Dog Builders™ are top area dog trainers and dog enthusiasts in Illinois and Iowa. We have created an affiliation to better educate families on dog building techniques and principles.

We have expertise in training service dogs, therapy dogs, drug detection dogs and family ready dogs.

We are constantly amazed by what dogs can be built to achieve. We believe that the next level of dog training is
dog building™.

Below are some websites of participating dog builders.

Midwest Canine Academy
CMDogTraining

Below are the bios of the professionals we work with:

Susan Jakobs, owner of MCA, is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.  Susan trains with Paws4Therapy, Inc., CM Academy of Dog Training, Professional Service Dogs, Inc., International K-9 Operations, and Dog Builders. Susan has written and published over 25 articles and has been a guest speaker for many facilities.  She is currently working on a book about training for acute care facilities. 

Susan has collaborated with CM Academy and Paws 4 Therapy, Inc for six years.  She developed the specialized temperament-screening tool used for the evaluation of dog/handler teams. Since 2001, she has screened over 750 dogs and trained over 175 dog/handler teams specifically for the hospital environment. 

She trained 10 dogs for use in therapeutic programs at Linden Oaks Behavioral Healthcare Facility which includes the Child/Adolescent Units, S.A.F.E Alternatives (for treatment of individuals who self-injure), eating disorders, and adult inpatient programs.  In addition, Susan established resident dog polices, for a resident therapy dog she trained for placement in a residential treatment center for eating disorders.

Susan has trained with 3 master trainers covering tracking, clicker training, therapy work, puppy raising, obedience, scent detection and defense.  Canine course work included Ethology, Animal Behavior, and Genetics.  She continues to study and perform research regarding dog behavior.  She has worked with over 80 breeds ranging from the Chinese Crested to the Irish Wolfhound. 

Philosophy

Susan’s primary job is educating the owner about their dog's behavior and how it fits into their life.  An owner's understanding of behavior issues like:  aggression, pack order, socialization, separation anxiety, fear, positive and negative reinforcement etc. is essential when creating a training program. 

Susan's goal is to find the right method for the dog and the family.  She does not dictate, she educates people about what equipment to use and the pros and cons of each method.  The principles of learning are the same with each dog, but methods used for specific breeds may vary. 

_______________________________________________

Jim Stenfeldt is a master trainer and considered a local dog whisperer in his field. 35 years of experience has made him and expert in dog and pack behavior.  His innate ability to quickly identify the root of a dog’s issue, and then fix the problem with ease has earned him this reputation. 

Jim has been a tester/observer for Therapy Dogs, Inc for 10 years.  Since 2001, he has screened over 700 dog handler teams and certified over 175 specifically for the acute care hospital environment.  Current clients include Edward Hospital, Northwest Community Hospital, OSF St. Anthony Medical Center, Palos Community Hospital, and Linden Oaks Behavioral Health Facility.

Jim Stenfeldt, founder of CM Academy of Dog Training, has been training dogs, pet owners, handlers, and instructors for over 30 years.  CM Academy offers private and group classes that cover a range of fields which includes therapy, tracking, basic obedience, utility, basic obedience and Service Dog Training (mobility assistance, packing, hearing, weight bearing, and scent detection). 

He also owns a private drug search company which provides searches   for federal and state prison facilities, area school districts, local law enforcement, private industry, and households.   

Philosophy

Jim uses positive reinforcement training, but prefers verbal and physical reinforcers rather than treats or a clicker.  He specialized in aggression rehabilitation.  Dog training is his full time job, not a part-time hobby.

_________________________________________________

Patty Kaplan founded Paws 4 Therapy, Inc. in 2001; which specializes in the development and operations of hospital-based Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) programs.  Patty was hired as a consultant by Edward Hospital, Naperville, IL to implement their first AAT program.  Since then, Edward’s program has grown to 100 volunteer dog-handler teams, conducted over 91,000 bedside visits, raised over $250,000 of charitable donations; and increased patient satisfaction scores 20-40%. She conducted a research study on “The Impact of AAT After a Surgical Procedure in the Acute Care Environment”.  Her program was featured by JCAHO in 2005 as a “best practice.”  Patty has personally owned and trained three registered therapy dogs.

Her program has been featured in Modern Healthcare Magazine, WGN news, ABC News, Advanced Nursing Practice Magazine, the Oprah Angel Network and numerous local papers.  She has been a guest speaker at the ADVANCE Job Fair and Career Event, Illinois Benedictine University, College of Dupage and many community service groups. 

Currently, Patty is the Director of AAT at Edward Hospital and President of Paws 4 Therapy, Inc.  She has fully developed and implemented the AAT program in four acute care facilities and one mental health facility; and has served as a consultant in the development of several other institutional AAT programs.  Patty maintains a vast working knowledge of hospital policies and procedures, infection control, and risk management issues. The Paws 4 Therapy, Inc. program is the standard used in the new 2008 IDPH Guidelines for Animal-assisted therapy in the acute care hospital environment.