Insight Into The Quality Of Our Training
Comments About Our Trainer
From River Forest
My husband and I continue to enroll our“boys” in Establishment Dog Training and have done so for at least 12 years. We started training with our “boys” when they were ‘unruly juveniles” and have never regretted it. Classes are not “doggie playtime”, our dogs actually learned to obey, and socialize with others resulting in great well behaved members of the family. Cindy’s classes offer a broad variety training and she takes a personnel interest in all her pupils.
Cindy trains not only your dog but also makes you a more knowledgeable and responsible owner. An exceptional trainer and teacher, Cindy has been there for us on many occasions with caring help, advice and concern. We have and will continue to recommend Cindy’s Classes, she not only motivates and trains, she provides a positive experience for both pet and owner.
Sis and Ron
River Forest
My husband and I continue to enroll our“boys” in Establishment Dog Training and have done so for at least 12 years. We started training with our “boys” when they were ‘unruly juveniles” and have never regretted it. Classes are not “doggie playtime”, our dogs actually learned to obey, and socialize with others resulting in great well behaved members of the family. Cindy’s classes offer a broad variety training and she takes a personnel interest in all her pupils.
Cindy trains not only your dog but also makes you a more knowledgeable and responsible owner. An exceptional trainer and teacher, Cindy has been there for us on many occasions with caring help, advice and concern. We have and will continue to recommend Cindy’s Classes, she not only motivates and trains, she provides a positive experience for both pet and owner.
Sis and Ron
River Forest
From Riverside
I first heard of Cindy Erickson and Establishment Dog Training on a very cold, windy, rainy, Saturday morning while waiting outside for my groomer’s shop to open. I was standing in the bitter cold with my giant, two year old German Shepherd, Rocky, as he pulled wildly on the leash, trying his best to drag me over to a Doberman waiting with his owner, an elderly lady. As we stood there waiting, her Doberman sat quietly and obediently. Then she said to me, “You must take your dog to Cindy Erickson. She’s the best!” The rest, as they say, is history.
As one of Cindy Erickson’s faithful students, I’ve been attending her dog training classes for about 15 years. What I like is the variety of classes and advanced levels offered. After passing basic obedience, my dogs have taken advanced heeling, rally, retrieving, scent discrimination, agility, fly ball, treibball, and canine good citizenship classes, as well as, learning an endless variety of tricks and games, such as tic-tac-toe, scrabble for dogs, basket ball, ring toss, carry the groceries, open and close the cabinet, and dead dog.
Generally speaking, the classes are small, and Cindy helps with individual behavior problems. My first German Shepherd, Rocky, was leash aggressive when he first started classes. Cindy worked with me until I was able to manage his aggressive behavior. As the years went by and Rocky advanced through the classes, he became a very socialized dog and a model canine citizen. Another one of my shepherds, Tori, had severe separation anxiety when she started basic. By working with Cindy, Tori has become a much calmer and more balanced dog.
In addition, these classes are great exercise for dogs, both physically and mentally. Learning new behaviors really challenges and stimulates them. Being around so many other dogs really socializes them too. Working with my dogs in this way has made me a much more confident handler, and it has strengthened my bond with my beloved canines.
Cindy goes above and beyond to help with canine health issues. She was amazingly knowledgeable and supportive when my shepherds experienced major health problems, such as cancer, digestive disorders, genetic eye disorders, and allergies. I will never forget how touched I was when Cindy asked the church pastor to say a special blessing for Rocky when he was diagnosed with cancer.
Every year, Cindy hosts the Christmas party in December and the Dog School Olympics in May for all of her advanced classes. Dogs and their humans alike enjoy the games, food, and fun at these special events. About three dozen dogs compete in obedience and agility events at the Olympics for top ranking scores as a culmination of everything that we learned that year. Thank you Cindy for all you’ve done! I could not have done it without you!
Sue Pierce
Riverside
I first heard of Cindy Erickson and Establishment Dog Training on a very cold, windy, rainy, Saturday morning while waiting outside for my groomer’s shop to open. I was standing in the bitter cold with my giant, two year old German Shepherd, Rocky, as he pulled wildly on the leash, trying his best to drag me over to a Doberman waiting with his owner, an elderly lady. As we stood there waiting, her Doberman sat quietly and obediently. Then she said to me, “You must take your dog to Cindy Erickson. She’s the best!” The rest, as they say, is history.
As one of Cindy Erickson’s faithful students, I’ve been attending her dog training classes for about 15 years. What I like is the variety of classes and advanced levels offered. After passing basic obedience, my dogs have taken advanced heeling, rally, retrieving, scent discrimination, agility, fly ball, treibball, and canine good citizenship classes, as well as, learning an endless variety of tricks and games, such as tic-tac-toe, scrabble for dogs, basket ball, ring toss, carry the groceries, open and close the cabinet, and dead dog.
Generally speaking, the classes are small, and Cindy helps with individual behavior problems. My first German Shepherd, Rocky, was leash aggressive when he first started classes. Cindy worked with me until I was able to manage his aggressive behavior. As the years went by and Rocky advanced through the classes, he became a very socialized dog and a model canine citizen. Another one of my shepherds, Tori, had severe separation anxiety when she started basic. By working with Cindy, Tori has become a much calmer and more balanced dog.
In addition, these classes are great exercise for dogs, both physically and mentally. Learning new behaviors really challenges and stimulates them. Being around so many other dogs really socializes them too. Working with my dogs in this way has made me a much more confident handler, and it has strengthened my bond with my beloved canines.
Cindy goes above and beyond to help with canine health issues. She was amazingly knowledgeable and supportive when my shepherds experienced major health problems, such as cancer, digestive disorders, genetic eye disorders, and allergies. I will never forget how touched I was when Cindy asked the church pastor to say a special blessing for Rocky when he was diagnosed with cancer.
Every year, Cindy hosts the Christmas party in December and the Dog School Olympics in May for all of her advanced classes. Dogs and their humans alike enjoy the games, food, and fun at these special events. About three dozen dogs compete in obedience and agility events at the Olympics for top ranking scores as a culmination of everything that we learned that year. Thank you Cindy for all you’ve done! I could not have done it without you!
Sue Pierce
Riverside
From Brookfield
I have been training with Cindy since I got our first dog 17 years ago. Cindy has been there for me every step of the way....from tips on bringing home a baby to a dog that really didn't like kids to when my current dog was diagnosed with pancreatitis at 4 years old. He pulled through after a while with the help of a skilled doctor and ideas from Cindy on which tests we should follow through on and which tests were not necessary. My 16 year old daughter has been the main trainer in our house now for 4 years. She is a special needs child on the autism spectrum with severe social anxiety. Being with the dogs really brings out the best in her. Cindy is so patient with my daughter giving her advice on how to handle a very hyper terrier. Also, whenever we have trouble getting our dog to do something in class, all it takes is for Cindy to look our dog in the eye and he does whatever she asks. It's pretty amazing to watch.
Nancy Gillespie
Brookfield
I have been training with Cindy since I got our first dog 17 years ago. Cindy has been there for me every step of the way....from tips on bringing home a baby to a dog that really didn't like kids to when my current dog was diagnosed with pancreatitis at 4 years old. He pulled through after a while with the help of a skilled doctor and ideas from Cindy on which tests we should follow through on and which tests were not necessary. My 16 year old daughter has been the main trainer in our house now for 4 years. She is a special needs child on the autism spectrum with severe social anxiety. Being with the dogs really brings out the best in her. Cindy is so patient with my daughter giving her advice on how to handle a very hyper terrier. Also, whenever we have trouble getting our dog to do something in class, all it takes is for Cindy to look our dog in the eye and he does whatever she asks. It's pretty amazing to watch.
Nancy Gillespie
Brookfield
From Chicago
As one of Cindy's students, I have the opportunity to tell you how much I appreciate her being in my and my dogs life. Not only is she an experienced dog trainer, but what I and all the other students know is that she is a "dog whisperer". There's magic between her and whatever dog she is working with. They adore her.
When we are struggling, they do what she asks of them. I also will take this space to say thank her for the many times she walked me through various medical issues with my dogs. Having three shelties, it seems I am regularly asking her help. When my darling Sally was in last stages of her life Cindy was there, when my new sheltie puppy hurt his leg, Cindy was there to rule out break or fracture. We who attend one of her classes are so fortunate to avail ourselves of her expertise, but who benifits most are the dogs, it's a win win situation, we gain confidence as dog handlers and they have a safer, more structured, fun life.
Joan Cronin
Chicago
As one of Cindy's students, I have the opportunity to tell you how much I appreciate her being in my and my dogs life. Not only is she an experienced dog trainer, but what I and all the other students know is that she is a "dog whisperer". There's magic between her and whatever dog she is working with. They adore her.
When we are struggling, they do what she asks of them. I also will take this space to say thank her for the many times she walked me through various medical issues with my dogs. Having three shelties, it seems I am regularly asking her help. When my darling Sally was in last stages of her life Cindy was there, when my new sheltie puppy hurt his leg, Cindy was there to rule out break or fracture. We who attend one of her classes are so fortunate to avail ourselves of her expertise, but who benifits most are the dogs, it's a win win situation, we gain confidence as dog handlers and they have a safer, more structured, fun life.
Joan Cronin
Chicago
From Berwyn
I remember the moment my wife and I first met Mabel. She was in a tiny cage at a pound in Chicago and she stuck her little paw at us seeming to say, "Get me out of here!" How could we say no to that? She has been the sweetest companion to Lindsey and I from day one.
That being said, to say she came with some issues would be an understatement. From jumping all over friends who came to visit us to insisting on tugging and pulling whenever we took her for a walk, Mabel was beginning to become more than we could handle. Yet, those issues paled in comparison to her behavior around other dogs. The moment she encountered another dog she would change from the sweet loving creature that we have come to know and love, into a little ball of fury.
In fact, I can remember of at least 4 occasions where she actually attacked another person's dog. We took her to two different trainers before Cindy. Nothing seemed to work. Then came Cindy. It took her all of about 10 seconds to diagnose one of the main problems. Me. Unlike other trainers that I have gone to, Cindy doesn't just train the dog. She was able to show me how my anxiety, inconsistency when it came to correcting Mabel's bad behavior and my fear of taking charge helped to create an environment that fed Mabel's aggressive behavior.
I remember my first day of class when Cindy witnessed Mabel leading me as the entire class walked around the room. She quickly took Mabel's leash and I swear, within five steps Mabel was by Cindy's side and constantly looking up at her as if to say, "Am I doing this right?"
It felt like a weight had been lifted because I absolutely love that dog and felt at the time like I was at my wits' end. I knew at that moment that Mabel's unfixable behavior was in fact, anything but unfixable. Today Mabel gets along with dogs and can actually play with them without resorting to violence!! Walks have gone from a constant tug-of-war to a pleasant stroll. I think the best compliment I can give Cindy is that while she wasn't the first trainer I went to, she was the last.
Within five minutes of meeting with Cindy, we learned more about dogs and dog behavior than we had learned from all of the books we had read and all of our other experiences we had with other "dog trainers". Cindy is the real deal!
Noah and Lindsey Dorfman
Berwyn
I remember the moment my wife and I first met Mabel. She was in a tiny cage at a pound in Chicago and she stuck her little paw at us seeming to say, "Get me out of here!" How could we say no to that? She has been the sweetest companion to Lindsey and I from day one.
That being said, to say she came with some issues would be an understatement. From jumping all over friends who came to visit us to insisting on tugging and pulling whenever we took her for a walk, Mabel was beginning to become more than we could handle. Yet, those issues paled in comparison to her behavior around other dogs. The moment she encountered another dog she would change from the sweet loving creature that we have come to know and love, into a little ball of fury.
In fact, I can remember of at least 4 occasions where she actually attacked another person's dog. We took her to two different trainers before Cindy. Nothing seemed to work. Then came Cindy. It took her all of about 10 seconds to diagnose one of the main problems. Me. Unlike other trainers that I have gone to, Cindy doesn't just train the dog. She was able to show me how my anxiety, inconsistency when it came to correcting Mabel's bad behavior and my fear of taking charge helped to create an environment that fed Mabel's aggressive behavior.
I remember my first day of class when Cindy witnessed Mabel leading me as the entire class walked around the room. She quickly took Mabel's leash and I swear, within five steps Mabel was by Cindy's side and constantly looking up at her as if to say, "Am I doing this right?"
It felt like a weight had been lifted because I absolutely love that dog and felt at the time like I was at my wits' end. I knew at that moment that Mabel's unfixable behavior was in fact, anything but unfixable. Today Mabel gets along with dogs and can actually play with them without resorting to violence!! Walks have gone from a constant tug-of-war to a pleasant stroll. I think the best compliment I can give Cindy is that while she wasn't the first trainer I went to, she was the last.
Within five minutes of meeting with Cindy, we learned more about dogs and dog behavior than we had learned from all of the books we had read and all of our other experiences we had with other "dog trainers". Cindy is the real deal!
Noah and Lindsey Dorfman
Berwyn