Advances In Animal Behavior
Service area: Serving Chicagoland, including Chicago Ridge and surrounding areas within the metropolitan region.
Service Overview
Types of Dog Training
- Family Dog
- Competition / Agility
- Behavior Modification
Specialty Focus Areas
- Puppy Training
- Basic Obedience
- Leash Pulling
- Reactivity / Aggression
- Jumping on People
- Barking Excessively
- Separation Anxiety
- Fearfulness
- Recall
Training Formats Offered
- Group Classes
- Private Facility
- Board and Train
- Day Training
Program Formats
- Sessions Package
- Ongoing Weekly
- Intensive Program
Age of Dogs Trained
- Puppy (<1 year)
- Adolescent (1-2 years)
- Adult (2-8 years)
- Senior (8+ years)
Dog Training Methodology
Methods:
- ✓ Positive Reinforcement Only
Equipment:
- ✓ Clickers
- ✓ Food Rewards
- ✓ Harnesses
- ✓ Obstacle Courses
Group classes are structured in 6–7 week sessions with weekly one-hour training periods. Puppy Kindergarten focuses on socialization and foundational behaviors. Basic Obedience I teaches essential commands like sit, stay, heel, and recall. Basic Obedience II builds on these with distractions and AKC Canine Good Citizen preparation. Rally Obedience offers progressive levels from novice to excellent. Agility and Nosework classes are offered in beginner to advanced formats. Private and board and train programs are tailored to individual dog and owner goals.
Pricing & Policies
Pricing Summary
Group classes cost $150–$175 for 6–7 weeks, with one-hour weekly sessions. Puppy Kindergarten is $150 for 6 weeks. Private training and board and train services are available with customized pricing. No public pricing details for private or board and train options.
Policies
Cancellation policy is available on their website but not detailed in the provided content. No specific rescheduling policy is mentioned.
Testimonials
Love Kelly G. She is an excellent dog trainer! She is great with people as well! Always friendly, communicative and helpful! Highly recommend her classes.
– Dawn
I take my dog Jet to agility here. We started 1.5 years ago and honestly love it. Kristen is the best instructor! I wish we started sooner as my dog is going to be 8yrs old this year.
– N/A
We signed our dog up for beginning classes even though she’s 6. We never brought her to training before but I read reviews and decided to give it a chance. Kelly is our trainer and she is absolutely amazing. She has helped our dog become more relaxed and she is truly making progress.
– N/A
About the Trainer
Advances in Animal Behavior is a full-service dog training facility serving Chicagoland since 1995, offering group classes, private instruction, board and train services, and behavior problem consultations. All training is based on positive reinforcement methods, creating a fun and rewarding experience for both dogs and owners. Their 16,000-square-foot facility at Pawsitively Heaven Pet Resort provides ample space for obedience, agility, nosework, trick training, and puppy socialization classes. They also offer daycare training and specialized programs for dogs of all ages, from puppies to seniors. Their founder and senior trainer, Kristen Phillips, leads a team of knowledgeable instructors who focus on teaching owners how to effectively communicate with and train their dogs.
They provide structured programs including Puppy Kindergarten for 8- to 18-week-old puppies, Basic Obedience I and II for dogs over 5 months, Rally Obedience for intermediate and advanced teams, and Introduction to Agility. Additional offerings include Nosework, Trick Classes, and Daycare School. Private sessions and board and train options are available for customized training needs.
The business is known for its supportive, friendly environment and has helped dogs overcome fearfulness, reactivity, leash pulling, and other behavior challenges while building confidence and strong owner-dog bonds.
Accomplishments
Founded in 1995, the business has trained over 1,800 dogs and has been operating for 36 years. Senior trainer Kristen Phillips is highlighted as the founder and lead instructor. Classes prepare dogs for AKC titles including Canine Good Citizen and Trick Dog.
How to Get Started!
Prospective clients can view class schedules and register online via the booking portal. New clients are encouraged to review class descriptions and select a suitable program based on their dog’s age and training level. Contact is available for questions prior to enrollment.

Contact Information
Availability
- Weekdays
- Weekends
- Morning
- Afternoon
- Evening
Hours
9am-9pm
Associations
- AKC
Languages
- English
Other Services Offered
- Dog day care center
- Pet boarding service
Location
10051 Kitty Ave, Chicago Ridge, IL 60415Listing Tools for Trainers
For Advances In Animal Behavior Only
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