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Dog Training

Tailored Training, Real Results: Building Stronger Bonds Through Customized Plans for Your Dog's Unique Needs and Personality

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DOG TRAINING

Off-leash dog training, reactive dog training, dog socialization, puppy training and obedience training - we have you covered! My aim is to foster behaviors that fit your lifestyle, align with your dog’s personality, and enhance the life you and your dog share together.

OFF-LEASH HIKES

With the goal to wear out even the most active of dogs, our off leash day hikes provide exercise and social interaction for your pup, while giving back to impactful animal rescue organizations.

WEDDING PET ATTENDANT

Looking to include your dog in your wedding? Allow me to handle your wedding day pet care! I'll accompany your pup and have them available for the events you and your partner are looking to include them in.

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WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Avery has taken care of my dog since he was just a puppy and she continues to be the only person I 100% trust to take him off-leash. She is an experienced dog owner, knows how to handle different temperaments well, and has strong training skills. My dog always came home from their adventures physically and mentally exhausted and his behavior was so much better because of it!

Megan K.

Avery has been an exceptional caretaker of our two pups, June and Adonis. She has a gift for putting humans and their pets at ease, bringing confidence and lightheartedness to all encounters. Her adventurous spirit means our pets always have great outdoor experiences and plenty and chances to exercise when being cared for by Avery. Our pups always come back tired and happy! Bonus: we receive very cute picture evidence of their fun times. I highly recommend Avery for your pet adventuring, sitting, walking and sitting needs!

Margot S.

Avery is in her element when she's with dogs, and it's rare you catch her without at least one (although usually more) at any given time. She cares deeply for our canine counterparts, and you can tell after just a few minutes together that your dog is in the best hands. Whether she's working on training, or just going for a romp in the woods, she loves to lead dogs, and they love to follow her!

Erin K.

Since there is more to be grateful for than can be expressed in one post, I’ll be sharing something I’m grateful for into next week.

Today, I’m feeling incredibly thankful for the heart of my business—you, my clients. Thank you for trusting me with your beloved dogs, welcoming me into your homes, and sharing your training journeys with me. It’s such an honor to be part of your lives and witness the progress, the milestones, and the beautiful bonds you create with your dogs.

Your referrals, reviews, and all of the shares, likes and comments on social media mean the world to me. They’ve helped my business grow, and they remind me every day of why I love what I do.

Thank you for showing up, for giving feedback, and for believing in me to guide you and your dogs. You’re the reason I can continue to do what I love, and I’m endlessly grateful for each and every one of you.

Thankful for this festive pack home with us today, and each and every one of you that has supported us along our Houndin’ journey.

Hope y’all are enjoying your day and doing something that fills your cup 🫶🏼

Y’all ever feel like it’s impossible to get a family group photo where everyone is actually looking at the camera and isn’t mid sentence?

Because same 😅

There are two seasons for our off-leash hikes: snow and swimming. We don’t need anything else ❄️

I dream of one day owning a massive, indoor dog play area, where they can run and romp in a controlled setting, and I can do my admin work. Until then, their indoor play space is my office.

Snowy Sunday snagging a Christmas Tree with this lil’ pack. So thrilled the snow is here 😍

There are downfalls to playing fetch with your dog, and one is hyper-arousal. This is when their arousal and stress levels are increased, making it more difficult to regulate emotions and stay calm.

I mitigate this with Piper by working in some obedience and impulse control work between throws. Requiring commands like sit, down, spin, heel, paw/shake, before throwing the ball can keep them tuned in on you and your request, and in turn, keeps them from fixating too heavily on the ball.

Plus, when you’re training between throwing the ball, each time you throw the ball becomes the reward for their obedience ✨

Does your dog try to eat your hand when they go to eat their treat?

Try holding the treat between your pointer and ring finger. When you’re ready to reward, you push your middle finger forward and that provides access to the treat to the dog. This keeps your fingers out of your dog’s mouth, and also is a great way to hold onto the treat for a few moments without having to immediately give it to your dog.

This is my favorite way to pay dogs with treats when I’m training. And because I do this with my pack of dogs that go on off-leash hikes, many dogs are now satisfied when they touch their nose to my open palm, even if I don’t have a treat, when they check in. That touch has become a reward in of itself.

Looking to build a solid recall around distractions? Start here. Looking to strengthen your dog’s social skills? Start here. Looking to promote calm behavior around other dogs? Start here.

All of these skills are rooted in engagement! Your dog should look to you for support and guidance, knowing that your relationship is built on mutual value and trust.

Here’s how Woody and I worked on engagement and recall while other dogs played nearby:
🐾 Choose Your Distance: We positioned ourselves far enough from the other dogs that Woody could observe without feeling overly excited. Start farther away if your dog struggles to disengage from the distraction—move closer gradually as they become more reliable with check-ins.
🐾 Practice Neutrality: Socialization isn’t always about play; it’s also about calm observation. Neutrality around other dogs means that your dog can remain calm and responsive, even when other dogs are playing. If your dog seems too eager, create more distance until they can observe without lunging or whining.
🐾 Teach Disengagement: A valuable skill is for your dog to disengage from a distraction when called. This can help you redirect them from play or de-escalate a situation. Start small: call them from moderate distractions and reward their quick response. Build this skill so they can happily return to you when it’s time to leave or pause play.
🐾 Celebrate Engagement!: Every time they check in, reward that engagement—whether it’s a treat, toy, or praise. Consistently reinforce that coming back to you is a positive experience.

Pack is getting bigger in May 2025 - but this time it’s a human baby and not a fur baby

Spooky, scary, HALLOWEEEEEN 🎃👻

Halloween is here! It’s a fun time for us, but all the costumes, sounds, and decorations can be a bit spooky for our pups. Here are some tips to keep your dog calm and happy today:

1️⃣ Costume Comfort: If you dress your dog up, make sure their costume is comfy, breathable, and free of tight or dangling parts. Let them wear it in small sessions beforehand so they get used to it. Don’t force your pup to wear something that makes them uncomfortable!

2️⃣ Trick-or-Treat Ready: With doorbells ringing all night, give your dog a quiet space to relax. Try a calming chew or their favorite toy to keep them occupied.

3️⃣ Treat Safety: Keep candy out of paw’s reach, especially chocolate and sugar-free treats, which can be toxic to dogs. Have dog-friendly treats on hand for some fun, safe snacking. 🦴

A calm Halloween is a happy one for your pup. 🎃

Saw a reel floating around the instawebs of a pack of 17 dogs sitting perfectly in a line, all wearing sheets as ghosts.

As you can see, the majority of my pack said ‘yeahnaaaaaah.’

But considering we don’t regularly put sheets over our dogs, this isn’t something they’re used to. My pack still isn’t super stoked on party hats either, and I know plenty of packs that all pose willingly. It’s a matter of exposure and habituation. If I worked more on the pack with things like this, it would be easier.

Some dogs are very tolerant, and others don’t want anything to do with it. I praise and reward experiences with these extra items, and never force a dog that is too uncomfortable.

Regardless, I’m happy with whatever we get because it’s still training all the same.

Velcro Dog? Try this:

🦴 Don’t let your dog follow you from room to room—close doors to limit access, or practice sit/stays while you’re in a different room.
🦴 Be selective about when you take your dog with you. They don’t need to come along every time you go out.
🦴 Practice short solo trips, like grabbing the mail. Quick absences teach your dog you’ll always come back!
🦴 Limit couch/bed time if they’re allowed on furniture. Teach them to relax nearby without being glued to your side. “Place” on a bed is great for this!

Struggling with separation anxiety? Talk to your vet and a trainer to create a personalized plan. The above tips are great for general management but won’t fully resolve separation anxiety on their own.
🦴 You CAN ignore your dog when you don’t want to interact with them. I put my hand on Micco’s head when I first sat down and then he immediately wanted more. You can put your dog into a sit or down, or just walk away and ignore.

Was a little sad the fog lifted and it wasn’t as sp👀ky as it could’ve been 👻

Football Sunday for the dog trainer vs. her friends.

Good girl with great store etiquette in @paxtongatepdx

Being inside of a store is already a level of socialization some dogs struggle with, but being inside a store filled with taxidermies and bones all over can be a challenge. Piper really leans into her sense of scent, but is respectful when it comes to putting her mouth on anything. Even in the pet store, she will sniff treats at her level but won’t put any in her mouth.

We can work on that if any of those are a skill you’re looking for your dog to have!

Ever feel like your dog’s totally over your training sessions?! 🙋‍♀️

We all have our off days, and our dogs are no exception. Just like us, they can be tired, grumpy, or simply need a break.

If they’re not feeling it, try using play or a walk to get them engaged before you start training. If that doesn’t seem to help, it’s okay to pick your session back up later. Training should be fun and engaging for both of you, and if one of you isn’t into it, it’s okay to skip a session.

Our 20yo potato needs her daily walk on the feed. Good girl, Franki!

Reminded of how much we love agility courses. Might be time to build and purchase some equipment.

If we offered agility - who would be interested in some classes?

Halloween Desensitization in Progress 👻

Many dogs hate blow-up decorations, and we know the Wacky Waving Inflatable Tube Man can be especially terrifying! These decorations are strange and unsettling for our four-legged friends, so it’s important to help them feel more comfortable during neighborhood walks and car rides.

Desensitization is a behavior modification technique where you expose your dog to their triggers at a low intensity, gradually increasing as they grow more comfortable and show less fear.

Pair this with counter-conditioning, another technique that associates the trigger with something positive, like treats or praise. By rewarding your pup when they face their fears, you can help them develop a more positive emotional response.

Here’s how to start:
👀 Begin your walk with your dog engaged and focused on you.
👀 As you approach a spooky decoration, keep your distance and let your dog observe it from afar. Stay calm and reassuring. When your dog acknowledges the decoration without reacting, praise and reward them.
👀 If your dog reacts negatively, gently redirect them. You can turn them away to face you and refocus their attention (reward their focus), or add more distance to create a comfort zone (reward calm behavior).

The key to this process is gradual exposure—don’t overwhelm your dog. Take it slow. If your dog relaxes quickly, you can move closer. If not, give them space and time to adjust. Never force it!

Unlike Cruella’s Dalmatians, make sure your pups are well-mannered and ready for Trick-or-Treaters this year (and any other guests that come to your home)!

Place work is an incredible skill for dogs when visitors arrive. It gives them a “job” (just maintaining place!) and allows you to set clear boundaries for greeting people at the door, if at all.

In this reel, we practiced the 3 Ds of training:
🐾 Distance: How far can you be from your dog while they still hold the command?
🐾 Duration: How long can your dog maintain the command?
🐾 Distraction: What’s happening around your dog while they maintain the command? This is the most challenging, as it incorporates both distance and duration while adding extra stimuli like people, dogs, noises, etc.

Here, Dale and I practiced maintaining place while I opened the door, stepped outside, and returned before rewarding and releasing him.

A few key things to note:
👻 I turned my back on Dale when I walked away. Turning your back can often tempt dogs to break their place unless you’ve trained and proofed for it.
👻 Dale understands thresholds—just because the door opens doesn’t mean he can run out.
👻 He watched me walk outside, change clothes, and come back inside—additional distractions!

There’s a lot involved in walking outside and back in that your dog may not yet be trained for. We didn’t incorporate door knocks, doorbells, or a different person at the door this time. If your pup can’t master this, they’re not ready for the added challenge of a human or noise distraction!

Start small and keep building your dog’s skills with increasing challenges! And as always, reach out for any training support you may need!

Selecting a trainer can be more daunting than the actual dog training. Here is what to look for:

✅ Training style that aligns with your beliefs: Find a trainer whose approach you’re comfortable with.
✅ Credentials and certifications: Ensure they have the qualifications to back up their claims.
✅ Experience and expertise: Look for a trainer with proven results and a solid education. Read those Google reviews and client testimonials!
✅ The real secret: Find a personality that fits: Choose someone who’s approachable, patient, and kind. You need a trainer who is a great fit for both you AND your dog!

Your dog deserves the best, so ask questions and trust your instincts. Don’t be afraid to walk away if the fit isn’t right - whether that’s before or after you’ve hired them!

Consider starting your search with Hounding Around by reaching out for a free consultation! We’ll discuss your dog’s needs, your goals, and my approach. I offer private, in-home training sessions in the Portland Metro area, as well as virtual sessions for those farther away. Let’s work together to help your pup thrive!

Ugh I just love them. I love trying new things with them, running in the woods, jumping in puddles, training new skills.

Trying to snag a pic with the pups solo is a challenge since they’re so used to staying visually connected with me for sit/stays. Taking this pic with most of them in the car provides physical structure to pair with their impulse control of not just yeeting themselves out of the car when they feel like it.

This content is cute and wholesome, but is also still a form of training ✨

Looking for that loose leash walking where you can hold your coffee AND two dog leashes with your pinky on the same hand? I got you 😏😏

Reach out for individual, personalized training where I come to you! I’ll show you how to nail the loose leash walking so you can effortlessly walk your pups without losing a drop of coffee (or your patience!)

Training recall should be fun and easy!

Here’s how to do it:
🐾 Start inside, and as you start to proof the command, slowly increase the level of distractions
🐾 Use a long line (I like 20’) so that you can increase the distance your dog can be from you, while still having them tethered. This provides security for your dog, but also the ability to guide them back to you if they don’t come when called.
🐾 Set your dog up for success! If you watch carefully, you’ll see that Dale is just walking along; he isn’t sniffing or focusing on something in the distance. This automatically makes it easier for your dog to stay tuned into you, and respond when called. As you proof the command and their recall is stronger, you can call them back while their attention is directed somewhere
🐾 Speak with intention in a tone your dog can hear and understand. Starting out, you may want to use a more exciting tone/inflection so they want to choose you over anything else.
🐾 Reward with big praise and treatos!
🐾 Keep sessions short and practice often

Golden slurps ASMR

I could watch these two golden retrievers all day.

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