About Dog Forward Training

<h2>A puppy specialist in West Dundee</h2>

<p>Dog Forward Training is based in West Dundee and describes itself as offering "positive dog training in the Chicago suburbs" with "personalized, private training &amp; socialization to bring out the best in your puppy." Both published programs are aimed at puppies up to 5 months old.</p>

<h3>Programs</h3>

<p>The Peak Puppy Potential Program is a 6-week program that combines in-home training, virtual support and field trips "where the trainer picks up your puppy, or meets you at a public location, to grow your pup's confidence through proper socialization." Virtual Puppy Training is a separate 6-week program for owners outside the Chicago suburbs or those who prefer remote lessons, with text and email support between sessions. Both are framed around nipping, chewing and jumping, setting up the home, handling and grooming tolerance, and preventing problems before they start.</p>

<h3>On socialization</h3>

<p>The services page argues that "the first four months of a dog's life are known as the 'critical socialization period'" and that socialization "does not mean letting your puppy meet every person and every dog that crosses your path" – exposure should be strategic and read from the puppy's body language.</p>

<h3>The trainer</h3>

<p>The About page is signed by Alisa Healy, "owner, and trainer at Dog Forward Training." She writes that she graduated from the Dog Trainer Professional program at Karen Pryor Academy and is a Certified Training Partner, certification number 14193, and also a Certified Family Dog Mediator. She says she has been training dogs since 2014, with work that has included shelter dogs in Malawi, coaching incarcerated youth learning to clicker train dogs, and training animals at a wildlife rescue.</p>