Dog Lady of Forest Grove, Hillsboro & Portland Oregon. LLC

I went to Justine for private classes after not having success with other training programs. Our dog Maggie — a 1½-year-old Chiweenie — had some challenging behaviors, including barking at unknown sounds, people, and other animals, and being possessive of spaces and people. From the start, Justine took the time to understand Maggie’s needs and, just as importantly, ours. She helped me realize that the biggest part of the training was actually training me. Her calm, clear, and positive approach made the whole experience both fun and rewarding. Maggie has made huge improvements, and I feel far more confident as her owner. I highly recommend Justine to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, compassionate trainer who gets results.

My partner and I highly recommend Justine! We have a 10-month-old mixed-breed rescue puppy named Gus. As he started getting older, stronger, smarter, and more stubborn, we realized we were out of our depth when it came to training him, and we decided to seek out help before we were completely in over our heads. We found Justine online and brought Gus in for three one-on-one training sessions and a board-and-train. The experience was invaluable and was worth every penny. She even worked out a deal for us for the board-and-train since we had already completed the one-on-one sessions, which we really appreciated. Justine's style was exactly what we all needed (puppy included): straightforward, no-nonsense, and honest. I believe that clear and direct feedback is a form of kindness, and her approach worked so well for us. It’s also obvious that she really knows what she’s doing and working with dogs comes second nature to her. Watching her with Gus gave us so much confidence that we were in good hands. Justine also taught us a lot about dog behaviors and what specific mannerisms meant, which further helped us better understand Gus. Before training, Gus was big, strong, and extremely boisterous. He would frequently accidentally hurt me because of his wild puppy energy, would try to bolt out any open door, and he was starting to scare people just because of his size, energy, and somewhat unsettling stare (even though he wasn’t aggressive). While he is still big and strong, the training completely transformed his behavior for the better. By the third session, he was calmly walking through a farm store without touching anything, and he even ignored the open/unpackaged treats in the treat aisle! During the board-and-train, Justine solidified Gus' recall, off leash walking, and manners in public by taking him to stores, Gayle's creek, Hagg Lake, and the beach. She also set up a bunch of play dates for him throughout the time he was there, which helped him learn how to play with other dogs. While he was with her, she sent a lot of updates and pictures, which we loved and appreciated. Now that we've all gone through Justine's training, we can actually enjoy our dog without constantly worrying about him accidentally hurting someone or embarrassing us in public. We can take him on loose leash walks without him barking and lunging at people/animals out of excitement, we can open a door without worrying about him bolting, he has recall when off leash, and we can go to public places and recreational areas without constantly worrying about his behavior. He also learned dog manners and how to play with other dogs without being annoying. Justine has truly set us up for success by teaching us how to train and communicate with Gus. She gave us the tools for a happy life together, and we are so grateful!

My young shepherd mix is a handful. I feared if I didn't get a handle on his behavior he'd end up getting seriously aggressive toward people and animals. Training with Justine has really changed my own expectations and behavior, allowing me to work much more effectively with Finn. I now regard him as very workable, but it isn't something you take a dog class for and fix. Justine is there for me and Finn, very individualized and very on-point. She helps you internalize the changes that need to be made and life is good!! Justine is very flexible and available for appointments and consults. I highly recommend her service.

I brought my 3 year old German Shepperd to Justine with a long wish list (door bolting, chasing the house cat, barking in the house and at the fence, barking in the car, off leash recall, barking at the dogs and cats on the walks, pulling the leash), he was impossible to take to any public places without stressing me out. She said these are very common issues she works with and can correct them all, I honestly could not believe he will change but decided to give it a try. After 2 weeks following Dog Lady instructions everything changed! We corrected all unwanted behavior on my list and now can enjoy peace at home and on trips. He became much happier and more relaxed dog, he is more appreciative and respectful. I'm forever grateful for Justine's time and guidance and her special attention to every dog and the owner. She has tons of knowledge about different dog breeds, their behavior and training abilities. I also leaned a lot about dog food, homemade treats and good and bad dog habits. I highly recommend her services!