Cloud K9 Academy Dog Training - Naperville, Illinois

Kari Trotsky

I took a beginner’s trick class with my dog, Yogi, a year and a half ago. I was waiting for a pre-agility class to open and wanted to keep him in the swing of things until then. It was so fun learning how to train him and practicing at home. He loved all the attention, the treats, and especially showing off!
I realized that tricks aren’t just for fun (although it is very fun!), but it’s also a way to spend more time with your dog in a very positive way and to give him more confidence in every day situations.
After Yogi and I received our Novice Trick Dog Title through Do More With Your Dog!, I wanted to keep going. To do that, I needed to find a Certified Trick Dog Instructor. I searched the area, read reviews, and decided to choose Rachel Fein. She was just opening up her new training center.
Rachel was beyond great. Most of the time it was her teaching me how to train Yogi, but she has the patience of a Saint and truly loves working with dogs and their owners.
Yogi and I eventually earned our Intermediate Trick Dog Title and our Advanced Trick Dog Title. Then, a new puppy I adopted, Athena, was in our lives and through teaching Yogi tricks, I was able to get Athena through her titles more quickly. Yogi, then Athena, earned their Expert Trick Dog Titles, and then they both earned their CHAMPION TRICK DOG TITLES! I am so proud of them!! I was able to submit their awards to the AKC and they each have titles through them, too.
I never could have done it without Rachel!
Yogi and Athena both love an audience and sometimes when I show what they can do to a new person in the house, it’s like dueling trick dogs trying to be the first to make the person smile! Each trying to comically one up the other! Another added benefit is that when they are in stressful situations, I have them do tricks. It focuses them on me and the treat and they forget whatever it was they were nervous about.
With the Champion titles achieved, we are training to do Stunt Dog Work - basically tricks in front of an audience as a routine. It’s opened new doors to us! If you are at all thinking about teaching your dogs tricks, sign up for a class! You will not regret it.
And, when I come home and I’m exhausted at the end of the day, all I have to do to get a drink is to ask Athena. She’ll open the refrigerator, bring the drink to me, and close it - for a couple of treats, of course!

Kari Trotsky, DVM
Owner of Peaceful Endings for Pets

Annette Krupa

Rachel is great to work with! After have taken a puppy class at a pet store, we wished we had started our training with her. She is very knowledgeable and love the techniques that she has taught us especially since we can see how well our dog has adapted to them. I am glad we found her and would highly recommend for both private and group classes.

Lynn Wood

My lab, Kahlua, and I have been working with Rachel at Cloud K9 for about 6 months now! She offers a wide range of training from puppy classes to agility to therapy dog training. My dog’s breeder recommended Rachel and I’m so glad she did! If you’re looking to have a well trained dog you need to contact Cloud K9 Academy!

Dana Kemp

Rachel is a great trainer. I used her for at-home training when my dog Duke was 2 years old to reinforce some behaviors he had learned in puppy school. I used her again to train Duke to be a therapy dog, and Duke is now a certified therapy dog through Therapy Dogs International. She believes in investing time in your dog to ensure long-term success, and she really cares about the dogs she helps train.

Maria Bries

When we met Rachel three years ago, I was at a crossroad with our two year old dominant female Cockapoo. Since our dog has fear aggression issues with other dogs, we worked mostly one on one with Rachel. The techniques Rachel taught us helped to re-establish my role as pack leader in a kind and humane way. I am so grateful as other dog trainers recommended a more punishing approach, which I did not agree with. Honey is a well trained dog now and a wonderful addition to our family. She is super loving and obedient thanks to Rachel’s training! You can learn so much in just a few private sessions. Totally worth it for a happy family! Also, the business space Rachel is in is very family friendly with a children’s art studio, family owned pizza business from a real New Yorker and a Dairy Queen. We have lived in the nearby area for 14 years raising our kids and couldn’t be happier with this wonderful hidden gem of a neighborhood in Naperville. Some of the best elementary schools in Naperville are located here and very family oriented. After class take your dog for a walk in Greene Valley Forest Preserve or Whalen Lake, just minutes away, and both of which have dog parks too!

Jennifer Ross

We've had an excellent experience working with Rachel. She began training our border collie (and us in how to interact with him) at our home when he was just 4 months old. He learned all of the basics and when she opened her new storefront, we were excited to move Archie into pre-agility. He's loving it and we are loving having a positive outlet for his energy! I highly recommend her and Cloud K9 for your dog training needs.

Nancy Becker

We adopted a 5 month old Cocker Spaniel who came from a puppy mill and was very skittish and fearful of everything. He was in need of a lot of love and socializing so I registered Ollie for the 4 week training program. Rachel and Marie were so patient with him while he adjusted to them. Training went very well and Ollie is on his way to becoming an amazing dog. The class comes with online training program for the owner which I found to be extremely helpful and makes it easy to understand why dogs learn the way they do. I also enrolled him for future rally classes to help him boost his confidence. I highly recommend CloudK9!

Karen M

I got my English Labrador as a puppy 3 years ago. I brought Stanley through a highly regarded obedience program near me. This program was forceful and demanding. While it absolutely works for some, my dog was not responding well. He was anxious and scared to attend. Frankly, I was anxious and scared to attend. We took a break and I did more research.

This was when I found Rachel at Cloud K9. I had heard about training your dog via a clicker method. Rachel is certified and accomplished in clicker training using positive reinforcement only. This was EXACTLY what we needed. I enrolled in Therapy Dog classes at Cloud K9; attending for almost 6 months before Stanley and I passed the CGC test. Per Rachel’s encouragement, 1 month later, we passed the Therapy Dogs International Certification.

Now, Stanley and I go in to a local school and participate in a Read-To-A-Dog program. He also lays quietly and calms students in need.

Rachel’s ability to work with the handler to manage their own dog’s behaviors and personalities is invaluable. I highly recommend Cloud K9 for basic obedience through Therapy Dog training.