“Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.”
About Us
After training and competing with her own dogs for 8 years, and volunteering training service dogs and teaching classes through 4-H, Danielle started Canine Initiative Training in 2016, offering private lessons and group classes. In early 2018, eager to learn more following an internship in the summer of 2017, Danielle moved to Buffalo, NY to work for learn from world-renowned trainer and behavior expert, Tyler Muto, at K9 Connection. There, she gained nearly two years of direct, hands-on experience with behavior modification and rehabilitation of severe behavior cases, ranging from reactivity to aggression to anxiety, and more. At the beginning of 2020, Danielle returned home to central IL to resume running Canine Initiative and to expand the programs offered. Since then, Canine Initiative Training has become one of the leading dog training facilities in central Illinois, known for personalized and detailed group class instruction, as well as effective private training, especially for behavioral cases.
Canine Initiative Training continues to offer dog training services in the central Illinois area, covering a broad range of topics, including: puppy training, pet obedience/manners, competitive sports including AKC/UKC Obedience, Rally, and Agility, and problem solving and behavior modification for reactivity, dog aggression, human aggression, resource guarding, fear/anxiety, etc.
Classes and lessons are held at our training facility just south of Tremont, IL, conveniently located off of I-155. The facility is a large, climate controlled building with rubber matting in the training area and a fenced in yard area. We also offer options for in-home private training, and occasionally hold small classes out in dog-friendly public places.
Meet Our Team:
Danielle Stuber - Owner, Trainer
(Group Classes, Private Lessons, Day Training, and Board and Train)
Danielle is 25 years old and has been training since she was 8, when she got her Pug and joined the local 4-H classes. Competitive sports - specifically Obedience, Rally, and Agility - got her started in the world of dogs, and she still actively trains and competes in those sports. Among Danielle’s competitive accomplishments with her dogs are many competitive titles, a number of Obedience and Rally High in Trial awards, and multiple 1st Place wins at the UKC National Invitational competition in Obedience and Rally, along with many other placements in the Top Junior and All Star Invitationals.
When Danielle’s Malinois started displaying reactivity towards other dogs in 2016, she sought out help and got connected with Tyler Muto, who she interned with and then worked for for almost 2 years. Behavior modification training caught and held her interest, and she now specializes in behavioral cases.
Danielle volunteers training time as much as possible with her busy schedule. She has fostered and trained service dogs with Paws Giving Independence, a non-profit organization in Peoria, IL that trains and places service dogs free of charge to their recipients. She occasionally fosters and trains dogs through rescues as time allows.
Continued education is critical to Danielle. Whether through online classes, training seminars, following and working with other trainers, reading dog training books, or watching instructional training videos, the learning never stops.
Meet Danielle’s Pack:
Angel (2006-2021)
Angel was the little dog who started it all. In her day, she earned Champion and Grand Champion titles in Rally, Champion titles in Agility, and her CDX (Open) title in Obedience. She also enjoyed working with 4-H kids, and was always great at providing general entertainment.
Jasper
Jasper is a 12 year old Australian Shepherd. He has titles in Obedience, Rally, and Agility, including his Grand Champion Rally and his UD Obedience title. He is mostly retired now, but still loves training and being with his people, and his aloofness towards other dogs makes him an excellent neutral helper dog while working with clients’ dogs.
Gideon
Gideon is an 8 year old Belgian Malinois. He has worked through extreme dog reactivity and aggression issues. He is actively competing in Rally competitions, and occasionally helps out by providing a more challenging distraction for clients’ dogs.
Ember
Ember is a 4 year old Dutch Shepherd, and she is my primary canine partner at Canine Initiative. She is everything I wanted - lots of a drive with a good off switch, she is also extremely social with both dogs and humans. She plays a big role at Canine Initiative as a demonstration dog, neutral helper dog, and socialization playmate.
Vivid
Vivid is a 6 month old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and is my new prospect for dog sports and help dog work at the training business. Boisterous and always up to try anything, Vivid does everything with enthusiasm. She is already learning how to be a demo dog and helper dog during classes and lessons, and also learning about all sorts of dog sports.
Jill Owen - Trainer
(Group Classes, Private Lessons)
Jill’s journey in dog training began in 2009 when she and her (then) 8-year-old son started classes with two of their four rescued German Shepherds. Over the last 25 years, Jill has owned, adopted or fostered many large breed dogs, including many German Shepherds, a Rottweiler, a Labrador Retriever, an Australian Cattle Dog, two Australian Kelpies, and an Anatolian Shepherd. Jill enjoys training dogs of all breeds and started volunteering as a group-class instructor in 2011. In 2015, she earned AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator status and has since received her AKC Temperament Testing Evaluator and AKC FitDog Instructor Certificates. She is an Associate Member of International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP). For the past 10 years, Jill has worked with handlers and their puppies-to-adult dogs in a group setting, as well as one-on-one training.
Because Jill’s passion for rescued dogs started so many years ago, she saw firsthand why many puppies and dogs are surrendered to shelters and vowed that she would do whatever she could to help. She became involved in helping transport dogs throughout Illinois and held the position of Board Secretary of the Peoria Humane Society. Her goal is to keep as many dogs as possible from being abandoned by their owners by providing education and guidance through
training. She considers herself more of a coach of owner/dog teams rather than an instructor.
Meet Jill’s Pack:
Siri
Siri is an Australian Kelpie mix from a shelter in Texas. Jill saw a video of Siri in 2014 on Facebook, with the note that he had only 4 days until he was scheduled for euthanasia. He had been labeled “un-adoptable”. Jill was able to save Siri and get him to his now forever home. He has competed in AKC and NDAL agility. They plan to compete in ScentWork and BarnHunt. He has passed his Therapy Dog test and has titles in AKC Canine Good Citizen Advanced and AKC Temperament Test.
Luna
Luna was adopted in 2017 from Tyler, Texas. He is also an Australian Kelpie mix. Luna is truly Jill’s shadow. He has trained in agility, but thoroughly enjoys Flyball. He lives to play fetch. He is perfect as Jill’s demo dog for training classes and is her meet-and-greet dog for Canine Good Citizen evaluations. He has competed in NDAL agility. They plan to compete in ScentWork and BarnHunt. He has titles in AKC Canine Good Citizen Advanced and AKC Temperament Test.
Groot
Groot is a young male black German Shepherd Dog. He is currently learning the foundation skills for Flyball, Agility, and Nose work and has already earned is S.T.A.R. Puppy Award.
Groot often attends group classes as Jill’s demo dog.
Bean
Bean is a young female black German Shepherd Dog. Jill and Bean are working on achieving the AKC Canine Good Citizen.
Bean enjoys being Jill’s demo dog during group classes as well as private lessons. Bean shows potential as Jill’s future meet-and-greet dog for CGC evaluations. Bean enjoys going on adventures and playing with Groot.
Kelly Stuber - Class Assistant, Daycare Attendant
Kelly (“Danielle’s Mom”) has always loved animals, and was passionate about horses and horse training when she was Danielle’s age. Her journey into dog training began when Danielle’s did, since she had to drive Danielle to her training classes, shows, seminars, etc. After years of gaining knowledge attending training with Danielle, she started getting hands-on when she adopted a young rescue Australian Cattle Dog in 2016. Under Kelly’s tutelage, Bear, now 8, has worked through some “stranger danger” issues and has earned his AKC Canine Good Citizen title, multiple Trick titles, a number of Rally titles in AKC and UKC, and his Novice Obedience title. They are looking forward to continuing their competitive journey in Rally and Obedience. They also enjoy hiking together, fetch sessions, and paddle boarding in the summer.
Kelly is a regular daycare attendant (she’s the friendly face at drop off in the mornings!), and periodically helps assist with classes. She also helps keep the facility clean and organized!