Services
Through personalized coaching and support, Shawn will help you identify goals, design a training plan, and lead you to success with your dog.
Services include but are not limited to:
- Puppy potty training
- Puppy foundation skills
- Basic manners for all ages
- Leash walking
- Reactivity to other dogs
- Jumping
- Greeting behavior
- Barking
- Resource guarding
- Separation training
- Agility
- Rally obedience
- Preparing dog for baby
Four training options available:
- PRIVATE VIRTUAL LESSONS - no matter where you live, help is a call or click away. Only $20 per 15 minute increment!
- PRIVATE IN-PERSON LESSONS - Chicago area in-person, hourly lessons.
- HOURLY IN-PERSON TRAINING - I will train your dog for you! Your presence is optional after your first virtual lesson.
- All of the above options receive a detailed summary after each meeting.
- VIRTUAL CLASSES - group training sessions are available no matter where you live.
About Shawn
Shawn Peek has over 30 years of training experience, with more than 20 years specific to dogs. She started her training career in 1992 at Brookfield Zoo. During her seven-year tenure, she rose to Senior Trainer and trained dolphins, walrus, sea lions, seals, and sea birds, using the principles of operant conditioning through positive reinforcement. She served as a consultant to other departments, such as elephants, wild dogs, and primates. As an active member of the International Marine Animals Trainers Association (IMATA), she shared her knowledge in trainer exchanges with the Dolphin Connection in Florida, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and Kolmarten Djurpark in Sweden.
In 1998 she decided to focus her skills on dogs. While still working at the zoo, she began an internship with a dog training school. She quickly knew she found her purpose, and in 1999, switched her energy to dog training completely -- and has never looked back.
She has designed and taught agility, rally obedience, Wag It Games, and preparing dogs for baby classes. She earned her CPDT-KA and was a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers as well as completed graduate credits in Animal Training with Ken Ramirez, Director of Training at Shedd Aquarium (at the time) and Western Illinois University.
While Shawn is grateful for the many years she shared her time and talents with other training organizations, in 2019, as her eldest daughter left for college, she decided to pursue her life-long dream of starting her own dog training business.
Inspiration and heartbeat
Shawn’s first dog was a rescue Australian Shepherd. He lost his first home due to his behavior with people he did not know. Shawn sharpened her skills on how best to manage and train dogs who are reactive and guard resources because of him. After his loss at 15.5 years of age, she volunteered for Mini Aussie Rescue and Support (MARS). She has fostered, placed and evaluated potential rescue dogs for MARS. Shawn misses Buddy every day.
Other Services
Digital Art
Do you have a favorite photo of your pet? Would you like it transformed into an art piece?
My daughter is an amazing artist. She offers hand drawn digital art portraits of pets or people. Contact me for details.