Now accepting new dog training clients for August & September 2026!
Hey there, I’m Mandy — a multi-certified dog trainer helping dogs & their people better understand one another.
My work blends practical training, behavior knowledge, and genuine compassion to help families build calmer, more connected lives with their dogs.
Mandy Boutelle CCT, CTBC, FFCP
Multi-Certified Trainer & Behavior Consultant
Reward-Based Dog Training in McMinnville, Oregon
Like many pet professionals, my love for animals started very early and only grew with me. When visiting family or friends, I always gravitated toward their dogs first (& vice versa), often sitting quietly on the floor with them long before joining the rest of the conversation.
Over the years, I’ve shared my life with many dogs, each one shaping the way I see behavior, communication, and connection. That early fascination eventually grew into a career built around understanding dogs and supporting the people who love them.
I started my career in San Francisco, California, first as a dog walker co-running the business with my husband Josh, where I quickly realized that so many of the behaviors I was seeing came down to communication, comfort, and understanding. If I wanted to walk multiple dogs at a time, off leash, I needed to better understand how they learned. That curiosity led me into training and behavior work, and I eventually became a certified trainer and behavior consultant.
Over time, my work naturally expanded beyond care alone. I saw how much dogs benefit when their emotional needs, learning history, and environment are truly understood — not just managed. That’s what led me deeper into training and behavior work, helping guardians build calmer, more cooperative lives with their dogs through humane, science & behavior-based methods.
Today, I work with puppies, adolescent dogs, sensitive dogs, and families navigating everyday training or behavior challenges. My goal is not to create a “perfect” dog. It is to help you better understand the dog in front of you, build useful skills, and create lasting changes that make life together feel easier.
Through Pacific North Woof, I provide personalized dog training and coaching throughout McMinnville and Yamhill County. Every training plan is built around your individual dog, your household, and the life you share.
Credentials
CATCH Certified Trainer through the CATCH Canine Trainers Academy
Certified Trainer & Behavior Consultant through the Dog Training Internship Academy
Fear Free Certified Professional
Advanced Provider Pet First Aid & CPR Certified
Pet Sitters Associates, Insured Member
When I am not working with clients, you will probably find me exploring Oregon’s trails with my dog, Fern, spending time with my husband, or relaxing with a good book. I also own Woof Cultr, an apparel brand created to advocate for ethical, compassionate dog training.
I built Pacific North Woof to be a welcoming place where dog guardians feel heard, supported, and empowered to better understand their dogs.
Philosophy & Approach
My approach goes beyond teaching cues or stopping unwanted behavior. We look at what your dog is communicating, what may be contributing to the behavior, and how we can make learning easier for both of you. I use reward-based, behavior-informed training that prioritizes trust, safety, and cooperation. I do not use prong collars, shock collars, leash corrections, intimidation, or punishment-based methods.
Every dog has an individual history, personality, environment, and set of needs. My job is to meet your dog where they are, help you understand what they need, how to better read your dog, and create a practical training plan that works in everyday life so that it becomes part of your routine.
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB)—a leading authority made up of veterinarians and behavior experts—states that reward-based training offers the most advantages and the least harm to a dog’s welfare, and that there is no evidence that aversive methods are necessary for effective training or behavior modification. Read the full AVSAB Position Statement on Humane Dog Training, here.
What Makes Pacific North Woof Different
We consider the whole dog.
Behavior is influenced by health, emotions, environment, learning history, and daily experiences—not stubbornness, a desire to give you a hard time or "dominate" you.
You are part of the process.
You and your dog are a team. Training is not something I simply do to your dog. I help you develop the skills, confidence, and understanding needed to support continued progress.
Welfare comes first.
Your dog’s comfort, health, communication, and sense of safety matter throughout the training process.
We focus on meaningful progress.
The goal is not perfection or a quick fix. It is better communication, easy management strategies, reduced stress, useful skills, and sustainable change - which altogether, aids in improving change.
Ready to better understand your dog?
Whether you are raising a puppy, working through an everyday training challenge, or supporting a sensitive dog, you do not have to figure it out alone.
