Compassionate dog training in Chicago
Sniffspot’s top rated trainer in Illinois
Our services
What we offer
Private sessions, group classes, and drop-off options to help your dog build confidence, focus, and real-life skills.
Puppy classes
New puppy? We’ve got you.
Our puppy classes cover socialization, confidence building, and obedience foundations to help your dog grow into a well-adjusted adult.
Group classes
Build skills in a real-world setting
Our classes improve focus, confidence, and more in busy environments. Great for reactivity, engagement, and even fun tricks. Located at our Avondale training facility.
Private training
One-on-one, custom training
From basic obedience and potty training to separation anxiety, reactivity and aggression, we offer private lessons with flexible pricing and scheduling.
In-home day training
Let our trainers do the heavy lifting
Drop your pup off for half- or full-day structured sessions with our trainers at our Avondale location. Perfect for busy schedules and building consistent skills.
Drop-off training
Training while you’re at work
Our 4- and 5-week in-home programs combine hands-on trainer sessions with weekly transfer lessons to speed up progress and build real-world skills.
Playgroups
Safe, structured socialization
Beat the weather and the boredom! Trainer-led playgroups designed for puppies and small dogs learning polite play and confidence around others.
Behavior & training we help with
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Set your puppy up for success with early socialization, potty training, crate skills, and prevention for future behavior struggles.
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Pulling, zig-zagging, freezing, or overreacting on walks? We’ll help your dog learn to walk calmly and check in with you, even when the world is full of distractions.
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Dogs who lunge, bark, or growl at people or other dogs. Whether it’s fear, frustration, or guarding behavior. We help you uncover the “why” and create safer, more confident responses.
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Nervous rescues, shutdown dogs, or pups who struggle with new environments, strangers, or sounds. We teach coping skills to build trust and resilience.
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For high-energy dogs who struggle with self-regulation like jumping, grabbing, zoomies, or barking when excited. We turn chaos into clarity using positive reinforcement.
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Whether you’re starting fresh or rebuilding a bad association, we help make the crate a safe, cozy spot your dog actually wants to be in.
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Does your dog growl over food, toys, people, or space? We specialize in helping dogs feel safe without needing to guard the things they value.
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Does your dog panic when you leave? Barking, destructive behavior, accidents, or escaping can all be signs of separation anxiety.
We’ll help you build independence slowly and create a plan that feels safe for your dog (and for you to follow).
Our approach
Why choose Copilot
Training should be kind, clear, and fun, for dogs and their people. We use positive reinforcement to help dogs learn and feel good doing it.
We Train with
Kindness
We Know Every Dog’s Different
At Copilot, our trainers bring a variety of specialties so your dog gets support and tailored training plans that fits their unique needs.
We Love Our Chicago
Community
Flexible
Training Options
Training should be kind, effective, and fun—for both dogs and their people. We use positive reinforcement methods to help make that happen.
Sign up for group classes at our Avondale location or take advantage of in-home training. Not within our service areas? Try virtual sessions!
Meet the team
Treat dealers
Urban environments, enrichment & therapy dog training
Margaret Fraser
Jess Kupsik
Special needs pups
Megan Green
Trick training, Canine Good Citizen & all-things puppies
Hailey Mott
Leash walking, calming skills & rescue dog transitions
Reactivity, stranger danger & confidence building
Cailin Patracon
Susy Vallejo
Ronnie Gutierrez
Separation anxiety & predation substitution training
Reactivity, enrichment & confidence building
Certifications
Trained to train
Testimonials
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![Two light-colored dogs lying on a bed, one resting its head on the blanket, with a fan and bedroom wall in the background.]()
“Margaret provided us with so many tools to help support them while walking, and their reactivity has diminished significantly.”
Vicki & Brenton
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![A gray and white pit bull dog sitting outdoors in a wooded area, wearing a blue harness and collar, looking directly at the camera.]()
"Margaret is incredibly knowledgeable and she provided him (and us!) the one on one attention we needed. "
Lizzie & Laura
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![A happy brown and white dog sitting in a car with its tongue hanging out.]()
"Margaret’s calm and positive style creates an environment where dogs and humans can bring their imperfect selves to grow rapidly and approach challenges with curiosity, not fear or embarrassment."
Dana & Kevin
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![A fluffy black and white dog holding a green tennis ball in its mouth sits on a brick patio in a backyard with outdoor furniture and garden plants.]()
"Under Margaret’s leadership, we learned many techniques that helped all enjoy Hank on walks and in social situations. She was professional and friendly."
Steve & Karen
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![Close-up of a young, brown and white dog with a pink nose, sitting on green grass.]()
"Margaret's training methods are based on years of experience which is centered around understanding the underlying behavior and correcting it using positive reinforcement."
Alyssa
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![Small dog with a black and tan coat, sitting on grass with fallen leaves, wearing a pink harness and black leash.]()
"Margaret meets you and your pup wherever you are in your journey and makes the training fun, realistic, and achievable."
Lizzie
