Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Wolfkeeper University

    3.4 (45 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Services - Wolfkeeper University

    Private dog training

    Wolfkeeper University Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Wolfkeeper University

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    My many is Max. I have been trained by Toriano. Yaaa!!
    Varta H.

    I know Toriano since 2013 he trained my dog and trained him very good. I was amazed to see how my dog behaved after few classes with Tory. Omg he is number 1 trainer I ever new, he changed our life, now we enjoy having our stafford shire terrier. My dog does all commands that he was tought to, I think either my dog is super smart or Tory made him supper smart.

    Otis' first day of class, 4mo
    Dermite S.

    SSDT is an excellent option for folks who are serious about producing a sociable, obedient dog. I met the lead trainer Toriano Sanzone through a friend, and my girlfriend and I have been working with the SSDT about once a week since we got Otis. Otis is a 5 1/2 month old Cane Corso with a very sweet temperament but we also know that in a couple of years he could weigh up to 150 pounds. Accordingly, getting him obedience trained wasn't really option it was a necessity and we took this into account when we chose SSDT because they came highly recommended for big breeds (and small and medium breeds too, as we would come to find out). Classes come in a number of formats, but our favorite has been the group sessions because we get to expose Otis to other dogs of all breeds and sizes, with a professional observing and telling us what behavior means what. Corso's have the reputation of being rather suspicious and without the proper amount of socialization, they can become guarded and overly protective which can result in aggression. This was our greatest fear when we got Otis and I think SSDT deserves the credit for bringing my once fearful and suspicious puppy out of his shell and turning him into the "happy to meet you, what can I do for you?" dog we have today. Otis loves people, other dogs and children. He's not too rough or too timid. I have several small children in my family and I've had four of them at one time crawling all over him, tugging at ears, lips, etc. Otis doesn't just tolerate it, he seems to enjoy it. At 5 1/2 months old, Otis has mastered practically all the basic commands and is even getting some more advanced stuff down like heel under his belt. I recently took Otis on vacation to the Wilds of Pennsylvania where he got his first taste of the woods (and off leash time) without any incidents. He listens well which I attribute to games in SSDT classes. There were deer trails and other critters in the woods and, like the pigeons here in Chicago and though they definitely get his attention, a firm "no" prevents him from taking off after them. Long story I feel very confident in my dog, and that allows me to really enjoy him. Toriano's approach is very hands on, specifically his "puppy yoga" technique, which we try to do with Otis every day. This has really kept Otis loose and used to being touched. But I think what really won me over with SSDT is that the program isn't just about teaching my dog, it's about teaching my girlfriend and I how to teach and interact with our new dog--sort of like the old teach a man to fish adage. This has proven far more valuable. Beyond that, I can't really express what an encyclopedia of knowledge Toriano is about dogs. When we first got Otis, it seemed everybody and their mother had an opinion about caring for him and they were all different: what to feed him, how to bath him, how to interact with him, what time to walk him and, we soon found that the only common denominator amongst all this advice was that whatever you are doing at that moment was wrong and there advice was the best and only way. Toriano is the type of person who wants to explain to you why he's doing the things he does when training but also doesn't neglect that there are many paths up a mountain. He's very sensitive to the dogs needs but at the same time, he doesn't overly personify the dogs, which is something I feel can be quite damaging to a dog's education/demeanor. Regarding this last point, I've read some bad press about Toriano, which I can't really speak to other than to say that from what I have read it looks like a personal issue rather than professional while the other charges (there is a youtube video out there that I had to watch like six times to see what these trolls were talking about) seem hypersensitive bordering on absurd. There is certainly no abuse or maltreatment going on at SSDV from what I can see. So if you're that kind of dog owner who knows a dog is a dog and wants to produce a well adjusted, well trained one (comes when you call him, no whining, no biting, no habits people generally find annoying) I would say this school is a safe bet.

    See all

    Photo of BM A.
    871
    103
    208

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of angela l.
    195
    17
    0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Toriano S.

    Toriano S.

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Afrika A.
    75
    36
    18

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of MR. F.
    0
    6
    10

    11 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Toriano S.

    Toriano S.

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chris F.
    212
    15
    0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    20 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Toriano S.

    Toriano S.

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Toriano did wonders with my pit! Tyson is well behaved and I do not have to worry about him around others. I am so glad I met Toriano.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of lisa g.
    17
    23
    2

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Toriano S.

    Toriano S.

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Toriano S.

    Toriano S.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of T G.
    0
    86
    95

    14 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Wolfkeeper University

    Review Highlights - Wolfkeeper University

    We finished the 7 lessons, but was not seeing enough of a change so we enrolled Bo in Toriano's boot camp.

    Mentioned in 31 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    CleanDog

    CleanDog

    (62 reviews)

    Noble Square, West Town

    I don't even know where to begin. We recently moved out of Chicago and guess the only thing that we…read moreare missing, John. I know we won't be able to find someone like him anywhere else and that makes me and my husband really sad. A. My dog loved going to John, he never felt stressed after John's haircut. B. Have you seen how clean his shop is? My jaw dropped when I first went there. C. His cuts are so amazing, Toby was getting complements constantly. D. Shampoo that he uses is amazing, smells so good. E. My dog is anxious, but John never had a problem working with him somehow , he usually never sits still for anyone. F. He is a professional groomer and I don't think you will find someone like him at least in Chicago area. I can go on and on. I don't think he needs my review but I just wanted to share for someone lucky who lives in the area and is able to get appointment at Clean Dog.

    Not sure what superlatives I can add to what many others have written except to say all of them are…read moretrue. One of the true pleasures of living in a big city it to discover treasures in the most unexpected of places. Who would think that dog grooming would be one such place but I consider CleanDog to be a treasure in Chicago. John brings a rare combination of pride or work and some kind of genius for dog grooming that is ineffable; he just has a feel and an incredible talent for working with dogs. What brought me in the door for our Maltipoo Bailey is that I was looking for someone who would not immediately resort to shears to deal with some matting (admittedly, we had let Bailey go and she was very matted). I know that taking her to our prior groomer would result in her coming home shivering and looking like a short-haired chihuahua. Reading the reviews here led us to CleanDog. In short, John did not disappoint. He is so kind and helpful and went the extra mile (and then another extra mile and then another after that). As others have experienced, we could not believe how wonderful she looked. In fact, it was the best she has ever looked, hands down. John patiently brushed her out, gave her a much needed bath, and then working his own unique magic, brought out the scissors and turned her into a show dog. I can't imagine taking her for grooming anywhere else in Chicago.

    Wolfkeeper University - pet_training - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...