At Instinct Portland, we do boarding differently. We offer an enriched, all-inclusive boarding experience for a wide range of ages, breeds, and temperaments. Our facility & daily routines are designed to prioritize your dog’s behavioral health. Our skilled, experienced teams specialize in safe, low-stress handling and care for dogs with a wide range of behavior needs.
Located in the St. John’s neighborhood of Portland, OR, our Behavioral Health Facility is home to both Instinct Portland and the Animal Behavior Clinic of Portland, which gives access to veterinary behaviorists, certified veterinary technicians, certified behavior consultants and trainers, & our skilled, compassionate care staff all under the same roof. Like all Instinct facilities, we are staffed 24/7.
We have multiple fenced outdoor play yards where dogs can run, play, and train, either in small groups or individually. Our property includes beautiful landscaping for enriching sniff-walks, and off-property walks can be tailored for each dog’s needs as we are nestled between quiet neighborhoods and parks or more busy city streets depending on which direction you take.
Our campus was designed by canine scientists to facilitate learning and support the behavioral health of dogs in our care. From paint colors, furniture choices, and traffic flow, to enrichment and activity stations, every element was selected to help dogs and humans feel relaxed and comfortable.
Our real-life learning spaces allow for effective teaching and behavior therapy that transfers back home – whether working on guest protocol, mealtime manners, or “home office etiquette”.
Our spacious kennel room layout allows dogs to have privacy without being isolated, and the flow throughout both the inside and outside of our facility is designed to reduce triggers or surprises. This allows our training team to safely, gradually expose dogs to triggers that might normally cause them distress – such as other dogs, or people approaching – building up to the more challenging situations they face in the ‘real world.’
Between activities, dogs rest in safe, clean, quiet kennels. Our kennel areas offer dogs their own private space to get the rest they need to stay happy, health, and ready to learn. We provide comfy bedding, fresh water, in-kennel enrichment, and a rotating selection of classical music, Disney® cartoon classics, and talk radio.
