A better dog starts with a better you…
About the Trainer
Hi — I’m Dallas. I started Better You Dog Training with a simple mission: help people become better versions of themselves through their dogs. What began as a desire to have a better-behaved dog turned into a journey of becoming more patient, consistent, and confident myself.
I grew up in Middle Tennessee surrounded by dogs — usually more dogs than people. My first companions were hounds; now I share my life with two dachshunds and a goldendoodle. I love attending dog events, camping and hiking, and hunting for the perfect thrift-store knickknack.
We serve Portland, OR and the surrounding communities. Our services include in-home private training, day train sessions, and board-and-train programs. I specialize in aggression and anxiety, and every program is tailored to your goals so you can enjoy a calmer, happier life with your dog.
Get in Touch
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In-Home Training
In-home dog training brings the classroom to your living room, creating a comfortable and familiar environment for you and your dog to learn new skills. This personalized approach allows trainers to address specific behaviors and challenges unique to your household, making lessons more effective and tailored. Plus, practicing commands and routines in your actual home helps your dog generalize good behavior where it really counts. Whether it’s mastering basic obedience or tackling pesky habit corrections, in-home training turns your space into the ultimate training facility.
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![A happy, white, curly-haired dog running on grass with a blurred dark background.]()
Day Training
Unleash your dog’s full potential with our Day Train Program where your dog learns, grows, and masters new skills all while you’re away! No need to rearrange your busy schedule or sit through endless sessions. Our expert trainer dives right into action, shaping your dog’s behavior, manners, and obedience with proven techniques, no owner presence required.
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![A small dog running on a sandy beach with large rock formations and a cloudy sky in the background.]()
Board and Train
Imagine dropping off your furry friend in the morning and picking up a confident, well-behaved dog by the end of the day. From leash manners to basic commands and overcoming pesky habits, we handle it all with a playful approach that keeps your dog engaged and eager to learn.
Testimonials
We can’t say enough about Dallas!
We came in with two dogs who, through our own spoiling, refused to listen to a single command. Walks were stressful, dog parks were off-limits, and recall was a joke. But things got worse—our dogs began to have serious tension with each other, even escalating to fights we couldn’t break up because they wouldn’t listen to us. It got to the point where we were tiptoeing around our own home, and even having heartbreaking conversations about possibly rehoming one of them. It was devastating.
As a last-ditch effort, we invested in a 6-week board and train program with Dallas. And it completely transformed our lives.
From the very beginning, Dallas was communicative, compassionate, and clearly an expert. He sent us personalized updates on a private YouTube channel, complete with training videos and even adorable portrait shots of our pups. We missed them terribly, but were floored by the progress we saw—even from afar.
Now that they’re back home, it’s like we’re living in a completely different world. For the first time in years, our home feels peaceful. They respond to over a dozen commands, they’re crate trained, and they’re calmer, braver, and more balanced than we ever thought possible. Dallas even managed to crate train our 7-year-old “Velcro dog,” and helped our 3-year-old wild child learn impulse control and respect boundaries.
But the truth is—he didn’t just train our dogs. He trained us, too. We now understand what our dogs actually need, and we have the tools to provide structure, not just affection.
If you're even considering dog training, stop searching. Dallas is the real deal. He saved our little family.
— Heather and Zach Holder with Remy & Charlie