Best Dog Trainers in and Near Portland, OR

Bark Busters Southwest Portland is a local branch of the Bark Busters franchise, and our records list it in Aurora. Training happens one on one in your home. The site names Miguel Munoz as the trainer, a 20 year military veteran raised in Oregon, and says, "We don't rely on bribes or punishment." Listed problems include barking, leash pulling, separation anxiety and resource guarding. Lifetime support comes at no extra cost. Areas served include Tualatin, Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Wilsonville and Hillsboro. Prices aren't listed.

Bonadonna Animal Behavior is a Portland behavior consulting practice for dogs and cats. Our records list Mia Bonadonna as an Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (ACAAB) through the Animal Behavior Society, and the site calls its behaviorist board certified and insured. The practice works on aggression, separation anxiety, fear, leash reactivity and destruction in the home. The site states, "We will not use fear or pain in any of our interventions." Prices aren't listed. Consider it when a problem goes beyond basic manners.

Canine Dimensions Portland is a local location of the Canine Dimensions franchise. Rob Messel, CDBA, is listed as Regional Training Director for Metro Portland and Clark County. He's a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals. Services include in home obedience and behavior modification, plus an in home puppy program called Puppy GoodStart. The site also has pages for board and train and for fear and aggression. It doesn't describe training tools or list prices, but it offers a free phone consultation.

Carol Andrew is listed in our records as a NADOI Certified Instructor, and her listing points to CJ's Dog Training near Vancouver, Washington. The site says CJ's has taught since 1985. It offers Puppy Kindergarten for puppies about 9 to 18 weeks old and Beginning Obedience for adult dogs and older puppies. Training uses "rewards and positive reinforcement, not pain or punishment," and classes teach owners how dogs think. Listed problems include biting hands, leash pulling and poor recall. The homepage doesn't name trainers or list prices, so ask who teaches your class.

Wonder Puppy is a Portland puppy school, and our records list Terri Ferrario as a trainer there with the CPDT-KA credential and AKC Evaluator status. The school runs reward based clicker training classes at three levels, called Good, Great and Wonder, and each level has tracks such as Social and Calm and Focus. Older dogs are welcome, and private sessions and playgroups are offered too. The site offers a free quick start orientation, but class prices aren't on the homepage.

Bright Beasts is run by Clara Ridabock, CPDT-KA, and our records list her in Fairview. The site describes "humane, individualized training for dogs and their guardians" using positive, science based methods, and she works with dogs "from goofy puppies to stoic seniors." Training is private, at your home or another place you agree on in the Portland metro area. You can work alongside your dog, or Clara can work with your dog one on one. A private session is listed on their site as $150 for one hour.

Good Work Dog is a Portland training business run by Dog Enrichment LLC. Our records list Cyrus Heiduska as the trainer, with the CPDT-KA and FDM credentials. The site focuses on enrichment through work based activities your dog enjoys. Sessions happen at the trainer's place or yours, or anywhere by video call, and Nose Work appears in its menu. It mentions herding and hunting breeds that seem bored. Our records list private and group training plus behavior consulting, with a focus on separation anxiety and on aggression and reactivity. Prices aren't listed.

The Humane Society for Southwest Washington runs public classes in Vancouver. Six week group classes are listed on their site as $180 per dog, covering puppies under six months, teens 6 to 14 months and adult manners. Reactive Rover, for dogs that react in stressful situations, is listed at $250. Private sessions are listed at $80 in person or $60 virtual. Classes use positive reinforcement. The trainer named is Cierra Whitcomb, CPDT-KA. Enrollment opens at different times for each class, so check the class page for open dates.

Instinct Dog Behavior & Training Portland is owned by Dr. Chris Pachel, DVM, DACVB, a board certified veterinary behaviorist, and Caroline Spark, PhD. Home School is in home day training, where a trainer visits several times a week, trains your dog and then teaches you. Private coaching happens at your home, by video or at the facility. Memberships are listed on their site as starting at $160 a month. The site says, "No aversives, no shortcuts, no exceptions," and its trainers use positive reinforcement. Its team works with fearful and reactive dogs, and the service area includes Clark County, Washington.

K10 Academy Dog Training is a family owned Portland business run by Ray Garcia, the lead trainer, and Alyda Garcia, a certified trainer. All coaching is private and by appointment, at its Portland location or in public spaces. Programs include a three session Jump Start Package and a five session Leash Walking Course, and eight session programs cover obedience, separation anxiety and reactive dogs. The site calls its approach trauma informed, using threshold management and gradual desensitization. Oregon Dog Rescue adopters get 15% off within six months of adoption. Prices aren't listed.

Our records list Kei Haan, CPDT-KA, as a trainer at the Oregon Humane Society, which runs classes at its Portland and Salem campuses and online. Classes cover puppies, adolescent dogs, small dogs under 25 pounds, reactive dogs, recently adopted dogs, agility games and Canine Good Citizen. Trainers use positive reinforcement, and prong collars, choke chains and electronic collars aren't allowed in class. Private consultations happen on site or by video, listed on their site as $95 for one or $510 for six. A free behavior helpline is available.

The Wild Fern Dog Training is a Portland business, and our records list Kira Moyer as its trainer. Our records also show a CPDT-KA, but her site says that credential lapsed during a break from client work and isn't active right now. New clients start with a 90 minute intake, in home or virtual, listed on their site as $200. One hour private sessions are listed at $170. Kira also offers board and train in her Southeast Portland home, listed at $200 to $360 a day, after a required trial night. Enrichment outings are offered too, and the service area reaches the Vancouver area.

Lucid Dog Training is run by Chris and Katie Wojda out of Lake Oswego, and the site says it has trained dogs since 2013. Lessons are private, in your home or online, with programs for puppies and adult dogs plus a less common senior dog program that covers house soiling and new fears in older dogs. The site follows Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) principles while teaching owners to train their own dogs. It serves Lake Oswego, West Linn, Tualatin, Tigard and Portland, and its online clients have reached as far as Texas and New York.

Ruff to Refined Dog and Puppy Training is run by Meg Sanders, a certified pet dog trainer, in Beaverton and the surrounding area. Training is personalized and offered in your home or online. The site describes its methods as modern and force free. It's aimed at new puppies and newly adopted dogs, along with any dog that could use new skills. Separation anxiety has its own page on the site. Prices and program lengths aren't listed, so ask how many sessions a typical plan runs.

Growing Up K9 is a Portland business, and our records list Molly Wong as its trainer, with the CPDT-KA credential. Training is private, in your home or neighborhood, and covers Puppy Training 101 and behavior modification. Methods are described as fear free, using positive reinforcement and choice based learning. The behavior list includes aggression, leash reactivity, dog to dog reactivity, separation anxiety, fence fighting and resource guarding. If your dog fights through the fence with the dog next door, this listing names that problem. Prices aren't listed.

Off Leash K9 Training Portland is part of the Off Leash K9 franchise. Its site says it's based in Beaverton and serves the whole metro, Vancouver included. Local leaders named are Trish, a former Air Force military working dog handler, and Bruce, a 15 year Air Force veteran and former kennel master. Private packages run four or eight lessons, with eight lesson options for aggressive dogs and therapy dog development. The site also lists a two week board and train and in home training. It calls its approach balanced, combining marker training with electronic collar training.

Paws Assisting Veterans, known as PAVE, is a nonprofit, listed in Cornelius in our records, that provides trained service dogs free of charge to U.S. veterans living with PTSD, military sexual trauma or traumatic brain injury. It's accredited by Assistance Dogs International. Training comes with lifetime support. Tasks the site describes include retrieving items, bringing medication, waking a veteran from nightmares and Deep Pressure Therapy during an episode. This listing is for veterans seeking a service dog, so it won't help with training a pet you already have.

Rose City Dog Training is a Portland business owned by JP Carter. Most training is private and in your home, and board and train programs are offered too. Services cover puppies, obedience, off leash work, service dog training and therapy or emotional support dog training. The puppy program uses "positive reinforcement and balanced techniques." Problems listed include reactivity, aggression, separation anxiety and resource guarding. The service area reaches Vancouver. The site doesn't name certifications or list prices, so ask about both.

Maniac Mutts is led by Stephen Lewis, CPDT-KA, a former behavior and training manager at an animal shelter. Services include private Real Life Skills training for recall and loose leash walking, plus 60 minute sessions for puppies 8 to 18 weeks old. Behavior consultations run 90 minutes and end with a behavior plan. Dog Adventures are half day outings in Portland parks and on trails, with reward based training along the way. The site says its methods avoid anything that would hurt or scare a dog. Prices aren't posted.

The Canine Classroom is a Portland training business that the site says has operated since 1993, and our records list Steve Fuller as its trainer. Sessions are one on one with you present, and each dog gets an individual training plan. The site lists aggression toward dogs and people, housebreaking, barking, biting and jumping among the issues it handles, for puppies and for older dogs whose behavior has gotten harder to manage. The site doesn't describe its methods or tools, and it doesn't list prices or group classes.

Urban Pawsibilities is a dog and puppy training school in Southeast Portland that works by appointment and starts with a free Discovery Call. Group classes cover puppies, basic and intermediate manners, recall, working around distractions and reactive dog work. Trick classes are offered too. Beyond groups, the school offers day training, private lessons, puppy socials, and service and therapy dog training. The site offers a free puppy handbook, so ask who will teach your class. Prices and years in business aren't on the main page.

Reward Your Dog Training is run by Verena Sutherland in Portland. Her site lists the CBCC-KA, CTRI and FDM credentials, and our records add CPDT-KA. The focus is dogs whose fear, aggression or reactivity makes city living hard. Goals named on the site include meeting new people, passing other dogs, bikes and skateboards on leash, and living calmly with a resident cat. Services include private training, a Boarding School program, Staycation boarding and a Shy Dog Class. The home page doesn't spell out methods or list prices, so ask about both on the first call.

Von Dubinhaus Dog Training Services is a family owned Portland business that the site says has operated for more than 25 years. Paul is the trainer named in client testimonials. The site describes his approach as balanced and personalized, and it lists leash reactivity and aggression along with basic obedience. It doesn't name programs or tools, so ask what balanced means in practice. Von Dubinhaus also offers boarding, grooming and doggy daycare open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. It serves Southwest Washington too.

Zoom Room Hillsboro is an indoor dog training gym where you train alongside your dog. Classes cover puppy training, obedience, agility and socialization, with playgroups and gym time, and private one on one training is available. Training is reward based, and orientations cover clicker basics. You can start with a free 30 minute orientation without your dog or a 30 minute private evaluation with your dog. Classes are booked in advance on a flexible schedule. Class prices sit on a separate page.

Zoom Room Tualatin is an indoor training gym where owners work with their own dogs in class. It runs puppy training, obedience, agility and socialization through playgroups and gym time, and the site also mentions tricks and scent work. Private training is available. Training uses positive reinforcement only, with a focus on real world skills. Classes are booked ahead on a flexible schedule with no rigid six week commitment. The site doesn't list a reactive dog class. Nearby areas named include Wilsonville and Lake Oswego.