What’s the Magic Formula? Treatment Framework for Every Behavior Case!
Wednesday May 12, 2027
Speaker:
Dr. Christopher Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC, Animal Behavior Clinic (Portland, Oregon)
Description:
Behavior cases are complex but treatment planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. In this engaging and practical session, Dr. Christopher Pachel introduces a structured, flexible framework that guides clinicians and behavior professionals through the process of developing treatment plans for virtually any fear- or anxiety-based condition in dogs and cats. Attendees will learn how to apply this “magic formula” across a range of clinical presentations, including canine separation anxiety, noise phobia, and leash reactivity, as well as feline house soiling, intercat aggression, and scratching behavior. Clinical case examples, video demonstrations, and decision-making strategies will illustrate how to individualize care within a repeatable, effective framework.
sponsored by:
Speaker Biography:
Christopher Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC (IAABC), is the owner and lead clinician at the Animal Behavior Clinic in Portland, Oregon. He earned his veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota in 2002 and became board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists in 2010. Over the course of his career, Dr. Pachel has developed and operated house-call, office-based, and telemedicine-focused behavior practices, with clinical interests spanning complex behavior disorders, welfare, and the human-animal bond.
Dr. Pachel lectures internationally and teaches courses through multiple veterinary schools. He has authored articles and book chapters on topics including intercat aggression, behavioral euthanasia, and pet selection for animal-assisted therapy. He is also a sought-after expert witness in legal cases involving animal behavior and serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for dvm360.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Pachel serves as Vice President of Veterinary Behavior for Instinct Dog Behavior and Training, an organization providing behavior and training services for dogs and their caregivers, and is co-owner of Instinct Portland, delivering veterinary behavior-informed behavior modification services to caregivers through a robust team of certified trainers and behavior consultants.
He serves as Behavioral Science & Welfare Advisor for InstinctIQ, contributing expertise in animal behavior and welfare to the development of the EssentialsIQ curriculum for the broader pet care industry. Dr. Pachel is also a co-founder of LIMA Beings, an online community dedicated to applying principles of communication, behavior, and learning theory to human interactions in compassionate, effective, and socially meaningful ways.