AnimalSense Canine Training and Behavior

Our rescue dog, Ginger was exhibiting a host of fear-​based issues, and when her fear started turning into aggression, we knew we needed professional guidance. We chose to go with private training, and Sally Bushwaller was recommended to us. Thank goodness for Sally! Ginger is doing so much better now than when we first started training. What my husband and I really love about Sally is that she she really gets to know and evaluates your particular dog and figures out techniques that the dog will respond to. The main problem we have been trying to eradicate with Ginger is aggression towards visitors to our home, and Ginger has made huge strides since Sally has started working with us.
Sally is super diligent — she takes detailed notes (and sometimes video), and provides very valuable feedback so that we can continue to make progress in between sessions. It is apparent that Sally truly cares about my dog and helping her overcome her fears. I would highly recommend Sally for any training that your dog needs.

I took a rescue boxer that I fostered here for their «shy dog» class and learned so MUCH!
this poor dog was afraid of my building’s elevator, all people approaching us on walks, the sound of rain, sounds coming from the hallway. She hated going into Petco or anywhere public but was fine in private homes. She had terrible separation anxiety and sometimes when I came home to her she was shivering and drooling. She was also fine in Animal Sense’s training facility. The boxer improved and I learned that some of what I thought about fearful dogs was actually not true. It took a lot of work to get the boxer to open up and be less afraid but the methods that were taught in this class were so valuable!
I did not have the time required to get her desensitized to everything she was fearful of and the time I spend at work was too long to keep her crated daily so I let a couple with another boxer adopt her. She’s very happy with her new sister.
Thanks again Animal Sense for another great class!

I took a class in canine fitness at Animal Sense that was offered in a partnership with my health club.
It was a small Sunday class… and a lot of fun. My dog and I had a wonderful time… and he was pretty well behaved considering he’s mildly reactive. There were only two other dogs in the class.
Later on, I tried taking one of the more mainstream classes… but the class was packed… my dog was stressed… and the trainers suggested that I convert my class into a private lesson. (Which rather defeated the purpose of taking a class… which was to have a weekly thing «to-​do» with my dog… that would help socialize him. I wish I had just asked for a refund.) My husband ended up having to go to the private lesson (I was ill.)…and it really didn’t tell us anything that I didn’t already know… or hadn’t already been working on.
I really wish they’d bring back the smaller Sunday classes. I also think they need to be a little more realistic when scheduling dogs for the space they have available. (The training facility is in a converted six car garage.) When I was in a class with four other dogs… there was plenty of space for my mildly reactive dog to be happy. When I tried taking the Focus class… there were over six dogs there (I can’t remember the exact number) and with the people… and chairs… there wasn’t enough space to let my dog have «space.»
And if you’re on a budget… seriously consider classes elsewhere. Animal Sense charges _​premium_​prices. I’m in town… so I didn’t mind paying for the convenience of having the facility withing walking distance.
Their one class geared towards reactive dogs is CRAZY expensive. Almost double the price of their other classes. I could see Animal Sense being a fun place to go to if you have a well socialized dog… and want to take agility… or a class on targeting… but if you have a dog with issues… probably not your best bet.

I adopted my first puppy last year and it was way more work and stress than I ever realized. My dog had severe separation anxiety and would drool excessively when I left her in her crate. She’d eat the couch and electric cords if I didn’t leave her in a crate.
Not having a clue, I reached out based on a few recommendations. Animalsense recommended a couple in home sessions with a behaviorist and a puppy training class for the low price of $ 500 or something almost as absurd. I agreed to one home visit and a class and they let me make payments.
The person who came to my house made me feel better, but none of the advice really helped. The class seemed to help, but I’m still not sure it was worth the extra $ 100 over classes at Petsmart. The fact that my friend with no prior experience got a job training at Petsmart and the people at Animalsense have years of experience and education probably does make a difference, but it’s a painful amount of money.
The trainers were very nice and I did attend a few subsequent classes there. I think this is a situation where you really have to make it worth the money. Ask them questions during class and just say no to the in-​home visits. My dog loves it there and if nothing else the supervised socialization is priceless.

I enrolled my puppy in both Puppy Pre-​School and Puppy Grade School. I was thrilled with the classes. I actually had enrolled in another puppy class at the same time as the Puppy Pre-​School (overkill, I know) and Sarah (Rothberger) was so much better that I stopped going to the other class. I liked that we didn’t put too much pressure on the puppies to learn too much too quickly and Sarah was always very positive about the puppies, quirks and all. The other puppy class made me feel like a stage mom, embarrassed if my 4 month old puppy didn’t absorb every lesson and respond appropriately to every command. Thank goodness I enrolled in AnimalSense, too!

I took my boxer to the puppy class when he was 10 weeks old. The class was great and I felt like it provided a great training foundation for him. Highly recommended.

After thinking about this for awhile, I’m not using this trainer anymore. The initial training lesson ($ 125) was. .. outrageous, to say the least. I don’t think the trainer spent enough time evaluating my dog. I’m fully aware that *I* need to be trained too, but really. This first session was supposed to be about MY DOG. I don’t think the short walk we took gave a clear picture.
I’m also not a big fan of treat training. I mean, I’m not always going to have a pocket full of chicken. So sadly, this was a big FAIL.

I couldnt be happier with my experiences with Animal Sense. I have a stray little princess who a year ago hated everything on wheels… okay everything in general. To the point where she would lunge at old women pulling shopping carts… yeah she has some issues. We did classes… and she was perfect… almost to the point of her own boredom. she would actually fall asleep in them! So we had to finally do an at home, and the trainer gave me an idea of just doing «watch me» as we walked… we did… and somehow a year later my little princess could care less about anyone around us!!! Wheels and all!
Now she still has some issues with people jogging with their dogs… but old ladies with carts are now safe as can be!
Thanks Animal Sense!!!

How is it I’m the first to review Jaime D’Amato & Crew? Unbelievable!
My 9 month old puppy (HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARGO! 1 day late) and I attend classes at the Uptown Location (thank you Soggy Paws for hosting!) and they have classes in Oak Park as well. Sarah rocks! I bought a class package that included 2 private sessions. Sarah could get my dog to do things WITHOUT treats! Amazing. She is magic. We use positive methods only — treats, voice, body language. Argo & I communicate better now & I’m less frustrated.
We have fun in puppy class. This is the class for older puppies but she still gives us a couple of play breaks because she knows how important socialization is. She is a great mediator of the play group.
Most importantly — Sarah knows how to communicate to the owners. She breaks things down so I can understand them. She is patient and kind to me (and Argo!) always.
I met Jaime in person only recently (the first client to walk into their new West Loop Offices!) to discuss training options for Argo but I talked to her over two years ago regarding my aggressive terror mix, oh, I mean terrier mix. :) I was unable to afford any training at the time and my baby is no longer with us but let me say — I’m sure she could have helped us.
Jaime is calm and friendly — great for dogs. Her own dogs are therapy dogs which isn’t easy to train, IMHO.
They have short sessions coming up in August and for a small fee, you and your dog can go to a «Come Anytime» class to work on one particular obedience challenge if you want.

I love this group of trainers.

I enrolled in the Dog Gone Issues class with my sometimes problem doggy. Jamie taught me a variety of positive techniques to facilitate improved behavior from my dog. My dog and I definitely learned a lot from Jamie and the other participants in the class. She’s definitely not quite Lassie yet, but it’s wonderful to be able to manage her better.
I’ve worked with several other dog trainers prior to Jamie and Jamie was by far the best.

Are you looking for some crazy good fun with your dog and learn a lot at the same time? Then AnimalSense is the place for you and your pooch! Jamie Damato and her team of great trainers are simply awesome. From puppies, small dogs, shy dogs, aggressive dogs, and old dogs, there is a class for all. They train in three locations (2 in Chicago and Oak Park), so you don’t even have to go far for great training.
My dog is in the shy category and the first class she sat on my lap shaking for the first 20 minutes. By the end of the six weeks, she was roaming around the room and checking out the other dogs and people. Every class I’ve taken since, whether it’s my dog or someone else’s, I see great progress as the weeks go on. Now we’re working towards being a therapy dog — from shy to therapy — yikes! :0)
Along with learning a lot, it’s simply a fun hour once a week to spend with my dog and others who love their dogs. Check them out and I bet you won’t be sorry.

Animal Sense has a class to solve every problem you may be experiencing with your dog. In addition to the wide variety, the classes are offered at many different times and at three different locations in Chicago. How convenient, right?
The staff could not be nicer, plus they are very supportive and they really know what they are doing. Olive and I loved our Basic Manners class so much we’re taking the next session, called (what else) More Basic Manners. I highly, highly recommend Animal Sense!

Animal Sense teaches a variety of dog obedience classes, and they are held in Oak Park, Uptown and the South Loop. The trainers really understand dogs, and are very knowledgeable on all types of behavior issues. The training is reward-​based, and uses positive reinforcement instead of negative ‘correction-​based’ training. Rescue dogs get a discount as well!
We just got back from our last class in the ‘Basic Manners’ session and our dog has really come a long way. Sure, she’s not perfect yet, but she’s learning and making tremendous progress and so are we! Plus, I’m pretty sure she had fun. Highly recommended!