Club K-9 :: Dog Training, North Portland, Tigard, Oregon

Sharon Cram has been studying canine behavior and its modification since 1987. Using the knowledge and expertise she has cultivated over the years, Sharon has assisted countless families in nurturing incredibly rewarding relationships with their dogs. Most recently, she has assembled an exceptionally talented team of trainers to work with you and your dog at Club K-9!

dog training Our training programs combine practical training techniques and canine education to prevent and solve behavioral problems in dogs. We use reward-based methods that have proven effective among dogs to ensure that the relationships between pet owners and their furry friends are fun, loving, and fabulous.

Club K-9 offers private lessons and group classes for all levels of training, from beginning classes for puppies to AKC’s Canine Good Citizen® certification program for adult dogs.

Private Lessons and Behavioral Consultations

Private lessons and behavioral consultations are provided in the convenience of your home, where we can handle everything from the basics to the most severe behavior issues while working at your own pace. We can give you all of the tools you need to raise a new puppy, establish a healthy relationship with a newly adopted dog, or even get you back on track when you’re at your wits’ end with your canine companion. We know that each person and each dog is unique; one size does not fit all, and we’re happy to create a custom program just for you!

We’re available seven days a week for private lessons and behavioral consultations. Each session is $75 per hour, and packages are available for $350 for 5 sessions.* Please call 503-684-0198 for more information or to schedule a session.

Group Classes

Group Classes** are offered at our Tigard and North Portland locations on weeknights and weekends. Below is a list of some of our available classes. Please call 503-684-0198 for our current schedule.

Canine Confidence Class

Canine Confidence Class: 6-week session with a class maximum of 8 dogs - This Puppy Kindergarten/Beginning Dog class is for pups of all ages. It’s great for young puppies under the age of 4 months looking for their first training and social experience, and it’s also great for well-socialized dogs of any age in need of basic skills. Each week, the class is divided into quarters. The first portion of class focuses on off-leash socialization and recalls, and pups learn how to play appropriately with new friends. At the same time, you’ll learn how to make sure that they play safely and appropriately with other dogs as well as what your dog’s body language means. You’ll also learn how to call your pup back to you and away from play. In the second portion of class, we teach basic training commands such as “sit,” “down,” “stand,” “off,” “watch me,” and “wait and stay.” During the third portion, we educate families on how to raise their pups while conducting an open discussion and problem-solving session. Some of the topics we’ll discuss are how to establish a positive relationship with your dog, how to handle chewing, how to stop jumping, and how to curb barking. The final portion of class concentrates on handling exercises. At this time, we’ll discuss health and safety issues concerning your dog while teaching you how examine him to spot common signs of illness. We’ll also show you how to calm your dog while touching and examining him, cleaning his ears, brushing his teeth, clipping his nails, and more.

Dynamic Dog Class

Dynamic Dog Class: 6-week session with a class maximum of 6 dogs - This intermediate class is for dogs that have completed our Canine Confidence Class or have transferred from a similar course. In this class, dogs improve on the basic skills that they acquired in CCC; we reinforce proper leash behavior and recalls in all situations, and pups learn how to work with distractions. Also, since many of the dogs in this class are transitioning from bright-eyed puppy hood to adolescence, which can be a very challenging stage in life, we continue to problem solve and troubleshoot various behavioral matters. We only allow six dogs in this class to give each family the opportunity to personally work with the instructor to fulfill their individual goals.

Canine Good Citizen Class

Canine Good Citizen Class: 6-week session with a class maximum of 6 dogs - This class teaches all of the skills tested in the AKC Canine Good Citizen® Program. Passing the program’s test is a necessary step in becoming a therapy dog and/or a fun way to see if your canine companion has what it takes to be a go-anywhere dog. Can your dog handle crowds? Will he focus on you in a world of distractions? Will he be friendly to new people? If so, you can reward him for his good manners at home and in the community with this course.

Canine Games Class

Canine Games Class: 6-week session with a class maximum of 6 dogs - All of our classes are fun, but now that you have the skills, let’s have a blast! How do musical stays and doggy relays sound?! This class will not only solidify your dog’s skills, but it will also be a whole lot of fun for both you and your precious pup. After all, fun is what having a dog is all about!

K9 Nose Works (by: Joyce) www.joycesdogs.com

K9 Nose Work is a new activity that almost every dog can do with his/her owner. It’s the sport of scent detection that is taught to dog and handler teams in a manner similar to the way many professional detection dog teams are instructed and work.

Classes are taught by Certified Nose Work Instructors [CNWI] or instructors in training. These trainers receive the highest level of organized training available to dog trainers who are not in the profession of detection dog training. Currently, instructor trainers are the three originators of the sport of K9 Nose Work. They are professionals that have worked in the Professional Detection Dog field for many years and wanted to bring the activity to pet dog owners. They regularly schedule advanced trainings for CNWI’s and provide support for instructors throughout the country.

Besides being about the most fun a dog can have, K9 Nose Work has many advantages for ‘special needs’ dogs. Since dogs work one at a time, dog reactive dogs can participate both in classes and in competitions. These reactive dogs very often forget about other dogs as they develop focus for the hunt. Shy, fearful and environmentally sensitive dogs gain confidence that spills over into their everyday lives.

One of the best parts of the sport is that it is really all about the dog. Dogs love to follow their noses. It’s pretty easy for the team to get started by just following the dog as it hunts for food [and occasionally a coveted toy] that the instructor has put in cardboard boxes on the floor.

As the training evolves and the dog’s hunt drive increases, the placement of food starts to vary more, including placements that are not in the boxes. Then the food gets coupled with a designated odor. The handler feeds the dog more food when the hidden food with odor is found. Soon, some of the odor hides have no food with them. Dogs learn by association, so the dog associates the odor with the food. The dog is rewarded with food when he finds the odor.

As the team progresses the hides get harder and can include interiors, exteriors, a variety of containers other than boxes, and on cars.

K9 Nose Work is great fun for those interested in competition as well as those that want to do it just for fun. Classes are the same for either interest.

Register for K9 Nose Work and Agility Foundation Training by following this link to Instructor Joyce Biethan’s website: www.joycesdogs.com. Please, go to Joyce’s website and fill out the contact form. It will auto send the registration form. If you would like more information feel free to contact her directly.

Agility Foundation Training - An introductory class (by: Joyce) www.joycesdogs.com

Dog agility is a team sport that involves dogs running through an obstacle course while being guided by a handler. The run is judged on the agility dog's speed and accuracy. Different courses and obstacles are used for each competition [trial]. This keeps the competition challenging for both partners in the team.

This foundation class will introduce skills that are essential for a team to be able to run a course successfully. We will introduce some pieces of equipment. However, the class is more about the hard part of running an agility course: the ground BETWEEN obstacles.

This class is appropriate for any non-aggressive dog. Prior dog training classes or skills are not required but can be a big help.

*If you live more than 20 minutes from Club K-9, a travel charge may apply. We charge $100 per hour for aggression cases.

**Classes are only for dogs that enjoy being with people and other dogs. Discussions cover basic issues confronting most doggy families. If your dog doesn’t get along well with others or you’re experiencing more serious problems with your dog, please call 503-684-0198 and ask about our private lessons.

**If you don’t see the type of class you are looking for on the above list, please call 503-684-0198. We’re always adding new and exciting classes to our schedule.