Our dog trainers have over 35 years of combined experience of professionally training family dogs. We offer balanced training with a unique training experience to help dog's use their natural back drive to help them overcome social issues, fear issues, confidence building, and more. We offer board and train programs that vary in length from 2 weeks up to several months depending on what your dog may need help with. Complex behavioral issues, may require your dog to spend additional time with us to ensure that their newly learned skills become a lifestyle. We also offer various training programs for puppies as well; including a potty training puppy camp that is called our "Pampered Puppy", puppy socialization, and classes. We believe it is very important to be proactive in your dog's training and we highly recommend that you start your dog's training as soon as possible. Be sure to call us to schedule your dog's FREE evaluation with one of our professional dog trainers.
Served areas
- Naperville, Lockport, Homer Glen, Hinsdale, Lemont, Downers Grove, Orland Park, and more!
Highlights and features
- Free Consultations and Evaluations
Associations and certifications
- International Association of Canine Professionals (P-3360)
- Member, ASPCA
- Member, American Dog Owner Association
Services
Here at Midway Dog Academy, we can offer you our years of experience and knowledge as well as a variety of dog services. You don't want just anyone training your dog; you can trust our team to take care of your dog and all of his/her training needs. We have over 12 years of experience training dogs as well as the knowledge to work with various behavior issues; so you can be sure you are hiring the best dog trainers.
Megan Wallace is the owner of Midway Dog Academy and she serves as one of the academy's lead dog trainers and teachers. Throughout her life, she has always had a very special love and bond for all animals. While growing up, she would frequently bring home stray animals to care and nurture for. She also would sneak treats to practice and train her own pets which included dogs, cats, birds, guinea pigs, and hamsters.
At Midway Dog Academy, we always encourage dog owners to start training their dog sooner rather than later since being proactive is key to having a dog without bad habits or behavior problems. Most dogs with bad habits start small and progress or manifest into other areas of their lives. That is because practice makes perfect when it comes to dogs and unwanted behaviors - they get really good at doing things we do not want them to do.
Are you having trouble potty training your puppy? Are you not getting any sleep at night because your puppy is whining? No need to get frustrated anymore because we offer puppy training that is affordable, effective, and can be customized to fit your dog training needs! Getting a puppy shouldn't be frustrating or hard, but often times is due to not understanding what your new dog needs. Our Pampered Puppy Program is a great choice for new dog owners whose main concern is potty training their new dog.
Our Pack Leader Program focuses on the relationship between you and your dog(s) and is designed to help you resolve common behavior problems in our 2.5 hour session. It's our goal to help you better understand the philosophy and importance of the dog mentality. Dogs are pack animals and because of that, they do not think like us.
People
Megan Wallace
Owner, Head Dog Trainer
Megan Wallace has been training dogs professionally since 2007. She has always had a love for animals and knew that she wanted to work with animals one day, but wasn't sure in what capacity. When she began training dogs she knew she had found her calling. Megan has dedicated her life to better understanding dogs and their natural behaviors. She loves teaching owners how to better understand and lead their dog; which allows for clearer communication between dog's and their families.
Reviews (8)
Kelly Skrine- Wood
Nov 14, 2018
Scott H.
Feb 24, 2014
Great experience, wonderful people. Midway Dog Academy saved our dog. Our dog was scared of everything including other dogs and people. Because of this, she started to become aggressive with our family. We thought that it might be best to get rid of the dog. Instead, we found Midway Dog Academy. Scott took time to talk with us and explain what was going on with the dog and how they could help.
The day we took our dog in for training, Scott took a little time to work with our dog, just to see if it was a good fit. We could tell right away that they love dogs and have a connection with them. After the training session, we picked up a new dog. She is now a wonderful part of the family. She has no problem with other dogs or people We have also used them to board our dog. Kendra does a wonderful job and loves the dogs.
They are not just stuck in a cage barking with a bunch of dogs. They are in a wonderful caring place. They get out an run in large grassy open areas with other wonderfully trained dogs. Scott and Kendra are wonderful people that love what they do. They dedicate their lives to making dogs and their owners live happier lives.
The day we took our dog in for training, Scott took a little time to work with our dog, just to see if it was a good fit. We could tell right away that they love dogs and have a connection with them. After the training session, we picked up a new dog. She is now a wonderful part of the family. She has no problem with other dogs or people We have also used them to board our dog. Kendra does a wonderful job and loves the dogs.
They are not just stuck in a cage barking with a bunch of dogs. They are in a wonderful caring place. They get out an run in large grassy open areas with other wonderfully trained dogs. Scott and Kendra are wonderful people that love what they do. They dedicate their lives to making dogs and their owners live happier lives.
Deborah W.
Feb 15, 2014
We got a Siberian Husky puppy last summer and had never had a dog before. She was fun and playful but somewhat wild and excitable. We were always afraid she was going to run away and never look back! We took her to Midwest Academy when she was about 4 months old and talked with the trainers to understand that an "excited" dog is not a "happy" dog.
After her training at the academy we continued the training including good manners when walking, proper socialization with other dogs and just being a good dog! Ellie is now 10 months old and is the sweetest and happiest dog I know. And I think a big part of it is that we were properly trained as well as Ellie was. We take her back to board with Midwest Academy (and mostly because of Kendra - she is great).
We would definitely recommend new dog owners look into the program. Early training with Ellie has resulted in a wonderful experience. We are already thinking about getting another "happy" addition to the family!
After her training at the academy we continued the training including good manners when walking, proper socialization with other dogs and just being a good dog! Ellie is now 10 months old and is the sweetest and happiest dog I know. And I think a big part of it is that we were properly trained as well as Ellie was. We take her back to board with Midwest Academy (and mostly because of Kendra - she is great).
We would definitely recommend new dog owners look into the program. Early training with Ellie has resulted in a wonderful experience. We are already thinking about getting another "happy" addition to the family!
Andrew Grayson
Feb 04, 2014
Scott and Kendra saved my dog's life. I mean this literally. My family has a pit bull, Wrigley that we got as a puppy. She is now five years old. She was always very high energy. Shortly after we got her, my wife and I had a child. Soon after, we had another child. We recently moved to a new house. It wasn't long before Wrigley started tearing up the window sills and hardwood floors with her excitement.
She would bark at all other dogs and almost all male humans. We could not walk her, because she would pull on the leash so hard that she would choke herself. We would have to lock her in a crate any time anybody was at our house, and she would bark and claw at the crate the whole time. Neither Wrigley, nor my family was happy. It got to the point where we didn't know what to do.
My wife and I talked seriously about having Wrigley put down. But first, we wanted to explore all our options. We called a few so called "expert" dog trainers. Nobody we talked to would even accept Wrigley because of her age, breed and symptoms. Thank God that we found Scott and Kendra! They offered to take Wrigley for a month and rehabilitate her.
I was very skeptical that they could help, but it was our last chance. Five weeks later, we went to pick up Wrigley from Scott's property. Scott and Kendra spent a few hours with us teaching us the methods they used to rehabilitate Wrigley. They were very knowledgeable and made it clear that in order for Wrigley's rehabilitation to take hold, we would have to follow through with their teachings moving forward.
This is very important for all dog owners to realize. The owner's behavior has everything to do with the dog's behavior. That was five months ago. The transformation in Wrigley is unbelievable. In fact, I wouldn't believe it if I wasn't living with it. We hosted both Thanksgiving and Christmas at our house, which we never could have done before. I take Wrigley on a pleasant walk every morning.
She doesn't bark at friends and family anymore. We can let her in the back yard off leash! She is in a much more calm state of mind, and is a pleasure to have around. We don't have to worry about her behavior anymore. The whole family is much happier, and we have the dog that we always dreamed she could be. I cannot praise the amazing work that Scott and Kendra do enough.
Without their help, we could not have kept Wrigley in our family. Their service is worth much more than what we paid! There are no words that can describe the gratitude I have for saving my dog's life. Our family is forever grateful to Scott and Kendra.
She would bark at all other dogs and almost all male humans. We could not walk her, because she would pull on the leash so hard that she would choke herself. We would have to lock her in a crate any time anybody was at our house, and she would bark and claw at the crate the whole time. Neither Wrigley, nor my family was happy. It got to the point where we didn't know what to do.
My wife and I talked seriously about having Wrigley put down. But first, we wanted to explore all our options. We called a few so called "expert" dog trainers. Nobody we talked to would even accept Wrigley because of her age, breed and symptoms. Thank God that we found Scott and Kendra! They offered to take Wrigley for a month and rehabilitate her.
I was very skeptical that they could help, but it was our last chance. Five weeks later, we went to pick up Wrigley from Scott's property. Scott and Kendra spent a few hours with us teaching us the methods they used to rehabilitate Wrigley. They were very knowledgeable and made it clear that in order for Wrigley's rehabilitation to take hold, we would have to follow through with their teachings moving forward.
This is very important for all dog owners to realize. The owner's behavior has everything to do with the dog's behavior. That was five months ago. The transformation in Wrigley is unbelievable. In fact, I wouldn't believe it if I wasn't living with it. We hosted both Thanksgiving and Christmas at our house, which we never could have done before. I take Wrigley on a pleasant walk every morning.
She doesn't bark at friends and family anymore. We can let her in the back yard off leash! She is in a much more calm state of mind, and is a pleasure to have around. We don't have to worry about her behavior anymore. The whole family is much happier, and we have the dog that we always dreamed she could be. I cannot praise the amazing work that Scott and Kendra do enough.
Without their help, we could not have kept Wrigley in our family. Their service is worth much more than what we paid! There are no words that can describe the gratitude I have for saving my dog's life. Our family is forever grateful to Scott and Kendra.
Eric G.
Jan 30, 2014
Midway Dog Academy saved our family from having to give up our dog. After having spent thousands of dollars on every training collar,harness,thunder shirt, toy, treat and many other trainers we finally found Midway Dog Academy. Our dog would lunge on the leash, break out of her kennel, try and chase every squirrel or animal she saw. She was always nervous and was never able to be off of her leash or come close to another dog.
After sending our dog to Midway Dog Academy we now enjoy the lifestyle we always wanted and dreamed of with our dog. We enjoy going to off leash dog parks, hiking with our dog and letting her run off leash with other dogs in open field socialization. The off leash and recall training they do is absolutely amazing, our dog never used to come when called, now she will come back to us when her name is called even if all the way across a field or in the woods. Midway changed the way our dog lives and the way we live for the better.
Upon doing more research on style of training they use, we found out these are the same techniques that Cesar "The Dog Whisperer" uses. Midway Dog Academy was always available for follow up questions and if we ran into a problem they were always willing to help correct the issue. We couldn't have been happier with the final result. My wife used to call me crying and balling her eyes out because our dog would constantly be acting up, now I just get happy photos of her playing with other dogs, rolling around in the grass and snuggling on the couch together. Our family can't thank Midway enough and we highly recommend them.
After sending our dog to Midway Dog Academy we now enjoy the lifestyle we always wanted and dreamed of with our dog. We enjoy going to off leash dog parks, hiking with our dog and letting her run off leash with other dogs in open field socialization. The off leash and recall training they do is absolutely amazing, our dog never used to come when called, now she will come back to us when her name is called even if all the way across a field or in the woods. Midway changed the way our dog lives and the way we live for the better.
Upon doing more research on style of training they use, we found out these are the same techniques that Cesar "The Dog Whisperer" uses. Midway Dog Academy was always available for follow up questions and if we ran into a problem they were always willing to help correct the issue. We couldn't have been happier with the final result. My wife used to call me crying and balling her eyes out because our dog would constantly be acting up, now I just get happy photos of her playing with other dogs, rolling around in the grass and snuggling on the couch together. Our family can't thank Midway enough and we highly recommend them.
Meaghan Doyle
Jun 11, 2013
Megan trained our Vizsla, Hunter and it was the best money we have ever spent! He is so well behaved on his leash and is incredibly good with other dogs too. As long as you are willing to put in the time to continue with the guidelines she sets, your dog will be a complete joy once she is done with him or her! I also love how available she is for questions and help once your dog is done with training - she is always willing to give you pointers and advice, she is the BEST!
Andrew Grayson
Scott and Kendra saved my dog’s life. I mean this literally. My family has a pit bull, Wrigley that we got as a puppy. She is now five years old. She was always very high energy. Shortly after we got her, my wife and I had a child. Soon after, we had another child. We recently moved to a new house. It wasn’t long before Wrigley started tearing up the window sills and hardwood floors with her excitement.
She would bark at all other dogs and almost all male humans. We could not walk her, because she would pull on the leash so hard that she would choke herself. We would have to lock her in a crate any time anybody was at our house, and she would bark and claw at the crate the whole time. Neither Wrigley, nor my family was happy. It got to the point where we didn’t know what to do.
My wife and I talked seriously about having Wrigley put down. But first, we wanted to explore all our options. We called a few so called “expert” dog trainers. Nobody we talked to would even accept Wrigley because of her age, breed and symptoms. Thank God that we found Scott and Kendra! They offered to take Wrigley for a month and rehabilitate her.
I was very skeptical that they could help, but it was our last chance. Five weeks later, we went to pick up Wrigley from Scott’s property. Scott and Kendra spent a few hours with us teaching us the methods they used to rehabilitate Wrigley. They were very knowledgeable and made it clear that in order for Wrigley’s rehabilitation to take hold, we would have to follow through with their teachings moving forward.
This is very important for all dog owners to realize. The owner’s behavior has everything to do with the dog’s behavior. That was five months ago. The transformation in Wrigley is unbelievable. In fact, I wouldn’t believe it if I wasn’t living with it. We hosted both Thanksgiving and Christmas at our house, which we never could have done before.
I take Wrigley on a pleasant walk every morning. She doesn’t bark at friends and family anymore. We can let her in the back yard off leash! She is in a much more calm state of mind, and is a pleasure to have around. We don’t have to worry about her behavior anymore. The whole family is much happier, and we have the dog that we always dreamed she could be.
I cannot praise the amazing work that Scott and Kendra do enough. Without their help, we could not have kept Wrigley in our family. Their service is worth much more than what we paid! There are no words that can describe the gratitude I have for saving my dog’s life. Our family is forever grateful to Scott and Kendra.
She would bark at all other dogs and almost all male humans. We could not walk her, because she would pull on the leash so hard that she would choke herself. We would have to lock her in a crate any time anybody was at our house, and she would bark and claw at the crate the whole time. Neither Wrigley, nor my family was happy. It got to the point where we didn’t know what to do.
My wife and I talked seriously about having Wrigley put down. But first, we wanted to explore all our options. We called a few so called “expert” dog trainers. Nobody we talked to would even accept Wrigley because of her age, breed and symptoms. Thank God that we found Scott and Kendra! They offered to take Wrigley for a month and rehabilitate her.
I was very skeptical that they could help, but it was our last chance. Five weeks later, we went to pick up Wrigley from Scott’s property. Scott and Kendra spent a few hours with us teaching us the methods they used to rehabilitate Wrigley. They were very knowledgeable and made it clear that in order for Wrigley’s rehabilitation to take hold, we would have to follow through with their teachings moving forward.
This is very important for all dog owners to realize. The owner’s behavior has everything to do with the dog’s behavior. That was five months ago. The transformation in Wrigley is unbelievable. In fact, I wouldn’t believe it if I wasn’t living with it. We hosted both Thanksgiving and Christmas at our house, which we never could have done before.
I take Wrigley on a pleasant walk every morning. She doesn’t bark at friends and family anymore. We can let her in the back yard off leash! She is in a much more calm state of mind, and is a pleasure to have around. We don’t have to worry about her behavior anymore. The whole family is much happier, and we have the dog that we always dreamed she could be.
I cannot praise the amazing work that Scott and Kendra do enough. Without their help, we could not have kept Wrigley in our family. Their service is worth much more than what we paid! There are no words that can describe the gratitude I have for saving my dog’s life. Our family is forever grateful to Scott and Kendra.
Nicci Panatera