Reach out to me for the number of an awesome, knowledgeable trainer! Don't bother with The Driven Dog consult. The Driven Dog pushes their boarding program when regular training sessions can easily be enough. I think they like to take advantage of people in desperate situations. Go elsewhere! read more

Karin, thank you for providing excellent service for not only Bandit but also for Bailey! I contacted Karin in the summer of 2018 after rescuing a Siberian Husky. I had no idea just what I was getting into and just how much work (trouble) huskies are. Karin was honest from the get go and let me know huskies are game changers. Without proper structure and exercise they will destroy the house. I hired Karin on the spot and she took Bandit into her care. Karin made it a point to tell me it was going to take some time and ended up keeping Bandit for almost 7 weeks but wow, when I got him back Bandit was a different dog. We maintained his training and although Bandit still has his goofiness he is a really well trained husky. Fast forward to 2020. I contact Karin AGAIN. This time because we reduced a female Germans Shepard and we absolutely needed Karin's help. Bailey (we gave her this name because she was a stray) suffered from a lot of anxiety and was afraid of everything. Karin took in Bailey (even during COVID) and her and her staff really took their time to help Bailey out with all her issues. Not only that but one week before Bailey's "release" day we dropped of Bandit a week before to do a refresher and also to have Bailey and Bandit do some trialing together. 6 months later and Bandit and Bailey are doing awesome and are definitely a bonded pair. What I appreciate about Karin and A Driven Dog is their directness and bluntness. I appreciate her telling me how difficult huskies are and to be prepared and study the breed. I also appreciate the time her and her staff took to help Bailey! Bailey is now a completely different Shepard. Karin didn't sales pitch me just to get me business. She was honest and gave me worst case scenarios which is why she has my business and I recommended her to all who ask me. read more

My dog was enrolled in the board & train program and has now been home for about 60 days. The items listed below were things I noticed immediately but I waited to write this in hopes that I'd see additional improvement. Just some background, prior to this program I had taken my dog to private lessons about 6 months prior. I found out shortly afterwards that I was pregnant and I had medical conditions which made my pregnancy high risk and I was put on bed rest for several months and had to pause training. After giving birth I thought a boarding program would be good because in addition to my dog getting the training, I would also got a little break from her as I got settled with my new child. I saw some reviews of folks who weren't happy with consultation because they were being sold on the boarding program. I can't speak to this since this was my interest from the beginning. Pros: *Staff and owner are all very nice. *My dog's leash walking significantly improved. Before I would only walk her alone because it was a struggle. Now I'm comfortable walking her with my kids even with the youngest who is only a few months old and still in a stroller. *When returning for private training my dog was happy to see her trainer, that tells me that she was treated well which is great. Cons: *Jumping-This could go either way. She still jumps on people she knows the same as she did before. This happened during private lessons with my son but I was told it's normal and keep practicing. With strangers I've seen some improvement but not enough that I'd be comfortable in a public setting such as a park or store. *Several scheduling issues from the beginning. From what I can gather all scheduling goes through the owner who seems busy and perhaps gets overwhelmed. *Potty training-Serious regression here. I'd estimate before the program my dog was about 80% potty trained at home. If she did have an accident it was always number 1, she never had an issue going number 2 in the house from the time I got her. Since returning she has more frequent accidents including both 1 and 2. This happened during the private lesson too. There have been no major diet changes, I have her on the schedule I was provided for feeding & potty when I picked her up, & I've taken her to the vet to rule out health issues. *My understanding was that I'd get an update every week with videos/pics. I was told to just follow up if I didn't receive it & it would be sent to me. I only received updates by text when I asked. I received 2 pictures that I had to follow up to receive and none that showed what my dog was doing during training. While I understand it gets busy I wish the team had calendared updates or something because it would have been nice to get them without having to ask & also to have seen training in real time. (I know some vendors have social media to highlight this but I am one of the few people left who isn't interested in social media.) *I'd estimate before this program she followed commands 50% of the time, now it's about 65% which is good, but I expected more. I've always known my dog knew commands and could follow them in a training environment (especially with treats lol) but wanted consistency beyond that. I also wanted her to listen to others in addition to me. She has regressed in this area too. I feel that she listens to my significant other and family less now than before. This happened during private lesson & I was told to just keep practicing. Miscellaneous: *I saw a review that recommended using the consultation fee towards the cost of the program if someone enrolls and I think that's a really good idea. * After an escalation that I don't want to rehash, I had a call with the owner. I was assured at that time when I picked up my dog the following week that I would be highly impressed & I definitely am not. I was assured that I'd be able to go out in public with my dog and she would be completely compliant and that is not the case. I've followed all the directions I've been given but pretty much got the same dog back for the most part. While I wanted to give a higher score because the people seem nice, I feel that a 3 or above would indicate that the program met or exceeded my expectations and it did not. The leash walking was the biggest improvement for my dog but that in itself is not worth the amount of money spent. I wish that I had the same 5 star experience others had and things had worked out better so I didn't feel like I wasted a bunch of money. read more

I've been working with Karin and her team for the last 5 or so years. As a trainer, I always look for trainers whose training philosophy closely resembles mine. I happily refer leads that I get from long beach and the surrounding area since we don't cover those areas. Super knowledgeable, great team, they turn out nice dogs. You'll be doing yourself and your dog a favor. read more

The Driven Dog - Rio yelling at you for calling a different trainer in the area. - Pet Training Near Me

Thank you Karin and team for training our Belgian Malinois (Maligator) Luna, who was adopted by us at age 1 1/2 and did not have the benefits of early socialization. After an intensive "board and train", Luna was delivered back with very clear instructions for us, regarding how to maintain her training. It made a world of difference! Luna is much calmer and we finally see her relax and show her smile (see pic). Luna, our other three dogs and we (the two humans) can all live together in relative harmony and we can keep this sweet dog that has taken over a huge chunk of our hearts. We are so grateful! And the training has even spread to our other dog, who has copied Luna and gets on his place to get a treat! We also appreciate the opportunity to join the bi-weekly brush up sessions to practice with other owners and their pups. read more

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Skip this place. Don't do the evaluation they charge you for. You get no benefit -- you're paying to drive to their gym and for them to quote you on their services (which are pricey!!!!). Very bogus. You get no real insight on exactly what YOUR dog needs. It's not a proper evaluation, more of a scam. The money you pay for eval doesn't even go toward a future service. I'm also not convinced of their methodology or their facility. read more

Karin and her team have been so helpful, they really helped me and my dog excel in some of the dog sports we compete in. They helped him become more well rounded and helped me understand how to bring the most out of his potential. read more

The Driven Dog - Pet Training Near Me

To anyone looking into dog training of any capacity, look no further. From the most complex cases, to in my case, a 7 month old crazy Pomsky, Karin and her entire team exemplify professionalism and passion for your animals. I opted for the board and train, which may to most seem like a long time away, but leaving your dog in their care is a notch above the rest; in fact, sometimes I feel even after the board and train she might be just as excited to see The Driven Dog staff as she is to see me... What you have to respect about their approach is they are trained experts who set direct, blunt and realistic expectations Day-one based on your dog, breed, and your lifestyle. When I received my puppy back she was so far above and beyond what I expected that it's set both my dog and I up for success as she continues to grow as a part of my family. During the board and train I received updates and pictures, but she was always available to answer questions. They think of every possible real-life distraction, and address accordingly. Most importantly, they educate you, the owner, how to continue training and be a responsible owner. Words could not express my gratitude and the invaluable asset they've been to the future of my little pup. Whether you're looking for correctional assistance, or want to have your new family member understand you; building that trust and communication early... The Driven Dog is the answer. read more

The Driven Dog - Pet Training Near Me

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Karin, Everything you know and have done for me, my dogs, my girlfriend dog, and us all together is amazing. I got my hiking buddy back, your knowledge of behaviors and what/how to work with them all is amazing. You helped reassure us that going slow is best way to go, and that there are more options than just one. I say thank you for it all. You Truly have an amazing gift. You stern way of getting through to people is something that a lot of people need. You are true, you don't hold back. You get people to think and to work. Silver, her brother Ice, and myself say thank you. read more

The Driven Dog - Pet Training Near Me

Thank you so much Karin and Staff! My dog recently did a board and train with them for the summer! I definitely see a lot of improvement with my dog since she returned home and we will be committed to keeping up with the awesome training techniques! Thanks for taking good care of Cali and working with her! Cali is well behaved and amazes me how well she does with the staff and dogs! read more

The Driven Dog - Pet Training Near Me

Karin Chan and her team are extraordinary. They are very understanding and genuinely here to help. They are not shady salespeople that promise you miracles in exchange for all your money. If every dog were trained by Karin and her team then there would be no dog problems. My pitbull, Athena, has really high prey drive and is dog aggressive. It's her nature and cannot be changed. Karin was very sympathetic and made sure we understood that we can work to manage her. We enrolled Athena in a board and train program. She was there for a little over four weeks. It was harder on us than her cause it was strange to be without a dog. Karin would send videos of the training and answered all of our questions. I am glad she is very accepting of our helicopter parenting. Anyway, when we got our dog, it was like those extreme makeovers with the final reveal. Our dog was transformed, because she was bathed but more importantly, she had self-control. She was able to walk by other dogs and not lunge. She kept her attention on us. It was wonderful. Karin and her team took about 2.5 hours to go over everything with us. On top of that, there are group classes and 3 private lessons that come with the package so we can keep up the training. I should have called Karin when I first got my dog rather than go through different trainers, just throwing my money away. Don't listen to the bad reviews, those are people that expect to send their dog away and then not keep up with the training. If you are not consistently training then your dog will regress. Nevertheless, I highly recommend Karin Chan. Do not hesitate to get your dog trained, just call Karin! It will be worth every penny. read more

Where do I begin? Karin is an incredible asset to the animal rescue community. She is our go to person whenever the rescue that I volunteer for encounters new or old behaviors that need more professional evaluation/ modification than our fosters or we ourselves can offer. She has accompanied me on home visits, performed evaluations on dogs that we were interested in pulling from animal control and has helped fosters and adopters acclimate with their dogs. One of the things that I want to stress is that a person can not go into obedience or behavior modification expecting a trainer to miraculously give them the perfect dog. The owner must participate, accept, learn and modify their own behaviors as well. I can not tell you enough horror stories of how people mis-communicate with their dogs and wonder why they can not replicate what she makes look so easy. I can personally attest that if you follow her guidance too a tee, your dog can be modified of it's behavioral issues. Clear, Consistent, Communication is key. Watching Karin work is truly magical and inspiring. I have witnessed her rehabilitate dogs that others have given up on. She has an incredible confidence and mad skills working with dogs. She is able to educate and teach others in a way that truly makes sense. Karin has helped the rescue that I volunteer with on many dogs that came with fear aggression, trust issues, as well as dogs that resource guarded. I believe her help made finding their forever homes possible. We highly recommend her services to those in need of obedience training, CGC certification, behavior modification, or whatever needs you might have for your dog. I would trust Karin with my own dogs and I have. read more

The Driven Dog - Nala came into rescue with zero training, was dog reactive & was not housebroken. Ty Karin for making this possible. - Pet Training Near Me

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I made the most impulsive and best decision I have ever made about 5 months ago and got a Malinois puppy. I knew what to expect with a Malinois since we had one in the family and that is mainly the reason why I fell in love with the breed and had to have one too. I knew it was a working dog and it could possibly be dangerous if not trained properly. We looked up the best trainers and no one was as knowledgeable as Karin. We quickly scheduled a 6 week board and train program for Bibi. The program is about 3500$ and it's definitely expensive, but worth it. Bibi is now a little over 5 months and she is the most obedient dog I've ever had. She sits in "place" and doesn't move off of her cot until instructed and stays by your side when you're walking her. It's amazing. I can't thank Driven Dog enough. I would 100% recommend bringing your dog here if you are looking for a trainer. Thank you, Karin! read more

The Driven Dog - Pet Training Near Me

I did submit a form and followed up w a phone call. I think the truth is you have a prejudice against anyone that takes on certain breeds bc in your mind only talented people can own those breeds. People like me should stick with Labradoodles and such bc we're too lazy to handle a Shepherd, blah blah blah. Please respond back with multiple pages of responses. You know what, my review is already here for everyone to see. read more

I recently adopted a beagle named Chase from Karin. I was told he was given up because he was too much for the family but so far he's the perfect dog for me. He truly is the definition of a "working" dog. Currently he's in the nose work class with the driven dog and chase is GREAT. Besides his work ethic, he's so friendly and gets along great with people and dogs. He actually is trained and knows all his commands. It's all about how much work you decide to put into your dogs training, the trainer (Karin) can only do so much until it's up to you. It's all about consistency with the training. I've had a beagle before and know what they're like. Chase is a perfect example of one. His nose takes him every where and that is why I put him in the nose work class with Karin. Right now he's the best in the class! When I brought him home he adjusted really quick and knew to use the bathroom outside because at my house he is a house dog. He of course still has his hyper moments because he is only 1 years old but it's nothing I can't handle and keep practicing on with him. He does have an Instagram where I have pictures and videos of him showing off his training! @Adventuresofchase_ Thanks Karin for such a lovable & great dog! read more

The Driven Dog - Chase showing an awesome place & food refusal! - Pet Training Near Me

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I was recommended to The Driven Dog after I moved to Southern California shortly after a great board and train in NorCal. My original trainer told Karin about me and my dog and so I scheduled an evaluation. The $50 evaluation: lasted less than 15 minutes, took place in the tiny parking lot outside the building next to a busy street, and the trainer did not know any background about me and my dog. I reached out to Karin to discuss this and she responded that in the future she "will likely not do favors and take cases like this." I understand that it can be difficult to take over training but as a new paying client to be called a favor was insulting and incredibly unprofessional. read more

This 5-star review of The Driven Dog is LONG overdue! My husband and I found Karin on the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) website and started working with her a few months after we adopted our then-4-year-old rescue lab mix Winter. Winter was extremely dog/cat/squirrel-reactive and also anxious and easily over-stimulated. Inside the house, she was calm and low-energy, but outside on walks, she pulled on leash and was reactive to or distracted by seemingly everything. From a distance of 50+ feet, she would zero-in on any and all dogs and then bark and lunge aggressively non-stop, especially if the other dog was barking or otherwise energetic. She would also zero-in on and try to chase cats and squirrels. Taking her anywhere outside the house was stressful. We knew we wanted to work with Karin after she spent 2+ hours with us for the initial home evaluation. She accompanied us on our morning walk and then had a comprehensive discussion with us about her observations, her philosophy of balanced training, and the tools she uses. Right away we signed up for a package of 8 in-home private lessons. With each lesson, Karin worked with Winter's unique needs and taught my husband and me how to train/strengthen obedience commands in the face of different distractions. She taught us when, why, and how to clearly communicate right and wrong with our dog. She explained dog behavior and handling in a way that was easy to understand and often funny and relatable. My husband and I discovered that Winter loves to train (very food-motivated), and therefore, we love to train her. A few minutes of training a day has become our daily routine, and with that practice and consistency, we have built a strong trust and bond with our dog. We have learned that basic obedience is not "basic" at all. Practicing basic obedience--heel, sit, down, stay, come--in the face of increasing distractions has been the key to having great communication with our dog, calming her reactive behavior, boosting her confidence, and increasing her self-control. Over time, that's exactly what we've seen in Winter. The difference has been night and day. Walks are now a breeze, and when we come across another dog, Winter either passes by calmly, or if the other dog is losing its sh*t, Winter may react mildly, and my husband and I are each confident in our handling skills that we can easily manage the situation. Winter will never be a dog-park dog (she's basically like a human introvert), and we totally respect that. We started those private lessons with Karin back in late 2015. Three-and-a-half years later, my husband and I are total dog nerds and regularly participate in The Driven Dog's biweekly advanced group classes as well as periodic supplemental classes and guest seminars, including canine fitness, scent detection, and tricks. Through these classes, we've found a great community of people and dogs who are learning together through different challenges. Karin is an excellent trainer of dogs, teacher of humans, and an all-around fun person to hang out with. But neither she nor her awesome team works miracles in a vacuum. We owe it to our furry friends and our own pocketbooks to put in the time and effort to practice the training consistently. I guarantee: work with The Driven Dog, practice at home, and experience your relationship with your dog(s) soar to new heights! read more

We were clearly in the minority after reading the rest of these review but I can honestly say that I would never refer someone to the Driven Dog and was extremely disappointed in the level of service we received. We have an extremely anxious Pointer-mix (we assume - he was rescued) that we sent to live with Karin for 3 weeks. We sent her several emails the first week he was with her and had to wait more than a week for a reply. We were out of the country at the time and this made us a little nervous since we had not received one word of feedback since our dog was picked up. A week in.... this was telling of thee rest of the experience. We finally received an update but anytime we asked for an update it took several days. Karin told me she doesn't respond well to emails so to text or call her. She was still non responsive to both of those options as well. About a week and a half or so in she let us know that our dog was making no progress and would need another week of training. We agreed to let this happen on the condition that if he didn't improve we wouldn't have to pay the additional fee. When we finally got our dog home after an entire month he was FILTHY dirty and smelled HORRID. To the point Karin made several comments about how badly he smelt. So let's break this down... Our dog stayed at her house, was trained daily by her and we spent over $3,000 to have her watch them and she couldn't even wash the dog before returning him??? She had told us going in that he would be thinner because of her training techniques, which he definitely was, so his gaunt appearance wasn't the off-putting part. It was that this woman, who was supposedly spending time with our dog, didn't event notice or care how disgusting he was. It looked like his legs were almost a different color from all the dirt and he reached of urine. Included in our price were several follow up appointments and ongoing group training. We had to follow up with karin to make these appointments and never once was asked about how the dog was without our reaching out first. I am terribly disappointed I selected Driven Dog to try to reform our dog and am even more disappointed in the service we received. I feel like Karin took our money, did as little as she could to keep the money, basically neglected our dog for a month and then went on her merry way. read more

My brussels griffon puppy, Krum, and I had an excellent experience with The Driven Dog! Karin is very knowledgeable and patient and she will take the time to explain any questions you may have regarding your puppy's behavior. Questions like: where the behavior could be coming from and how to adjust things to help your puppy succeed. The philosophy of The Driven Dog is to set your puppy up for success and not get mad at him for being a dog but to use positive interactions and clear communication for listening to you so you can keep him safe in the human world. Krum is still a bundle of hilarious energy but now I feel like I have a much better understanding of whats going on in his little head, and I am so much more confident and comfortable with day to day stuff. I just feel like I have a better grasp on how to deal with him and being able to get him to pay attention and actually care about what I want him to do. Thanks so much again for all of your help with my pup Karin!! Krum can't wait to see you again read more

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Karin gets TEN stars from me. She's prompt, loves my dog, and and is a fabulous person. Last year she helped me with a feral cat (we didn't catch him/her), but she truly has a heart for the animals. And Pete Campbell, the Cairn Terrier has been known to wait at the door for her. She's so timely, he knows when to expect her! I've had many services since I've been in Chicago, and Karin THE BEST. read more

I found Karin a couple months ago via the AKC website within a list of official Canine Good Citizen trainers/ evaluators. I don't know what made me pick her out of the many, but I am seriously happy I did! I have a one-year-old female working lines-German Shepherd. Karin came to my home and stayed two hours to evaluate our situation, free of charge. I have worked with trainers before, but I have to say, Karin is awesome! I knew I (and my pup) would fare very well if we continued to work with her. Within the first meeting, she was able to recognize my pup's tendencies and what our options were. She has an extensive knowledge of dog behavior/ quirks which I could see immediately. We just finished our 8-pack of private, home lessons, and I honestly cannot imagine what my life would be like if I hadn't hired her! I thought I was bonded to my dog before, but looking back, it is like comparing night and day! We continue to practice obedience on a daily basis and are now members of their PSA club! Knowing Karin's style, it's somewhat hard to believe that anyone could have a negative experience due to lack of attention or effort. She has always provided straight-forward, constructive instructions for both my dog and I which has only resulted in success. She has always been available to answer questions and provide tips for any issues. IT IS TRULY ON THE OWNER TO TAKE ADVICE AND APPLY IT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. Consistency is the ONLY way to make training stick! Once you have the tools, it's up to you to make it work for your fur-baby's lifetime! read more

Karin is AMAZING.  5 years ago we purchased a baby Shiba Inu, Kobe, not fully knowing what we were getting ourselves into (first time dog owner mistake). At three months he was trying to eat our fingers, pulling zig zag on his leash while we walked him, and even ran away a few times. After our initial meeting we started working together and it is honestly the best money I've ever spent. Karin is AMAZING. She not only worked with our schedule, but she also used her extensive knowledge and motivated Kobe to work and WANT to work.  Kobe heels, sits on command, and we're perfecting off leash training. She made training fun and easy, but you have to put in work and she honestly wants what's best for the dog. From that first visit up until the point she left us, she's worked wonders with Kobe. To this very day, we still get compliments on how obedient Kobe is, especially for a Shiba Inu.  Since The Driven Dog has relocated to California, we tried a few different trainers out in Chicago. NOTHING and NO ONE can compare to The Driven Dog. We decided to get a second dog, which we adopted through The Driven Dog, a malinois, Kira.  After we adopted her for weeks and months she kept in touch and followed up on transitioning our household to maintain both dogs. I still keep in touch and bug Karin to sneak us into her already crammed schedule when she comes to visit. She has, again, worked with our schedule and fits us in when she can when she's in town and she has gone out of her way to schedule Skype lessons (that I'm super happy about- dogs not so much). She worked with me to train Kira and work Kira's drive to want to work. Kira is excited to train and follow commands. The Driven Dog is run with such passion and knowledge that it truly shows through the trainers as well as the dogs. Chicago is definitely missing out, but California has definitely gained an amazing trainer and company! She's always available for follow ups whether it's text, phone, or email. She won't disappear after your training is done. She is absolutely amazing. We not only feel like like we've had a great trainer, but we've grained a friend. She's very professional and personable. We absolutely love her! We definitely miss The Driven Dog and all the amazing services they have to offer! read more

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Karin and Nick have been so fantastic with my new adopted dog Grendel! Grendel is three and moved to Chicago from the country and needs a little patience and special care on walks. Karin and Nick seem to know exactly how much to push him and when to bring him home. I recently went on a trip and Karin stayed with Grendel. I hate to leave my puppy home but I feel so much better knowing that he is with his friends Karin and Nick! Their updates and attention to detail are wonderful. The first thing I do when I get home is read the cute note they leave about the walk that day. I would highly recommend A Pawsitive Influence to any pet owner! read more

We were referred to Karin by another trainer. We have a 4 year old rescue German Shepherd that was insecure and prone to bite. Karin is easy to speak to, enthusiastic, and wants your dog to succeed. She worked well with our whole family, including our 14 year old daughter. She was never in a hurry to leave and stayed until the lesson was over, not when our time was up. She has answered any follow up questions we have. She is quick to answer texts or emails and we are grateful for the progress we have made with our dog. Worth every penny. read more

Pawsitive Influence is truly the BEST dog walking service in Chicagoland!! Most trustworthy and honest walker you will find. When Karin stayed with my dogs while I was on vacation it was the first time in a long time I was able to fully relax and enjoy myself. I know when Karin is with my dogs they are getting first rate care and all the same love and attention they get from me!! LOVE LOVE LOVE A Pawsitive Influence!!!!!! read more

Karin is fantastic! Long Beach is lucky to have her! I adopted Ruger from her and we couldn't be happier. When she moved from Chicago not only did she make sure we were ok, she set up a meet and greet with one of her recommendations incase we needed any refresher work. read more

The Driven Dog - My good boy, Ruger - Pet Training Near Me

To make a long story short, my family has no dog! We sent our hyper Beagle for 2 weeks for over $2800+, for live-in boarding with Karin. She ended up keeping him for 3 weeks, did her 2 follow up trainings, and our daughters 8th birthday doggy ended up having to find another home, the training never worked! Our Chasey was adorable but totally out of control after all that training; he even peed on my bed! Karin tried to make it better by taking him back for training and swore he was better but I couldn't bare for my daughter to get him back and then he have to go again! Karin did help find him a home and said she would help us find and train another dog because those dogs don't train well and sad he never conformed because he just wasn't the dog for us....uum he was suppose to be cuz we paid you to train him to work specifically with our family. But, we went with what she suggested still wanting to believe her expertise. Chasey really was becoming too out of control and SHE obviously couldn't train him, we didn't want to spend more money or put him through more only for it not to work. So, we figured ok, an even trade for what we spent buying him, inboard training him and everything we and the kids went through emotionally with the dog, maybe her suggestion would work out, we could find another great dog for the kids and move past this. Well, we should have kept our Chasey and left her ass alone, not the other way around!!! Now, it's been 6 months and she hasn't helped is, traded or trained nothing for us...even trade my ass!!! We have no dog for our kids!! My family is furious with me about trusting her and now we are so confused and frantic of any behavior a dog displays because of things she told us. Someone even gave us a dog and we were too fearful to keep him at the first little signs of behavior. I even took the initiative and tried to find and pay for another dog on my own even though she promised me an even trade...but we can't make progress because she drilled into us that our picks of dogs for our family wasn't right for us and that most every dog we named "couldn't be trained" according to her!!! Nevertheless, 6 months later, she still did nothing to help us; no dog, no trying, absolutely nothing! She gave me one referral after I reached out to her after 5 months. She sent me a site to buy a dog, probably from her friend or something, but we would have to pay almost as much as it had costs us to buy our Beagle and then in-board train him....she just now wants her friend to take our money, wth!! Just do yourself and your family a favor, don't go to her!! She's not focused, she doesn't keep her word and I doubt the dogs actually even get trained...according to her "this bread (and ever other bread I mention), is too hard to train or takes longer to train...yeah, ok, right! Last thing, she also now owns "Whispers and Tails" in Gardena/Carson area, I would suggest not to go waste your money there either; don't throw your coins down the drain on her unethical unreliable training, advice or grooming services! read more

We rescued our dog (a Pit mix, estimated 4-6 years old) from out of state while on vacation, flew her to California, had to move (so the dog stayed with my mom for a few weeks), and then she came home to us. It's no wonder she was so anxious. We thought we were doing the right things - like crate training her, using a front leading harness, etc. However, our sweet sweet dog had a couple of very aggressive (seemingly unprovoked) episodes with other dogs that could have easily led to a visit to the vet or worse. Yes, blood was involved - it was awful. We chalked the first incidence up to the other dog, but the second one there was no excuse and we contacted Karin that day. She responded immediately. Karin was the perfect person to help us and our pup. We had 6 sessions with her, and in that time, both our dog and us went from being nervous, insecure, and totally misunderstanding of the other to calm, confident and eager to please. Karin really trained US - gave us homework and suggestions to make small strides each week. Her technique is not overwhelming and really makes you feel capable as a dog owner of achieving successful communication and obedience with your dog. She makes dog actions relatable - you know, "that weird girl in the bar making up drama in her head" type analogies :) - to help you understand your dog's behavior. Now we get compliments our our dog's behavior all the time - our neighbors come outside just to say hi to her if they see her from the window. She has doggie friends now too. Does she like every dog? No. And Karin taught us that that's ok... and normal! And now we have the tools to correct her behavior if needed, which isn't often. We cannot thank her enough! Call her!!! read more

The driven dog is an amazing dog training facility. Karin is extremely professional and knowledgeable. She makes dog training easy. If you're looking to have a well behaved family dog or a protection dog, The Driven Dog is the place for you. read more

All I have to say is Karin is such amazing trainer, she definitely knows her stuff. She help me and my boyfriend with training two of our dogs who by the way are babies. We have a French bull dog who is 6months and we have Cane Corso who is 3 months. Let just start by saying that our two dogs are very different yet both wanted to dominate the house. Karin help us train our dogs and we have seen such difference in both of them. I don't think we would have been able to do it without her. I definitely recommend her ! You won't be disappointed read more

Doing a board and train with Karin (and staff) was the best decision we have made for ourselves and our dogs. We have two dogs who both trained at the driven dog. Our 1 year old German Shepherd was very dog reactive on the leash and could not walk behind our Sharpei without pulling. The Sharpei had ok behavior but was reluctant to listen or pay attention to you. We tried several other training classes before but never saw any progress. When we picked them up from the board and train my brain exploded with their new skills and especially the Shepard's ability to hangout peacefully with dogs on leash. Phase 2 was Karin teaching US not to mess up their training by letting them fall back into bad habits. They offer free unlimited advanced classes every other Sunday to help you continue to build your skills. I recommend you end your search for trainers and call immediately... make good life choices read more

The Driven Dog - In a "down" at the park - Pet Training Near Me

Karin is awesome! She is professional and very knowledgeable about dog behavior. My doggie was having a big issue with one dog in my apartment building as well as walking on the leash without pulling and in just one visit my dog is doing 100 times better! Karin, you're awesome! read more

I hired Karin only about 2 weeks ago and I already LOVE her! She is so trustworthy and it's obvious how much she loves animals. She's great with me and my sister's two puppies and leaves the best notes for us to read when we get home. I'm so glad we hired her! read more

I can honestly say that Karin did the impossible...she got me to like my dog, Barney. I always loved him, but I didn't like him because I couldn't get him to behave. He's the craziest, most stubborn, West Highland Terrier in the Chicagoland area. We went through couches (he tore them apart), eye glasses (he ate them), and you'd have check the entire house for poop and pee every time you came home or woke up. After Karin was done with Barney's training; he hasn't had more than 2 accidents in 2 months (and both were understandable), he hasn't been destructive at all, he sits on command and he comes when you call him. I would recommend Karin to anyone who has a problem dog, and to be honest, I did recommend her to a friend today. I'm not sure anyone else could've gotten through to Barney, and my girlfriend and I are very grateful that she did. In my opinion, you can't afford not to give her a shot at helping your dog and family. read more

The Driven Dog - This is my buddy, Barney. - Pet Training Near Me

I adopted my dog from a rescue about a year ago and was told he was going to be 35lbs max, but he grew like a weed and was already reaching 70lbs before his first birthday! I absolutely love the guy but I wasn't prepared to handle such a large, willful, and stubborn pup. I tried two other training facilities before I found Karin at the Driven Dog. Both places had very nice trainers, but we weren't getting any results. I know little of my dog's history before I adopted him, but was very fearful of strangers. When near new dogs or people, he would bark and growl loudly or sometimes cower behind my legs or try to climb up into my arms. Karin has helped us so much in the short month since we've been working together! The improvements we've made are incredible and I can tell my sweet dog is all the happier for it! Walks are now something he looks forward to and though he is still suspicious of other large dogs, we both know how to handle these situations now. He is more confident, less stressed- and honestly I am too! If you have a little problem child of your own, I highly recommend you contact Karin. She is very capable and compassionate and willing to create a unique training plan based purely on your needs and goals. read more

As I'm sure you can tell by the rest of her reviews, Karin is nothing short of amazing! My pup was a rescue of the dire-nature [only survivor of his litter, and the folks who took him in, removed him from his ill mother and didn't provide him with any other sort of dog-socializing], and so his lack of knowing what it meant to be a dog, turned into some terrible anxieties and fear-based aggression. I've personally raised large, notoriously stubborn breeds before, but this little pit-cattle dog mix, was going to be my undoing. After days of searching and comparing trainers' sites and reviews, we found Karin, and she was the perfect fit from the start! In just minutes she pin-pointed his issues and began curbing his negative reactions. After the first couple of months peeling back the ridiculous layers of his idiosyncratic neuroses, we decided it would be best to just put him through a 3-week board & train - a total immersion puppy camp, if you will - and it was the best decision I've ever made. I won't lie, it was hard on me missing him like I did, but he came back so much happier and had learned so much about being a dog, I could hardly believe it. He's still my little man [who's a couple notches above "derpy" on Mary Poppin's measuring tape], but so much more mindful and aware, and not fearful about everything! Her openness to different methods of training was so refreshing - there's no one-fits-all technique. We had started him training with a prong collar, which really worked removing his pulling on walks, and agreed introducing him to an ecollar could be helpful during his board & train. This "cordless leash" is an absolute dream. The moment I pull it out, his tail and butt are wagging because he knows it's time to work - which he now loves! We've only been training with her for a few months, but I can honestly say that she's the real deal. Her open, honest, nonjudgmental approach to training has been a dream to work with. We're so sad to be losing her to LA, but wish her all the best! Know that you can trust your furry children with her - she's the real deal!! read more

Before Karin, we had a very stressed Australian cattle dog. It reached a point where our dog would just either shut down or run in any direction out of fear. Our cattle dog would be snappy to strangers or altogether unfriendly. WOW, what a difference when we got our Holly back! She seemed so much more comfortable in her own skin! Karin brought back a confident pup! She made sure we understood Holly's behavior & what to do to keep building her up for more success. We couldn't be happier for Holly. Thank you Karin! read more

Can't say enough good things about the Karin! My sweet dog Charlie recently passed, but we had been working with Karin for about a year. I met with her first for training with my dog and she took great interest in him and his quirks and anxious behavior, and worked with my budget to offer some training. Charlie was a unique case and was very shut down outside and refused to walk on the leash. After meeting with us for an initial free evaluation, she offered to email with me at no charge some training tools I could try with him myself as she knew we would have a long road of work ahead of us! After most of my attempts didn't consistently work, I had him board and train with her for a little over two weeks. She was very patient with him until he got comfortable in her facility with her before she started training with him. When I took him home, we went on a perfect walk for two miles around our neighborhood that evening. I couldn't believe it! Karin knew that a lot of Charlie's issues came from his confidence and she focused on building that, and also helped me to understand the behavior I needed to put forth as his owner to continue with his training. Most people don't understand that the dog's behavior ultimately stems from the owner's behavior and we may need training just as much as they do! Charlie's success went back and forth after that but I continued to board him at her doggy daycare facility, Whiskers 'N Tails, where he always had so much fun. It was like a vacation for him and comforting for me to know he was in such good hands! At the end of last year Charlie was hit with health issues that we dealt with for a few months until it quickly became too much and I had to put him down early this year. It was a devastating time for me, but Karin was available essentially 24/7 for me to offer advice and support or just a shoulder to cry on. I wish we could have spent more time with her to see how far Charlie's progress could have gotten. But I will be forever grateful for all she did for both of us! Whether you need training or boarding or simply doggie daycare, and at fair pricing, I highly recommend Karin. She is extremely hard working and passionate about all that she does! read more

Karin is an excellent trainer! This is our first puppy and first time using a trainer. We didn't know what to expect? Karin is experienced, professional, knowledgeable and a nice person. We could tell right away that she truly loves our dog and wants to help us to get results quickly. In a short time, our dog is already following basic commands and enjoys training time. We would recommend Karin to anyone that's looking for a pet trainer. Packer and I are looking forward to our next visit!!! read more

We always have great training sessions. I've known Karin for awhile and always trust her advice. My dog is a difficult case but apparently not for Karin! I'm thinking about doing her boarding training. She has a high success rate and does her best work. read more