Call Today to Book Your FREE Training Evaluation!
“At A Closer Bond, your training success is our passion and purpose. We can’t wait to welcome you and your dog into our training family! Together, let’s unlock the potential within both of you and build a bond that lasts a lifetime!”
-Katy Cushing, Owner of A Closer Bond
Our Award-Winning Dog Training Approach
At A Closer Bond, we believe that quality dog training is more than just teaching commands; it’s about building a lifelong partnership with your furry friend. Our certified professional dog trainers offer a wide range of programs tailored to your unique needs and schedule—whether it’s obedience training, puppy training, therapy dog certification, or advanced behavioral modification, A Closer Bond can help.
We recognize that every dog has their own personality and learning style. That’s why our dog training programs are customized, ensuring they are as enriching and fun as they are educational. We help dogs think critically, respect boundaries, and gain self-confidence, all while anticipating your needs.
“I brought my dog Lillia here when she was a puppy in 2021 to do puppy training and off leash/calm mindset training. It was the best decision I could’ve made! The staff is amazing and have always treated Lillia great. I moved from IL to WI and still bring my dog to them for refresher training and boarding when I’m on vacation. I know two of the trainers that Lillia had are no longer with the business but all of the staff I’ve been in contact with since have been great. I would recommend bringing your dogs here for training, boarding and daycare if you want the best service. Thank you to everyone here for how you’ve changed my dogs life. She is literally THE BEST!”
A Dog Training Journey for You Both
Dog training is a journey we embark on together. Not only do we focus on your dog’s development, but we also empower you, the pet parent. We offer a range of proven dog training programs including enriching group classes, hands-on private lessons, day training options, and our convenient residency training program to ensure that you’re equipped to support your dog’s growth at home. Imagine the bond you’ll create as you learn to communicate better, understand each other’s needs, and deepen your friendship. With our guidance, you’ll discover how to lead your dog towards lifelong success, turning training into a rewarding experience for everyone involved.
Don’t wait to create a stronger connection with your furry companion. The journey to a happier, more fulfilled dog starts today! Call us now to explore how our dog training near Chicago can transform your relationship and meet your specific goals.
Our Dog Training & Enrichment Centers
At A Closer Bond, we’ve designed our dog training center to be a welcoming and stimulating environment for both dogs and their owners. Our dedicated dog training center includes climate-controlled indoor spaces equipped with non-slip flooring and ample room for training exercises. These rooms are designed for comfort and safety, allowing dogs to focus fully on learning. We also have a secure outdoor area which provides plenty of space for agility training, socialization, and real-world practice. It’s a perfect setting for dogs to explore and engage with their surroundings!
Our Canine Enrichment Center
We know the importance of enriching the lives of each dog we meet, that’s why we created our one-of-a-kind Canine Enrichment Center. Allowing dogs to use their natural instincts and behaviors gives them an outlet that satisfies their needs mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally. Our Enrichment Center has several areas to meet your dog’s needs:
- Scent Spaces: Sniffing is essential for dogs, it’s how they explore, learn, and make sense of the world around them. This space encourages natural behaviors, challenges dogs’ minds, and builds confidence.
- Puzzle Zones: A space for scent-based puzzles and games for mental engagement.
- Digging Zone: We hide scented items into tubs filled with toys, balls, blankets, and other objects to encourage your dog’s tracking instincts and provide rewarding enrichment.
- Calming Zones: For dogs who may need a moment to relax, we have designated quiet areas where they can unwind and recharge.
Superior Pet Parent Experience
We believe that pet parent involvement is critical to every dog’s training success. That’s why we’ve made our dog training and enrichment centers welcoming, comfortable, and supportive for you and your family.
- Observation Areas: Pet parents can watch their pup’s training sessions through large windows, allowing for real-time learning and engagement. We believe that transparency fosters trust and strengthens the bond between you and your dog.
- Comfortable Waiting Areas: Our waiting areas are equipped with seating, refreshments, and informational resources for pet parents, ensuring a pleasant experience while you wait for your dog training session.
- Exceptional Cleanliness: We prioritize cleanliness with regular sanitization protocols throughout the facility to provide a safe and healthy environment for all dogs and their families.
- Community Feel: Our dog training and enrichment centers are designed to promote a sense of community among pet parents. We encourage interaction, sharing experiences, and forming friendships as you navigate your training journeys together.
At A Closer Bond, we strive to create an environment that enhances the training experience for both dogs and their owners. Our facility not only supports effective learning but also ensures that every visit is enjoyable and enriching. Come see for yourself how we make dog training a positive experience for everyone involved!
Dog Training Options
A Closer Bond offers a wide range of training options to suit your schedule and needs, including:
- Residency Training
- Puppy Training
- Private lessons
- On-leash and off-leash training
- Behavior modification
- Rehabilitation
- Group enrichment classes
- Therapy training
- AKC Canine Good Citizen
Looking for something specific? After almost 40 years training dogs, we’ve seen it all.
Call us to see how we can help.
Residency Training
Training is such an important component of living well with your dog, and we know you want to trust your dog’s training to a highly skilled professional. We hire experienced trainers and certify them in obedience, behavior modification, and specialty training through our A Closer Bond school for dog trainers. You and your pup can rest assured you’re in great hands!
Residency training is a dynamic, comprehensive training experience proven to produce excellent, lasting results. This training program takes place at our lodging facility, and our expert trainers will work with your pet multiple times a day to help them master the most important obedience and manners skills, including but not limited to:
- Sit, down, and place
- Come when called (the first time!)
- Stay (2 minutes or longer)
- Leash walking
- Polite greetings
- Impulse control
- Social skills
Are there specific behaviors and skills you’d like us to work on with your dog?
Give us a call to discuss how we can help.
What’s included in Residency Training?
This all-inclusive program comes with everything your pet needs for a wonderful training experience:
- A comfortable accommodation in our climate-controlled lodging area
- Multiple daily training sessions tailored for your dog
- Comprehensive daily wellness checks
- Food, meals, treats, and fresh water
- Follow-up lessons with you and your family
- Take-home training exercises and informational materials
- Ongoing phone support well beyond the program’s end
- Access to post-program group classes to keep your pet’s skills sharp
Puppy Training
Puppies learn most of their lifelong beliefs during the first four months of their life! Socializing your puppy and teaching them skills during this time period help ensure a strong and rewarding relationship for life. A Closer Bond’s exclusive puppy training programs give your young one broad exposure to new people, places, objects, and sounds. Your puppy deserves the best opportunity to learn about the world in a safe, controlled environment in order to develop into the most confident and happy adult! Our fun-filled puppy training programs include Puppy Preschool, Puppy Play & Learn, and our Perfect Pup Program.
“This facility and staff is absolutely amazing. Everyone who works here is very inviting and helpful. My Australian Shepard completed her training here with Asia and she did an amazing job working with my dog and I. She was very responsive and always willing to answer questions. Highly recommend!”
Private Lessons
For pet parents who prefer a more hands-on approach, our private lessons are the perfect solution. Our certified trainers will work closely with you and your dog. Tailored private training sessions are built to address your pup’s needs whether it’s obedience training, behavioral adjustment, or advanced training. Build a stronger bond with your pet in this truly one-of-a-kind bonding and learning experience.
On-Leash and Off-Leash Training
Both on-leash and off-leash training are vital for a well-rounded dog. Training on leash instills obedience and safety habits in the real-life scenarios where a leash would be used. It also promotes better leash walking habits and reliability in public spaces. Off-leash training is equally important, ensuring your dog responds quickly and positively in off-leash situations. This promotes better confidence and trust and reinforces proper recall. Both types of training contribute to a well-balanced, happy canine companion!
Behavior Modification
Certain negative canine behaviors and habits can be a significant stress on you and your family, and it’s not always easy to determine how to address them. That’s where our team of experts comes in. We specialize in identifying the root causes of undesirable behaviors and helping your dog overcome them. With nearly 40 years of experience training dogs of all kinds, we’ve seen it all. If you’re having behavioral concerns with your pet, don’t hesitate to call us to see how we can help bring you and your dog to better peace and harmony.
Rehabilitation
Have you just adopted a dog from a troubled or uncertain past? Take a transformative journey together at A Closer Bond with our comprehensive dog rehabilitation program. Designed for dogs with advanced behavioral challenges or past trauma, this program focuses on building trust, positive reinforcement, and customized strategies to get to the bottom of specific behavior issues. From fear, reactivity and aggression to anxiety and social skills, we provide a safe, positive learning environment to help your dog develop better behavior and thrive in your family.
“I have had beyond the best experience with A Closer Bond. I have board and trained two dogs there, one of whom is reactive and one who is going to be a therapy/service dog. Their trainers Sarah and Alyssa are amazing. They have been beyond supportive in their continued training and I do not have the words to express how grateful for them I have am!”
Group Enrichment Classes
Training doesn’t end once your program is complete, it’s an ongoing activity that sharpens your dog’s skills and reliability as they continue to develop mentally and physically. We offer a variety of fun group enrichment classes to hone their skills and introduce new ones. These classes are designed to expand your dog’s mind and provide more rewarding bonding experiences for you both. Many of our group enrichment programs are designed to build upon your pet’s existing skills and behaviors or give you a new, fun bonding experience, like canine sports or a new discipline!
Our group enrichment class offerings include:
- Agility
- Rally Obedience
- Therapy Dog & Handler Team Training
- Dog & Owner Fitness Classes
- Tricks
- Nose Work and Scent Detection
- Confidence Class
- Puppy socialization
- Canine Good Citizen
- Distraction Classes – for obedience reinforcement
- And much more
“We put our dog through the 3 week program here and she is much more well-behaved. We previously had problems with her pulling on the leash and being reactive while on walks but now she listens to us, even with distractions. She’s been so good that she will follow us off leash with no issues! We now try to take her to group classes to help maintain her new skills.”
Therapy Training
Led by certified dog trainers, our therapy training classes focus on developing dogs into compassionate, comforting pets for therapy work. Through gentle techniques in a positive atmosphere, dogs can learn to provide emotional support to those in need. Therapy dogs are incredible forces of good in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and more.
AKC Canine Good Citizen
Canine Good Citizen is a certification program designed to promote model canine behavior. Dogs undergo education and testing in various situations to assess their obedience, manners, recall, and ability to interact positively with people and other dogs. Upon passing the test, your pup will receive a certificate from the AKC recognizing their success.
Dog Training FAQ
What vaccinations are required for training?
How do I set up a training evaluation?
Call us at (847) 358-7312, email us at support@acloserbond.com, or contact us through the form on our website. We look forward to hearing from you!
What should I bring for my training evaluation?
Will my dog learn to be obedient?
What can you teach my dog?
Do you offer puppy training?
What will my dog do during the day?
Will my dog listen to me after Residency Training?
What should I bring when I drop my dog off for training?
