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Ready for your DARN GOOD DOG, Chicago?
Meet Joan H. (left) and Joan Marie (right), the trainers behind Darn Good Dogs Chicago.
Meet Joan H. (left) and Joan Marie (right), the trainers behind Darn Good Dogs Chicago.
WHY ARE WE PASSIONATE ABOUT DOG TRAINING?
WHY ARE WE PASSIONATE ABOUT DOG TRAINING?
Joan Marie Dauber
Joan Marie Dauber
KPA CTP, CPDT KA
KPA CTP, CPDT KA
AVAILABILITY: MONDAY - THURSDAYS, SUNDAYS. Serving Chicago neighborhoods east of Kedzie, south of Montrose, north of Jackson, and all the way to the lakefront.
For over 15 years, Joan Marie has worked with dogs of all ages, all histories, and all breeds at PAWS Chicago, the largest no-kill humane organization in the Midwest. 90% of the dogs she works with have behavior issues - without training and enrichment, some could become quite difficult to place in a home due to anxiety, fearfulness, and destructive behaviors. She has taught handling and canine body language to animal rescue volunteers, provided foster counseling, conducted pack walks, playgroups, and dog introductions.
Joan Marie has been recognized with several awards for her work at PAWS Chicago. In 2022 she completed the Karen Pryor Academy Professional Dog Trainer program and passed with distinction. In 2023 she received her CPDT-KA certification.
As a trainer Joan Marie specializes in aggression and reactivity but also loves helping the shy and fearful dogs to build city confidence. She attends the yearly Aggression in Dogs Conference and continues her education about dog behavior attending other conferences, webinars, and online courses.
Joan Marie: "Truly the big dog personalities often come with some unexpected features underneath! There is no greater feeling for me than to see a once poorly behaved, anxious dog become a happy, easy to walk, and sociable pup.
I bring my tools as a teacher of 20+ years, my problem-solving skills, and my canine experience and knowledge to my training - and can't wait to see you feel more relaxed, have more fun, and take great pride in your trained darn good dog."
Joan Harris
Joan Harris
KPA Grad, CPDT-KA
KPA Grad, CPDT-KA
AVAILABILITY: TUESDAY- THURSDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY. Serving these Chicago areas: east of Pulaski, south of Bryn Mawr, north of Fulton Market, and west of Ashland; and east of Pulaski, south of Lawrence, north of Chicago, and to the lakefront.
MORNINGS TUESDAY-THURSDAY. Serving Oak Park & River Forest.
For over 30 years, Joan Harris has trained dogs and their people in the Chicagoland area. Her main goal is to help people develop happy and healthy relationships with their dogs. She feels that force-free training using positive reinforcement creates a lasting bond—and fantastic results.
Joan began her career in dog training after she adopted her first rescue German Shepherd, Hans. She entered the competition world with her next seven German Shepherds, earning titles in obedience, tracking and protection work. Simultaneously she worked as a trainer helping people with their pets and helping solve the behavior challenges encountered in the home environment.
After volunteering for seven years, Joan officially joined the staff of Chicago’s largest no-kill shelter PAWS Chicago as Director of Canine Training and Behavior. During her time at PAWS, she helped to evaluate the canine population and assist with finding their forever homes. She also trained staff and volunteers on safe handling techniques and canine body language.
Her experience in the shelter world makes her the ideal coach for helping with anxiety, reactivity, fearfulness, and resource guarding.
Joan continues to teach group classes at PAWS Chicago and is a pro at Nosework, Canine Good Citizen courses, Teen Manners, Obedience, and Perfect Puppy training.
Joan H.: "I joined the staff of Darn Good Dogs Chicago with Joan Marie and am thrilled about this new chapter in my dog training career. I look forward to meeting you and helping with your darn good dog!"
New to DGDC - Sharon Cierniak
New to DGDC - Sharon Cierniak
Sharon Cierniak has been training dogs for over 30 years, earning titles in obedience, agility, rally, tracking, and carting. Her experience spans a wide range of dog sports and training styles, all grounded in her belief that every dog is an individual with unique needs. One of her many unique strengths is taking the confidence-building and focus work required for dog sports and applying it to dogs in need of behavior modification training.
Sharon specializes in positive, reward-based training methods that build trust, encourage learning, and strengthen the bond between dogs and their people. Her ongoing commitment to continuing education keeps her teaching fun, engaging, and effective. She’s also a whiz at tricks, agility, and canine fitness.
With a deep background in rescue and shelter work, Sharon has seen firsthand how training and enrichment can transform a dog’s life. At PAWS Chicago many dogs with reactivity, profound fear, and other anxieties benefited from Sharon's expert handling and training skills.
Sharon currently shares her life with Pallo, her energetic Rottweiler who especially loves dock diving. Fun fact: Sharon’s training career began in grammar school as the neighborhood's go-to “free dog walker.”
Both Joan Marie and Joan H. received their Dog Trainer Professional certifications from the prestigious and rigorous Karen Pryor Academy, respected worldwide as the gold standard for clicker training and positive reinforcement and where they gained a solid knowledge of clicker training and the science that governs learning.
This research-based approach applies to both human and canine learners. KPA also provides lifelong continuing education and support to all their alumni.
They also successfully passed the 2023 Certification for Professional Dog Trainers - Knowledge Assessment Examinations. The certifying organization CCPDT® recognizes the knowledge and experience of professional dog trainers.
Certificants must provide references that attest to their work and pass a rigorous written exam that focuses on the science behind dog behavior and the application of training techniques. CPDT-KA® certification provides an independent, scientifically valid measure of an individual’s understanding of the field of dog training, including instruction skills, learning theory, ethology, equipment, and animal husbandry.
CCPDT® requires its certificants to adhere to its Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics and Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) Effective Behavior Intervention policies. Certificants must engage in on-going continuing education to maintain the credential. These rigorous standards ensure that CPDT-KA® certificants are actively engaged in professional development and applying the most current science and techniques with their clients.
Established in 2001, CCPDT is the leading independent certifying organization for the dog training profession. As the leader in the development of rigorous exams to demonstrate mastery of humane, science-based dog training practices, CCPDT has certified thousands of dog trainers and canine behavior consultants worldwide. For more information, visit www.ccpdt.org.
Candidates who pass the exam earn the title Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed and may use the designation “CPDT-KA®” after their names. All certified trainers must earn continuing education credits to maintain their designations or take the examination again in three years.
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