Call Of The Wild School For Dogs

Training programs are structured in progressive levels: Beginner Basics teaches foundational commands (sit, stay, recall, leash walking); Beyond Basics Level 1 focuses on proofing behaviors with distractions and prepares dogs for Canine Good Citizen certification. Tuesday Tutorial is a 3-week review class for prior students. Special events include “Intro to Sheepherding” at the farm and virtual canine conditioning. All programs emphasize owner education and consistent reinforcement. The school’s historic Intensive Training Experience (ITE) program, now discontinued, pioneered owner-trainer collaboration.

Pricing Summary

Private lessons are available at the farm; group classes range from $350 for 7 weeks (Beginner Basics, Beyond Basics) to $150 for 3 weeks (Tuesday Tutorial). Special events like “Intro to Sheepherding” cost $250 per dog/handler team. Virtual classes like “Fit Dog! Canine Conditioning on Zoom” are $250 for 6 weeks.

Policies

All first-time clients must sign up over the phone. Group classes are limited to 10 dogs; special events to 15. No explicit cancellation or rescheduling policy is stated, but enrollment requires direct phone contact.

Call of the Wild School for Dogs, founded by Jennifer Boznos in 1992, offers personalized dog training services at her farm in Hampshire, IL. Jennifer provides one-on-one private lessons and group classes focused on obedience, behavior modification, and specialized skills like sheepherding. The training emphasizes understanding dog behavior through body language, aerobic exercise, and olfactory stimulation, with a strong focus on teaching owners how to communicate effectively with their dogs. The facility includes a working farm with sheep, border collies, and livestock guardian dogs, offering unique environments for training and special events like “Intro to Sheepherding.” In addition to training, they offer dog boarding and daycare services, with clients reporting that dogs return exhausted and happy after stays. Jennifer’s approach combines positive reinforcement with structured, consistent methods rooted in “The Third Way” training philosophy.

Clients appreciate the systematic, owner-focused curriculum that builds skills progressively across classes, from Basic Obedience to Canine Good Citizen Prep. The farm setting provides real-world distractions to help dogs generalize behaviors, and special events like “Front Camp” offer immersive weekend training experiences. The team includes experienced dogs who serve as demo and trial dogs, reinforcing the school’s hands-on, professional standards.

Accomplishments

Jennifer Boznos has been a certified CPDT-KA for over 20 years and is a Master Trainer in Chris Bach’s “The Third Way” method. She competes nationally in USBCHA sheepdog trials with her border collies, having worked sheep in Scotland and at major U.S. trials. She studied under Dr. Raymond Coppinger, Sue Sternberg, and Suzanne Clothier, and trained with national sheepherding champions. Her dogs hold records for Canine Good Citizen testing and have competed at the highest levels of obedience and herding.

How to Get Started!

First-time clients must call the office at (773) 539-1088 to sign up for group classes or schedule private lessons. For special events or boarding, contact via phone or email to inquire about availability and registration.