Dogz Are Us
Service area: Serves Addison, Vernon Hills, Mt. Prospect, Arlington Heights, Franklin Park, Lake Zurich, Barrington, Palatine, Oak Park, Elmwood Park, and surrounding areas in Cook and DuPage Counties, Illinois.
Service Overview
Types of Dog Training
- Family Dog
- Therapy Dog
- Behavior Modification
Specialty Focus Areas
- Puppy Training
- Leash Pulling
- Reactivity / Aggression
- Jumping on People
- Barking Excessively
- Separation Anxiety
- Potty Training
- Fearfulness
- Recall
Training Formats Offered
- Private Lessons
- Group Classes
- In-Home
Program Formats
- Sessions Package
- Ongoing Weekly
Types of Dogs
- Small
- Medium
- Large
- Giant
- Working
- Doodles
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
- ✓ Flat Collars
Group classes are held in Downers Grove through Enjoy Your Dog and include Puppy Beginners, Intermediate, Canine Good Citizen, and Therapy Dog Training. Each class runs for six weeks with small group sizes to ensure individual attention. Private lessons are available in the client’s home and tailored to specific goals such as behavior modification, obedience, or therapy dog preparation. Debbie provides emailed handouts, video resources, and follow-up support after each session to reinforce progress.
Pricing & Policies
Pricing Summary
Pricing details are not listed on the website. Clients are encouraged to contact Debbie directly via phone or email to discuss rates for private lessons and group classes. Group classes are offered through Enjoy Your Dog in Downers Grove, and private in-home sessions are arranged individually.
Policies
No cancellation or rescheduling policies are explicitly stated on the website. Clients are encouraged to contact Debbie directly for scheduling inquiries and policy details.
Testimonials
“To anyone looking for dog training, you’ve found the BEST in Debbie. I have been using Debbie since I got my new puppy a couple months ago. Although we have been training for a short time, with the skills and knowledge Debbie has, my puppy is turning into a wonderfully trained dog. I feel very comfortable with Debbie and while I may not always get it right the first time, she never does anything but motivates me and the dog to try it again!! Debbie is kind, understanding, giving, patient, and she truly loves her job which shows consistenty every time she is here. We always end up having a few questions after she has left, but that doesn’t matter to Debbie, she is always available whether by email or text to lend a helping hand. I can’t thank her enough for all she has done and will continue to thank her!! So, if you want the perfecty trained dog, you’ve found the PERFECT person in Debbie!!”
-Caryn
“I highly recommend the dog training classes that Debbie Gardiner offers through Dogz Are Us. Her many qualifications include being a former educator, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), a Certified Control Unleashed Instructor (CCUI), and a Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI). Her class size is small and this allows quite a bit of individualized attention to you and your pup. She follows up each class with an email of handouts that summarize what we went over in class, homework, enrichment ideas, and additional dog training tips. She also includes links to her YouTube training videos-and these are priceless as (at least for me) it’s so easy to forget exactly what to do.”
-Dodi
“This was the best, most consistently positive training experience I have ever had. It deepened the bond between my dog and me. I learned more about my dog by doing this training. It was such a rewarding class. Debbie is the best. She teaches the handlers the best ways to work with our dogs.”
-Diana
About the Trainer
Debbie Gardiner, the trainer behind Dogz Are Us, offers positive reinforcement-based dog training to help owners build a strong, loving relationship with their dogs. She provides both group classes and private in-home lessons, focusing on creating a low-stress, supportive environment for dogs and their humans. Her classes include Puppy Beginners, Intermediate, Canine Good Citizen, and Therapy Dog Training, with additional offerings like Dancing With Your Dog and Trick Dog classes. Debbie follows up each class with emailed handouts, homework, enrichment ideas, and links to her YouTube training videos to reinforce learning. She is known for her patience, kindness, and personalized attention, adapting her methods to suit each dog’s needs and owner’s goals. Her background as a former educator enhances her ability to communicate clearly and effectively with clients.
Debbie works with dogs of all ages, from puppies to seniors, and specializes in behavior modification for fearfulness, reactivity, leash pulling, separation anxiety, and more. She has helped clients transform fearful or high-energy dogs into confident, well-mannered companions, including preparing large, energetic dogs for therapy work. Her clients consistently praise her availability beyond class time, noting she responds to emails and texts with support and encouragement.
Dogz Are Us does not offer boarding, grooming, walking, or other pet services—its focus is exclusively on positive dog training and owner education.
Accomplishments
Debbie Gardiner is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), Certified Control Unleashed Instructor (CCUI), and Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI). She is a former elementary school educator, which informs her clear, patient, and structured teaching style. She has successfully trained dogs to pass the Canine Good Citizen test and therapy dog evaluations, including large, high-energy dogs with significant behavioral challenges.
How to Get Started!
Prospective clients can contact Debbie directly via phone or email to discuss their dog’s needs and schedule a private in-home lesson or enroll in a group class. She offers a free initial consultation to assess goals and determine the best training approach.
Contact Information
Availability
- Weekdays
- Weekends
- Morning
- Afternoon
- Evening
Certifications
- CPDT-KA
- CCUI
- CTDI
Associations
- APDT
- IAABC
- PPG
Languages
- English
Misc Features
- wheelchair accessible entrance
- wheelchair accessible parking
Other Services Offered
- Pet trainer
Location
768 Eagle Ct., Addison, IL 60101Listing Tools for Trainers
For Dogz Are Us Only
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