Urban Pawsibilities - Dog & Puppy Training Classes in SE Portland

Talia Hammer · 5★ · 2026-03-30

We have had a few one on one classes with Fern who is helping train our golden retriever puppy Bear and it has been wonderful. We love that they are a positive reinforcement facility and they truly care about the wellbeing of their dogs. We are booked with them for the next 6 months doing regular 1:1 training sessions and we are very happy

Kaitlin Bishop · 5★ · 2025-12-16

We-- my dog Buddy, and I-- are current PAWticipants of Urban Pawsibilities private training sessions with Skip-- a phenomenal trainer and iconic human. We've completed two sessions and have more lined up! Skip received us so warmly with jovial energy and excitement. They are incredibly informative, reassuring, validating, empowering, and superb at advocating for my needs/concerns as an owner, whilst also educating me about Buddy's needs/concerns that I may miss. They have tailored each session in a way that feels as though they've known us for some time and answer my many inquires with ease. Buddy is a sweet, gentle giant. I sought services because I wanted to better understand Buddy's anxiety with other dogs on leash. I also wanted to cultivate more intentional one on one time with Buddy (he's a Mastiff, so he loves to sleep) in a manner that was engaging for him including cues, tricks, and acknowledgment. The initial consultation call (as I could not determine what service Buddy and I would benefit most from) with Emma was incredibly helpful at selecting what service was best (seriously call and inquire, they will help you if you are oscillating between group classes/school/private lessons). Our trainer, Skip, has been instrumental in my education pertaining to dog behavior, cues, and emotions. And it's been so fun! Buddy instantly took to the tools we learned with Skip, who also gently drew my attention to some mobility issues with Buddy that I was not entirely attuned to/noticed leading me to seek veterinary care that has been helpful for him. Urban Pawsibilities has been a joyful experience for me, and one that rings joyfully within me cultivating fond and loving memories I'll have beyond Buddy's life (why can't dogs live forever, am I right)? In the meantime, Buddy and I continue, excitedly, with Skip and I have found Urban Pawsibilities to exude excellency across a spectrum of services and variety from who they staff/hire, to their employment of the newest/latest animal care/education, right down to pricing, communication, and availability. I trust them greatly and recommend them highly. We are so thankful to know Skip and to share a communal space with them. They are such a light, and Buddy and I are better because of them and UP!

Ara R. · 5★ · 2026-02-10

This is a HUGE shout-out to Emma and her incredible crew! Our young Heeler mix struggled with anxiety and dog reactivity, and private training only helped marginally. After a long search, we found Emma’s “Triggered Dog” class, and it was a game-changer. The dogs are safely separated while each family works on exercises and gradual exposure. The materials and homework are excellent and easy to revisit. Training in a new environment with different sights and sounds has helped our dog so much, and she’s always stoked to arrive at the facility. With Emma’s guidance, we moved on to “Tricky Dog” and now “Walkin’ Dog.” We understand our dog’s body language better, and see steady improvement in her behavior and our relationship with her. She even enjoys learning around other dogs in this environment. I highly recommend Emma and UP! These classes are a wonderful option for dogs who might not do well in typical group settings, and I’m so grateful they exist!\n\n(photo of our silly lady enjoying a break during her "Triggered Dog" class)

Jackie Jones · 5★ · 2025-10-21

I grew up with dogs and have trained my dog on basic commands and other party tricks but my dog struggles with territory and resource guarding in the home. We took the Trigger Dog class and some private lessons with Emma. I now feel more confident in my abilities to guide Snoop through situations that are uncomfortable for him. Emma came over and helped me consider the lay out of my house and what to practice and where. She sends out follow up notes from the session that are detailed and personalized. Snoopy gets very excited to pull up the the Urban Pawsibilities site because he knows he’ll be rewarded with food and have fun. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for help caring for their pup. I personally had a good time, and am looking forward to signing up for Calm Dog and the nose work classes.

Amy Fox · 5★ · 2026-04-19

We took a recall class here over a year ago with our very excitable dog and have been intermittently practicing what we learned since. We finally worked up to 1000 acres today (huge off leash dog oriented nature area with lots of dogs) and our dog’s recall was impeccable!! We were honestly kind of shocked! He’s always been so excited by other dogs, he even had to be behind a visual barrier during class so he could try to focus because seeing other dogs was too distracting. I didn’t fully expect him to be able to recall in an environment like this, but he did! We learned a lot of great foundations at UP and today proved to me that he’s really getting it. If you think your dog can’t ever be trusted off leash, I definitely recommend the trainers here.