Instinct Dog Behavior & Training

Instinct is the best!!! My dog is a regular here and I’m so, so glad I found it when we first adopted him. He’s done the board and train program, daycare and he regularly boards here while we’re away. Everyone is so good with him, knowledgeable and so friendly. I love that they do small matched playgroups, and are experts in dog behavioral health it makes such a difference. I honestly think him attending regular daycare here through adolescence made such a difference in his development and sociability - something I would not have been able to do on my own. And my dog absolutely loves it here. Every time we get here he can’t WAIT to go in, he doesn’t even look back at me when I drop him off. I know he’s in great hands and I trust them completely whether I leave him there for the day or for longer periods. Couldn’t recommend it more!!

We had a great experience working with Mari at Instinct Dog Training. She was patient, thoughtful, and very clear in how she worked with our dog, Brigs. Brigs can be challenging on walks, especially with pulling, stopping/braking, heat sensitivity, and getting distracted by other dogs. Mari helped us better understand how to guide him through those moments using positive reinforcement, eye contact, pacing, and clear cues. She also began gentle leader training with him in a careful, gradual way and sent helpful video clips so we could continue practicing. Communication was excellent throughout. Mari gave detailed updates after sessions, explained what worked, and gave us realistic next steps. We felt like she genuinely understood Brigs and adjusted the training to his personality instead of forcing a one-size-fits-all approach. Highly recommend Mari and Instinct for anyone looking for thoughtful, practical dog training.

It's amazing to have a place in the city I can fully trust with my precious angel dog. He's a rescue chihuahua and has specific needs, preferences and sensitivities that Instinct's caretakers work with expertly. They are so accommodating, professional and kind. My dog loves his trainer Casey and has had great experiences both boarding and at training camp. I highly recommend Instinct if you're looking for care for a sensitive dog.💞

We used Instinct to board our reactive pup, Bully, while away for a few days and they were wonderful from start to finish. Bully is dog reactive, can be nervous around strangers, and requires multiple medications, so we had a lot of questions and concerns prior to drop off. All staff were super friendly and helpful and made us feel at ease leaving Bully with them. Drop off/pick up were both very easy and organized. We received a detailed update with great pics, which was very comforting. We will absolutely use Instinct again for future boarding!