We went to Two Paws Up specifically for our girl Pepper. After being with us for about 9 months she developed leash reactivity and had an incident with a friends dog. I learned of the Reactive Rover doggy school which was a drop off, 8 course program. We dropped Pepper off for half a day approximately two times a week. Prior to beginning the course, we did an in-depth interview with Stephanie to go over our concerns and Peppers needs. We were given a packet of exercises and after each class were instructed on what to work on at home. We also had two in home lessons once drop off classes were complete. This training made a huge difference for us as a family. It helped us all gain confidence, helped us manage expectations, gave us patience and some great tools which we still use to this day. Pepper has come a long way from where she started and we're so glad we did the reactive rover school at Two Paws Up. Definitely worth the money for us! We also took both of our dogs to a nose work class lead by Stephanie following reactive rover school. The set up really catered to reactive dogs as each dog was crated and only taken out for their turn. It was a fun class and both our dogs really enjoyed it. Two Paws Up facility is really nice, it's large and clean. They offer a variety of classes and times. Its been a while since we've been back but hoping to enroll again soon. read more

Thank you Stephanie! You have taken the great business Brenda built and made it better. If you need day training you are covered. Agility, puppy classes, nosework and behavior classes. Mary is a fabulous trainer and of course Stephanie not only provides a good nosework foundation but for the advanced student as well. The new location is easy to get to from where I live and read more

Two Paws Up Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me - Waukegan, Illinois

Can't recommend them enough! I think the important thing here is that not only are they training your pup, they are training YOU. If you have a working breed, high drive or a dog that needs an outlet, you can't complain about why your pup is not listening if you're not bringing home and building on what it's learning no matter where you take it. I'm glad to see they have so many wonderful, patient and flexible team members and can't think of a better place for my GSD read more

Two Paws Up Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me - Waukegan, Illinois

lovely team and environment. learned so much and my puppy enjoyed it too. we did the puppy foundations class and tween drop off for two weeks. read more

To anyone with a very reactive puppy or dog considering taking classes through Two Paws Up to solve this issue, I strongly suggest you go a different direction. We started taking classes in general for obedience in November of 2023, then moved on to trying three different reactivity-related classes through them, and unfortunately the only class that we had a decent experience with was the obedience related ones. For context, we have a very high energy, working line dog breed that struggled with on-leash reactivity to dogs, people, and anything moving. This is due to her high-prey drive and the frustration that being on the leash causes her. We, as first time dog owners, thought that an all-positive training approach was appealing and sounded like something that we liked and would work. We enrolled in three reactivity classes, two being very similar to each other and one being a drop off class. The first class, we honestly barely passed because it was a room with three other dogs only separated by barriers. After that class, Two Paws Up recommended that we move on to the next level of class. We joined that class and only made it a day because it was an open room with six dogs, while using completely unhelpful "management" techniques that I will get more into later. The last class we took was the drop off course, two times a week for four weeks. This was the class that ended up making her behave worse, and I honestly have no idea how they managed to do that. After each class, we were advised to move on to the next level, having to spend more and more money for little-to-no improvement. After taking those classes, we communicated to the owner, Stephanie, that the classes did not help her and rather made her reactivity worse. We communicated that our dog needed a more structured, balanced training program that communicated what we wanted from her. Then, she continued to insult the two of us as dog parents, accused us of moving into "punishment-based training", and telling us that we did not commit enough to the training program. This was not the case, but the email thread from the owner continued to be incredibly unprofessional and accusatory, despite my polite statement in the first emails that simply tried to communicate our problems with the program. For anyone who is looking into the reactivity programs, just know that every single class has the same commands and the same management methods that do not work, and the owner will advise you to "keep your windows closed to avoid triggers, don't go on walks in populated areas", and more instead of solving the issue that we paid them to fix. They use "find it", and throw food on the ground for the dog to be distracted, but does not offer anything to counteract the reason for the reactivity. They say "this way!" to the dog and go a different direction also as a distraction, rather than solving the dog's issue and lack of confidence with triggers. Every single command they use is food-based with no other more reliable method. If your dog is not food-motivated, I would bet that they would have an incredibly difficult time making any changes to your dog's behavior. It is truly unfortunate that I had to write this, waste thousands of dollars of my money, and end up with a dog whose reactivity got worse despite our commitment to the training. I do not write bad reviews because I don't think they are worth it, but I am only writing this in hopes that dog owners with high-energy breeds with the same issue do not make the same mistake that I did. Fact: When a reactive dog reaches the end of the leash on a regular collar and lunges at their trigger, their trachea has an increased risk of injury. Harnesses as well, were MADE to allow a dog to pull without injury, so harnesses are not effective in this type of training. We moved to a training facility that uses Operant Conditioning: Positive Reinforcement(cue, mark, reward), Negative Reinforcement (pressure), Positive Reinforcement(stop and eliminate behaviors), and Negative Punishment (remove toys, affection, attention, and food). Since doing so, we have an incredibly confident dog who does not lunge at distractions, people, dogs, or anything else. Drive to Chicago for Found Training Center rather than Two Paws Up, who will instead make your reactive dog worse. I truly with our experience was better at Two Paws Up, but since there was no improvement and the lack of professionalism with the owner over email, I had a hard time not writing a review. I truly don't want anyone else to waste their money like I did, being a new dog parent who was not educated on fully rounded training techniques. read more

I signed up for the flex classes, but couldn't get our dog, (who was recently adopted from a shelter) in the door because he was scared to enter the facility. I suspect he thought he was being returned to a kennel or shelter. Wendy spent 2 hours over three separate days helping Bingo get comfortable with the facility, free of charge. When it was clear he wasn't going to enter during a regular class session, she suggested I come early one day before there were any other people there. She opened the garage door, so he could see inside and not feel trapped. We did this on two separate occasions, and on the day that we attended a regular class, she propped open the regular door to make Bingo more comfortable. I really appreciate the dedication (arriving early before regular working hours!) and patience Wendy showed Bingo and me. Now Bingo LOVES to go to classes. When he sees me getting the bag of supplies ready, he is ready to fly out the door and into the car. read more

Amazing dog training! Brenda is a pro and has helped us make great progress with our five year old dog.

Brenda Belmonte and her staff with Two Paws Up Dog Training, Inc. are incredible knowledgeable and passionate about what they do. Brenda is a life-long animal person with background not only in behavior and training, but experience in the veterinary industry, and it shows! Classes are well-run, primarily positive, and always have the dogs' best interest at hand. Each of my dogs have been through a minimum of two classes with Two Paws Up Dog Training. Their puppy socialization classes are second to none, and their competition classes are run by people with competition experience and knowledge of the sports themselves (agility, obedience, rally) unlike many classes in the area. Their classes for the everyday pet owner are phenomenal, tackling common issues in dog ownership. They are willing to tailor training to fit the needs of the owner, offering not only classes, but private sessions and day-training for dogs who qualify as candidates. They also regularly have seminars - sometimes free! - on common problems faced by "pet parents". The new facility was well thought out and well designed. It turned out great! Check it out - you won't be disappointed! I refuse to go anywhere else and will recommend no other trainers in the area BUT Two Paws Up Dog Training! read more

Two Paws Up is the best investment you can make for your dog. The trainers are top notch. The variety of classes offered not only support a well behaved dog but a well rounded dog. You will not only learn how to positively teach your dog good manners, you will learn how to have fun and play with your dog while teaching them great skills. You will enjoy your dog but others will too. The training center is safe, clean and you will feel the positive vibe as soon as you walk in. I continue to have a fantastic experience with the variety of classes and workshops offered. They are always offering something new to the curriculum to help develop both the owner and the dog. Thank Two Paws Up community for sharing your passion, expertise and love of training great dogs. read more

WE LOVE COMING HERE Brenda Belmonte and all the trainers are unbelievable. They know how to calm the entire room. Not only the dogs but us humans also. You are not a number they interact with both humans and dogs. We are so grateful to be able to come here with our dog. We have learned so many valuable tools. Thanks to all. You can't go wrong chosing Two Paws Up. read more

A kind and compassionate way to train pups! Very professional coupled with a true love of dogs. I am impressed with the gentleness used and the knowledge that the trainers have to make this happen. read more

We have been taking our puppy here for about a month. It is amazing how well the trainers interact with all the dogs. They are great teachers and very supportive. My pup loves going here, and it's always a positive experience. We have a boxer, and people always say it's hard to get them to lay. After one training session, our pup can know lay on command. I would highly recommend this place for any training needs. The trainers are always aware of everything to make sure all people and animals are safe :) read more

I have a reactive dog who was adopted from a shelter and put on a prong collar by recommendation of a "trainer." After seeing this was making the situation worse, I inquired about private lessons with Brenda, who came highly recommended by friends. She was able to get to the root of his fears and help me by developing a behavior modification plan which has produced outstanding results! Their goal to teach owners to better understand their dog's needs helped me become a better owner! We've also been in K9 nosework classes and their flex obedience classes all of which they kindly modify (if necessary) so that my dog is always set up for success around other dogs. I would (and do) HIGHLY recommend Brenda and her team to anyone looking for a trainer!! read more

We miss Two Paws Up so much! They did such an amazing job for us and our pup, Siggy, and we are so grateful for all of their help. They helped up develop into a real team, and we even got our Canine Good Citizen certification through our training with them! We were so sad to leave them after moving to the city, and I will happily recommend them to anyone that is in the area. So many hugs, puppy kisses, and celebrations with Wendy, Julie and Heather! read more

I cannot recommend this facility- it took several emails (instituted from their website) and two phone calls before I could get their attention. Then, I scheduled an in-home dog training session to start and got stood up by the trainer. This company was recommended by my vet. Sadly, after so many attempts, I am giving up on them. Simply not a good experience and not responsive. read more

We have been using 2 Paws for a little over a year and they have been wonderful. We came in with a 3 year old-ish rescue one eyed Doberman. He had a rough past and in addition with his handicap he came in very anxious and unsure. After being with 2Paws the ladies there helped him come out of his shell and expand greatly on the basic commands. Their customer service is great with answering phone calls and emails if you have a question. They also have a lot of different classes to choose from to help your fur child be the best they can be. We have no regrets in using training for our Dobe and we are sad to be leaving them in our transition to move. A big thank you to Heather, Julie, Brenda and Wendy whom we've worked with. read more

We have been taking our dog for obedience for over a year and love the results from the Two Paws Up program. Brenda and her staff are great with the dogs. They teach the owners to train the dogs with a combination of love for the dogs and respect for the humans. I highly recommend them. read more

Wish I had sent my dog here vs the very expensive 3-week boarding/training he received. Although he came back with a good set of leash manners, his disruptive reaction at the sight of other dogs, motorcycles, and bicyclists did not get any better. After being referred to Two Paws Up, I started with their free Reactive Rover class taught by Brenda. In addition to being comforted by seeing other dog owners with similar issues, Brenda shared and reaffirmed information regarding my dog's behavior. Afterwards I was fortunate enough to schedule a 1-hour session with Brenda following a cancellation in her schedule. In just 1-hour Brenda focused on practical take-aways I could work on with my dog. She used a life-like dog in our session, provided handouts for future reference and more information, and targeted the training for immediate, short-term relief. I experienced success the very next day as I implemented her training tips. I wish I wasn't moving so I could enroll my dog into the Reactive Rover classes and receive more training under her care. I honestly believe had I started with Two Paws Up my dog's behavior would be so much better than it is. But while I won't be able to work with Brenda, I'm grateful for the hour she gave me and the referral to another trainer she knows well in the area I'm moving to. read more

If you want your dog to be physically and mentally engaged, Two Paws Up is the training center for you! The instructors are amazing in classes that have only 5-6 dogs, so you get lots of one on one instruction! My dog has enjoyed every class we have taken, and do have I!! We have met so many like minded, dog loving people during the classes. The training methods are always force free and include positive reinforcement. This group of trainers far exceeded my expectations! I can't wait for our next adventure at Two Paws Up!! read more