A Canine Understanding
Service area: Serves Vancouver, Ridgefield, Battleground, Hockinson, Camas, Washougal, Longview, Kelso, and Portland areas in Washington and Oregon.
Service Overview
Types of Dog Training
- Family Dog
- Behavior Modification
- Competition / Agility
- Working Dog
Specialty Focus Areas
- Puppy Training
- Leash Pulling
- Reactivity / Aggression
- Jumping on People
- Barking Excessively
- Separation Anxiety
- Biting / Nipping
- Potty Training
- Fearfulness
- Recall
Training Formats Offered
- Private Lessons
- Group Classes
- In-Home
- Private Facility
- Board and Train
Program Formats
- One-Time Consultation
- Sessions Package
- Intensive Program
Types of Dogs
- Small
- Medium
- Large
- Giant
- Herding
- Sporting
- Working
- Terriers
- Doodles
- Brachycephalic
Age of Dogs Trained
- Puppy (<1 year)
- Adolescent (1-2 years)
- Adult (2-8 years)
Dog Training Methodology
Methods:
- ✓ Positive Reinforcement Only
Equipment:
- ✓ Clickers
- ✓ Food Rewards
- ✓ Harnesses
- ✓ Flat Collars
- ✓ Obstacle Courses
Programs include one-on-one private training with in-home consultations, AKC-certified group classes (Puppy S.T.A.R., Beginning Obedience, Urban CGC, Advanced Urban), and intensive board and train programs for puppies and adult dogs. Board and train includes daily enrichment, behavior work, and personalized progress updates. All programs use positive reinforcement and are tailored to the dog’s needs and owner’s lifestyle.
Pricing & Policies
Pricing Summary
One-hour in-home consultation: $100–$180 based on location. Private training: $120–$150/hour with travel fees for distant areas. Packages of five 1-hour sessions available at discounted rates: $550–$900 depending on location. Board and train programs priced separately with daily updates and photos provided.
Testimonials
“I found Mindy and her dog training skills just in time. We’d had Rocky for two weeks and we needed help! This 15-month-old had not been socialized with dogs or people. He wanted to attack kids, cars, and bikes on our walks. He had had no training and was unhappy. With Mindy’s help and training skills Rocky became a happier dog and so did we. He ran on a treadmill several times a day and he carried a backpack on his walks to help him focus. Mindy also helped us learn to walk Jasmine and Rocky together. She brought her dog to show them it’s possible to walk at the same time”.
– Renee & Peter
“Mindy was amazing with helping train our puppy Jax! She even took extra time to come over to our apartment to work with him one on one. Her puppy training class is so much fun, and our puppy learned a ton and you can tell she really loves her job, and all of the puppies adore her as well. She made it so much fun and helped us interact with our puppy more and teach him very important things. I would 100% recommend “A canine Understanding” and Mindy Bray to anyone who wants to help train their pups in a fun and effective way. She’s the best and now we even kennel our puppy Jax with her when we are out of town and trust her 100%. She’s great!”
– Kavita
“We have a little Bulldog which is not the easiest to take care of because she doesn’t like other dogs and is also very reserved when meeting new people. All that on top of the regular Bulldog care is a lot to take on. We have been having a hard time finding a sitter when we want to leave town. My lucky moment was when I stumbled on to Mindy’s post. She responded right away and was super knowledgeable and very easy and open to talk to. She had our Bully for almost a week, gave us daily updates on the fun they had all day and sent us pictures of activities. Mindy has a deep understanding of dogs and is very passionate about these furry babies. This was the first time we felt absolutely at peace while on vacation. I will recommend Mindy to anybody who wants to know their furry friend is well taken care of. Another point I really like is that she only takes a few dogs at a time and integrates them into her family life (if at all possible, depending on the situation). This allows her to give the animals more attention through their stay! We are over the moon happy with Mindy!”
– Rick & Patricia
About the Trainer
A Canine Understanding is a dog training and behavioral specialist business founded by Mindy Bray, a certified Fear Free Groomer and AKC Canine Judge with over 20 years of experience. They offer positive reinforcement-based private training, group classes, puppy socialization, board and train programs for puppies and adolescent/adult dogs, and working dog evaluations. They also operate a full-service fear-free grooming salon that prioritizes stress-free, trust-based grooming experiences. Their unique advantage lies in combining expert behavioral training with compassionate, individualized care, including in-home consultations and boarding that integrates dogs into a family-like environment. Mindy specializes in helping dogs with reactivity, aggression, fear, and trauma, including those from rescue backgrounds, and has successfully placed dogs into working and protection roles. Their services are designed to build strong, trusting bonds between dogs and owners through calm leadership and positive methods.
They provide AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Beginning Obedience, Urban Dog Obedience (CGC), and Advanced Urban Obedience classes. Their board and train programs include daily updates and photos for owners, and they limit the number of dogs they take at a time to ensure personalized attention. Their grooming services specifically address past trauma and prioritize the dog’s emotional well-being during every visit.
Accomplishments
Mindy Bray has over 20 years of experience as a dog trainer and behavioral specialist, including a decade as an Animal Control Officer in Oregon and 10 years of grooming experience. She is a certified Fear Free Groomer and an AKC Canine Judge. She has successfully trained and placed dogs into working, protection, and service roles, and has helped thousands of dogs and owners overcome behavioral challenges.
How to Get Started!
Begin with a 1-hour in-home consultation to discuss concerns, observe the dog’s behavior, and create a personalized training plan. Consultations are available for $100–$180 depending on location, and are required before starting private training or board and train programs.
Contact Information
Availability
- Weekdays
- Weekends
- Morning
- Afternoon
- Evening
Hours
Monday: 7:30am-7pm
Tuesday: 7:30am-7pm
Wednesday: 7:30am-7pm
Thursday: 7:30am-7pm
Friday: 7:30am-7pm
Saturday: 7:30am-7pm
Sunday: Closed
Certifications
- Credentialed
Associations
- AKC
Languages
- English
Other Services Offered
- Pet groomer
- Pet boarding service
Location
NE 72nd Ave &, NE 104th St, Vancouver, WA 98686Listing Tools for Trainers
For A Canine Understanding Only
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