Mandy's Dog Training - Canine Development Center

When we found out our first baby was on the way, we decided it was time to get help for our very energetic two year old 70 lb pit mix, Mackie. I found Mandy through a recommendation on a Park Ridge Facebook page and immediately was drawn to her because of her clear love for rescue dogs. Having a pittie in the suburbs, I honestly didn’t know what to expect with trainers out there. She made me feel comfortable right from the initial conversation. Mackie mostly needed help with leash training and his behavior & manners around guests. He jumped up on people constantly, and would bark and go crazy if the doorbell rang. Mandy came over for an evaluation and very quickly put a plan in place. She told us exactly how long she’d need. She told us what to buy and where to get it before her first training session the next week. Over the course of 6-8 weeks, she didn’t train Mackie - rather, she trained US to train Mackie. She held us accountable by asking for videos multiple times per week which I liked and probably needed, and upon sending the videos she would reply with thoughtful feedback and recommendations. She will empower you and give you every tool necessary to train and bond with your dog on your own, and once the sessions get somewhat repetitive she will tell you when it’s honestly time for her to move on and for you to continue the training so you’re not just spending unnecessary money. And she’ll top it off with a super cute “graduation” certificate! Consistency is key and everyone has to be motivated and committed to make it work, as is the case with any dog training journey, but I’m so glad we found her. We still stay in touch with plenty of dog + baby content and I truly can’t thank her enough for helping us prepare Mackie to be the best big brother!

We worked with Amanda when our very hyper puppy was getting the best of us. She was so patient and positive during the process. Each week, we focused on one particular skill, whether that was heeling, laying down, sitting at corners on walks, staying, or door manners. After each session, our pup was usually sleeping--a reward for everyone! Additionally, by doing training inside our home, Amanda was able to see the behaviors we needed to work on, and she adjusted training based on our dog's needs. Our 9 year old daughter wanted to get involved, and Amanda warmly welcomed her input and desire to help. At the end of our training, she was confident enough to go through all of the commands and proudly wore her Mandy's Dog Training tshirt. When we began, we were so focused on how our current dog compares to our first pup, Amanda reminded us that each dog is different, just like people. In this way, her training is will be a wonderful fit for all kinds of dogs.

Amanda was amazing! She came to our home several times to help us train our Portuguese water dog. In one sitting, she taught our entire family, including our 7-year old, how to walk her using the heel and sit commands. She followed up with sessions around door manners, stay commands, etc. as well as helping us address some unwanted biting issues. Whatever the topic, she was so clear, thoughtful, and patient. It was truly amazing to have her help… and we can’t recommend her highly enough to pet owners… especially families!

Mandy was great! I have been a Dog owner for years but adopted two puppies who needed some extra one on one attention for consistency in behavior and listening. My dogs were different animals after only 3 sessions. I’ve been able to take what we learned and continue to work with them on my own. It’s not just dog training- it’s people training. So the owners know the how and what to do when it comes to training. My dogs don’t bark or move when other dogs pass by, they sit and stay very well and I feel 100% confident in their behavior when out in public spaces. They walk like champs and sit at every corner automatically. Mandy is great and highly recommend.