We love YDG! The staff are great and they treat you and your dog like family! We use the play school every week and we also use the grooming services- both excellent! read more

Amazing. Met Mike for 1 hr and he seemed to have already figured out how to train Chilli. Provided great suggestions / clear explanations and then demonstrated it. Could see the tactics working and saw improvement in his behavior. read more

Mike is a world class trainer and teacher. Beau loves his time at Dogs Guru too. Would recommend to any pet parents in the area. read more

I meant to post this earlier, but wanted to give these people a chance to respond to my wife's complaint. Our golden used to attend puppy care every Friday. One Friday in mid January my wife picked him up and he was soaking wet. No real explanation from the handler, nor did they even offer to dry him off. My wife has residual olfactory issues from Covid and she didn't notice the stench. I walked in to my house that evening and the minute I walked in the door I noticed a terrible smell. We put the dog in the shower and bathed him, but it didn't help. He seemed to be covered by some oily liquid that absolutely stunk! Not feces, not urine...hard to even describe! We ended up having to get a mobile groomer over at 7:30 pm Saturday night ($140.00 with tip ) because the stench was horrible.! Pursuant to this my wife sent an email to them about this problem and they never even responded! Obviously, they don't care. Needless to say our dog has never gone back. OH...and he also got kennel cough there a couple months earlier. I highly recommend you avoid these guys!! read more

My husband and I have a 6yr. Old rescue and 1 year old English Cream retriever. Everything was going well, so we thought until about 2 weeks ago. We had a very unfortunate situation happen between our dogs and myself. I was angry, sad and felt very helpless about the situation. We met with Michael yesterday at our home to assess any changes we could make to help moving forward. Michael was polite, honest and a wealth of knowledge with reachable solutions for us. As we thought our way was working we realized without judgement.. we as dog owners we could make many changes that would help our dogs with behavior modification techniques that would lead to success. Michael did not try and push his business on us and felt confident that we would see changes in our dogs within a couple weeks if we continued to do the necessary footwork that was recommended. We now feel very hopeful that everything will work out. I would highly recommend this business. We are very grateful! read more

New operation. Clean and nice people involved watching the dogs. I just began bringing my small puppy and luckily they had two other sml dogs to play with. Half day is $30. So far, so good Brought him back again. He has a blast here. U shd try it too. I take my dog at least once a week. read more

I probably haven't written a Yelp review in close to a decade but felt compelled to sing the praises of Maggie the Guroomer! I brought my 7-month-old Westie puppy to Maggie after being turned away from another groomer in Northfield for her "difficult" behavior. Maggie handled her with patience and care and she came out looking absolutely beautiful! I highly recommend Your Dog's Guru for grooming, especially if you have a puppy who is new to grooming or a nervous dog. read more

Your Dogs Guru - Pet Training Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

DO NOT BRING YOUR DOG HERE!!! I was recommend by a good friend to use Your Dog Guru for a board and train program. After seeing good reviews online I inquired about about the program. I have an 8 month old Doberman which I just wanted basic obedience training with. What happened was the total opposite. My dog was malnourished and mistreated. I dropped my dog off on 4/12/22. When I picked up my dog on 5/3/22 he was HORRIBLY skinny. I immediately couldn't believe my eyes. I insisted Michael Jayko put my dog on a scale. To my absolute shock he weighed in at 60 lbs. Losing a total of 15lbs while he was supposed to be under their "care"! My dog also had developed kennel cough and was wheezing like he had been smoking cigarettes for years. (Video in comments). When I asked Michael Jayko and staff how they would like it if someone forcefully made them lose 20% of their body weight. To which one woman replied "I probably wouldn't mind". Trying to make a joke about my dogs extreme health condition. When my dog and I got home he immediately drank water like never before. After 4 days of meals my dog finally started to put some weight back on. This is him pictured below today at 64 lbs. Michael Jayko, and the employees of Your Dogs Guru do not care about your animal. Do not send your dog here. read more

This is the best play school and day care ever for your dogs! The owners/ trainers Michael and Annie are the nicest and sweetest people ever. My Golden Retriever has been going to play school there for 3 years since she was a puppy. Their staff play and work with the dogs and they all have a ball! My Golden loves being there and comes home with her unbelievable energy being quite deleted for the night which makes for a good relaxing evening for me. The area is beautiful and large, and they have multiple staff working every day. They take great care of every single pup. I already have multiple friends bringing their dogs there from my recommendations! And the price is very reasonable for the hours. read more

On Easter Sunday I found TerraDog's posting . She was at the Chicago Dog Pound and her days were number. My family picked her up from dog pound on April 2. Fast forward 2 weeks , oh boy... aggressive confusion. 2 months in the lockup and TerraDog was confused. Yelp! To the rescue. I wanted a dog behaviorist not a dog trainer. I had seen Mike over the years hiking around town with dozens of dogs at a time. I was thrilled to find him on Yelp! Today we met for the evaluation and enlightened guidance. Make the effort to learn how to learn. We are in training mode now. Excellent. read more

Your Dogs Guru - Pet Training Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

We've been really happy happy so far with our first two training sessions with Your Dog's Guru. I did a lot of preparation planning to bring our new puppy home and Michael's philosophy matched up very well with everything I had learned. Michael doesn't force you to train one way or set up your home one way but rather works with you on what feels comfortable. His advice is very practical and easy to implement. The entire team has been incredibly responsive to calls and emails. Michael also gave me feedback on some videos I sent him remotely when I was struggling with some of our puppy's behaviors early on. We'll be doing the puppy social classes and more training in the future. Thanks to Michael, Annie, Elise and Hanna! read more

Have no way to know what they do with tithe dog's. Would not let me see the facilities and we have been there with Maezie at least 3 times prior to the Pandemic which they used as an excuse. Each time we have been there they have refused to let us see the facilities. Will not go back unless we can see where the dogs play and what is done while they are there. The doors should be open not closed and secretive. read more

Michael and his team are amazing. They are patient with the dogs and their owners - which is especially important when working with a family who are first time puppy owners. Their facility is clean (which humans love) and fun (which dogs love). Trooper loves going there and runs to the car when we say "playschool" because he knows he's about to have a great day with his friends. read more

Our family dog went here for a bit in summer and a few weeks in winter. The owner and his wife are very nice but not always on site. Dogs are left with and watched mostly by young adults that work there so don't expect owner Mike to be working with your dog everyday if your dog goes to their day school. The summer was fine but the place dogs are kept is outdoors so even though they use heaters and put up walls in winter it is still cold and dogs get wet and cold. I thiNk if you hired the owner Mike for lessons to train your dog he would be very good because he does seem to know a lot about training dogs. I feel what is called a day school is more of a daycare only. I gave three stars because dogs are kept outside and dog school was misleading when it was more of a dog daycare. read more

I have used the services of Michael Jayko and staff for years with help training my dogs. I have therapy dogs and we have had a service animal as well. Michael has an awesome approach with the dogs and instills confidence and obedience in a positive approach to the dog. He has recently helped me get a dog certified as a therapy dog and she needed help overcoming anxiety in new situations. She is a much more confident animal who passed the certification without any problems. I will use them again whenever needed. As an aside, on occasion I use the puppy playgroup and the pups have always had a positive experience. read more

Your Dog's Guru is terrific. We contacted them two years ago about help with our (then) new lab puppy who was beyond energetic. Michael and Annie were absolutely great. "Puppy Social" was perfect for our needs and now that our dog is a bit older we love what they provide for 'doggy day care'. Our still energetic lab loves being there - the great staff consistently reinforces training behaviors while giving her the exercise and stimulation she needs. This is our fourth lab... YDG is by far the absolutely best for training, boarding and advice. For anyone considering introducing a new puppy or older dog into your family - they are the perfect resource to help you transition both you and your puppy in a smooth, fun way. Simply the best! read more

Mike, Annie, and the entire team are THE BEST. For the past 11 years they have been helping with my two labs. At first, I came to Mike to help train my dogs. They worked one on one and also in a group setting. Whenever I need to board my dogs, they are the ONLY people I would trust with my dogs, and really gives me peace of mind! I would recommend Your Dog's Guru to anyone seeking dog training or who is looking for a fun and safe place to board your dog(s)! Simply the best. read more

How do I love them? Let me count the ways... I am a long time client of Annie and Michael of Your Dog's Guru, I should have reviewed them long before this, for that I apologize, but I am righting that wrong now. Michael is the face of this business but Annie is the reason the business runs smoothly every day, and in addition to her behind the scenes wrangling, is an expert trainer as well. They are an unbeatable team. It's reassuring to know they are both there for me. read more

Mike & his staff are amazing people. True dog lovers that are compassionate and generous people. Cannot thank them enough for their help with our rescue dog. THE BEST!!! read more

After yet giving Mikes information to another person, I realized I need to post an official review. We adopted twin labs when they were 14 weeks old. I found Mike and Annie 2 weeks later and it was transformational. I talked to a few trainers. I selected Mike and Annie because they would train us to train the dogs. It was amazing. The dogs were instantly mesmerized by Mike. We learned what we need to do. We discussed our issues, and he helped teach us what we needed to do. I am able to be up early before everyone else, and the dogs ignore me and let me be. I learned how to walk 2 dogs at the same time. The dogs don't walk me! Our neighbors and complete strangers comment on how well behaved our dogs are. They don't jump up on people. Ever. We've had 2 more children since we've had the dogs. They have been beautifully behaved with all our children, from infant on up. Mike and Annie helped us cultivate the right relationship between our dogs and our family. We've handed out Mikes information dozen of times. Everyone has been extremely happy. Truly 5 star. You will not be disappointed. read more

Michael is amazing. He's been working with our two year old pitbull/lab mix for about six months. I'd highly recommend him to anyone who's looking for help with their dog. read more

Michael, Annie and Meadow brought their trained dogs to work with students with comprehensive disabilities at a local high school. The dogs were impeccably trained and flexible in how they were approached. Michael and his team showed deep understanding of developing meaningful communication between the dogs and non verbal students while quickly adapting to the abilities of higher functioning students. The growth in attachment, commitment and communication was exponential each week. Michael's careful individualized training of dog's in his care is only surpassed by his respect for the needs of his client. read more

Michael did an amazing job training me to walk my 2 yo beagle mix, who would pay little attention to me on walks and try to pull me all over the place. Michael came to my house and we spent 10-15 minutes talking about what was going on, and then we got outside with my dog to begin the training. Within 15 minutes, I had my dog walking by my side, attentive to me and not getting carried away by his beagle nose. Also, I originally signed up for an hour session, but when he got the job done in less than 30 minutes, Michael did not drag out the session to try to get more money out of me, only charging me for 30 minutes. I was very impressed with the whole experience. I would gladly have him back to work on other behaviors with my dogs in the future. I would highly recommend Michael to anyone who is struggling with any type of behavioral issues in their dog. read more

I don't know what magic Michael possesses, but he needs to bottle it. After years of behavioral issues with our beloved German Shepard, Michael came in for two simple sessions and she was a whole new dog. Honestly, I was prepared for a long and arduous process and was amazed by his simple hands on approach that produced almost immediate results. By attending to not only Ginger's needs but also how we interacted with her, Michael created a whole new dynamic in the family that has meant the world to all of us. We cannot thank you enough. You truly are Our Guru! read more

Michael is a fantastic trainer of both dogs and their owners! I met with Michael once to head off any aggression that my previously timid puppy might reveal around 2 (a phenomenon pointed out to me at PAWS where I adopted her.) One hour and a half session and I had all the information that I needed to work with her. Additionally, I have boarded my dog, Olive, with Your Dog's Guru on multiple occasions and leave her knowing that she will get the exercise and loving care that she deserves--at a price that is less than most dog boarders in my area. Couldn't really ask for more! read more

Michael is the real deal & absolutely amazing with dogs! I used to see him walking with a huge pack of dogs of all sizes and was amazed! Fast forward about three years and now we have our own 19 week puppy. Michael came out to meet with us and gave us some potty, behavioral, and good dog owner training. We were all even more impressed after watching and learning from him! read more

Michael and Annie are terrific. Brought in our 6 month old schnoodle today to get a head start on general obedience. Family has been disagreeing on how to potty and tame. Michael gave great advice on gentle and loving training. Much less jumping, biting, and chewing. We are all on the same page now for pottying. I thought it was going to be hard to follow through but they showed us how easy it can be. Thanks! read more

We owe completely to Michael the fact that our 18-month-old golden retriever Ozzie is the perfect dog for out family. Michael was incredible through the entire process, from finding Ozzie, to meeting with us before we brought him home, offering many tips we would NEVER have thought of to ease Ozzie's transition and begin immediately bonding with us, to training him, always tailoring his approach to suit our needs at every step along the way. We didn't know what kind of dog we wanted to look for, but Michael listened carefully to our particular situation and needs - a very mellow temperament to handle our high-energy 8-year-old and her friends, our city apartment living balanced with all of us greatly enjoying lots of walks and outdoor activity, and my chronic neurological health condition, which requires regular at-home medical treatments and often leaves me completely worn down. Michael said if we were willing to make the trip, he knew a wonderful breeder - so my husband drove to Canada and brought our amazing puppy Ozzie home. After following Michael's initial instructions, including how to make the long drive without any potty accidents in the rental car, and everyone on the street commenting on the unbelievably mellow 8-week-old puppy, Michael came to begin training him and we witnessed his pure magic. Michael was able to get immediate results from Ozzie without even speaking a word. He has the most amazing blend of being completely in charge while having the most encouraging, gentle, and caring approach (with us as well!) Our jaws dropped time and again at how quick and effective he was in every situation. We now have the perfect dog for our family. He's always ready for fun, whether happily bouncing down the street on walks or quietly together at home, and has never once felt like a stress or demand on us. We never imagined raising a puppy could be this easy and we truly feel this is due to Michael. Just the other day our daughter said, "Ozzie, you are the best thing that ever happened to me!" We can't recommend Michael highly enough, for his skill and knowledge with dogs and his passion for helping people care for and enjoy them. read more

I receive many complimnets on my dogs demeanor and how well he listens. This was all thanks to Mike's working with us when Guinness was a puppy. There are no bad dogs, just bad owners. Mike will ensure you are the right kind of owner. read more

My husband and I contacted Mike at Your Dog's Guru when we found out we were pregnant. Our dog had been showing some nervous behavior around children and we wanted to fix that and also learn the best way to introduce him to our new baby when it was time. Mike was awesome! He came out to our house in Schaumburg and met us and met Bogie. He worked with us on some basic things that lead Bogie to feel more confident and therefore less nervous. At out third session, he brought his own children so that we could work through the issue hands on. We felt confident after that last session. Mike said we could contact him at any time and would even be at our house the day we brought the baby home if we wanted. We didn't end up needing him to, but it was still great to know if we wanted to we could. We brought our baby home a week ago and Bogie has been fantastic! He's the best big brother and we have Mike to thank for training us to be confident dog owners. read more

We saved a Puggle from the Heartland Shelters. Being in education for 20 years, I thought I could teach any person and even a puppy anything. Was I mistaken. There were about 5 major issues that our dog Jaycee was dealing with throughout the few months that he was brought into our family. Finally, my wife stated that we needed extra support. Thus, I went and met MJ. No, not Michael Jordan but Michael Jayko. Who in my opinion, is able to do with dogs what Jordan did on the hard-court. When I first met Michael, who sports an orange mo-hawk, earings and cool t-shirts, I was memorized by his energetic demeanor and knowledge about dogs. He is a behaviorist, and I love that approach. I spoke to him for approximately 5 minutes, and I knew we had a trainer that could assist Jaycee. I asked him to make a house visit, and he graciously did. Michael is a very kind, direct individual. In other words, if you want to be lied to, and not have your dog move in a positive direction, find another trainer. If you can handle the truth, then Michael Jayko is the trainer for you and your dog. As soon as Michael came to the front door, he was completely focused on Jaycee (A Jedi mind trick maybe?) Furthermore, he was able to bring my entire family into the living room, and he spoke to all of us about our concerns. Meanwhile, he was also attending to Jaycee. I have to tell you that Michael was probably a dog in another life. I had 5 main concerns on my list and in about a little bit over an hour, he was able to instruct us how to handle these situations in an effective manner and realistically by the time the Dog Guru left, I was able to wipe off 3 out of the 5 concerns off my list. I invited him over a second time, and we had the same positive results. Furthermore, I was able to e-mail him with a concern, and he responds very quickly for a very busy individual. Michael is able to work in the infrastructure of your house and make adaptations for your family and dog that meets all needs. It is truly a pleasure to watch gifted people in life. Lastly, if you want, in my opinion, the best behaviorist trainer and service dog specialist, please get your nose out of the internet and stop visiting dog stores. Just call your friendly, neighborhood dog guru, Michael Jayko at 847-446-8290. Jaycee thanks Michael too! read more

I have been to trainers, classes, etc that claimed they could help hatchi with her animal aggression issues. I spent lots of time and money with limited progress and not a real hope, direction or plan that I felt could give her a comfortable future. My 1.5yr old Shepard chow mix Hatchi I found as a stray and fell in love with while rehabilitating her over the last 6 months. A ray of light came into our lives last Friday after an initial meet with Annie and Michael. The relief I felt after realizing that I found "our trainer " was immeasurable as I was not alone anymore. I am very excited to see what the future brings for my little angel. I know it will not be easy as exercises and practice is part of the training at home but I am committed to give it my all and pray it all works out. If you need any issues addressed with your pet, no matter how big or small, do yourself a favor and get the advise from real professionals that are in this business for the right reasons, the animals! This picture with 12+ dogs around her was from the first time I brought her there. Call them! read more

Your Dogs Guru - In a room relaxed and not even a hold on the leash? Before going to your dogs guru, I would not have thought possible! - Pet Training Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

I met Annie when she and her daughter were shopping in my store. In conversation, she told me that she and her husband own a dog training business. Music to my ears because I have a Boston Terrier and a Collie. The Boston argues with me and does "angry pee pees' when he is jealous of my son. The Collie will eat food off your plate if you aren't guarding it. Overall, these are good dogs but they have a few issues. I told Annie about it and she gave me some free advice of things to try but also suggested that she and her husband work with us and the dogs in our home. They came over and I was surprised how well our dogs behaved in their presence. It just goes to prove that dogs know when they can push limits, etc. Annie and Michael worked with us and showed us what do when the dogs misbehave. They also taught us some other tricks to get the dogs to obey commands where we would not have to repeat ourselves. We really connected with Annie and Michael! They are so down to earth, have kids, and just GET IT! I would highly recommend Your Dogs Guru. They are really great dog trainers who just understand and love animals. read more

Michael is just like Ceaser Milan, the dog whisperer! Give him and Annie a try!