When Mary walked into the Chicago Animal Care and Control, her mind immediately jumped to the day she brought her previous dog, Mindy, home from the shelter, who had recently passed on. She had extremely high hopes that the next companion she rescued would live up to Mindy’s sweet and calm disposition which had comforted her all those years in her college and young adult phases. As she walked tentatively through aisles and aisles of abandoned souls, her eyes rest on a middle-aged grey dog with a collection of scars on his face, surrounding his broken teeth. Her heart immediately broke and, before long, she was filling out an application to welcome the sad pup into her home.
Mary decided that Blue was a good name for her new friend and began to incorporate him into the same routine she enjoyed with her sweet Mindy. She found out very quickly that Blue proved to be an entirely different dog than she was used to having curled up on her couch. Blue was indifferent to her homemade dog treats, could destroy a squeak toy in 10 seconds or less, and seem to detest any other dog they approached on their daily walks.
A disappointed Mary struggled to bond with her new companion. She ached for the relationship she had built with her last dog and was overwhelmed with guilt for feeling that way. Her friends and family seemed fearful of her strong new pet, and suggested she find a new home for the troubled dog. But Mary would do nothing of the sort. She was an avid rescue dog supporter and felt that every dog was worth a shot at a beautiful life.
Mary was being dragged down the sidewalk towards a squirrel in a nearby tree when a neighbor approached her. She knew this neighbor owned two large breed mixed dogs, and wondered how she always appeared so calm, cool, and collected. In a brief exchange with the neighbor who witnessed the struggle Mary was enduring with Blue, the neighbor mentioned a local dog training and boarding facility which assisted owners just like Mary. Although skeptical that anyone would understand her behaviorally challenged rescue dog, Mary signed up for a behavioral evaluation and spoke with a trainer at Found Training Center.
Within a few days of daycare, Found had determined that Blue was simply overexcited to see other dogs and only needed some structure and guidance to play and socialize safely with one or two dogs who enjoyed his enthusiasm. He made friends with all the handlers and always wore a smile on his face when Mary walked him through the front door. Mary could see that her big and rambunctious dog was welcome here, regardless of his past or even his present. Found believed in him and the dog Mary believed he could be and was willing to work with her on a plan to create an even better companion for her lifestyle. At home, Blue would plop on the couch and take a nap instead of finding things to destroy. Mary was witnessing the effects of proper routine and exercise of a driven working breed like Blue and she was excited about the possibilities. She felt relaxed and content knowing her big boy was being stimulated and exercised each time she left him. Blue had now found a home-away-from-home that understood and appreciated him as much as Mary did.
How We Started
Found Chicago began as a haven for lost and lonely canine souls who had been discarded from their homes; some, perhaps, never even knowing or understanding what a home consisted of. A rescue organization was formed to care and rehabilitate dogs with what some may categorize as a “rough” past. Some disliked humans because of their experiences. Some strongly distrusted other dogs due to lack of socialization, or sometimes only the most brutal version of dog interaction, leaving scars on their faces and legs. Although our hearts were torn at the sight of their helpless eyes, Found sought to find the best and most effective forms of rehabilitation available to demonstrate true understanding and patience to these rescued souls, in the hopes of finding them the kind of Forever they deserved all along.
As each dog cycled through Found’s Rehabilitation Program, volunteers struggled to work through each dog’s behavioral challenges, whether it be based in fear, aggression, or trust. In order to help the most desperate cases heal, professional dog trainers were incorporated to shed some light on the deep-rooted issues that had risen since each dog’s rescue. These dog trainers and rehabilitators possessed a passion like no other that quickly reached out to assist the community with their troubled rescue dogs, regardless of background. We found that, through all the heartache, difficulty and resilience needed to transform these rescue dogs into family dogs, we had developed a core of knowledge and needed to utilize it to create a standard of training and dog care that could be inclusive of any temperament and special needs a dog could have.
Who We Are
Found Training Center has since evolved into the kind of dog training facility that appreciates the complexity of dog behavior. We understand that each and every dog is an individual and should be evaluated and cared for as such. We have created a formula to evaluate the dogs in our care to get to know them – like, reallyget to know them. We want to know what our clients’ best friends like, dislike, and everything in between. We want to know what their fears are, along with their strengths, and have the ability translate to their caregivers just what their dog really needs. And then, our goal becomes providing the kind of environment that starts the beginning of their dog’s true transformation into a happy and healthy companion.
Our Training Department is headed by certified dog trainers who have seen it all when it comes to dog behavior. We’ve worked alongside veterinarians to formulate medication and training plans over a span of months to quell extreme clinical anxiety. We’ve gotten lunged and bitten at by mistrusting strays, only to see them transform into a true “wiggle butt” with their favorite trainers and make a few canine friends along the way. We’ve ridden our bikes alongside some of the most challenging cases only to find exercise and structure was the balance our client was missing for their companion. We pride ourselves in going the extra mile (sometimes literally) to identify the root cause of a behavior and being as honest and effective as possible in the ex*****on of dog training science to the best of our knowledge. We want to see our clients succeed, regardless of what we may need to sacrifice emotionally. Our passion is truly with our dogs, and we enjoy teaching a dog agility as much as introducing them how joyful a good playgroup can be.
The Kennel Department at Found is required to function differently than any other dog training facility due to the individualistic nature of our clients. From the “Doodles” to the American Bullies, we ensure each dog is placed in a socializing environment that brings out their very best. Our supervisors work collaboratively with our trainers to seek the information needed to understand each dog in a safe and compassionate way. A dog’s first day at Found Training Center is an important first milestone as we invite your dog into our pack. From personalized one-on-one time to your dog’s test with our other dogs, we combine known information with what we learn to find the best way to exercise and stimulate your pet. From extra walks to treadmill sessions to training exercises during play, our staff is trained to enforce good behavior during most any activity. We believe that even the most human and dog-selective pet deserves to make friends and experience a comforting home-away-from-home.
If we haven’t made it clear enough, every dog is welcome to board, play, and train at Found Training Center. Although we tend to collect a following of what some may call dire and prickly clients, we enjoy providing other specialized services for our puppies, seniors, and every other client in between. Whether it’s our Puppy Imprinting Program as we welcome a 12-week-old into our home or a Boot Camp Program designed for a nine-year-old struggling to adjust to city life after years in the suburbs, we will do our best to tackle every life stage with patience and understanding. We believe in training and management of dog behavior at any age and we will work to ensure that every furry face looking up at us is provided a substantial opportunity to grow, learn, and explore. We enjoy watching our clients’ faces gawk at their dog leaping over an agility obstacle or hearing our favorite phrase, “He’s a different dog!” as our clients are met by their happy wagging face sitting politely at checkout. We live for a fulfilled dog, inside and out, and we look for its reflection in their owners.
