Senior Dog Training in Chicago
Gentle Support. Smart Structure. Care that grows with your senior dog.
Senior Day School in Chicago for dogs 8 years and older focuses on low-impact movement, cognitive enrichment, and age-appropriate training, so your dog stays comfortable, confident, and connected as they age.
Why Senior Dog Training Matters
As dogs enter their senior years, their needs change physically, mentally, and emotionally. They may slow down, become less tolerant of chaos, or develop new habits, leaving owners unsure how to help.
Senior dogs don’t need high-intensity training.
They need thoughtful structure, gentle guidance, clear communication, and predictable routines that respect aging bodies and minds.
Our goal is to help senior dogs stay:
Comfortable
Confident
Engaged
Connected to their families
through enrichment, mobility-focused activities, and senior-friendly training that supports where they are now.
How It Works
Aging doesn’t mean disengaging from life—it means moving through it differently.
Without an appropriate structure, senior dogs can become anxious, withdrawn, or frustrated. With the proper support, they can remain mentally sharp, emotionally regulated, and comfortable in their daily routines.
Our Senior Day School programs are designed specifically for existing clients whose dogs have been trained with us before and now need gentle, supportive structure as they age.
We focus on:
Light mobility and stability work
Senior-safe enrichment
Cognitive support and mental engagement
Maintaining established manners
Addressing new age-related behaviors
Supporting emotional regulation and confidence
Every dog receives individualized care, consistent routines, and a weekly personalized coaching session for owners—brief or in-depth, depending on what you want.
Real Life Support for Aging Dogs
Because senior dogs still deserve to enjoy the world.
Senior dogs still enjoy getting out and about, just at their own pace.
We practice senior-safe skills in real-world settings, such as quiet neighborhood sidewalks, calm park spaces, and dog-friendly shops. The focus is on predictability, low stress, and gentle exposure.
This approach helps senior dogs remain confident both at home and in the city without overwhelm, rushing, or pressure.
Senior Dog Day School
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GENTLE STRUCTURE
Low-impact exercise, cognitive enrichment, and senior-friendly training—tailored to your dog’s comfort and pace.
Senior Day School is not a high-intensity program. It’s a calm, steady rhythm designed to help aging dogs stay comfortable, engaged, and emotionally regulated as their needs change.
Each Day Includes:
• Light movement (slow treadmill, balance & stability work)
• Senior-paced neighborhood sniff walks
• Cognitive enrichment (sniffing games, puzzles, pattern work)
• Senior-friendly training refreshers (place, polite greetings, loose leash walking)
• Emotional support and gentle behavior guidance
• Scheduled rest breaks and quiet decompression time
• A curated environment that supports aging joints and minds
You’ll receive a weekly personalized coaching session at pickup (as brief or in-depth as you prefer), plus a weekly senior report card with notes, observations, and at-home support tips.
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CHOOSE YOUR FREQUENCY
1 Day per Week
Ideal for gentle enrichment, light exercise, and maintaining skills without overexertion.2 Days per Week
Best for seniors who benefit from more routine, increased cognitive support, and additional hands-on guidance.Senior Day School is available exclusively to existing CSDT clients, ensuring we build on known training foundations and behavioral history.
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PROGRAM DETAILS & ELIGIBILITY
Format: Drop-off Senior Day School
Eligibility: Dogs 8+ who have completed a CSDT training program
Schedule: Ongoing weekly enrollment (1 or 2 days per week)What’s Included:
• Light mobility work (slow treadmill, balance, and stability equipment)
• Cognitive enrichment and problem-solving activities
• Senior-friendly training refreshers
• Neighborhood walks and gentle field trips
• Low-impact play designed for aging bodies
• Emotional regulation support
• Quiet rest breaks in a senior-safe environment
• Weekly emailed senior report cards
• Weekly personalized coaching session at pickup
Best For:
• Dogs slowing down physically
• Dogs developing new age-related behaviors
• Dogs who thrive with predictable routines
• Families wanting proactive, supportive aging care
Want to know if Day School is a good fit?
Have questions about your senior dog and our day school? Give us a call, and we’ll help you decide what is best for your dog.
FAQs
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No. Senior dogs can absolutely learn—they just need calm structure and age-appropriate enrichment. Training helps them stay comfortable and engaged, not pressured.
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Gentle mobility, cognitive enrichment, senior-friendly training refreshers, calm behavior, and support through age-related changes.
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We work with senior dogs who are medically cleared for gentle exercise. We don’t diagnose or treat conditions. Our program complements your veterinarian’s care.
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Not at this time. Senior Day School is for existing CSDT clients only, so we can build on established foundations and known behavioral history.
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All movement is low-impact and senior-safe, tailored to your dog’s mobility and comfort level.
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That’s common with aging dogs. Weekly coaching sessions help you adjust routines, expectations, and home setup to support your dog through changes.
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The program is the same, only the frequency changes. Two days provide more consistency and cognitive support for dogs who benefit from extra routine.
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Yes, for senior dogs who are already enrolled or have trained with us before. Boarding is calm, predictable, and enrichment-based.
We do not offer Board & Train for senior dogs. Seniors do best with daytime structure and sleeping at home.
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Absolutely. Rest is built into the day. We follow your dog’s pace, not a schedule.
What People Are Saying
Milo had started hesitating on walks and often stopped halfway down the block, unsure of himself. Senior Day School gave him slow treadmill sessions, gentle enrichment, and predictable routines that built his confidence back up. His family says he now walks the neighborhood at a comfortable pace and seems genuinely brighter and more relaxed.
— Milo from Ravenswood
Penny was having trouble settling when the house was busy — too much noise, too many moving parts. Through calming pattern games, place work, and senior-friendly enrichment at Day School, she learned how to regulate herself again. Her owners say evenings feel peaceful, and Penny seems more in control and confident.
— Penny from Wicker Park
Archie’s arthritis made him stiff in the mornings, and he was losing interest in activities he used to enjoy. With gentle mobility exercises, balance-and-stability work, and slow sniff-based enrichment, he began moving more comfortably and showing sparks of his old enthusiasm. His family says he’s more engaged and “seems lighter on his feet.”
— Archie from Andersonville
Nola was friendly but easily flustered by new sounds and changes in routine. Day School provided structure, slow-paced confidence-building exercises, and emotional support that helped her stay grounded. Her family says she’s calmer at home, handles transitions better, and looks forward to her senior “school days” every week.
— Nola from West Loop
Support Your Senior Dog—Without Overdoing It
Aging comes with changes, but it doesn’t have to mean confusion, stress, or disconnection.
If your senior dog could benefit from gentle structure, thoughtful enrichment, and care that respects their pace, tell us a little about them. We’ll help you decide if Senior Day School is the right next step—for both of you.