Dog Lady of Forest Grove & Hillsboro Oregon LLC
Ranked #1 in Forest Grove and #2 in Oregon
Service area: Services are provided in Forest Grove and Hillsboro, Oregon.
Service Overview
Types of Dog Training
- Family Dog
- Competition / Agility
Specialty Focus Areas
- Basic Obedience
- Leash Pulling
- Reactivity / Aggression
- Jumping on People
- Barking Excessively
- Recall
Training Formats Offered
- Private Lessons
- In-Home
- Board and Train
Program Formats
- Sessions Package
- Intensive Program
- Ongoing Weekly
Age of Dogs Trained
- Adolescent (1-2 years)
- Adult (2-8 years)
- Senior (8+ years)
Dog Training Methodology
Private Training Lessons are designed to be effective and tailored to your dog and your specific goals. Justine works exclusively with teenage dogs in these private sessions, providing ongoing support via text or phone between lessons. Clients are expected to provide a list of 5 goals, and Justine aims to have dogs working in public by the third lesson.
The Board and Train Camp offers an intensive training experience where your dog lives with Justine, her family, her dogs, and five cats for 24 hours a day. This program provides consistent, round-the-clock training for 7-14 days, depending on the dog and handler’s needs. Justine only accepts one dog for Board and Train Camp at a time, requiring advance reservations. The process begins with a 30-minute “meet the dog” session, and concludes with a 2-hour pick-up lesson for the handlers. To be considered, dogs must have up-to-date vet records, be neutered, housebroken, sleep in a crate, and attend a doggie daycare. These camps are best suited for dogs over 6 months old.
Pricing & Policies
Pricing Summary
The Board and Train Camp costs $1700-3000, with the final price depending on the duration of the stay and the dog’s specific needs. Pricing for private lessons is not specified.
Policies
While behaviors are not guaranteed due to training being an ongoing process, Justine guarantees that clients will go home with a well-mannered dog and the necessary tools to continue reinforcing learned behaviors. Dogs must be 6 months or older for training. Dogs with a bite history or those that like to fight are not accepted, though some reactivity can be handled. For Board and Train Camp, dogs must have up-to-date vet records, be neutered, housebroken, sleep in a crate, and attend a doggie daycare.
About the Trainer
Justine Merrill, known as The Dog Lady of Forest Grove & Hillsboro Oregon LLC, provides focused and effective dog training services. She operates as an individual trainer, not a franchise, offering private lessons and an in-home Board and Train Camp. Her unique approach is dedicated to the individual success of the dogs she trains, particularly focusing on teenage dogs.
Justine aims to help dog owners achieve “the dog dream,” which includes excellent leash manners, off-leash reliability, and domestic harmony. She provides personalized attention, offering support via text or phone between lessons, and supplies clients with equipment and training booklets. Many clients come to her after experiencing failures with other trainers, and she prides herself on having dogs ready to work in public by the third lesson.
With over 30 years of experience guiding more than 2,000 dogs, Justine brings a practical and customized system of obedience training. She has a strong background in competitive Dog Agility, having been a member of the Columbia Agility Team for over 20 years, and has achieved multiple championships and master titles with her own dogs. Her training methodology is entirely her own, without subcontractors or outside kenneling. Please note, Justine does not work with aggressive dogs, dogs with a bite history, or dogs that like to fight, and only accepts dogs 6 months or older.
Accomplishments
Justine Merrill has over 30 years of experience guiding more than 2,000 dogs and their owners through her innovative obedience training system. She began training dogs at 12 years old and has been a member of the Columbia Agility Team for over 20 years. In the last 25 years, she has successfully competed, running three dogs to agility championships and earning several master titles with her own dogs. Her entire body of work is self-cultivated through extensive hands-on experience.
How to Get Started!
To begin working with Justine, interested clients should text their name, their dog’s name, a picture of their dog, and their training goals to (503) 359-1676. It is important to note that Justine only responds to texts and does not accept calls or voicemails. For the Board and Train Camp, the process starts with a 30-minute “meet the dog” session.

Contact Information
Languages
- English
Misc Features
- wheelchair accessible parking
Other Services Offered
- Pet boarding service