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Cruisin' Canines

Dog Trainers and Training Schools in Chicago

Having trouble getting your dog to sit, stay, and speak when you want him to? If your dog is a bad listener, hasn’t had much socialization, is a rescue, or just needs some general obedience training, dog training schools and trainers are a great resource to turn to. All across Chicago, there are trainers and training schools ready and waiting to help you get your pooch to behave better, listen well, and be a model companion. Learn more about some of the most popular and top rated facilities in the city. North Center – Found Chicago Boarding and Training Center Located  at 4108A N. Rockwell St. in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood, Found Chicago Boarding and Training Center is staffed by certified trainers and well-trained team members who are equipped to help care for homeless and behaviorally challenged dogs.  Group classes and boot camp are available for training, with levels specifically for puppies, bully breeds such as pit bulls, and more. Noble Square – Anything is Pawzible Anything is Pawzible is located at 1330 W. North Ave., and offers group classes as well as private training options. Some classes include puppies-only groups, basic training skills, dog therapy training, advanced/off-leash training, “Bark Around the Park”—visiting a new park each week, and “Tricks for Kicks!”—a class where your pup will learn fun tricks.  Individual sessions include obedience work, behavioral consultations, and child-pet adaptation. Lincoln Square/ Ravenswood – Barker Behavior Specializing in private training, Barker Behavior serves Chicago and the North Shore, teaching pet owners customized training methods and behavior coaching. Sessions are typically an hour long and are available nights, weekdays, and weekends. Exercises are taught in the dog’s home environment, which makes it easier to incorporate into daily routines. They also offer home schooling programs, which incorporate 2-4 visits per week, facilitating the repetition part of training that is so beneficial. Ravenswood – Urban Pooch Located in Ravenswood at 4501 N. Ravenswood, Urban Pooch offers several different types of classes: Obedience (beginner, intermediate, and advanced), puppy classes, nose work, and brain games. Staff is also available for one-on-one training. Bucktown – Dynamic Dogs Training and Behavior At 2343 N. Elston, Dynamic Dogs Training and Behavior is ready to get to work to help you and your pooch. This business offers training camp classes, group classes (for puppies, beginners, “Canine Good Citizen,” and advanced), refresher training, private lessons, and even a training camp that lasts between 15 days to 6 weeks. Here, dog training is highly customizable to your dog’s needs. Avondale – Sit Means Sit Dog Training Sit Means Sit offers group classes as well as training programs that are custom tailored to your specific situation. They also offer board-and train options, which is an immersion-style training course designed to provide your pet with intensive behavioral training. East Garfield Park – K9 University K9 University is located at 2945 W. Lake Street, and offers a host of different classes, including puppy classes, beginner and intermediate obedience, K9 scent work, agility, “Canine Good Citizen” classes, private lessons, and board-and-train programs. Depending on your needs, they may be able to help! Ukrainian Village – Collins Canine Offering private training as well as group classes, Collins Canine features puppy classes for dogs under 6 months old, urban obedience, advanced training, and more. They even offer dog socialization meetings. Class sizes are typically no larger than seven dogs, so your pup will receive plenty of one-on-one training. Tri-Taylor Area – Animal Behavior Training Concepts In the heart of downtown Chicago, Animal Behavior Training Concepts, like many dog trainers, offers group and private classes.  Group classes are capped at four dogs, so your pet will have a lot of attention and focus.  Class topics include Canine Manners Matter, Puppy Start Right, Ongoing Canine Manners, and other specific classes for dogs with particular behavioral needs.

Animal Hospitals and Emergency Vet Care in Chicago

As luck often has it, your pet will fall ill on a Sunday at 9 p.m., when most veterinary offices are long since closed.  When the problem is urgent and can’t wait until the next morning, it’s important to have a reliable animal hospital that can accommodate your pet. In Chicago, veterinary clinics are everywhere, but when it comes to extended hours and emergency vet care, the options become far more limited. We did some research and compiled a list animal hospitals around Chicago with extended hours, that way should you ever need help on an emergency basis, you’ll be prepared.   Roscoe Village – Chicago Veterinary Exchange and Specialty Center This animal hospital is located at 3123 N. Clybourn Ave, and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. They do not require appointments, and accept cash, e-checks, MasterCard, Visa, AmEx, Discover, and Care Credit, a medical credit card. General visiting hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, while weekend and holiday visits must be arranged in advance. To properly care for pets,  visits are limited to twenty minutes. Avondale – Premier Veterinary Group, Chicago Location This 24-hour veterinary hospital is located at 3927 W. Belmont Ave. in Avondale, and offers not only around-the-clock care, but also internal medicine, oncology, advanced surgery, and more.  They also offer oxygen therapy, nutrition support, trauma support, and other emergency procedures. South Loop – Metropolitan Veterinary Center Though not technically an emergency center—they do offer 24-hour vet hospitalization, but only for pets who are already patients with the office—they are open later than most vets around Chicago. Open 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Metropolitan Veterinary Center offers many of the same services as other ER vet offices, including medical boarding, cancer care, blood transfusions, x-rays, stem cell therapy, and much more. Tri-Taylor – VSC at Illinois This location is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day, and is conveniently located at 2242 W. Harrison Street near the Illinois Medical District. Emergency hours are 24 hours a day, but standard office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Their specialties are advanced surgery, internal medicine, and oncology. Lakeview – Higgins Animal Clinic Higgins Animal Clinic is located at 1705 W. Belmont Ave. in Lakeview, and offers many services, including echocardiography and ultrasounds, complete lab testing, radiography, diagnostics and surgery, preventative medicine, prescription diets and dietary counseling, hospitalization, house calls, and more. Additionally, this location also offers behavioral counseling and obedience training.

JUNE Dog of the Month is

Riley

RILEY! Breed: Lab/Spaniel/Golden/MUTT Age: 7 Where I live: The Big Black Couch of Roscoe Village Joys in Life: BALL – Beach – BALL – Treats – BALL – My pet kitty – BALL – naps and laps – BALL… Cruisin’ Canines Chicago Dog Walker: TIFF! She is great! Chicago Dog Walking Buddies: Tess, Ella, Cuba, Barkley, and many more! She’s a social butterfly.

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