Instinct Dog Behavior & Training Portland

Lou Clarke · 5★ · 2026-07-03

Alan has had his intro session and 3 training sessions in the last 30 days and he's already a brand new dog! Kaysha is excellent and works with your situation allowing for successful training measures! Very thankful for her coaching and am excited to see more results!\n\nPictured is Alan doing "two paws"which has helped with his reactivity on leash. Even his separation anxiety has gotten better! Night and day!\n\nIf you're concerned about the price, please realize that this is an investment in safety for the lifetime of your dog! Well worth it!\n\nThank you Kaysha!

Brian Kuo · 5★ · 2026-04-21

We have been working with Instinct Dog Behavior & Training Portland and specifically Kaysha Rogers-Schuler for training our dogs Pumpkin and Jinx, and she has been outstanding.\n\nKaysha has helped significantly with reactivity on walks, including reactions to other dogs, birds, and general distractions. She is very thoughtful in how she approaches behavior and gives clear, practical techniques that actually work in real life situations. We have seen measurable improvement in focus, impulse control, and overall calmness.\n\nShe is also great at teaching useful commands like leave it, as well as fun ones like two paws, which is honestly one of the cutest things ever when Pumpkin puts both paws up on the sidewalk. The training is structured but still enjoyable for both the dogs and the humans.\n\nBeyond the technical skills, Kaysha is just very easy to work with. Super knowledgeable, very patient, and clearly cares about the dogs she works with. She explains the why behind the training so you can continue reinforcing good behavior between sessions.\n\nHighly recommend Kaysha if you are looking for a trainer who can handle reactivity, build strong foundational behavior, and help you develop a better relationship with your dog!

Jessica Dallas · 5★ · 2026-08-05

Instinct was recommended by my dog’s veterinarian. We worked with Poppy and couldn’t be happier with our experience. Poppy is very observant and provided me with valuable feedback that helped me understand my dog’s behaviors as well as my own shortcomings. Just after two sessions, several neighbors commented on a noticeable difference in my shy guy’s demeanor.

Bethany Pastina · 5★ · 2026-06-12

Poppy has been a stellar advocate for my pup and has provided clear and effective methods to help with his reactivity. My dog adores her and every experience has been really positive. Poppy has gone out of her way to bring props, arrange a meetup, and provide plenty of treats. She is very communicative and always punctual. My dog has made long-lasting progress from the first session. I highly recommend Poppy and Instinct.

Carissa Prati · 5★ · 2025-11-10

We started working with Jennifer Malawey at Instinct Dog Behavior & Health in October 2024 when our puppy, Paxton, was just five months old. He had a rough start in life and came to us afraid of just about everything—walks, new people, new places, loud noises, and even being alone.\n\nInstinct connected us with Jennifer, a Fear Free Certified Trainer, and we couldn’t have asked for a better match. From day one, she helped us understand how to show Paxton that he is safe with us and taught us how to guide others to interact with him in ways that make him feel secure.\n\nJennifer also encouraged me to “build a village” of support—dog walkers, trainers, neighbors, and kind members of the public who could help Paxton slowly gain confidence in the world around him. Her compassion, patience, and expertise have made such a difference in all of our lives.\n\nAfter many months of practice, love, and a lot of patience, we’re thrilled to say that Paxton is now a confident dog who loves exploring new places with his family and has even learned that staying home alone isn’t so bad after all.\n\nWe are so grateful to Jennifer for helping us give Paxton the tools (and courage!) to thrive. Highly recommend to anyone looking for thoughtful, science-based, and truly compassionate training.