obedience, Scent Detection, Protection and Bite Work, Search and Rescue and my personal favorite, Agility. It was also at TCA where I adopted Roxee and Skylar, the dogs I was assigned...

Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Off leash training, Puppy training, Agility training
A lifelong animal lover, Alison entered the training world thanks to her two Australian Cattle Dogs, Fox and Rocket. Both Fox and Rocket participated in group classes at Anything is Pawzible when they were first adopted. Helping these two rescue pups work through various challenges and making sure they feel safe and happy in the world has been an inspirational experience and has impacted every...

Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Off leash training, Puppy training, Agility training
I'm a life-long animal lover and my introduction to formal dog training was in 2011, attending a Basic Obedience class at Anything Is PAWZible with my first girl, Willow. The delight Willow expressed during training and the connection we made in that class led us to pursue additional training classes, opening up an incredible level of human-canine communication and creating a stronger bond betw...

Aggressive dog training, Board and train, In home training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Puppy training
Courtney completed her Bachelors of Science, Zoo Science, from Friends University in 2019. In 2017 she completed an internship at Brookfield Zoo where she was able to clicker train tamanduas under supervision. She spent all of her college free time interning and volunteering at Sedgwick County Zoo with various mammals and birds, including gorillas, red river hogs, maned wolves, and lemurs! Afte...

Aggressive dog training, Board and train, In home training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training
Marie Smith is a seasoned competitor in both rally and traditional obedience. Marie and her poodle, Noelle, have earned nine AKC titles and were qualifiers in the AKC Rally National Championship invitational in 2020. After earning their Rally Master title in 2019, Noelle and Marie are working toward their RACH Rally Championship title. Marie loves competing and sharing knowledge about how to br...

Aggressive dog training, Board and train, In home training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training
Courtney graduated from Downers Grove South High School in 2013. She completed her Bachelor's degree in Special Education from University of St. Francis in Joliet as well as a Master's degree in Educational Technology from American College of Education. Courtney is a teacher at West Leyden High school for students with severe and profound disabilities. She grew up around dogs and her love for t...

Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Puppy training, Agility training
Rebekah has been animal-crazy since the time she could hold a pencil and draw all of the animals that lived in her imaginary farm, but dogs have always had a special place in her heart. She started training her Nintendogs from a young age, but at 15, her family got their very first dog, and Rebekah was finally able to teach fun tricks, build PVC agility equipment, and play frisbee with a real d...

Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Puppy training, Agility training
Robin got started in dog training 10-years-ago when she adopted Dylan from the Anti-Cruelty Society. Because Dylans energy and drive needed an outlet, she got started in agility and nose work. Her second dog didn't have the same drive for sports but loved people, which took them down the path of therapy dog work at grade school reading programs and in hospitals. Today Robin is continuing her ag...

Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Puppy training, Agility training
Coco grew up with a love and understanding of dogs from a young age. Family pets consisted of Golden Retrievers from her grandparents to German Shepards who were too goofy to become police dogs.Prior to working in a caregiver capacity with animals, Coco worked in the entertainment industry. From working as a Radio Engineer at Clear Channel to Promotional work at Victory Records and finally a Mo...
Sniffspot’s top-rated list of dog trainers for Reactive dog training in Chicago, IL is based on rankings from our community of dog owners as well as the general public. For Reactive dog training, we received 1675 total votes, resulting in 29 dog trainers who focus on Reactive dog training. Our top-ranked dog trainers are listed in order of votes, with the top-ranked trainer for Reactive dog training listed first.
Dog trainers for Reactive dog training on this list are certified by CPDT-KA, FDM, or another trusted organization. We're proud to feature Margaret Fraser, who has been voted the top dog trainer for Reactive dog training in Chicago, IL. Margaret Fraser’s favorite part of their job is: Seeing people live their best lives with their best friends.
.
At Sniffspot, we prioritize trust and expertise. Margaret Fraser, as well as the other dog trainers on this Reactive dog training list, ensures they bring the highest standards of care and training to your dog. Margaret Fraser encourages owners with this dog training tip: Management is just as important (if not more!) as training.
.
I first became interested in training when I adopted my dog Bea (Arthur) in 2013 while living in New York City. I had to quickly learn how to manage a behaviorally challenging dog in an urban environment. This led to a passion for rescuing, fostering, and training dogs. I have fostered over 20 dogs for local animal rescues and continue to volunteer my time helping animals in need..
Management is just as important (if not more!) as training., which is crucial for successful Reactive dog training training. Additionally, Ali Evanson recommends:
Don't underestimate the value of reinforcing what seems like nothing in the early days. Your dog is laying on the ground calmly, treat that! Your dog checks in with you(especially without jumping), treat that! Find opportunities to reinforce your dog so they WANT to repeat those behaviors over and over.for improving your dog’s behavior in Chicago.


















































