Play Your Way at K9U Chicago
We know dogs play in different ways.
For dogs with special needs, we offer two trainer curated play services.
Play Services for Dogs with Special Needs.
- Dog Group Social Rehab
- Dog Individual Activity
Dog Group Social Rehab is back by popular demand on 10/19/2020.
Dog Group Social Rehab Schedule & Prices
| Group Social Rehab @ K9U Chicago | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| As an Added Service | T-W-T 11am-1pm | $30.00(for daycare/boarding clients) | ||
| As a Drop-In service | Drop-off: 10:30am - 11:30am; Pick-up: 2:00pm | $40.00(need to call in advance to confirm availability and drop off between 10:30am-11:30am am and pick up by 2:00 pm) | ||
Dog Group Social Rehab Details
Not every dog can successfully play and interact with other dogs in a traditional daycare playgroup. These groups might be too active for some dogs while others have a strong play style that the group may not easily tolerate.
Sadly, many of these dogs are isolated from most daycare group play and are often mislabeled as aggressive or not social.
But not at K9 University Chicago.
We pride ourselves in having trainers who know how to engage with every dog in our care and understand what each dog needs to be fulfilled both mentally and physically.
Dogs will be evaluated by our trainers to determine which group is best for each dog to join. If there isn’t a proper match for a specific dog then our trainers will spend time with that dog via our Individual Activity service.
- Highly recommended service for all daycare and boarding dogs that can not safely play in the main playgroup.
- All rehab groups are curated and monitored by qualified trainers who understand each dog’s temperament, play style and unique needs.
- Dog Group Social Rehab clients also receive short Individual Play Activities session before the group play.
Individual Activity Schedule & Price
| Individual Activity @ K9U Chicago | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not available as a Drop-In service | M-F from 10 - Noon | $15.00 (for daycare/boarding clients) | ||
Individual Activity Detail
In some cases special needs dogs may not be able to play with other dogs – even in our smaller rehab groups. These dogs will receive extra attention via our Individual Activity service. Our trainers will work with each dog to determine the activity that best suits their specific needs. Activities include fetch, tug, treadmill and agility programs.
Training Services
Other K9 Services
Play My Way!
Chicago dogs love the personalized activities with their trainers or handlers
Meet Our Trainers
Pablo Maldonado
Dog Trainer
Pablo Maldonado
Pablo is an established trainer and business founder of multiple dog care companies with specialties in training, boarding and canine nutrition.
As a participant in several highly regarded training seminars, Pablo enjoys working with all dog breeds including high energy dogs where he uses soft sports, such as Agility Training, to provide these active dogs with a positive way to focus their energy and modify unwanted behaviors. Along with his customized approach to training based on each dog’s individual needs, Pablo creates a unique comprehensive training environment for every client.
Born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, Pablo offers Private Training and all levels of Group Obedience Training in Spanish. He is also very active with Board and Train camps providing Spanish commands for dogs as needed for those clients who prefer to speak Spanish at home.
Jonathan Polich
Lead Dog Trainer
Jonathan Polich
Jon has been in the dog industry in Chicago for 13 years. He started off running his own dog walking company and made his way into dog training close to 10 years ago. Jon is CPDT-KA certified and has been training dogs in the Chicago land area for around 10 years in doggy daycares and also privately. Jon believes training dogs is not only about working with your dog and their needs, but also being able to properly communicate dog behavior so you the dog owner can better connect with trust and understand how to work with your dog throughout its life.
Jon is a believer in the humane hierarchy of dog training and working with positive reinforcement-based training. Jon works with most behavioral needs such as puppy training, basic obedience, loose leash walking training, impulse control, relaxation protocol, dog reactive/people reactive training, as well as socialization training in small and large dog groups
Joshua D. Johnson
Dog Trainer
Joshua D. Johnson
Joshua D. Johnson is a seasoned dog trainer with over nine years of professional experience, specializing in obedience, behavior modification, and high-drive working dogs. He holds multiple industry certifications, including Animal Behavior College Dog Training Certification, and police and sport dog decoy certification. His skillset spans from foundational pet obedience to advanced working dog applications, with a proven ability to bring out the best in each dog through a balanced, results-driven approach.
In addition to his individual accomplishments, Joshua played a key role in developing and launching Canine Kingdom, a successful dog daycare and training business. His hands-on expertise extends to creating training programs, managing client relations, and building a thriving canine community. Whether working with family companions, service dogs, or sport competitors, Joshua’s training philosophy blends precision, clarity, and strong handler communication to ensure lasting results.
Joshua’s foundation in discipline and performance comes from his military background, where he served as an infantryman and worked alongside military working dogs. This experience instilled a deep understanding of canine capability, drive, and teamwork under pressure. Today, he continues to combine his military precision with a passion for helping dogs and handlers succeed, making him a trusted figure in both pet and professional working dog circles.
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