Animal Behavior Clinic

05/15/2026

Our new office in the Hollywood neighborhood couldn’t be more perfect for our needs –– the proof is in the comfort of our clients. Our friend Walnut here settled in beautifully for an appointment with Dr. Pankratz.

We’re big on the details, and our space is thoughtfully designed to maximize relaxation. At Animal Behavior Clinic, we utilize separate spaces for cats and dogs, non-slip flooring, calming scents, soft lighting and carefully selected a building on a quiet corner, ensuring every environmental experience has been adjusted to reduce stress.

When pets feel more comfortable, appointments becomes a more positive experience for everyone involved. Low stress environments are a key to compassionate behavioral care.

05/13/2026

🌟 Client Spotlight: Meet Theo! 🌟

When Theo first came to Animal Behavior Clinic, the world felt overwhelming. Rescued from a hoarding environment with little early socialization, Theo struggled with fear. Our goal was to help his nervous system learn that he was safe enough to explore, connect, and simply be a dog.

Through behavior support and collaborative training with , Theo’s guardians have started to see meaningful changes emerge. These tiny moments add up to something huge: a canine brain beginning to move out of survival mode 🩵

05/08/2026

Our very own Dr. Pankratz has been featured on blog! Read the whole blog via the link in our bio. We’re proud to help pet parents better understand their dogs’ emotional lives, and unpack that what looks like depression can often signal that something deeper is going on.

Dogs may not be able to tell us how they feel with their words, but thanks to voices like Dr. Pankratz, we’re sharing how guardians can learn to listen. Check out the feature and give your pup a little extra love today.

05/07/2026

We had an amazing time connecting with fellow veterinary professionals at the Rose City Veterinary Conference last month!

The teams from both Instinct Portland and Animal Behavior Clinic had a blast tabling together and talking all things behavior with our community of PDX animal pros. From thoughtful conversations to plenty of laughs, it was an inspiring time. Let us know if you caught Dr. Pachel’s presentation on the warning signs we often overlook in everyday settings and how body language, miscommunication, and mistaken assumptions about motivation can escalate to conflict.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello –– we loved meeting you. Already looking forward to next year!

04/26/2026

We’re settling into the new digs —— and so are our clients 🩵

It’s official: we’ve made the big move into our new home at 4011 NE Hancock St! Both Animal Behavior Clinic and Instinct Portland will be operating out of this space, working collaboratively to bring high quality, comprehensive behavioral care and training to your animals. We’re thrilled to be in the Hollywood neighborhood.

We’re still fine tuning details and can’t wait to give you the grand tour, but we’ve jumped right into doing what we love most: working directly with your pets. Our dog and cat clients agree that the quiet building, soft flooring, natural light and general good vibes are already increasing comfort and relaxation levels during appointments.

It’s been a whirlwind two months of planning, cleaning, painting, packing, hauling, and decorating, but our vision is becoming a reality. Stay tuned for Open House details!

04/09/2026

Dr. Pachel here with a few hills I’ll die on as a veterinary behaviorist. Truthfully, I don’t have many: the nature of working with animals requires approaching all cases with curiosity and empathy over drawing a line in the sand.

When we lead with open hearts and minds, the road to understanding animal behavior is that much easier to walk 🩵

04/03/2026

Virtual behavior support that meets you where you’re at.

Our Out-of-Area Behavioral Consultations make it possible to access our team of behavior experts from anywhere. Through a collaborative approach with your primary veterinarian, we work together to assess your pet’s behavior, rule out underlying medical factors, and build a treatment plan that fits your life — no travel required.

Get in touch at [email protected] for full details.

04/01/2026

Ruling out pain is essential for supporting your pet on their behavioral journey.

When an animal shows fear-based behaviors, reactivity, or handling sensitivity, it’s easy to jump to training solutions, but the most important first step is always what might be happening to them physically.

Pain can be subtle, and still wildly change how your dog interacts with the world. We always take the time to stop and ask: what could this behavior be communicating about an animal’s health and wellness?

03/09/2026

Big news: Instinct Portland and Animal Behavior Clinic have a new home! We’re moving to the Hollywood neighborhood at 4011 NE Hancock St. ⁠
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This space will function as a centralized hub for both teams, expanding our community outreach programs and providing room to learn, train, treat, and grow. We can’t wait to establish ourselves in a new part of Portland and get to know our neighbors — tag any beloved Hollywood area businesses we should know about in the comments! ⁠
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If you have an upcoming appointment scheduled, our team will proactively reach out if your session will be affected once our final move date is confirmed.⁠
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Stay tuned for open house deets and more. We can’t wait to show you around the new digs 🐾

03/05/2026