Start your puppy with Camp Ivy at the age of 4-6 months, then see them grow while they age and mature in my program into appropriate adult dogs! They start with mastering basic social skills & expectations — appropriately playing with other dogs, acting calm around strangers and other animals, relaxing while being groomed, enjoying in new environments, and beyond! Your puppies then graduates to more advanced requested behaviors: recall, sit, stay, leave it, and more.
Camp Ivy is a life-long training program, so puppies start young and continue to grow as they become adults. Learning doesn’t stop for us, why should it for our dogs? Start pups young and keep it fun!
Camp Ivy Half Day: : I will safely pick your puppy up and keep them for 4 hours for appropriate socialization, training, and skills. I load video and photo updates either to Instagram or a private Google Drive, if requested. The documentation not only gives you a snapshot of what we’re up to that day, but also helps you learn how to continue growing their skills. You will also receive all of my puppy training outlines on training techniques, puppy basics (mouthing, potty, jumping, etc.) and basic skills as they grow (recall, leash manners, stay, and more)! Long term, as they age into adulthood while continuing at Camp Ivy, they will solidify and expand their learning & skills.
When you first schedule, I will call at least 48 hours prior to service. Our conversation is to ensure that we are a good match for my training techniques and to cover behaviors you need addressed, and any questions you may have about my services! Pricing is $180 per 4 hour session (includes travel). Multiple sessions can be purchased at one time.
Puppies can start at 12 weeks with two rounds of vaccinations. The ideal starting age is 4 months. This service is not possible for reactive dogs. If you are new to Camp Ivy and would like to sign up, but your puppy is over 6 months, please call me for discussing if this service is helpful for you and your pup. Once your puppy starts the program, they age with it as they go!
Service radius covers Portland & some areas SW of Portland. Please meet me with your pup on a 6ft leash for pick-up and drop-off. I can also pick-up and drop-off if you have a lockbox, key code, or key copy for me.
Camp Ivy Sleepaway Camp: Like Camp Ivy Half Day, except overnight and/or for a number of days! This is a “board & train” option which is of course all force-free & intimidation-free methods (very rare, unfortunately, to find!) Over a 24 hour period training your puppy is never not happening – they are always learning! Pricing is $360 per 24 hour period (includes travel for pick-up and drop-off). Please text me at 971-221-2397 to request availability. It is recommended though to reserve 2 months in advance ideally, and that your pup already be enrolled in Half Day Camp.
Using science-based, well-researched, intimidation-free, cutting-edge techniques, I approach behavior in a process of:
Simply, PET your dogs and cats!
The training methods & applications I use to achieve your goals are Capturing & Shaping, Targeting, teaching communication (Manding) and auto-behaviors, Counter-Conditioning, Imitation & Cognition. By starting as early as you can to socialize and educate your dog, we can help them accept & understand the strange human world we welcome them to share with us!
My training career history:
Puppy Socialization Advantages: Believe it or not, physical distancing from others during COVID-19 can be great for puppy “socializing,” because puppies are sensitive during this time and become easily overwhelmed as well as they learn so much before they are 6 months that help guide how they interact with the world for most of their life! If we walk up to every dog and every person when they are puppies, they learn that is what you do!, and then we have adult dogs who pull on the leash to get to people and dogs. We can instead use this time to expose them, at levels they can manage, to novel situations and items. This time in our world is tough, but we can still prepare our puppies for the lifestyles to which we are likely to return. Make sure you get socializing puppy done right! We only get one shot!
More info regarding Covid health concerns for puppies: In regards to working with dogs, keeping physical distance during this time, and COVID-19, the American Veterinary Medical Association states: Association states: “Transmission via touching a contaminated surface or object (i.e., a fomite) and then touching the mouth, nose, or possibly eyes is also possible, but appears to be a secondary route. Smooth (non-porous) surfaces (e.g., countertops, door knobs) transmit viruses better than porous materials (e.g., paper money, pet fur) because porous, especially fibrous, materials absorb and trap the pathogen (virus), making it harder to contract through simple touch… infectious disease experts and multiple international and domestic human and animal health organizations agree there is no evidence at this point to indicate that pets spread COVID-19 to other animals, including people.”
For concerns with puppy health: generally and in terms of canine vaccinations, please view my article Puppy Vaccination & Socialization Recommendations.
I’m Ivy Rose MacNair (she/her/they) and I’ve been dedicated to my path of working with animals since the age of 14. When I am not working, I am enjoying the outdoors and beautiful Portland with friends and family. My primary outlets for self-care are eating an auto-immune paleo diet to address my Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and getting amazing nail art from the talent of Madison. I am an open book!
I am an ally, advocate, and member of the LGBTQ and open communities. I stand for human rights by supporting Black Lives Matter and many current issues facing those intentionally oppressed in our current social system. I strive for better communication skills constantly which helps with not only self-improvement and reflection but also interactions with my students, all of whom I hold so dear.
My strength is in my demand for respect and rights for all living beings and it drives me in my work constantly. I am a passionate person and I love helping people and animals. I look forward to working with you soon!
If you would like to call or text about Camp Ivy, I can be reached at 971-221-2397. To email, please contact me via ivy(at)campivypups.com. You may also reach me at Camp Ivy’s social media outlets (linked below).
After years of working with canines of all ages with all sorts of behavior concerns (and with cats… and even a fish!), Covid hit and I realized I needed to focus on starting these new socially distanced puppies on the right paw! Camp was born through the hopes of students, wild timing & difficult international circumstances, a determined & dedicated trainer, and some amazing pups!
The Legend of Camp Ivy also began with my Korean rescue Golden Retriever, Lucy. She was quite possibly the most incredible dog many have ever met. Not only was she breathtakingly gorgeous with her glorious fur, she was also so calm, gentle, genuine, intelligent, and kind. Lucy worked with me to foster bottle fed kittens, abandoned puppies, and even worked as a decoy dog for reactive dogs – eventually becoming the only canine friend of quite a few!
Lucy now has a Legacy carried on through Camp Counselor pups she helped train. Puppies grow by learning together from appropriate, well-trained adult dogs and myself as I manage their behavior and reinforce the skills I train. Campers advance to become Junior & Senior Counselors. At the advanced level, they solidify their skills, learn to coexist well with puppies (that can be hard for many teen & adult pups!), learn to be part of a global community of appropriate dogs, and may begin the basics of Fluent Pet communication.
The Legend & Legacy of Camp Ivy grows with each pup as they learn from one another together!