Dog Training Portland Classes for Basic Manners and Real World Training

Adult & Adolescent Dogs: Training Classes & Private Training

Classes designed for life with dogs in PDX

January 2023 UPDATE-Doggy Business is changing our service model, and will not be offering group training classes this winter. Please contact us by email if you’d like a referral and stay tuned for more details about upcoming services! If you have any questions, please DROP US AN EMAIL.

How lucky are we to be living the dog-friendly urban life with a river running through it and green parks all around?

To take full advantage of all Portland has to offer, you want your dog by your side. Our dog training classes help you and your dog enjoy the PDX life together-
at home and anywhere you choose to take your dog

We’ve made it our business to have the best group classes in the doggy business.

HERE’S HOW WE DO IT:

Small class sizes for lots of individualized support
Certified, experienced instructors help you get the best results
No aversives, ever-we use the most scientifically up-to-date reward based training
Real-life focus-our specialty classes focus on easy urban living with dogs
Results + fun-we make sure you and your dog have a great time getting great results

If you think group classes aren’t the best fit for your dog, then check out our private training option at the bottom of this page.

Our Classes

Basic Manners In-Person

FOR A GREAT START OR A NEEDED REFRESHER

New dog in need of training? Old dog who could use a refresher? All are welcome! In this fun, lively dog training Portland class we lay all the basic manners foundations: sit, down, stay, come when called, and polite leash walking. We’ll also introduce you to targeting, an easy and fun way to get your dog’s attention in just about any situation. It’s a great way to build manners, too. And here’s one more reason to join us for basic manners class: It’s your ticket into our more advanced classes, like Impulse Control, Out on the Town, and Follow Your Nose. So come get started with us!

For: Dogs 5 months and older who are comfortable hanging out around other dogs and new people.

You Should Know: 7 week class held in-person at Doggy Business. First class is an orientation with no dogs. Masks are required.

Tuition: $235

Start Date	Day	Time	Instructor
November 6	Sunday	3-4pm	Amber Mahoney, CPDT-KA
Coming soon			Amanda Theod, CCDT, CPDT-KA

Out on the Town In-person

THE ULTIMATE REAL-LIFE TRAINING CLASS

We’ll meet in a different location each week to practice polite manners while enjoying our beautiful Portland neighborhoods. We’ll focus on keeping your dog’s attention around real-world distractions, polite interactions with fellow dogs and admiring strangers, and strategies for when things don’t go quite as planned. You’ll work on nice leash walking, coming when called, and teaching your dog to settle while you enjoy a drink from your favorite coffee house. You will have a fantastic hour out and about with fellow dog lovers, guided by one of our certified, experienced dog trainers!

Prerequisite: Basic Manners, Keep It Going Puppy, or Impulse Control

For: Dogs 6 mos old and older who have completed Basic Manners, Keep It Going Puppy, or Impulse Control.

Dogs MUST be comfortable hanging out on leash around other dogs and new people. This class is not for dogs who bark and lunge at other dogs or people. If your dog is uncomfortable hanging out in close quarters with other dogs or people, please email us and we will make a suggestion as to what training will be appropriate for your dog.

You Should Know: 5 week class. Dogs attend all 5 weeks.Masks are required.

Tuition: $165

Start Date	Day	Time	Instructor
October 12	Wednesday	6:30-7:30pm	Amber Mahoney, CPDT-KA

Impulse Control In-Person

FOR AN ATTENTIVE & RESPONSIVE DOG

Want your dog to give you attention when you need it? To stop jumping on you, your family members, and friends in her exuberance? Wouldn’t it be nice to put your dog in a down-stay so you can fix dinner without her underfoot? You need impulse control! That is, your dog does—and we’ll show you how to teach it to her.

Prerequisite: Basic Manners or Puppy Kindergarten

For: Dogs 5 months old and older who are comfortable hanging out around other dogs and new people. This class is not for dogs who bark and lunge at other dogs. Please see our Calm and Cool Class if your dog is uncomfortable hanging out with other dogs.

You Should Know: 5 week class. First class for humans only. Masks are required.

Tuition: $165

Start Date	Day	Time	Instructor
October 9	FULL	Waitlist available	Amanda Theod, CCDT, CPDT-KA
November 13	Sunday	12-1pm	Amanda Theod, CCDT, CPDT-KA

Keep It Going Puppy!

ADDRESSING ADOLESCENCE

So you and your pup just finished Puppy Kindergarten. Excellent! That’s exactly what your puppy needed – active work on socialization and bite inhibition. Well, what’s next? ADOLESCENCE! It may be a scary word, but don’t worry, we’ve got the class for you. Keep It Going Puppy is a fun way to continue the learning as your puppy enters a new developmental stage. They’re continuing to grow, develop, and learn and often their attention is focused on their environment, and no longer on you!

This class is tailored to help get their attention back on you, while continuing their structured socialization with new things. Adolescence is the time to add more “cushion” to your dog’s comfort level with new, startling, or even scary things, so that they can shrug off that loud sound or snippy dog. We continue to work on handleability for the vet or groomer, attention when you need it, a solid stay, coming when called, and polite walking. We also address how to prevent problem behaviors from arising, and how to manage them when they do.

Prerequisite: Puppy Kindergarten

For: Dogs aged 5 to 12 months old who are comfortable hanging out around other dogs and new people. This class is not for dogs who bark and lunge at other dogs.

You Should Know: First class is a human-only orientation (leave your pups at home for this one).

Class Length: 7 weeks

Tuition: $235

Start Date	Day	Time	Instructor
October 25	Tuesday	5:30-6:30pm	Meredith Wilson, MA, CPDT-KA

Life Skills Series

Our Life Skills Series classes are 3-week single-topic clinics that focus on training specific behaviors. You and your pup will leave the class with a solid skill foundation (stay, recall, polite walking, or leave it), along with training protocols on how to continue to build the skill at home.

For: Dogs 5 months and older who are comfortable hanging out around other dogs and new people.

You Should Know: These classes are all 3 weeks long. Dogs come to all 3 classes.

Tuition: $90

Stop Pulling!

There’s a big difference between walking with your dog and being walked by him. If you’re experiencing the latter, and all the frustration and aching muscles that come with it, this clinic is for you. We’ll work on teaching your dog to enjoy walking by your side and teach them to tune into you when distractions like other dogs or people come into view.

Start Date	Day	Time	Instructor
October 2	Sunday	3-4pm	Amber Mahoney, CPDT-KA

Here! Now!

If you’re tired of shouting and shouting for your dog to no avail, our recall intensive is the game changer you need. We’ll work indoors on behaviors designed to improve your dog’s responsiveness to your call, then move outside to show you how to get recall results in real-life settings. If you think a reliable recall from your dog is impossible, think again—then come join us!

Start Date	Day	Time	Instructor
December 14	Wednesday	6:30-7:30pm	Amber Mahoney, CPDT-KA

ONLINE! Grooming & Veterinary Prep – Toenails, Ears, and Brushes, Oh My!

This half-hour class meets online every week to focus on teaching your dog to be comfortable with routine husbandry and veterinary care provides life-long benefits. In this class, we will teach foundation skills that make toenail and ear care a chance for bonding and enjoyment rather than a struggle. We will build behaviors that give your dog the choice to participate in basic grooming procedures like trimming toenails. A dog that can willingly participate in husbandry is on the right track to a life of health and wellness.

For: Dogs of any age.

Tuition: $120

Start Date	Day	Time	Instructor
TBD		6-6:30pm	Amanda Theod, CCDT, CPDT-KA

Follow Your Nose In-Person

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR DOG’S SNIFFER

Fun fact: Dogs’ olfactory organs are 4 times the size of ours, allowing them to smell up to 10,000 times better than us! If you’ve ever wondered why your dog is so obsessed with stopping to smell every drop of urine or pile of feces he encounters, it’s because he’s able to gather all sorts of interesting info about the dog who left it there: Their age, gender, sexual availability, even health. How’s that for amazing? We smell “ick” while they’re taking a whole history. Our Follow Your Nose class takes advantage of dogs’ incredible sniffers by putting them to good use. Your dog will learn to search for things on your cue—a fun game for exercising your dog indoors on rainy days, impressing friends, building communication, and increasing your dog’s confidence.

Prerequisite: Basic Manners or Puppy Kindergarten

For: Dogs 6 months and older.

You Should Know: 6 week class. First class is an orientation for humans only.

Tuition: $200

Start Date	Day	Time	Instructor
October 27	Thursday	7-8pm	Amber Mahoney, CPDT-KA

Canine Good Citizen Prep

Are you and your dog ready to go beyond the basics and become tested good citizens of our Portland community? Come join us in this 7-week class to prepare your dog for a Canine Good Citizen award! The AKC’s Canine Good Citizen test is a structured evaluation of 10 different skills that demonstrate a dog’s ability to be well-mannered in public spaces and comfortable with new people and new dogs. The CGC program can give you an opportunity to enhance your bond with your dog, provide a foundation for getting started in dog sports, and may also be a first step for many therapy dog programs. In addition, some insurance companies may provide discounts for households with Canine Good Citizen dogs.

We will supply each student with a copy of the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program: Participant’s Handbook, which details each of the ten tests that make up the CGC test. The last week of class will be set aside for the actual CGC testing for all students who are ready to take the test.

Prerequisite: Basic Manners, Keep it Going Puppy, or Impulse Control

For: Dogs 1 year old and older (unless with special approval by the instructor) who have completed Basic Manners or an equivalent class. A dog is never too old to be a good citizen.

You Should Know: 7 week class. Dogs attend all 7 weeks. Tuition includes the test on the final day of class.

Tuition: $250

Start Date	Day	Time	Instructor
TBD

Beyond the Basics

BUILDING RELIABILITY

This class is a great follow up to Basic Manners, Keep it Going Puppy, or Impulse Control. We focus on building reliability around distractions and also talk about what to do when interactions don’t go as planned. We’ll work on reducing food rewards and incorporating praise, pets, and toys – and introduce some tricks to keep it fun. All that while getting you and your pup ready for our more advanced classes like Out on The Town and Canine Good Citizen Prep!

Prerequisite: Basic Manners or Keep it Going Puppy

For: Dogs 1 year old and older (unless with special approval by the instructor) who are comfortable hanging out on and off leash around other dogs and new people.

You Should Know: 7 week class. First class for humans only.

Tuition: $235

Start Date	Day	Time	Instructor
Coming soon!			Amber Mahoney, CPDT-KA

Private Training

Need a more personalized training solution for your adolescent or adult dog? Let our trainers help! From basic manners to impulsive behaviors like pulling on walks or jumping during greetings, we will personalize a training program and give you a unique written training plan designed to reach your goals and fit into your daily routine. We are currently offering in-person private training at Doggy Business or your home (in N, NE, & SE Portland).

For: Adolescent and adult dogs of any age

You Should Know: Private training begins with a one-hour initial training session to discuss your goals, devise a training plan, and bring some initial relief. From there we can follow up with one-hour or 30-minute sessions as needed.

Program Length: Your training program will be customized to your goals. Looking for basic manners? We generally recommend 3 to 5 sessions depending on goals. Struggling with larger issues? We’ll tailor a plan to meet your needs.

Training Fees: $110 per hour; discounted package rates available when you commit to 5 or more sessions

To schedule your Initial Consult, reach out by email or give us a call at 503.327.8877.

Learn More About the Doggy Business Trainers

Amber Mahoney, CPDT-KA

AMBER’S ROLE: Basic Manners, Impulse Control, Follow Your Nose, & Calm and Cool Class Instructor.

AMBER’S CREDENTIALS: Amber is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and has been working as a professional trainer since 2008. Over the years since, she has amassed a wealth of experience in group, private, and shelter settings and developed a particular expertise in working with reactive dogs—those who bark, growl, and lunge at other dogs. Amber loves helping these dogs and their owners restore peace. She also loves her time in the classroom, whether it be with reactive dogs, helping dogs have fun following their noses, or watching light bulbs go on in basic manners classes. Amber also is available for private training sessions through Zoom.

Amanda Theod, CCDT, CPDT-KA

AMANDA’S ROLE: Basic Manners, Impulse Control, Life Skills Series, & Calm and Cool Class Instructor.

AMANDA’S CREDENTIALS: Amanda is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and a CATCH Certified Dog Trainer that shares her life with four pit bull type dogs. She welcomed her first dog into her life over 10 years ago; this new experience started her down the path of learning about training and behavior modification as he was surprisingly under-socialized and leash reactive. Since then, Amanda has fostered through Born Again Pit Bull Rescue and Multnomah County Animal Services, coordinated a leash-reactive dog walking group, and volunteered at Multnomah County Animal Services as a dog kennel volunteer and volunteer mentor. Looking to follow her passion for animals into a career, Amanda completed the Small Animal Massage Practitioner certification program through the NW School of Animal Massage; then turned her focus to dog training and completed CATCH Canine Trainer’s Academy’s training certification program. Amanda has a heart for “imperfect dogs” with special interest in reactivity, de-stigmatizing muzzles, desensitization and counter conditioning. Amanda’s desire to become a professional dog trainer is rooted in helping others understand their dog’s behaviors better and using compassionate ways of training to keep dog’s in their homes, safe and successful.

Maddy May, CPDT-KA

MADDY’S ROLE: Puppy private training and class trainer & assistant.

MADDY’S CREDENTIALS: Maddy discovered her passion for working with animals in 2014 when she began her career in humane societies in Colorado and Washington. She developed her skills as both an educator and dog handler by evaluating the newly admitted dogs through a formal behavior assessment, and by training new staff at the shelters. Maddy left the shelter world in 2018 to pursue a professional career in dog training, with the hopes of using her knowledge to educate the community and help keep family pets in homes instead of in shelters. She’s been part of the Doggy Business Team since that time, supporting the play group and training services. Currently, Maddy enjoys being a puppy trainer in the Puppy Fast Track program and in the drop-off Puppy Kindergarten classes, as well as assisting in puppy socialization classes.