About Us

Started by dog people, for dog people

Cascadian Paws didn't start as a store. It started with our own dogs — and the dozens of others who came through our home along the way. Between our own pack and more than twenty foster dogs, we've done the late-night crate introductions, the shy-dog confidence work, the leash practice on rainy Portland sidewalks, and the joyful trail days that make it all worth it. Every one of those dogs taught us something.

What we kept running into was how hard it was to find trustworthy answers in one place. Good training advice was scattered across forums and hearsay. Gear that actually held up was buried under marketing. We wanted a single place to turn for the key information, training, and products that help us live our best life with the dogs around us — so we built it.

Training grounded in science, not hearsay

There's a lot of confident-sounding dog advice out there, and much of it is just word of mouth passed down until it feels true. We take a different path. Our journals and guides are built on reward-based, science-aligned methods — reward the behavior you want, manage the rest, and end every session on a win.

Every recommendation traces back to peer-reviewed research and the position statements of leading veterinary and training organizations, including AVSAB, AAHA, and WSAVA. You'll find the full sources listed on each book's resources page, because we'd rather show our work than ask you to take our word for it. The result is training that builds confidence and trust between you and your dog — practical enough to fit real daily routines, and honest about what the evidence actually supports.

Products we actually use and love

We don't stock a catalog of anonymous imports. Every product here has earned its place in our own daily walks, training sessions, and adventures — if we wouldn't reach for it with our own dogs, it isn't in the shop. Our training journals are printed locally in a pocket-friendly format made to come along to class, the park, or the trail. When we bring in gear from other makers, we hold them to the same standard we'd want ourselves: genuine craftsmanship, real durability, and a connection to the place we call home.

Champions of Pacific Northwest makers

Beyond our own resources, we love shining a light on the people who make this region special. Right now that includes Cycle Dog, the Portland maker behind our No-Stink collars and leashes — tough, easy to clean, and naturally odor-resistant thanks to recycled materials like reclaimed bike inner tubes, and built for muddy trails and river days. Our Limited Edition collection rounds it out with small-batch and seasonal finds from PNW makers and partners. These pieces are curated and often limited, so once something is gone it may not come back — but you'll always be discovering something unique while supporting independent creators close to home.

2% of every order gives back

Giving back isn't a marketing line for us — it's built into every sale. We donate 2% of every order to five local Portland nonprofits doing real work for animals and people across our community: Blanchet House of Hospitality, Cascadia Wild, One Tail at a Time PDX, the Oregon Humane Society, and the Portland Animal Welfare Team. When you shop with us, you're helping support rescue, wildlife, and community care right here in the Pacific Northwest.

More than a store

We're a small Portland team — dog owners and foster homes first, a shop second — making the guidance and gear we always wished existed. Wherever your next path leads, from a city sidewalk to a Cascade ridgeline, we'll help you and your dog gear up for the journey.

Have a question or just want to say hello? Get in touch — we'd love to hear from you.