Two Paws Up Dog Training, Inc

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United States
Waukegan, IL
Two Paws Up Dog Training, Inc

We are a force free training facility that teaches using a cooperative relationship with your dog! We also offer private training sessions in your home.

Serving the Northern Suburbs and Southeastern Wisconsin, with classes at our new location in Lake Forest. Counseling for problem behaviors, basic manners, and new puppy owners.

01/06/2025

Becca Castro, originally from Costa Rica, moved to Illinois back in 2013. She has a degree in Physical Therapy and a post graduate degree in Canine Rehabilitation. Becca also brings a rich educational background and over 20 years of experience as an educator to our team. Her passion for dog training began with her first foster dog, Bob (he wasn’t a foster for long). Over the years, Becca has fostered and trained many dogs from puppyhood until they found their forever homes. Her fostering journey ended with Rue, a puppy she raised who developed reactive behaviors, making it clear that she was at her forever home with Becca.

In 2021, Becca returned to school to become a professional dog trainer, and soon after, she joined Two Paws Up. She is on track to complete her training by the end of the year, with plans to pursue a behavioral certification next.

Becca’s passion for training goes hand in hand with her deep love for dogs and their behaviors. She is dedicated to helping those in need of that extra guidance. You will see her around Day Training, as well as teaching. Always smiling and ready to jump in, Becca is a valuable resource for both her team and our clients.

Outside of work, Becca enjoys a fulfilling family life with her husband, daughter, and son. She loves traveling with her family, and her interests include musical theater, movies, shows, and video games.

01/03/2025

📣 Last Few Spots Open for Our Upcoming Classes! 🐾

Start the year off right by building a strong bond with your dog through learning and fun! We have a few spots left in our Adolescent Foundation Skills and Life Skills Foundations classes, as well as open availability in our Drop-In Life Skills Levels Classes for graduates of these foundational courses!

🗓️ 6-Week Classes
🎯 Adolescent Foundation Skills (For dogs 5–9 months old)
Perfect for young dogs navigating their "teenage" phase. This class focuses on building foundational manners, better communication, and impulse control as they grow.

🎯 Life Skills Foundations
For all dogs starting their training adventure, this class will build confidence, and introduce basic manners, regardless of age.

📌 Classes start soon, so don’t wait to grab your spot!

🗓️ Drop-In Life Skills Levels Classes
Already completed Adolescent Foundations or Life Skills Foundations? Keep your training on track with the flexibility of our drop-in classes! Sign up week to week for as many classes as your schedule allows, and watch your dog thrive as you progress through levels.

💡 What Makes These Classes Special?
All classes are built on the same comprehensive curriculum, designed to help your dog and you grow as a team. Each level builds on the previous one, introducing higher expectations and more advanced skills as you go.

🔗 Sign up today! Spots are filling fast! https://twopaws-up.com/services/classes/

01/03/2025

🎉 Happy New Year from all of us at Two Paws Up! 🐾

As we step into 2025, we’re filled with gratitude for the amazing community of dog lovers who make what we do so special. Here's to a year full of wagging tails, new adventures, and great things ahead for you and your pups!

Wishing you a joyful, successful, and paws-itively amazing 2025! 🐕💫

The Two Paws Up Team ❤️

12/31/2024

🎉🐾 New Year, New Skills for Your Puppy! 🐾🎉

Start 2025 off on the right paw with our Puppy Foundations and Ninja Puppy classes! Whether your puppy is just beginning their training journey or ready to explore something new, we’ve got the perfect class for you:

✨ Puppy Foundations – Perfect for puppies learning the basics!
🐶 Build confidence and social skills.
🐾 Learn essential cues like sit, down, and recall.
🎾 Strengthen your bond through positive training.

💥 Ninja Puppy – An introduction to agility and sports!
🎯 Teach your puppy to navigate obstacles in a fun, safe way.
🐕 Focus on age-appropriate activities to ensure health and safety.
🏆 Build confidence, coordination, and teamwork.
💖 A great way to introduce your pup to the world of dog sports!

Both classes are designed to make learning fun, engaging, and rewarding for puppies AND their humans. Give your puppy the gift of training and set them up for a lifetime of success!
https://twopaws-up.com/by-age/puppy/

Mary Londo, CPDT-KAFamily Paws Parent Education Educator & Training Consultant | mary@twopaws-up.comMary developed her p...

12/30/2024

Mary Londo, CPDT-KA
Family Paws Parent Education Educator & Training Consultant | [email protected]

Mary developed her passion for working with canines at a young age. She has worked in the animal care field since high school, where she was first introduced to the world of training as a volunteer with Two Paws Up. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a Bachelor’s in Biology and a double minor in chemistry and psychology in 2017. Upon graduating, she moved to Florida for a year and worked full time as a trainer for a positive reinforcement training company, managing the day training programs, conducting private lessons, and teaching puppy and basic manners classes at both of their training centers.

While in Florida, she was introduced to Family Paws Parent Education on dog and child safety and has been a licensed Family Paws Educator & Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) since 2020. She is also a licensed presenter of the Family Paws Dogs & Storks and Dogs & Toddlers educational seminars. She is happy to be back with Two Paws Up working in their Day Training programs, teaching classes, and working with clients in their homes. When they can, Mary and Aurora enjoy participating in nose work training.

Mary handles much of our Day Training scheduling along with teaching Puppy, Adolescent & Life Skills classes. She also works privately with clients both at the training center and in the home.

12/28/2024

🎁 New Puppy for the Holidays? We've Got You Covered! 🐶

Bring your furry bundle of joy the best start in life with our Ultimate Puppy Package! Here's what's included to set your pup up for success:

✨ 2-Week Drop-Off Program – Like doggy school for your puppy!
✨ 6-Week Puppy Class – Learn all the basics together.
✨ 4 Private In-Home Sessions – One-on-one attention tailored to your needs.
✨ 2 Puppy Grooming Sessions – Because every puppy deserves to feel fabulous!

🎯 Want More?
💥 Add our Puppy Ninja Class for an intro to dog sports.
🌟 Ready for the next stage? Check out these add-ons:
🐾 Adolescent Foundations (6-Week Class) – Transition smoothly into the next phase of training.
🐾 Tweens Drop-Off Program (2 Weeks) – Build confidence and skills during those tricky teen months.

Let us help your puppy grow into the well-mannered companion you’ve always dreamed of. Contact us today to sign up and make your puppy’s holiday season extra special!

https://twopaws-up.com/by-age/puppy/perfect-puppy-package/

12/27/2024

LAST CHANCE TO SIGN-UP! 3 spots left. Registration closes tomorrow!

Sniff Out the Fun! 🐾👃

Is your dog ready to put their nose to the test? Join us for our Nose Work Mock Trial on Saturday, January 4th, 2025, at 9:30 AM at Two Paws Up Dog Training! 🎉
This is the perfect opportunity for you and your pup to:

🐕 Practice in a trial-like environment.
🏅 Test your skills before the real deal.
💡 Get valuable feedback to refine your teamwork!

Spaces are limited, so don’t wait—secure your spot today! 🕵️‍♂️

Click the link in our bio to register or contact us directly for more details. Let’s make this a nose-tastic event! ✨

https://twopaws-up.com/nose-work-events/mock-trial/

12/23/2024

Ronit Tal - Lead Trainer

With two years of professional dog training experience, my passion for my work comes from my love of dogs. My journey started with my beloved Shih Tzu-Poodle mix, Shusha, who was my loyal companion for 17 wonderful years and inspired my love for dogs. Before dog training, I was a certified personal trainer for humans but decided to change subjects after the pandemic.

I honed my skills and earned my certification as a dog trainer through Animal Behavior College. Working at Two Paws Up is a dream come true! Every day, I get to do what I love most—helping dogs thrive and seeing the joy on their owners’ faces.

12/23/2024

🎁🐾 Make Their Holiday Pawsome! 🐾🎁

Stuck on last-minute shopping? A Two Paws Up Gift Card is the perfect present for families with dogs! Keep them busy, learning, and having fun all winter long. ❄️🐶

Whether it’s for classes, day training, or specialty programs, this gift is sure to bring smiles and wagging tails.

✨ Don’t wait—grab yours today! https://app.squareup.com/gift/MLMH3NW59054N/order

12/19/2024

🐾 Holiday Break Announcement 🐾

The Two Paws Up team will be taking a holiday break to rest, recharge, and spend time with loved ones. We will be closed from December 23, 2024, through January 5, 2025.

📅 Classes and drop-off programs will resume on January 6, 2025.

From all of us at Two Paws Up, we wish you and your furry friends a safe and happy holiday season! 🎉 May your new year be filled with joy, wagging tails, and pawsitive vibes. 🐶✨

Thank you for an amazing year, and we can’t wait to see you in 2025! 💙🐾

12/16/2024

Bridget is a life-long lover of animals and decoding their behavior. She started working In Dog Daycare out of high school, and spent many hours observing dog behavior from dozens of different breeds and all ages. She prioritizes individualized care plans that support both behavioral and physical health for the dogs that she works with. Seeking out a place where she could put those skills to better use, she moved into the training field with her new experience in playgroup and behavior management. Two Paws Up Dog Training was Where she landed, and she has been a part of the team since 2021.

At Two Paws Up, she has developed her knowledge of how to nurture the behaviors in our dogs that will contribute to the ease of their life, as well as the lives of their guardians. She strives to help dogs and their people build their enthusiasm to work together, while encouraging guardians to look deeper into their dog's behavior to find solutions that are suitable for them both. Her goal is to reduce conflict and increase the joy In the relationship between you and your dog.

She can be found in our Day Training Program 4 days a week. She also offers mini-privates for our drop-off program students. When she is not at Two Paws Up, she is almost always with her Blue Heeler, Pemma. They love hiking and enjoying the outdoors together, and learn from each other through training every day.

12/14/2024

Does your dog struggle with reactivity on-leash, or are you ready to take your training to the next level? We’re excited to offer two Focused Fido classes this January, designed to help you and your dog build confidence, calmness, and focus in real-world scenarios.

🐾 Focused Fido Foundations

Starts: 1/6/2025 at 7:00PM | Duration: 5 weeksThis class is perfect for dogs who bark, lunge, pull, or struggle to stay focused on walks. Each week, you’ll build key foundation skills like focus, impulse control, and positioning.

✨ Bonus: Only one dog attends per session for personalized attention!

Who it’s for: Dogs and handlers just starting their reactivity journey.Goal: Learn the tools needed to prepare for Level 1 and beyond.

🐾 Focused Fido Level 1

Starts: 1/8/2025 at 6:00PM | Duration: 4 weeksIf you’ve completed Foundations, this class is your next step! It’s designed to practice reactivity management in a safe, controlled environment with otherdogs and distractions present.

Who it’s for: Teams ready to build on foundational skills.Goal: Strengthen focus, impulse control, and calm behavior inreal-world scenarios.

📅 Don’t Wait—Spots Are Limited!Start 2025 with progress and connection for you and your dog.

💻 Sign Up Here: https://twopaws-up.com/services/classes/focused-fido/

Let’s make this the year your dog learns to focus, thrive, and enjoy every walk with you! 🐕✨

“Because your dog deserves the best education.”

12/10/2024

🐾 You Spoke, We Listened! 🐾

After the success of our Loose Leash Walking Workshop, we heard your feedback and are excited to offer TWO new 3-week courses to keep the progress going!

✨ The Foundations
Perfect for beginners looking to jumpstart their walking skills. This class focuses on the building blocks of a great walk, like focus, hand targeting, positioning, and more.

✨ Walk This Way
For those who’ve got the basics but need a little extra help. This class keeps the momentum going and helps refine your loose leash walking skills.

Both courses are designed to make walking enjoyable for you and your dog! 🐕💪

Spots are limited—sign up today!

12/09/2024

Jennifer Stewart, one of the Training Consultants for Two Paws Up Dog Training. She found her passion for dogs in 2006 when she became a Certified Dog Groomer. Her love for working with dogs and understanding them as individuals ultimately lead her on the path to training.

In 2019 she graduated from Pen Foster earning her diploma as a Dog Obedience Trainer/Instructor. A year later she received her Certified Professional Dog Trainer certificate. She is also a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator for the AKC.

Jennifer teaches Puppy, Adolescent & Life Skills classes. She also works privately with clients both at the training center and in the home. She also has her own Dog Grooming Business located inside of Two Paws Up!

https://pawzitivelyperfectgrooming.net/

When she is not with her clients she enjoys spending time with my four pups, Blue, Angus and Snoop.

12/06/2024

🐾 Don't Miss Out: Transform Your Walks THIS Saturday! 🚶‍♀️🐕 - https://mailchi.mp/twopaws-up/dont-miss-out-transform-your-walks-this-saturday

12/04/2024

📣 Earn Your CGC Certification Before 2025! 🐾

Join us on December 8th at 10:30 AM for the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Evaluation, hosted by evaluators Dresden Graff and Becca Castro. This is your pup's chance to earn their CGC certification before the year wraps up! 🎓🐕
Cost: $15

Format: Teams will be evaluated in the order they check in. Be sure to check in with a trainer as soon as you arrive to secure your spot in line!

Location: Two Paws Up Dog Training

This is a perfect chance to see how far your pup has come and celebrate their training journey. Whether you earn the title or get a feel for the process, we’re here to cheer you on! 🐶✨

12/02/2024

Lisa has been with Two Paws Up for many years. Having close to 40 years experience in all venues of training and showing, Lisa strongly believes in having titles in front and back of her dog’s names. She has finished dogs in Conformation to Championships, Obedience to multiple Utility titles, Tracking to many TD

X’s, Agility titles, Rally titles, Barn Hunt, Nose Work, and Titles of Road Dog sponsored by the Dalmatian Club of America and acknowledged by AKC.

She has been professionally breeding and showing Dalmatians, and training other breeds, for many years. Years of ring experience has given her the patience and skills to educate new puppy owners, as well as the retired dog that just needs some “fine tuning”. Using positive reinforcement makes training fun, which is a must to truly enjoy your canine companion. Lisa is an AKC Certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and a S.T.A.R. Puppy Instructor.

Lisa teaches all levels of agility and Rally classes. She also trains in our Day Training program during the week

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1301 S. Lewis Avenue
Waukegan, IL
60085

Website

http://www.twopaws-up.com/

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It's almost here!

🚨 November Openings are about to drop later today! 🚨 Stay tuned! 🐾 #TwoPawsUp #DogTrainingClasses #NovemberOpenings

Is your puppy a Ninja Puppy ? Come sign up and have fun and see -builds confidence and teaches social skills 11 weeks to 6 months .next session November 1 at 9:30

Becoming a Ninja Puppy - Nova

🐾🐕‍🦺 **Calling all Ninja Puppies!** 🐕‍🦺🐾 Is your pup ready to unleash their inner ninja? 🥋 Our **Ninja Puppy Class** is the ultimate playground for your furry friend to exercise, socialize, and build confidence through exciting games designed to stimulate both mind and body! 🧠💪 🐶 What to expect: ✔️ Fun obstacle courses 🏃‍♂️ ✔️ Confidence-boosting challenges 🌟 ✔️ Puppy playdates & socialization 🐾 ✔️ Mental puzzles & agility games 🧩 Perfect for puppies who want to be the best, most confident versions of themselves! Let’s turn your little ninja into a champion! 📅 **Sign up today** and join the adventure! 🔗 twopaws-up.com #NinjaPuppy #PuppyTraining #ConfidenceBuilding #TwoPawsUp 🦴 Your puppy’s journey to ninja-level confidence starts here! 👏

Resource Guarding is no joke! If you start to see early signs, contact us IMMEDIATELY!! Some early signs are: Taking a toy, chew, or other prized possession away to enjoy it. Hovering or lowering their head over a resource Averting their eyes away from you as you approach Freezing and staring at you as you approach Pinning their ears back There can be other signs as well. If we don't heed these early signs and/or punish them, we can make things drastically worse. https://twopaws-up.com/services/reactivity-aggression/fear-reactivity-private-sessions/

What did your dogs do for fun this FABULOUS Friday? My Wheaten's running in the Two Paws Up Dog Training, Inc yard!

Credited to Pat Miller. This is an AMAZING explaination of what we try to do in our Reactive Rovers drop-off program, Focused Fido classes and our private lessons. She explains the scence behind it in a simplistic way. I just LOVE it!! The concepts are simple, the execution is not. The key of Managment is also explained and why that is SO IMPORTANT!!! https://twopaws-up.com/services/reactivity-aggression/fear-reactivity-private-sessions/

We have a couple of openings in our upcoming Saturday Puppy class! Starts this week. Come learn sit, stay, walking skills, come when called, eye contact/focus, mat training and so much more! https://twopaws-up.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/index.aspx?schedule=2160

When working with reactivity, the foundation skills are a must! Everyone wants to jump in and "fix" the reactivity. We will, but part of that process is having tools to use, ie: your foundation skills. BTW - these skills also work for having good LOOSE LEASH WALKING skills! See how many are used in a minute and half video! Learn the MUST HAVE foundation skills in our Reactivity 101 Class https://courses.twopaws-up.com/p/reactivity-101

Livvy has come SO FAR! Last summer she would bark and lunge uncontrollably at 150ft or more away. This was on our walk this morning. Many more videos to come as part of the Two Paws Up Dog Training, Inc Reactivity Series. The "real-life" level. https://twopaws-up.com/services/reactivity-aggression/fear-reactivity-private-sessions/

What do you do during nosework class when the tornado sirens go off? You search! Great job everyone! Please let us know you got home safely.

Leena solving today's nose work class challenge. It is behind the purple bottle.

Jovi is one of our Reactive Rovers. She didn't love her crate at first. This is our 2nd session on working crate training. She is doing so well!

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Positive Training = Positive Results

Serving the Northern Suburbs and Southeastern Wisconsin, with classes in our air conditioned facility in Lake Bluff, IL. We also offer private training sessions in your home. Counseling for problem behaviors, basic manners, and new puppy owners.

All training is done with the relationship between dog and owner in mind. We are a force free facility and do not use or allow choke chains, prong (pinch) collars, or electronic collars. Our S.A.F.E. Program for Dogs is unique in its approach, combining positive reinforcement training, management, enrichment, and relationship building to change reactivity and aggression.

Whether you want a dog with good manners, have a desire to work as a therapy dog team, or have a dog with behavior problems, we can help!

Two Paws Up Dog Training, Inc

01/06/2025

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12/31/2024

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Becoming a Ninja Puppy - Nova

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Positive Training = Positive Results