City Dog Training
&
Behavior Modification
Offering services in person in Chicagoland
Virtual Consults, QA'‘s, Sessions Available
Dog Training as a lifestyle
Daphne E. Mendoza
Dog Trainer/handler & Behavior Modification
Specializing in cases regarding;
aggression, reactivity, fear &/or anxiety
(No Separation Anxiety Cases)
Training is how we form a line communication with our dogs to help them navigate life by our side. In order for our communication to become fluent & reliable, training has to become a lifestyle. Our dogs are always learning & observing, anytime we spend with them gives us an opportunity to implement training. When we train dogs, we must do so based on how they learn. Handlers need to understand that body language influences communication/ behavior, creating healthy & consistent routines help them build confidence & predictability, that taking the time to teach their dogs about decompression is extremely useful & that all of this is going to take time. Clear communication helps us build a connection. One that depends on our guidance & patience to succeed in a world that is not meant for them. Solid relationships take time, you can’t rush the process. Both ends of the leash will learn to work together, you will make mistakes, but it’s all part of the journey. I am not here to train your dog, I am here to train you. I will provide tools, guidance & support throughout your training journey but it is up to you to take the information & skills to develop your relationship with your dog. When we work together, we become a team, we strive for progress not perfection.
when training is a lifestyle, you get to do cool sh*t
Services Offered
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Good for initial consults, check ins, Q&A’s.
Virtual sessions will have the same set up as a in person consult/ sessions. Whether you just want to check in, have a few questions or live in another state, these sessions can be incredibly informative and helpful.
Highly recommend for consults where dog has “stranger-danger” issues with people in the home.
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Dogs are already great at one thing, being dogs. It is up to us to guide & mentor them into understanding how to live as our pets. City life comes with a lot of challenges, distractions and stressors (for both sides of the leash). You will learn basic cues, how to communicate, proper tool use & how to read your pups language. We will work on leveling up your skills as a handler and come up with a training plan that best suits you as a team.
*Sessions are 60mins long
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Must complete consultation first or be an existing client. Continue to build up on basic cues and proofing behaviors/ manners. These sessions can be done at home or at a location of the client's choosing (park, pet friendly store, friend's house, etc). This is something that we would need to work up to after the dog and handler are ready.
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Behavior modification is needed when your pup struggles with reactivity, anxiety, aggression or fear behaviors. Every case is unique, we will work together on building a rehabilitation plan that fits your dogs needs as well as lifestyle. Behavior work takes time, consistency, patience, trust and most importantly- team work.
*No Separation Anxiety Cases
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Must complete consultation first or be an existing client. We will continue working on exercises to work through the issues your pup is experiencing. These sessions can be done at home or at a location of the client's choosing (park, pet friendly store, friend's house, etc). This is something that we would need to work up to after the dog and handler are ready.
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Haz Cita De Sesion Privada En Persona: $50
Haz Cita De Sesion Virtual: $20
Sesiones duran 60-75 minutos y son en su casa ó en el lugar de su preferencia. Estas sesiones son para personas que primeramente hablan español, cuales no comprendan muy bien el ingles.
A los que hablen y entiendan el ingles, sera una sesion regular.
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Our pups are our companions and we want to share all the great moments with them. We will work on exercises to help your dog succeed at an upcoming event and make sure that they are prepared to handle all of the distractions that come with it. For the day of the special event, I will handle your pup so that you can enjoy your time while still having them present. This is a great option for weddings, photo shoots, or any other special event you want your pup to be a part of.
Group Classes (Outdoor)
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Learn to navigate through all the distractions that park settings have to offer. We work on building the handlers leash skills, communication & cueing. Structuring outings to be full-filling for both ends of the leash.
Being able to read our dog’s body language & adjusting our expectations/ handling is super important for your success as as team.
Classes are weather dependent so be prepared to postpone when weather does not cooperate.
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Going to the Chicago lake front is one of the best things about living in the city. There are different distractions in this type of environment that we as handlers must always be ready to guide our dogs through.
This class is very handler focused, teaching you skills to focus, decompress, walk through distractions & different handling techniques to add to your tool bag. Learning to read & respond appropriately to our dog's body language is crucial to ensuring the success of both of y'all in these type of environments.
Classes are weather dependent so be prepared to postpone when weather does not cooperate.
Location:
Montrose Harbor
Montrose Harbor Moonrise Observation Point
Parking: Metered parking right next to the meeting location.
Class Dates (Saturday's @ 9:30a);
Aug 3rd
Aug 10th
No Class on the 17th
Aug 24th
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Sometimes it’s good to step away from city life & take a hike. There are many awesome forest preserves near the city, learn to structure them so that they’re enjoyable for both you & your dog. You’ll learn how to handle wild life, narrow pathways & how to get reliable responses to various triggers in distractions one may encounter on the trails.
Classes are weather dependent so be prepared to postpone when weather does not cooperate.
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We will focus on skills & tools that can be helpful when teams encounter undesired greetings from humans or dogs. Class size is small so that teams feel comfortable working with their dog & can ask questions/ participate during the session.
Handlers will be asked to work their dogs with the skills we cover each week. Daphne will observe teams & give personalized guidance through the course so teams learn the things they need extra help with when it comes to proofing certain skills.
We will cover how body language from both the handlers & dogs can make or break certain situations.
Come ready to learn, get challenged and most importantly, have fun!
COMMUNITY TRAINING CLUB
A community of humans who love training their dogs. We aim to offer a judge-free/ safe place to learn & progress with your dog. Whether it’s; day-day lifestyle training, decompression, neutrality, curiosity about sports, seasoned sports competitors, all are welcome to join. We work on a sliding scale where you pay what you can, (really, anything from $1+). There is no obligation to come every week, you come when you can. Reactive & special needs dog friendly.