Puppy Confidence Building Workshop in Chicago | Socialization & Fear Prevention

K9 University Chicago’s Puppy Confidence Building Workshop is a 1-hour, single-session class for puppies in Chicago that uses agility obstacles, tunnels, ball pits, tires, and structured challenges to build confidence and reduce fearfulness. It is ideal for puppies showing hesitation, shyness, or early signs of anxiety. Experienced trainers guide both puppy and handler through activities designed for the first 6 months of a dog’s developmental window. It is one of the few puppy confidence classes in Chicago run by specialist trainers in a large indoor facility.

The first 6 months of a puppy’s life are the most important developmental window they will ever have. What your puppy learns to accept and engage with during this period shapes their behavior, confidence, and temperament as an adult dog. K9 University Chicago’s Puppy Confidence Building Workshop gives puppies a structured, fun, and supervised environment to face new challenges and come out the other side more confident.

What Is the Puppy Confidence Building Workshop?

This is a 1-hour single-session workshop that puts puppies through a series of fun, age-appropriate confidence challenges in K9U’s large indoor training facility. Activities include agility tunnels, tire jumps, ball pits, uneven surfaces, and other novel obstacles that puppies would not encounter in a normal home environment.

The purpose is not obedience. It is exposure. Puppies that engage with new challenges under supervision, with positive reinforcement and calm guidance, develop the resilience to handle unfamiliar situations confidently for the rest of their lives.

Who Should Attend?

What Happens During the Workshop

The session is structured, trainer-led, and fully supervised. Here is what to expect:

Introduction and handler briefing, trainers explain how to guide your puppy through challenges without pressure
Obstacle course activities, tunnels, tire jumps, ball pits, ramps, balance surfaces, and more
Positive reinforcement throughout, every engagement is rewarded to build a positive association with new experiences
Handler coaching, you learn how to read your puppy’s body language and adjust your approach
Free puppy socialization play at the end of the session

What Your Puppy Gains

Greater willingness to approach and engage with unfamiliar objects and environments
Reduced hesitation and freezing behavior
Better ability to recover after a startling or unexpected experience
Positive associations with new challenges, people, and dogs
A foundation that reduces the risk of reactivity and anxiety as an adult dog

Puppy Confidence Building Workshop Price

PUPPY CONFIDENCE BUILDING @ K9U CHICAGO	#OF SESSIONS	COST
One Dog and Handler	1 Hour Session	$30 per dog

What to Bring to Class

Flat collar (buckle or martingale style) or a working harness, no head halters, choke chains, or prong collars
6-foot leash, lightweight leather or nylon, no chains or retractables
High-value treats your dog finds motivating, soft and smelly, avoid crumbly types
A treat bag, no plastic baggies
Your dog should not be fed a full meal before class, a light meal or none is best

What to Expect by the End of 5 Weeks

By the end of the Stress Free Puppy course, your dog should:

Accept nail trims and brushing without struggle
Hold still for a basic body exam
Offer paws and chin voluntarily when asked
Remain calm when strangers approach and touch them
Handle unfamiliar environments and situations with noticeably less anxiety

These are skills your dog will use for the rest of their life. Every vet visit, grooming appointment, and handling situation becomes safer and less stressful for both of you.

What We Need to Get Started

Vaccinations Required:

Distemper, Parvo, Rabies, Bordetella, H3N2, Lepto
Up-to-date Fecal Test

Steps to Enroll:

Register online and create a profile for you and your puppy
Review the K9U Waiver Form here. You will sign the form electronically when you register online.
Upload vaccination records to your online profile
Place your reservation online to discuss your puppy’s needs

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

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. He 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

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.