Doug is so great. Smart and kind and honest and knowledgeable. Recommend highly. He really knows and loves dogs, and will come to dog day care to watch your dog in action read more

Five stars aren't enough for this wonderful, all-positive dog training and playgroup center. For the past month or so we've been taking our dog to the half-day playgroups that Doggy Business offers, and we can already see positive changes in his behavior. The dog playgroup sessions are carefully monitored and involve training exercises in name response and recall. The staff treats the dogs with care and respect and offers feedback about the dog's behavior. Since dogs need to be interviewed before they're accepted into playgroups, we can be sure that our pup is playing and socializing in a reasonably safe pack. We're fairly certain that as our pup attends more playgroups he'll grow into an even happier, more well-balanced dog. Outstanding, reliable, professional care. Great resource for people with dogs in NE Portland. read more

This is a rare sight. My 9 month old shepherd asleep on the kitchen floor. Thank you Doggy Business for tiring her out through both physical and mental enrichment for 4 hours today! We also did an amazing training class with Amber and Alexis. It gave us an great foundation to work off of, and kept us accountable weekly to work on new skills. We called them our puppy therapists, as they helped us work through problems and offered advice beyond what the single class offered. I highly recommend doggy business! read more

Doggy Business - Pet Training Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I was at the end of my rope. My very large and strong dog Winston had become aggressive and hostile towards every living non-human creature. I couldn't take him anywhere without running the risk of him attacking something or even leave him unattended around my other dog. Then Doggy Business came to the rescue...! (Queue epic theme music). After attending a few of their behavior classes and being very diligent in following their recommendations, Winston's back to being the lovable fur bag I knew and loved before his psychotic break. Their reward-based, non-punishment classes not only help your dog, but most of what I learned was how to be a better dog handler. Who knew? Now, Winston's happier and so am I. read more

I LOVE this place! I have had my pitbull attend two rounds of classes here, and he now goes to play sessions here as well. Doug and Meredith clearly love dogs, and are so knowledgeable and personable. They have always been able to answer my questions and give me suggestions for dealing with behavior issues and training, using only positive methods. I feel like they really care for our dog, and take the time to get to know him and his needs. This is the reason I started sending him here for play sessions instead of his other doggy daycare. My dog was having some issues with fence fighting, and I found out the old doggy daycare was using aversive techniques, like squirting with water bottles, and it was possibly making issues worse. When I found out Doggy Business had a trainer on staff during play groups, I knew this was the place for my dog. He LOVES it, has friends there, and he comes home tired after 4 hours of play. Doggy Business does doggy play sessions like no other.They don't just let the dogs have unstructured time. They are highly supervised, and work on training during the play sessions. This has helped keep our dog sharp with his skills- both with people and with other dogs. We are leaving town for 9 days, and couldn't get someone to stay in our home, so we are sending them here for boarding. I will take comfort in knowing that our dogs will be with people who know them, and care about them. Thank you, Doggy Business for all that you do for dogs and their people! read more

I really love this place! They give us a doggy report every time we pick them up from boarding, and they really seem to know and love our dogs. One of our dogs can be a bit challenging, and they really seem eager to work with him. They are total pros, and we feel so lucky to have found them! Last week, we were out of town for too long to board them, so we hired a dog-sitter. When she had a conflict while we were out of town, Doggy Business made room for our two big dogs on a busy weekend. I feel very lucky to have them as a trusted resource when we have to be away from our dogs! We plan to use Doggy Business for training as well, after reading some of the reviews on here. read more

We have been working with Doug Duncan and Meredith Wilson for years. They have walked our dogs, stayed with them when we went out of town and they even scooped poop in our backyard! So we were really excited when they opened their dog training and lodging location in NePo earlier this year. They are both terrific with dogs. They took the time to get to know each of our dogs distinct personalities and understand their likes and dislikes. My sister also takes her dog to their location for playtime and the occasional overnight and has had a great experience as well. The facility is clean and roomy and they only take up to 20 dogs at a time so it never gets overcrowded. They always have a couple of people there to watch the activity level and run interference. They also offer training classes on a regular basis. The finishing touch they provide is when you pick up your pet at the end of their stay, they provide pix of their time there as well as a brief recap of how things went. Really awesome caretaking and service. I highly recommend Meredith and Doug and their new business. read more

You really cannot beat the dependability and dedication that Doug and Meredith put into their business. I have been a customer of theirs since before they opened the brick and mortar location. They have taken wonderful care of my Lab Guinness. An example of amazing customer service...Guinness got a small tear on his ear while there for play time. They took him to the vet, paid the bill, and took care of him for me (I was not able to get to them until 5, and it couldn't wait until then). That is pure customer service. Thank you Doggy Business!!! read more

Meredith and Doug are so passionate about dog training. I love how they work with you and your dog! They truly understand dog behavior and will cater to you and your dog needs. I will always refer them to anyone in need of good, responsible, safe, and fun training. They have group classes for any thing you need extra help on, and they also have private training too. Awesome all around! read more

We've been taking our dog to Doggy Business twice a week since she was little. It is amazing how much more confidence she has since going to their playgroups. The staff are so friendly and they really understand dog behavior. I feel so good knowing that my dog is in good hands. They also work on some training during their playgroup sessions, which is really helpful - our dog actually comes when she's called now! read more

I really enjoy their puppy socials, they separate the groups so rowdy puppies are separated on one side and the more mellow ones are on the other. But it's not just a free-for-all for an hour. They sprinkle in little mini training sessions and potty breaks. It also gives you a chance to pick a trainers brain about if your having a puppy problem, what is something they would suggest to help fix it. I can't wait for my puppies to be old enough to sign up for their doggy play groups. read more

We initiated contact because our dog is dog aggressive and anxious. She was around multiple other dogs in her foster home so we know she has it in her to be good with other dogs. Doug came to our house and for $100+ told us to work on calling her name...which she already responds to. We brought her in for another class and he introduced her to another dog extremely quickly, which wasn't a positive experience for her. It seemed like he actually did not know what he was doing. He ended the appointment early and we scheduled another time to come in. When the day came he cancelled with us last minute and asked to reschedule. When I attempted to reschedule he never responded back and ghosted us. So for almost $200 we got no real help and no real advice. His behavior and training "methods" were unhelpful and had negative impact on my dog. If you are going to claim to be a dog behavior therapist then walk that walk. It seemed to us that Doug was more interested in boujee mild behavior dogs than a rescue pit bull. I'd recommend going elsewhere. read more

When I found myself unable to walk my super active dogs after an unfortunate tumble off the roof (me, not them), I was thrilled to find the best dog training/lodging/walking business right in my neighborhood. Meredith, one of the owners, actually came over to my house to retrieve my revved up pups. (Due to my gutter-cleaning acrobatics I couldn't deliver the dogs myself). I am pretty sure that Meredith has a halo hidden under her baseball cap. Finding Doggy Business was the best thing that ever happened to my dogs. If I had fallen off the roof sooner I would have known what a gold mine of kindness, dog-savvy professionalism and creative customer service lay just around the corner. Not only do the owners, Doug and Meredith, provide a safe (multiple doors and barriers between my dogs and moving objects with wheels), fun (toys, treats and supervised activity both indoor and out), and a pleasant (so clean you'd let your best friend eat off the floor) environment, they are phenomenal purveyors of "peace of mind". As a person who trusts few with the serious responsibility of holding the leash, let alone caring for MY dogs (all day or overnight), I can honestly say that no one inspires confidence like Doug and Meredith and their staff at Doggy Business. And yes, I do look forward to the personalized "report card" that my pups get at the end of a play day or weekend stay. My pups and me give 8 paws and 2 thumbs up to Doug and Meredith at Doggy Business! read more

This place seems fine for day care except for the odor of urine all over the floors and reportedly dogs returning home smelling of pee. Staff tries to keep on top of the cleaning but the space is small especially outside and all concrete with no dedicated potty relief area. Hence dogs pee at will in and outside. And where does all that soapy water residue go when it rains - right to the storm drains to your local creek. I would definitely caution anyone with a normal dog that barks when something feels wrong to consider boarding elsewhere. The boarding rooms are cramped, with tall walls and no window to look out, hardly a den like experience, and make even the most well adjusted dog uncomfortable. And staff are not prepared to handle this seemingly normal response to being boarded at a new facility. When staff decided they couldn't handle our smart terrier for one overnight stay they didn't even call us - instead they called a local emergency contact and preceded to make arrangements to take our dog (a known escape artist) out of the facility, leaving behind his shy brother dog, to their house to be picked up by someone other than us -the owners, later that night! We board our dogs regularly at various locations and have never experienced such a lack of common sense and professionalism. Just because someone reads a book or two on dog training and watches a few episodes of the Dog Whisperer doesn't prepare them to open a dog boarding facility. If you get an unsure feeling and face confrontation like we did, during your evaluation with 'Doug' I would recommend just turning around and finding a real boarding facility. This small business has a lot to learn. read more

I am so thankful I have found Doggy Business. They have given me hope that I'm not going to have isolate my dog for the rest of her life. Doug is an amazing trainer who truly understands dog behavior and what can cause it. While she has had some issues at the dog park they understood this and helped ease her into play group and now when she needed a break. I cant wait to bring her back. read more

Doug and Meredith of Doggy Business have created something great for dogs and their families in the NE neighborhood! Most importantly, these people very personable, reliable, and knowledgeable- I absolutely trust them to take good care of my dogs. Awesome training classes- their Impulse Control class taught me more than any other dog training class I've taken. The number of dogs in daycare and classes is manageable by design- not overwhelming for my shy girl and enough fun for my energetic girl! Both are sleepy after a half-day with their friends! read more

Doggy Business rocks!! They helped our very rowdy dog become civilized and friendly. Totally flexible. Obviously love what they do and it shows in .how happy our pup is to see them. Great for doggy daycare and overnights as well as individual and group training sessions. Best in town, paws down!!! read more

I have taken two dogs to three group trainings and a couple private consulations here, and I can't say enough good things about the results. Both my dogs were shelter dogs that had been poorly socialized. Neither knew anything when I got them, and both had fear-aggression issues. Doug worked one on one with my first dog and with us, teaching us how to use positive reinforcement to address deep-seated mistrust. We also enrolled her in a couple of group classes before completing the "Canine Good Citizen" class. We have not yet had her a year, and she just passed her Good Citizen test. She just started agility and is doing fantastically well. Our second dog came with many of the same issues. He has completed one class here and is well on his way to becoming a happy, confident companion. Both dogs drop in for daycare on occasion, and they love to go back. The place is clean and the people are absolutely wonderful. read more

When we adopted our 1 year old pup we did not have his social history (he was a stray) and worried his reactivity to other dogs meant he was aggressive and dog parks and play dates would not be in our future. We took him to Doug who immediately recognized our dog's behavior as fear based, and he actually loved playing with dogs! All he needed was some positive, healthy supervised interactions that reinforced nothing "bad" was going to happen. Within a few sessions with Doug, our dog has become a happy, well-adjusted and very social pup. He now enjoys weekly "burn hours" at Doggy Business as well as frequent trips to the park where he runs and plays tirelessly with the other dogs. I can't thank Doug enough, who along with the great caring staff at Doggy Business, has helped my dog recover from his fears and let his true playful nature flourish. Doggy Business is a great spot for doggie playdates, training and boarding. The staff really treats your dog with love and kindness, and is always willing to provide feedback about your dog. The "report card" you get when you pick up your dog is awesome! It gives you a glimpse into what your dog was up to and who he played with. I highly recommend this place! read more

Doggy Business is the absolute best! Meredith and Doug are just plain nice people with a passion and love for all dogs. Our dog is high energy and has a unique and chaotic personality. The folks at Doggy Business understand our dog's needs and go the extra mile to make sure those needs are met. We have boarded our dog with them on numerous occasions and each time our dog comes home happy, healthy and wagging her tail. A welcoming and loving environment for dogs and humans alike! read more

WHAT A GREAT PLACE! I have to admit, I'm one of those people who obsesses to find the 'best and most reliable' of everything, whether it be for a car, a toaster, or daycare and boarding for my pets, so when I adopted a new pup I spent a lot of time on the internet pouring over websites and reading as many comments and reviews as I could. Portland has a LOT of doggie daycare options across the city, and many of them make a lot of claims of greatness, but then a little digging unearths a fair number of so-so reviews. I was feeling a little discouraged, and then I found the website for Doggy Business! Doug and Meredith, the owners of Doggy Business, run their business right. Their first priority is your dog! They keep the numbers in each play group small and manageable, they use only positive methods with the pups in their care (no spray bottles, no scary cans full of pennies, no yelling or 'dominating'... Why isn't this standard practice at all daycare and boarding facilities?). They do an excellent job screening potential dog customers to make sure that they will be a good fit and ensure that Doggy Business remains a safe and fun place to play. Another thing that sets them above the rest is that they add in structured training games. So in addition to being tired and happy when I go to pick up my dog, he also has better manners! Doug and Meredith take time for the pet parents, too. Anytime I have a question about managing/modifying a behavior they have always been willing to share some ideas with me, or if I just want to hear about how my boy did that day, they will talk to me about that. If you're looking for a place for your dog to play or stay while you're out of town, take some time to look at their website. I highly recommend these folks and am so happy I found them! read more

Outstanding. We've had 1 on 1 training help with Doug for our Shiba, and we regularly board him with them. We're so impressed with how they treat our little guy: even bringing him to their place once in a while on our extended trips for extra attention. We recommend highly! read more

Doug and Meredith are some of the most knowledgeable and caring dog trainers and boarders you will find. Our dog has benefited immensely from her experiences at Doggy Business. They regularly go above and beyond with their care and attention to the dogs and dog owners and are fantastic problem solvers. Our rather sensitive young dog, who had to drop out of the previous training class we had her in elsewhere due to her reactions to other dogs, thrived in the recent class we took at Doggy Business. Doug offered enough flexibility in the format of the class to accommodate her needs and allow her to settle down and get ready to learn. She has never been so successful! I highly recommend Doggy Business! read more

Doug and the staff at Doggy Business are the best. My wife and I worked with Doug and our dog Finn over the course of a couple months this spring and we saw results. I can't say enough about Doug's patience, kindness, intelligence and commitment. If you have a dog with behavior problems or just want a safe, engaging place to drop her off to play for a few hours, you can't do any better than Doggy business! read more