Happy Hound University

Happy Hound University Dog training and behavior modification using positive, science-based, pain free methods to help you

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Happy Hound University offers certified, professional positive training for you and your dog in your home. I use force-free methods to manage and modify your dog's inappropriate behaviors, and replace them with new, desirable ones. Serving the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, IL. Email today to schedule your initial consult!

We here at Happy Hound University would like to wish our friends, colleagues, clients, and anyone celebrating a very hap...
06/02/2026

We here at Happy Hound University would like to wish our friends, colleagues, clients, and anyone celebrating a very happy pride month!

Happy Hound University proudly stands as an ally with our LGBTQIA+ friends. We believe in love, equality, kindness, and the freedom to be yourself, now more than ever.

06/01/2026

Calling all puppies!

According to the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, the foremost experts in pet dog behavior: “… puppies can start puppy socialization classes as early as 7-8 weeks of age. Puppies should receive a minimum of one set of vaccines at least 7 days prior to the first class and a first deworming. They should be kept up-to-date on vaccines throughout the class.”

This cannot be overstated: puppies are only in their critical window of socialization (the period of time when puppies are most sociable and less fearful of novelty) until about 12-16 weeks of age. Once a puppy leaves their critical window of socialization they are more likely to meet novel situations with fear and hesitation, and to be less accepting overall. Early positive exposure (done at the puppy’s pace!) to a wide variety of new people, other dogs/puppies, environments, and situations will teach your puppy how to expect and enjoy novelty as adult dogs!

Our puppy classes are Happy Hound University’s specialty. We offer multiple class each week, and set puppies up to succeed by matching them with similar sized and tempered playmates.

Interested in learning more about our puppy program? Email [email protected]!

Attention new dog guardians!We've got spots left in our good manners 1 classes starting this week and next!Do you want ...
05/31/2026

Attention new dog guardians!

We've got spots left in our good manners 1 classes starting this week and next!

Do you want a dog who pays attention to you, knows "leave it", "stay", "come when called", and how to politely greet people and walk politely on a leash? Then our good manners 1 class is for you!

This class focuses on the building blocks for polite behavior that every pet dog should have! We use humane, positive reinforcement training methods to teach and keep class sizes small so that you and your dog can focus and get the individual attention you need!

Check out some of what our past students have said:

"Mary's in-class training suggestions were tailored for each dog and helped us know what and how to practice at home; we still use her homework sheets for training sessions on walks and around the house."

"Mary has SO MANY tips and tricks that we didn't know, despite having several dogs throughout the years"

"My wife and I could NOT recommend Mary more, time over time I told people that it's not like working at a big box store but Mary really understands what is going on and connects with your dog so well."

Classes are still held at 1095 E Thacker St, Des Plaines!

To get signed up, visit our website or email [email protected]!

I hope you’re able to relax half as well as Regis this weekend!
05/30/2026

I hope you’re able to relax half as well as Regis this weekend!

A HUGE congratulations to this week’s Walk this Way: Real Life Skills for Polite Leash Walking graduates, Jackson (adopt...
05/29/2026

A HUGE congratulations to this week’s Walk this Way: Real Life Skills for Polite Leash Walking graduates, Jackson (adopted from Second City Canine Rescue!) and Remi (adopted from One Tail at a Time)!

Our puppy 2 graduates Juniper (adopted from Second City Canine Rescue) and Cooper!

And our puppy 3 for big dogs graduates, Merlin and Bruce!

These are some very good pups who made great progress in their classes and will continue to learn and grow with their awesome parents! I can’t wait to see you all continue your progress!

We love to hear from our amazing clients! Thank you to Olive's person for the kind words!"Mary is amazing! I started wit...
05/28/2026

We love to hear from our amazing clients! Thank you to Olive's person for the kind words!

"Mary is amazing! I started with puppy socialization and moved on to Puppy 1, 2 and now working through puppy 3. My dog Olive loves all the positive socialization time with the other pups and has learned many useful skills to aid in our everyday lives. Highly recommend!"

We’ve got openings in our good manners 1 class starting next Tuesday at 8:30 and Thursday at 4 pm!Do you want a dog who ...
05/27/2026

We’ve got openings in our good manners 1 class starting next Tuesday at 8:30 and Thursday at 4 pm!

Do you want a dog who pays attention to you, knows "leave it", "stay", "come when called", and how to politely greet people and walk politely on a leash? Then our good manners 1 class is for you!

This class focuses on the building blocks for polite behavior that every pet dog should have! We use humane, positive reinforcement training methods to teach and keep class sizes small so that you and your dog can focus and get the individual attention you need!

Check out some of what our past students have said:

"Mary's in-class training suggestions were tailored for each dog and helped us know what and how to practice at home; we still use her homework sheets for training sessions on walks and around the house."

"Mary has SO MANY tips and tricks that we didn't know, despite having several dogs throughout the years"

"My wife and I could NOT recommend Mary more, time over time I told people that it's not like working at a big box store but Mary really understands what is going on and connects with your dog so well."

Interested in signing up? Email [email protected] for more info!

We interrupt your regularly scheduled dog programming with an appreciation post wishing my husband and Happy Hound Unive...
05/26/2026

We interrupt your regularly scheduled dog programming with an appreciation post wishing my husband and Happy Hound University co-owner, Phil, a happy 7 year wedding anniversary!

Being a small business owner can be great: you get to be your own boss, set your own schedule, there are lots of things to be grateful for! But the truth is that it’s also very scary to take that leap, and if you don’t have a support system to fall back on you won’t last long. Phil has been an enormous part of the support system that allows Happy Hound to exist and thrive, starting with his support in the background when the business was first created, and growing even more when he left his previous job years ago to join the company full time.

I’m so grateful to find someone who is as passionate as me about positive reinforcement training and treating our canine (and feline!) family members with love and kindness.

Happy anniversary!

If a trainer tries to talk you out of using food to train by saying your dog should “respect” you, listen to your “energ...
05/24/2026

If a trainer tries to talk you out of using food to train by saying your dog should “respect” you, listen to your “energy”, or some other woo woo baloney.

The truth is that that trainer is probably using physical intimidation and outdated, old fashioned methods and calling it “training”, when in fact they have no business working with dogs, or ANY animal.

And that goes double for if they’re a famous tv trainer. 😉

Using food is the gold standard for pet dog training, beware the trainer that does not use it.

Address

Elk Grove Village, IL

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 8pm
Tuesday 9am - 8pm
Wednesday 9am - 8pm
Thursday 9am - 8pm
Friday 9am - 8pm

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