Enjoyable, fair, and effective dog training in Portland, Oregon with 10 years of experience.
We specialize in helping dog owners bring out the best in their companions with over a decade of experience specializing in puppy raising, obedience training, behavior modification, as well as helping you find fun outlets for your dog’s energy through tricks and extracurricular activities. Want to give your dog a “job”? We can help!
Training should be enjoyable for both ends of the leash.
With so much conflicting information on how to best train your dog, we can empathize with how overwhelming it can feel to figure out the best strategy. We believe the cornerstone of great training is clarity and building a solid relationship with our dogs based on kindness and fairness. We bring dogs into our lives for their companionship and the joyful connection they bring us, and that should be reflected in how we train them.
We have over 10 years of experience working with dogs in a multitude of areas including assisting rescues with training dogs for improved adoption success, dog sports including agility, nose work, protection sports, running a successful off-leash dog hiking business, and helping companion dog owners combat challenging behavior problems.
The foundation of all of our training is grounded in rewards based training principles. Together we will figure out what your dog is most motivated for, and utilize that to create the behaviors we need for them to live comfortably in our human lives. We can teach you how to instill the necessary boundaries to keep your dog safe, without diminishing their unique character and spirit.
Because we realized that every dog is an individual with a unique learning process, we committed to broadening our education within training, and have extensive experience and understanding of all facets of learning theory. As such, we are able to draw from many different approaches to help owners achieve the goals they have for their dogs. We look forward to helping you truly understand your dog and build the relationship of a lifetime!
Our Services
From private lessons to day training, we offer a variety of training services to best fit in your busy schedule. All training packages are tailored to your specific needs and goals, don’t hesitate to reach out to chat about how we can best help and support you!
Initial Consult
CREATING A TRAINING PLAN SPECIFIC TO YOUR DOG’S NEEDS.
This is where we start! After our free phone evaluation, you can schedule an In Person Consultation. Generally held in your home, I meet and evaluate your dog, giving you professional insight into your situation. We will discuss what training will entail, including management strategies that will provide you with the clarity and confidence to reach your goals in training. After the consult you’ll receive a written follow-up with notes and instructions on how to begin your training.
60-90 Minute Consultation
$200
Private Coaching
Private Sessions in your home and out in public.
This program is excellent for those who really want to learn the how and why behind different behaviors and how to efficiently train their dog. We can help you with raising your young puppy, taming an out of control adolescent, and achieving the coveted go-anywhere brewery dog!
3-Lesson
Package
$425
6-Lesson
Package
$750
10-Lesson Package
$1,100
Home School
A Structured, Fun, and Enriching Alternative To DOg Walking And Daycare.
There is a huge learning curve when starting the process of training your dog. Not only is the dog learning new skills, but the human is often having to change habits, while amassing a ton of new knowledge as well. You can give your training a sizable kickstart by enrolling your pup in a Home School program.
Our Home School program is where a trainer comes to your home, and has one to one lessons with your dog without you needing to be present. Your trainer will meet with your dog 2-4 times a week, training in the place they will need the behaviors most, your home and neighborhood. Then, at the end of the week, you will meet with your trainer to transfer the learning to you. Potty breaks and exercise are included in this service, so it can be a great alternative to a dog walker or daycare.
Inquire about individualized packages and pricing
The Pack
Antonia Bartels
From a very young age, I was always fascinated with animals. Growing up, I was surrounded by cats, but I wanted nothing more than a dog to raise and train. Instead of a puppy, my parents gifted me first with the AKC Complete Breed book. I pored over the book constantly, until it was completely falling apart at the seams. Finally for my 12th birthday, my parents surprised me with a Field Bred Labrador Retriever, Casey. Some of my fondest memories from growing up are when Casey and I would sneak into the nearby apple orchard and sit in the trees reading while she ran around.
Later on, while in school for an art degree, I fell in love with a spotted Australian Cattle Dog at a local adoption event. I took her in with the intention of fostering, but to no one’s surprise, I signed adoption papers within a week.
Emma proved to be a particularly challenging dog, with not only an insatiable appetite for activity, but a penchant for intolerant and aggressive behaviors towards dogs and children. I worked with countless trainers, read books, and scoured the internet for as much information as I could get my hands on to find answers to her behavioral challenges. All of this eventually led me to change my career path to work with dogs full time.
I went on to attend Trish King’s Canine Behavior Academy I & II, and apprenticed under trainers at Sirius Puppy Training, founded by renowned trainer Ian Dunbar. From there I shadowed Lisa Maze of Muttamorphasis Dog Training and co-founder of the prestigious working Belgian Malinois kennel Loups du Soleil to further address Emma’s aggression, as well as my introduction into competitive dog sports.
Today, I continue to regularly attend workshops and seminars held by industry leaders to stay current on my knowledge of dog behavior and training. I regularly train in several competitive sports with my own dogs to further improve my skills. When I have the time, I also enjoy gardening and hiking in all the wonderful nature Oregon has to offer!
Emma CGC
The one who started it all! Emma caught my attention at an adoption event being held at the pet store I worked at. Like many adopters, I had no idea what I was getting myself into! After our honeymoon period, she began showing anxiety, reactivity, intolerance, all the while having a seemingly insatiable appetite for activity. At maturity, she began showing aggression to both people and dogs, which in turn restricted our life together, and the activities we were able to do.
We went to countless trainers, with varying success, while I immersed myself in all things dog behavior. Finally, we were able to find a mentor to bring us where we are today. Today, Emma enjoys a full life, hiking, has trained in sports like Nosework, Agility, Rally, and Obedience. She holds her Canine Good Citizen title, assists in raising puppies and serves as a helper for dogs who suffer from the same problems as she did.
Goose (“Evil Gremlin”)
We worked with Goose when he was a young puppy living with his previous family. At three months old, he had some of the most extreme aggression towards dogs that we had ever seen in a dog so young. It quickly became clear that he was a lot of dog in a small package and it was decided he would come stay with us forever. Goose proves to be an amazing teacher of the importance of meeting a dog’s needs, staying mindful, and enjoying our dogs for who they are.
Wamblee du Loups du Soleil CGC BH Mondioring BR
Our first purpose-bred puppy, Wamblee is a Belgian Malinois from the esteemed Loups du Soleil kennel. Wamblee has dabbled in many sports, including Schutzhund/IGP, and French Ring, but lives for his favorite of them all : Mondioring. He has been called “the happiest Malinois alive” by his favorite decoys and loves to help out in client sessions!
“I can't recommend her enough!”
"I can count on one hand the amount of people I trust with my dogs. Antonia has helped me and kept me inspired about my relationship with my dogs. Her motivational style of training has helped keep both Archer and Cooper on the right track, especially since my dogs are such wonderfully different personalities. She's also been wonderful with my elder dog Floyd, patient and guiding him through his senility and slow mobility. I can't recommend her enough!"
— Rebecca H.
owner of Archer (pit mix), Floyd (Am Staff), and Cooper (terrier mix)
“Highly intelligent, perceptive, and deeply knowledgeable about puppies and dogs...”
"Antonia is a gifted dog trainer. Highly intelligent, perceptive, and deeply knowledgeable about puppies and dogs, her training is spot on every time. With every new challenge my puppy and I have faced, she has cracked the code on what works best for both of us. Antonia's gifted guidance has given our relationship a very strong and happy foundation. I highly recommend her."
— Astraea B.
owner of Levi (Labradoodle)
“I'm happy to say we've successfully peeled the dog aggressive label off and replaced it with a new one: dog friendly."
"I adopted my dog in early December, and he fit the bill of "sport dog" but was listed as dog aggressive. Already a dog mom to two other wonderful pups, I took a gamble and adopted 'Jasper' anyway, as I am a firm believer that behavior can be modified. I hired Antonia and she had him for about 3 weeks- she carefully evaluated him, worked on his dog skills, play style, basic manners, and house training. He came back to me and we've yet to have a dog-dog issue, and it's now been 7 months and he is flourishing in my home with his two doggie brothers. It wouldn't have gone as smoothly without her help and guidance, and I'm happy to say we've successfully peeled the 'dog aggressive' label off and replaced it with a new one: 'dog friendly.'"
— Scarlett C.
owner of Fell (Belgian Malinois)
“...Antonia works magic with Chip.”
"I might have given up trying to raise my energetic labradoodle without Antonia. We’re still working on it but Antonia works magic with Chip. I’ve been harder to train. But she hasn’t given up on me and because of Antonia’s skill, I’m confident Chip and I will have a wonderful life together as companions.”
— Helen H.
owner of Chip (Labradoodle)
“She is a knowledgeable and creative teacher for humans and dogs alike!”
"We just completed the dog training class taught by Antonia Bartels in Montclair. I wanted to let you know how pleased we were with her instruction. She is a knowledgeable and creative teacher for humans and dogs alike! We hope she will be teaching more classes in the future."
— Laura M.
owner of Colby (Westie mix)
“Antonia is a wonderful trainer who is thoughtful, thorough and skilled”
"Antonia is a wonderful trainer who is thoughtful, thorough and skilled. I have trained with her and worked with several of the dogs she has trained and have always been impressed with the progress they have made while in her care. I have also spoken to some of her clients whose dogs end up in my dog walking program after training with her. Each of them has commented on how happy they were with their dogs once they returned from Antonia, and that they enjoyed working with her. I only have a couple of trainers that I refer out to, as I want to be certain that even if I can't work with someone directly, they are still paired with a top quality trainer. Antonia is one of the few that I will refer out to. She comes with my highest recommendation."
— Mahogany G.
owner, Infinite K9, The Balanced K9, and NextLevel Dog Business Consulting; president of Working Dog Rescue
Contact Us
Should you have any questions for us, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Just fill out the form bellow with your name, email address, and request and we will get back to you as soon as possible.