Great place for training. The people working here are so sweet to the dogs, can handle anything, and the owner Daniel, is a veteran of our military so he trains the dogs with rigor, discipline, excellence, psychology, patience, and process. I highly recommend his free Saturday training session to get acquainted with Daniel, the facility, and his approach. For daycare, make sure you're comfortable with their approach prior to dropping off your dog. Tour the facility, ask a lot of questions, and most importantly make sure they will socialize your dog with other dogs and not just leave your dog in the crate or small enclosed area all day. read more

They have tons of indoor space and some outdoor space for the nice days as well. They have flexible pick up and drop off hours and the staff is very kind and attentive! read more

Rescue challenge. After losing our previous wolfhound mix to old age, we took on an 85lb male dog described as a wolfhound mix at the pound. Sandy turned out to be a Great Pyranese/Poodle who had a bite record. This means that if we returned him, he would be euthanized. He was so reactive around other dogs we started calling him "Cujo." Honestly, he was more of a project than I anticipated. Enter Daniel after a colleague told me about Bark Avenue. Trainers have a lot of human training to do, but every time I picked up Sandy, Daniel worked with me and the dog giving us both homework and encouragement. Daniel is the one who trained Sandy, I just learned to reinforce what this animal was learning (it does take teamwork). Once Sandy would come which was surprisingly quick, everything started to change. People in our park who had shied away from the monster dog are telling me how improved he is (he's distinctive, so no hiding). The training Daniel did for both Sandy and me made all the difference. This is an animal we hope to have for years. Investing in having a creature we intend to have around is completely worth the time and expense. I enjoy seeing the other dogs and owners at Bark Avenue Playcare and appreciate how attentive Daniel and staff are to their care and comfort. read more

Bark Avenue Playcare - Sandy going for a ride. - Pet Training Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

*Update: My dogs last scab from the horrific weekend she endured at Bark Ave finally fell off. Still have heard nothing for this irresponsible business owner. Please consider the negative comments on this page before boarding- there is a theme. My dog boarded here over the 4th of July weekend and she returned with an infected tear on her ear and a puncture wound near infection. The photos speak volumes, but I can't load one to the review. The owner (Daniel) categorized it as a "superficial would"; the vet at Furnetic categorized it as "and infected wound in need of antibiotics". Will not board again. Accident happen, but how an accident is handled is telling of ones character. PS: I see the owner comments, and his disclosure of my pets records on a public forum is inappropriate, not to mention incorrect. Again, this is probably the least professional business I have ever come in contact with. I have never heard a word from them after this incident. I had boarded my dogs here for a year and was treated with utter disrespect, as were my dogs (see posted photo). The owners employees were embarrassed of the way he handled the situation. read more

We still come to Bark Avenue Playcare; my wife starting going there in Spring 2003. The staff are all fabulous, while only several of them know my name, they all know our three (3) dogs' names and greet them like rockstars! Their training methods are fair and humane; the trainers love and respect all of the dogs. read more

Love this place, they take great care of my pup. He's always tired and happy after doggy day care, and Daniels training is very effective

The BEST place, the BEST people. Daniel is very attentive and professional and all the staff are warm and kind. We had a really bad experience at the last boarding place - zero communication while we were gone for ten days, and our dog came home and didn't wag her tail for over a week. Clearly traumatized. But Daniel and staff text photos and video updates and make you know she is in very capable, loving hands. She comes home happy every visit! SO glad we were referred to them. Will be customers for life. read more

Love this place! We have taken our two huskies there for boarding 6 days or less. The first time they did get a little too excited and gave themselves diarrhea, but otherwise had a great time. Every time we drop them off they can't wait to get to the back with the other pups. Always come back super happy too. The staff is attentive to our pups needs (one was attacked by a neighbor dog and still has PTSD, the other craves attention) and happily report how they did during their stay. We found this place by searching the interwebs and going through reviews. 10/10 would recommend! read more

We toured this facility one weekend recently and it broke our hearts. The few dogs that were there were kept in small crates and none of them looked happy. The facilities were rough, at best. The two staff members we saw were aggressive/borderline abusive with the dogs that were there and neither really seemed to love much less even connect at all with the dogs. Our pup is a veteran of a wonderful playcare facility out on the west coast, so we've seen what a good, but no-frills playcare place can be and this just didn't feel right. Perhaps this is a good last-resort option for the bully-breed types or for training purposes -- though I must admit, I think any place that separates a dog from its owner for training (as described by reviewers here on yelp) is failing the dog and the owner -- people need as much training as the dogs and its crucial to watch/reinforce good interactions between dog and owner. If this place has worked for you, I'm glad - but I can absolutely say that we didn't feel safe bringing our 3 year-old lab-mix here, for the reasons outlined above. read more

I came to Bark Avenue because of the convenience of the location. I adopted a puppy in 09/2010 and was looking for some basic training classes along with a few days of daycare a week. This is what I got; *8 classes for $200 paid *daycare for $20/day opposed to $27 without training We did training for two weeks. The first training went pretty well. The second training there was another dog there that was wild and got almost all of the training while we continued to work on what we learned the previous week. In the other room we heard one of the employees yelling 'shut up!' at the dogs. After 2 weeks my puppy got a parasite. It may have been from Bark Avenue or it may have been from being outside on walks. He could not attend training or daycare for over 3 weeks due to quarantine and waiting for a clean test. When we were ready to get back to it the trainer was unavailable due to personal reasons for over one month. In the meantime he was still attending daycare once or twice a week so that he could continue to be socialized while I was working. During this time I came to pick him up twice and he was caged! The first time he was caged I was told he was being aggressive with the other dogs. He was about 6 pounds at this point and 4-5 months old. The second time he was caged I was told he puked. Both times I asked why I wasn't called immediately and the answer I was given was that they didn't know I would want them to call. The only reason I know he was caged was that I saw them taking him out of the cage while I was walking in to pick him up. So the question in my mind became, are they caging him all the time? Why would I pay for that, I can cage him at home? I asked them to please never cage him again, if he was to be put in the cage I will come pick him up as I work right around the corner. Another couple of weeks go by. It was cold and flu season. I got sick. The trainer got sick. I still had him going to daycare once or twice a week. I wanted to give Bark Ave the benefit of the doubt and hoped that they would no longer cage my puppy and we would go back to training. Then he got kennel cough. Poor little guy was only 6 months old. My veterinarian told me that he definitely got kennel cough from Bark Ave. It is highly contagious and he was quarantined and medicated. Dogs, especially small and young dogs can die from kennel cough. This was the last straw for me. I could no longer in good conscience have him back at Bark Avenue. It was no longer a safe environment for him to be in. We went to discuss his kennel cough with the owner and the trainer so that they could inform the other patrons of Bark Ave. We wanted to get a refund on the training classes we weren't able to use. The trainer wasn't able to make this call but the owner called us shortly to discuss the matter. After some discussion we told him we no longer felt comfortable and hoped as a pet owner and a business owner he would understand and give us our refund so that we could part ways amicably. He agreed. We would get $150 back for the 6 training sessions we never were able to use. Weeks went by and still we did not receive a refund. I emailed and asked when we would receive it. The owner of Bark Avenue sent a long email back saying that kennel cough is just like the common cold and that I wouldn't pull my child from school if they had a cold. If my child caught something highly contagious and deadly that other children should be vaccinated against you can bet your life I will remove them from that situation. And I told the owner this. We spent over a month corresponding only via email. The basic gist was that I did not want to bring my dog back because of the reasons stated above while the owner thought I was overreacting. I just got my check this week for $45, two and a half months after I went in to tell them my puppy had gotten kennel cough at their facility. While the reasons we weren't able to be in training class were almost solely due to my dogs sickness caught from Bark Avenue or the trainers personal problems the owner decided to deduct my training discount on every day that he spent at daycare. I wish I had never taken my dog here and if you are looking for somewhere to take your dog for any reason I urge you strongly to reconsider. Bark Avenue is unsafe, dogs are caged in the metal bottomed cages, the employees yell at the dogs and the owner is uncooperative and unprofessional. read more

I have a lot to say about Bark Avenue, so this review is LONG. I'm writing this as I sit in the protection sport club session--the Windy City Working Dog Club meets here twice a week. This is how I first heard of Bark Avenue. We adopted a Doberman puppy and were trying to find real dog people to give real dog training (early on for my pup), not the "Leash Walking 101" crap you get at the big "P" stores and frou-frou dog businesses. A Google search turned up WCWDC and Daniel, owner of Bark Avenue, is an officer of the club. See, I'm a dog person myself. I grew up in a show-dog breeding household (two breeds, large and small), and I'm pretty familiar with how to train them. But my young pup needed socializing and we wanted to get started asap. Plus, being the fallible human that I am, some extra human training and discipline were a good idea. Conveniently, Daniel was starting a puppy class. Bark Avenue was the only business willing to meet and consider my young dog (9 wks at the time, though he was 11 or 12 when we started), because the other places had rigid policies about pups being 12 wks. My pup had his vaccinations already, because you can start them earlier than 8 weeks! Daniel is like the freakin' dog whisperer. His training methods are intuitive and up to date. He is extremely knowledgeable about dog behavior and the differences in breed temperament and within specific dogs. It probably helps that our dobe is really smart, but puppy class was a total success. Daniel also guided us to protection sport, since it became clear our dog is a natural, and in which he is currently excelling. We're considering doing the Level 1 training, because Daniel will do a far better job than we have patience for, plus our 8 mo pup will get daycare and exercise. Every time I leave my pup here, he comes home exhausted and happy. Sometimes he still wants to play, but that's because he has the energy of the energizer bunny. He's a puppy. Bark Avenue is a great place. It's no-frills because the dogs don't give a crap, they have everything they need. The dogs have fun playing together, and are safe under the watchful eye of the staff, always ready to intervene when (or before) necessary. I like that they take most dogs here, including unneutered (we're waiting til 14mo to neuter*) and problem dogs--unsocials get their own private playtime. The staff is well trained and knows how to deal with dogs. These are Dog People. Every staff member I've met has treated my dog (and his owners!) well and with respect. Additionally, they participate in rescue and rehabilitation. Any dog you adopt through Bark Avenue will be a wonderful, well-trained dog. The prices for dog care and boarding are on par, or cheaper, than other businesses around the city. This place is rather far from my home, but I happily make the drive anyway. What else can I say? Take your dog here for training, boarding or daycare. Go to the Saturday afternoon open house and find out for yourself. Daniel will give you an intro training and eval session. The only con? Sometimes it's hard to get Daniel's full attention for more than a few minutes because he's so busy with all the dogs! But your questions will be answered and Daniel or a staff member will always let you know what you need to know. *this was a tip from Daniel, one that I have researched and verified--there's a seriously increased risk of bone cancer in big dogs who are neutered too early. read more

Sorry for the lengthy post, but this place deserves it.. My boyfriend and I adopted 1 year old Marley from CACC in October. Marley is a German Shepherd mix. At first she was pretty friendly towards everyone, both dogs and people. However after she made herself at home with us, she became somewhat overprotective of me, sometimes barking and jumping on people who would approach us or enter our home. She also knew all of her commands, but was a very selective listener. These behaviors are typical of German Sherpherds at this age, and they can quickly spiral out of control if not handled correctly. I decided to do some investigating, and I found Daniel McElroy (owner) through a referral from my vet. I was impressed to hear that he works with a lot of security dogs, dogs with aggression, and abused dogs, teaching them to be a welcome part of society. He also evaluates service and therapy dogs to determine their abilities. All of this led me to believe that he was a true expert. The first thing I liked about Daniel is that he invited me for a consultation to meet my dog. This is normal for most trainers. What Daniel did differently is that he spent an entire hour teaching ME some basic rules about dogs and dog training. He educated me on how he would train Marley and he did some demonstrations with her. I could tell immediately that this guy really loves what he does and really knows what he is doing. Marley, who is a bit shy and nervous around new people, loved Daniel immediately and was completely comfortable around him. I decided to opt for the Board and Train option where Marley would live with Daniel, go wherever he went, and be totally immersed in her training. Throughout the process Daniel was extremely communicative. He was available at all times through text if I had questions or wondered how Marley was doing. He always responded promptly and with detail. When he did new exercises with her, he took videos and sent them to me with an explanation of the process. During the two weeks, Daniel brought Marley to my home for lessons 4 times so that I could be part of the training and make sure it translated into her real life. Each time that we met I could see significant improvements in Marley's behavior, demeanor, and attitude. I could also tell that she was completely happy and had no worries being with Daniel even though she has been passed around a lot in her short lifetime. An example of Daniel going the extra mile was taking care of my dog while she was in heat. Unfortunately, the rescue service I adopted Marley through was not very diligent and/or honest. I was told Marley was chipped and spayed, this turned out not to be the case. Marley went into heat while in Daniel's care, however in the very beginning we weren't sure what was happening. He let me know of the situation and attended the vet appointment with me. When we confirmed what was going on, he kept Marley and dealt with the situation while training her. She also had a pre-existing bacterial infection which required medication twice per day. He gave her her medications and just took really great care of her in general. Today Marley was returned to me and she's a completely obedient dog. She adheres to all commands, she walks directly next to me on her leash at whatever speed I choose, she lets me go through doors first, is very careful on the stairs, and she's quiet in the car. She is still a bit nervous around strangers, but she has made progress. I have also been taught how to introduce her to people and it is going very well. Daniel is going to continue to work with me and Marley to make her a happy and social dog. Most importantly, Daniel has really shown me the proper way to handle my own dog, and how meet and get to know other dogs. Dogs are still animals and they are unpredictable, it's important to respect that and treat them the way they deserve to be treated. I can safely say that I am now very aware of the proper way to handle myself, and my dog is on the road to being the best she can be. I would absolutely recommend that you give Daniel a call if you want this for you and your dog as well! read more

Bark Avenue Playcare - MARLEY - Pet Training Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First, the training. I've got a miniature schnauzer who had incredible amounts of energy and intelligence, coupled with no confidence and lack of socialization. A dog who greeted people by barking at them furiously and then hiding behind me. He didn't sit, he was confused by what "down" meant, the concept of "heel" was so far beyond him I may has well have been trying to teach him Sanskrit. His method of greeting other dogs looked something akin to an incredibly hyperactive child yelling at the top of his lungs while pulling a school bus behind him as I was frantically trying to restrain his enthusiasm. After having him for two weeks, I was beginning to think "dear Lord what I have I done...". Enter Bark Ave. I'm almost done with the on-leash classes. Holy 180, Batman. He can sit when I tell him to, on or off leash, even when he's near another dog that he very much wants to go meet. He will stay in a down for as long as I tell him. He can heel by other dogs without making noises like a choking Wookie. He enjoys our little training sessions and has gotten several compliments on how well behaved he is. He even made it through outdoor brunch this weekend with another dog nearby and did no more than bark once at a bird. Seriously, if Ceasar Milan is the dog whisperer, Daniel is the dog Buddha. He connects with the dog and with the owner, and harmony results. Second, the facilities. This is a no-frills place. Your dog won't get Voss water and a delightful massage while listening to Vivaldi. There's not a butler waiting to attend to their every need. So what will your dog get? Supervised play time with the other dogs. A knowledgeable and friendly staff. A crate to relax in when play time is over or gets overwhelming (yup, a crate...they're very up-front that this is not a crate-free facility, and I fully support that). My little dude comes home tired and relaxed every time he's here. read more

Oliver, our Victorian Bulldog started training with Daniel 8 weeks ago. When we first brought him to Bark Ave., he was a loving but overly anxious and not well socialized dog. We had tried everything we could at home with training on our own, but he was just stubborn and sometimes unpredictable. When we had guests over at our house, we were forced to lock him in his kennel because of his barking and jumping on people (which wasn't too pleasant with a 60 lb. dog with a 3-foot vertical). If he was ever let off leash at a park, we were always afraid that he would fight with another dog, or simply take off running. Eight weeks ago, we were considering the awful decision of whether or not to give Oliver away. After completing both the on-leash and off-leash training, he acts like a completely different dog. Oliver is still a lovable bulldog, but now well-balanced and well-tempered. The real test was this past weekend with my parents in-law. They saw him as a danger to our family and friends, but after seeing him after his training, their opinion made a complete 180º. The Bark Ave. staff are all knowledgeable, professional, and simply love dogs. We are grateful that Daniel has given us back a sense of confidence and pride in Oliver. read more

We brought our new rescue Jazzy here for training and could not be happier! Now we bring him here for all his needs. (day care, boarding, and grooming) Daniel is a fantastic trainer. Jazzy had very bad leash aggression, which is no more. His training program not only works the dog but also teaches the owners how to be better dog handlers all while gaining knowledge of dog behavior. Even though our training ended, we know that we can always come to Bark Avenue for advise/counsel if needed. The staff truly has a love of dogs, and does treat your dog as one of their own. I am so happy our rescue referred them to us! read more

Bark Avenue is no frills compared to a lot of dog "hotels", but they have always taken great care of my pooch. Yes, it's loud. Yes, it smells like dogs and bleach. I love my dog like he was my actual child, but I also understand that dogs do not need to live in a spa-like environment to be happy. What dogs need are attentive and caring staff who are able to deal with a wide variety of dogs and their issues. Bark Avenue does that very well. I love that they are big supporters of bully breed rescue. I'd rather spend my money there than at other kennels who discriminate or can't be bothered to deal with "aggressive" dogs. It would be awesome if they had better beds for the dogs, so one star off. Otherwise, it's a great place. read more

My dog just did her first ever boarding stay at Bark Avenue and they obviously took great care of her! The staff here is friendly and knowledgable and my dog really, really loved them, which was evident when I picked her up. The place is very clean and safety-oriented, and I appreciate that they accept and know how to handle dogs who are not social enough for a doggy playgroup. My dog gets to have private playtime with a human and there is no extra fee for this. I was able to go on vacation and not worry one bit about how my girl was doing. I actually drive my dog all the way from the suburbs to these folks because they're that good! Highly recommend Bark Avenue as a safe, clean, fun place to board your dog! Oh! And you can pick up or drop off 7 days a week and they have really generous and flexible hours, which is always a plus. read more

Bark Avenue Saved my dog , WE LOVE THEM !! Bark Avenue Playcare is a clean and friendly home away from home for your dog, and has excellent professional and efficient dog training staff. This facility goes above and beyond for your pet care and training needs! In Feb of 2014, I lost my dog of 13yrs to cancer. A few months later I decided I was ready for a new pup. I wanted to save a dog so I went to Chicago Animal Control Center (CACC) and on 4/26 I adopted a 1yr old Pix/lab Mix. (Gino) Being that I had a dog for 13yrs prior, trained her myself, I was very confident that I could take on the responsibility of any dog and train them just as well. 2 months into having Gino, my frustrations were high. We were unsuccessful with potty training, crate training and obedience. I had no control over the dog and he was making me crazy. My only thoughts were this dog was un-trainable and needed to go back to CACC. I was seeing no improvements that I would have expected after 2 months of diligent training on my part. In a conversation with my neighbor, she told me about Bark Avenue Playcare and Daniel. I immediately called that afternoon and talked with someone on the phone and explained just how frustrated and at the end of my rope I was with the potty training, chewing, and aggressive behavior. The person I talked with was wonderful and had Daniel reach out to me immediately, b/4 I made the decision for the return. Daniel emailed me and called me immediately and asked me to bring Gino in the next day for an evaluation. Then next day after Gino and Daniel met, Daniel let me know Gino was trainable and he and Bark Avenue can help with their 8 week program of On Leash and Off Leash training. I was a bit skeptical, as I was a good dog owner in the past, why would this dog not take to the standard training procedures I was used to and worked for me. Daniel was appreciative of my opinion but showed me some basic techniques and in 15 minutes I saw Gino responding to Daniel and training positively. I was sold. 8 Weeks later Gino is a new dog .. no more accidents in the house, he loves his crate (when he is in it) , he spends most time free in my house without destroying things or my supervision, he understands commands and is obedient and listens to me, as well his aggressive behaviors are a thing of the past. If you would have asked me in July if Gino and I would be long term companions, I would have said No, but within a few weeks of the 8 week training, I knew this was the right decision and investment. Now I cannot imagine what would have happened if I did not find Bark Avenue and Gino did not get the proper training. I also learned a lot that I did not know about dogs and behaviors, and as well understood my role in the training and interaction with a dog etc. Bark Avenue Playcare staff are amazing, they all really love animals and each person on staff are knowledgeable and friendly. I was greeted with a smile all the time and you can tell they enjoy working there. The facility is clean and well cared for, no dog smells or messes. They are very respectful of following feeding or care instructions for your pet as well as flexible with drop off and pick ups prior to open and close times. Thank You Daniel and Bark Avenue Playcare for not only saving Gino from a CACC return, and training Gino so wonderfully ,but giving me a loving pet. You all are the best and Gino will be a longtime friend and visitor for daycare etc. I highly recommend Bark Avenue to anyone looking for a clean, and friendly home away from home for their dog and/or professional training that will make their dog the best possible pet! Linda C read more

Bark Avenue Playcare - Pet Training Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

So I have to confess I'm a frequent yelper from looking at recommendations and am often too lazy to post my own. But I think this place is really great so figured I'd get off my bum and post something! I've been taking my dog here for a little over a year now (she was trained here and now goes to daycare probably 4-5 times a week) and while it's not the swankiest place - you're not going to have your dog put up in a suite with a view when boarding or get massages during the day - the people who work there have been so wonderful to her and that's what I feel is really important. They have quite a few things going for them - the prices for daycare (if you get your dog trained there) are significantly cheaper than any other daycare I was looking at, the hours for daycare are great (6:30 AM - 8:30 PM and weekends too) and they do a lot to help rescues and foster dogs find a good home. As for training I did not have my dog do the shock collar (their first level doesn't require that) since she is just a little frenchie and I didn't feel that was necessary. And I thought it was a real plus to have them train her during the day while I'm at work, and then when you pick your dog up they do spend quite a bit of time going through what they have done, making sure you both understand it, and making sure you did your homework. One last note - my dog has been groomed here a couple times during daycare which is awesome!! Sounds like some folks here who have just stopped by and gotten a quick tour may have gotten a bad first impression, but the people here really do care about these dogs and my dog is always running to get in the door every morning! read more

My dog Gracie has been blessed to have been trained by arguably the best set of trainers that Chicago offers. The team at Bark Avenue are intensely knowledgable and were capable of creating a base of knowledge for both my dog and I will never forget. Daniel once said to me " a well trained dog eventually learns what it is that you desire from them. Once they understand what you demand, their ability, willingness, and desire to HAPPILY work toward your expectations becomes second nature." Those words have never left my frame of reference and I pass on as much that I can to others thereby living by that very same Bark Avenue mantra. I cannot tell you how lucky I feel to have been trained to really understand my dog and I would not have been able to accomplish this goal with such ease without Bark Avenue. Thank you!! Thank you! Thank you! Key Benefits: Best trainers in Chicago Earliest drop off available in the city 6am Latest Pick up available in the city 8:45pm Super knowledgable staff Training during daycare and then train you upon pickup. Most reasonable prices I have seen for both daycare and boarding. Best training deal, go through classes and get a lifetime of free training days with your dog. Go see for yourself. Saturday intro trainings are free at 1pm. Gotta love this place!! read more

Bark Avenue Playcare - She's an adult dog who has mastered puppy dog eyes for treats. Good Gracie!! - Pet Training Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Our dog (was Halo from Lovin'Life Rescue, now Penny) was fostered by a guy at Bark Ave (maybe the owner?). My girlfriend and I are so thankful that you guys do what you do. Penny is such a wonderful dog and we couldn't be happier. We also have friends who have gone here for training, boarding, etc... and everyone always has wonderful things to say. Basically I just wanted to leave a note saying thank you and letting you know that you all positively impacted our lives. read more

Daniel is awesome!! We were recommended to Bark Ave by our neighbor who had his dog trained with Daniel. Our puppy is only 3 months old and we had to head out of town for 9 days. Daniel happily took her in for a board and train at his home, even though she is still very young and was also just recovering from just being sick. He gave her her meds and brought her with him everywhere, even to Lowes! He sent us very informative videos every day of their lessons and explained his processes in detail. We've had her back home for 5 days now and you can see a drastic difference in her. She is still a pup but she is way less bitey and her recall is incredible. She is so much more obedient, and we feel way more confident in our ability to train her properly with what we learned. We are excited to continue training with Daniel and team! read more

I can't say enough about Daniel and his staff and what they did for my new dog, Oliver. He's a basset hound rescue, and not the most "trainable" or controllable of dogs... in addition to that, he was afraid of everything when I first got him, so that made him even more challenging... I found Daniel through a guy I met at the dog park - his dogs were perfectly trained, and it was great to watch them playing in a way that was under control. One of my dogs is so mellow that the dog park is pretty much a sniffing adventure (she wasn't the problem), but my new basset went berserk - I think he'd just never learned how to play. He was out of his mind barking and biting at other dogs - I knew then that he needed training so that I could give him that outlet to release his energy without worrying about his or other dogs' safety. He is not as sharp as the dogs I saw in the park, and he never will be - but for a basset hound, I'm so proud of him - and Daniel got him to a place I didn't think was possible. Oliver still does things slowly sometimes, and likes to "forget" things... but at the park, he comes when I call (off-leash), and he's just so in control that I can't believe it's the same dog. He gets to play, but he seems to know his limits now.... Daniel even met us out at the dog park for our first day back after training - just to make sure I was comfortable with the process of introducing him and keeping him calm... and making sure Oliver had the freedom he needed while he was there. I felt much more confident that I could do this going forward after that... I can't thank him enough. The other thing I like is that the staff at Bark Avenue knew me and my dogs almost immediately, and I feel that they are well taken care of whenever they are there. Each day, they commented on stories about my dogs, and everyone knew who had done what in the play group... they really pay attention to the dogs. My two wag their tails heading in each day, and they come home exhausted. To me, that's exactly what I was looking for - for training and for day care. read more

I've been taking my dog to Bark Avenue 3-5 days a week for daycare for about four months. I've also boarded her there twice. She loves it! Each morning when I drop her off, she presses her nose into the door, wagging her tail. She can't wait to see her people - Lily, Anna, Steve, and Rick. And each morning she is greeted by the Bark Avenue staff with pets and belly rubs. I was referred to Bark Avenue by a friend. I had just adopted a pitbull and wanted somewhere for her to play during the day while I was at work. Many places near my house will not take pits. Not only does Bark Avenue gladly accept pit bulls, they have the expertise to deal with all types of dogs. They kept a close eye on her to determine which playgroup would be the best fit for her. They actively manage the dogs during the play groups so everyone stays safe and calm. The dogs take a break from playing during the day and rest in crates. If you're not ok with crating your dog, don't bring them here. Personally I think it's great that my dog has a rest during the day to chill out. As other reviewers have said, this place is no frills. It's about dogs. It's not about you. The dogs don't care that there's no granite countertop and marble entryway. They just want a place to play with their pals and hang out in the plastic kiddie pool on a hot day. As a dog owner, I want a place where I can trust that the people taking care of my dog are keeping her (and other dogs) safe and happy. I also signed up for the training classes. Let's be clear - the one getting trained is mostly YOU. :). I really enjoyed the approach to the training. At first I was wary of using a pinch collar, but I soon learned that it's for a brief correction, only when needed and then quickly released. The vast majority of training is done through positive reinforcement. This training program has helped me manage my dog at home. Making sure she gets enough exercise is key (although she still managed to chew up the remote control last week). One of the things I like best about Bark Avenue is their flexibility. My schedule changes a lot and they're really flexible about drop off and pick up times. The biggest endorsement, though, comes from my dog. I picked her up Sunday morning after three nights of boarding,. She was very excited to see me, but when we started to leave, she headed right back to the kennel area. She wanted to hang with her friends at Bark Avenue! read more

I purchased a Groupon for 6 days of daycare with 6 30-minute training sessions. I took little Henry there for his first day yesterday and I've quickly realized I should have just purchased the on and off leash training package outright... this place is amazing! Henry is 9 months old Doxie/Terrier mix and has had no previous training-- his overall stubbornness has made me worried how tough of a cookie he is to crack, but I can really see Daniel getting through to him with only one lesson... he really is the Chicagoland Dog Whisperer!! Henry was so tired after his fun filled day at Bark Ave, I could really tell he had a great day there. This place is super legit and I cannot wait to take him back! read more

Bark Avenue is the best!! Rick is the man. My dog loves going and gets so excited when we are dropping him off. Daniel trained my dog and he is so well behaved. Love Bark Avenue! read more

You guys. This place is amazing - how it's taken me so long to leave a review, I don't know. Bark Avenue is top notch, and our two dogs absolutely LOVE it there (we've been loyal customers for the last 3-4 years). The staff is caring, thoughtful, and communicative, and they take amazing care of our fur babies. They've also made the effort to get to know us, understand our preferences and - most importantly - they've taken the time to care for our (sometimes difficult) pups. We owe a major thank you (!!) to the team at Bark Avenue for everything they do - both for our dogs, but also for dogs and dog owners in Chicago. They offer fabulous classes and rescue services...they truly have the biggest hearts. We appreciate their ongoing professionalism, kindness, and attentiveness and we continue to sing their praises to anyone who will listen! read more

Our 9 year old Sheltie just completed the "on-leash" training program with Daniel and we could not be happier. Daniel and his staff proved you can teach an old dog new tricks. My dog couldn't wait to see the morning staff when I dropped him off (although all the staff was great). I want to say that I was one of the nervous dog owners and was terrified at first to leave my little guy around so many "bigger" dogs but it proved to be a great experience for the whole family. We are expecting our first born in less than a month and now have a well behaved dog to take walking with our new born. Thank you to all the staff at Bark Avenue for treating my dog as their own. This is the only place I will leave my dog for daycare or overnight kennel care. A BIG thanks to Daniel and all the WONDERFUL staff at Bark Avenue read more

Patient and constructive training. Their trainers are the best I have worked with, in Chicago. Highly recommended for training. My dogs have not yet been boarded there, but the staff at Bark Avenue always display proper care, handling, separation, and socialization of all their visiting dogs. It is just too bad their groomer left, she was great. Bark Avenue knows how to handle dogs. read more

Dan at Bark Avenue has been my trainer for over ten years now and has taken us through several dog issues. Most recently, we tried to bring a new puppy home to an adult dog that was somewhat aggressive to other dogs. With Dan's expertise, it only took two days for these two guys to become best friends and the whole house is happier for it. We went from thinking we couldn't bring our dog around other dogs, to realizing that he is just an under-socialized, misunderstood, sweet boy that wants to play. We can't thank Dan enough! read more

Came by with a friend whose dog is being trained at Bark Ave. What I saw horrified me and made me very uncomfortable. There was a bull dog sitting on a training box with a collar and apparently this facility believes in shock training, so the trainer was periodically shocking the poor dog, which caused the dog to pee. In addition, the owner of the facility was hitting a dog that was trying to climb a fence - hitting! Unbelievable. Do NOT take your beloved pets to this facility. read more

More like 2.5 stars. Nothing specifically wrong, but a general feeling of "something isn't right" when I dropped off my dog. I boarded my dog here overnight for Thanksgiving. When I arrived, I could not find the entrance - the building was very dark, depressing, and poorly lit. Upon entering, a strong smell of diluted bleach, and just not a very impressive overall facility. Crates arranged by the indoor play room holding what I assumed were less social dogs (all were separated) and "average" kennels for other dogs. Small dogs had their own area and ran around together. The man showing us around was doing so hurriedly and did not seem particularly interested in getting to know my dog. When I picked my dog up, he was his normal self, did not appear injured, unhappy, or in any way maligned. I respect that this kennel handles all types of dogs - even those aggressive dogs that other kennels won't take. I just got a negative impression from the get-go. I think if they spent a little extra in upkeep, it would go a long way. I understand that kennels need a lot of cleaning, but the smell of bleach/cleanser was a turn off. Overall, nothing terrible happened to my dog - but had I not had to board him here, I would not have. There are much better maintained, friendlier kennels available in Chicago. read more

I adopted a pitbull mix from a shoddy rescue who recommended this place because she lived here. UGH. No wonder she was such a mess when I got her away from these freakshows! I couldn't believe it when I went in. Filthy, stinky, dingy. All the dogs with shock collars. We took our new dog and got as far away from here as possible. Blech. I wish people would honestly attempt to understand dogs BEFORE going to places like this. He uses shock collars on all dogs. Pain, fear, force to get dogs to submit. Who does that anymore? No "dog whisperer" here! want to have a good relationship with your dog? RUN AWAY. Don't care and want a robot dog? Ok, this is your place. read more

All i have to say about this place is Daniel and his staff are the best! The best in training and service. Chicago's Cesar Milan! No joke. Not only is his place a dog training facility, it is also a animal rescue center. You might go in for training and leave with another dog!!! Having dogs all my life, my one-month training session with Daniel taught me the right way to be a pack leader for my dog. Not only did I benefited from training but I know my dog appreciates it too. As a owner of a rescued pitbull, my dog has been the most obedient dog I can ever ask for. I have been using their services for the last 3 years and there is no place like it. Highly recommended. read more

We turned to Daniel after over a year of trying to deal with Sammie's dog issues on our own. She is a 100lb dog who is not fond of many other dogs, and we lived in a condo building where other owners frequently used an extend-a-leash, talked on the phone, and didn't pay attention to the fact that our dog didn't like their dog. Daniel helped train US to watch for early signs of misbehavior, and give us simple ways to make her focus on us, not the other dogs. He is great and you can tell he loves what he does. She did the boot camp (it took her a little longer than the average dog to get the hang of it, and he did not charge us anything extra) and she is like a different dog. We take her there for daycare from time to time, b/c they do not try to make her 'mingle' with other dogs. We have gone other places and told them she does not like other dogs, and we pick her up and she is stressed out and half the time had diarrhea from having to be w/the "pack" of dogs. Never once has she come home stressed out and sick from Bark Avenue day care. Daniel also helps abandoned dogs and has a big heart for other dogs who might be "too much dog" for your every day trainer (we'd been through 3). Thanks Daniel!!! read more

We have a cane corso puppy. Knowing that she will be about 130 lbs full grown we knew quickly that we she'd need some professional training. Talking around with neighbors, family, and friends bark ave kept coming up into conversation. The hubs and I had an upcoming trip out of state and needed to board for 5-6 days thought this was as good as any a reason to check them out. Rick (the manager) was extremely helpful, friendly, and informative. He gave us a tour and pricing information. When out of town we were sent videos and pictures of Selene keeping us in the loop. As soon as we returned we began the training program with Dan whom also knowledgeable, informative, and friendly. Since coming we've happily followed their advice and will continue to be loyal bark ave customers. Everyone we've met there has left us feeling like we are a part of their "pack". Thanks bark ave for helping us evolve with our fur family. read more

Yes, the facility is not the greatest. It's kind of dark and dirty, and slightly smelly. However, my dog loves coming here and employees are really good with her. What I don't like is their high employee turnover rate. I trained my dog here and used their daycare almost 5 days a week. I knew most of their employees 6 months ago but I only recognize a handful of employees now. I find it strange since I like consistency for my dog. But if you are looking for a convenient place where you can drop off your dog early (they open at 630am) and pick up later (they close at 8:30pm), this is the place for you. I commute and work odd hours so this was the only place that accommodated my work hours. And I'm so thankful they are close to my condo and on the way to Eisenhower. read more

I had my small dog boarded here for a week and he was happy and well taken care of. I will definitely take him here again anytime I need to leave town. Not only were the staff very nice but also Daniel was available via email which was reassuring to me since I was concerned about how my dog would interact with other dogs. Turns out my dog is more sociable than I knew. I was also very happy with the grooming that my dog received. So glad to have found this place! read more

I was looking for a new spot to take my Morkie to get a decent haircut because I was sick of all the botched haircuts he got from Petsmart not once, not twice but FOUR times (at different locations mind you). I guess I was sucked in by their "like it or its free Guarantee (it was never free, only got discounts for being unhappy)." I was referred to Bark Ave by a relative & thought I'd give them a try as they are fairly close to where I live. Im sooooo glad i did!!!! My appointment was for 10am & the day of the appointment I had to call to reschedule as i was running extremely late so they agreed to take him between 12-12:30, unfortunately I arrived at 12:45 expecting to be turned away but as soon as i walked in i was greeted by Jeraul who also greeted my dog by HIS NAME!!! After i apologized for my tardiness she said not to worry & proceeded to examine him & asked what I wanted her to do. I told her i did not want a short haircut but i would completely understand if she had no choice due to the extremely uneven haircut he received before but i definitely wanted her to cut his bangs so I can see his eyes. I also knew he had quite a few knots on his chest which may cause her to have to shave him. She said she would do what she can but needless to say i was nervous. I then found out I can leave him there for up to 6 hours so he can have some play time with the other dogs which would allow him to release some stress from getting the haircut. When I arrived 5 hours later I walked in to find him playing with 2 other dogs about his size & I was sooooo impressed with the job Jeraul did. She managed to get the knots out & even out his coat without giving him a close shave. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the way he looks now. Best part is i can keep taking him there knowing Jeraul is the only groomer there unlike the other big name grooming spots where you'll get a different groomer every time you go. Unfortunately Jeraul was busy grooming another dog so i could not personally thank her for the great job she did which is one of the reasons i decided to leave this review. Thank you Jeraul!!!!!!!! BTW I'll be back to check out the training classes this facility has. read more

I took my dog to doggie daycare here at the suggestion of my trainer. This place is no nonsense and no frills. I had gone with other daycares that were more convenient and frilly but the atmosphere was way more chaotic. A dog like mine needs structure ALONG with fun and I think this place does a better job of that than many others in Chicago. read more