Therapy Dog Training
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Therapy Dog Training | Advanced Canine Good Citizen

Therapy Dog Class & Advanced Canine Good Citizen Overview

This class is primarily to prepare dogs for their testing process to become a therapy dog. The Therapy Dog Training will also benefit a dog looking to further their obedience beyond Advanced Canine Good Citizen. At the end of the class, you and your dog should be well prepared to pass the CGCA / AKC Community Canine Test or Therapy Dog test of organizations in our area.

Previous training required: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced or equivalent obedience training.

Therapy Dog Training | Advanced Canine Good Class Schedule

Start Date#of WeeksDayTimeCostDescription
May 11, 20225Wednesday7:30 pm$225Get your Pup Ready to Pass the Therapy Dog Test with Cheyenne

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

Therapy Dog Training | Advanced Canine Good Citizen Class Price

Therapy Dog Training Class @ K9U ChicagoWeeksCost
One Dog & Handler5 weeks$225.00

Therapy Dog Class & Advanced Canine Good Citizen Class Syllabus

Week 1

  • Review basic obedience cues
  • Talk about what a Therapy Dog is and the differences between Therapy and Service Dogs
  • Discuss gear
  • Review test outline
  • Cover potential organizations for Therapy Dogs
  • Introduce play as a reward system. Fetch, Tug, & Drop

Week 2

  • Greeting people politely
  • Heel with direction change and pace change in close proximity to people and dogs
  • Introduce medical equipment (crutches, Walker, etc.)
  • Down stay in close proximity to other dogs

Week 3

  • Recovery from startling (reaction to distraction)
  • Leave it out of another person’s hand
  • Leave it in heel
  • Talk about advocacy while working
  • Drop leash stay

Week 4

  • Threshold training- review of sit, stay or wait
  • Cute tricks for interaction with patients, students, etc.
  • Paw
  • Wave
  • Sit Pretty
  • Rest

Week 5

  • Practice test without treats
  • Talk about arranging official testing
Therapy dog training syllabus

What Do We Need to Get Started with Training

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Meet Our Trainers

Pablo Maldonado

Pablo Maldonadoo- Dog Trainer

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.

Chiara Rice

Chiara Rice

Dog Trainer and Customer Relations

Chiara Rice

Chiara is a graduate of the Animal behavior college as a certified dog trainer. She has worked with dogs for 8 years and has an absolute passion not only for caring for animals but also for teaching them the tools they
need to succeed to become the star pup they were bred to be.

Chiara is a firm believer in positive reinforcement training methods. All of her training classes, private lessons, and board and trains will be based on a training program of positive reinforcement. So grab your treats
and positive markers we got so training to do.

Jonathan Polich

Jonathan Polich - Dog Trainer

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

Yazmin Lopez

Yazmin Lopez

Dog Trainer

Yazmin Lopez

My name is Yazmin,

I was born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico.

Since I was a child I have always loved dogs and becoming a dog trainer now is like a dream come true.

My duty as a trainer is to not only build a strong bond between owners and their pets, but to educate them on the method of positive reinforcement training and behavior modification. This is my way of contributing a little to society by making dogs great furry family members.

In addition to my contribution to society, I volunteered for two years in Nuevo León, Mexico for an animal shelter. My experience also extends to agility training.

My husband and I founded a pet care and BARF food company back home in Mexico. We live, breath, and sleep dogs and dedicated our lives to making the world a better place by training these extraordinary animals.

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K9U Chicago Waiver

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Continuing Education for You And Your Pooch

As a member of your family and community, manners are just as important for your dog as it is for the kids! Dog Intermediate Obedience Training allows you to take your dog’s training as far as you desire!  If your pooch has had the Basic Obedience Training, get him or her into the next level of mental and physical conditioning.

Why Our Clients Love Us

K9U is great. They offer classes as well as day camp /sitting services. The size of the location is pretty impressive, as they have a large indoor and outdoor areas for dogs to play. (They even pick up and drop off your dog.). The staff and trainers are very friendly and extremely effective.James J.
K9 University is great. We’ve been going there for 7 and a half years. We’ve done training, we’ve done agility, we’ve done boarding and we’ve done daycare. The only thing we haven’t done is a drop off and pick up. My dog is kind of a nut and they deal with her well. Debbie W.
My dog has experienced everything at K9U: daycare, classes and boarding. When he is either picked up by the K9U van or dropped off his tail is wagging like crazy. When I pick him up he is happy to see me, goes outside to relieve himself and then pulls to go back in. Jane F.
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Free Training EvaluationFree Training Evaluation

Request Free Training Evaluation

Please complete the contact form below for one of our trainers to answer your questions and schedule your Free evaluation. We’ll show you which training program and approach is best to properly socialize your dog and build mental strength.

Request Free Training Evaluation

Please complete the contact form below for one of our trainers to answer your questions and schedule your Free evaluation. We’ll show you which training program and approach is best to properly socialize your dog and build mental strength.

New Customer Daycare Offer

Please fill the form below to get One FREE Daycare Day.

    You need to be registered as a client to claim the Offer. Next, we will send you the coupon to your email and direct you to register to New Customer Registration portal.