Canine State of Mind

Couldn’t recommend Sasha and Michael more highly! My wife and I take frequent trips out of town, and it’s an incredible relief to know that our dog Grady is in good hands while we’re away. Grady is more excited to see Sasha and Michael than anyone else who walks through our door. Besides taking great care of G, Sasha gave a food recommendation when he had gastrointestinal issues last year, and he’s been great ever since! We’ve trusted CSOM with Grady for six years and we’re so glad we found Sasha and Michael.

Our dog Taco had the best time when he stayed at Canine State of Mind for a week! I was a little nervous for him to stay somewhere new while we were away but Taco fell in love with Michael as soon as he met him! Michael and Sasha were great to work with and we loved getting updates about Taco while we were away. If we say Michael or Sasha Taco immediately starts to look for them! It was so nice being on vacation and knowing that our dog was in such good hands. We are so happy and lucky that we found Canine State of Mind!

We love Sasha, Micheal and of course Dustin! We moved from CA where are dogs ran free and now live in Chicago and not sure what we would have done if we didn’t have Canine State of Mind. We use them for everyday daycare and my dogs come home exhausted! They wait by the door every morning excited for their day. We travel frequently and our dogs go to the farm. I feel guiltless knowing my dogs are in dog heaven on their own vacation! I trust them with my babies and always know they will get the best care and love! We are so appreciative!

Sasha and Michael are wonderful! Their approach to animals is very intelligent, calm and respectful. Their farm is a dog’s dream. We have used them for both boarding and training for our four dogs. After the initial training our dogs came home so much better behaved and the harmony in our home was restored. I have had several long conversations with Sasha. She is such a kind and compassionate person. I have worked with other dog trainers in the past and they didn’t attempt to get to know us in any way. Sasha has taken the time to form a friendship with our family which I feel gave her the ability to better train our dogs and keep them happy when she boards them. No need to look elsewhere for boarding or training your pets. Call Sasha today!

We cannot say enough amazing things about Sasha and Michael! We have been with Canine State of Minds just shy of a year for our golden retriever puppy, Malby. We were referred to Canine through a neighbor in downtown Chicago and called immediately after hearing the amazing things Sasha and Michael offered: lifelong training, boarding, weekly to monthly check-​ins on the training progress and more! We can tell you that all of these things are 100% true and then some. The experience has been wonderful.
After a few training sessions with Sasha (in our home!) we saw instant improvements with Malby and of course her human owners! :) Sasha provides the owners the tools to get the best out of your dog. It is so great that Sasha comes to the home to witness and react to «real life» with the owners and the dog.
With the amazing training, our expectations were set high with the boarding — it did not disappoint. Michael arrived promptly to pick up and drop off Malby. By the second boarding go around, Malby immediately jumped into the van and could not wait to get going. :)
While on the farm, we received picture/​text updates — our dog could not have looked more happy running among other dogs on acres of land. The best part is knowing that our dog was not only getting boarding but onsite training tune ups. When Malby returned home she was happy, healthy and very obedient.
It has been wonderful having Canine Sate of Mind as an extension of our home.
James & Hayne

I was looking for a non-​traditional boarding option for my pups and stumbled upon Canine state of mind. I met Sasha and she couldn’t be nicer. We initially had a 45 minute conversation on her boarding and training philosophy and she thoroughly explained how the dogs are cared for at the farm. I wanted a place for my dogs to go and socialize and be with other dogs and not be crated up, Sasha and Michael provide just that situation where the dogs have run of the farm but are also integrated into their home. I felt very comfortable leaving the boys and was in contact via text with updates and pictures during their stay. We arranged a pick up/​drop off location which was easy and convenient. The boys came home happy & tired. Canine state of mind is definitely a gem of a business. Very happy with our experience and will be using them again in the future.

FULLY RECOMMENDED! My dog adores Sasha and Michael and I feel happy every time I travel, knowing that he is being loved and having more fun at the farm than he does at home! These are amazing dog people and will also help in every way they can,. e.g. by offering pick up/​drop off.

Sasha and Michael are the best. Our bull terrier, Nellie, absolutely loves Sasha and Michael. Nellie used to do the daycare a couple times a week but our work schedule changed so she didn’t need it anymore. This is the only service I have found that has a great concept: outdoor living for your dogs. There’s no indoor facility that they stuff the dogs into; the dogs go to local parks and get to really run around, OUTSIDE!
Additionally, for long weekends or week trips they take the dogs to their farm house in Galena. I remember the first time I was so nervous for Nellie to go to «stay away camp» and I told them she just had to have her bed and blanket. That thing was returned with so many other dog’s dog hair! I was so glad because then I knew Nell wasn’t just huddled in her bed, she was making friends and having fun. At the farm they run the dogs all day, exploring and then they allow the dogs to sleep in their home! Nothing better then knowing your dog is loved for while you are away. Sasha and Michael really are wonderful at taking care of the dogs and Sasha is a certified dog trainer too so she offers really helpful tips for the dogs.

We love Sasha so much! I wish I could send my dogs there no matter where I lived.
First off, the dogs would be picked up and dropped off, a huge plus in Chicago. Secondly, Sasha is an absolute professional and my crazy dogs just loved her. I was pleased with her attitude toward my rascals, and willingness to take on their activity level. They are very active and needs lots of time out doors, which they received plenty of on her families farm. Sasha sent me text and photo updates while I was away, so I was completely as ease and able to enjoy my vacation. When they returned after their first visit, Sasha talked with me about tips and tricks to get them settled, and even introduced us to a new food that was better for their activity level.
I think my biggest take away was what she did for me as an owner. My dogs are active and respond well to us as owners, but we have had a lot of bad report cards in the past from boarders and I learned what a true dog handler is, that is Sasha. She never judged me or the dogs for the activity level I allow, she helped guide them into her home and treated them like her own pack. I now have a standard of care and experience I seek when looking for someone to take care of my pups.

Canine State of Mind is one of the most professional dog sitting and boarding companies in Chicago. We were lucky enough to come across Sasha’s services while we lived in Lincoln Park for two years. We were always worried our Australian Shepherd (June) wouldn’t get enough exercise through a typical hour walk during the day, so we tried the doggy daycare services where they pickup our dog at our apartment and take her to the dog park for three hours. June would always be worn out after we got back from work and made our lives much easier. I was able to meet our dog caretaker (Michael) a few times when I was staying at home sick during the week. June was always so excited to see him and was super exhausted when she came back a few hours later. Sasha really takes the time to hire great employees who are great with dogs.
We also used Canine State of Mind for boarding when we went out of town for the holidays and couldn’t be happier. They live on a large ranch out in the suburbs, where there is amble amount of room for the dogs to run and play. Every time June would comeback from boarding she would literally be zonked out for a full day from all the playing at the ranch. Sasha and her husband pick the dogs up at your place to take them out to the ranch which is very convenient. June would go crazy with with excitement anytime she would see Sasha as she knew it was play time for the weekend. I would highly recommend Canine State of Mind, feel free to call Sasha as she is very knowledgeable about her services and making accommodations to your needs /​schedule.

Sasha and the entire CSM team are wonderful. It’s almost like they consider every dog they walk or care for as their own, that’s the only way I can describe the commitment to my dog’s well-​being they have demonstrated.
As a first-​time dog owner, it’s great to have them as a resource for questions on all the things you go through, from training, food, to 1000 other things. They have helped me through crate training, separation anxiety, some nasty gastro issues, an infected toenail, and many other things in the four months I’ve been working with them. Jess even stayed the weekend with my dog when I had to leave town and took him to the vet for an emergency check up. They happily take care of any feeding, medication, or other quirks for your pooch.
Another nice thing is they are flexible when I have to make schedules changes if I am working from home or otherwise changing our normal schedule. All I can say is, keep up the good work!

I can’t imagine a more ideal group of people to care for my dog than Sasha, Michael, and the whole Canine State of Mind crew. They take the time to learn about the personality and quirks of dog in their care has. It seems as if all of the dogs in their care respects, admires, and adores this fine group of people. I feel privileged they allow my dog to spend time with them both at Doggy Day Care and their boarding facility in Galena. (what better place to board a dog than a farm?!?) And, while these are great reasons for your dog to love them, there are plenty of reasons why humans like them as well. For example, their prices are reasonable and you really know you are getting a lot for what you are paying. When it comes to picking up and dropping off they are flexible have have always worked with me so everyone is happy. They are also very good communicators. When I found myself missing my pup, and they are watching him, I just sent them a text message. A little while later I received pics showing my dog resting comfortably in a cushy bed with some canine friend he made. I think that was the point I realized I could never go anywhere else.

Wow… where to start? Wish I could give Michael and Canine State of Mind 10+ stars — they deserve it!
Long story short… we were moving to Chicago from Hawaii with about 2 weeks notice and didn’t have anywhere to live. The fun part of this adventure — we have 3 dogs! So we either find someone to board the dogs until we figure out where to live, or keep them at a hotel with us.
Okay, now comes the good part. After searching Unilocal,I found Canine State of Mind and left a voicemail for Michael to call me about our kenneling needs. He was mindful of the time difference and returned my call later that evening. What a nice guy! He took down our info, what our needs were and after checking with his wife, Sasha, and their schedule, promised to get back to me the next day. As promised, he called me the next day and said it was a go. We communicated via email and text several times before the dogs actually flew to Chicago. Once the flight landed, Michael picked up our dogs from the airport and transported them to their facility in the country. Prior to arrival, he also picked up the appropriate dog food and let me know the medications I shipped, had arrived by mail. Throughout the process, Michael was great at communicating with us, sending texts to let us the know the dogs had arrived okay and were settling in with their new-​found friends, etc. The dogs ending up staying with Michael and Sasha about 3 weeks. During that time, one of our dogs started limping, an ongoing issue. Michael promptly called and talked to me about it, we discussed options and went from there. He even talked to his local vet for me since we didn’t have one in the area yet. Once we moved into our new home, they delivered the girls to us at the agreed time and we couldn’t have been happier to see our furry family! Our older dog (who is a little pudgy) had actually lost some weight, due to her increased activity while away at her country retreat.
I cannot emphasize enough how wonderful Michael was to deal with. You can tell he really cares about animals and I felt like our dogs were part of their family during the stay. This was such a stressful time for both us and our dogs. I don’t know how we would have done it without Canine State of Mind! We actually had to go out of town about 2 weeks later and used them again for the care of our dogs over a long weekend.
Please do your pets a favor and call these folks if you have boarding needs. I promise, you’ll be happy and your dogs will thank you!

If my dog could speak he would say… well… I am not sure what he would say but he sure seems happy every time he goes with and comes home from his walk with his dog walker! I have the opportunity to work from home some days and see my little (ok, not so little, 90 lb Goldendoodle) pup get excited when he hears the door open to the outside and then the footsteps of someone coming up the stairs. By the time the key is in the door he is eagerly sitting on the top of the steps staring at the door waiting for his walker to come in and put on his harness and out they go! He comes back tired and happy! Canine State of Mind is a dog walking service like none other (and trust me, I have used others in Chicago!) who take a personal approach to caring for your pet. They offer services to meet every need you might have for your pet! Our preference is long walks and park visits but in the future we are going to be using their boarding facilities, which, from what I can tell, I would like to stay at myself. When I spoke with the owner she said that the pups can run 30 acres of fenced in property and they sleep at home with them; not locked up in some cold cage, crate or empty room! The best part, for me, (being a paranoid ‘mom’) is that Canine State of Mind will send me a text message or a note every day to let me know how the walk went that day and if we had a #1 and/​or a #2. This is hugely helpful when I am gone from work all day some days!
If you are in need of care for your pup and want the kind of care you give him, then I would recommend Canine State of Mind!

If you love your four legged family member as we do then you want the best for them. We had some, what I call, major issues with our then current dog walker. When you puppy gets sick in her cage and is left there for the entire day that’s torture. We knew right away it was time for a drastic change. So we called Sasha at the Canine State of Mind. She came in and actually listened to our concerns and took the time to meet our important family member. After we saw how they reacted to the situations that our Lola threw at them it was crystal clear we found someone who cares about our furry friend as much as we do if not more. These people are top notch. I can’t say enough about how great they are. When you can see the results directly from your pet then you’ve found people whom you can trust.

Sasha and I met in the summer of 2009 at Wiggly Field dog park just after my wife and I adopted our dog Taylor. I carefully watched Sasha interact with her dogs and immediately recognized she was both passionate and knowledgeable about her craft. So we decided to give Sasha a try as our dog care-​taker. (Sasha is more than a «dog-​walker» she actually looks after the dogs, recognizing when they are not feeling well, making sure they are interacting appropriately, and informing the owner of any concerns)
From the first day, Taylor was in love with Sasha and the other employees of Canine State of Mind.
Taylor has been with Sasha for two+ years and we could not be happier. Taylor is a super high energy dog and she comes home absolutely exhausted after a day with Sasha/​others. She has spent time on the farm with Sasha and loved that too.
My wife and I confidently recommend Canine State of Mind!

Sasha and I met through a word of mouth referral in 2007 for a dog trainer & dog caregiver. At the time we had one dog, a challenging, loving little beagle.
Sasha helped us cope with the challenges of raising a rescue beagle and, when the time was right, gave us the confidence that we could handle another dog, a beagle /​border collie puppy.
Year after year, week after week, Sasha or Brandon appears at our house Monday — Friday, ensuring that our dogs get daily exercise. I am confident that our dogs would behave differently without their consistent presence in their lives. We have two healthy, happy dogs, now ages 5 and 4.
When we travel out of town, we know that our girls are in a safe, loving environment. I always know that I can call Sasha or Michael to check in on the girls when I start to miss them, which is a great feeling.

If you want someone who is deeply invested in your dog’s health, development, and well-​being, then look no further. Sasha, Owner of Canine State of Mind is the dog-​walker and dog-​boarder for you. Before Sasha, I’d taken my pup, Gogi, to a few places, and they were fine. But when we met Sasha, Gogi and I knew we need look no further. Sasha was a keeper. Sasha trained with the best-​of-​the-​best (Jan Fennell A.K.A. the Dog Listener). Her intuitive understanding of dogs, and ability to communicate lovingly and effectively with them was observed first-​hand as I watched her handle many situations with various dogs at the dog park, before she even started taking care of Gogi.
Sasha gives the dogs much more than a mid-​day potty break. In addition to taking Gogi to the park, while there Sasha helped train Gogi (such as helping rid Gogi of some possessive tendencies with the ball, working on recall commands, and even protecting Gogi against a two potentially quite harmful situations). Additionally, Sasha really tends to the individual needs of each dog, as they change, daily. For instance, some days, Sasha saw that Gogi could use a bit more time at the park to expel her excess puppy play energy. Some days, she’d generously let Gogi stay overtime. Other days, she noticed that Gogi was tired, and she would make sure that Gogi got home, so as not to exhaust herself. When we left town, Gogi went to Sasha’s dog retreat farm, and lived it up — she enjoyed hikes in nature, and romped through the fields. Sasha even took the time to send pictures over.
Sasha’s passion is to work with dogs, and it shows. Her love and care for them is obvious to not only the owners, but moreover, the dogs! Gogi formed a very tight bond with Sasha, and was overjoyed when it was time for her daily trips to the park (when I say overjoyed I mean, she would leave her food behind mid-​bite to run to the door to greet Sasha and never looked back… if you know my dog and her love affair with food… you could imagine what crazy talk this is). Gogi loves her auntie Sasha, and I’m confident your dog will feel the same!

As a client for almost three years, I would give Sasha and Michael of Canine State of Mind the highest of recommendations. Sasha handled my lab Murphy on daily walks and he even had a few overnights when I traveled (I trust only family and Sasha to watch my boy!!). Murphy returned each day with a huge smile on his face and I swear she even taught him some manors during their time together… Murphy and Sasha developed a very close relationship that lasted until the day we moved cross country.
As people, Sasha and Michael are very caring individuals who became fast friends and remain that today. As professionals, they have a true passion for animals and an understanding of what each dogs needs and often go WAY out of their way to make sure the animal has its every need met.
I cannot say enough about Sasha and Michal as people and as animal caregivers. If you are looking for the absolute best care for your dog, look no further than Canine State of Mind. You and your best friend will thank me!!!

If I could give Sasha more stars I would. I only used Sasha as a dog walker for a short amount of time as I quickly became unemployed after hiring her, but my dog absolutely loved her!!! She is professional, always in constant contact, and gave my dog the best of care. My dog became quickly attached to Sasha and her crew and became so excited whenever she saw them (we ended up going to the dog parks and planning our days around when Sasha and the crew would be around so Zuni could see them). Sasha made sure that my dog Zuni always got tons of exercise, and was safe. In Sasha’s short one on one time with my dog her and Zuni developed a very close relationship. I can not recommend her enough, you will be beyond pleased with the care you and your dog will receive! We have since moved to Scottsdale, and Zuni and I miss Sasha and her crew more than anything!