Dog Training for Lake in the Hills Dog Owners
Lake in the Hills has its own village Bark Park, which is great news for dogs and a good reason to work on manners first. Mystic Paws Academy is about 6 miles north at 140 W. Terra Cotta Ave in Crystal Lake, an easy drive up Randall Rd and Main St.
Families here want a dog trainer in the Lake in the Hills area who teaches skills for real neighborhood life: passing dogs on the sidewalk, coming when called at the Bark Park and settling during the Summer Sunset Festival fireworks. That is exactly what our positive classes are for.
The village Bark Park asks a lot of a dog: entering through a gate calmly, sharing space with strangers and leaving when you ask. Village rules also mean no running at large and always carrying a waste bag. Our classes give Lake in the Hills dogs the manners to enjoy all of it safely.
Lake in the Hills 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 Lake in the Hills 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
Lake in the Hills owners can move from obedience into Hoopers, Rally or Scent Work.
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 Lake in the Hills Puppies
Lake in the Hills puppies can start from 8 weeks, well before they are old enough to join the Bark Park.
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 Lake in the Hills 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 Lake in the Hills 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 Lake in the Hills: Local Tips
Lake in the Hills has clear village dog rules and its own dog park. Village fines can reach $500, so the basics below are worth knowing before your next walk. Here is what to know.
A 10-acre village dog park on Haligus Rd, open dawn to 9 pm. Residents pay $50 a year for the first dog and $10 for each additional dog. Register at Village Hall, 600 Harvest Gate, for a key fob and tag. Visit at quiet times for your dog's first few trips.
Dogs may not run at large, and walkers must carry something to pick up waste on public property. Each home can keep up to 4 animals over 4 months old. Fines run from $50 to $500. Clip a bag holder to your leash so you never forget.
The village does not require its own pet license, but every dog over 4 months needs a McHenry County rabies tag. Get it at your vet or at McHenry County Animal Control in Crystal Lake. Register within 30 days of the rabies shot to avoid a $10 late fee.
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Want a head start before your first drive up to class? 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
Ready to start? Lake in the Hills owners follow the same four simple steps as every family we train.
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 Lake in the Hills location.
About 6 miles, roughly 13 to 18 minutes by car. Take Randall Rd north to Rakow Rd, then Pyott Rd and Main St north to Route 176 (Terra Cotta Ave) in Crystal Lake.
From Lake in the Hills
Where We Train
Dog Training Lake in the Hills, IL: FAQs
No. All classes and grooming happen at our facility at 140 W. Terra Cotta Ave, Crystal Lake, IL 60014, about 6 miles from Lake in the Hills.
About 6 miles, roughly 13 to 18 minutes by car, heading north on Randall Rd and then Main St.
The village does not require a pet license, but McHenry County requires rabies vaccination and registration for dogs over 4 months, and village code requires that county registration. We ask for rabies proof before group classes.
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 Lake in the Hills
Families from towns around Lake in the Hills train side by side in our classes.
FAQs
Dog Training Lake in the Hills, 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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