Happy Hound University

Happy Hound University Dog training and behavior modification using positive, science-based, pain free methods to help you

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Happy Hound University offers certified, professional positive training for you and your dog in your home. I use force-free methods to manage and modify your dog's inappropriate behaviors, and replace them with new, desirable ones. Serving the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, IL. Email today to schedule your initial consult!

A HUGE congratulations to our puppy 3 for little dogs graduates, Aki and Rosie!And our puppy 1 graduate Nellie!These are...
04/25/2025

A HUGE congratulations to our puppy 3 for little dogs graduates, Aki and Rosie!

And our puppy 1 graduate Nellie!

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!

"What's in your pouch?" Wednesday I have had some people ask me for different treat recommendations, since I encourage m...
04/23/2025

"What's in your pouch?" Wednesday

I have had some people ask me for different treat recommendations, since I encourage my students to change up their reinforcers for the novelty factor and to keep introducing their dogs to new foods. So I decided one of the better places for me to post about this is on our social media!

Heads up, the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning that I will receive a small commission from these purchases at no additional cost to you!

The treats my dogs have been enjoying this week have been:

- Pupford Steak Strips: https://amzn.to/4iwrj1y.

- Full Moon Natural Essentials Savory Bites: https://amzn.to/3YLjJYn.

- Buddy Biscuits Meaty Meatball Bites: https://amzn.to/3GhBTLf

How about you and your dog? Have you recently found a treat or food that has been working well for your training? If so, please comment below! And happy training!

Training Tip Tuesday: if your dog is getting “grabby” with their treats, take notice!I run into this most when working w...
04/22/2025

Training Tip Tuesday: if your dog is getting “grabby” with their treats, take notice!

I run into this most when working with reactive dogs, but this advice can be for any dog dealing with “big feelings”, even if it’s just over excitement.

If normally, in a relaxed setting, your dog takes treats easily and gently with their mouth, but in other specific situations (like around other dogs or strangers, or in new environments) all of a sudden your dog bites your fingers and gets “sharky” when they take their treats, this likely means they are really struggling to “keep it together” emotionally (whether that emotion is excitement, fear, reactivity, etc).

When I work with reactive dogs I often ask my clients “how is he taking his treats?”, because that information can tell me how the dog is feeling. If the dog has begun “sharking” for the treats it means we need to make the training set up less intense for the dog or give the dog a break. 

This is one of the more subtle things you can pay attention to that will help you understand how your dog is feeling. In fact, this is the best way I can track my dog Regis’ emotional state in the group class that we take! If he’s getting grabby I know that means he needs a bit more distance from the other dogs, or to take a break from the activity we’re working on.

04/21/2025

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, which means your puppy will be getting QUALITY socialization and our playtime isn’t a free for all. 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!

Happy Easter from Happy Hound University to our friends that celebrate!
04/20/2025

Happy Easter from Happy Hound University to our friends that celebrate!

Leash walking and good manners 2 are full and have started up, but we've got some good manners 1 classes for dogs who ar...
04/19/2025

Leash walking and good manners 2 are full and have started up, but we've got some good manners 1 classes for dogs who are new to training, and for graduates of our manners and puppy classes we have a tricks class starting up in May, and our Around Town Classes start NEXT FRIDAY!

We'd love to see you there! If you're looking for training with your dog, email [email protected] for more information about all of our classes!

This may be a first for us! We’ve had so many graduates this week that we need two separate posts!A HUGE congratulations...
04/18/2025

This may be a first for us! We’ve had so many graduates this week that we need two separate posts!

A HUGE congratulations to our puppy 1 graduates from this week Tobi, Milo, and Rosie!

Our other class graduates will be in a separate post!

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!

This may be a first for us! We’ve had so many graduates this week that we need two separate posts!A HUGE congratulations...
04/18/2025

This may be a first for us! We’ve had so many graduates this week that we need two separate posts!

A HUGE congratulations to our jumping beans class graduates, Ivy, Yukon, and Rascal!

Our specialty “Shy Kids Club” class graduate Gwen, Millie, and Millie (yep, we had two tiny Millie’s in one class)!

Our puppy 2 for small puppies graduate Daisy!

And our puppy 2 for big dogs graduate Enzo!

Our puppy 1 graduates will be in a separate post!

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!

It’s okay to just enjoy your dog sometimes.Don’t let other people’s “should, could, would”s change how much you enjoy yo...
04/16/2025

It’s okay to just enjoy your dog sometimes.

Don’t let other people’s “should, could, would”s change how much you enjoy your dog. The world is full of people who want to impose strict, unnecessary rules (no furniture, no begging, no barking!) on dogs, sometimes due to fear of the dog "dominating" them, or fear of a loss of control.

And while everyone should set boundaries for their dogs that they are comfortable with, a lot of people set boundaries that they feel they "should" set, when it's not actually something they care all that much about.

It's okay to just ENJOY your dog, to laugh with them and not feel like you or your dog HAVE to do something just because of societal expectations or peer pressure.
They're only here for a short time. Don't forget to just love them for who they are.

We've got openings in our good manners 1 classes starting in April! One class begins TOMORROW April 16th at 4 PM and run...
04/15/2025

We've got openings in our good manners 1 classes starting in April! One class begins TOMORROW April 16th at 4 PM and runs every Wednesday for 5 consecutive weeks, and our evening class time begins next Thursday the 24th at 8 PM and runs for 5 consecutive weeks!

Do you want a dog who pays attention to you, knows "leave it", "stay", "come when called", and how to politely greet people and walk politely on a leash? Then our good manners 1 class is for you!

This class focuses on the building blocks for polite behavior that every pet dog should have! We use humane, positive reinforcement training methods to teach and keep class sizes small so that you and your dog can focus and get the individual attention you need!

Check out some of what our past students have said:

"Mary's in-class training suggestions were tailored for each dog and helped us know what and how to practice at home; we still use her homework sheets for training sessions on walks and around the house."

"Mary has SO MANY tips and tricks that we didn't know, despite having several dogs throughout the years"

"My wife and I could NOT recommend Mary more, time over time I told people that it's not like working at a big box store but Mary really understands what is going on and connects with your dog so well."

Interested in signing up? Email [email protected] for more info!

04/14/2025

Had a great time at Second City Canine Rescue’s gala last night! This video was one of the highlights of the night ❤️

And Lianna and Chloe’s humans, if you’re seeing this: hello!
04/12/2025



And Lianna and Chloe’s humans, if you’re seeing this: hello!

A HUGE congratulations to our puppy 1 graduates from this week, Wilson and Rayne!These are some very good pups who made ...
04/11/2025

A HUGE congratulations to our puppy 1 graduates from this week, Wilson 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!

LOOSE LEASH WALKING CLASS PUSHED BACKWe had some interest in our “Walk this way: Real life skills for polite leash walki...
04/10/2025

LOOSE LEASH WALKING CLASS PUSHED BACK

We had some interest in our “Walk this way: Real life skills for polite leash walking” class but the dates didn’t work, so we have pushed the class start date back to April 17th!

We’ve also still got openings in our good manners 1 classes starting this month, and our tricks classes and around town classes for those of you who have already taken a class with us!

Email [email protected] to sign up!

LOOSE LEASH WALKING CLASS PUSHED BACKWe had some interest in our “Walk this way: Real life skills for polite leash walki...
04/10/2025

LOOSE LEASH WALKING CLASS PUSHED BACK

We had some interest in our “Walk this way: Real life skills for polite leash walking” class but the dates didn’t work, so we have pushed the class start date back to April 16th!

We’ve also still got openings in our good manners 1 classes starting this month, and our tricks classes and around town classes for those of you who have already taken a class with us!

Email [email protected] to sign up!

Address

Elk Grove Village, IL

Opening Hours

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

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