Our National Leadership Team | Instinct Dog Behavior & Training

Purpose-Driven Leadership

Our leadership team of certified behavior consultants, board-certified veterinary behaviorists, and business and technology specialists are working hard every single day to bring you and your dog a learning experience like no other.

Our Leadership Team

Sarah Fraser

Co-Founder, Co-CEO

Brian Burton

Co-Founder, Co-CEO

Dr. Emily Levine, DACVB

VP, Veterinary Behavior, Co-Owner Instinct Northern, NJ

Dr. Chris Pachel, DVM, DACVB

VP, Veterinary Behavior, Co-Owner Instinct Portland (he/him/his)

Walk with the dreamers,
the believers, the courageous,
the cheerful, the planners, the doers,
the successful people
with their heads in the clouds
and their feet on the ground.
Let their spirit ignite a fire within you
to leave this world
better than when you found it.

–Wilferd Peterson

🐾 MEET THE TEAM - KAYSHA ROGERS-SCHULER, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA 🐾

Kaysha is our Director of Behavior & Training at Instinct Portland, and still finds time to do in-home consultations, home school, and work with Camp + Coaching clients. She is a Certified Dog Parkour Instructor with the IDPKA and has competed with and titled her own dogs (primarily in Flyball). Kaysha also enjoys Lure Coursing, Barn Hunt, Rally Freestyle and more. It’s hard to find something Kaysha can’t do!

Kaysha holds a BSc. from Oregon State University in Animal Science, with an option in Animal Behavior. Her academic foundation in animal science and behavior, combined with hands-on competition and training experience across multiple dog sports, shapes her well-rounded approach to working with dogs and the families who love them.

Beyond the clinic, Kaysha lives outside Portland with her husband, two kids and their two dogs: Wiley (Border Collie/Mini American Shepherd) and Pip (Terrier mix).

Thank you, Kaysha, for all you do for us at Instinct Portland!

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🍂🍃 Fall is quickly approaching in Portland 🍂🍃

That means lots of yummy treats and tempting smells in the kitchen, many that your dog would probably love to try and enjoy! Have your dog “sit” or “wait” for a seasonal snack as you’re prepping food for friends and family. 

Remember, not all autumnal ingredients are dog-friendly, and always consult your vet if you have any questions.

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🐾 MEET THE TEAM - CAROLINE SPARK, PHD, IAABC🐾

Caroline Spark has over 45 years of experience helping people solve problems, meet learning goals, and achieve positive change. Since 2007, she has specifically helped create and foster communities to help dogs exist in our world while empowering their human families to understand and satisfy their dogs’ natural instincts. Her work with canines has also addressed the needs of dog and nature enthusiasts extending all the way to the Oregon Coast, making breed-friendly outdoor activities available to a wide range of people and dogs. 

Caroline partnered with Dr. Chris Pachel in 2018 to co-found Instinct Portland and spends her time supporting the Instinct training team and mentoring our trainers. She also offers Heartline consultations, a virtual service that provides support to those facing difficult decisions, loss, or grief related to their animal companions.

At Instinct we’re lucky to have her by our side as a voice of compassion and understanding as we all work towards a happy and healthy coexistence with our dogs. Thank you, Caroline!

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🏅Little dogs are doing BIG things at Instinct Portland🏅 Check out Teddy learning to jump over agility poles and weave around a cone. Thanks Teddy for being an awesome Instinct learner!

Agility is one of many ways to provide mental enrichment and physical exercise for your dogs, regardless of their age or size. This is just one of many ways to add variety and fun to your training program. At Instinct, we can help you discover safe and fun to bond with your dogs and help them learn. Our trainers are happy to create a custom plan fit for your needs! 

Check out instinctportland.com or link in our bio to learn more.

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🐾 MEET THE TEAM - DR. CHRIS PACHEL, DVM, DACVB, CABC 🐾

Dr. Pachel guides our team at Instinct Portland in providing high-quality, science-based training for our clients. In addition to teaching courses to veterinary medicine students around the world, he has authored articles and contributed to books on a variety of animal behavior topics. 

He serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for dvm360 and is a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant through the International Association of Behavior Consultants (IAABC). Members of the Instinct Training Team trust Dr. Pachel for guidance and leadership on tricky behaviors and continuing education which we get to share with YOU, our clients!

Keep an eye out for his tips and tricks on how to live a more balanced and happy life with your canine friends. Thank you Dr. Pachel for all you do for us and your clients at Instinct Portland!

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Check out 🤘rockstar camper 🤘 Rowan hanging out with horses during a Camp + Coaching session. This is a HUGE milestone for a dog to calmly hang out near animals multiple times their size. Sometimes our campers get to have experiences us humans wish we had! 

Want to learn more about how Camp + Coaching can provide enrichment and learning on your dog training journey? Visit the link in our bio to schedule a discovery call today! 📞💡🐾

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We’re SO proud of our clients! Here’s a success story from one of our Camp + Coach campers ⛺️🏅

At Instinct, we prioritize fun AND practicality to help you and your dogs learn skills that matter in your real day-to-day life. It makes our day to see another dog calm and confident in this big, bold world! 

Thanks to Megan for this awesome review and for trusting Trainer Kaysha to care for her dog and play a part in their training journey! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Labor Day plans? Your dog can level up while you’re away 🌸⁠
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Our In-Home Camp + Coaching Program gives dogs (9 weeks and up) the chance to live and learn with an Instinct Trainer, developing real world skills in a home environment.⁠
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This isn’t just boarding: In-Home Camp + Coaching is immersive, weaving learning into daily life. Help your dog build: ⁠
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✨ Manners in the house⁠
✨ Confidence out in the world⁠
✨ Social skills and exposure⁠
✨ Foundational cues and practical life skills⁠
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Spots are limited —— reach out now to secure your dates 🌷 portland@instinctdogtraining.com

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A better life with your dog starts with understanding 🩵

At Instinct, we focus on helping you learn about your dog’s individual needs, building trust, and teaching skills that have real world application:  that’s how you make behavior change last. 

We love hearing from clients that we’ve made a difference in their lives — big shout out to Instinct Trainer Poppy for her incredible work! 

Ready to make a change for you and your dog? Give Instinct a ring at 971-358-8787 to get started ☎️

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