Two women training dogs in a park with fall foliage. A sign reads "Valley Wags, Class meets here!"

Who we are

We have a deep love for this community and have been living and training in it for well over a decade. Our methods are informed and shaped by canine ethology (the study of behavior in domesticated dogs) and we are committed to implementing positive reinforcement, fear & force-free methods in our training.

Focusing on meeting your dog’s individual needs as a dog comes before what many people think of when they think of “training”. In reality, your dog is constantly learning from you and their environment and is adjusting their behavior accordingly. It’s likely there are habits you will need to change in order to see changes in your dog.

From puppies to parkour, from reactivity to manners, from nose work to cooperative care, both Bridget and Lisa are seasoned instructors of group training classes. Over the years, they consistently saw students experiencing a disconnect when they tried to replicate class exercises at home. So, since inception, Valley Wags has been holding most group classes in the real world rather than in a controlled facility. This has allowed for real-time application and adjustment of training exercises and a huge increase in client comprehension.

We are excited to work with you!

A woman sitting on steps with a husky dog beside her, looking at each other. She is wearing a blue jacket and black pants, sitting on a porch with fallen leaves around.

  • she/her

    Lisa has been working with dogs in the Willamette Valley since 2008 and training dogs professionally since 2012. She specializes in teaching dogs & their humans the concepts & skills needed for lifelong partnership. Patience, problem solving, and flexibility are things all dogs need to learn to navigate the human world. Plenty of the right kind of exercise & rest never hurt, either!

    In addition to private lessons & Puppy Play Sessions, Lisa teaches Foundations- Levels 1 & 2, Parkour, Cooperative Care, and Out & About! classes

A woman with multicolored hair and glasses kneeling next to a black and tan dog in a park during fall, with trees and autumn leaves in the background.

  • she/they/her/them

    Bridget has been working with dogs since 2013, and been working with them in the Willamette Valley since 2017. She is dedicated to continuing her education and is one of the only Certified Behavior Specialists in the area. Specializing in reactivity & aggression, Bridget helps link training with physiological support to help dogs and their people live more harmoniously.

    In addition to private lessons, Bridget teaches Growler’s Gathering, Drink with Your Dog®, Trail Manners, and Out & About! classes

Two women standing outdoors on grass with trees in fall foliage, smiling at the camera. One woman has long curly hair and is wearing a plaid shirt; the other has short green hair, glasses, and tattoos, wearing a black shirt. Both have small blue pouches attached to their belts.
Two women sitting on a porch with three dogs, including a Siberian Husky, a black and tan mixed breed, and a Dachshund in a coat, during fall with autumn leaves on the ground.
Person with green hair wearing black clothing playing with two dogs in a park during autumn; one dog is black with a harness, the other is brown and white, wearing a blue vest.
A woman train dogs in a park during autumn, with trees in the background and fallen leaves on the grass.
A woman sitting on a porch with a husky dog, touching noses and smiling, during autumn with fallen leaves around.
A woman with green hair and glasses playing tug-of-war with a black and tan dog in a park during autumn.