During quarantine, I adopted a sweet little 6 month old Staffy mix that made a long journey from…read moreTexas to the PNW through a Second Chance Dog Rescue Program. I was new to dog ownership on my own (had dogs growing up and had partners with pups in the past) and was looking forward to the training part. I watched lots and lots of videos and felt that I was really finding a method that was going to suit my lifestyle. But alas...there were just some things that I couldn't seem to nail it all on my own. I found Nicole through a quick google search for a dog trainer and was excited to see that she was also based out of NW Portland. I reached out to her through her website and was excited to hear back from her the next day. My pup was struggling with building up confidence on walks. Our first obstacle was getting her down the stairs in the building on her own. I tried all the tricks in the book. I'm not kidding - after one session with Nicole, not only could I get my dog to walk down the stairs without luring her with treats, she could also now walk down the end of the street without freezing to panic as we passed other dogs/people. it seems so simple but this was a huge break through for us! After that first win, I've been working with Nicole to just continue to finesse different things that come up with my dog - i.e: not jumping up to greet new people, staying in the "lay down" command and not popping right back up, etc. I can't say this enough - working with Nicole has been fantastic. She has the right balance of tough love in her training exercises. If anything, I think a lot of the training she has helped me with has been around how I can be a better dog owner! :)

Nicole was so awesome and her training was very efficient and humane. We sent her our 6month old…read morepug puppy for a board and train, she got all the help and knowledge that she needed! Plenty of one on one time with Nicole as well as a ton of socialization with her own dogs! She learned basic commands (sit, stay, lay down, and come) she also got trained on some extras like not jumping on people and children (OFF) as well as minding others personal space (AWAY) We also got almost daily updates from Nicole so we didn't miss our baby too much! We are overall pleased with our dogs growth and would recommend Nicole in a heartbeat!

This is a really long due review for Stephanie, my life saver. I have an aggressive husky, who I…read morethought will never be trained. I booked a 3 days training session for my husky with her. She's very patient and knowledgeable. She also taught me how to be the Alpha of my pack. Photos say a thousand words!! Now I can take my husky to the dog park and she now gets along with my other dogs!

Stephanie is a miracle worker. Gave us all the tools we needed to give our pupper the best possible…read morestart. Now everywhere we go, people comment on how well behaved he is!

We did a board and train for our one year old energetic boy, Chief. I had no idea where to begin on…read moregetting help training him. I wasn't sure if I should board him, do short lessons, or classes. I didn't know what training he needed or anything really! I found Maddie and during the consultation she made me feel so much more at ease about everything. She gave us so much amazing information and helped us set up a solid training plan! Sending your baby away with someone can be really nerve wracking but she is so knowledgeable and passionate that I knew it would be okay. She gave me daily updates, whether it was silly photos of him having some play time or showing me videos of him training! He was clearly having a fantastic time and it eased that anxiety of him being away from home. When he came home he was ecstatic to see us but I could tell there was a distinct difference once he calmed down. It was clear Maddie put a lot of time and effort into him, and he absolutely loves her!! When she brought out his training tools he got soo excited!! She took her time throughly going over all the different things they learned during their time together. It's definitely a lot but she is so great at explaining it and showing you how to do everything to be successful!! The training has given him more confidence, less anxiety, and more fulfillment. I cannot recommend Maddie enough for any training needs you have whether your furbaby is young or old. Seriously she is so dedicated and amazing at what she does. This is an investment not just for you, but for your furbabies happiness. So... don't hesitate. Reach out to her and get set up!! We know you'll adore her just as much as we do. (Especially Chief!)

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.

I learned a lot of things about dog training that weren't on my list. In the future, I will be…read moreinterviewing trainers. I will have a list of my goals, my desired outcomes, my desired behaviors, my philosophies, my opinions on technique and whether or not I assign any value to that. Personally, I don't think it matters how I hold a leash. Nor am I impressed by anyone who thinks that their ability to get a dog to follow their commands is impressive when they have cheese in their pocket. I also don't think that a two-year-old dog is an " older" dog. I did inform the owner/trainer that the dog I was bringing to her class was a rescue and that she had already been trained to some extent. She did not seem at all inclined to meet with me for 15 minutes to see if an introduction to obedience class was necessary or if we should instead pursue one-on-one classes before going on the canine good citizen. This would have been a better use of my time and money. All that to say that if the AKC route is what you are looking for or you have a puppy that has never been trained, Cheryl may be a good option. But, I would recommend you have a conversation with her first, about what your goals and outcomes look like. This experience has been eye opening.

We contacted her after struggling to teach our newly re-homed 6 month old mini-Aussie (Essie) some…read moremanners. She is crazy smart, our dog, but also high energy and was bowling over the other (smaller) dogs. I thought I had a good handle on every-day dog training but I was mistaken! In a single lesson, I knew this was a great plan and worth every cent and every minute we spent working between lessons. More than that, though, she gave us suggestions and assistance with the other dogs, since they are part of the household and were part of Essie's needs. I 100% recommend this trainer and have no regrets at all.

I was checking around for someone to train my GSD, Fifi, and was lucky enough to discover PAVLOV…read moreDog Training of PDX. Our initial interactions were professional, informative and comforting. Fifi and I were matched with Meredith. Together we chose the Board and Train Camp which included on-leash obedience level 1 and off-leash obedience 2. Meredith is a highly skilled dog trainer with impressive credentials. She has some kinda magical powers over dogs. But, what I liked most is she understood my Fifi's personality and capabilities. . I knew Fifi was in good hands and would be safe during her time away from me. Fifi was returned to me with a solid, SOLID, set of skills. She also is confident, brave and excited to join my daily excursions. We are able to understand each other's language and now we work together very easily. We are very grateful for Meredith's magic !

So glad to have worked with Baylee and Downward Dog Training. She is incredibly kind and patient…read moreand super knowledgeable. She was able to break down and explain everything that we were trying to accomplish and why we were doing it that way. She explains the techniques in a way that feels manageable and not overwhelming. Her follow up after each session was also super amazing, detailing all that we worked on and how to continue to progress. I highly highly recommend Baylee and Downward Dog Training.

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.

I can not express enough how grateful I am for Whitney and the work she has done with both myself…read moreand my 2 y/o shepherd mix, Archie. She has supported us around tools to address his reactivity around other dogs especially on a leash. We are now able to enjoy walks on the trail together and even sit outside at restaurants with other dogs around using the skills we have learned. She took the time to walk with me and show me strategies which built my confidence tremendously. Highly recommend working with Whitney!!!

I have known Whitney for around 11 years! She is an amazing person inside and out. I compete year…read moreround in the Celtic Highland Games around Oregon and Washington. During this particular weekend plans changed immediately and I was stuck not knowing where my beautiful German Shepard/Aussie would stay aka KARMA Whitney was so accommodating, even with a days notice, she treats Karma like family and spoils her rotten. Karma has a habit of not eating when away from her family... Yet Whitney had her eating within the hour of being there. Karma stayed a couple days with Whitney. Playing roaming chasing and playong with the cat she made friends withand I would not have it any other way. I 500% recommend her and her business. Thanks Again Love!!