Zoom Room to unleash dog services, pet community in Hillsboro

An incoming business is about to unleash a whole new level of canine camaraderie in Hillsboro.

Zoom Room is unlocking the kennels for its grand opening Saturday, July 20, offering dog-training services and a community hub for local pets and their owners at 9389 N.E. Windsor St.

“At Zoom Room, we want your dog to learn the skills necessary to behave inside and outside of the home,” franchise owner Joe Saunders said in a release. “We want people to be able to take their dogs on a hike, to a local restaurant, even just crowded areas, without feeling worried about their behavior. Our goal is to help owners feel comfortable having their dogs around other pets and humans.”

Saunders, a Portland native, shifted from a 25-year career in software engineering to pursue his passion for pets.

As an owner of six dogs, he noticed varying socialization skills among them. Researching Zoom Room, he found that a dog he adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic struggled compared to his other pets, who had prior experience around animals and humans before isolation.

That experience sparked Saunders to launch Zoom Room Hillsboro, where he “aims to enhance the training and overall well-being of dogs in the community.” The Hillsboro business is the first of three Zoom Room locations Saunders plans to bring to the Portland area.

Founded in 2007, Zoom Room has become renowned for its positive reinforcement and socialization-centric model, with locations across 30 states. Providing a safe and healthy environment for training furry companions, the business offers group and private classes in agility, puppy training, obedience, therapy dog training, and more.

To celebrate the grand opening, Zoom Room Hillsboro will offer $10 “Intro to Agility” classes from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by a party from 4 to 6 p.m.

For each person who RSVPs and attends the grand opening, Zoom Room Hillsboro will donate $10 to Portland Animal Welfare, plus $5 for each class attendee.

Starting off, the business will be open 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

To RSVP for the grand opening, check out zoomroom.com/hboro .