Northbrook Dog Trainers Turn Pups Into Best Friends

Carlos Aguirre, 28, lives in Northbrook with his fiancé Elizabeth Oliva, and together they run a home-based dog training program called Wolf's Lair K9.

For the last year and a half, the couple has been visiting people's homes for one-on-one training in a variety of disciplines, including therapy and service, search and rescue, personal protection and police K9.

"One of the main things we try to focus on is teaching people how dogs are thinking," Aguirre said. "Dogs are learning good and bad behavior 24-7."

Aguirre, a New York City native by way of Colombia, served in the Marines for six years, working with dogs during and after his service. He also earned a Purple Heart after taking a bullet to his shoulder.

Oliva grew up in Northbrook and used to rescue dogs, at one point working as the vice president of Midwest Rescue of Illinois. The couple met when Oliva hired Aguirre to train her dog for personal protection while living in Chicago.

Among Wolf Lair's services is a six to eight week lodge and learn program, during which a family's dog stays with Oliva and Aguirre and receives round the clock training in basic and advanced obedience. Essentially learning to live in a home with a family.

"People ask if the dogs ever forget their owners [after lodge and learn training]," Aguirre said. "They never forget about you."

Click here to visit the Wolf's Lair K9 website.

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