Professional

In-Home

Dog Training.

Good dogs don’t happen by accident. Trained Tails provides professional in-home dog and puppy training across Northwest Indiana and the Chicagoland area — built on structure, consistency, and methods that work. A well-trained dog changes everything.

CONTACT

  • Trained Tails was founded by Zac Galvan, a professional dog trainer serving Northwest Indiana and the Chicagoland area. We work with dogs and puppies of all breeds, ages, and backgrounds — from first-time pet owners to those dealing with serious behavioral challenges.

  • No single method works for every dog. We use a customized approach for each client — drawing from balanced training, positive reinforcement, e-collar work, and obedience-based structure depending on what your dog needs and what works best for your household. The goal is always the same: a dog that listens, a owner who feels confident, and results that last.

  • Trained Tails offers a full range of training services to meet you wherever you are in the process.

    Puppy Training — Start them right from the beginning.

    Basic Obedience — Sit, stay, heel, recall. The foundation every dog needs.

    Behavior Modification — Aggression, anxiety, reactivity, and more.

    Board & Train — Intensive training while your dog stays with us in a home environment.

    Group Classes — Learn alongside other dog owners in a structured setting.

    Personal Protection Dogs — For clients seeking a highly trained, family-safe dog with a reliable off-switch. Available by inquiry only.

Logo of Chicagoland Protection Dogs featuring a German Shepherd's face with the company name around it, stars below, on a black background.
A circular logo with a silhouette of a police dog at the top and the text 'Scent Work & Police K9 Training 6+ Years' underneath.
Simplified logo for obedience training for dogs, with a silhouette of a person and a dog, and text indicating training age of 6 or more years.
Circle logo with black silhouette of a person holding a dog on a leash, and a person walking with a backpack. Text reads 'Personal Protection/Bitework & Decoy Training 6+ Years'.

Marcy du Champ des Legendes and I stepped onto the trial field for our very first dog sport competition together, and I’m incredibly proud to say we earned our PDC (Protection Dog Certificate).

This is a milestone I’ve dreamed about for years, and to accomplish it with such an exceptional dog makes it even more special. PDC achieved. First trial complete and we’re just getting started.

Two men practicing martial arts outside on a grassy area, with a wooden fence, autumn trees, and two banners in the background.
A person holding a leash with a happy German Shepherd dog while another person stands nearby, in an indoor setting with a vehicle in the background.

Trusted by families, respected by professionals. I have trained dogs at every level, including certified police k9s.

SEE AVAILABLE DOGS

2k pet walk dog training in nwi
A Belgian Malinois dog sitting outdoors against a siding wall with its tongue hanging out and wearing a white collar.
Three dogs being walked on a paved trail surrounded by green trees and bushes, with person's hand holding leashes.
Three dogs at a grassy park field, with two sitting near a tire and one lying in the foreground, trees, houses, and buildings in the background.
A German Shepherd mix dog with tan and black fur laying on grass in a park.
A man training a German Shepherd dog in a backyard with a wooden fence, green grass, traffic cone, and trees in the background.
Two men practicing martial arts outdoors on a green field, with a wooden fence and trees in the background, and signs on the fence.
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Check out what our clients have to say.

“Thanks to Zac, my dog listens reliably and stays calm even in busy environments”

—Jennifer L.

  • A woman with long black hair, wearing a navy shirt, blue jeans, and white sneakers, is crouching on green grass and holding a large German Shepherd dog. They are outdoors near a highway with trucks passing by and trees in the background.

    NURA (Wolf) - Chicago, IL

    After adopting Wolf, I quickly realized he needed a professional trainer due to his reactivity, especially challenging given my city work environment and bringing him daily to the vet office where I work. We started working with Zac, in April 2024, and he has been nothing short of incredible. We have completed basic, intermediate, and advanced training, scent work, a two-week board and train, and numerous private sessions. Wolf is now great with other dogs in controlled environments and has perfect obedience. I can even take him to dog-friendly patios now! We continue training with Zac to expand his skills. I highly recommend Zac, he’s been a game-changer for us!

  • A newlywed couple standing in front of a dark gray house, smiling and posing with their dog. The bride is in a white wedding dress holding a bouquet, and the groom is in a brown suit with a boutonniere. Shadows of leaves fall on the house behind them.

    Niko and Lexi ( Jade)- Wheatfield, IN

    From a young age we did some research and found Zac, he has been nothing but great to us and our dog. We have been training with Zac now for around 3 years and he was able to teach us everything we need to know on how to get our dog to behave and now we take her everywhere with us and she gets so many compliments on how well trained she is. We can’t thank Zac enough for his hard work and dedication to these dogs.

  • Zac trained our German Shepherd and honestly… it’s been such a relief. Before this, he would squeeze out of the yard every chance he got and completely ignore us when we called him. We were constantly chasing him down and it got to the point where we

    Noah and Abby (Barley)- Lowell, IN

    Zac trained our German Shepherd and honestly… it’s been such a relief. Before this, he would squeeze out of the yard every chance he got and completely ignore us when we called him back. We were tired of constantly chasing him down. Zac helped us work on recall with Barley so now when we call him back in he comes right away! He is super helpful and knowledgeable, we are so glad to have found him and Barley absolutly loves him! Thanks again Zac! We’ll see you soon!!

  • Two people each with two German Shepherd dogs, one man with a yellow classic car, and one woman sitting on a log at a park with trees and a cloudy sky.

    Carter and Sam (Ghost and Raven)- Valparaiso, IN

    We couldn't be happier with our experience. From the very beginning, Zac was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about his dogs. Not only did he help us out tremendously with our puppy training, he also helped us find an amazing hobby/outlet for him to grow confidently. He also matched us with our perfect second dog and provided outstanding training before we brought her home.

    Our dog arrived confident, well-mannered, and incredibly well-socialized-far beyond what we expected.

    Basic commands, crate training, leash manners...everything was already off to an amazing start. It's clear that a lot of time, skill, and care went into their early development of this dog. Both of our dogs are now amazingly well trained and continue to grow with their training thanks to Zac. 

    What stood out most was the ongoing support. Anytime we had a question, Zac was there with helpful guidance and encouragement. He truly cares about the long-term success of his dogs and the happiness of the families they go to.

    If you're looking for a trustworthy, dedicated, and highly skilled dog trainer who goes above and beyond, look no further. We are so grateful and would recommend Zac to anyone without hesitation!

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