Trainer Testimonials

As a relatively new certified trainer, doing off leash adventures through Dog Adventures Northwest has helped me to become more familiar with dog body language and dog- to-dog communication. I also have a solid network of likeminded R+ dog trainers and behavior consultants to reach out to with questions, talk through cases, or just connect. Working with Kerry is pretty awesome. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience. She shares information openly, works tirelessly to make sure that we all have what we need to succeed, and is super supportive of the individual journey. Kerry and Kim run an outstanding administration support hub, which is what has helped me most, providing me with a solid framework of support.

When I went through school to become a dog trainer, I started contracting with Dog Adventures Northwest as a way to pay the bills in the short term. I am still working with them several years later because I really value the infrastructure they provide. They advertise for new clients, handle the billing, and have a network of trainers who help each other. I get to focus on the work that’s more interesting to me, and grow my business on my own terms, with their support. The company ethic is very caring, inclusive, and respectful.

Finding Dog Adventures Northwest might have been the best thing to happen to me as a new trainer! The community of like-minded trainers is absolutely wonderful and so supportive. I have always felt comfortable asking questions when needed. I'm not good at marketing, and busy with kids, so being able to just focus on training makes my life so much easier and puts more money in my pocket. Kerry is seriously the most amazing person to contract for. She asks for our opinions and values them, caring what we think about upper-level business decisions. I have never felt so valued and respected, or treated so fairly and thoughtfully. The company is truly inclusive of everyone. I feel like they actually care about me as a human being, not just a contractor. Kerry and Kim are incredibly supportive and always have our backs. It's really nice having them as back-up, and to help handle any sticky client communications. We have a lot of flexibility and control without having to worry about the business side of things. I was so happy and excited when Kerry decided to expand to Denver when I moved here!

Working with DANW has been awesome for me. As an independent contractor, I have almost total freedom over my workload and schedule. Whenever something comes up, Kerry and Kim always have my back, and the team as a whole has an almost endless depth of experience and knowledge to lean on.

I've always considered myself quite lucky to have found Dog Adventures Northwest, and grateful to Kerry for giving me the opportunity to work for her. Rain or shine, I always ended my adventures with my packs feeling fulfilled. Each adventure was an opportunity to bond with the pups, and watch them develop and gain confidence.

The community of fellow trainers and the support of the administration was also quite refreshing. There was always an honest feeling of support and security, and the sense that we were all there for each other. I always felt that my voice was heard and that there was always a place for open discourse within the DANW community. Kim and Kerry have always made time to address any concern or to help with any crisis. Not that there were many, but sometimes you get skunked.

Most of all DANW is just the best job ever!!! I mean, you get to hike with dogs in the woods!!! And get paid for it!!!
I've moved away overseas and no longer work for DANW, but I sure miss my adventures with my packs. It's the only job I've ever missed.

Working for Dog Adventures Northwest has been a breath of fresh air after years of dead-end jobs that didn't seem to care about helping me grow, or accommodating my needs as someone with ADHD. I have always been passionate about animals, but didn't have any formal training. Kerry made sure I knew that what's most important is my desire to keep learning and caring for the animals we work with. She helped me see paths to success that are flexible and within my control. I get to be my own boss, set my own hours, and learn from an amazing community of trainers, all while working towards certifications that are incentivized with increased commission. For me, it's the perfect balance of independence and support. Kim is our incredible admin person and is always available to answer questions and help me out of any sticky situation. DANW has an excellent reputation, meaning I don't have to find my own clients (or build my own systems) and I get to focus on connecting with the dogs and continuing my education. I am building connections in a field that excites me, and I feel respected and considered in company decision-making, even as a trainer-in-training. I look forward to many more years with Dog Adventures Northwest!

Contracting with Dog Adventures Northwest has been a game changer for me as a trainer, both professionally and personally. The thing that has been the best for me is being a part of such a wonderful and inclusive community. As a trainer who used to work at a facility before moving cities, having this community has been so valuable.

As one of the Salem contractors, I have had plenty of support from Kerry, and have been given opportunities to help the Salem team grow. Kerry is an expert at communicating with her team and making them feel supported. She's also just a super fantastic human in general, so if you have the opportunity to work with her, I'd take it.

The team has been incredibly encouraging to each other on our own dog training journeys. Offering support, advice, wisdom, and sometimes just people to talk to. Not only that, but you can often get a group of people together for various group rate discounts on education opportunities! While saving a bit of money going to an event like Clicker Expo was lovely, being able to nerd out with fellow community members at the Expo was something I wouldn't have had without Dog Adventures Northwest.

It's amazing to contract with a well-established company with a stellar reputation. It's wonderful to have clients sent to you, with tons of support not just from Kerry and Kim, but from other contractors as well. Systems are dialed in. Kerry is a wonderful human. She is kind, thoughtful, fair, and has a great business sense.

I love that the safety of the clients has been well thought out. I love having a client base. I love the ease of getting paid, and that Dog Adventures Northwest handles all of the client billing and scheduling. I also love that DANW has cancellation fees in place so that contractors have more security in the event of missed services. I was a corporate manager in my previous career, overseeing hundreds of employees, clients, and vendors, and it's been nice to not have so much responsibility.

I came to Dog Adventures Northwest with no professional experience in the dog industry. I was able to get my initial certifications, and I also had the opportunity to learn from not just Kerry but a vast community of experienced, professional, and kind trainers.

Booking gigs with DANW is quick and easy. My schedule is flexible, and works with my other jobs and schedules. Kerry is one of my favorite people on the planet. She is helpful and supportive, and I would work with her anywhere.

I absolutely love contracting through Dog Adventures Northwest. As someone who struggles with the typical 9-5, setting my own schedule has helped me immensely in improving my productivity as well as my mood. Being part of a team has an added layer of security that I appreciate. Not to mention they are all amazing people and are great as a resource if you have questions!

As someone who was just getting my foot in the door in the dog training world, I could not have found a better place to be. The access that this company provides to soooooo many professionally skilled and knowledgeable trainers is invaluable. Everyone is incredibly welcoming and supportive. It’s not just “contracting”... Kerry has managed to create a wonderful, INCLUSIVE community of pet professionals. (In Portland, you'll receive many invites for get-togethers at other trainers' homes, and invitation to join other team members at continued education events!)

A huge benefit I noticed right away is that you don’t have to worry about many of the things you do when solely working for your own company. You don’t have to funnel through every email or client request that comes in. The marketing is all done for you, and it's done well. Same with client acquisition: we have a long waitlist in Portland, so you can start busy as opposed to having to start at zero.

As a business owner, and a contractor for other area companies, Dog Adventures Northwest has set the benchmark very high. On a scale of 1-10, I give it 12.

I started contracting with Dog Adventures Northwest right after I moved cross-country to Portland in 2021. It was a great landing place & launchpad! I didn’t have to worry about not having a network locally yet, because Kerry had clients for me. And I got to be part of a supportive, inclusive team while still being my own boss. I’ve had great experiences over the years: collaborating with other DANW trainers, having Kerry take my feedback about company policies to heart, and offering a variety of services. Highly, highly recommend!

I've contracted with Dog Adventures Northwest on and off over the last 10ish years and I'm so grateful to have them in our community! Having a network that can help me find and maintain clients and handle admin support is invaluable, especially during times when my own company is slower. I feel so respected as a trainer. Kerry and Kim trust my judgement and leap to support me whenever needed.

Working with DANW was a dream! Kerry is incredibly supportive of her clients and her contractors, and I always felt valued, respected, and uplifted working with her. DANW was supportive of my work in the theatre industry and provided both the stability and flexibility I needed as I took my next steps. Kerry is also highly dedicated to safety practices and preventative measures, which helped me feel safer and more confident with my packs. I can’t recommend working for DANW highly enough!

When I was looking to move from working with service dogs to family dogs, a couple of trainers who owned their own facility told me: "All the best trainers end up working with Dog Adventures Northwest." And I totally get that. There's the flexibility of having your own business while also getting to know an awesome group of like-minded trainers who share resources and knowledge. The commission percentage is very fair for what you get by contracting with DANW. And Kerry has put together a group of people and services that I feel proud to be a part of.

I do actually like doing admin for my own business, but I also breathe a sigh of relief anytime I have a client through DANW, because I know that there will be much less work for me. And Kim is an administrative extraordinaire.

Kerry is a kind, thoughtful, and generous person. She wants each of us to succeed and you can feel that. She regularly asks for feedback. And if you have a reasonable idea, she'll test it out!

Kerry and I share a dog client. One day out of the blue, she texted me to say my recent Board & Learn notes were awesome. She didn't have to do that, but it felt really nice to have a peer notice and comment—something that wouldn't happen if I only worked for myself.

Contracting with DANW has been an incredible experience! It has provided me great supplemental income while working on growing and building my own business. Take on as many or as few clients as you need/can handle. Get help from a wide network of trainers with just a quick email. The admin team gives me ample time for me to focus on what matters most, the dogs! Both Kerry and Kim are very understanding and supportive people who genuinely care about the people that they work with. I have loved contracting with DANW and hope to for many years even as my personal business grows!

I have been working with DANW for 5 years now and couldn’t recommend Kerry and the team more highly. I have received so much support and have had the ability to grow and improve my skills in a safe, relaxed environment. Kerry cares so much about the trainers on the DANW team, the clients, and the dogs. Even though my own business has grown, I have no plans to leave DANW anytime soon. I love being part of this group!

I started working as a contractor with DANW when I was a baby trainer. Working for Kerry was the smartest career move ever. Kerry and her amazing team of experienced dog professionals proved invaluable to me as I was learning and exploring this new career path. Kerry is kind, brilliant, and supportive. She believed in me as a trainer before I ever had confidence in myself.

I started out leading dog adventure groups as I worked through my Dog Training Program. Once I passed my certification exam, it was Kerry who gave me my first private training client. She brings together a large group of professionals who are happy to allow you to shadow them on adventures and private training sessions. This networking and these professional opportunities and relationships were the main catalyst for becoming a stronger, more informed, and confident trainer.

I cannot recommend working with Kerry enough. Contracting with DANW offers support, resources, and an established client base that can make your work more manageable. It can also provide guidance, training, and a community of like-minded professionals, enhancing your ability to deliver quality care and training. It helped me make money fast in a new career while building my knowledge and skill base.

I loved the autonomy to manage my own schedule while benefiting from a sense of belonging. Being part of DANW's community fosters ongoing learning, camaraderie, and shared expertise, making the independent work experience more connected and fulfilling. Being a dog professional can be a lonely experience but working with DANW helped me to build a priceless network of brilliant trainer friends and family.

Kerry is positive and supportive. Her leadership, clear communication, and dedication to the growth and well-being of contractors and dogs alike is unique and refreshing. Coming from the corporate world, this was a breath of fresh air. DANW is inclusive, welcoming professionals from diverse backgrounds, and fostering an environment where everyone feels respected and valued. Feedback from trainers helps shape policies, training programs, and community culture.

If you're considering working with DANW; I can tell you that I strongly endorse this company (and Kerry in particular) as a wonderful place to grow and build your skills. I am so thankful for my time with DANW; I would have had a much harder time building my career and business without my time there.

It’s amazing being a contractor for Dog Adventures Northwest. It's truly the perfect balance of support and structure alongside freedom and ability to manage my own stuff! Contracting with DANW makes a job like this possible for someone like me. I’ve had my own companies for about 7 years now in one way or another and managing client services and marketing isn’t my strong point large scale! Having an amazing admin team keeps me focused on the dogs. Kerry rocks! As a business owner it’s amazing to have someone who cares about their people and their company so much! I feel very cared-for contracting through DANW, including support, reminders, admin, and amazing pay for the “job” aspects of adventuring and training! Being a trainer-in-training has been nice because everyone in the company is so open and excited to share what they already know… I feel like I gained 2 years of knowledge in the first 6 months just reading emails and hiking with other trainers.

What is it like to contract with Dog Adventures Northwest? Incredible. DANW is supportive, organized, and responsive. The company handles the business side of dog so that I can focus on what I love: working with dogs. It is so wonderful to be respected as a team member, and simultaneously have complete control over my schedule and work. And Kerry and Kim are SO kind! They never make you feel anything but supported and taken care of. They've helped me navigate complex client issues seamlessly. Dog Adventures makes contractors feel seen, heard, and cared for. I feel valued and respected more than any other company I've ever worked with.

I have really enjoyed contracting with Dog Adventures Northwest! It's been really nice to fill the holes in my schedule with DANW dogs, while I simultaneously grow my own business. The other DANW trainers are also very knowledgeable, and it’s really nice having other people to bounce ideas off of and learn from. Kerry has been a really easygoing and amazing leader as well. She is very honest and transparent when any changes to the business have happened, and it really means a lot that she loops all of the contractors in to what is happening and why it’s happening. I plan to continue working for DANW for the foreseeable future!

Our admin team does such an incredible job of handling the overhead so we can spend more time working directly with clients and their pups. Contracting through DANW is like bowling with bumpers, in the best way! It has been so beneficial to my career to have both the freedom to experiment and grow, and the support to guide my success as a trainer-in-training.

I love being part of the this team. We have such an incredible and supportive network to tap into about anything from to training techniques to life updates.

I became an Adventure Leader with Dog Adventures Northwest in 2018 while attending a year-long dog training program. With DANW I was able to create a flexible schedule to accommodate my studies. Kerry was endlessly supportive and in 2019 I received my CPDT-KA and began taking on training clients.

Dog training was a career change for me and I can't imagine how I could have done it without the personal and professional support of Kerry and the DANW team. Kerry and Kim take the administrative pain out of marketing, scheduling, billing and tracking payments. DANW also values and compensates longevity and additional training certifications.

Working with the DANW has been the best experience of my career. The Team of contractors is infinitely supportive and will show up to help with any and all disasters (or perceived disasters). You will never feel judged or like you are on your own.

Contracting with Dog Adventures Northwest has truly been the best professional experience I’ve ever had. Kerry is, without a doubt, the best person I’ve worked with. As a queer person with Indigenous roots, I’ve felt safe, respected, and genuinely welcomed from day one. DANW isn’t just inclusive—it’s a supportive community I’m proud to work for. Having the freedom to run my own schedule while still feeling backed by a team makes all the difference.

Contracting with Dog Adventures Northwest has been a perfect fit for me over the past three years. As someone who has a full-time job in addition to this role, the flexibility DANW offers has been invaluable. I board dogs in my home, which works wonderfully for my schedule and for my dog-loving family—including my child, who has grown up around the sweet, well-matched dogs we’ve had the pleasure to host. It’s such a rewarding experience to care for dogs in a way that supports both their needs and our lifestyle.

One of the things I appreciate most about working with DANW is the sense of being both independent and part of a supportive community. Kerry is a thoughtful and responsive leader who truly values contractor feedback, and it’s clear she puts time and care into growing DANW in a way that supports everyone involved. I feel heard, respected, and trusted in my role, and that makes a huge difference. This work has brought so much joy and balance into my life—I honestly can’t recommend it enough.

I have absolutely loved my time at Dog Adventures Northwest. Mostly I wonder why I didn’t do it sooner! I feel part of a community, fiercely supported but with the freedom to curate my own experience. It feels like the exact right balance of support and freedom. Kerry and Kim are great! I don’t really know how Kim does it, but I always get a speedy response from her! Kerry’s transparency and care have made me proud to be a part of this community. They walk the walk when it comes to inclusivity. People are seen as people, not just workers. My significant work history and experience is acknowledged, supported, and respected, as well my professional growth as I work toward certification.

I'm actually an employee of Dog Adventures Northwest, but I wanted to put in my two cents too. Working at Dog Adventures Northwest has been a breath of fresh air, the kind you get on a trail with a happy pup by your side. As Administrative Manager, I’ve been empowered to shape the way we work, both with clients and our incredible team of contractors. Kerry has built something truly special: a collaborative, people-first environment where everyone is encouraged to speak up, share ideas, and be fully themselves. One of my favorite parts of working here is that our systems and processes aren’t just handed down from above; they’re built together, with input from everyone on the team. Thoughtful feedback is welcomed, good work is genuinely appreciated, and even mistakes are met with kindness and a growth mindset. I’ve never felt like just a cog in the machine here. My voice matters, my ideas are heard, and I know I’m making a meaningful impact every day.