Training

Two of Chicago’s top Professional Dog Trainers and Animal Behaviorists, Elana Morgan and Joe Kidd, will train your dog with a “one-on-one” approach. Between the two of them, they carry almost 60 years of professional experience! We realize all dogs are different and react to different stimuli and situations depending on upbringing, breeding and environment. We will school your dog in a fair, effective, humane and safe manner, according to your dog’s character and make-up. What may be perfect for one dog could totally destroy the spirit and character of another. Our training is based on “collar/leash” corrections and a deep sense of trust. We try to stay away from any method of “food/treat” training and instead, mold your dog into a family member who enjoys working for you, because of you…..not because your pocket is crammed with “Snausages!” We do NOT use shock collars as a “base training method”, they are a “tool” that is NOT for every dog! Our obedience schooling is over a quarter century, true and tried, two week, in-board course. If your dog needs to stay longer, (class clown), the 3rd week is on us! We guarantee our training. After completion of this course, you have free group and/or private classes for the life of your dog. Group class is held on Saturday mornings and privates are by appointment, seven days a week!

We specialize in:

•Basic obedience
•Advanced obedience
•Service dogs
•Aggressive dogs
•Behavioral Problems
•Canine Good Citizen Testing
•Personalized and Special Needs training
•Small, Medium, Large, Giant and Rare breeds

Joe Kidd

Elana Morgan is the Owner and Director of Training at Morgan’s Dogs. She has been a Professional Trainer and Animal Behaviorist for the past 30 years and has been around, trained and worked with animals of all species and breeds, her entire life. She is CPR Pet Certified, as well as CGC Certified. She is Vice President and Co-Founder of "War Dogs Making it Home" a 501 (c)(3) NFP program, that matches combat veterans up with rescued dogs trained to be PTSD Service Dogs. Elana has been used as a court, expert witness in dog bites and the interpreting of all depositions. She has had her own dog column, “The Canine Chronicles“, which she intends to, continue, via this site. She is not only well versed in canines, but, avian, primate and feline, as well. She has given seminars on the animals she owns and studies. You can learn more about Elana, in “Morgan’s Dogs Bio”. Elana Dikaitis Morgan was born in Montreal, Canada. She resided there the first 23 years of her life. She was taught at a young age to respect animals, but, more importantly, to have them respect her! Her parents always had trained German Shepherds and Boxers and later went on to breeding and showing Great Pyrenees. She always wanted a pet monkey, but her parents weren’t “aboot” to say yes. Suffice it to say, her life has been surrounded by animals, especially dogs. Elana resides on top of Morgan’s Dogs, with her Afghanistan rescued Pyrenees Mix, Pippa, 1 rescued, 3-legged, Golden Mix, Story, 1 German Shepherd, Uso, 4 Parrots, Joey, Jessie, Sydney, and Sabu, 6 cats, Winston, Roamy, Evie, Picasso, Valle’ and Vida. Guarding the kennel is her Great Pyrenees, Moses, and Oldee Bulldogee, Dante. She remains to this day, married to her mutts.

Joe Kidd:

Even though Joe has been with Morgan’s Dogs, for a little over 5 years, he has been in the “dog business” almost as long as Elana! He has owned three different dog training schools, managed “National K9”, (Illinois's largest dog/man security team) for 10 years, and while he works full time here! (Busy as a beagle!). He is CGC certified. He leads the Group Obedience Class for Morgan’s Dogs’ Graduates. Joe is well known as being a major competitor in and around Chicago dog shows, along with putting on many of his own, which were always well attended and judged. His multiple collections of trophies, speak for themselves. He is a well known and respected decoy in the Personal Protection world and has been an inspiration to countless dog trainers and a host of canine competitors! You can learn more about Joe, in “Morgan’s Dogs Bio”.

All our Kennel/K9 Caretakers go through rigorous and strict training. They are experienced, dedicated and many have an ongoing relationship with frequent boarders! None of the dogs at Morgan’s could be trained and kept as well as they are without the help of these employees. Every job done by each person, contributes to the well trained and stabilized canine that graduates at the completion of each course.

Tricks and advanced obedience are taught at the free Saturday group classes and/or privates you get after the initial two week course. Should your schedule be too busy to partake, you can always drop your dog off for a one week Refresher Course. A Refresher Course is only offered to our two week graduates. During a seven day Refresher, we can either tighten up your dog’s obedience, for those that have let things go, start on some advanced obedience or even teach a trick or two!