Testimonials

Hear from the people that make Anything Pawzible!

White sound machine, low lights, consistent sleep schedule. Who knew you can put your pack down for naps throughout the day – and who knew to coincide them with a baby’s sleep schedule! Judit knows. Judit knows A LOT about dogs, infants, sleep schedules, preparing dogs for a baby’s arrival, guests, and mommy time. But her knowledge is not limited to just babies and their dogs. She is an experienced, dog trainer, who happens to have youngsters and dogs, so hands-on experience helping families to safely and sanely onboard a new baby into your life and your dog(s) life.
Having a sweet 60lb pittie who wants to say HELLO to everyone who walks in the house, and thinks everything in your hand is hers, presented a formula for disaster. And we needed help. As a young dog during the first few years of the pandemic, we didn’t have the opportunity to desensitize Nola to guests arriving in the home. Now when guests enter, she truly believes they want her to jump all over them and sit on their lap – literally, physically! We needed to assure the baby’s safety while allowing the dogs to coexist in his life. And, with a new baby in the home, we need to teach our big girl how to properly welcome guests into the home.
In just two in-home sessions with Judit, homework instructions, lesson summaries and information pieces, we were trained! Not Nola. The humans were trained. Now we have the knowledge to pass on to Nola and our other dogs in order to maintain our happy home and allow our little one to safely grow up with his dogs. After the baby is here for a couple of weeks, Judit will be back for lesson #3 to observe how everything is going. She’ll also set us up for success for baby milestones (verbal, crawling, toddling) that all present whole new experiences for the dogs. She’ll coach us on properly guiding them through these.
Whether you just added a puppy to your family and want to put her on the right path or you’ve adopted an older dog and need to understand and guide your new dog or, like us, you are welcoming a baby into your existing pack of pups, Anything Is PAWZible has a class and/or a trainer for you.

~ Anita and Nola

Laura has been working with my coonhound, Anna, and me for the past 7 years. I cannot put into words how Laura’s talent has improved our lives. Anna used to be very scared, shut down, and reactive. She trusted Laura from the very beginning. Our lessons consist of creative courses for jumping, stretching, balancing and cardio workouts tailored to Anna’s needs. Laura now incorporates nosework since Anna is a huge fan. Anna knows when it’s time to go see coach Laura every week and she gets so excited! I truly believe that at 13 years old, Anna is in top shape both mentally and physically, thanks to Laura’s skills, patience and knowledge about working with reactive dogs. Anna and I so lucky to have Laura in our lives!

~ Barb and Anna

As a client of Jamie Ramos, I can confidently say she has made a meaningful difference in our dog’s life—and ours. Our dog Beaux has struggled with leash reactivity and basic manners, and while he still has a ways to go, he’s already shown a HUGE improvement after just a few training sessions with Jamie. Her calm, consistent approach has made a noticeable impact, and we’re so encouraged by the progress.
Jamie is not only a skilled trainer, but also a kind and compassionate person who truly cares about the dogs and families she works with. She’s flexible, patient, and incredibly supportive—always willing to help. She tailors her training to each dog’s needs and is committed to helping them grow at their own pace. Beaux is obsessed with her and waits patiently on the days she comes to our home to train. He can definitely sense her arrival!
More than anything, Jamie brings a sense of hope and trust to the training process. Beaux still has challenges, but with Jamie’s guidance, we’re confident he’s on the right path. If you’re looking for someone who will work with you and your dog with genuine care and expertise, Jamie Ramos is the trainer you want by your side. She’ll teach you SO many things about dogs’ brains and how we can help them make good decisions. She’s absolutely the best!

~ Katelyn and Beaux

I wanted to tell you how much of an impact you made on me and Penny. I had a hunch I’d enjoy Lin’s instruction when, in the intro class, Lin told us you would sometimes get off topic and that’s fine. I was right. The first week of class with the dogs I was holding back tears as I wondered if I made a big mistake adopting this dog. I had two reactive dogs before and did not want to deal with that again. This was supposed to be my chill dog, and she could not find any chill in a room with other dogs.
I was holding back tears again the last couple of weeks because I was so proud of Penny and myself! She was chill without even a visual barrier and enthusiastically engaged with me. My goal was to bond with my dog. Now we have a great relationship. It’s easy to get stressed during training and be tempted to take it very seriously. You were constantly relaxed, playful, and encouraging. That is exactly the example I needed to remind me that this is supposed to be fun. From the start, I loved cuddling with Penny, but now I very much enjoy walking and training with her too!
We still have a long road ahead of us to quell her separation anxiety and the proud moments we’ve had through obedience training have been necessary to help us get through the separation anxiety struggles. Today on our regular afternoon walk I was rewarding Penny for walking close by my side and I could see it begin to click for her. We are on our way to a proper heel! I look forward to those little moments of joy between us as we work together. Thanks for being good at what you do and helping us find that joy.

~ Monica and Penny

Anything is Pawzible has truly changed our lives. Their classes are amazing. Every instructor has been knowledgable and had a meaningful impact on pets. The variety of options means that there is a perfect class for everyone. The individual training is what made the biggest difference for us. Yvonne helped us build a stronger relationship with our previous dog, who needed a little extra support, patience, and understanding. Everyone at Anything is Pawzible was incredibly accommodating to all of his special needs and never once made us feel like we were an imposition. Instead, they met us where we were, helped us understand our dog better, and gave us the tools and confidence to set everyone up for success. Most importantly, they taught us that training is about so much more than commands—it’s about building a lasting relationship through clear communication, trust, and understanding. They helped us create that relationship with our previous dog, and they have more than prepared us to do the same with our current dog. We are incredibly grateful for the knowledge, support, and compassion they have given our family. If you want a training facility that truly cares about both the dog and the people, we cannot recommend Anything is Pawzible highly enough!

~ Marci, Brooks and Bucky

Rendy Speaks Dog! When we brought Kai home from the shelter, we were pretty much lost. But Rendy came to the house (before we were able to join one of her training classes) and taught us what we needed to know. She is brilliant at translating what human words and actions mean to the dog and how to use that knowledge to train your pup–and build an amazing bond. We love Rendy and we love our dog.

~ Jill Pollack and Jackie Loewe

Rendy has been helping us with our girl, Lucy, for over a year and we honestly don\’t know what we would do without her. We\’ve attended several group classes and have learned so much under her tutelage! Lucy has made incredible progress in her obedience and knows all kinds of tricks now. Plus, it\’s been a great way to bond with our rescue pup! During the group classes we\’ve taken, Rendy always provided plenty of individual attention and helped give us tips and practical strategies that were specific to Lucy\’s needs. She uses positive training methods which was important to us and the most effective way to shape Lucy\’s behaviors. In addition to the group classes, we\’ve had a few private sessions to focus on Lucy\’s more difficult issues (significant separation anxiety). Rendy\’s extensive knowledge and experience has been key not only to Lucy\’s success, but to our growth as first-time dog owners. Lucy LOVES Rendy and so do we!

~ Ben, Kristen, and Lucy

Attended both the Puppy Pawzibilities & the Basic Plus Pawzibilities group classes with Mario. Mario’s patience and kindness in class made coming in that much more enjoyable. With Mario, Georgie has learned to wait patiently at the door before entering our house, which has been so helpful when we need to wipe muddy paws. Georgie is also well-versed in ‘puppy push-ups’, ‘touch’, ‘watch me’, and so much more. Mario was also able to help us teach Georgie how to ‘leave-it’ on our walks. This has been an absolute game-changer for us, as Georgie now knows to back away from objects when he hears the cue. We are so appreciative of Mario for helping us strengthen our bond with Georgie while also teaching crucial tips and tricks.

~ Georgie, Katie, and Dan

It takes a village to raise a Petunia, and we\’re so grateful that Rendy Schwartz is part of our village! Two years ago, we adopted a sweet two year old Jack Russell Terrier rescue. Petunia came to us with severe separation anxiety and we\’d been working with another trainer to no success when a friend recommended Rendy. By the time we met Rendy, we were seriously considering whether we were the right family for Petunia and we were devastated at the thought that we might have to give her back. After one session with Rendy, Petunia started making huge strides. The suggestions she made and the basic training she taught us all made a major difference and Petunia started turning the corner with her anxiety. Rendy has the most incredible, positive energy and Petunia responds to her like no one else. She provided us with incredibly clear direction and demonstration, and she put the responsibility back on us to practice and incorporate all of the training into our daily life with Petunia. She is the kind of trainer who is committed to helping you become self-sufficient as quickly as possible which was not the experience we\’d had with our first trainer. Since those first private sessions, Petunia\’s gone on to take Rendy\’s basic training class where she proudly graduated at the top of her class – something we could have never imagined when she first came to us. We continue to work with Rendy in private lessons as challenges come up. Most recently, she visited us for a session to help Petunia with her on-leash behavior and response towards other dogs while walking. Again, one session and we started to see a big turnaround. Rendy\’s the trainer we will always call, and we couldn\’t recommend her more highly. She has a total gift with dogs and we\’re incredibly lucky to have found her.

~ Heather and Lisa

When we adopted Tae over two years ago she was quite the sick little puppy. We had to wait a few months to start Rendy’s, highly recommended, puppy class but we are so thankful we did. Tae loves Rendy and she loves to work. Those initial classes not only set the foundation for her training but also exposed her, and us, to other ways to keep Tae engaged. As a border collie mix, we knew that she was intelligent and had lots of energy so we were excited to see firsthand her interest during the introduction to agility and, thankfully, not so much interest in the props brought out to introduce a hospital setting. Both my husband and I have rather inflexible work schedules but Rendy has been more than accommodating, meeting early morning, evening or weekends. Our work with Rendy has been indispensable. Not only is Rendy preparing Tae and I to work in therapy, she also helps with difficult issues that come up as Tae transitions from puppyhood to adolescence. Her unlimited positive energy and enthusiasm is infectious and Tae and I always come out of a session feeling energized and empowered. Since Rendy has guided our training from the beginning, Tae is now a happy, healthy 2 and half year old that we can take anywhere with us. We feel so lucky to have found Rendy and would, and do, recommend her to all our friends (and even some random dogs and people on the street who clearly have not been to Rendy’s classes!).

~ Nora and Tae

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Explore Your Pawzibilities

Phone

(773) 919-PAWS (7297)

Email

info@anythingispawzible.com

Hours

M-F: 8am - 8pm
Sat: 8am- 5pm
Sun: 10am - 5pm

Address

3358 N Pulaski Ave
Chicago, IL 60641

Alex Urbanski (Austin, Texas Only)
Certified Professional Dog Trainer
Dog Behavior Specialist

My love for dogs started when I was young. After years of volunteering in shelters and devouring every training book I could find, I decided to attend Triple Crown Academy. That’s where I learned everything from Basic Obedience and Scent Detection to Protection Work, Search and Rescue, and Agility—my favorite. It’s also where I met Roxee and Skylar, the dogs I was assigned to train and ultimately adopted. Skylar came to me terrified of her own shadow, but she grew into a confident Canine Good Citizen and even won a Blue Ribbon at her first Agility trial. Roxee was found wandering the streets at eight months old and is now both a Canine Good Citizen and a therapy dog.

I spent six years at Anything Is Pawzible Chicago working with tough behavior cases, especially aggression and separation anxiety. In January 2020, I moved to Austin to continue helping families navigate behavior challenges with their dogs. When I’m not training, you’ll find me at home with my family, running agility with my dogs, enjoying a good book and a glass of wine, and soaking up all the puppy cuddles.

Jazz Cooley, CPDT-KA
Certified Professional Dog Trainer
Dog Behavior Specialist

I started my journey in animal care when I volunteered at the Oceanario Islas del Rosario in Cartagena, Colombia in high school. Maintaining the dolphin habitats gave me perspective on our part in helping animals thrive and live full, enriched lives. After adopting our dog, Nelly, in 2021, my wife and I took her to puppy classes where I discovered a passion that would grow into a new career.

One year after graduating an apprenticeship program in Chicago, my wife and I welcomed our son, Julian, into the world, prompting me to move into independent training and behavior consultation work. In addition, I also obtained my CPDT-KA and became an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. As an ongoing pursuit, I take pride in continuing my education and obtaining further professional certifications.

Joining the Pawzible team has opened exciting new opportunities for myself such as our Proxy programs. Proxy has given me the opportunity to use our fantastic studio space and resources to help educate families on how best to achieve their training/behavior goals while providing a safe and enriching environment for their pups.

I’m incredibly excited to work with you and your pup(s) to meet your training and behavior-related goals!

Claire Laster Horvat, CPDT-KA, CDBC
Certified Professional Dog Trainer
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant

As a dog trainer and behavior consultant, I bring a wealth of experience from various animal care environments, from dog daycares and veterinary offices, to professional dog walking and in-home pet boarding. My approach is rooted in force-free methods, and I am proud to be Fear Free certified and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA). Currently, I am expanding my expertise by pursuing a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) credential with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). My passion lies in creating stronger bonds through improved communication between dogs and their pet parents. I find joy in guiding guardians through the infamous adolescent “tornado” phase and in helping to start puppies off on the right paw for a lifetime of success. I look forward to getting to meet you and your pup, and be your biggest supporter!

Jamie Ramos, VSA-CDT, LFDM-SP, FDM-BDWA
Proxy Pawzibilities Program Director, Licensed Family Dog Mediator, and Certified Behavioral Diversity Welfare Analyst

Jamie is a Victoria Stilwell Academy–Certified Dog Trainer, holds OCN London Level 5 qualifications in Dog Training, is a Licensed Family Dog Mediator, and is currently one of forty internationally to earn the title of Certified Behavioral Diversity Welfare Analyst under the guidance of applied ethologist, Kim Brophey.

Her work is guided by the Total Welfare model, taking a whole-dog approach that looks beyond obedience to consider each dog’s history, genetics, environment, health, emotional well-being, and access to performing natural behaviors.

Jamie's passion is driven by her own dogs: Emma, a 10-year-old Puerto Rican street dog and amputee following a recent cancer diagnosis, and Nelly, a 4-year-old pit/cattle dog/husky mix whose anxiety and aggressive episodes were ultimately rooted in undiagnosed hip dysplasia and food allergies. These experiences reinforce Jamie’s belief that meaningful behavior change starts by uncovering the why behind the behavior.

As a Licensed Family Dog Mediator, Jamie helps families balance their dogs’ needs with their own to find compassionate, sustainable solutions. She finds that AIP’s Proxy Day Training programming offers a unique opportunity for this work to begin in a supportive, low-pressure environment and looks forward to helping you find the best service to support your lifestyle with your dog.

Andrew (Drew) Ballantyne
Certified Professional Dog Trainer (KPA) and Behavior Specialist

Andrew (Drew) always longed for a dog growing up, but his situation didn’t allow it. Instead, he would visit friends and family to play with their dogs, and occasionally dog sit. At nineteen years old, his first dog Y-Lee came into his life and they had a phenomenal eleven years together. After Y-Lee’s passing, Andrew spent more and more time hanging out with his brother and sister-in-law’s Rhodesian Ridgebacks. So much so that Andrew tagged along to an Animal Behavior Training Concepts puppy class. Andrew was blown away by Laura Monaco Torelli’s teaching style. The welcoming environment and explanation of positive reinforcement really clicked with him (pun intended). Soon after, Andrew attended the next Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional class taught by Laura. It was an amazing learning experience and solidified the next phase of his life: working with and training dogs.

Following his graduation from the Karen Pryor Academy in 2013, Drew adopted his PAWS dog Gus, a goofy hound who continues to bring him joy every day. Gus has also provided Drew with firsthand experience of the challenges of having a dog with behavioral difficulties, such as separation anxiety and overarousal on walks. Thanks to training and help from his veterinary behaviorist, Gus is doing much better!

From 2019-2024, Drew was the head trainer at a veterinary behavior practice, Insight Animal Behavior Services, specializing in animals with medium to severe behavioral issues including aggression, fear, and anxiety. The knowledge and experience gained from working closely with veterinary behaviorists, distressed clients, and distressed dogs strengthened his commitment to helping clients better understand behavioral issues and helping dogs work through their fear, anxiety, and stress.

Jess Kupsik, CPDT-KA
Certified Professional Dog Trainer

I developed an interest in training when I adopted my first American Bully, Kona, in 2017. While we bonded quickly, our relationship flourished once we started training and speaking the same language. Shortly after adopting Kona, I started fostering bully breeds for various Chicago rescues. I realized how much training helped these dogs find homes and stay in those homes.

While fostering, I began studying at CATCH Canine Trainer’s Academy to gain a better understanding of how dogs think and learn and to master the art of positive reinforcement. I fostered over a dozen dogs, many of which had complex behavior issues, before adopting my second dog, Francine, who’s a deaf pit bull mix.

I’m a passionate bully breed advocate and enjoy working and volunteering with Chicagoland rescues. Not only can training foster dogs help make them more adoptable, training is a great way for fosters and adopters to bond with their dogs. My favorite aspect of training is watching people begin to connect with and understand their dogs.

Mario Rodriguez, CPDT-KA
Certified Professional Dog Trainer

I’m a life-long animal lover and my introduction to formal dog training was in 2011, attending a Basic Obedience class at Anything Is PAWZible with my first girl, Willow. The delight Willow expressed during training and the connection we made in that class led us to pursue additional training classes, opening up an incredible level of human-canine communication and creating a stronger bond between us. I sought out dog training books and worked with her at home to improve our bond, provide her with enrichment, and ultimately, to have fun.

We adopted our second girl Winifred in early 2021, shortly after I started volunteering at the One Tail at a Time Behavior Center. While I have experience training my own dogs, I was inspired to pursue my dream of becoming a certified dog trainer after working with rescue dogs in need of a little extra attention and training.

I graduated with honors from Animal Behavior College and completed the Training Shelter Dogs Program. I’m committed to positive reinforcement methods and use (LIMA) least invasive, minimally aversive training techniques. My goal is to help dogs and their humans communicate and forge that special bond that lasts a lifetime.

In my spare time I like to read, bike, volunteer, play games, watch movies, go to concerts and hang out with my furry best friend, Winnie.

Lin Barrett
Certified Professional Pet Dog Trainer

Lin has always been passionate about all animals. Having grown up in a small town in Connecticut, they grew up around dogs, cats, horses, goats, chickens, you name it! Their passion for dogs stumbled into their life with a tiny Westie puppy their parents adopted for the family. Lin took every opportunity to learn about dogs and training after that. With this passion in their back pocket, they moved to Chicago for college in an unrelated field, and when they adopted their first dog, a Doberman German Shepherd mix named Theodore, they realized that they needed to go back to what they really love: dogs. Lin was a dog walker and sitter in the city for a while, and even a manager at a dog boarding and daycare facility. When the pandemic hit, they decided it was finally time to pursue their true passion for dog training and enrolled in Animal Behavior College. Practicing constantly on their tiny Chihuahua named Chiquita Banana, Lin never stopped trying to improve their skills. During this program they were able to intern with Anything is Pawsible, and gain valuable knowledge and insight from their expert trainers. Now that they have graduated, they are finally are able to do what they love, and look forward to continuing learning about these amazing animals and helping pet parents cultivate a loving relationship with their fur-babies.

Rachel LaMere, CPDT-KA
Certified Professional Pet Dog Trainer, Certified Fear Free Trainer, Animal Behavior College Certified Trainer, AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator

I began my career in pet care in 2004 when I moved to NYC with a degree in opera/classical voice from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA and I started walking dogs as a side hustle while I pursued a career in the performing arts.
My grandfather was a veterinarian, so growing up, our home was never short on animals with behavioral and/or medical challenges, which may explain why I quickly gained a reputation for handling more…challenging dogs.
Eventually I realized that handling challenging dogs wasn’t enough, I wanted to learn how to help them.

Early on, I worked with traditional, punishment-based trainers and gained a working knowledge of those methods, but it wasn’t until I began volunteering at local rescues that I was introduced to positive reinforcement and force-free methods. Over the years, I slowly but surely began to make the shift. First working as a “balanced” trainer, then finally transitioning to force free.

In 2012, I completed the dog trainer certification program through Animal Behavior College, and founded The Positive Pup, dedicated to offering compassionate, effective and fun training for dogs and their humans.
In the winter of 2022, I moved to Chicago with my husband, Ryan, our cantankerous, geriatric cat, Roxie (AKA Doodle) and promptly foster failed a chihuahua called Guillermo.
I’m honored to be working with Anything is Pawzible to continue to bring proven, positive training methods to the people and pets of Chicago!

Justyna Buettner
Professional Dog Trainer

Justyna has been fostering and rescuing animals since her early 20s and is currently completing her certification through Animal Behavior College. She has been training dogs with Anything Is Pawzible for nearly four years. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her three children and her animal crew—Cooper (dog), Ziggy (cat), Ocho (bearded dragon), Pearl (snake), and her Brazilian black tarantula. She loves hiking, camping, road trips, and discovering new adventures.

Elizabeth Emelene Jefferis, VSPDT
Certified Professional Dog Trainer

Elizabeth Jefferis grew up on a horse farm in Southeastern Pennsylvania training, competing, and hunting with her family’s hunter/jumper horses. Teaching has always been so rewarding for Elizabeth, from college sociology professor to property rehab mentor to certified yoga instructor to dog trainer. (Don’t tell anyone, but “dog training” is really “people training.”) She has been teaching private and group clients for several years and enjoying it all!

Elizabeth is VSPDT certified through the Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training & Behavior, a rigorous program including hands-on practice, mentoring, online and in-class lessons, subject-matter expert lectures, and extensive examinations. As a VSPDT degree-holder and Fear Free Certified trainer, Elizabeth engages in positive training methods designed to build people’s relationship and communication with their dogs. Currently, she is working towards attaining her Certified Behavior Consultant Canine-Knowledge Assessed (CBCC-KA®), an advanced certification offered by CCPDT for dog trainers who offer canine behavior modification. Elizabeth is also working on her PhD in human-animal interaction from University of Chicago after attaining her master’s degree in sociology, also from U of C.

When not training other pupkids, Elizabeth is busy training her own working dog, Desdemona von Fidelis. Desi holds advanced tricks dog titles and scent work titles. Elizabeth and Desi are also part of K9 Search & Rescue teams in Illinois and Indiana. Every weekend, Elizabeth and her husband participate with Desi in K9 SAR team trainings, preparing to assist law enforcement in finding lost persons.

Laura Krill
Professional Dog Trainer

Animals have always been a central part of Laura's life. She was a teenager when she worked as a kennel assistant for a local veterinarian and has remained in the animal healthcare industry ever since. Laura is a certified canine rehabilitation assistant and also trained in canine massage.

Currently, Laura works as the Medical Director for a local rescue and is very active in the rescue community. Having fostered over 30 dogs, Laura has extensive experience with a wide range of canine personalities and behaviors. She finds it incredibly rewarding to help shy or shut-down foster dogs regain their confidence and thrive. She says that watching them learn how to "dog again" is the best gift!

Laura's passion for behavior and training led her to join Anything is Pawzible in 2019. By combining her background in animal health, wellness, and behavior, she helped create and currently leads the Senior Pawzibilities class. She also specializes in integrating canine exercises with training to promote both physical wellness and cognitive enrichment for dogs.

Alison Doubleday, PhD, UW-AAB, CPDT-KA, CCUI
Certified Professional Dog Trainer

A lifelong animal lover, Alison entered the training world thanks to her Australian Cattle Dogs who have all participated in group classes at Anything is Pawzible! Helping these rescue pups work through various challenges and making sure they feel safe and happy in the world has been an inspirational experience and has impacted every aspect of Alison’s life. In 2017 Alison decided to explore her interest in dog training further by completing a certificate program in Applied Animal Behavior from the University of Washington. Alison is continuously working to expand her own knowledge and skill set. In addition to being a Certified Dog Trainer through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, Alison is also a Certified Control Unleashed Instructors. These experiences, as well as nearly 20 years of experience teaching anatomy to medical and dental students, reinforced Alison’s passion for education and for the scientific underpinnings of positive reinforcement and force-free methods. She is committed to this evidence-based approach to training and behavioral modification and is excited to be a part of the Anything is Pawzible team. When she is not working, Alison enjoys participating in agility classes and competing in canine nosework trials with her dogs.

Judit Arroyo, CPDT-KA
Certified Professional Dog Trainer

Judit Arroyo’s journey into dog training began when she was just 17 years old and struggling with her first dog, Puffy. Naturally timid, Puffy developed severe reactivity and aggression toward people and other dogs by the age of two. Unable to afford professional training and unwilling to give up on him, Judit became determined to learn everything she could about dog behavior and training.
In 2002, that determination led her to apply for an internship at one of Chicago’s few dog training schools at the time. She was later hired as part of their training staff, launching a lifelong career helping dogs and their families.

After earning her BA in Sociology with a minor in Psychology, Judit continued to expand her work in dog training. She served as Director of Training for a South Loop daycare facility for 10 years, led the training program for Animal Career Academy for 6 years, and volunteered as a dog/handler team evaluator for SitStayRead for over a decade. Her writings on dog behavior have been featured in both national and international publications. Judit’s Reactive Dog class was modeled in The APDT Chronicle of the Dog.

Judit also competed in Rally-O, CPE, and AKC Agility with her beloved Miniature American Shepherd, Lilu Manai. Her current deaf dog, Saint, introduced her to nosework and taught her the importance of slowing down and simply being present with her dog. Now a senior, Saint enjoys peaceful walks and quiet adventures with Judit and her family.

Education and advocacy remain at the heart of Judit’s work. She currently serves on the board of The Inner Pup as their behaviorist and travels to New Orleans each year to support rescue efforts and community outreach. Becoming a parent deepened her passion for helping children and dogs build safe, respectful relationships. Recognizing the need for gentle, child-friendly education, she began writing children’s books focused on dog safety and empathy.

Her debut picture book, Sugarmint: A Mindful Story About Being Safe with Dogs, will launch in Fall 2026. Learn more about her books at Judit Arroyo

When she’s not writing, teaching, volunteering, or training, you’ll likely find Judit at a local farmer’s market, exploring parks with her family, or meditating in her garden—because everyone deserves a little more nature and peace in their lives.

Yvonne Feeney CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA
Manager of Operations
Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Certified Behavior Consultant-Canine
Canine Good Citizen Evaluator

It was a one year old rescue dog named Sasha who changed her life back in 2007. They immediately began taking much needed training classes where Sasha went on to earn her CGC and Yvonne developed a passion to learn about animal behavior. Yvonne had previously been a volunteer tutor to kids through Cabrini Green Youth Programs and found her combined passion for educating and empowering inner-city youth and instilling compassion for companion animals through Safe Humane Chicago programs. By getting to the root of animal cruelty, pet overpopulation, breaking the cycle of abuse and developing community through the human-animal bond, Yvonne and Sasha, an SHC Ambassador dog, have been volunteering with the SHC Lifetime Bonds Program at IYC for 10 years. Yvonne leads that program as well as their Youth Safety and Violence Prevention (YSVP) program working with YMCA teens at Chicago Animal Care and Control. She is also a former SHC Board member. She volunteers with ALIVE Rescue, heading up their Barn Wranglers group of volunteer dog handlers/trainers. Prior to dog training, Yvonne worked as a lab manager for 15 years at Northwestern University’s Robert H. Lurie Cancer Research Center. She received her bachelors degree in Biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a graduate of CanineLink Academy. Her certifications require continued learning in the field of animal behavior and she specializes in fear and anxiety issues in dogs. After being involved with Chicago Canine Rescue as a volunteer adoption counselor and foster, she foster failed with a returned pup named Kyle. They do agility where Yvonne also assists in training with Stacey Hawk at Hawk City K9. She also has a cat named Indy.