Transform Your Dog’s Behavior — and Your Bond

A well-behaved dog is more than just obedient—it’s a true companion, a source of joy, and a seamless part of the family. But without the right guidance, even the most loving dog can become confused, anxious, or labeled as “difficult.” Too often, these dogs end up isolated in kennels, shuffled between homes, or surrendered to shelters—simply because they didn’t get the support they needed to thrive. At A Canine Understanding, we believe every dog deserves the chance to reach their full potential and live their best life with their families! 

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What Distinguishes Our Program

Evidence-Based Positive Reinforcement
Our training approach exclusively utilizes scientifically validated positive reinforcement techniques, supported by decades of behavioral research. We avoid aversive tools such as e-collars, focusing instead on reinforcing desirable behaviors through rewards and clear, consistent communication, supplemented by subtle body language cues to guide your dog effectively and humanely.

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Individualized, Assessment-Driven Training Plans
Each dog undergoes a thorough in-home behavioral assessment to identify specific challenges and training objectives. Using this data, we design a customized training protocol tailored to your dog’s cognitive, emotional, and physical needs, ensuring optimal engagement and learning outcomes based on principles of animal learning theory.

 

Home Environment Immersion
Training is conducted within a naturalistic home environment, providing continuous, context-rich learning opportunities from morning until evening. This immersion facilitates generalization of skills and reduces stress by mimicking the dog’s everyday surroundings, a critical factor in promoting durable behavioral change.

 

Real-World Functional Exposure
Our program emphasizes practical application of skills through controlled exposure to diverse real-world environments—including urban settings, social interactions, and common public spaces. This experiential learning approach is grounded in socialization science and habituation theory, fostering adaptive responses and resilience to novel stimuli.

 

Consistent, Transparent Progress Monitoring
We prioritize ongoing communication through daily updates featuring detailed progress reports, photos, and videos. This continuous feedback loop supports owner engagement, reinforces training continuity at home, and leverages the science of observational learning to enhance outcomes.

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A Smooth Transition Home—with Ongoing Support

Training doesn’t stop when your dog returns home. To ensure lasting success, we include:

• A 1.5-hour private in-home session to reinforce your dog’s new skills and help you maintain consistency.

• Two follow-up sessions at 2 and 4 weeks post-program to address any challenges and support continued progress.

• Lifetime support via phone, text, and email—because your journey together matters, and we’re here for the long run.

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Consultation Required for Enrollment

Before your dog joins our program, we’ll schedule a one-on-one in-home consultation to assess their needs, set goals, and ensure a great fit.

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Consultation Pricing

• Vancouver, Ridgefield, Battleground: $100

• Rural Battleground, Hockinson, Washougal: $120

• Portland (Immediate Area): $150

• Longview/Kelso: $180

• Other WA/OR Areas: Priced based on location

 

Program Options & Pricing

Board & Train programs run 3 to 8-week program options, with 3 weeks starting at $3,900​​, and includes the following:

• Full immersive training experience

• One 1.5-hour private in-home session on the day returned home. 

• Two additional 1-hour in-home training sessions done at 2 weeks, and 4 weeks post program.

• Premium training gear (treat pouch, harness, gentle leader, etc.)

• Lifetime support after completion

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The right training doesn’t just change behavior—it changes relationships.
Let’s help your dog become the confident, well-mannered companion you always knew they could be.