Dog Training for Barrington Dog Owners
Barrington is known for its historic downtown, the Catlow Theater and wide open preserves like Cuba Marsh. A well-mannered dog fits right into that lifestyle, and Mystic Paws Academy is about 13 miles away at 140 W. Terra Cotta Ave in Crystal Lake, straight up Route 14.
Barrington families looking for a dog trainer who uses positive methods, not prong or shock collars, train with us. Our classes are small and practical, and our levels system lets your dog keep growing from puppy manners to dog sports.
Barrington dogs often split time between downtown sidewalks, quiet neighborhood streets and long trail walks at Cuba Marsh. Each needs different skills: calm passing near people, a loose leash on narrow paths and staying on the trail where dogs must be leashed. Our levels build those skills one step at a time.
Barrington owners can choose from:
Group obedience classes in 4 levels
Puppy training with the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy class
Dog sports: Hoopers, Rally, Scent Work, Treibball and AKC FIT DOG
Trick dog classes for the whole family
Private, one-on-one dog grooming
Free online courses you can start at home today
Find Your Fit
Which Program Fits Your Dog?
Which line sounds most like your Barrington dog?
Start with Level 1, our AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy class (from 8 weeks), plus the free Bringing Home Your Puppy course.
Begin with the free Bringing Home Your Rescue course, then join Level 1 when you're ready.
Try Hoopers, Rally, Scent Work or Trick Dog classes to keep a smart dog busy.
Our Programs
Our Dog Training Programs
Barrington families can grow from obedience into Rally, Scent Work or Trick Dog titles.
Hoopers (low-impact, agility-style), Rally, Scent Work, Treibball, and Fit Dogs as an AKC FIT DOG Club.
4 group levels, each 7 to 8 weeks with 40+ exercises. Level 1 is $200 and Levels 2 to 4 are $175 each.
One day a week for 8 weeks, three hours per visit, with a private lesson component. $1,800.
Puppy Training
Puppy Training for Barrington Puppies
Barrington pups can begin at 8 weeks, well before their first busy downtown stroll.
Level 1 qualifies as the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy class. S.T.A.R. stands for Socialization, Training, Activity and Responsibility.
Rabies (Illinois-required) and core vaccines your vet recommends (for example DAPP) are needed; Bordetella may be required for group settings.
New puppy at home? Start with our free "Bringing Home Your Puppy" course: setup, potty, sleep, socialization and biting for the first 30 days.
What Barrington Families Say
Read more reviews from local families on Google
Reviews
Meet Your Dog Trainers
Your Dog Trainers
Trainer • Educator • Canine Behavior Specialist
Looking for a Barrington dog trainer you can trust? Heather Pohlman founded Mystic Paws Academy and has more than 30 years of experience with dogs. She is a certified Dog Bite Prevention Educator (Doggone Safe), an AKC Canine Ambassador, and a certified Trick Dog, Stunt Dog and Canine Conditioning Instructor. She leads our team of trainers and our groomer.
“Training shouldn’t feel like work. It should feel like a relationship.”
Local Tips
Dog Life in Barrington: Local Tips
Barrington has beautiful places to walk a dog, plus a few rules that surprise new owners. Barrington straddles Cook and Lake County, which affects tags and forest preserve permit prices. Here is what to know.
3 miles of trails at 24205 W. Cuba Rd, Deer Park, with a gravel link to Barrington's Citizens Park. Keep dogs leashed and on the trails, and pick up after them. Use the gravel link for loose-leash practice.
The Barrington Park District does not allow dogs at Langendorf Park. Many dog owners use the trail from Citizens Park into Cuba Marsh, where leashed dogs are welcome on the trails.
The village offers pet registration through the Barrington Police Department, and your dog must wear a county rabies tag. Barrington sits in both Cook and Lake County, so Lake County off-leash permits cost more for Cook County homes. Keep your permit visible when you visit.
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Prefer to start at home before the drive from Barrington? Start with a free online course: "7 Days Through Your Dog's Eyes", "Bringing Home Your Puppy" or "Bringing Home Your Rescue". No card needed. When you are ready, Level 1 Online is $150 and uses the same curriculum we teach in class.
Start at home
Start Training at Home Today
Adopted from one of our partner rescues? They can give you a code for 25% off Level 1 Online, and they receive 10% of every course you take after Level 1.
Getting Started
How to Get Started
Barrington families can sign up online in a few minutes. Here is the path.
Book Level 1 on our booking portal.
Watch the New Student Orientation before your first class.
Bringing kids? Attend the free 90-minute Canine Communication Seminar first.
Already trained? Call 779-994-4200 to be evaluated for a higher level.
140 W. Terra Cotta Ave, Crystal Lake, IL 60014. All classes and grooming take place at our Crystal Lake facility; we do not have a Barrington location.
About 13 miles, roughly 23 to 30 minutes by car. Take Route 14 (Northwest Hwy) northwest through Cary to Route 31 and Route 176 in Crystal Lake.
From Barrington
Where We Train
Dog Training Barrington, IL: FAQs
No. All classes and grooming happen at our facility at 140 W. Terra Cotta Ave, Crystal Lake, IL 60014, about 13 miles from Barrington.
About 13 miles, roughly 23 to 30 minutes by car via Route 14 northwest.
Yes. Barrington dogs must wear a county rabies tag from Cook County or Lake County, depending on the address. You can also register your pet with the village through the Barrington Police Department. Our group classes ask for rabies proof.
Level 1 is $200 and Levels 2 to 4 are $175 each. Packages save 10% per class. Level 1 Online is $150.
Yes. We are a force-free facility; prong, choke and shock (e-) collars are not allowed in our building.
Nearby Towns
Dog Training Near Barrington
Families from Barrington's neighboring towns also train with us in Crystal Lake.
FAQs
Dog Training Barrington, IL: FAQs
Yes, you can, but you must call first and we will give you options. Some of our classes may contain private or sensitive material and are not open for public watching.
Children are welcome to actively participate in our training, however, if a family has children under the age of 8, the parents need to attend our Canine Communication Seminar first before the children are allowed in the ring. If children over the age of 8 want to train their own dog (with a parent or guardian in attendance in the ring) the child must also come to the seminar before they enter class. Our training space also allows us to gate families with children in so they can stay safe.
Yes, the best training that will happen with your dog is in your home. Think of this, we are here to teach you to train your dog, so homework is more like getting to play intelligently and thoughtfully with your dog!
You will soon! We are in the process of opening our online academy July 1st of 2026. If you are local to us and can't find a class that fits your time needs, you'll be able to take the same class online.
We take all credit cards. We are a cash-free facility, but we can invoice you for any purchases you make.
We take pride not just in cleanliness, but health. We have an amazing Pudu CCP1 Pro autonomous janitorial robot, named Rosie, who scrubs the floors at least once per day with a product that is anti-bacterial and anti-viral. We also regularly clear and sanitize our bathrooms, and all of our public spaces.
There's no right or wrong age. Even an old dog can learn new tricks. Obviously the earlier you can get into training, the better. But if you dog is newly adopted from a shelter or rescue, we do insist you allow your dog several weeks of peace and quiet, no visitors, no outings, to let them decompress and lower their stress levels before you start class.
We don't believe in rushing dogs or people. Our curriculum is detailed, with each level has over 40 exercises! Each course is 7-8 weeks long, but we suggest taking some breaks so you can proof the material between courses. Figure 12-18 months for the entire program to get you up to a confident Canine Good Citizen level.
Absolutely! In fact, we have a shelter and rescue dog program that can benefit new adopters and the shelter or rescue they adopt
We welcome you to MPA! If you have a CGC, CGCA, or CGCU, you are welcome to join our advanced classes. If you do not but wish to test, please let us know, we'd be happy to facilitate that. If you have a graduate certificate, or give us the name of your training facility, we can verify the training. As a final result, we can do a free consultation to evaluate your dog for our advanced classes.
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