I have known Howard, Marilyn and John for over 30 years! John is training my dachsund puppy "Otto" right now. This is the third dachsund he has trained for us. I mention dachshund because they are notoriously stubborn and can be very difficult to train. From the first day, all my dogs were magically somehow clued in and listening to John. He truly has an other worldly connection with dogs. I couldn't get my dog to do anything and John had them able to do "sit", "Stay", "come" and "heel" on the first day. He then taught me how to handle my dog and get them to pay attention. The best part is the dogs are so much happier. It's as if they feel someone is communicating with them, and they are not alone. It's incredible to watch and my dogs remembered everything they learned their whole lives. John is the nicest person. He deeply loves and respects dogs and has made his life in the service of training them. It's a worthwhile investment. I actually tried a less expensive option as I am retired now but it was nothing like "Good Dog" and my dog was fearful and cowering. I immediately realized that I was so lucky to know this team and how worthy the investment in my dog is. read more

Howard, Marilyn and the team at Good Dog were a pleasure to work with. I took my rescue from Anti-Cruelty, Clancy, to be trained back in 2005. He was a 6 month old black lab and beagle mix and was having trouble getting adjusted to his new life. Good Dog first trained Clancy, then trained me which was probably a harder endeavor. Clancy became the best dog a guy could ask for. Obedient, loving, great on walks, great off leash, great with other dogs, and great with people (young and old). Part of that was his breed, and the other part was Good Dog. I took Clancy to Howard and Marilyn for his initial training, and then 1-2x per week purely for daycare which included reinforcing the training and interaction with other dogs. When I adopt my next dog, I'll absolutely go back to Good Dog. read more

Good Dog - Clancy practicing sit & stay even though a squirrel is running in the yard. - Pet Training Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My family has been working with Howard, Marilyn and John for years and we cannot say enough positive things about the work they do. They are easy to work with, flexible with scheduling, and made our latest puppy training an enjoyable process. We loved our time working with John and appreciate how thorough he was during visits. Highly recommend investing in Good Dog for any new puppies, it will make your lives much easier! read more

The best! Love John and Howard and Marylin. They worked wonders on my little anxious guy. Most importantly they taught me how to be a better leader. read more

I cannot say enough AMAZING things about the team at Good Dog!! My Brother, Sister in law and I have sheepadoodles from the same litter. We started working with John when our pups were about 8 months old. They were good boys but high energy, horrible listeners, erratic walkers, ate everything off the ground and overly excited to the point where they would see a dog or person and run across a crowded street to say hi. John trained us as much as he did the dogs. After just a couple hours we all had skills and tools that we wish we could have had when they were 2 months old! He also advised us on collar types and the best leashes to use. Here's the best way I can describe it: I live in the city and I used to have so much anxiety about taking my dog to the local park. He would jump on all the people to say hi, run into the mud, not come when called, and run out of the park if he saw a dog he liked. After just a few short sessions with John, we could walk to the park completely off-leash, my dog would stay at my side until I released him to go play, he'd say hi to people without jumping and he would come immediately when called and follow me out of the park...no matter how many distractions. Anytime we called and presented John a problem we wanted to fix, he taught us how to do it in 10 minutes. I have recommended Good Dog to everyone I see at the park and definitely recommend it to all of you! read more

Unfortunately I got to this page by mistake and now I can't remove the review I apologize

This is such a great training program. I was actually referred to good dog by someone in my vets office and they said after the first training session they noticed a change. That was enough for me. When I first adopted my dog, I honestly wasn't sure if I was going to have to take her back. But after the first few training session I noticed a complete change in her. She is now a completely different dog and the whole team was great! I would highly recommend using Good Dog for your training needs! read more

We took our dog here a year ago for a two week boarding program, originally wanting to get our dog to re-socialize with other dogs. He has behavior issues meeting new dogs and growls if they get too close. Another reason is he can get territorial meeting strangers, and has to warm up to them three times before being comfortable, otherwise he'll get anxious and start growling. Once he's comfortable with the person, he is the best/playful dog ever. We stressed our concerns to Howard and he said he won't be able to correct the re-socialization behavior because it'd be a liability to other dog owners if something happens to their dog and our dog, which make sense. Although, you'd think a boarding program would solve for cases like ours though, unfortunately they don't. This was our #1 priority and should've been a red flag for us before we committed. Another red flag we've encountered is pricing. We visited Good Dog a year prior to committing and were quoted $1,000 for the two week program. However, after a year of saving money, Howard then raised our quote to $2,000. With pressuring from Howard, we decided to charge it to our credit card because we wanted to train our dog as soon as possible, and after seeing great reviews, we then committed. I definitely have some resentment with the pricing, but figured our dog would get the best training and most attention. I was wrong. There were so many other dogs in that place, with only John as a trainer, I doubt he got the most attention each day our dog was in there. Overall, our dog was a bit more obedient. He didn't receive the training that I'd hope for $2,000 as we requested re-socializing to other dogs and new people. John was a great trainer and taught us how to handle our dog and make him listen to us. Marylynn was really nice and sweet and always accommodated our schedules for training. If Howard didn't quote us an additional $1k, my review would have been different. It's taken me a year to write this review because I have always felt unsettled about the whole situation. We will continue looking for a better program that will solve for re-socialization with other dogs, because Good Dog's boarding program does not solve for that. read more

I have known Howard and John almost from their beginning. They have trained 2 of my Airedales in Chicago and my new Welsh Terrier puppy remotely now that I am in San Francisco. Half doggy shrink and half trainers, Howard and John seem to be able to cut straight to the heart of the matter. Unabashedly frank about a situation and who's fault it is ( usually mine), I am getting a crash refresher course on raising a puppy. I hadn't had a puppy for years and had underestimated the diligence and consistency that I have to bring to the table. Well I know now. Roxie is making steady progress as I am. So can recommend these 2 with NO hesitation. As Howard says, Have Fun! Rhoda in SF read more

These guys are absolute miracle workers!! Howard and Marilyn are absolutely incredible people. Howard is like a dog whisperer. John is by far the best dog trainer we have ever encountered! One of the nicest people you will ever meet. I think my dog now loves him more than me. Our 7 year old boxer had some dog aggression issues. He was attacked by group of dogs in a dog park as a puppy. Ever since then he started leashing out whenever he saw another dog. We sure did not help him change that behavior, getting tense and very alert whenever we saw another dog coming closer. Living in the Loop, we tried living on the lower floors so we could take the stairs to avoid other dogs in the elevators. That was never a fun ride. We finally decided to move to Streeterville, and got an apartment on one of the upper floors. We also decided it's time to see if we can work on our dogs aggression. From the first free consultation, we knew we were in the right place. Howard and John heard our needs/wishes and started working with him right away. The change is nothing short of a miracle. He no longer reacts to other dogs. Every now and then he will shown small signs of getting a wrong kind of interest in a passing dog, but we now know how to spot these signs and correct him before he becomes aggressive. We also thought we had a well behaved and obedient doggie. Let me tell you, we quickly learned we did not. He is so much better behaved now. Difference is night and day. These guys not only REALLY know what they're doing, they love it!! So do we. Our dog is now happier then he was before, and we no longer stress taking him for walks, or seeing another dog in the elevator. I actually wish more people would train their dogs here, especially in a high rise building. Some of the dogs we run into in the elevator just do whatever they want, including jumping on other people, and their owners find it funny or ignore it completely. That's not very nice. They are extremely flexible and drop off and pick up could not be easier. The entire staff at Good Dog knew who our dog was from day 1, and knew how to handle him. We were never worried that he will be mistreated or mishandled. He loved going there every single day. We also boarded our dog during the training as we were going on vacation. They took really fantastic care of him during our absence. If you are serious about training your dog, or working on fixing some behavior issues, this place is by far the best in Chicago! You must be willing to put in the time, because they not only train the dog, they train the owners as well. You have to remember to keep working with your dog after training is over, or it will all be for nothing, but the folks at Good Dog will give you all the tools you need. I wish I could give them more stars. read more

This review is long overdue. I had my black cocker spaniel trained by the crew 13 years ago. Sophie has and is still the most stable dog thanks to her trainers at Good Dog. I don't live in Chicago but would love to send my new rescue cocker to the crew for some TLC training. Thank you Howard, Marilyn and crew. You guys gave me a very, very Good Dog. read more

I cannot say enough about the team at Good Dog! Howard, Marilyn and John are a great team!!!! John has trained our Wheaton Terrier named Ryder over these past several weeks. My dog is a changed dog. He walks without pulling, he can run off leash in the field and come back upon recall and follow us when instructed. It has been a dream of mine to be able to take my boy out into the field and let him run free knowing he will come back when called. I can now take him for walks safely without pulling or barking at other dogs or people. I cannot thank Good Dog enough!!! John your an amazing Trainer and have changed out lives with Ryder. Thank you! read more

I have waited a while to post because I have been so upset. I was referred to them by a friend for my rescue pup who had some dog aggression issues. They were very short and not very nice to me when I took him in after speaking on the phone. I had questions I wanted to be answered and I felt like they just wanted me in and out. I started tearing up because I was so nervous about it. Well, long story short - their training did not work and I ended up taking him to a 2-week training facility where they kept him (like doggy boot camp). He is now a great dog! read more

I have nothing but great things to say about Howard and the rest of the crew! First off, everyone is very responsive and easy to get a hold of, which I really appreciate. They have been working with me and my new pup for almost two months now and I can see such a positive difference. When I first got my dog, she was so skittish and would cower in the corner whenever anyone would get close to her. But, after working weekly with John (a true dog whisperer!), she has made such great strides. The lessons are, without a doubt, very effective and worth it! The service provided by Good Dog is excellent and I would definitely recommend this business to other dog owners! read more

I'm the proud owner of a good dog! Buster has great manners great and safe off-leash and welcomed every where I go. Wonderful trainer and people. Thanks John, Marilyn and Howard read more

I was referred by a friend and immediately felt comfortable with John Howard and Marilyn. My golden retriever puppy is a new dog after 6 weeks with John. I am so thankful and can't wait to continue to put to use all the knowledge they bestowed to me and my pup! highly recommend:) read more

I can't wait until this place is shut down. I'm a residential neighbor that's lived across the street from Good Dog for about 2 years. I work from home a lot so I'm available during the daytime to observe the treatment of the animals they keep outside. Not a day goes by where there is less then five hours of constant barking from the dogs. Today I was very angry to see that there were several dogs outside in the 40° weather (feels like 32°) while it's raining. I called the place and left a voicemail chastising them for the treatment of dogs. I am 100% positive that if any dog owner had any idea how these people actually treat their pets/fur babies, that this establishment would have no business. This is not the first time they have left dogs out in the freezing rain, and it probably won't be the last unless people realize what's going on and take a stand against their treatment. I have multiple videos and pictures of the maltreatment that goes on at this facility. I've been pushed by friends to release this information to local news stations. I haven't had the balls to do it yet, but I'm getting awfully close. I have also taken one of my dogs into that place for a consultation, just to see what actually happens on the inside. The trainer that I spoke to was completely unprofessional and extremely rude and offensive. I couldn't believe he had the audacity to speak to my boyfriend and myself the way that he did and to quickly rebuke the daycare place we constantly took our dogs to. We love our doggie daycare. We love our dogs more. This is why they will never go to Good Dog/Horrible People. **UPDATE: almost immediately after posting this, I got a message saying that "I'm a stupid €unt". Similar to what the other 1-star reviewer experienced. Obviously this is not a professional establishment. I'm completely disgusted.** read more

We got our first puppy in December 2014. She's a Goldendoodle we named Pickles. Pickles innately has a great temperament and we prepared a lot prior to getting her, but we were still overwhelmed as new pet owners. We mentioned to our vet that we would take Pickles to PetSmart for classes and go through their entire program. He said that would be the bare minimum he'd recommend, and if we were serious, he suggested we invest in professional training and referred us to Good Dog. Pickles went to Good Dog for about six weeks. She is now just over six months old, and everyone she meets is astonished by how well behaved and responsive she is. Our dog walker says she's a joy to have. I have a lot of great things I want to share, so I'll bullet point so I don't ramble :) - The program: You can decide on how long you want your dog to attend training, but the minimum package is 20 days of all-day training. You drop off/pick up daily, at your convenience. You come in to participate in training for 30 minutes two times a week. After your all-day sessions end, you can continue to come in for classes as needed. For us, we were nervous about the cost (it was a huge investment but 1000% worth it), and we were never pushed into anything. We felt we could make our own decision on how much longer we wanted Pickles to attend all-day classes. - The methodology: Good Dog uses positive reinforcement as well as electric and pinch collars. To many, this is alarming. However, I do believe that these methods are not hurting the dogs, but rather teaching and conditioning them to behave. We don't use the collars just to respond to poor behavior, but even more so, use it to encourage good behavior. We put our own fingers on the collar prongs, and I assure you, it doesn't hurt. - Howard & Marilyn, the owners: They are dedicated to their clients, both humans and dogs. Howard started in dog training decades ago and has had his own business since the 80s. Both he and Marilyn definitely understand dogs, communicate well with them, and provide constructive feedback on how we communicate with our own dog. In terms of being business owners, they trust their clients and personally, that made me trust them. Marilyn handles the administrative work, and she is very responsive with phone calls and voice mails. - John, the trainer: I do not have enough good words to describe John. He truly makes Good Dog a special place. First off, John is the most genuine guy ever, a big teddy bear, and probably more than half his heart is reserved for loving dogs. Second, John's character allows him to be a great teacher. He is so patient, tries different methods if we aren't getting it, and teaches us about what our dog is likely thinking/anticipating and how we should respond so that she understands us. This has been key to our development as dog owners. Third, John is a dog magnet. He gives off great vibes and dogs just love him. I cannot tell you how much Pickles loves him - she gets soooo excited to see him and is on her best best behavior with him because she just wants to give him her everything. We now call him Uncle John - or at least Pickles does :) - The staff: There are staff members present 24/7. Every single staff member knew Pickles by name. They talked to us about how she did that given day so we knew about any behaviors to look out for at home. They were always in communication with John and/or Howard and Marilyn and everyone was always friendly. Seriously, Good Dog is wonderful. We recommend them to all our friends. We are so happy that we decided to invest with them because we feel like we let Pickles demonstrate her potential, which lets us love her that much more. Thank you to the entire team at Good Dog! read more

When my wife approached me about sending our dog here for training, honestly, I didn't want to do it. It seemed like a lot of money for dog training. I don't think I have ever been so wrong about something in my life. This was by far the best money I have ever spent and the best decision we could have made for our dog. Here is the bottom line, Howard understands dogs. That is it, end of story. He knows how they think, he knows how they react, he knows the why behind their behavior. Then, on top of that, Howard and Marilyn hire great people that clearly love working with dogs. Our trainer John is awesome. He helped us with any problem we had. I have never owned a dog that really understood how to heel, but our dog Charlie does, and that has little to do with my wife and I. We just try our best to not screw-up what John has taught Charlie. Special shout out to the heart of the operation Marilyn. She is such a sweet woman. If you are looking at the price and wondering if it is worth it, all I can say is it is. We tried other places and they seemed uninterested in our specific needs. Good Dog has become part of our family, and as long as we live in the Chicago area, our dogs will be trained there. Thanks for all the help and work. read more

I took my afraid-of-everything pup to see Howard upon a friend's recommendation. He "got" her. Immediately. He also understood me and challenged me to stop the behaviors I was doing to encourage her fear. I've worked with a lot of dogs and dog trainers as a pet owner, but this was a problem I had never faced, and my takeaway from that first meeting was that Howard and his team could help. My pup spent four weeks with Good Dog. I was stunned by how quickly she adjusted to the training and began to change. I spent most of my time with John and Howard just trying to listen and not undo the great work they were doing. My pup is now willing to approach people on the street who want to pet her. She's more confident. She isn't afraid of other dogs. I'd like to say she's becoming the dog our family wanted, but the truth is that we are becoming the owners our dog needed. read more

six month update... six months after starting training and four months since our last session Molly is still improving. More responsive, more under control and more fun!! thanks again!! read more

Overly impressed completely satisfied! We brought our 10 month old lab mix rescue to Good Dog for some much needed help. We adopted Joey from the shelter in mid February, we quickly realized he had a lot of anxiety and issues with strangers and other dogs. Our excitement turned into worry very quickly. We didn't want our dog to be anxious, stressed, and unhappy. We didn't want to worry every time someone had to come over or we had to take him out. He would bark non stop at people and dogs, the hair on the back of his neck would stand up, when he was in this state we had no control over him. To us he was perfect otherwise. He was smart, loving, and fun when it was just us. He wasn't a bad dog he just needed help. We didn't know where he came from or what he had been through. We needed help learning how to guide him to good behavior. We had many important goals for our pup. We enrolled him at Good Dog for the 20 day program. Literally, the best decision ever. The changes were instant. I actually need more training than Joey lol. It's a learning process for both pet parent and pet. We must reinforce what the dog is learning. Otherworldly it's useless. Joey is not a bad dog he needed to be trained. He loves going to Good Dog. He loves his trainer John. Anything I wasn't comfortable with or my fears of leaving him there for 8+ hours disappeared when I saw the changes that were being made. He can't wait to go into the facility. He's happy to see Howard, Marilyn, and John. It's not a place of fear for him. He's working and learning and he's so happy which makes us so happy. He will continue going to Good Dog for awhile. We're so pleased with the entire staff. Their knowledge and hard work has meant everything to us. read more

Living in the south loop 16 years ago we had our first born, Luca, a 110# Doberman and couldn't control him. We researched dog training and amazingly for us found Howard Mellon. Howard and John trained our boy to actually listen to us. He was such a pleasure to walk and let of his lead and we didn't have to worry about getting our arms pulled out of socket or him chasing another dog or animal. The experience was priceless which is why we went back when we rescued our Coon hound Mack last year. He too was CRAZY, untrainable, and not obedient. Howard and John did it again! This guy can roam our neighborhood off lead, with us walking around the block, chase rabbit, never goes into the street, and comes right to us when we call him. Again, crazy good training. And to top it all off, Howard has Marilyn running his show, super pleasant and easy to talk to compared the guys. If your dog needs to listen to you verse the other way around you have to check out Good Dog, it's worth every penny!! read more

I have extensive experience with dog trainers all over Chicago.. Good Dog- A husband and wife team along with their exceptional dog trainers are without a doubt, the most outstanding and worthwhile investment for you dog. They treat your dog like he/she is part of their family. They are patience and spend a tremendous amount of time training your dog. In addition, they schedule weekly lessons to train the owner as well. They are the most amazing and talented Dog Trainers, and dog -owner trainers' in my case, Ever! I wish I met them 4 years ago, when my dog was just a pup! Debbie M. read more

I was referred to Good Dog by my vet to help my 2-yo German Shorthaired Pointer, Flo. Flo is a very smart, high energy dog that is uber-focused on every squirrel and bird in the area. She really needed to stretch her legs, but not having a fenced yard made that a tall order. She had gotten loose and run off a number of times in pursuit of a furry or feathered friend, and I felt all hope was lost for letting her run off-leash. Enter Howard and John. I called them immediately after getting an optimistic opinion from the vet - though I will admit, I was skeptical that they could train her. Howard and John came to the house the next afternoon and worked with Flo for about 1 1/2 hours. She completely adored them and did whatever they asked. I couldn't believe this was my dog. After a total of three visits, she was able to run off-leash in my yard and come to me when called! It is really so amazing and I am glad I was proven wrong! I would highly recommend Good Dog for all dog training issues. Even those pups that seem "untrainable"! read more

Good Dog - Pet Training Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Nothing more than a glorified "Lancasterpuppies.com" or breeder listing page. No different than any other puppy mill lister. I am sickened to see they only ask you to fill out a questionnaire (couldn't the breeder lie?) and ask you 10 questions on the phone by a girl that sounds 17 years old. That's not as thorough as a place like the AKC Breeder of Merit program where they do all of this AND inspect you--you can't lie. I can't believe the breeders featured on this site. I'd be embarrassed to be listed here. Nothing more than glorified brokers. Go to www.akc.org and search for Breeders of Merit by state and by breed--much safer--and accurate. read more

Good Dog has trained all 3 of my dogs. My first 2 were pure labs, the latest pup a lab/pointer mix. The first two were breezes and caught on right away. My last pup was a challenge for me. They did an amazing job helping me to slow down and understand her needs. It took me 4 weeks to really be able to control her but I now have an unbelievable listener! John is a saint amongst saints, along with everyone else there! Training is there #1 job and they do it with care and responsiveness for each dog they train. I watch others in my hood struggle with pulling, jumping and so much stress walking their dogs. Meanwhile mine is so easy for each 5 mile walk! Hands down the best training for the $ spent! Break it down and it is the same price as puppy school but once! 30 years later and I am still raving about what Howard & Marilyn have done with the company. read more

My puppy, Marty, LOVE's Good Dog! Marty is just a little guy, a Lowchen that I got at 8 weeks...by 10 weeks he was a full-time student at Good Dog. It's been almost six months now and I can't imagine trusting Marty with anyone else! Good Dog is family owned and operated. The personal attention from the owners can be seen right up front through the initial consultation. Howard and Marilyn want to meet you and your dog so there is an understanding of the issues/concerns you may have and answer any questions you might have about their methodology. They helped me find a well-respected Vet, have overnight care and are flexible with the boarding hours. But, most of all, I can tell they really care about Marty. The staff at Good Dog are friendly and courteous. John, the trainer, has the patience of a saint in dealing with hyper puppies, including Marty. See, Marty broke a hind leg about a month or so into the training...so, we had to stop the training for about 2 months while he healed. During that time Good Dog took care of him - making sure he didn't overwork his leg, got his medications, and got plenty of love. This was a bit of a setback, but as soon as the vet gave us the clearance to train again, we got right back on the wagon. John knew right where to pick back up, and now it's almost as if we haven't skipped a beat. They say it's "the loving method that works!" I can't argue with that! Thank you for everything Howard, Marilyn, John and crew! read more

Good Dog has been a tremendous savior for me in transitioning to full time puppy parent. The personalized care and service for my dog has been terrific! Each member of the staff is extremely friendly, knowledgeable, courteous, and genuinely attentive to me and my dog. The trainers are fantastic! Scheduling is always super convenient and flexible. I can pick my puppy up early or late as my schedule dictates, knowing the little guy is cared for in my absence. My dog wags his tail in excitement each morning I take him to 'school' and he returns smarter, better behaved with each day. I definitely recommend Good Dog. Thank you! read more

Howard, Marilyn, John and their team trained our new puppy and we couldn't be happier! We took our labradoodle puppy, Doug, for 6 weeks of training with the Good Dog team. The first week we had already seen major improvements and each week he continued to learn more and more. We are now the proud owners of one of the best behaved pups at the brewery. He listens to commands, recalls things he learned and is a very well behaved family member. I couldn't recommend Good Dog more! If you're looking to train your puppy, or fix issues you just can't get yourself, I recommend calling Good Dog! Thanks Howard, Marilyn and John! Doug already misses you all! read more

I have been an owner of Airedale Terriers for 35 years. They are beautiful but quite stubborn and very headstrong. I'm saying they are almost impossible to train without some professional assistance. We have had all 5 of our AIREDALES trained by 1800 Good Dog. Their methods are amazing and all training is done in the kindest of manners. And.... to make it even better, they come to you! Howard, the owner of the company, has been doing this for 40 plus years. AND IT SHOWS! It only takes the 1st session in your home to show you what professional dog training is all about. Your dog will love the training and so will you! GUARANTEED! read more

I got a 2 year old pit mix rescue dog about 7 months ago. My first dog...ever. She was from Orphans of the Storm in Riverwoods and they brought her to their shelter from Tennessee. Scout initially seemed very well behaved especially at home, but 2-3 months into things she started to exhibit some really strong vicious, aggression towards bikes, squirrels, bunnies, rats, and sometimes people. The problem began to escalate and I needed help fast! I read the reviews about Good Dog, made a visit and made the decision to invest the money. It's expensive but I needed the help. Long story short, I signed up for 20 days at first and then another 25. Scout didn't respond great to the shock collar, it seemed to make her aggression worse at first, so we abandoned that route. Howard, Jon and the team at Good Dog were determined to help me find a resolution. The support, help and training was exactly what I needed. In the long run it's taken a variety of things to ultimately see results. The training at Good Dog for me and Scout was a big part of it. It's not for wimps though. It's tough and a big commitment. I still work at it every day, even 7 months into it but she's a wonderful, sweet dog....most of the time. Thanks Good Dog! read more

Good Dog - Pet Training Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have been taking my baby girl Lola to Good Dog for the past 2 years, since she was 3 months old. Lola is a Great Dane and now weighs about the same as I do so I wanted to make sure she was well trained. Their training techniques are the best by far! I love that they are open 24/7 and I never have to rush to pick her up after work. I go out of town for work with such short notice and they have ALWAYS been accommodating. I could not say enough about how great this company is and I would recommend them to anyone who had a dog. read more

We adopted a pitbull from PAWS a couple months ago. Within two weeks, we were about ready to (sadly) bring her back to PAWS because we had zero control over her. Jumping on people, no knowledge of any commands, anxious. Fast-forward six weeks and it's tough to think that this is the same dog we wanted to bring back to PAWS. Legacy knows her basic commands and is much better around people. A changed dog. Good Dog has great staff and experienced trainers. Their methods are balanced -- tough love -- and effective...and the 'love' part of that equation permeates throughout all of their staff. They're also open 24/7 which comes in handy if you've got a crazy work/life schedule. Generally, they are pretty flexible with scheduling to accommodate your needs. I'd easily and highly recommend folks take a look at Good Dog if you have a dog in need of training. read more

Good Dog can't be beat! We have been taking our dog Oscar to Howard and Marilyn since he was 9 weeks old (he is now 5). They have trained him from the beginning with love and respect. Their expertise and compassion for any dog is evident when you meet them and their staff. They take the time to get to know you and your pet. The staff at Good Dog are also very friendly and attentive. When we pick Oscar up they always tell us what he did, who he played with, and tips on how to continue at home what they have taught him. If you want a well trained happy dog, I recommend Good Dog! read more

I adopted Doris, a 1-1/2 year old, 19 lb. Terrier/Jack Russell mix July 10 from PAWS. She's a delightful dog with one major problem. She is afraid of people, traffic, noise, men, and other things she's encountering in our active River North neighborhood. 1-800 Good Dog is one of several trainers suggested by PAWS. I selected Howard and his team because he was the most responsive, and I appreciated his loving method of training in a dog's home environment. Despite being terrified of men, Howard and his trainer, John, have won her trust and affection. She's quickly learning simple commands with John, and willingly sits on their laps. On our daily walks to the Dog Park, where she encounters all of the activity she initially feared, her tail is more often up, rather than tightly tucked as it was before Howard and John started their training. While budget issues has training paused for a bit, I will keep Doris and 1-800 Dog in our lives by scheduling occasional visits. Howard has made himself available for any questions that arise. I'm grateful to have him and John as part of Doris' family. read more

Again, I'm ONLY a customer and have no affiliation with 800 good dog, other than bringing 4 dogs there. However, yelp needs more yuppies to write reviews on this place. You know the type...arrogant, afraid of their own shadow yuppies, who run their mouths, or hide behind their keyboards. And these yuppies? They DIDN'T EVEN bring their dogs there:) It's fun!! When one writes, "harbinger of spring" or "residential neighbor," It's a dead give away for 'ignorant yuppies.' However, I like Howard and his entire staff. It's nice to see ACTUAL customer reviews. # dumbdown of America. read more

When our dog Jake walks into Good Dog, he knows he's among friends (of the human and canine varieties!). From the moment I met Marilyn and Howard, the owners, and John, the trainer, I have felt informed and involved in every step of Jake's education. Jake has gone from wild and crazy to a dog that is calm, gentle and obedient. But he has by no means lost all sense of fun. He has simply learned when it is time to run around and play and when it is time to get some work done! This has enabled us to do so many more activities with him. We can can bring him around all types of people and other animals without fear that he will misbehave or someone will get hurt. The trainers at Good Dog are also committed to making sure that you and your family know the proper techniques for handling your well trained dog. Even our 5 year old can go on a walk with Jake and he obeys all of her commands. The investment we have made at Good Dog has been well worth it. You will not find people are more invested in your dog's education, health and well being. read more

I have taken several dogs to good dog. I have been extremely happy and very satisfied with the service I received. My dog is happy and well trained I commend Howard and all of his staff, they have been outstanding throughout the years. What is with these reviews of the ladies that never took their dogs there, but complain? Ladies how can you complain about a company that you've never patronized? Come on you could do better than that period and you should be ashamed of yourselves. read more

Good Dog is the best! I rarely give 5 stars to anything I review because I am very picky and want to leave room for places that are truly exceptional. Good Dog is that place. In reading the other reviews, I noticed that the only bad reviews come from people who have never even taken their dog there or even met Howard and Marilyn. Kinda hard to review a restaurant when you haven't been there....but I digress. It took us a long time to decide to get a dog and we took the plunge and added a sweet puppy to our family (two cats and two 13 year olds). Since we had never had a dog before, I wanted to make sure we trained her properly. In one day, three different people recommended Good Dog, including my vet, whose opinion I highly value. We took Jessie there as soon as we could (9 weeks). Howard and Marilyn are the owners and you can tell just how much they love dogs. I felt immediately comfortable when I met them, and Howard gave me plenty of pointers to keep in mind even before I brought Jessie there for training. He was very honest about what I could expect from Jessie and how my behavior directly affected her. We signed up for a 20 lesson package, dropped Jessie off in the morning and picked her up in the evening. They work with her several times a day, and she is tired when I pick her up. And she is also excited to get there the next day! Within a week she was walking on the leash really well, and by the time she was four months, which was when the breeder said she should start official training, Jessie was very well behaved and I felt comfortable taking her off the leash to play at the park. Every day people remarked about how well behaved she was and how calm she was. They said "You are so lucky to have a mellow dog!" and I said "It's not luck! It's Good Dog!" Good Dog is incredibly clean -- they have a yard for training and for letting the dogs out to play and it is cleaned constantly. I'm not sure I've ever seen dog poop out there because it gets cleaned so fast. Jessie goes to training a few times a week and I go there for lessons as often as I can, because now that Jessie is 8 months old, I know that she is a far better student than I am. She is earning an A and well, I'm struggling for a C. When I watch Howard and John work with Jessie, it is like a well choreographed symphony! But I am learning, and it is so comforting to have the professionals at Good Dog there with me every step of the way. Every time I have questions about Jessie's behavior I know I can ask Howard or John (the head trainer) and they will set me straight. When Jessie turned 7 months old, she started getting more aggressive at the dog park and I stopped taking her, which made me really sad. I told Howard and he came to the park with me, figured out what the problem was, and now we are having fun at the park again. I am so grateful that we have found Good Dog! No the dogs don't all play together and there isn't a swimming pool, but Jessie (and the rest of our family) are getting an invaluable education and that is priceless. read more