"Fear is the enemy of learning" - Karen Pryor
Welcome
Private Dog Training at Your Home
Positive Solutions Dog Training will help you meet your goals with a personalized training plan for you and your dog.
Meet the Trainer - Dawn Gilkison (with Puffin)
Dawn Gilkison - KPA Certified Training Partner & Fear Free Certified Professional
I work with dogs and their owners to create attentive companions and focused performance dogs. I am committed to using only force-free training methods and will make training a great experience for you and your dog. I specialize in private dog training: one-on-one training at your home.
Personalized Training Plans
You may need to solve common behavior problems such as leash pulling or jumping up on people; or perhaps a new puppy is joining your family. Or you may be interested in positive training methods for field work, rally, or agility competition.
I will work with you and your dog to develop a custom training plan that will meet your needs.
Dawn's Story
A life-long dog fancier, Dawn is the owner of Positive Solutions Dog Training, and has trained dogs for agility and obedience competition, conformation showing, skijoring, and field work. Dawn earned a B.A. in Biology from Reed College and a M.S. in Biology from San Diego State University where she researched social behavior in captive wolves.
After managing a pet food/supply store and teaching basic obedience classes for a few years, Dawn got involved in showing her Flat Coated Retriever in conformation and training her for upland and waterfowl hunting. Returning to college for a teaching certificate, Dawn became a high school science teacher and dived into agility training and field work with her Large Munsterlanders.
After 15 years of teaching high school, Dawn decided to "go to the dogs" and graduated with distinction from the Karen Pryor Academy and started Positive Solutions Dog Training. She attends seminars and training conferences every year to keep current on scientific knowledge about animal behavior and training. See the video at left for more information about positive training.
Success Stories
Gizmo
Emma, a rescue
Emma, a rescue
mastered Puppy Fundamentals.
Emma, a rescue
Emma, a rescue
Emma, a rescue
gained strategies for reducing
over-reactivity in on walks and in the backyard.
Higgins
Emma, a rescue
Cupcake gained calmness in public places
learned skills that help make him part of the family
Cupcake gained calmness in public places
Cupcake gained calmness in public places
Cupcake gained calmness in public places
and she learned to relax near the cats.
Arthur and Percy
Cupcake gained calmness in public places
Arthur and Percy
Brothers practice relaxing on a mat during a training session.
Ruby
Cupcake gained calmness in public places
Arthur and Percy
Ruby and her family mastered basic training skills that every dog needs.
A second chance for Rita
A second chance for Rita
A second chance for Rita
Thank you so much for all your help. We learn so much from you and Rita step by step is improving.
Ayna A. Portland OR
Chloe
A second chance for Rita
A second chance for Rita
Dawn is a "professional" in every sense of the word. She is patient to a fault, and demonstrates everything you need to learn in order to train your dog.
Mike B. Milwaukie OR
Corgis love to learn!
A second chance for Rita
All puppies need training
I so enjoyed our last session and am looking forward to watch Libby make progress.
Amrit K. Troutdale OR
All puppies need training
Dez overcame his fear of the car
All puppies need training
Koda was a shelter pup who benefited from private training sessions at his home.
Dez overcame his fear of the car
Dez overcame his fear of the car
Dez overcame his fear of the car
Thank you so very much. We could not have done it without you and your superb training skills. This would have seemed miraculous a short time ago.
John A. Portland OR
Hoka learned to relax
Dez overcame his fear of the car
Dez overcame his fear of the car
I am especially thankful for your patient guidance and training during the incredibly rough early days. It has all paid off ten-fold. Thank you!
Kim M. Troutdale OR
Success Stories
Sessions with a Sheltie
Sessions with a Sheltie
Sessions with a Sheltie
Dawn's main strengths as an instructor include her patient demeanor, her clear instructions, and her positive encouragement. Lori S. Troutdale OR
Sessions with a Sheltie
Sessions with a Sheltie
I really appreciate the way you made Ivan feel comfortable while training. You took the time to explain how the training works and how we could carry on with the training techniques at home. Thanks very much for giving us new tools to work with.
Chris D. Milwaukie OR
Bud the Labrador
Sessions with a Sheltie
Helping foster dogs
Thanks so much! You've started me thinking differently about everything regarding this dog - . . . I suspect my grandkids will also appreciate the more positive approach.
Ross W. Portland OR
Helping foster dogs
Book a workshop for your group
Helping foster dogs
Dawn worked with my Golden Bond Rescue foster dog and her assistance was invaluable . . . Dawn's time with Dino made a big difference in his life.
Marsh P. Milwaukie OR
Betsy
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Book a workshop for your group
Many dogs over-react to strangers - dogs or people - they encounter out in public. Private training can help these dogs (like Betsy above) learn to remain calm when out for a walk or when visitors arrive at home.
Book a workshop for your group
Book a workshop for your group
Book a workshop for your group
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge of clicker training this weekend. Hopefully more folks will embrace clicker training for their hunting dogs. Adele N. South Louisiana Vizsla Club