Best Dog Training Academy

Day Training offers 3-week (Core) or 4-week (Total) programs with 3 sessions per week, each lasting 2 hours. Focus areas include obedience, impulse control, leash manners, recall, and household behavior. Board & Train offers 2-week (Core) or 3-week (Total) immersive programs with daily training, play sessions, and crate rest. Both include daily photo/video updates, homework assignments, and phone support. Meet & Greet is a $99 in-home evaluation with a behavior assessment and training roadmap. Free phone consultation available to discuss goals and program fit.

Pricing Summary

Day Training starts at $99 for a single session; Core Training (9 sessions) is $1,300; Total Training (12 sessions) is $1,700 (originally $1,800). Board & Train: Core (2 weeks) is $2,200; Total (3 weeks) is $3,200 (originally $3,600). Meet & Greet is $99. Additional boarding is $75/day. Free phone consultation available.

Policies

Consistent reinforcement by owners is required to maintain training results. Dogs must be at least 4 months old for board & train. Vaccinations required: rabies and one distemper/parvo (titers accepted). No cancellation or rescheduling policies are explicitly stated.

Best Dog Training Academy is a professional dog training service based in Portland, Oregon, offering personalized training programs to help dogs become calm, reliable, and well-mannered companions. They specialize in day training and board & train programs, with additional services including free phone consultations and in-home meet & greets. Their training focuses on obedience, behavior modification, and building strong owner-dog relationships using a balanced, structured, and trustworthy approach. They provide convenient pick-up and drop-off within their service area, daily photo/video updates during training, and ongoing phone support with homework assignments to reinforce skills at home. Their team includes experienced trainers like Whitney, the owner and lead trainer, who has ongoing education from industry leaders, and other trainers with backgrounds in rescue, rehabilitation, and hands-on dog care.

They serve dog owners in Portland and surrounding areas, offering tailored programs for puppies, adolescents, and adult dogs with issues like leash pulling, reactivity, separation anxiety, jumping, and poor impulse control. Their training methods combine positive reinforcement with structured corrections, using tools like e-collars, pinch collars, and slip leads as appropriate. They also provide kennel training, mealtime etiquette, and doorway etiquette to improve household behavior.

All programs include follow-up guidance to ensure long-term success, and they emphasize consistent reinforcement by owners to maintain results. They require dogs to have basic vaccinations and accept dogs as young as 4 months old for training.

Additional services include dog boarding, behavior assessments, and training for complex cases such as fearfulness, aggression, and anxiety.

Their training philosophy is based on the BEST method: Balanced, Effective, Structured, and Trustworthy.

Accomplishments

Whitney, the owner and lead trainer, has years of hands-on experience and attends specialized seminars from industry leaders including Say It Once Dog Training, Packlife LA, and Brian Agnew’s Drive Workshop. Trainers have backgrounds in rescue, daycare, and rehabilitation, with over a decade of combined experience working with complex behavioral cases.

How to Get Started!

Begin with a free phone consultation or a $99 in-home Meet & Greet to assess your dog’s behavior and receive a customized training roadmap. After evaluation, choose between Day Training, Board & Train, or other programs. Submit a form to schedule your consultation or program start.