Plucky Puppy

Customized training sessions address specific needs like leash pulling, recall issues, or advanced obedience. Our certified trainers develop personalized plans that fit your schedule and lifestyle while teaching practical skills for real-world situations.

Specialized assessments identify root causes of aggression, anxiety, or destructive behaviors. We create science-based management plans to address emotional and environmental triggers through positive reinforcement techniques and structured training protocols.

Dogs stay in our home for intensive training focused on foundational skills and behavior modification. This program combines structured learning with socialization opportunities, culminating in a comprehensive handover session to ensure continuity at home.

Flexible training sessions combined with supervised play and exercise in a home environment. Available in 4-8 hour blocks, this option provides structured learning while accommodating owners' schedules for ongoing skill development.

Off-leash exercise and training sessions led by certified trainers. Small groups (max 4 dogs) focus on reliable recall, social skills, and mental stimulation through activities like scent work and controlled play sessions.

Certified Professional Dog Trainer with 15+ years experience. Graduated from San Francisco SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers. AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and Pet First Aid certified. Teaches Learning Theory at Whole Dog Academy.

CPDT-KA certified with decade-long experience in dog behavior. Former co-owner of Doggy Business LLC. Specializes in puppy development and adolescent dog training. Mentor Trainer at Whole Dog Academy and AKC evaluator.

PDT certified through Absolute Dogs. Specializes in reactive dogs and family dog mediation. Pursuing IAABC certification. Trains in scent work, agility, and conformation while focusing on ethical, force-free methods.

We use positive reinforcement, reward-based techniques without fear, pain, or intimidation, following guidelines from the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.

Yes, our trainers specialize in behavior modification for fear, anxiety, and reactivity using ethical, science-based approaches.

All trainers hold certifications from recognized organizations like CCPDT and have completed advanced education at institutions such as the Academy for Dog Trainers.

We primarily serve Portland, Oregon, and surrounding communities with in-home, daycare, and boarding training options.

Yes, we offer structured puppy socialization programs and have won awards for our puppy social events in Portland.

Nope. Very disappointing. I did not even finish the set of courses I paid for because the treatment toward me and my abundantly happy and energetic lab puppy was unacceptable. Heartbreaking experience.

Puppy socials are lots of fun and informative. The staff divide the room for small breed and large breed puppies and account for each one's personality. I wish the socials weren't limited to 20 weeks of age, but I know my puppy benefited from these greatly because it helped me get comfortable understanding her feelings during play, distractions, possibly anxiety stressors and how to respond correctly to prevent lasting negative mental associations in her mind with new things, and making her learning process consistent and fun

Highly recommend taking your puppy/ dog here! If you are looking for a ways to improve dog's social & Obedience training recommend them! All the trainers are amazing! During our puppy socials trainer Angela really helped me and my puppy understand what is "Appropriate play" vs what types of Physical body language To look out for to avoid aggressive behavior. Also, Trainer Mercedes was so helpful & knowledgeable about dog behavior. I learned a lot about appropriate dog play & my puppy, Junie got to play with other dogs her age, while learning in a positive setting. Looking forward to more training from them!

I had worked with Trainer Brittany for my lovely little pit mix. She did such a wonderful job with her, gave great criticism for us and suggestions on what to work on as our homework. I continually recognize the value we got and the care that was put into our puppy was phenomenal. You can trust that they will do their utmost to help you and your dog(s).

Our German Shepherd puppy began Plucky Puppy's Large Puppy Socials at 15 weeks old & continued until 20 weeks old. He is a very large, strong, high energy dog. When he began he was not responding to his name when around distractions but was great at his sit, stay & down commands. Brittany & Angela worked with him and after only 1 social he was able to be recalled with his name during lots of distractions!

This was a huge step in our personal training needs. When he aged out of the puppy socials, I came away with a pup that was able to be recalled during crazy puppy play & able to get him to relax! This is a HUGE deal, especially for an incredibly high energy breed, let alone a zany puppy. We get compliments on his puppy abilities all the time & we owe part of it to Plucky Puppy. They were also incredibly flexible & compassionate with an acute sickness related class cancellation that resulted in a, much appreciated, refund.

They were not contractually obligated to do so but they considered all of the factors at play & made a great conscientious decision. What a great team to work with! We highly recommend this company for high energy breeds.

Puppy preschool: Very tight quarters, and not good for so many puppies crammed into an open retail store. We had a class at Fang and it was set up for us to fail.everyone stayed on a tight leash with treats shoved in their mouth the whole time to keep them down and quiet. NO social puppy play time at all. So, when we explained our puppy couldn't handle training in the aisles with other adult dogs coming and going.food everywhere, fridge noises etc. and we wanted socialization they said no refunds ever.

For the highest price class in town, terrible no refund policy, strange training ideas, etc.you can get more for your money. Owner Kaitryn was rude and disrespectful when told about the issues with the class.

I cannot recommend Plucky Puppy highly enough--the trainers are not only incredibly well educated and truly experts in the field of dog training, but they also love your dog as their own. We had our dearest fur-child experience serious health concerns while staying with one of the trainers and we could not have felt more comfortable knowing she would do what was best for Markley every step along the way. We owe our dog's life (& good manners!) to Plucky Puppy!