We had our initial consultation with Dr. Christopher Pachel and it exceeded all expectations. We have a complex but wonderful 1 year old dog who needs a sophisticated understanding of canine behavior, which includes emotional, physical and medication needs. We have worked with several trainers who all recommended Dr. Pachel and the Animal Behavior Clinic. We couldn't have been more pleased, and frankly impressed, by how quickly he understood our dog's personality and needs and moved right into strategies for how best to work with her for success. We feel we have a real team member in our camp now and could not recommend him more highly. read more

I worked with Dr Kimberly Krug for about a year and the service is not worth recommending. It may be worth it if your situation is different but she did not work with my situation. From the beginning, I made it clear to Dr Krug that I wanted to use only training techniques with my dog, no meds (she recommended Prozac), and she falsely said that was ok. It was never ok. She kept pushing Prozac and I kept saying I was willing to try it if months went by and the training alone didn't work. After a while, I finally took her suggestion and put him on Prozac because her training techniques alone didn't work. My dog was on these meds long enough to know if it was going to work and it didn't work. After I made this clear, Dr Krug wound up falsifying my dog's records by quoting me with things I never said. When I asked for the recording or transcript of the session(s), she ignored my Emails. When I explained the situation to Dr Pachel and asked for the recording/transcript, he refused. I later found out that Dr Krug was initially Emailing my vet (they sent me an Email), whining that I didn't put my dog on Prozac. My dog is my decision, not yours. You don't get to choose if he's put on meds; I do. If that's not ok with you, don't accept payment and don't tell your customers it is ok when that's not how you feel. They were dishonest (false testimony), unethical (falsified records and refusing to send a recording/transcript), and unprofessional (ignored my requests and concerns). My dog has worked with a certified trainer that teaches me more in one hour than what Dr Krug did in a year. This was the wrong path to take and I found the right path through training, not meds. read more

I was a skeptical but followed my vet's advice and consulted with Dr. Paige Pierce at the Animal Behavior Clinic. I couldn't imagine correcting my then seven-year-old dog's horrible barking and anxiety. Because I felt an obligation to Teddy; and knowing that he would probably come to a bad end if I didn't keep him, I had silently resigned myself to years of misery. I've loved many dogs, and wanted to love Teddy, but his issues were so unpleasant that it was hard to like him! A major life event that changed our living situation drastically had made things worse than ever by the time I saw Dr. Pierce. That was about a year and one-half ago and things have changed dramatically. Thanks to Dr. Pierce's advice, along with medication, and training with the amazing Megan, Teddy and I are starting over together, and I've learned that all the noise and anxiety hid a sweet and loving little dog. Teddy is now a much quieter dog, barking rather reasonably when someone comes to the door then happily greeting strangers, he loves his walk and is drawn to anyone who shows the slightest interest in patting him, he sits on my lap and greets me joyfully when we wake in the morning. These ordinary dog behaviors are all new behaviors for Teddy, and I am now looking forward to many years with him. I can't thank Dr. Pierce, our trainer Megan, and the Animal Behavior Clinic enough. read more

Animal Behavior Clinic - Veterinarians Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Y'all. Like for real. Dr. Pachel and his staff are THE BOMB DOT COM! Our lovely mix, Captain Dan, is a rescue and we're at least his third home. At the very least, we know he was abused and left for dead in the middle of nowhere. Captain literally had the most intense panic/anxiety I've ever experienced in a dog; I was a dog trainer and worked in the veterinary field for over a decade, yet there was NOTHING I could find to help calm his anxiety. His "panic attacks" would literally last up to three hours, seemed apropos of nothing, and I literally couldn't find any way to soothe him. Enter Dr. Pachel. :) Through working with Dr. Pachel, we found the perfect combo of medication and behavior modification to FINALLY get Captain Dan the chill life that he deserves. His anxiety is literally 90% gone and it's so great to finally get to live a normal and peaceful life with my best buddy. And this is LEGIT all thanks to Dr. Pachel's extensive behavioral knowledge. Thank goodness my vet was familiar with Dr. Pachel because I'm so damn glad we found him! He is intensely knowledgable, compassionate and kind, patient, and just an all around a stellar human. His staff are ON TOP of it - every aspect, anytime I had a question, anything I needed - they were always available to help and always so lovely and kind. I heart these guys so much that I'm willing to drive down from Seattle to see them - they're worth every minute of our drive down the rain soaked and dreary PNW highway. Seriously, go see them. You and your pet will be so flippin' glad you did! read more

I have been so impressed with the service and expertise we have received while working with Animal Behavior Clinic. Dr Krug is caring and professional and by working with her we are enjoying life with our dog more! Julia has been patient and knowledgeable working with us on cooperative care techniques tailored to our dog's needs. Overall all very pleased with our experience and interactions with this team! read more

*****Note ***** After posting this I received a prompt reply from Dr. Pachel that was very kind and helpful. I maintain that his services are well worth the money, if you have the money to spend. I continue to use the advice he initially gave me and build upon that with ideas that I have that follow the same principles. ***** Original Review ***** I have very mixed feelings about my work with Dr. Pachel. When we adopted our puppy we were told she was 4 months old, but it turns out she was closer to 6. We were told by the shelter that she had learned to bite to get her way by the previous owner and that we would need to assert ourselves as "pack leaders" in order to change her behavior. This more than backfired and, pretty soon, we had what we called "The Gremlin" on our hands. Our vet had previously mentioned that there was a behavioral specialist at their clinic. We checked into it but it was so far outside of our budget that we continued trying different things until one very awful night we broke down and decided that we had to get help. We called and set up an appointment. Dr. Pachel was kind enough to allow us to post date a check since we wouldn't have the money until I got paid again. He came and gave us great advice on how to work with our dog. Within days "The Gremlin" was rarely showing it's face. We were also able to start obedience training since we had such a good handle on her behavior. About two months into our original plan things went haywire and we started to see what was either a new issue of aggression, or a new manifestation of the old issue. We contacted Dr. Pachel again because his advice had worked so well previously. I asked up front in the email I sent how much it would be and if they take a certain credit card (as I was in no position to pay cash at this point). The email response was great. It was encouraging and helpful, which I needed because I was at the end of my rope. It didn't answer the questions of price or acceptance of the card but stated I would be contacted to set up an appointment. When Dr. Pachel's assistant contacted me and asked me when would work I let them know that I would make myself available at their earliest convenience. We set up a time and then I realized I had never had an answer about the credit card. I asked if they accepted it, the answer was no. I stated that I couldn't do the appointment in that case. He said he would contact Dr. Pachel to see if he had any alternatives for me and I never heard back. I have been told over and over again how important it is to be a good pet owner and I strive to be that. It is just very difficult when the services you are told you need are so far out of your financial reach. Dr. Pachel is great if you have the resources to use his services... but if you don't it is just heartbreaking. You are faced with the possible fact that you can't afford to raise your puppy well. I calculated a lot of costs when adopting this pup, and I thought I had considered everything. I was left feeling that I had made an irresponsible decision because I clearly could not afford the help she needed. The good news is that the place I am taking her for obedience training is reasonably priced and of the same philosophy as Dr. Pachel so I am getting the help I need. Between the initial advice I received from Dr. Pachel and the help I am getting from them, I think we are going to be okay. I would only recommend using Dr. Pachel if you have the resources to afford the follow up that may be necessary. If you do, he will be a great help. If you don't, it could be a very upsetting experience when you need more help but can't afford it. read more

Daisy Grey and I were fortunate enough to find Dr. Pachel and his team last year. Daisy is a deaf Australian Shepherd mix that I rescued when she was 10 months old. Daisy was abused and neglected prior to being rescued. For years, we worked with our traditional vet, our holistic vet who managed her pain with acupuncture and natural treatment, and some wonderful trainers. Everyone in Daisy's "entourage" helped her, but her fear based reactivity continued to grow. Her anxiety and fear based reactivity were leading to self destructive chewing, inability to walk in public near other dogs or people, and endless hours of obsessive shadow chasing at home. Her quality of life was lacking and I was at my wit's end. We were both miserable. I have never re-homed a pet, but I started to wonder if I could provide Daisy what she needed to be safe and healthy. I even had trainers and vets recommend euthanasia. I was devastated and determined that there had to be another answer. Fortunately Dr. Pachel, Trainer Megan, and the whole team completely changed our lives. After a little over a year under Dr. Pachel's care Daisy is calm, confident, and happy. She is left at home with freedom, no longer requiring a crate. We are able to walk in public safely near other dogs without any reactivity or concern. She takes weekly Nose Work classes free of any issues. We have even taken beach trips without a single concern. Dr. Pachel, Megan, and his team quite literally saved Daisy life. They have given us a quality of life I didn't know we could have with Daisy's reactivity. There are no words to express how eternally grateful I am. Dr. Pachel, the trainers, and the staff will patiently treat the needs of your pet while also teaching you the tools to fully understand your pet's behavior, body language and needs. Trust the system and the treatment. I will confess early in the process I didn't understand how the activities and treatment would be beneficial; I couldn't have been more wrong.I know the financial burden of the treatment can be daunting, but trust me it is worth every single penny spent. It takes time and consistency, but it will make a world of difference. read more

Dr. Pachel is a very nice doctor, and I'm sure he is well versed in his field. However, his rates are completely ridiculous. He costs $220/hour. His hours are 10am to 2pm Tuesday through Thursday. We had to finagle him to be able to come in at 4pm. I have a job, and I work hard, but I took time off and ponied up the money to come see him. I went to see him about a canine aggression issue our 2 year old corgi-westie mix has been manifesting ever since we got her. He failed to diagnose the issue properly (all he needed to do was ask us to leave the room for a few minutes to verify that it wasn't protective aggression), and we ended up treating her with prozac for several months, when we didn't need to. We just recently discovered the protective nature of her aggression on our own. He suggested we come in for a recheck, at the same rate of $220/hour. Despite the situation, he refused to lower his rates. I'm out $400+ because of his failure to take extra time to diagnose the situation with our pup. I would never recommend anyone go to him, and I will not contact him for assistance ever again. read more

I will never be able to thank Dr. Pachel and his staff enough for what they did for my family. I'd had my dog for several years and had never experienced any behavioral problems. He was in fact a very well behaved dog until one night when he suddenly changed and he could no longer be left alone without completely destroying my house. We tried everything to fix him, but his behavior only became worse. Over the course of several months we took him to multiple vets in Las Vegas (where we live) and they all told us the same thing, that suddenly my 6 year old dog who had never had any behavior problems had all of a sudden developed severe separation anxiety and nothing was medically wrong with him despite my argument. As the months passed we started receiving advice that we might have to put him down as he was becoming even more out of control when left alone. Finally a vet recommended we see a specialized behaviorist vet, which is how we met Dr. Pachel. We drove the 16 hours from Las Vegas to Portland and met with Dr. Pachel. Initially Dr. Pachel was not entirely sure what was wrong with our dog, but after we left, he continued to research and eventually came across a medical condition that he believed was the cause for our dog's behavior. Dr. Pachel even communicated with our vet in Las Vegas to ensure our dog was receiving the correct treatment. Even though our dog was diagnosed with an incurable disease, we are now able to manage the systems and he is able to live the life he had before he became sick. Yes the rate may be high, but without Dr. Pachel, my dog may not be here today. read more

We've seen Dr. Pachel twice for behavioral issues with our dog, a Belgian Malinois mix who was neglected/malnourished her first nine months of life and has some issues. We'd tried multiple trainers before we broke down and were willing to experiment with behavioral drugs. Our last trainer highly recommended Chris. We were initially put off by the high price, but we've been extremely impressed with the service. Dr. Pachel has extensive knowledge in this field and an excellent "bedside manner" -- he listens, explains and lays out treatment options in a understandable, intelligent, relatable way. He also gives you the information you need to make informed decisions about your dog's treatment. He is very thorough and very detail oriented. He's also very smart. Before we arrived for our first appointment he had read all the notes that our trainer sent him and even watched a 10-minute video we'd made. So we didn't waste any time getting down to business. And the appointment notes he sends after each appointment are long and detailed and easy to understand. One of the things we like best about his approach is that he doesn't make decisions for us. He listens to what we're experiencing, lays out all the options, gives us his opinion, and lets us decide what course of action we'd like to take. He is costly, for sure, but for good reason. It's a specialized profession; we haven't been to another vet with his level of understanding of behavioral issues, and from what we've heard, we're not sure there is anyone more qualified in the field in Portland. It's also important to note that Dr. Pachel's fee includes three months of phone and email follow-up, and we've taken full advantage of this. His prompt and thorough response to multiple post-appointment emails have made us feel like we're getting a good value. read more

Misleading service, do not use. Referred to Dr. Pachel by two dog behaviorists regarding a situation we were having with our three small rescue dogs, whom we have had for years. We jumped through hoops for months for Dr. Pachel providing an extensive amount of information/vet and behaviorist reports--multiple submissions and follow up submissions. Calls were not returned, numerous weeks passed without contact, files were misplaced (not to mention fees paid) only for Dr. Pachel to in the end day say "he can not consult on this case" and we should "consult with someone local". Truly unbelievable. Don't offer a consulting service if you won't consult. A waste of months, hope, energy and money. The worst part to me was how disappointed my children were, one of whom wants to be a vet behaviorist. read more

Our experience with the staff and Dr. Gray was mixed. Overall the negatives outweighed the positives and I cannot recommend this practice. Our dog has a lot of medical problems and we've worked with many veterinarians from specialists to holistic vets to the UC Davis team. Value for the price, this practice was at the bottom of that list. If you do consider using them, here are a few watch outs about the practice: - They require a non-refundable $150 deposit to book your appointment. - Prior to your appointment, you will need to complete a very detailed 11-page document about your pet's medical and behavioral history and also how you interact with your pet. - Buried at the end of this document, you're notified that your session will be videotaped - non-negotiable. That's after you've already paid $150. I hate this policy and would not have booked this appointment if I'd known about this in advance. I strongly recommend that their staff share this information with clients prior to taking the deposit. - Their pricing is extremely high - $300/hour, prorated. This is the highest rate we've seen and that includes veterinary medical specialists in San Francisco, not a low cost market. In our case, Dr. Gray was pleasant enough but we didn't feel like she told us anything new, at least not $375 worth. read more

We have two dogs and a new baby. We need some help and guidance-because it's gotten a little crazy around here. I was referred by our vet to this behaviourist. Some more history: awhile back, when adding the second dog, we'd seen a behaviorist (not the one at this clinic) who I thought was awful. We paid a lot of money for a few pieces of advice that we disagreed with. Eg. 1) In order to keep the dogs under control, she recommended kenneling when not directly working with the dog. Obviously completely isolating a dog keeps them out of trouble (duh?!) but that isn't something we're willing to do for the majority of our dog's day. 2) Have vocal cords surgically removed to prevent barking. Now this is just cruel! SO! When I emailed this vet to set up an appointment. I gave some history on my pets, mentioned the situation above and asked a simple question: what are some of the techniques this vet uses in situations like mine? Wanting to avoid a situation again where I paid quite lot of money, for similar types of advice which we will not take. The secretary emailed back a terse message citing all sorts of laws and statues and saying that they cannot diagnose over email. Which is not what I was asking. If I'm going to shell out over 500 bucks for a service, I think it's reasonable to ask a bit about what the service might involve. I emailed the secretary back to clarify, and he's failed to write back. Kind of rude, and not helpful. read more

I feel foolish for not heeding warnings posted here by others. I can only hope to save the next potential fool some serious cash. In my case, $655.00. That's what I paid for 2 hours which covered a diagnosis of fear based aggression and advice on how to better manage my dog. Unfortunately, I have a dog with some issues. My problem with ABC is I wasn't provided anything to justify the exorbitant fee. I'm fairly certain any licensed vet could've diagnosed his behavior in about 5 minutes of information exchange. As far as how to manage him going forward, I think any dog trainer, breed book, internet info, etc. could've matched ABC, at a small fraction of the price. Shame on me for not researching better, and shame on ABC for price gouging a caring concerned dog owner. read more

I have been meaning to leave a review for Dr. Pachel for a long time now. We had the initial appointment and a follow up appointment for our challenging dog. Our dog has fear aggression and anxiety issues. I am a certified positive reinforcement trainer, and I knew we needed more help for our dog than I could give. Dr. Pachel was outstanding. His behavior around our dog was better than any other professional we'd been around. He was respectful of our dog's need for space and didn't push it, but was also welcoming to him, describing the body language he was reading in real time. Dr. Pachel took the time to review our history and was very thorough in his assessment during the appointment. He personalized the treatment plan and answered all of our questions in excellent detail. His suggestions were in complete consideration of all of the facts surrounding our case rather than a textbook response. Follow up was great. The appointment summaries were useful and personalized also. Maren is friendly and helpful in every way. I'd like to add that we have visited another vet behaviorist due to a move, and trust me when I say, that Dr. Pachel far exceeds what others may promise to deliver on. His bedside manner along with his genuine care and interest in the individual set him apart. Yes, behaviorists are costly, but the level of education and experience that they must attain to have their credentials is beyond what many human medical specialists have to undergo. The difference is that we don't have regular insurance to help with the costs when it comes to our pets. Also, if you care about your pet, and you have, hopefully, at least 12 years with them, isn't it worth the investment for every day peace and happiness (if financially possible, that is)? read more

Dr. Pachel's sound advice has helped us on more than one occasion. When we adopted our Jack Russell Terrier, Louie, at age 1-1/2 we quickly learned that he had not been properly socialized as a puppy. He had also developed aggressive behaviors that were immediately a problem in our household that includes 3 children. As a family, we had even seriously considered finding another home for Louie. After trying to manage Louie's behavior on our own with absolutely no success, we sought treatment with Dr. Pachel and saw immediate results. With one initial consultation and an occasional recheck along the way, Louie's behavior has evolved into that of a loving, affectionate and obedient family pet. I would recommend his services to anyone experiencing ongoing behavior issues with their pet...it is well worth the time and investment. read more

Can't say enough great things about Dr. Gray and our consult with her regarding our dog. She was honest, presented all facts and expectations of our choices for treatment. She was professional, caring, and above all--knowledgeable about what we were facing. We were given answers--not quick fixes, but reality with trustworthy advice. If you have exhausted all other avenues and you need a professional who knows canine behavior--Dr. Gray is who you need to see to understand your situation. Your answer may not be easy to accept, but you will know you received the best advice possible. read more

I have been a trainer of dogs and their people for 17 years now. In the last 10 or so years I have had a number of opportunities to work with Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorists. Since I have been working in the greater Portland Metro area I have had occasion to consult with Dr. Pachel with several of my clients, as well as one of my own dogs. Dr. Pachel has been a great resource when I have a client owner/dog who I think may benefit from another opinion, research info, and/or needs to be evaluated for the possibility of pharmaceutical intervention to help move training along. Every client I have referred to Dr. Pachel has been pleased with the help he has given them, as have I. After the initial consultation he has been available via email and phone to discuss and adjust the training program as needed. if another face to face visit is needed, he is available for that as well. I have found him very easy to work with, very personable, approachable, and open to what I have to offer as well. Dr. Pachel is a wonderful addition to the greater Portland community of dog trainers and behavior consultants. Not every dog with a behavior problem needs the level of evaluation and consultation that a Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist can provide, however when that need is there, Dr. Pachel gets my vote as the best Veterinary Behaviorist I have had the opportunity to work with and I can recommend him without reservation. read more

Dr. Pachel is fantastic. I had a recent appointment with him and was very pleased, and I feel very hopeful with the new plan he's prescribed for me and my dog, and I appreciate having him as an ongoing support contact. I have an extremely shy, fearful and reactive dog with severe anxiety who, due to a recent move and stressful new living situation, has regressed and her issues have become such that I felt at a total loss as to how to handle and manage her. So I set up an appointment with Dr. Pachel, at the recommendation of my current trainer/behavior consultant Greta Kaplan, of Fuzzy Logic Dog (who, by the way, is also fantastic. She has given me tremendous support and tools for working with my dog. But being that my dog's issues are so deep rooted and require medication, she was kind and honest enough to put me in contact with Dr. Pachel to further pinpoint the issue and prescribe the appropriate medication). Dr. Pachel was incredibly comfortable and understanding, he made me feel totally at ease; his office setting made for a relaxing session for me, and a safe-feeling environment for my dog. Prior to the appointment I filled out a very thorough questionnaire they provided me with, and I was pleased that Dr. Pachel clearly read through it and got a good understanding of my situation prior to meeting with me. He was super attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable (not only with dog behavior, but also with medications; rather than taking a quick look at my dog and sending me off with some doggie Prozac, like regular vets might do, he gave a thorough explanation of the different applicable drug options, how they work, and what may or may not be helpful and effective). And he has a way of explaining the scientific reasoning of certain behaviors that make it easy for the average person to grasp and understand. Things I had read a lot about in the past regarding dog behavior, training tools, behavior modification, etc. that I *thought* I had some understanding of, were made so much clearer by him in just one session. He has a way of giving metaphors and relating things in a way that I could better grasp and easily retain. I also really appreciated that he was very generous with his time, and very accommodating with scheduling (I am in Washington State, and I have limited opportunities to travel to Portland, but he was so nice about it and made sure to fit me in when I could get there). What I found incredibly helpful was during our session he provided me with a quick bulleted list of the main topics and training tools we discussed so that I could refer to that and not forget things when I left. That was in addition to the full report he provided after our session, which further detailed the issues we discussed and very clearly laid out the plan of action going forward. He gave me specific things to look for and be aware of in my dog, and specifically how to respond to and handle things. I am currently working with my dog using the tools and knowledge he has provided me with, and I'm feeling much more confident about my ability to understand her and help her through her fears and issues. I look forward to the progress my dog and I will make together, and I'm relieved to have someone like Dr. Pachel on our team as we go forward. read more

I think Dr. Pachel is fantastic. I have gone to see him twice, once each for two of our dogs. He was recommended to us by our regular vet, Dr. Thome at Desert Vet in Richland, WA (who is fantastic by the way!). I first took our great dane Titan to see him. We rescued Titan when he was 2 years old. He had been living in his owner's garage for most of his life and weighed only 106 pounds. Titan quickly began putting on pounds (and now weighs 165!) and also got along great with the rest of our pack. After we had Titan for about 1 year, he began having dog aggression. He never attacked another dog but would bark and jump around a lot. Since he is now so big, it was difficult to control him (and he is also quite scary when he gets like that!). I was able to easily schedule an appointment with Dr. Pachel and was very pleased with the service we received from Roman, the gentlemen who scheduled our appointment, assisted with registration, and answered all of my questions about bringing Titan in. I was very happy with our appointment. Dr. Pachel was very friendly and sincerely empathetic to our case. He diagnosed Titan with fear aggression due to his under socialization as a puppy. He recommended some exercises for us to use on Titan, which have helped tremendously. Our second appointment was for another of our great danes, Brooke. Brooke had a difficult life even though we had her since she was just 12 weeks old. Brooke was attacked without provocation by her older sister when she was 6 months old. The attack was horrific and resulted in Brooke's scalp ripped open and her skull was fractured. Over the next 6 months, Brooke's older sister managed to attack her twice more (we always kept a closed door between the two of them after that first attack but she managed to open the door twice). At that point, it was clear to us that we weren't going to be able to solve the issue between the two and we rehomed her older sister. Brooke was very fearful from the time of that first attack until a couple months after her sister left. Brooke would tuck her tail and fearfully scan each room for her sister before she would enter it. When Brooke was about 1 year old, she was accidentally set loose by the realtor of the house we were in (my husband and I were doing a job remodeling a home that was for rent and brought her with us). The realtor said he chased her in his car for 4 miles (through busy southern California streets) before animal control was able to catch her. They took her to the pound and put her in a kennel and did not call us even though our cell phone numbers are on her tag on her collar. When the realtor got ahold of us (we had gone out and left our cell phones in the car) we immediately went to the pound to get her. She was shaking and huddled in the rear of the kennel. The pads on her feet were almost completely ripped off by all the running she had done. Brooke's feet recovered but she is now very fearful of people she doesn't know or see very often. When Brooke was about 2 1/2 years old we rescued another great dane, Rogue. They got along at first but after a couple months Brooke attacked Rogue. We tried to be assertive with Brooke and let her know that behavior wasn't tolerated and that Rogue meant her no harm (Rogue had never attacked Brooke and was very shy and malnourished when we rescued her). They were okay for a couple more months and then Brooke went after Rogue again. It was then that we scheduled again with Dr. Pachel. He prescribed her Prozac and gave us exercises to do with her and Rogue. The Prozac has helped her a lot and we are making progress with the exercises. I really liked that Dr. Pachel genuinely liked my dogs. He pet them and spoke to them the same way that I do. His rates are quite reasonable when you consider that you get 3 months of follow up care included in the price. Dr. Pachel always responded to my emails in a timely fashion and gave helpful advice when I had questions. I would recommend him to anyone that has a pet with a behavioral issue. read more

Great place for troubled dogs. I have a rescue retired K9 officer with issues and Dr Pachel has helped us improve his quality of life. Roman who makes appointments is very good. Office is sophisticated, well run and a pleasure to deal with. read more

I have consulted Dr. Chris Pachel about my dogs on several occasions. He did a terrific job. He provided good training suggestions and he offered good treatment ideas. During the first nine months or so we carefully tried medications until we found the best options, with minimal side effects. It takes time to determine what medication works best for each dog, and then to get the dosage right. It isn't an exact science, especially because the vet must rely on our observations and our reports to them of the dog's response to treatment. Plus it often takes weeks for some medications to even get to a therapeutic level. My dog with severe anxiety and sound sensitivity is now comfortable in most settings and can joyfully participate in sports which we had previously needed to leave. My other dog who needed swimming for rehab, but was water phobic, is now a joyful, strong swimmer. My anxious, sound sensitive dog still needs daily medications, but the improvement in the quality of her life is well worth it. I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Pachel for his help. I have referred a number of other people with dogs to Dr. Pachel. All of them were highly impressed by the level of his knowledge and his willingness to patiently find the best solution for their dog. Vets are expensive, and veterinary specialists are even more so. Few vets are board certified. Last I knew, Dr. Pachel was the only board certified vet for behavior management in the Portland area. In the past with my aging dogs I have needed the assistance of veterinarian cardiologists, oncologists, orthopedists, and ER vets. Dr. Pachel's fees are very consistent with what I paid those specialists. Also, Dr. Pachel is generous in his willingness to respond to follow up questions or concerns by email or phone, sometimes for months. Before treating with Dr. Pachel I had worked with two trainers specializing in behavior, attended control unleashed classes, read many books, attended seminars by some great trainers and behaviorists, and tried to discuss my dog's behavior issues on several occasions with our regular vet. In my experience and from what my dog pals report, many vets are very uncomfortable prescribing medications for behavior management. it is complicated and there are liability issues they choose to avoid. In hindsight, I actually could have saved a lot of money and time, and spared my dog considerable stress, if I had just gone directly to Dr. Pachel. Another practical consideration about the cost of this kind of consultation is that without it, a dog person could ultimately pay much more money for the bills resulting from an injury to another dog or an injury to a third party after a dog's anxiety escalates to outright aggression. I also believe Dr. Pachel's rate is lower than the hourly rate of a good attorney's advice should a dog grab the UPS guy's ankle or a child's face. Or if the dog redirects its panic to its owner's calf, that dog bite might put you in the ER, off work a few days or even cost you your job. I believe the Portland dog community was fortunate when Dr. Pachel chose to come here. Not every dog's behavior can be "fixed" or even managed. It takes a dedicated owner willing to do the training. And sometimes it takes the involvement of a smart and dedicated guy like Dr. Pachel. I highly recommend him. read more

Dr. Pachel has helped our family/dog so much. Our dog is super anxious. He paces and he attacks our cats. He is also scared of strangers and loud noises. He has fear aggression as well. Before we met with Dr. Pachel we tried everything. We met with another behaviorist, we had a trainer come to our home once a week for several months and eventually put him on calming medicine. Some of these things helped, but he still continued many of these behaviors and my husband and I were fighting with each other and stressed every night because of our dog's behavior. Many people have complained about the amount of money they charge for the initial appointment and it is expensive, but I think it is justified because of how much time they spend with you and your pet, the extensive amount of education Dr. Pachel has and knowledgeable they are. After one appointment, we learned a lot about why our dog was acting the way he was and how to fix it. After a few weeks of implementing the plan, our dog has stopped pacing and I cannot remember the last time he tried to attack our cat. Now, we enjoy our dog and enjoy our nights. Dr. Pachel and the staff has been available to answer questions and are good at following up with you. Now that we have got some of his behaviors under control, we are going to work on how to get him to be okay with strangers. We are super excited. I would recommend him to anyone who wants to fix their dog's behavior especially if they think nothing else will help. My husband and I were very skeptical, but we felt it was our last option and we could not be happier with the results! Thank you Dr. Pachel for helping us. read more

We came to the Animal Behavioral Clinic in desperation after one of our three cats began bullying her "sister" (they are not littermates or related to each other). Despite having all three cats since they were kittens and that they are roughly the same age, the aggressor cat began attacking the victim cat when they were about 2 years old. We initially went to UC Davis Veterinary Clinic but did not see any progress between the cats. We then discovered the ABC and got a very comprehensive program, including medications, that has greatly reduced the problems. The two cats will probably never be friends, but with time and patience, they can tolerate each other without fighting. Dr. Pachel has been very caring and supportive with us and has been available for questions and guidance. We especially appreciate being able to correspond via email, as we live in California and are about a 6 hour drive from Portland. Before we found Dr. Pachel, we were afraid we were going to be forced to re-home one of the cats, something we did NOT want to do. We are very, very happy to be able to keep our little family together and Dr. Pachel has been a huge part of our success. read more

For those of you that are at the end of your rope, or those of you that want to find help before you get to the end of your rope, Dr. Chris is for you! My experience... I feel in love with a 2-1/2 yr old boxer mix and brought him into my home before I understood that he isn't just "energetic", he's anxious beyond belief. Have you ever seen a dog that gets so anxious when you leave him in the car while you fuel it that he licks every surface until its dripping with saliva? And that's only one of his outlets when things get a little overwhelming in his head. I tried training, discipline, exercise, food, pinch collars, muzzles, etc - all of which had varying degrees of success but with each passing day I got more anxious because I was always afraid Tanner will bite again. And then we met a wonderful behaviorist named Greta. Her work with Tanner got us on the right track and she introduced us to Chris. After visiting with Chris the first time, I was so convinced that he knows what he's talking about, that I told people that I wished he worked with people because I'd like to work with someone who is so kind, generous, supportive, accessible, and will offer a variety of options to try. For the reviewer that wanted to understand what Dr. Chris might suggest before giving him a chance to see the dog in person, that's like asking someone to estimate how much you owe in taxes after telling then how much you make. There are just too many variables to shoot from the hip over email. Tanner update... He's been on meds for ~6 months and life is much better. We still use a lot of the exercises and learning we gained from Greta (Dr. Chris can get you in contact with her) but everything we work on now is tons easier because Tanner doesn't get nearly as overwhelmed and when he does, it's for a much shorter duration. And the great thing is he's still himself. He's energetic as ever and not a zombie due to the drugs. Give Dr Chris a call. Yes, the consultation fee is a factor, but you'll pay something similar or more with a trainer that may have only one approach that they think is a one size fits all. If you know your pet doesn't fit that mold, I'd encourage you to at least call Dr Chris. Isn't that better than giving up on your pet? read more

I was sorry to read some of the reviews posted as they clearly did not actually work with the clinic or their dogs, which is essential if a benefit is to be obtained. As a retired professional educator, now making a living working with dogs and people, I have personally worked with Animal Behavior Clinic and Dr. Pachel with great success and continue to refer to this practice. Early intervention and trust in the program is necessary on the part of the client. If you are reading these reviews in the hopes of finding professional help for your dog, you have found an incredible resource. Call now. You will not be disappointed. read more

Dr. Pachel is intuitive, educated, and good at what he does. He has helped me learn to be a better 'dog mom', and my pooch has returned the favor. For those who are complaining about his rates, I think they are perfectly justifiable. Would you take your (human) child to a psychiatrist and expect a $50 bill? Veterinary education is just as expensive as human medical education, and yet they make about half of what the lowest paid human doctors make. If you want cheap/unqualified behaviour advice, go to the dog park. But, if you want a trained professional, make an appointment with Dr. Pachel. read more

I live in a town in Alaska with limited resources (ok, no resources) for animal behavior problems. When I began having fear aggression problems with my dog Sam, I had no options and no hope for help in turning his behavior around. Very quickly, my world with Sam was shrinking. When I talked with my local vet, he recommended the Animal Behavior Clinic in Portland. As it turned out, I had plans to visit Portland for the holidays. And even though, my time frame was limited and my request not very far in advance, Dr. Chris was able to schedule Sam and I for a behavior consultation. Our consultation went well, and I left with a plan on how to better Sam's behavior, change my habits, and hopefully, better both Sam's life and my own. We are continuing to work with Sam and any time I have a question, I shoot Dr. Chris an email. He generally responds within a day or two and sufficiently answers my questions. Overall, I would go back to the Animal Behavior Clinic again. read more