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!

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.

Puppy Preschool

Puppy Preschool: $140 for a 6-week session with a class maximum of 8 dogs - This fun, exciting, and sometimes silly class is for young puppies only (8 to 18 weeks old). The first weeks of a pup’s life are the most critical – we’ll give you all of the tools you need to get your puppy off to a great start socially as well as ensure a healthy relationship between the two of you. In this class, your puppy will learn how to play appropriately with other puppies, how to remain calm when being handled by you and others such as veterinarians, groomers, and pet sitters, and how to respond to novel stimuli such as funny hats, strange objects, and loud noises. You, on the other hand, will learn how to effectively establish a loving relationship with your puppy pal and how to deal with crate training, housetraining, mouthing, and every other puppy-related issue that you’re likely to encounter.

Canine Confidence Class

Canine Confidence Class: $140 for a 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: $150 for a 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: $150 for a 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: $150 for a 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!

*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.