Marvin and Bianca helped to train our then 1.5 year old Golden Retriever. She was a stubborn girl…read morebut managed with consistency to level out and pass her AKC Good Citizen test. Thank you.

I had been to a variety of dog training experiences . Once…read moreI found Marvin Pierce dog training BOTH my dog and myself found a place that helped us to learn boundaries, manners, fun, along with amazing teachers that were always available to answer questions and continue to guide our improvements. To be totally honest...it was me that needed the training! I was not consistent with discipline, instructions and fun. I would give the entire team 6 stars if I could. Their knowledge, expertise, support and patience is definitely an A+.

We have one class left, but I feel I can review the course now. Cheryl Huffman runs the Smart Paws…read moreAcademy. She is the dog whisperer. She can make the very naughty Oola Fandango do anything within seconds. It's magical. Better yet, she can train US to make Oola do anything. That is also magical. We haven't had as much time as we would like to train because of holidays, work and family stuff happening, but I feel I have a solid foundation and we can be successful when we can truly devote the time. Oola is already better behaved and following more commands more reliably. You get a DVD and workbook when you sign up for a course. The first lecture is just with the humans and Cheryl; you bring your dog to class after that. The teaching occurs in an unheated, no air conditioning barn on Cheryl's property, so in the winter dress warm, in the summer bring water. All the dogs are trained at the same time but she is happy to give you a few moments of one on one time, she asks for praises and problems from each owner at the beginning of each session, and is available by phone or email with questions. And it's cheap! Under 100 bucks for the series. She does obedience, agility, all sorts of stuff; we were in the beginning obedience class. Granted it is in Oregon City, so it's a hike for most people, but it is totally worth it. She has evening and weekend classes. Everything Cheryl does makes sense and she only uses positive training methods. There is no yelling, hitting, or pinch collars, and Cheryl is very clear that she expects you to treat your animal with respect and kindness. So, in summary, Cheryl Huffman ROCKS the dog world. In a few short weeks we have Oola off the halter and only using a collar, walking better on leash, sometimes comes when called, can sit and lay down on command, and is learning to stay with some success. Her behavior overall is better and we are less stressed. There is more training to do and we have the tools and the workbook so we can continue to improve when the class is over. Consider Smart Paws for dog training. You and your dog will be good canine citizens when you are finished. http://www.smartpawsacademy.com

I would highly recommend starting your puppy in the puppy romper room. We did that at 10 weeks for…read moreWalter Baby (he went every week) and now our dog loves all humans and dogs! This class taught me how to encourage my dog to find learning fun... It also trained me so that I can be a good pet owner. Cheryl gave lots of detailed advice about socialization and I learned a lot. Cheryl is very good at what she does... She can help any dog regardless of their personality. She answers emails and personal calls and is very helpful! I am so happy I found Smart Paws! My puppy is now 6 months and we are in the Beginning Companion class. I love it! Everything is positive rewards (no punishment) and it is so exciting to see my stubborn little bulldog learn new things! I would highly recommend this class for any dog.

We are so grateful to have found Kelsey! We have been working with Kelsey since our rescue puppy,…read moreMaverick, was 9 weeks old. He is now 5 months old! From her offerings, we chose private virtual sessions, the bimonthly puppy afterschool sessions and signed up for her membership which gives us great training videos and access to the monthly meet ups as well as the monthly q&a. I highly suggest the private virtual sessions, they were a game changer for us. Kelsey is an AMAZING positive reinforcement trainer. I would give her more than 5 stars, and think everyone could benefit from working with her - especially anyone with a puppy! She has a wealth of knowledge in dog behavior and focuses first and foremost in this area. Her training videos and 1:1 direction literally, and I mean literally, helped me so much during some really challenging moments with Maverick. She also took the time to give us tips and ideas between sessions. I was sure we had the bitiest puppy that ever lived..he was literally a little shark running mouth first! Let's just say that Kelsey went above and beyond to help us here. Setting Maverick up with the right foundation through Kelsey's guidance has made all the difference and he's thriving today. He does great with other dogs, kids, adults. Next step, trying to get our cat to love him as much as we do! Thank you Kelsey, you ROCK!

Kelsey fostered and raised my puppy's litter from the Willamette Humane Society using Puppy Culture…read moremethods and lots of volunteer time. She did an amazing job with socialization and basic training. I am immensely thankful for the solid foundation because my puppy is very important - she is a service dog in training. I couldn't have asked for a better person to raise my puppy. Teaching my puppy new behaviors is a breeze because her foundation with Kelsey set her up to be attentive and patient. In the past two months since bringing my puppy home we have been working with Kelsey each week in group classes as well as private and one-on-one sessions. I will continue working with Kelsey throughout our training. She is above all an observant and knowledgeable trainer, and very pleasant to work with.

I have a one and a half year-old boxer named Lucy and she was a little reactive around young…read morechildren and also had to work on her potty training as I had an older Boxer with incontinence when she was a puppy. Curated Canines I think it's an exceptional training option. They really work to understand your dogs specific issues and don't just put them through a generalized program. They are also always available to chat via text with any questions that I've had after the training and it's great. They drive out to meet Lucy and I for our training sessions ! Also, I love how accommodating and helpful they are!! I would highly recommend!!!

We recently moved up to Oregon and after adopting a new pup that was initially a handful, we…read morestumbled across Kylah and Curated Canines. Both our boys are there now. They seem super happy. Also, they are super communicative and seem to treat our dogs with the same level of care they'd get at home. Reinhardt and Winston will surely be back.

Brenda has been an excellent trainer for our rescue dog. She took the time to understand our dog…read morebefore jumping into some preset program. In just a couple lessons both our dog and I've learned a great deal.

I originally found Shawn researching dog training for my dog- aggressive GWP. After consulting and…read moreinterviewing several different training groups all over Oregon and even as far south as California I thank God I found Shawn and The Dog Way. It's only been a few days since our first class and already my dog Edwin has much more balanced energy and behavior. For the first time I my life I actually feel like I really know what I'm doing when it comes to my dog and his behavior and I can be assertive in my demands of him. As a bonus the same things we are doing with him we are doing with our other dog Juno, which is a Doberman. She would growl and bark so aggressively running up and down our fence-line every time a person would walk by with a dog. Now she is barking maybe once or twice a day but stopping right away. Within a week I am sure she will no longer be barking or growling. This review is being posted at the very beginning of our training and I am so impressed with the knowledge we've gained and the changes we've seen in our dogs. I cannot wait to get Edwin to the boarding orientation so we can start him socializing with other dogs and learning the appropriate way to communicate and act. If you need help with ANYTHING dog call The Dog Way first. Don't waste your time on any other training. I've done treats, clickers, e-collars, gentle leaders and harnesses but the program Shawn has put together hands down WORKS. If you have ANY issues with your dogs for ANY reasons simple or complex call The Dog Way. It will change your life. I will return to update in a few months.

This is going to be a bit of a long review but I have a lot I want to get in and I really wanted to…read moredo Shawn justice. First off, training: In 2015 my family adopted a 2 1/2 year old German Shepherd, Lobo. I had no prior dog experience. I found Shawn and decided to take my new family member in. Prior to Lobo being rescued by the Oregon Humane Society he was abandoned at a pound after numerous backyard escapes and running around the streets in Clackamas. This dog I brought home was dominant, pushy, high energy, and totally ignored any command I gave him. He barked, couldn't be left outside for long periods of time, and jumped on furniture. So off we went to Shawn's for his 24 hour observation period. When I came to pick Lobo up the next day he gave us some training videos and a list of rules that Lobo needed to follow. He showed us how to do heel and blanket work and taught us the importance of being a leader. Shawn was informative, and he helpfully dumbed it down to one thing to remember (consistency) and one thing to work on (blanket time). When I put Lobo in the car he was shaking a little bit. A family friend with me at the time noted this and I made a note of it. I assumed it was because Lobo was so used to being in charge and he had been put in his place. Over the next several years I continued to work with Lobo using Shawn's methods and I saw great improvement. My dogs are my children, and I would never want to hurt them or cause them to fear me. Lobo doesn't. He loves me. We have a great relationship and are very bonded. Shawn's methods are NOT about fear and violence as some have suggested. They are about trust and mutual respect. How many times Shawn has said that "you must respect your dog and they must respect you" I can't even count. Lobo has blossomed under this leadership. He is the perfect dog. He is obedient, though he does test me every now and then. He is calm in the house and around people, and nothing makes him reactive. He is confident and will try to do anything I ask, even if I don't always think it through. He has faced fears for me because he trusts me, like swimming in a river. When we go out and about he is aware and alert and keeps an eye out for me, but he is never out of control or even close. He is amazing off lease and 100% reliable. He is great with kids, even when they have accidentally hurt him, and he has overcome dog aggression (he had gotten into 2 dog fights before). While Lobo started off a little put off by Shawn, he now LOVES him. Lobo gets super excited when we pull up to Shawn's place, and he always goes right up to Shawn to say hi. Shawn also loves Lobo and has told me so on numerous occasions. Last year (2020), my family welcomed another young Shepherd to the family. At 1 1/2, Ollie had already been through a lot before she was rescued by an animal shelter. She was anxious, shy, reserved, aloof, and went into panic mode if you clicked a pen. She didn't trust anyone. It felt like I was back to square one with her when it came to my knowledge of training. I knew what to do with a dominant dog, but an anxious one? I took her to Shawn for help, and when she first met him she was terrified. Now Ollie loves Shawn. She is starting to trust more and more and is way less anxious. We are still working with her and she continues to improve. In time I know that she will become every bit of the amazing dog that Lobo is. Thank you Shawn! Without you I am sure that we wouldn't have been able to keep Lobo, or at least be as happy with him as we are now, and we wouldn't have even dreamed of getting a second dog. Second, boarding: The boarding area is wonderful. I have been to the back of the house with Shawn to see it. The dogs get to run around a large secure area all day and play with one another. There is plenty of shelter and they always have fresh water because of a special pipe system. I don't ever want to board them anywhere else! They love it and I love it. One thing to mention is that on one occasion my dogs did get skunked, which was AWFUL. It wasn't Shawn's fault, but the smell didn't go away for months. The dogs usually need a bath after being boarded too because they run around with smelly dogs all day. Third, Shawn himself: Shawn loves my dogs and gives them lots of affection but is at the same time a good leader. My dogs love him. That relationship is very important to me. Shawn himself is loud, intense, and he talks a lot. A lot like me actually. Some people may call this abrasive, but it is his personality. Sometimes I do need to interrupt him to get a question in, and sometimes I have to put a time limit on a conversation. That being said, none of that is unique to Shawn. If you think he is talking too much tell him so instead of getting secretly offended. Having spent more than 7 years using "The Dog Way" training method and working with Shawn, I am confident in my review.

Erin is one of my absolute favorite dog trainers to work with! Not only does my dog LOVE her, I…read morefeel really comfortable working with her - she is supportive, encouraging, humble, and flexible!! Sometimes I feel like other trainers have their one "right" way of training but Erin always has a whole bunch of different techniques and strategies she uses to train dogs. She worked with me until we found something that really worked well and felt comfortable for me and my dog. I always walk away from our training sessions feeling successful (something my dog picks up on and really responds well to) and totally capable of dealing with whatever challenge I bring to the lesson. Erin is particularly good with high-energy "working dogs" and really understand their needs. I have a 4 yr old high-energy lab-shepherd mix who loves to work and move - she and I both have never done well with lessons where we do a lot of sitting and listening to the trainer talk. Erin introduced me to Rally and it was the magic "missing piece" that made all the other impulse control, good social manners, and general discipline work fall into place. (well, that and the Pack Hikes my dog goes on every week to burn off pent up energy!) :)

Erin has been an absolutely amazing trainer for our dog, and for us! She's been helping us with…read moresome stranger-danger and nighttime scariness, so our dog can go on evening and night walks without freaking out. She also gave us a bunch of help when we were studying for our Canine Good Citizen and our Novice Rally title! I would (and often do) highly recommend Erin to absolutely everyone. Her 1-1 trainings are super helpful, and her pack walks keep our dog sane throughout the week when we have to go to work. No amount of morning runs will tire our dog out like a single pack walk where she has to keep up with 4 similarly energetic dogs. I don't know how Erin does it! Thank you so much Erin!!

As a family with a younger dog who had never stayed overnight with anyone, we were worried that we…read morewouldn't find a place that felt like home for our long European vacation. We After some online research, we found Unleashed Dog Boarding. Our beloved pug was cared for and safe in a nice home that was set up for dogs. After a successful meet and greet and then practice overnight, he was given the green light. During the trip, we were able to see photos of him daily posted online, which was fun to see what he was up to. Upon pick up, I could see he didn't lose weight, and came back well adjusted, healthy, and happy! I know Unleashed Dog Boarding gave him attention every day too. Unleashed Dog Boarding was professional and very knowledgeable in the care of dogs. I would definitely use them again. The owner is a true dog lover!

This is such a lovely idea, hosting a few dogs in your home. Our experience with this business was…read moreless than ideal, though. The owner asked us to bring our dog (a 12 year old male miniature schnauzer) over to meet her dogs, because she needs to know our dog will get along with her dogs. So far, so good. Our dog, while far from perfect, loves other dogs. He loves other dogs so much that at TWO of his past doggie daycares, they used him as the test dog to see if other dogs would fit in. He has gone all the way up through advanced obedience classes, has learned circus tricks, and has competed in agility. He even used to work as a therapy dog, visiting long term care homes. He has never been aggressive towards anyone, much less another dog. He is more likely to play himself to death with them. After he met the owner's dogs (which my husband thought had gone just fine), she let me know she was uncertain if he and her older male lab got along. She wanted our dog to stay for a night at her house while we were still in town to find out if they were compatible. This seemed like a lot of effort, but, okay, I can understand being cautious. We took him to her place (at the cost of $50) and left him there for a night. The next day, my husband picked him up and she did not say a word to him about what had gone on. We assumed that meant we were good to go. We had already made reservations with her for our upcoming vacation, WELL in advance of the time we would be out of town. With less than a week before we were due to leave town, the owner contacted me to let me know that she had another male dog staying with her and she would need us to bring our dog back to her house again to see if our dog got along with this other dog. Seriously? What was she going to do if they did not get along? It seemed glaringly unprofessional to tell someone with less than a week notice that you are not sure if our dog (a much beloved family member) would be acceptable to stay with her when the rest of the family is about to leave on vacation. Talk about stress inducing. The owner's continued suspicion that our dog will be aggressive towards other dogs was unfounded and, frankly, offensive. We have found other, better options for boarding our little guy. I guess if you have a female dog or a young pup, this might be a good choice for you. The yard she has for dogs to run in is wonderful, and they have lovely little beds to sleep in all around the house. If you have a male dog, especially an older male dog, be forewarned you might want to look elsewhere.