Your Trainer

Joyce Biethan MPT, CPDT has a 12 year history of providing a wide range of dog training services in the Greater Portland, Vancouver, Seattle/Metro area.

She is the owner (& CEO, service provider,receptionist, office manager, book-keeper, accountant, and general go-fer) of Cooperative Dog Training in the Vancouver/Portland Metro area.

In the Summer of 2007 Joyce decided to move back to her home town area. She had several goals in mind: a) to open a much needed swim center for dogs. Unsinkable Dogs K-9 Warm Water Swim Center opened in late winter 2008; b) she wanted to continue with her strongest passions for training  “both ends of the leash.”

Joyce has been working with people and their dogs for the last 14 years through Joyce’s Dog Obedience Services Inc. in Seattle WA. In 2001, she retired from her previous 20-year occupation as a Physical Therapist to work with dog & people partnerships full time.

Joyce has studied and experienced a wide range of dog training techniques and philosophies over the years. Since 2004 she has trained and studied with Dawn Jecs, learning as much as she can about Dawn’s “Choose to Heel” foundation as well as other advanced training courses. Joyce wholeheartedly believes that this is the best and most progressive training available in the industry today. She has seen incredible results with her student’s and her own dogs. She is an agility student of Jill Crawford, one of the most well know Agility Instructors and AKC judges in the Pacific North West.

Joyce has owned mixed breeds, sporting, toy and herding dogs. Her current pack includes:

Mick her “Good” dog, an 12 year-young Border Collie with advanced tittles in AKC and UKC Obedience, Rally, Agility, and flyball.

Rider her 5 year old Belgian Sheepdog who is her “challenging” dog. He has taught her way more than she ever thought she needed to know about dog training! He has led her to believe that the best continuing education for a dog trainer must include ownership/training of a really difficult dog.

Simon her rescue Silky Terrier who “hit the jackpot” when he came to live with her in Feb 07. He is (nearly) a perfect dog – the type that trainers never see because they really don’t need it!

Joyce put a UDX and 6 Dog World Awards on her Novice A Competitive Obedience dog Ashley, a Golden Retriever who died of cancer at the young age of 4.