A dog may be man's best friend, but before he can be best man at a wedding, he must learn to stop slobbering and giving toasts that are nothing but barks. Teach your dog the rules of gentlemanly conduct with this Groupon.
The Deal
- $80 for an eight-week puppy training course (a $160 value)
The hour-long classes meet once a week for eight consecutive weeks. Owners must supply proof of rabies, bordetella, and distemper vaccinations. Click to view the schedule. In August, classes will take place on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30–7:30 p.m. and 7:30–8:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:30–10:30 a.m., 10:30–11:30 a.m., and 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Bark University Inc.
According to Buffalo Grove Countryside, Candy Oppman trained her first dog when she was only 9 years old. Like many people, she grew up and started a family—only her family turned out to be a combination of kids and rescue dogs. After founding her own pet-sitting business, Candy went on to learn about training and animal behavior. These skills would prove useful for her next endeavor: Bark University, Inc.
Inside Bark University's 3,500-square-foot facility, trainers rear canines through a method called "pack leadership"; or as Candy puts it, "training them as a mother dog trains her puppies, in a language they understand." The full-service facility is also open to daycare, where supervised dogs can frolic along the 5,000-square-foot fenced backyard and in the rubber-matted playroom in groups separated by size, temperament, and playing style. They round out their services with grooming sessions and overnight stays—wherein a staffer remains on premises to keep pets safe and see if they start to talk.