A Bit About Our Trainer!

Chris Dignan has been training animals since 1997, starting with marine mammals, exotic animals, and pets. He played a pivotal role in launching and leading the dog training program at the Shedd Aquarium, where he honed his skills by training a wide variety of animals. For the past decade, Chris has focused exclusively on training dogs and developing expertise in addressing reactive behaviors.

In 2008, Chris founded The Dog Saving Network (DSN), an organization committed to raising awareness about homeless animals and promoting the importance of positive training methods. Through DSN, Chris produced "Life’s Ruff," a live performance showcasing regular dogs and their owners competing in a game show format. This fun and engaging show emphasized owner-led training, with participants doing all the training themselves.

Chris has a wealth of experience teaching people how to train their dogs and is comfortable handling most animals with various behavioral challenges. He resides in Orland Park with his wife, two daughters, and two rescued pups.