Dog Training for Hampshire Dog Owners
Hampshire keeps a rural, small-town feel, with big yards, farm fields and Coon Creek Country Days every summer. Country dogs still need good manners, and Mystic Paws Academy is about 22 miles northeast at 140 W. Terra Cotta Ave in Crystal Lake.
Hampshire families who want a positive dog trainer make the trip for our small classes, and many mix in-person levels with our online classes on busy weeks. Either way, your dog learns with rewards, not force.
Hampshire dogs often have big yards and open fields, which can make coming when called and walking on a leash harder to teach. Our classes focus on those exact skills, plus calm greetings for visitors and good manners for vet and grooming visits. Online options help on weeks the drive is too far.
Hampshire 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 Hampshire 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
Hampshire owners can combine online and in-person classes in one positive system.
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 Hampshire Puppies
Hampshire pups are welcome at 8 weeks; early socialization matters even more for dogs raised on quiet rural lots.
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 Hampshire 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 Hampshire 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 Hampshire: Local Tips
Hampshire has wide open space and county rules every dog owner should know. Most of Hampshire falls under Kane County, where animal control works hand in hand with village police. Here are the basics.
12 miles of asphalt, limestone and mowed trails at 44W780 Allen Rd. Kane County forest preserve rules say dogs must be leashed at all times outside designated off-leash areas, and you should clean up after them. Mowed trails are a nice soft surface for young dogs.
Dogs 4 months and older need a Kane County rabies tag. A 1-year tag for a spayed or neutered dog is $15, and residents 65 and older get the first tag free with the vaccine. Ask your vet about the 3-year tag to save trips.
Inside village limits, call the Hampshire Police Department, which works with Kane County Animal Control. In unincorporated areas, call Kane County Animal Control at (630) 232-3555. Save both numbers in your phone today.
.png)
From a Hampshire farmhouse kitchen, your first lesson can begin tonight. 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
Hampshire owners often begin with a free online course, then follow these four steps for in-person class.
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 Hampshire location.
About 22 miles, roughly 36 to 45 minutes by car. Take Route 72 east to Route 47, then north to Route 176 and east into Crystal Lake.
From Hampshire
Where We Train
Dog Training Hampshire, IL: FAQs
No. All classes and grooming happen at our facility at 140 W. Terra Cotta Ave, Crystal Lake, IL 60014, about 22 miles from Hampshire.
About 22 miles, roughly 36 to 45 minutes by car via Route 47 north. On weeks you cannot make the drive, Level 1 Online covers the same lessons.
Yes. Most Hampshire homes are in Kane County, where dogs from 4 months need a Kane County rabies tag, and seniors 65+ get the first one free. A few addresses fall in McHenry County instead. Bring rabies proof to class.
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 Hampshire
Families from towns near Hampshire also train with us in Crystal Lake.
FAQs
Dog Training Hampshire, 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.
.png)
%203.png)