Instinct Dog Behavior & Training Portland

Reactivity is all about how your dog FEELS.

Dogs who display leash reactivity are almost always experiencing an emotional response toward their triggers. Typically, that emotional response includes fear, anxiety, frustration — or even  a combination of all three!

There’s no question; being on a leash is weird for our dogs. A leash restricts your dog’s ability to move away from scary things, and to move toward exciting things. Restriction can lead to intensified emotional responses to a trigger.

Understanding the underlying emotions your dog is experiencing is key to navigating reactivity; without considering their emotional state, we can’t affect behavioral change.

Need help figuring out exactly what your dog is feeling?  Give us a call 🩵

At Instinct, we love the littles!

Smaller dogs have just as much personality and intelligence as larger breeds, and we love to support guardians in helping tinies live their best lives. Some of the most skilled dogs we know are pint-sized; from trick training to dog sports, they can do it all!

Small doesn’t mean less — it simply means more personality per pound 🩵

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reviews like this mean the world to us.

Instinct Trainer Claire’s teaching philosophy goes beyond building skills. Her thoughtful and creative approach creates lasting behavior change, helping both dogs and their humans navigate the world together; and she stays invested every step of the way.

We’re so proud of Cooper and his family for the dedication they bring to his journey. Working through phobias and quirks takes patience and consistency. We can’t wait to see where this team goes!

Our first heat wave of summer 2026 is coming up, and keeping dogs safe is our top priority! As temperatures rise, remember these essential tips:

☀️ Always provide fresh, cool water
☀️ Walk during early mornings or evenings to avoid hot pavement and protect paws
☀️ Never leave your dog in a parked car 
☀️ Watch for signs of overheating such as: excessive panting, drooling, or lethargy
☀️ Provide shade when spending time outdoors
☀️ Offer a cooling mat for seniors and extra heat sensitive breeds to lay on 

We’re so stoked for a happy and healthy summer with our dogs — stay cool, Portland! 💛

In our busy lives, it’s easy to focus on getting our dogs exercise, training sessions and enrichment games, but dogs have a natural need to observe their surroundings. Often, modern dogs have few opportunities to practice simply watching the world go by — so why not give them the chance? 🐾

Sitting together on a porch or relaxing in the park, gives our dogs the chance to take in sights, sounds, and smells without the pressure of interacting. This relaxed observation provides low arousal mental enrichment and helps dogs process their environment. Slowing down and sharing quiet moment together is an underrated skill 🩵

We ALWAYS celebrate our wins 🩵

A heartfelt thank you to Deby R  for her wonderful 5 star review and for trusting Instinct Trainer Poppy to be part of Gizmo and Ollie’s training journey.

The progress Ollie & Gizmo have made is something to be proud of, and it’s a testament not only to Poppy’s expertise, but also to Deb’s incredible hard work and commitment to her dogs. Training is a team effort, and when guardians and trainers come together, real change happens. Way to go, Ollie and Gizmo! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When a dog struggles to learn, owners often jump to assuming their dog is ‘being stubborn’, but we know learning doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Dogs who feel safe, comfortable, and fulfilled have nervous systems that are ready to learn. When a dog feels unsafe, uncomfortable or has unmet needs, their brain is focused elsewhere: on coping, surviving, or getting those needs met.

Before we ask more of our dogs in training, it’s worth asking: what are our dogs telling us about how they’re feeling? Learning is a reflection of what’s happening in your dog’s brain and body — and when we zoom out and assess the whole dog, we often find our answers. Focus on meeting your dog’s needs first 🩵

We’re here to challenge the age old saying ‘a tired dog is a good dog’. If your dog seems or unable to settle, they may not need more activity — they actually might just need a nap 😴

Dogs aren’t designed to stay awake all day like humans are. Healthy adult dogs typically sleep 11 –1 4 hours every 24 hours, with sleep spread across both overnight rest and daytime naps.

As a general guide, most dogs benefit from:
✨ 3 - 6 hours of daytime napping
✨ Around 8 hours of dedicated overnight sleep

Sleep needs are separate from the quiet downtime and restful moments that make up another large portion of a dog’s day. Seniors and giant breeds often need even more sleep, and puppies typically need anywhere from 18 - 20 hours per day!

Rest is a biological need that supports learning, emotional regulation, recovery, and overall wellbeing 🐾

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Five stars for Instinct Trainer Beth!

Helping dogs feel safe and confident is key to our work.
Kirsten’s pup came to us struggling with fear and uncertainty, and watching his world grow has been a privilege. Through building trust, he’s now learning new things every day and experiencing the joy of training. Way to go! 🩵