Ridgefield dog trainer helping out on ‘both ends of the leash’

It doesn’t take long to realize that Joyce Biethan is not only a certfied dog trainer, but is also a certified dog lover.

After spending 25 years working as a physical therapist for humans, she decided in 2001 to follow her passion of training both dogs and their owners. Starting Joyce’s Dogs, Biethan is commited to helping out on “Both Ends of the Leash.”

In 2004, she relocated to Portland to work with fellow trainer Dawn Jecs about new techniques and also how they’re used in competitive dog sports. One such sport is K9 Nose Work, which was fashioned after the work done by professional scent detection dogs.

“It’s actually one of the easier sports for humans to take part in for training their dogs,” said Biethan. “It gives them a way to better understand their dog and how they communicate, while for the dog, it builds their confidence and makes them feel more comfortable.”

Nose Work involves dogs being trained to hone their natural affinity to detect three distinct scents in urban environments.

“We train them to hunt and find birch, anise and clove inside and outside buildings, and in boxes or packages,” Biethan said. “I teach the handlers to pair searching for the source of the scent with something like food or a toy, then we make the searches more difficult and they’re rewarded after they find it.”

Unlike other training plans for dogs, K9 Nose Work requires no obedience background and virtually any breed can learn it.

“It’s not about forcing the pet to adapt, but rather letting the dog do what it does naturally and hunt,” said Biethan, “The impact it can have on their demeanor can be profound as well, which I’ve discovered working with local animal shelters and humane societies to teach dogs up for adoption.”

Since she started working with the Clark County and Portland Humane Societies, most of Biethan’s trained dogs have been adopted at a higher rate than non-trained dogs.

“It’s a great way to allow both human and dog to communicate and build a lasting relationship,” Biethan said.

The average length of training for dogs is about 6-12 weeks, depending on the breed, and Biethan said more events are popping up throughout the area for pets and owners to test their skills.

In 2007, Biethan permanently relocated to Ridgefield to set up her business, and along with Nose Work and other training regiments, she’s also joined with Dogs Gone Swimming, the first swim center in Clark County exclusively for dogs to help them with physical rehabilitation and more.

“We can really help just about any age of dog from puppies to seniors and being able to swim in a warm-water environment is something they really respond well to,” Biethan said.

Not only can a dip in the warm-water pool help dogs physically by improving their fitness and stamina, but it can also provide a relief for overstressed dogs who are having difficulty fitting in with other dogs or family members. It also is a good test for dogs who might not look like they could tread water.

“One of my best clients is a bulldog whose owner thought couldn’t swim at all but it needed to lose weight,” said Biethan. “Since the pool isn’t very deep, once he got in the water, he just started paddling and next thing you know, he was swimming away ever since. His owner was pretty stunned.”

Biethan performs dog training in agility, obedience and Nose Work through both private lessons and group work throughout Clark County, Portland and Seattle. More information, including class details, videos, schedules and Joyce’s blog highlighting her work can be found at her website, www.joycesdogs.com, or by contacting Joyce at (206) 819-7297 or via email, joycesdogs@gmail.com.

For more information about Dogs Gone Swimming, contact Jennifer Fish, (360) 931-5596, or go to their website, www.dogsgoneswimming.com.