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http://happyhounduniversity.com/

Happy Hound University, Elk Grove Village, IL (2025)

10/16/2025

Comparison is the thief of joy.

Every week I work with dozens of puppies and dogs in my group classes, and I hear folks comparing their dog to their classmates.

“Why can’t you focus like that dog?”

“Why can’t you play more calmly?”

“I wish my dog would do that!”

It’s easy to see what other dogs are doing well, and feel frustrated that your dog isn’t there yet. But your dog is an individual, and I encourage you to focus on your dogs’ strengths, the things they’re good at, instead of focusing on their weaknesses and setting yourself up for frustration and disappointment.

Maybe your dog isn’t as good at stay as their classmates, but their recall is great! Or they have wonderful play skills and can easily play with a wide variety of buddies! Or maybe they let you do anything you need to when it comes to grooming or vet care!

There are so many wonderful things to notice when we acknowledge our dogs as an individual and stop comparing them to other dogs (or even our past dogs!)

10/15/2025

"A simple mathematical equation: Halloween decorations= Hot dogs!"

It's understandable that dogs are uneasy about halloween decorations; often times they are stiff and staring, they may be HUGE, and they pop up over night on a walking route that used to be so predictable! Even dogs who are typically very comfortable with novelty might be uneasy with some halloween decorations.

So what can we do to combat our dog's fearful behavior around these new objects? Two words: Hot. Dogs. Or really anything your dog loves. No matter what you choose to use, make sure your dog REALLY loves it, as we'll be using it to change how they FEEL about the scary things (milk bones need not apply!).

When you and your dog encounter a scary decoration, start to talk in a happy tone and begin dispensing your treats, giving your dog the high value food as long as they are aware of or are investigating the scary thing, and stopping the food once you're a distance away from the item. If you are really close to it you may even choose to touch the decoration, helping your dog understand that it's not 'real', and that may be enough to assuage their fears. Resist the urge to drag your dog over to the item to "prove" to them that it's fake, that will backfire on you!

Using food will help your dog feel safer faster around these novel things. And if you are out and about with a young puppy this time of year you absolutely MUST pair the novel decorations with delicious treats; remember, puppies are most impressionable up to about 16-20 weeks of age, so if they learn that crazy new decorations predict delicious treats at this age, they'll feel much better in this same situation as an adult!

So, while you're out on your autumn walks, enjoying the beautiful weather, and you encounter a skeleton hanging from a tree, make it rain! (Treats, that is!)

10/14/2025

If you want well behaved dogs…

You have to meet their needs first.

Physical exercise, mental enrichment, the opportunity to sniff and run, proper uninterrupted sleep, access to toys and comfortable resting spaces. Before you even think about training to improve behavior, you HAVE to make sure you have all of these covered.

Dogs have needs, just like we have needs. It is our responsibility to meet those needs consistently. Sometimes, what we call bad behavior is truly just the manifestation of an unmet need.

10/13/2025

Did you recently bring home a new puppy?

Don’t let their critical window of socialization pass you by!

Young puppies need to be socialized with other dogs and new people BEFORE their critical window of socialization starts to close around 16-18 weeks of age. There’s no better time to start puppy classes then NOW.

Our classes are rolling enrollment, which means no waiting for the next class date to start! You can jump in as soon as there’s an opening!

We also separate our puppy class by size and temperament when needed, which means your puppy will be getting QUALITY socialization where all puppies are having fun. Our goal is that all puppies leave class more confident than they started!

Interested in learning more about our puppy program? Email [email protected] or see our website!

10/12/2025

Last call for Jumping Beans Anonymous!

This 3 week mini-class focuses specifically on teaching your dog how to greet people politely with less jumping!

You must be a graduate of our good manners 1 or puppy classes to join this class, and the class runs Wednesdays at 7:30 PM on October 15th, October 22nd, and October 29th!

We’ve also got openings in our good manners 1 class starting October 30th and in each of our rolling enrollment puppy classes throughout the month of October!

If you'd like to sign up for the last available spot in this class, please email [email protected]!

10/11/2025

One of the greatest responsibilities we have to our dogs is teaching them what we need them to do proactively, rather than waiting for them to make the wrong choice and reacting with a correction!

Dogs don’t come to us knowing how to stay politely at doors, walk calmly on leash, or hang out quietly while we talk to our neighbors. So it’s our responsibility to help them learn, kindly and humanely!

10/10/2025

A HUGE congratulations to our good manners 2 class graduates from this week, Shaggy (adopted from one of our rescue partner Heartland Animal Shelter!), Pancake (adopted from PAWS Chicago), and Apollo the beagle!

Our puppy 2 for big dogs graduates Rosie and Momo!

And our puppy 3 for big dogs graduates Tagalong, Travis (both also adopted from Heartland animal shelter!) and Rayne!

These are some very good pups who made great progress in their classes and will continue to learn and grow with their awesome parents! I can’t wait to see you all continue your progress!

10/09/2025

New Class Posted: Jumping Beans Anonymous!

This 3 week mini-class focuses specifically on teaching your dog how to greet people politely with less jumping!

You must be a graduate of our good manners 1 or puppy classes to join this class, and the class runs Wednesdays at 7:30 PM on October 15th, October 22nd, and October 29th!

We’ve also got openings in our good manners 1 class starting October 30th and in each of our rolling enrollment puppy classes throughout the month of October!

If you'd like to sign up for the last available spot in this class, please email [email protected]!

10/08/2025

Want your dog to wear a costume on Halloween? Start preparing NOW!

Halloween is a holiday that many HUMANS enjoy, but most dogs are very stressed by. Think about it from their perspective: one day out of the year, stranger after stranger after stranger, dressed in weird outfits and masks, walk up, ring the doorbell, and yell "trick or treat" at the front door. SO WEIRD. So, when you take this scenario, and say "ALSO I want my dog to wear a costume!" It's important to do some training to actually prepare them for this!

First things first: if your dog is GENUINELY freaked out by wearing things, ask yourself if expecting your dog to wear a costume is really appropriate. Sacrificing your dog's emotional and mental welfare for a cute photo op simply isn't doing right by your dog. If your dog won't tolerate a costume, maybe they'll tolerate a cute bandana? Or a holiday themed collar? Make sure that this is an appropriate thing to ask of your dog!

Next, start to pair the costume with high value treats! If the costume has velcro or zippers practice opening and closing the fasteners so that your dog can hear the noises the costume makes with it off of their body. If they seem comfortable investigating the costume, and hearing the fasteners open and close, see if they will tolerate having the costume touch their body, and then try to slowly put the costume on.

Give food throughout this entire process. If your dog moves away repeatedly, or stops taking food, it means you're asking for too much and need to slow waaaaaaay down.

If your dog is sensitive to wearing things, be prepared to practice this for a few minutes every day over the next month. And if October 31st rolls around and your dog is still not tolerating the costume, DON'T force it! Instead make it a goal to work on for next year, and listen to your dog's communication!

10/07/2025

If a trainer or behavior consultant asks you to speak with your vet about possible anti anxiety medication or another behavior medication: we are not trying to “drug up” your dog!

Behavior medication still has such a bad rap in the dog training world, and it’s such a shame because for so many dogs a proper anti anxiety prescription is the difference between suffering every day and true quality of life!

The goal with prescription behavior medication (which, fyi, a trainer cannot prescribe or recommend a specific medication, we can only ask you to speak to your vet about!) is never to completely change a dog’s personality. It’s not to make the dog “zombie like”, and it’s NOT to drug the dog so much that all they do is sleep all day.

Behavior medications should lower your dog’s overall stress levels so that they can think more easily, learn, and truly enjoy life. If your dog was like a zombie on a behavior medication that you were prescribed, that means that wasn’t the right medication or dosage for your dog! Some dogs need to try different medications to see what’s best for them.

If your dog has been on behavior medication, how has it helped you? Comment below!

Picture of my girl Phoebe playing with her knucklehead cousin Ralphie, who is on daily fluoxetine (generic Prozac) for sound sensitivity that was becoming unmanageable. Not a zombie, didn’t lose his personality, but he IS happier and quicker to recover once stressed!

10/06/2025

Did you recently bring home a new puppy?

Don’t let their critical window of socialization pass you by!

Young puppies need to be socialized with other dogs and new people BEFORE their critical window of socialization starts to close around 16-18 weeks of age. There’s no better time to start puppy classes then NOW.

Our classes are rolling enrollment, which means no waiting for the next class date to start! You can jump in as soon as there’s an opening!

We also separate our puppy class by size and temperament when needed, which means your puppy will be getting QUALITY socialization where all puppies are having fun. Our goal is that all puppies leave class more confident than they started!

Interested in learning more about our puppy program? Email [email protected] or see our website!

10/05/2025

"Nothin' but blue skies, from now on..." 🎶🎵🎶

I like to think this was the tune Rocket was singing to himself on his enrichment adventure a last month!

Are you returning to longer work days now that fall is here? Looking for a way to tire your pup out during the work day so that you're not leaving work exhausted and coming home to a young dog who's still got oodles of energy to burn?

Our enrichment adventures are a specialty service where we pick your dog up and take them to a local forest preserve or park for 60 minutes to walk, sniff, run, play and get some of that energy out! Not just any old dog walk!

We've got a few spots left in our schedule for new enrichment adventure clients! Interested in learning more? Email [email protected] and we're happy to chat!

Happy Hound University

10/16/2025

10/15/2025

10/14/2025

10/13/2025

10/12/2025

10/11/2025

10/10/2025

10/09/2025

10/08/2025

10/07/2025

10/06/2025

10/05/2025

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Monday	9am - 8pm
Tuesday	9am - 8pm
Wednesday	9am - 8pm
Thursday	9am - 8pm
Friday	9am - 8pm