Instinct Dog Behavior & Training Portland

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’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 🐾