The Blog Spot
Why Your Dog’s Behavior Changes After Moving to a New Chicago Neighborhood
Moving to a new Chicago neighborhood can flip your dog’s behavior overnight. Here’s why it happens and what you can do to help them settle in.
How to Potty Train a Puppy in an Apartment (Chicago Guide for New Puppy Parents)
Think your puppy “should be potty trained by now”? Learn what’s realistic—and the strategies that make progress happen fast.
Puppy Biting, Mouthing & Nipping: Why It Happens and How to Stop It
If your puppy has turned into a tiny land shark, this guide walks you through why puppy biting happens, what’s normal, and the simple steps that actually stop it.
The 3-Second Rule for Dogs: Why “Consent to Pet” Creates Safer, Happier Greetings
A simple 3-second pattern that helps reactive dogs think before they explode. Easy, humane, and game-changing for city dogs.
Rescue Dogs in Chicago: Helping Your New Dog Build Confidence in the City
Helping a rescue dog settle in Chicago? These confidence-building tips make new dogs feel safe, supported, and ready to adjust to city life.
Winter Puppy Training in Chicago: Potty Training and Socialization Tips
Puppies don’t need to wait for warm weather to learn. As a Chicago-based dog trainer, I’ll walk you through how to handle potty training and socialization during our long, chilly winters.
Reactive Dog Training in Chicago: Why Location Matters More Than You Think
Training a reactive dog in Chicago means choosing the right locations. Learn how environment shapes reactivity and how to set your dog up for calm success.
Crate Training Your Chicago Dog: Step-by-Step Guide for Apartments
Crate training is one of the best tools for helping Chicago dogs feel safe and calm at home — especially in apartments. Here’s my step-by-step guide to building a positive crate routine that works for both you and your neighbors.
Dog Training in Chicago High-Rises: How to Handle Elevators and Hallway Challenges
City dogs face unique challenges, especially in high-rise living. As a Chicago-based certified dog trainer, I’ll walk you through how to handle elevator rides, narrow hallways, and surprise encounters with confidence and calm.
Balanced Dog Training vs Positive Reinforcement: What’s Best for Your Chicago Dog?
“Balanced training” and “positive reinforcement” are two terms that pop up constantly in the dog world — and they can be confusing. As a certified trainer in Chicago, here’s what those approaches really mean and how to choose what’s best for your dog.
Positive Reinforcement Dog Training Not Working? Here's Why (And What to Do)
If you’re using positive reinforcement but your dog still isn’t listening, don’t panic — it doesn’t mean it’s not working. As a certified trainer in Chicago, I’ll explain why this happens and how to get back on track without abandoning your training approach.
Puppy Training in Chicago: When to Start and What to Teach First
Got a new puppy? Congratulations!! As a Chicago-based CPDT-KA dog trainer, I’ll walk you through when to start puppy training, what to teach first, and how to build good habits from day one.
At Home Dog Training in Chicago: What to Expect During Your First Session
If you’ve never worked with a dog trainer before, your first at-home session can feel a little mysterious. As a Chicago-based CPDT-KA trainer, here’s what you can expect when I come to your home — and why that environment helps your dog learn best.
How to Help Dogs Get Along Again After a Fight (From a Chicago Dog Trainer)
When your dogs fight, it can feel like your peaceful home just imploded. As a certified dog trainer in Chicago, I’ve helped many families rebuild trust between dogs after serious conflicts. Here’s how to move forward safely, step-by-step.
How to Calm a Restless Dog at Night
Discover effective solutions for calming a restless dog at night—from bed time routines to anxiety relief tips for a peaceful sleep.
How to Choose a Dog Trainer
Choosing the right dog trainer is essential. This guide will navigate you through the key factors to consider, from understanding different training methods to evaluating a trainer's qualifications and philosophy.
How to Introduce Dogs When One Is Reactive: A Safe, Step-by-Step Guide
Learn effective strategies for reactive dog introduction. Discover step-by-step tips to peacefully introduce your reactive dog to another dog and manage their reactivity.
Positive Reinforcement vs. Correction: Which Dog Training Method Works Best?
Wondering which dog training method is best? Learn the science-backed differences between positive reinforcement and correction-based training in Chicago.
About the Author
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Hi, I’m Hailey Mott, CPDT-KA, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer based in Chicago.
I work with dogs of all backgrounds — from nervous rescues and leash-reactive city dwellers to confident puppies learning the ropes. My approach is shaped by years of hands-on experience working as a staff member at One Tail at a Time, where I help newly rescued dogs build confidence and adjust to life in new homes.
Outside of private training, I also teach group classes at Copilot Dog Training, where I focus on real-world obedience for puppies and adult dogs, reactivity, and confidence-building for dogs of all sizes and backgrounds.
I believe good training starts with understanding, not control. My goal is to help you and your dog build communication, confidence, and trust — because real progress happens when both ends of the leash feel supported.
Why Train with Me
Learn How Your Dog Thinks
You’ll always know why we’re doing something — not just what to do.
You’ll learn how to recognize what your dog’s behavior is really communicating and how to respond in ways that make sense to them.
My goal is to give you the tools to handle real-world situations with confidence so you’re not stick in endless lessons.
Training Built for City Life
City dogs deal with a lot. Noise, people, elevators, traffic, and tight spaces. Training should prepare them for that.
I focus on real-world skills that help your dog stay calm and responsive wherever you go, from crowded sidewalks to apartment hallways.
Sessions stay structured, adaptable, and tailored to how you actually live.
We’ll Lose the Chaos and Create More Calm
You don’t need to be strict to see progress.
We’ll bring calm and structure to your daily life using humane, proven methods — never intimidation or outdated tools.
The result: a dog who’s responsive, confident, and actually wants to work with you.
Experience & Collaboration
As a CPDT-KA certified trainer with years of experience working with rescue and shelter dogs across Chicago, I bring both science-based methods and real-world perspective.
You can expect honesty, clarity, and zero judgment, just progress, partnership and collaboration.
Dog Training Services in Chicago
Private, at-home dog training sessions (one hour) customized to your home environment and lifestyle.
Obedience Training
$135/session
Master everyday skills for calm, confident dogs through positive reinforcement training.
Loose leash walking & heel
Reliable recall (come when called)
Impulse control & self-regulation
Polite greetings with people and dogs
Polite play etiquette
Place/settle training
Door manners & boundaries
Window barking reduction
New rescue dog transitions
Puppy Training
$135/session
Set your puppy up for success with foundational puppy obedience training in Chicago.
Puppy socialization for confident adult dogs
Basic obedience (sit, stay, come, down)
Loose leash walking from the start
Name recognition
Puppy biting & mouthing solutions
Crate training
Potty training
Intro to handling & grooming prep
Behavior Modification
$135/session
For dogs with fear, guarding, or aggression. Training that builds safety and trust.
Resource guarding (food, toys, spaces, or people)
Aggression toward people
Dog-to-dog aggression (within or outside the home)
Touch sensitivity or handling aggression
Muzzle training for safety and confidence
General fear, anxiety, or noise sensitivity
Apartment and high-rise behavioral challenges (hallways, elevators, city noise)
Reactivity Training
$135/session
For dogs who bark or lunge at triggers. We’ll build calm, confidence, and focus in real life.
Leash reactivity toward dogs
Leash reactivity toward people
Reactivity toward moving objects (bikes, scooters, skateboards)
Barrier reactivity (barking through fences, windows, or crates)
Generalized reactivity (reacting to multiple triggers)
Over-arousal or frustration during walks
Fear-based reactivity in city environments (noise, crowds, traffic)
Interested in private training?
Whether you’re raising a new puppy, working through reactivity, or helping your rescue dog settle in, I offer one-on-one support that meets you where you are (literally).
I use positive reinforcement and LIMA to help dogs feel calm, confident, and capable—because great behavior starts with understanding, not correction.
Serving Chicago neighborhoods like Avondale, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Uptown, Edgewater, Logan Square, Bucktown, Humboldt Park, UIC, Little Village and more!