Puppy Training in Chicago

K9 University Chicago’s Puppy Training class is a 5-week group program for puppies 10 weeks to 5 months old. It covers basic obedience, socialization, and manners using positive reinforcement and clicker-based methods. K9U is Chicago’s most complete puppy training ecosystem, offering puppy group classes, free socialization play sessions, confidence workshops, stress-free handling classes, board and train programs, and puppy parties all under one roof.

Bringing a new puppy home is one of the most rewarding things a person can do. It is also one of the most demanding. The first few months shape your dog’s behavior, confidence, and temperament for the rest of their life. K9 University Chicago’s Puppy Training program gives you the tools, guidance, and support to get it right from the start.

K9U is Chicago’s most complete puppy training ecosystem. Whether you need weekly group classes, intensive board and train, confidence building, socialization play, or specialist handling prep, every program is here and designed to work together.

Positive Training Group Class Overview

Our core Puppy Training class is a 5-week group program designed for puppies between 10 weeks and 5 months old. It uses clicker reward-based methods and positive reinforcement to build the behavioral foundation every puppy needs.

What the Class Covers

The program builds on three foundational areas that every puppy owner needs:

1. Basic Obedience

Sit, stay, down, come, and place
Duration behaviors, holding a position until released
Attention to the handler in distracting environments

2. Manners

Walking in position on a leash
Managing jumping, barking, and demanding behaviors
Calm greetings with people and other dogs
Teaching house rules your puppy will follow at home

3. Socialization

Structured exposure to people, sounds, and environments
Appropriate play with other puppies in the class
Reading and responding to your puppy’s body language
Building confidence in new situations

The class includes access to K9U’s Free Puppy Play sessions, giving your puppy regular structured socialization alongside the obedience foundation being built in class.

What Outcomes to Expect

By the end of the 5-week Puppy Training course, your puppy should:

Respond reliably to sit, stay, down, come, and leash walking cues
Greet people and other dogs without jumping
Walk on leash without pulling in most situations
Stay calm and focused in the presence of other dogs and distractions
Begin to understand and follow basic household rules

Puppy Training Class Schedule

Start Date	#of Weeks	Day	Time	Cost	Desc
February 21, 2026	5	Saturday	11:00 am - 12:00 pm	$250	6 months or under, with Pablo

Please ask to be placed on a waiting list if the Puppy Training class is full. We may be able to add another class offering based on demand.

Puppy Classes Price

Puppy Training Class @ K9U Chicago	#of Weeks	Cost
One Dog and Handler	5	$250

What We Need to Get Started

Vaccinations Required:

First round of Booster Vaccines.

What to Bring to Class:

Bring high-value treats your puppy finds motivating, soft, smelly, and small enough to give quickly. Avoid dry or crumbly treats. A hungry, treat-motivated puppy learns faster and stays focused longer. Do not feed a full meal before class.

Can My Puppy Join If They Are Not Social With Other Dogs?

Puppy Training is a group class, so all dogs need to be comfortable around other dogs to participate safely. If your puppy shows aggression or significant fear toward other dogs, private lessons are the better starting point. Once your puppy’s confidence and behavior improve, they can transition into group classes. Contact us and we will recommend the right option for your puppy’s situation.

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.

Why K9U Puppy Training Works for Chicago Puppies

Chicago is not an easy city for a young dog. Crowded sidewalks, off-leash parks, loud transit, and constant novel stimulation are the reality. K9U’s puppy programs are built specifically around that environment. Trainers expose puppies to real Chicago distractions and teach them to respond calmly rather than reactively.

Over 90% of K9U puppies who complete the socialization and training pathway transition into adult daycare without reactivity or aggression issues. That result comes from the quality and consistency of the program, not luck.

Book Online

Puppy Training in Chicago

Positive Training Group Class Overview