Rascal Training & Boarding

We just finished our second two week session with Zoe at Rascal Training. We have an 8 month old Bernedoodle. I can’t praise Zoe and Rascal Training enough. Our pup is well behaved and definitely has a handle on commands as well as being able to focus on us when we are giving a command. Her recall is excellent. Rascal Training takes the time necessary to make sure the dog goes home with the best possible rate of success. Zoe trains in all kinds of environments and with all kinds of other dogs and people. Seriously, if you are looking for training for your best friend, give Rascal Training a try. We interviewed 6 other training facilities before landing on Zoe and Rascal Training.

I have nothing but great things to say about Zoe and the Rascal Training Board and Train! I really wanted to find a program that I could trust, and after extensive research I found Zoe. For reference, before going to Zoe, my puppy had problems with leash pulling, impulsive eating, ignoring commands, and other common puppy behaviors. Going on walks or out in public felt like a chore that I hated due to how stressful it was, which was difficult because of how much energy my puppy has. We enrolled her in the two week program, which we then extended to the one month program with Zoe’s recommendations, and I was so impressed by the results! Now my puppy walks right alongside me without problems, easily follows commands, exhibits patience, has excellent recall, and is more happy and confident than ever. She is still the same loving and playful dog, but now I can really trust her as well. Walks are fun for both of us, and I’m more motivated to keep up her training because of it! On top of the training, Zoe took such great care of my dog overall. Progress videos were shared through her Instagram and I loved seeing my dog on there going to so many fun places! Zoe is also extremely kind and super responsive - I sent her emails and asked a ton of questions, and she was always happy to help with super thorough replies. Zoe is now the only other person I trust with my dog, and it’s clear my dog adores her. There are not enough words to describe how happy I am with Rascal Training, and I can’t recommend Zoe enough!! If you’re considering a board and train, this is the place to go!

This review is for Rascal's Board and Train services for common dog issues (anxiety, reactivity, leash pulling, bad manners, etc.). First: whatever issues your dog has, Zoe can handle it. Watch her IG to see for yourself. Your dog will learn so much, gain confidence, and behave so well under Zoe's training and care. Your dog may even become obsessed with her too- our dog certainly is. Second: What I think is more important to review is the process for what happens when your dog comes back to you and you're NOT a dog trainer. How does one keep the dog that has just proven they can be so good and doesn't just revert back? That's where Zoe shines. Zoe is a very good teacher, so incredibly patient, very down to earth, and has a good sense of humor. She supports you and your dog and works within your situation. We never felt pressured, we asked all kinds of dumb questions and weren't judged, and we knew we could always circle back for clarity or more support if needed. Our dog, and more importantly how we help her, has improved exponentially. We board our dog with Rascal and take her to MotherPupper for healthy play and continued training, and know she gets top notch care and consistency at both. We're all happier for it.

After Instagram stalking her account for months, and talking to a former client, I knew Zoe and Rascal Training was just what we needed. At the time, Winnie was a still a COVID puppy. We had done some training, but she was afraid of everything and walking her was becoming a chore. She has a lot of energy for a minpin-chihuahua and we didn’t know how to help her learn to chill. Zoe and her team took such good care of her. I had tears in my eyes watching her play with another dog for the first time! It was so great to follow along the Instagram stories to see her progress. We learned so much at her go home session and we’re shocked at the dog we brought home. So much calmer and walking with direction—and not afraid of everything! The e-collar is such an important tool for us and we continue to use it daily with walks and practicing place time. We keep up with her confidence building at the Mother Pupper Enrichment classes, which have been a huge help in continuing to build her confidence, get exposed to new people and new dogs. Zoe and her team are the only people we trust to board Winnie now—it is so nice to be able to leave and know her needs are being met, she is getting a training refresh, and she is likely having lots of fun with Zoe’s adorable dog Bug. If you are considering a board and train be sure to check out Rascal—you won’t be disappointed.

Our dog Kona came back from rascal a changed pup! Before training, we had been struggling with leash pulling, recall, and constant attention seeking behavior in the house. Dinners were a combination of redirecting her destructive behaviors, loud barking, and trying to prevent counter surfing. We decided on Rascal for our board and train needs since Zoe focused so heavily on for everyday situations. Since she’s based in Portland proper, Kona was able to learn how to behave in the same types of situations that are part of our life, like coffee shops, errands, city parks, and food cart pods. She even took Kona camping and worked on her skills with wildlife distractions. Since Kona came home she’sbeen a changed girl. She crushes recall in the dog park, sits quietly on her platform bed at home during dinner, and stays right alongside us during walks. Zoe also gave us the tools and skills we need to redirect Kona to productive behaviors. Now we understand the types of activities that give her the most mental and physical stimulation. This understanding of her needs help us better satisfy her on a daily basis and help us learn how to better engage with her as part of her life long training. All of this together leads to a better behaved, happier, and less anxious dog, and has significantly improved our relationship with her. We’d recommend Zoe and Rascal to anyone looking for dog training.