Positive Reinforcement Training

Training that builds skills, confidence, and a better relationship — without fear, force, or shutdown.

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What is Positive Reinforcement Training?

At it’s core, positive reinforcement means to add something to increase a behavior.

As a positive reinforcement trainer, I train dogs by adding praise, treats, play and affection to increase the owner’s desired behavior and help change the root emotion behind the dog’s big feelings.

Rather than suppressing behavior, this approach builds understanding.

Dogs learn how to navigate situations, recover from stress, and make better choices on their own.

Over time, this leads to behavior that feels:

  1. More reliable

  2. More confident

  3. More consistent across environments

All without relying on fear, intimidation, or shutdown.

A woman standing with a leash attached to a large black and brown Rottweiler dog lying on the floor inside a room with a painted mural of colorful cartoon characters on the brick wall.
Cute small dog with large ears, black and tan fur, sitting on a wooden floor, looking up with a happy expression, mouth open, wearing a harness and leash.

What Positive Reinforcement Training Looks Like

Positive reinforcement training is often misunderstood. It isn’t permissive, and it isn’t unstructured.

In practice, this training style is clear, intentional, and skill-based. We focus on what the dog needs in order to succeed — emotionally and behaviorally — and then build those skills step by step.

That means:

  • Setting up situations the dog can handle

  • Teaching alternative behaviors that actually meet the dog’s needs

  • Reinforcing calm decision-making

  • Adjusting difficulty as capacity improves

Instead of asking dogs to “just stop,” we show them what works better.

One-on-one training services

Two dogs sitting and lying on a brick sidewalk, with four leash collars and leashes, a small fluffy dog with tan and white fur sitting, and a larger brown dog lying down.

Puppy Obedience Training in Chicago

Set your puppy up for success with foundational puppy obedience training in Chicago.

  • Crate set up & training

  • Potty training

  • Puppy socialization for confident adult dogs

  • Basic obedience (sit, stay, come, down, drop it, leave it, and more)

  • Loose leash walking from the start

  • Name recognition

  • Puppy biting & mouthing solutions

  • Intro to leash skills / leash walking

Hailey Mott working on recall games with a pitbull in Chicago.

Adult Dog Obedience, Leash Walking & Recall

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

A brown dog wearing a harness and leash, sniffing the ground on a dirt and concrete path near some green plants.

Reactive Dog Training in Chicago

If your dog barks, lunges, or shuts down around people, dogs, or movement, that’s reactivity.

  • 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)

A brown dog wearing a gray and orange dog muzzle and an orange collar, sitting on a gray patterned rug indoors.

Behavior Modification in Chicago

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, stress, or noise sensitivity

  • Apartment and high-rise behavioral challenges (hallways, elevators, etc)

A brindle and white dog lying on a red wooden bench outdoors, looking up at the camera with a blue ball nearby.

New Rescue Dog Training in Chicago

Whether your dog’s learning to trust again, adjusting to city life, or just figuring out the basics.

  • Obedience, crate & potty training

  • Build trust and structure without overwhelming your dog

  • Support for common rescue challenges: fear, reactivity, or stress

  • Establish routines around walks, downtime, and shared spaces

  • Use positive reinforcement to build calm behavior

  • Learn how to read your dog’s signals and stress cues

  • Plan safe, low-pressure intros to resident dogs or cats

A puppy with long, floppy ears playing with a blue and orange puzzle toy on a white wooden floor, with a gray rug nearby.

Routine, Structure & Enrichment

Dogs thrive when their needs are met and they know what to expect. I’ll help you create daily routines, structure, and activities that support your dog’s drive, breed traits, and overall well-being.

  • Build a routine that supports focus, calm, and predictability

  • Recommend breed-specific enrichment that burns energy in a smart way

  • Add structure to reduce stress and make daily life more manageable

  • Set up boundaries & transitions that actually stick

  • Rotate games, toys, and challenges to prevent boredom and frustration

The Benefits of Private Dog Training in Chicago

Whether it’s leash reactivity, barking, anxiety, or just figuring out basic manners, I’ll create a plan that works for your dog and your life.

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Convenient Scheduling

Scheduling that fits your routine—even mornings, evenings, or weekends.

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Custom to Your Space and Routine

Sessions happen in your space, so progress feels natural and lasting.

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Great for Dogs Who Need More Space or a Slow Intro

Great for anxious, reactive, or rescue dogs who need a quieter space.

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Full Attention, Every Session

Your dog gets the trainer’s full attention, start to finish.

Private sessions are a great fit if you want a one-on-one experience in the comfort of your home — especially if you’re dealing with any of the following:

Who is private training best for?

  • Dogs with stranger danger or fear-based reactivity

  • Dogs who wouldn’t do well in group classes due to anxiety, overarousal, or aggression

  • Newly adopted rescues adjusting to a totally new life

  • Families dealing with behavior challenges like barking at the door, reacting to hallway noise, getting overexcited when guests come over, or leash-pulling in tight apartment spaces.

  • Busy parents who need scheduling flexibility

  • First-time dog owners looking for clear guidance

  • City dogs who need help navigating real-world distractions

  • Families with kids who want support building safe interactions

Ready to start training?

If you’re looking for private sessions that are down-to-earth, practical, and engaging, I’m here for it.

free consult

FAQs

  • Most sessions happen in your home or your neighborhood — wherever the behavior shows up. That could mean working in your living room, building lobby, elevator, sidewalk, or nearby park.

  • Everything from puppy basics to more complex behavior issues like leash reactivity, anxiety, or fear of strangers. I tailor sessions to your dog’s age, temperament, and your goals.

  • Absolutely! Everyone involved in your dog’s daily life should be on the same page. I’ll make sure each person understands the plan and feels confident using it.

  • Yes! Private sessions are often the best option for dogs who are reactive, fearful, or don’t do well in group settings. I use fear-free, reward-based methods and work at your dog’s pace.

  • I use positive reinforcement and science-backed methods that focus on building trust, not fear. No prong collars, no alpha stuff, no harsh corrections.

  • Yes, and you’re not alone. A lot of my clients come to me after group classes or previous training didn’t quite work. Private training gives us the time and space to troubleshoot and build something that actually fits your dog and your life.

A small black dog with one ear standing up and the other flopping down, sitting on a sidewalk against a brick wall, wearing a teal harness with a yellow bear logo.

Service areas

Andersonville · Avondale · Bridgeport · Bucktown · Edgewater · East Garfield Park · Fulton Market · Hermosa · Humboldt Park · Irving Park · Lakeview · Lincoln Park · Lincoln Square · Little Village · Logan Square · McKinley Park · Near West Side · North Center · North Lawndale · Old Town · Pilsen · Portage Park · Ravenswood · Roscoe Village · South Loop · UIC Medical District · Ukrainian Village · Uptown · West Loop · West Town · Wicker Park