Worry Less, Wag More: The Behavior Vets Podcast

Dr. E'Lise Christensen (DVM, DACVB) joins me for my final episode of the WLWM show. We thank our listeners and reflect on the journey that brought us together to create the Worry Less, Wag More podcast. Thank you, listeners!!! I appreciate you all so much!! Ferdie Yau's new email: ferdie@sitsnwiggles.com Please follow Ferdie at:Instagram @sitsnwiggles_ferdieFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/SitsNWiggles Contact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Dr. Fernandez introduces the LIFE framework as a more accurate model for than LIMA for force-free training. We discuss:Stereotypic behaviors in captive polar bearsHistory of animal training and BehaviorismCriticisms and evolution of training modelsIntroducing the LIFE FrameworkExploring animal perception and the role of functional assessmentsThe future of animal training: Connecting behavioral and welfare sciencesPenguins!!Dr. Eduardo Fernandez is a Senior Lecturer of Applied Animal Behaviour & Welfare and Director of the Animal Behaviour Program in the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Adelaide (Australia). He received his Ph.D. in Psychology (minors in Neuroscience and Animal Behavior) from Indiana University, where he worked with the Indianapolis and Cincinnati Zoo. He received his M.S. in Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas, where he founded the Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies with Animals (ORCA). Most of his past and current work involves behavioral research applied to the welfare and training of zoo, aquarium, and companion animals. His past positions include a Visiting Professorship in the Psychology Department at Seattle Pacific University, a Visiting Professorship in the School of Behavior Analysis at the Florida Institute of Technology, an Affiliate Assistant Professorship in the Psychology Department at the University of Washington, a Research Fellowship with Woodland Park Zoo, and a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship. While working with UW and the Woodland Park Zoo, he started the Behavioral Enrichment Animal Research (BEAR) group, which conducted welfare research with many of the species and exhibits located throughout the zoo. He currently runs the Operant Welfare Lab (OWL), which is dedicated to the use of learning principles to improve the lives of animals. OWL is also part of the broader Animal Behaviour, Welfare, and Anthrozoology Lab (ABWAL; abwal.com). Many of Eduardo's past publications, research projects, and presentations can be found on his ResearchGate profile.Links:Fernandez, E.J., 2024. The least inhibitive, functionally effective (LIFE) model: A new framework for ethical animal training practices. Journal of Veterinary Behavior. 71: 63-68.   Human Animal Interactions in Zoos (2024) edited by Eduardo J Fernandez and Sally L SherwenUniversity of Adelaide - https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/eduardo.fernandez ResearchGate - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eduardo-Fernandez-27Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ejfernandez/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/EduardoJFernandezTwitter - https://www.twitter.com/DrEddieFernInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/dreddiefern/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eduardojfernandez/Email - eduardo.fernandez@adelaide.edu.auContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Dr. Sung reflects on her personal experience and discusses how shelter cats and kittens can benefit from a Fear Free approach. Scars and consequences of traditional handling methodsDr. Sung describes her first experience with low-stress handlingHealth and behavioral benefits of Fear Free handling in shelters Understanding cat body languagePromoting Fear Free handling and making a culture changeDr. Wailani Sung (MS, PhD, DVM, DACVB) is a Board-certified veterinary behaviorist. Dr. Sung obtained her Master's degree and Doctorate in Psychology with a special interest in animal behavior and Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. She achieved Board certification in Veterinary Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Sung is currently senior director at Joybound People and Pets. She oversees the shelter behavior program, provides behavior consultations for privately owned pets and the admissions (intake) department. She also provides consultations to animal shelters regarding individual shelter pets and evaluations on animal shelter behavior programs. Dr. Sung is a co-author of the book, “From Fearful to Fear Free”, in which she collaborated with America's veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, veterinary colleague Dr. Lisa Radosta, and renown trainer, Mikkel Becker.  Dr. Sung also co-authored a chapter in “Decoding your Cat”. Dr. Sung has been a contributor to the websites, PetCoach, PetMD and Reader's Digest. Dr. Sung has written chapters for the following veterinary textbooks: Behavior of Exotic Pets; Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Canine and Feline Behavior, 2nd Edition; Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Canine and Feline: 7th edition; Animal Behavior for Shelter Veterinarian and Staff, 2nd edition; Clinical Handbook of Feline Behavior Medicine. Dr. Sung is a highly sought-after speaker and has presented at the Western Veterinary Conference, MidWest Veterinary Conference, Christian Veterinary Mission Conference, HSUS Expo, New Mexico Humane Conference, Fear Free Pet Behavior Symposium, as well as local and state events. Dr. Sung was interviewed on the documentary, Cat Tales by NOVA: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/cat-tales/ and on the Netflix documentary, Inside the Mind of a Cat.Linkshttps://bayareavetbehavior.com/https://joybound.org/https://vetvacationce.com/product/new-orleans-veterinary-conference-2025/Contact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Mike, Sarah and Ferdie talk strategies to safely handle aggressive behavior in public spaces where distance and the dog's threshold for stress are difficult to control. We discuss:Overwhelmed dogs and humansSafety management for moving through hallways, stairways and elevatorsDefensive driving  Using distractions and how to avoid reverse-order conditioningTreatments to useMichael Shikashio, CDBC, is the founder of AggressiveDog.com and focuses on teaching other professionals from around the world on how to successfully work aggression cases. He is a five-term president of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and was the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) Member of the Year in 2020. Michael is sought after for his expert opinion by numerous media outlets, including the New York Times, New York Post, Fox News, The List TV, Baltimore Sun, WebMD, Women's Health Magazine, Real Simple Magazine, SiriusXM Radio, The Chronicle of the Dog, and Steve Dale's Pet World. He also hosts the popular podcast show “The Bitey End of the Dog” where he chats with the foremost experts on dog aggression. He has been a featured keynote speaker at conferences, universities, and seminars in more than 200 cities and 14 different countries around the world, and offers a variety of educational opportunities on the topic of canine aggression, including the Aggression in Dogs Master Course and the annual Aggression in Dogs Conference. Dr. Sarah Shapiro-Ward CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP has lived and worked as a professional dog trainer in two of Canada's most densely populated downtown communities: Toronto and Vancouver. Sarah is best known for her viral trick training videos with her Cockapoo Percy, including tricks such as playing Jenga, Connect Four and Painting on Canvas. She also has a standard poodle, Eleanor, and a part-time horse, Echo. Before becoming a dog trainer, Sarah completed her Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 2015. Though she has long since left the laboratory behind, she still enjoys keeping up with the literature and applying her skills of critical analysis to dog training scenarios.Links "Navigating the City with a Sensitive Dog" by Sarah Shapiro-WardWhen Hounds Fly VancouverAggression in Dogs Conference 2024https://aggressivedog.comhttps://aggressivedog.thinkific.comMichael Shikashio's socials:https://www.facebook.com/AggressionInDogshttps://www.instagram.com/michaelshikashio/https://www.tiktok.com/@michaelshikashio?lang=enhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu6htNW022cxP3ecTYqBfjAhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1185767Contact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Casey and Ferdie explores how to teach relaxation as an essential skill for pet dogs to learn in the modern world. We discuss:Obedience vs relaxation trainingBody language that helps clients recognize a truly relaxed dog vs one who may appear calm and quiet but isn't relaxedPreparing and executing relaxation exercisesA comparison of different relaxation exercises"Relaxation Sandwiches" and the "Fulfillment Funnel"Casey Matthews (Lomonaco), KPA CTP, FDM, FFCP (Trainer) is a behavior consultant at Behavior Vets. Casey has spent over two decades helping dogs and their families live more joyfully together. Casey started her training career operating Rewarding Behaviors Dog Training in Binghamton, New York. She has also served as the Director of Behavior and Training Programs at two different animal shelters in upstate New York. In addition to training, Casey has contributed to numerous print and online publications about dog behavior and training as both an editor and an author, including Dogster, Dog Star Daily, Karen Pryor Clicker Training, The APDT Chronicle of the Dog, and The Huffington Post. Casey is a former Board member for the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and has presented at numerous workshops and shelters throughout the country. In her spare time, Casey enjoys knitting, playing video games, cooking, watching sports, or snuggling and playing games with her Senior Chow mix, Austin.Learn more about Casey here.Links:Stressed Out to Chilled Out - Canine Relaxation (self-paced course)Really Real Relaxation Protocol by Suzanne ClothierDr. Karen Overall Protocol for RelaxationChill Out Fido by Nan ArthurFired Up, Frantic, and Freaked Out by Laura VanArendonk BaughRelaxation demo by Bobbie BhambreeContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars Email Ferdie at ferdie@behaviorvets.com

In this episode, Bobbie and Ferdie discuss the Resilience Rainbow framework and various ways to apply it for shelter dogs. We discuss:How the Resilience Rainbow framework was created.Applying the Resilience Rainbow to shelter dogsSniffaris and decompression for shelter dogsPhysiological and behavioral changes related to resilienceBobbie Bhambree (CDBC, CPDT-KA) is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and the Director of Education at Behavior Vets. She is also a faculty member of CATCH Canine Trainers Academy and Agility University. Bobbie started her career in 2003 as a pet behavior counselor with the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center. While there, she implemented behavior modification programs for dogs who had been surrendered by the public or seized by Humane Law Enforcement. In 2007, Bobbie joined the Humane Society of Westchester, spending the next nine years as their shelter trainer. She created and implemented training and enrichment programs for the dogs, counseled adopters, trained volunteers, participated in community outreach programs, and performed evaluations.Learn more about Bobbie here.Links:July 12-14, 2024: CONTROL UNLEASHED CONFERENCEhttps://www.unleashtherainbow.com/August 3-4, 2024: The Resilience Framework - Pittsburgh, PAhttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-resilience-framework-pittsburgh-pa-tickets-845230014727?aff=oddtdtcreatorSeptember 18-20, 2024: APDT Annual Conferencehttps://www.apdtconference.com/A Framework for Behavior Modification and Training Plans to Help Build and Maintain Resilience: The Resilience Rainbowhttps://journal.iaabcfoundation.org/the-resilience-rainbow/Maddie's University Free On-Demand Webinar: Resilience Conditioning for Shelter Dogshttps://university.maddiesfund.org/products/resilience-conditioning-for-shelter-dogs-building-bounce-back-for-life-in-the-real-world-ondemand  Patricia McConnell's blogs on resilience from 2015:https://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/the-boy-who-was-raised-as-a-doghttps://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/resilience-can-we-increase-it-in-dogsExamples for shelter dogs:LATTESocial support and agencyBehavior plan for Chewy - Biting related to arousalTheme music composed and performed by Andy SellsContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars Email Ferdie at ferdie@behaviorvets.com

The legendary Patricia McConnell stops by to discuss human-animal relationships and how she creates a sense of safety and security for dogs. We talk about her life's mission and how her own personal trauma has shaped her work. Her courage, compassion, and energy is an inspiration to all of us. Her life's mission to improve human-animal relationshipsThe relationship between security and resilienceHow to create a sense of safety & securitySafe spacesWriting a mystery novelPatricia McConnell, PhD, CAAB is an author and animal behaviorist who has consulted with pet owners for over thirty years about serious behavioral problems. She taught "The Biology and Philosophy of Human/Animal Relationships" in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for twenty-five years, co-hosted Calling All Pets with Larry Meiller on WPR for fourteen years, and has spoken around the world about canine behavior and training. Her self-published books on behavior and training have sold over a quarter of a million copies. Her nationally published books, The Other End of the Leash, and For the Love of a Dog, are considered classics, and together have been translated into 15 languages. Her latest book, The Education of Will, a memoir focusing on healing from trauma in both people and dogs, has generated heartfelt praise and helped other trauma victims around the world. Patricia and her husband live with their working Border Collies, Skip and Maggie, and a very spoiled flock of sheep. For more information, go to www.patriciamcconnell.com or visit her blog, at www.theotherendoftheleash.com, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram. LinksPatricia McConnell's websitePatricia McConnell's blogTheme music composed and performed by Andy SellsContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars Email Ferdie at ferdie@behaviorvets.com

In this episode, anthrozoologist Amanda Gagnon examines the history of controlling dogs and the things we do in Western culture to keep dogs in their place and under control. We discuss:What is anthrozoology?Brief history of humans controlling dogs and why do we do it? (this gets a little dark)Controlling dog behaviorLetting dogs be dogsAdvocating for more dog-friendly public spacesAmanda's bio:Amanda Gagnon is an anthrozoologist, dog behavior consultant, and dog trainer. Amanda is the founder and training director at Amanda Gagnon Dog Training, in New York City, where she mentors apprentices, conducts training programs for shelters and rescues, and researches dog-human cultures. Her favorite thing to do is to work directly with humans and dogs during her group classes, private training sessions, and online courses. Amanda is unique in her approach to training, because she makes it fun and soulful while introducing people to the science and art of cross-species connection!Amanda has a masters degree in Anthrozoology. She is certified as a behavior consultant by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She is certified as a dog trainer by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. She is a professional member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. She was a founding board member of Muddy Paws Rescue. She is sought after by major media outlets including; Good Morning America, Inside Edition, News Week, and Fox and Friends. She speaks worldwide at dog training events and workshops, and she loves to discuss dog-human cultures. She lives in Connecticut and New York City with her husband, daughter, dog, and flock of chickens.Links:AmandaGagnonDogTraining.com Insta: @AmandagagnondogtrainingContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars Email Ferdie at ferdie@behaviorvets.com

In this episode, Dr. Sheila Segurson discusses how she builds shelter behavior programs drawing on her multifaceted experience as a shelter veterinarian, shelter veterinary behaviorist, dog trainer, foster caregiver, volunteer, consultant, and educator. We discuss:Maddie's Fund and its missionHow trauma effects behaviorEssential components of a sound shelter behavior program Understanding the unique personality and needs of a dogMaddie's University Camp Maddie eventDr. Sheila Segurson's bio:Dr. Sheila Segurson is the Director of Community Solutions for Maddie's Fund and a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists with over 25 years of experience supporting animal welfare organizations in the United States.Dr. Segurson's interest in shelter behavior began in 1987 when she volunteered in the behavior department at the San Francisco SPCA. Over the years, Dr. Segurson developed a diverse skillset via experiences as a volunteer, student, dog trainer, foster caregiver, veterinarian, shelter veterinarian, shelter veterinary behaviorist, consultant, and educator. Dr. Segurson utilizes that background to help shelters maximize animal welfare, lifesaving and make appropriate outcome decisions for the pets in their care and people in their community. Dr. Segurson regularly speaks at shelter and veterinary conferences, and has contributed to several online courses and textbooks. She was the first author of University of Florida's Shelter Animal Behavior and Welfare course (online), contributed to IAABC's Animal Behavior Consulting course, contributed to the Fear Free Shelter Course, and contributed   chapters to Animals as Crime Victims, Blackwell's Five-minute Veterinary Consult: Canine and Feline and BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Behavioural Medicine, Second edition.Dr. Segurson has expertise in dog and cat behavior and behavior programs, including program structure and development, admissions, enrichment, behavioral assessment, decision making, behavior modification, foster care, adoption and safety net programs. Links:MaddiesUniversity.orgMaddiesPetForum.orgMaddiesfund.org Register for Camp Maddie: Behavior EditionRegister for Maddie's Monthly Behavior MeetingWhat Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce Perry and Oprah WinfreyDr. Monique Udell (PhD, CAAB) Maddie's Insights: Becoming a Secure Base: Using science to improve human-animal bonds and welfareContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars Email Ferdie at ferdie@behaviorvets.com

In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Congdon and Dr. Jessica Owens describe how play therapy reduced salivary cortisol levels in shelter dogs and improved behavioral responses and emotional regulation. We discuss:Study design with Calmr dog toys and goalsHow play with improved relationships and wellness for shelter dogsSpecial design of Camlr toy mimics preyHow cortisol affects behaviorThoughts on developing programs for shelters involving play therapyDr. Elizabeth Congdon's bio and links:Dr. Elizabeth Congdon is an Associate Professor of biology at Bethune-Cookman University with an extensive background in behavioral ecology, conservation biology, and science education. She is particularly interested in the relationship between social structure and dispersal in neotropical mammals, specifically capybaras. Locally, Dr. Congdon works with animal shetlers to use data-driven strategies to improve the quality of life and adoption rates for the dogs and cats - especially the large dogs and 'bully breeds'. The latest results from her team show that therapeutic play as an enrichment strategy can bring down cortisol with a lasting effect. She founded BEC Research, Inc to help fund these efforts and support student research projects.APDT 2023 session description:Using interactive and therapeutic play leads to improved health and wellness in shelter dogsBEC Research, Inc www.becresearch.orgCalmr Dog Toys www.calmrdog.comDr. Jessica Owens' bio and links:Dr. Jessica Owens is an Experimental Psychologist studying animal behavior and communication. Their day job is serving as the lead behaviorist and CEO of Unleashed Training. They specialize in working with dogs and their guardians to overcome behavior and emotional challenges resulting from trauma – including abuse, neglect, lack of socialization, etc. www.unleashedtraining.org unleashedvolusia@gmail.comContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars Email Ferdie at ferdie@behaviorvets.com

In this episode, Dr. Paula Croxson shares insights into the formation of memories, the impact of stress and trauma on memories, and how we can change learned associations from traumatic memories. We discuss:Different types of memoriesMemories and the sense of selfThe effect of stress and trauma on memoriesHardwiring of fear memoriesMaking traumatic memories more vulnerable to changeDr. Croxson's bio:Paula Croxson, PhD is a behavioral and cognitive neuroscientist, science communicator and storyteller. Dr. Croxson is a freelance public engagement specialist and consultant, working with academics and nonprofits to communicate science with the public in meaningful and effective ways. She is also an adjunct Assistant Professor in Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and a consultant for Columbia University. She is a Senior Producer for The Story Collider and is passionate about sharing science with as many people as possible.Links:www.paulacroxson.com @paulacroxson on FB@paulacroxson on InstagramThe Story Collider podcastDr. Croxson will have a chapter in a new book: How to Win Friends and Influence FungiDr. Croxson's webinars on Behavior Vets Learn Worlds:Revealing Animals' IntelligenceTeaching Old Dogs New Tricks: The Aging BrainThe Sensory World of Animals: The Neuroscience of SmellWhat Can Animals Remember? The Neuroscience of MemoryTalk to the Animals: The Neuroscience of CommunicationContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Dr. Marsha Penner delves into the neuroscience behind impulse control, why adolescent dogs notoriously struggle with it, and what we can do about it. We discuss:How reconnecting with her Native American heritage reaffirmed the way she works with animalsDifferent types of impulse controlHow adolescent brains developFinding more compassion and patience for the unruly adolescent dogHow trust can improve impulse controlDr. Penner's bio:Dr. Marsha Penner is a behavioral neuroscientist, certified dog trainer (KPA-CTP), and owner of Learning to Dog Training & Enrichment. Marsha worked as a research scientist and award winning professor, focusing her attention on learning, memory, and effective teaching strategies. She turned her love of learning, behavior, and teaching into a full time career as a professional dog trainer after graduating from the the Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior in 2015. She is a proud Anishinaabe Kwe from Treaty One, but currently lives in Durham, NC with her husband and two dogs.Links:https://learningtodog.com/https://www.marshapenner.com/A collection of studies analyzing impulse control - this is really cool for those who want to dive deeper!https://saverezdogs.com/Asher L, England GCW, Sommerville R, Harvey ND. 2020. Teenage dogs? Evidence for adolescent-phase conflict behaviour and an association between attachment to humans and pubertal timing in the domestic dog. Biology Letters. 16: 20200097. Contact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Claire Cario (MA, CPDT-KA, FFCT) was tasked to train Queenie, an intensely dog-reactive cattle dog, in New York City. Queenie's over-the-top reactions became a scary safety risk as she redirected a bite towards her human guardian. Listen to how Claire expertly guided Queenie's mom to find safety and stability in a highly unpredictable environment. Claire's bio:Claire F. Cario has been working within the animal welfare and veterinary medicine fields since 2001. She received her MA in the Advanced Psychology of Animal Behavior and Conservation in 2008. The most rewarding aspect of her work is strengthening the human-animal bond and seeing her clients achieve a deeper understanding of their dog's communication, motivations and behaviors.Claire started her own business in 2009 and since then, has supervised, managed, and trained animal behavior staff across all sectors of the animal behavior world, developed curriculum for training programs for training schools, municipal shelters, and therapy dog programs, given webinars on canine behavior topics, built behavior assessment systems, and developed individualized behavior training plans for dogs displaying a wide variety of behavior concerns. She is certified through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and a Fear Free Certified Professional. Currently Claire is a Behavior Consultant for Behavior Vets of NYC and an instructor at CATCH Academy. Prior to this, she spent three years as the Private Trainer Manager at School For the Dogs in NYC, four years as the Behavior and Enrichment Assistant Manager at Animal Care Centers of NYC, three years as a behavior consultant on the ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team, six years as the executive trainer and coordinator for The Good Dog Foundation. Click here for more about Claire Cario.Contact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Sassafras shares some tips about writing to engage your audience and how trick training has helped improve the lives of hir dogs. We discuss:The art of writing about behavior and training for a broad audienceHer books Tricks in the City and Chew This JournalHow trick training can complement behavior modification plansTrying to help people enjoy their pets and avoid unrealistic expectationsSassafras's bio:Sassafras Lowrey (CPDT-KA, CTDI) is an author, dog trainer, and multimedia educator.  Sassafras' work with dogs focuses on engagement, enrichment, play, and competitive trick training.  Sassafras is the author of the dog training books Tricks In The City and Chew This Journal. Sassafras' dog training articles have regularly appeared in leading dog magazines like Dogster, The Bark, Modern Dog, and The American Kennel Club as well as publications including WIRED, Apartment Therapy, and The New York Times.Links:https://sassafraslowrey.com/ Facebook @SassafrasLowreyTwitter @SassafrasLowreyInstagram @SassafrasLowreyInstagram @SiriusTheBearBooksTricks in the CityChew This JournalArticlesAmerican Kennel Club: https://www.akc.org/author/sassafras-lowreyctdi/WIRED: https://www.wired.com/author/sassafras-lowrey/ Apartment Therapy: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/authors/sassafras-lowreyCuteness:https://www.cuteness.com/user/sassafras_lowrey New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/27/smarter-living/dog-training-behavior.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/06/smarter-living/the-dog-park-is-bad-actually.html?smid=url-sharehttps://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/31/smarter-living/before-you-adopt-planning-a-lifelong-commitment-to-your-pets-health.htmlTheme music composed and performed by Andy Sells Contact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Suzanne shares her insights for Relationship Centered Training™ (RCT) and having a persistent curiosity of the animal in front of you. We discuss:Communication and the willingness to hear othersBeing a carpenter or a gardenerHumility in trainingDandelions and orchidsHer new Functional Assessment Tracking toolSuzanne's bio:Suzanne Clothier has been working with animals professionally since 1977. She is well respected internationally for her holistic Relationship Centered Training™ (RCT) approach to dogs and the people that love them. This positive and humane approach keeps the relationship central at all times, and promotes promote healthy, respectful and joyful dog/human connections.Since 1991, she has taught on a broad range of topics throughout the US and internationally for a wide variety of groups, and served as a consultant to major service dog schools.An award winning author of multiple books & videos, her book, Bones Would Rain from the Sky: Deepening Our Relationships With Dogs (2002) has received widespread praise from every corner of the dog world. Her innovative programs include Treat/Retreat, the Enriched Puppy Protocol, CARAT™, RAT™, FAT™, as well as many RCT techniques, online courses and webinars.A long-time breeder of German Shepherds with 10 generations successful in nearly every dog sport, Suzanne lives on an upstate New York farm with husband John Rice, and their (large!) animal family. Links:https://suzanneclothier.comRCT Online coursesFAT for dogsWebinars:Intro to CARATTreat/Retreat OverviewContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars

This is PART 2 of a 2-episode interview with Lauren Novack, who discusses her graduate research about the science and social validity of companion animal welfare. If animals can't talk to us, how do we really know if the treatments we employ and behavior change we strive for is actually doing good for companion animals? In Part 2, we discuss:Adding more choice in trainingDetecting pain and how it affects behaviorHeart rate, heart rate variability, and its potential as a measure for affective stateThe potential to measure an animal's emotional affect before, during, and after interventionLauren's bio:Lauren Novack has a Masters of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis with a specialization in Companion Animal Behavior from Hunter College. Applied Behavior Analysis is the science of behavior, which focuses on the identification of environmental conditions that cause behavior and the development of evidence-based behavior interventions. Her research focuses on the intersection between animal welfare and behavior interventions for companion animals. She is a Behavior Analyst, Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, and Family Paws Parent Educator.Lauren founded dog walking and training company Lauren's Leash in 2011 which she operated in Manhattan through 2018 before joining Behavior Vets. She creates custom behavior intervention plans for dogs (and their people) who have been diagnosed with neophobia, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, various types of aggression, and separation anxiety. In addition to her work with private clients, Lauren offers education through Behavior Vets, professional organizations including the International Association for Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and both professional and academic conferences.Links:Novack, L.I.; Schnell-Peskin, L.; Feuerbacher, E.; Fernandez, E.J. The Science and Social Validity of Companion Animal Welfare: Functionally Defined Parameters in a Multidisciplinary Field. Animals 2023, 13, 1850.Constructional Aggression Treatment 4- Part Webinar Series with Lauren Novack and Kellie Sisson Snider (MS)Gait analysis by Gemma Hodson: https://www.dynamicdog.co.uk/ Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells Contact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars

This is PART 1 of a 2-episode interview with Lauren Novack, who discusses her graduate research about the science and social validity of companion animal welfare. If animals can't talk to us, how do we really know if the treatments we employ and behavior change we strive for is actually doing good for companion animals? In Part 1, we discuss:"Freedom From" to "The 5 Domains"The challenges of objectively measuring animal welfareBehavioral variabilityDegrees of freedom and the enhanced choice modelHow our values affect the way we trainLauren's bio:Lauren Novack has a Masters of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis with a specialization in Companion Animal Behavior from Hunter College. Applied Behavior Analysis is the science of behavior, which focuses on the identification of environmental conditions that cause behavior and the development of evidence-based behavior interventions. Her research focuses on the intersection between animal welfare and behavior interventions for companion animals. She is a Behavior Analyst, Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, and Family Paws Parent Educator.Lauren founded dog walking and training company Lauren's Leash in 2011 which she operated in Manhattan through 2018 before joining Behavior Vets. She creates custom behavior intervention plans for dogs (and their people) who have been diagnosed with neophobia, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, various types of aggression, and separation anxiety. In addition to her work with private clients, Lauren offers education through Behavior Vets, professional organizations including the International Association for Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and both professional and academic conferences.Links:Novack, L.I.; Schnell-Peskin, L.; Feuerbacher, E.; Fernandez, E.J. The Science and Social Validity of Companion Animal Welfare: Functionally Defined Parameters in a Multidisciplinary Field. Animals 2023, 13, 1850. Constructional Aggression Treatment 4- Part Webinar Series with Lauren Novack and Kellie Sisson Snider (MS)Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells Contact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Kim and Ferdie have a fun time discussing ethology applied to dog training. We discuss: What is applied ethology?Purpose and function as extremely important to animalsThe evolution of dogsAre we watching bears and coyotes lose their fear of humans?How the LEGS model has shifted the perspective of dog trainersKim's bio:Kim Brophey, CDBC, CPDT-KA, FDM, is an applied ethologist and owner of The Dog Door Behavior Center in Asheville, NC. Kim's commitment to Family Dog Mediation® has been recognized internationally, awarded the APDT Outstanding Trainer of the Year in 2009 and the Best Dog Trainer of WNC eight years in a row. She is a member of the International Society for Applied Ethology and the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, and a certified member and past board member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Kim Brophey's L.E.G.S.® model of integrated canine science has been endorsed by prominent canine scientists such as Raymond Coppinger and embraced by reputable academics and dog trainers worldwide. From her applied ethology content in Michael Shikashio's Aggression in Dogs Master Course to her market-disrupting L.E.G.S.® Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation® Course, Kim's work is a celebrated contribution to the field. Her groundbreaking sold-out first edition book, MEET YOUR DOG, TED talk, Beyond The Operant (BTO) collaborative, numerous public speaking venues at institutions & conferences around the world, and countless radio and podcast features have made profound waves throughout the dog behavior world as well as the general public. Kim continues to build bridges and invite others to contribute to a new conversation about dogs- one that challenges us to redefine how we perceive, talk about, and treat our canine companions as a society.Links:Kim Brophey's educational offerings L.E.G.S. Main Course ($400 dollars off with code BV for WLWM listeners!) L.E.G.S. In Motion Conference December 5-7, 2023 (and the Golden Ticket Bundle with the Resilience Rainbow Tour) Meet Your Dog: The Game-Changing Guide to Understanding Your Dog's Behavior  Montgomery, J. Evolutionary Mismatch, Emotional Homeostasis, and “Emotional Addiction”: A Unifying Model of Psychological Dysfunction. Evolutionary Psychological Science 4, 428–442 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-018-0153-9 Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells Contact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Marge Rogers joins Ferdie and Bobbie Bhambree to discuss her expert insider's take on how to implement Dr. Karen Overall's protocols for relaxation, deference, and take a breath. We discuss:Benefits of biofeedback exercisesThe Protocol for Relaxation by Dr. OverallThe Protocol for Deference vs Social ReferencingTeaching Take a Breath and how to use itMarge's bio:Marge Rogers (she/her) co-authored the veterinary behaviorist-recommended book Puppy Socialization: What It Is and How to Do It. She holds certifications through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers as a behavior consultant (Canine) and a Professional Dog Trainer. Marge is also a Certified Control Unleashed Instructor and a Certified Fear Free Professional. She is a popular and engaging speaker with a passion for sharing her knowledge and experiences. Marge has presented for Conference Unleashed, The Association of Professional Dog Trainers, Behavior Vets, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine (Behavior), Appalachian State University (Veterinary Technology Program), local veterinary clinics, libraries, businesses, and dog sports clubs.Links:Protocol for Relaxation: A Trainer's Guide to Practical Application (webinar)Shape Your Puppy's Future: What Modern Day Socialization Looks Like (webinar)https://rewardedbehaviorcontinues.comPuppy Socialization: What It Is and How to Do ItProtocol for RelaxationChampion of My Heart - Relaxation Protocol Audio FilesProtocol for Deference (aka Social Referencing - as Marge prefers to call it)Take a BreathTheme music composed and performed by Andy SellsContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Kimberly McRae and Ursa Acree take us on an RV journey through Mexico with Hazel, a 9 year old rescue German Shepherd who suffers from extreme anxiety among other issues both medical and behavioral. Kimberly packed her life into an RV with her two dogs Hazel and Taco. In the beginning, Hazel was paralyzed with fear in unfamiliar environments and was ready to resign to living an isolated, couch potato lifestyle. Hazel is now living a life as an international traveler, facing challenges head-on with tools she has learned through ethical training and supported by the right medication and care team. Kimberly's bio:Kimberly is a former CPDT-KA and Fear Free dog trainer who owned and operated a Denver, CO-based dog training company and worked as a behavior coordinator in non-profit animal sheltering. Kimberly is a dog-obsessed behavior enthusiast and experienced project manager, digital nomading as a Director for Behavior Vets. Kimberly has roots in Denver, CO and Louisville, KY, but has been traveling throughout Mexico with her two dogs in all of 2023. Click here for more about Kimberly McRaeUrsa's bio:Ursa Acree is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, and Fear Free Certified Trainer. She founded Canis Major Training in 2016 which operated as the premier training, board and train, and daycare facility of Denver, CO through 2021. She is currently the Director of Training at Behavior Vets. Click here for more about Ursa AcreeLinks:Dogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior, and Evolution by Raymond and Lorna CoppingerTheme music composed and performed by Andy SellsContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Jen Abrams tells us why we shouldn't lie to our dogs and how to repair the damage to the trust in the human-dog relationship. We discuss:Why anxiety needs informationLong-term effects of lying to your dogUsing clear communication and predictor cuesHow to repair the damage to your relationship after trust is brokenJen's bio:Jen Abrams is an Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (ACAAB) through the Animal Behavior Society, a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT) and a licensed veterinary technician (LVT) with a masters degree (MA) in Animal Behavior & Conservation from Hunter College. She has an ongoing interest in canine cognition research and hopes to contribute to the field with future studies and data collection. Jen has been a Behavior Consultant with Behavior Vets since December 2020; prior to Behavior Vets she worked for nearly a decade with Animal Care Centers of NYC, New York City's only open-admission, full-service animal shelter, in roles including Behavior Program Manager and Director of Animal Welfare. A committed New Yorker, Jen lives in Brooklyn and finds great value in helping dogs adjust to the difficult city environment, where everything is always a little too close and a little too fast and where a rush of stimuli hit you like a wall the moment you walk out your front door.Click here for more about Jen AbramsLinks:Maia Huff-Owen (CSAT)Consent test petting video by Eileen AndersonWebinars by Jen Abrams:Easy DIY Food EnrichmentConfessions of a Dog Trainer: The Human Experience of Dealing with Behavior Challenges in PetsThey Said What?!?! A Guardian's Guide to Canine Body LanguageTwo Truths and a Lie: How More Truth Can Reduce Your Dog's AnxietyPublications:Trazodone as a mediator of transitional stress in a shelter: Effects on illness, length of stay, and outcome - ScienceDirect Theme music composed and performed by Andy SellsContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Ursa Acree and I share our journeys to becoming dog trainers and some valuable insights learned along the way. We discuss:The value of good mentorsBalancing animal and human needsBeing a good communicatorHoning your training skills with shelter dogsThe Behavior Vets Practicum ProgramUrsa's bio:Ursa Acree is our Director of Training at Behavior Vets. She has run her own dog training company called Canis Major Training in Denver, CO and has many years of experience working with animal shelters, including being the Behavior Manager for the Kentucky Humane Society and Behavior Manager at the Dumb Friends League in CO. Links:Behavior Vets Practicum ProgramPat Miller Peaceable PawsKathy Sdao Bright Spot Dog TrainingDogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior, and Evolution by Raymond Coppinger and Lorna CoppingerTheme music composed and performed by Andy SellsContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Taylor Kelly describes how increasing predictability in social situations for Stella, a fearful and anxious chocolate lab-beagle mix, along with traditional desensitization and counterconditioning techniques, helped Stella feel safer about meeting new people in her home. Listen to how Taylor helped Stella and her human mom incorporate predictable routines and creative predictor cues that reduced the uncertainty and panic of meeting new visitors in her home. Taylor's bio:Taylor Kelly, a Behavior Consultant at Behavior Vets, has an MA in Animal Behavior and Conservation from Hunter College and is a certified Fear Free Trainer. Before joining the Behavior Vets team as a behavior consultant, Taylor spent several years working at Animal Care Centers of NYC, the only open admissions shelter located in the city. Working as the canine behavior supervisor and then manager, she oversaw the canine enrichment program, conducted behavioral assessments and their basic training programs. Taylor also assisted in adoption of rabbits from the shelter, counseling and educating the public on rabbit ownership. Taylor began volunteering with Long Island Rabbit Rescue in 2013 where she adopted two of her rabbits, and has been dedicated to educating the public on both canine and rabbit behavior since then. Click here for more about Taylor KellyLinks:Interested in learning more about the Treat/Retreat game that Taylor mentioned? Learn more about it here: Treat/Retreat Overview with Suzanne ClothierContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Adele Shaw shares her journey in horse training and teaches us how to get started with low-stress husbandry for horses. We discuss:Adele's journey from traditional to reward-based trainingLetting go of perfection and accepting mistakes for better welfareFinding a supportive communityThe value of building trust with horsesLow-stress husbandry exercises to start withAdele's bio:Adele Shaw (Certified Equine Behavior Consultant) is an internationally recognized horsemanship mentor, behavior consultant, and trainer focused on creating a positive relationship between horse and human through science-based training and care practices. Drawn to horses labeled as “trouble makers” and “lost causes” from an early age, Adele has always had a passion for understanding the “why” behind behavior and a deep desire to help horses find their way back to wellness. This holistic approach examines the horse's environment, lifestyle, and physical and mental soundness to ensure that the horses are not simply surviving, but truly thriving in their life and relationship with their human caretakers. As a teacher, Adele is supportive and understanding of both horse and human, and tailors her lessons to provide the most personalized, accessible, and ethically minded coaching possible. Her approach goes beyond method: by offering flexible training and care systems, the wellbeing of the horse and the empowerment of the student always remain the primary goals.In addition to her hands-on work with specialized rehabilitation cases at her ranch in Texas, Adele maintains an active role in the equestrian community through her clinics, online student programs, courses, blog, podcast, and social media outreach. As she connects with students across the globe, Adele remains dedicated to making information on behavior science, positive reinforcement, LIMA principles, the humane hierarchy, and species appropriate care practices accessible and achievable for every horse owner through The Willing Equine.Janna Dewey's bio:Janna works at Behavior Vets of Colorado as a Behavior Consultant and therapist, specializing in those having difficulty living or working with the animals in their lives. Janna earned a B.A. in Psychology and a Minor in Theatre from Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, FL. She also holds a Master's in Counseling from Regis University and is also a Certified Equine Assisted Mental Health Practitioner through University of Denver. Janna is a Certified Professional Bird Trainer (CPBT-KA) through the International Avian Trainers Certification Board.Links:https://www.thewillingequine.com/https://www.instagram.com/thewillingequine/https://www.youtube.com/thewillingequinehttps://www.tiktok.com/@thewillingequinehttps://www.facebook.com/thewillingequineContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Jen Abrams helps an unpredictable Bracco Italiano named Mars transform from exhibiting fear-based aggression to quiet relaxation. Mars and his devoted companion Emily had a rocky journey from Florida to Indiana before eventually landing in Brooklyn, NY. Immediately upon moving to Brooklyn, Emily found Behavior Vets and Jen through a referral by her vet. Listen to how Jen created a behavior plan that helped Mars find the confidence to navigate the city streets safely and make new friends.  Jen's bio:Jen Abrams is an Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (ACAAB) through the Animal Behavior Society, a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT) and a licensed veterinary technician (LVT) with a masters degree (MA) in Animal Behavior & Conservation from Hunter College. She has an ongoing interest in canine cognition research and hopes to contribute to the field with future studies and data collection. Jen has been a Behavior Consultant with Behavior Vets since December 2020; prior to Behavior Vets she worked for nearly a decade with Animal Care Centers of NYC, New York City's only open-admission, full-service animal shelter, in roles including Behavior Program Manager and Director of Animal Welfare. A committed New Yorker, Jen lives in Brooklyn and finds great value in helping dogs adjust to the difficult city environment, where everything is always a little too close and a little too fast and where a rush of stimuli hit you like a wall the moment you walk out your front door. Click here for more about Jen AbramsLinks:Webinars by Jen Abrams:Easy DIY Food Enrichment Confessions of a Dog Trainer: The Human Experience of Dealing with Behavior Challenges in PetsThey Said What?!?! A Guardian's Guide to Canine Body Language Two Truths and a Lie: How More Truth Can Reduce Your Dog's Anxiety Publications:Trazodone as a mediator of transitional stress in a shelter: Effects on illness, length of stay, and outcome - ScienceDirect Contact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Sarah Stremming (CDBC) breaks down the value of decompression walks with me and co-host Bobbie Bhambree (CDBC, CPDT-KA). We discuss:How Sarah developed the idea of a decompression walkSafety management with off-leash dogsFraming the value of the decompression walkHow to prep high-energy dogs for a decompression walkManaging walks for puppies in urban environmentsSarah's bio:Sarah Stremming is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (IAABC) with nearly two decades in the field of dog training and behavior. She works privately with clients to find solutions to their dogs' behavioral concerns, supports an online community of folks pursuing better wellness and training principles, and presents her programs in hands-on workshops across the globe. Sarah's podcast Cog Dog Radio is a favorite amongst dog behavior geeks worldwide. With 25 years of experience in Agility and Obedience Sarah has brought challenging insight from the behavior realm into dog sports, and holds the welfare of sport dogs experiencing behavior struggles as a primary concern. When not working, she is deep in the woods in the Pacific Northwest with two border collies and an Icelandic sheepdog. Links:www.sarahstremming.comfacebook.com/thecognitivecanine Instagram @cognitive_canine TikTok @sarahstremming Contact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram Online courses Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Rikke Brogaard shares her case story of Doodle, a young terrier mix who was suffering from a debilitating case of the urban jitters in Brooklyn, NY. Listen to how Rikke and her client creatively use every tool available to them to carve out a life for Doodle where he could feel safe and supported. Rikke's bio:Rikke has trained dogs and their humans since 2002, and has operated her own New York-based dog training and behavior business since 2004. She is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, a Pat Miller Certified Trainer, and a certified Family Dog Mediator who currently supports  clients from all over the world virtually. She is also a Fear Free Certified trainer. In 2012 Rikke co-founded the NY Force Free Trainers where she, and two close colleagues mentored and taught aspiring dog trainers. She is supremely proud that several previous students have become rock stars within the Force Free training community,  who are now themselves helping dogs and humans. For a period of over four years  Rikke had the unique opportunity to work weekly with the three full-time facility dogs at Mt Sinai 's Children's Hospital in New York City. She trained both the staff and the dogs, and helped the handlers create schedules, activities, and skills for the dogs that ensured ample time for decompression, enrichment, and lots of fun in-between their patient and staff support duties. A native of Denmark who originally went to Copenhagen Business School with the goal of becoming a translator at the UN, Rikke speaks four languages fluently and can read and get by in two more languages. Turns out the translating she was always meant to do was between dogs and their humans. Click here for more about RikkeLinks:@rikkebdogtraining on InstagramContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram

In this episode, Dot Baisly describes a vision for best practices in animal sheltering that includes compassion for both animals and humans. We discuss:Dot's journey into animal behavior and shelter work.Becoming a more effective communicator with humans.The multidisciplinary education necessary for frontline animal shelter staff to meet the demands of the modern world. Recognizing the tough emotional demands of shelter work on humans. How shelters can talk to their communities about behavioral euthanasia decisions.Promising trends in animal sheltering including the Canine Assessment of Risk for Shelters (CARS) and conversation-based adoptions. Dot Baisly's bio:Dot Baisly is the Executive Director for the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and the Behavior Consultant at Heal Veterinary Clinic in Watertown, MA. Dot also holds a master's degree in Animal Behavior from Tufts University and is a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA), a certified dog behavior consultant (CDBC), certified cat behavior consultant (CCBC), and certified shelter behavior specialist (CSB). Dot is currently a core member of the Shelter Playgroup Alliance team where she facilitates course content for the on-line program and in-person workshops. Most recently she was the director of behavior for Northeast Animal Shelter where she built a behavior program and transformed the organization's approach to behavior as a result of her leadership. Prior to this she was also the lead behavior staff at the SPCA of Westchester and then the Animal Rescue League of Boston. Dot also worked as a consultant for Paws With A Cause, working with service dogs and the clients they serve for over 10 years.  She has been working in animal welfare, veterinary care and behavior for over 20 years, both in animal welfare and rescue organizations and as a private consultant.  Dot has consulted with private clients since her initial certifications, working with owned cats and dogs on a regular basis.  In her private practice, Dot specializes in working with dogs and cats exhibiting significant behavioral concerns, including human-directed aggression.She also provides consultations to shelters across the country where she has evaluated dogs, educated staff and volunteers and continues to be recognized as a key leader in the animal welfare and shelter behavior community, where she is sought out for her expertise, compassion, and skill in leading change efforts. Prior to working in sheltering, Dot managed a veterinary clinic and worked as a technician where she developed her knowledge and skills in low-stress veterinary handling.  Since that time, Dot has taught those techniques in shelters and at veterinary practices across the country.Links:https://iaabc.org/https://www.shelterdogplay.org/learn-with-usTheme music composed and performed by Andy SellsContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram

It's an awful feeling knowing that the dog who is the love of your life can be scared and aggressive towards other people. In this case story, a 110 lb pitbull-mastiff X named Eli is a total mush with the humans he loves, but getting to know him is not so easy. Due to unfortunate accidents, there were a few bites towards other people. Listen to how Behavior Vets' Director of Training Ursa Acree (CDBC) helps her client develop a training and management plan to prevent bites and help Eli feel safer around strangers. Ursa's bio:Ursa Acree is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, and Fear Free Certified Trainer. She founded Canis Major Training in 2016 which operated as the premier training, board and train, and daycare facility of Denver, CO through 2021. She is currently the Director of Training at Behavior Vets. In addition to her experience working with private clients, Ursa has extensive experience working with animals in need. She was the Behavior Manager for the Kentucky Humane Society from 2007 to 2010 and the Behavior Manager at the Dumb Friends League from 2010 to 2013. While in those roles Ursa worked with clients to prevent relinquishments due to behavior issues, implemented changes to reduce stress and improve animal adoptability, and trained shelter staff and volunteers in enrichment, body language, humane handling, husbandry, and training. From 2013 to 2015 she did behavior and nutrition research with Hill's Pet Nutrition as a Behavior Technician. She was responsible for animal husbandry and handling in addition to training animals to participate in preference assessments of new foods.More about UrsaLinks:Treat-Retreat by Suzanne ClothierTheme music composed and performed by Andy SellsContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram

In this episode, Linda Case joins me and co-host Drew Webster (CPDT-KA, CDBC) to talk about what we need to know when feeding our dogs. We discuss:Changing nutritional needs from puppies to seniorsMaintaining a healthy and balanced diet while using treats for trainingGeneral effects of diet on behaviorChoosing the best diet based on quality, budget, and personal valuesHow the ingredients and level of food processing mattersLinda Case's bio:Linda Case is well-known author, canine nutritionist, and dog trainer. She earned her B.S. in Animal Science at Cornell University and her M.S. in Canine/Feline Nutrition at the University of Illinois. Following graduate school, Linda was a lecturer in canine and feline science in the Animal Sciences Department at the University of Illinois for 15 years and then taught companion animal behavior and training at the College of Veterinary Medicine. Linda is the author of numerous publications and nine books, including Feeding Smart with The Science Dog, Dog Smart, Beware the Straw Man, and Dog Food Logic. She owns AutumnGold Dog Training Center in central IL and also operates The Science Dog Courses, an on-line education program that provides courses and webinars (https://courses.thesciencedog.com/). She is also the author of the popular Science Dog Blog (http://thesciencedog.wordpress.com). Linda and her husband Mike live in central Illinois and share their lives with two amazing dogs: Alice and Stanley, and Pete the cat. In addition to writing and teaching, Linda enjoys hiking, swimming, cycling, yoga, and gardening – all activities that she happily shares with her dogs.Links:The Science Dog Blog The Science Dog CoursesTheme music composed and performed by Andy SellsContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram

What happens when a strange behavior your dog does becomes unhealthy and maladaptive to her quality of life? Strange animal behaviors (from a human perspective) can sometimes be funny or cute, but not in this case. This is the case of Maggie the border collie-golden retriever X who was determined to interact with almost every rock she came across. Learn how Megan Ramirez (KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA) approached this case with some out-of-the-box thinking and Dr. Karen Overall's Protocol for Relaxation in order to teach Maggie how to enjoy hiking. Megan's Bio:Megan Ramirez (KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA) has been training dogs for a little over 10 years now and is a 2018 graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy and also holds a certification from the Council of Certified Professional Dog Trainers.  Prior to working for Behavior Vets, Megan worked for a training facility in Alabama as well as Alabama's only veterinary behaviorist.  Megan lives with her husband, 2 Maine Coons: Pavlov and Skinner, Great Dane: Xaver, Mini Dachshund: Wiener Schnitzel and Whippets: Rim Shot and Legato.  In her spare time Megan enjoys hiking and competing in dog sports such as: flyball, dock diving, lure coursing and conformation. More about Megan Ramirez.Links:Dr. Karen Overall's Protocol for RelaxationMaggie's Training Journey VideoTheme music composed and performed by Andy SellsContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Byosiere teaches us about how she studies dog cognition and ongoing research at the Thinking Dog Center at the City University of New York Hunter College. We discuss:Why study dog cognition?Ongoing research on enrichment and contrafreeloadingHow to introduce enrichment to your dogSurprising research about breed labels in animal sheltersDr. Byosiere's bio:Dr. Byosiere is the Director of the Thinking Dog Center and an Assistant Professor at CUNY Hunter College where she focuses on studying the behavior and cognition of companion animals. She is also a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist. Dr. Byosiere has worked at various canine cognition and behavior research groups including the Duke Canine Cognition Center, the Clever Dog Lab and the Wolf Science Center. Dr. Byosiere earned her PhD at La Trobe University in Australia at the Anthrozoology Research Group, where her dissertation focused on evaluating whether or not dogs are susceptible to visual illusions. More recently at the Thinking Dog Center, her work has expanded to include applied research topics, including human-animal interactions, dog training methodologies and animal sheltering practices. Dr. Byosiere has published her research in peer-revived scientific journals, presented her findings at conferences, and has been featured on NPRs Science Friday, Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness, The New York Daily News, Gizmodo, WIRED Currents, and Curiosity Stream. Links:Thinking Dog Center Website Twitter Thinking Dog Center Instagram Thinking Dog CenterFacebook Thinking Dog CenterTheme music composed and performed by Andy SellsContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram

What do you do when you move in with the love of your life but your dog and your partner's dog are fighting? Intra-dog aggression in the same household is one of the most difficult and dangerous behavior problems to manage. The fighting between the dogs can also cause a strain in your relationship with your partner. Is it possible to make two individual dogs with their own emotions and desires to like each other? Learn how Shannon Erickson (CPDT-KA) helped her clients achieve peaceful coexistence with Elliot, a 6 year-old yellow lab, and Oleo, a 12 year-old cattle dog through a systematic approach involving safety management, behavior modification training, and building resilience. Shannon's Bio:Shannon  Erickson (CPDT-KA, Fear Free Certified Trainer) is a Behavior Consultant and the Marketing and Content Manager at Behavior Vets. She is passionate about helping dogs and their families and specializes in education and ensuring that good information is readily available to every pet guardian. Before joining our team, Shannon was the Midwest Regional Training Mentor for Petsmart, where she collaborated on building class curricula and bringing training content to the public.More about Shannon Erickson Links:https://behaviorvetsco.com/For more about building resilience:Podcast Episode: Dr. Kathy Murphy and Bobbie Bhambree Present a Framework to Build Resilience in Companion AnimalsBhambree, B. and K. Murphy. A Framework for Behavior Modification and Training Plans to Help Build and Maintain Resilience. The IAABC Journal. Feb 2023. Issue 26.Dive deeper into intra-dog aggression with Michael Shikashio:Podcast Episode: Michael Shikashio (CDBC) on Treating Dog-Dog AggressionContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram

In this episode, the amazing team of Dr. Kathy Murphy and Bobbie Bhambree discuss how they developed the Resilience Rainbow, a framework to build resilience in dogs and other companion animals, and how it works. We discuss:What is resilience and what it looks likeThe stress response cycle and the HPA axisSeven domains of the Resilience Rainbow:PredictabilityDecompressionCompleting the stress cycleMental and physical well-beingSafety and securitySocial supportAgencyDr. Kathy Murphy's bio:Dr Kathy Murphy (BVetMed, DPhil, CVA, CLAS, MRCVS) is a veterinary surgeon and neuroscientist. She graduated from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons UK in 1999, initially working in mixed clinical practice before studying for two post graduate clinical qualifications with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, and Laboratory Animal Science.Bobbie Bhambree's bio:Bobbie Bhambree (CDBC, CPDT-KA) is the Director of Education and a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant at Behavior Vets. She is also a faculty member of CATCH Canine Trainers Academy and Agility University. Bobbie started her career in 2003 as a pet behavior counselor with the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center. While there, she implemented behavior modification programs for dogs who had been surrendered by the public or seized by Humane Law Enforcement. In 2007, Bobbie joined the Humane Society of Westchester, spending the next nine years as their shelter trainer. She created and implemented training and enrichment programs for the dogs, counseled adopters, trained volunteers, participated in community outreach programs, and performed evaluations.Links:Bhambree, B. and K. Murphy. A Framework for Behavior Modification and Training Plans to Help Build and Maintain Resilience. The IAABC Journal. Feb 2023. Issue 26. https://iaabcjournal.org/the-resilience-rainbow/Resilience Rainbow Tour 2023Madison, NJ: May 20-21Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada: May 27-28Denver, CO: June 3-4https://behaviorvets.com/https://www.facebook.com/neuroscienceisawesome/The Education of Will: Healing a Dog, Facing My Fears, Reclaiming My Life by Dr. Patricia McConnell - read about Dr. McConnell's own story of resilience and adventure with her border collie named Will. Podcast with Sarah Stremming on decompression walksContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram

In this episode, we discuss how to have difficult conversations with other trainers who may not share a similar approach to training dogs. This conversation was a response to Mike Shikashio's recent appearance on a trainer's podcast who uses and teaches training with aversive tools. Was it a mistake to “reach across the aisle”? Keeping communication lines openNavigating sensitive conversationsShifting away from the 4 quadrantsUnderstanding emotions related to behaviorDr. Kathy Murphy's bio:Dr Kathy Murphy (BVetMed, DPhil, CVA, CLAS, MRCVS) is a veterinary surgeon and neuroscientist. She graduated from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons UK in 1999, initially working in mixed clinical practice before studying for two post graduate clinical qualifications with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, and Laboratory Animal Science.Links:https://behaviorvets.com/https://www.facebook.com/neuroscienceisawesome/ Resilience Rainbow Tour 2023May 20th: Madison, NJMay 27th: Nova Scotia, CANJune 3rd: Denver, COMike's bio:Michael Shikashio, CDBC, is the founder of AggressiveDog.com and focuses on teaching other professionals from around the world on how to successfully work aggression cases. He is a five-term president of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and was the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) Member of the Year in 2020. Michael is sought after for his expert opinion by numerous media outlets, including the New York Times, New York Post, Fox News, The List TV, Baltimore Sun, WebMD, Women's Health Magazine, Real Simple Magazine, SiriusXM Radio, The Chronicle of the Dog, and Steve Dale's Pet World. He also hosts the popular podcast show “The Bitey End of the Dog” where he chats with the foremost experts on dog aggression. Links:https://aggressivedog.com Aggression in Dogs Online SchoolMike's FBAggression in Dogs FBInstagramLinkedInTikTokYouTubePodcastContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram

In this episode, guest host Lauren Novack (MS, ACDBC, KPA-CTP, FPPE) interviews Ferdie Yau (MA, CPDT-KA) about ethology, working in wildlife conservation, and lessons learned from training exotic species. We discuss:The ethological perspective on animal behaviorFunctional breeding Being a trainer at Central Park Zoo and an ecologist for NYCLessons learned from training exotic species Ferdie's bio:Ferdie Yau (MA, CPDT-KA) is the host of Behavior Vets' "Worry Less, Wag More" podcast and the Director of Shelter & Community Outreach. He has an MA in Conservation Biology from Columbia University and a BS in Natural Resource Ecology and Management from the University of Michigan. Ferdie was a zookeeper and trainer both the Central Park Zoo and Bronx Zoo from 2002 to 2005, and trained dozens of exotic species including California sea lions, river otters, Arctic foxes and polar bears. He is the Staff Trainer at the Humane Society of Westchester and an instructor at CATCH Canine Trainers Academy. Ferdie studies urban coyote behavior and population dynamics with the Gotham Coyote Project. Links:More about Lauren NovackMore about Ferdie YauGotham Coyote ProjectNYC Coyote Diet Study Evidence of variable dog genetic ancestry influencing coyote behavior in NYC?Contact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram

In this episode, Viviane Arzoumanian (CDBC, CPDT-KA, CBATI, PMCT2, Licensed Family Dog Mediator - Training) drops nuggets of wisdom to help dog behavior professionals coach their clients through the toughest cases. How Viviane communicates with her clients is a professional standard we should all strive for to truly help families and their hard-to-live with (but hopelessly loveable) pets. We discuss:Preparing yourself for emotional clients.Connecting with the human end of the leash.Focusing on the human-canine relationship. Humane behavioral euthanasia. Teaching clients their dog's perspective.Viviane's bio:LICENSED FAMILY DOG MEDIATOR - TRAININGCDBCCPDT-KACBATIPMCT2Viviane has been training dogs and conducting behavior consultations since 2005. She is your guide in all things having to do with dogs, whether you are an animal professional or a family guardian. Viviane is a networker and values collaborating with other animal professionals in order to best serve her clients and colleagues. If she doesn't have a resource you need, she will use her ever expanding network to find it for you.Coaching humans has always been Viviane's strength and joy. In recent years she has increased her focus on the human side of dog training and behavior. She offers coaching and guidance in an atmosphere of acceptance and safety.Her clients include a range of other professionals needing resources or a sounding board for finding new or tried & true ideas for puzzling or difficult cases.Viviane is a resource for pet parents who are struggling with difficult decisions, or not sure they are on the right track with their dogs. She is available for a full range of conversations including case review, referral to other professionals, all the way to discussion of quality of life for humans and canines living together. This includes discussion of humane euthanasia due to age, illness or behavioral concerns. She still sees dogs and their families for the full range of needs from puppyhood to old age on a case by case basis. Viviane has been educated by thousands of clients and their dogs, and she learns something new every day!She wants to give special mention to her personal passed dogs, Taki, Shadow, Toby, Pasha, and Greta. Her current dogs are 12 year old Willow, a Staffy, Shiba Inu, Basenji mix and 5 year old Mimi a Lagotto Romagnolo.Links:Pumpkin Pups Dog TrainingPumpkin Pups Membership Learning ProgramContact for clients about training offeringsInformation and contact for coaching services: pumpkinpups@gmail.com Ask the Trainer - Always Free every Saturday except some Holiday weekends: Private Pumpkin Pups FB groupTheme music composed and performed by Andy SellsContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram

In this episode, Dr. E'Lise Christensen (DVM, DACVB) and Laura Rhodes share the story behind the evolution of Behavior Vets and why building resilience is our focus for helping animals and humans. We discuss:The value of building a community for behavioral care.The growth and evolution of Behavior Vets.Building a supportive and welcoming team culture builds resilience to adversity."You are not alone" and supporting people through the toughest decision.Building resilience for animals and wanting it for people. * Correction: There are less than 100 veterinary behaviorists certified by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists but there are some certified by other organizations internationally. There are probably less than 500 certified veterinary behaviorists worldwide.* Correction: Dr. C meant to say she grew up next to a farm but not actually on one. Dr. C's bio:Dr. E'Lise Christensen (DVM, DACVB) is a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and an international lecturer and author. Dr. C received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University in 2002.Dr C is always working on new ideas to support animals, families, trainers, and veterinary colleagues as they learn more about behavior and manage animals with behavioral disorders. Laura's bio:Laura, a Certified Fear Free™ Professional, is currently pursuing a BA in psychology and plans to study ethology in graduate school. She hopes to one day apply environmental enrichment strategies and animal psychology to improve the welfare of wild animals who have landed in captivity.Laura found her passion for working with animals at a young age and in high school she began volunteering at The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado. In pursuit of more hands-on experience, she landed in South Africa where she worked with cheetahs, tigers, elephants, and crocodiles and Costa Rica where she learned the process of rehabilitation and slow release of wildlife.Back home, she worked in the client care department of Community Pet Hospital, a 24-hour emergency service for dogs and cats. Laura joined the team at Behavior Vets in 2018 as a Behavior Technician.Links:More about Dr. CMore about Laura RhodesLearn with Behavior Vets online!Theme music composed and performed by Andy SellsContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram

This is the real life story of Freddie, an adorable and mischievous miniature Australian Shepherd pup, who suffered from separation anxiety in NYC. Freddie's humans welcomed him home as a young puppy and were determined to do everything right. But his problems with separation anxiety were beyond what they could handle on their own and they became trapped in their own home. Desperate for help, Freddie's humans sent him to a board and train facility and ended up with a very traumatized pup. Sound familiar? Don't miss this episode if your pet is suffering from separation-related problems. Jenna's bio:New Jersey native Jenna Gallicchio founded Bedminster's premiere training center, All Star Paws Dog Training Academy, which she ran from 2004 until joining Behavior Vets in 2022. She has 20 years of experience teaching group, private, and virtual classes to help dogs struggling with fear, anxiety, and reactivity. She earned her CSAT (Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer) in 2015 and has focused on helping owners whose dogs struggle to be left alone ever since. Jenna is the author of two best selling books, “The Secret To Getting Your Dog To Do What You Want” and “Teach Your Dog To Pee and Poop Outside: Housetraining Made Easy”.  Her programs The Housetraining Made Easy Video Series and the Ring My Bell Program which accompany the books are helping people all over the world to house train their pups. You can also find her as a featured expert on Malena DeMartini's blog “Me, Emmy and Separation Anxiety” and as the expert trainer for Bedminster's own CB Pet Market where she created their two most popular webinar training programs, “Separation Anxiety” and “From Puppy Overwhelm to Puppy Love”.Links:Separation Anxiety Preventionhttps://behaviorvetsnyc.com/Jenna's books:The Secret To Getting Your Dog To Do What You WantTeach Your Dog To Pee and Poop Outside: Housetraining Made EasyContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram

In this episode, Dr. Alexandra Horowitz discusses how dogs perceive the world and understanding what is meaningful to them. We discuss:The concept of the umwelt and how to imagine what it's like to be a dog.Her research at the Dog Cognition Lab in Barnard College and how she would like it to influence the way we live with dogs. Questioning things we think we know about dogs with empirical research.Her new book The Year of the Puppy: How Dogs Become ThemselvesDr. Horowitz's bio:Dr. Alexandra Horowitz heads the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard College, where she also teaches seminars in canine cognition, creative nonfiction writing, and audio storytelling. She is the author of 5 books, including Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know and, most recently, The Year of the Puppy: How Dogs Become Themselves. She lives with her family of Homo sapiens, Canis familiaris, and Felis catus in New York City.Links:Opportunities for dog caregivers to participate in research at the Dog Cognition Lab @ Barnard Collegehttp://alexandrahorowitz.net/Theme music composed and performed by Andy SellsContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram

In our second Behavior Files case, Jeanne Clune and her client Rhys navigates a difficult case involving Taz, an 8 year-old miniature pinscher who suffers from both medical and behavioral issues. Little Taz exhibited a long list of behavior issues including aggression towards strangers, aggression related to handling, separation anxiety, resource guarding, reluctance walking outside, and house soiling. Due to Taz's anxiety, Rhys struggled to help Taz adapt to the urban environment of Brooklyn, NY. In addition, treating his medical issues required daily handling that could trigger bites. The case started in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown when in-person training was not possible. How did Jeanne help Rhys and Taz through their journey by remote training? What were the keys to treating Taz's anxiety and aggressive behavior? Jeanne's bio:Jeanne Clune is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Behavior Consultant, and Fear Free Certified Trainer. She sees clients in Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties.Jeanne worked previously as the Director of Behavior and Enrichment at the SPCA of Westchester and with private clients through her own training company Joyful Pets of Westchester. During her tenure with the SPCA of Westchester, she started the Fearful Dog Rehabilitation Program and led the The Way Home Program. Through these ventures, Jeanne offered special training and enrichment to dogs with behavioral challenges that otherwise might not be considered for adoption. She successfully helped modify the behavior of dogs surrendered with separation anxiety and fear, and placed hundreds of dogs into forever homes. Most importantly, Jeanne helps families develop a healthy and harmonious environment for training, healing and fun. She has run free community workshops in Westchester for owners with dogs with behavioral issues and is the creator of a Shelter Trainer Forum that provides trainers a platform to discuss behavior modification techniques and share their success in preparing an animal for their new homes. Jeanne is a faculty member of CATCH Canine Trainers Academy. She is a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), Pet Professional Guild (PPG), and Association of Pet Dog Trainer (APDT).  Jeanne currently resides in Patterson NY with her husband and a very special canine, Hank. You might spot Jeanne and Hank working with clients on leash reactivity in the local parks. In her free time, she loves to travel, share Reiki with animals at local shelters, snorkel, hike, paddle board, practice yoga or walk in the woods in quiet admiration of our animal kingdom. LinksThe Resilience in Dogs webinarhttps://behaviorvetsnyc.com/Contact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram

In this episode, Dr. Feuerbacher joins co-hosts Lauren Novack (ACDBC, KPA-CTP, FPPE) and Ferdie Yau (MA, CPDT-KA) to talk about what it's like to build a Master's program in Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare and her ultimate goal of improving standards for animal training and welfare. We dive into:What it was like to develop a Master's program at Virginia Tech in Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare from the ground up.Challenging her students to question accepted training lores in order to advance our knowledge of applied animal behavior.The need for more rigorous qualifications to become professional dog trainers and the injustice to dog guardians because of the system we have now.Her thoughts on LIMA, CAT, and how she likes to train animals. Dr. Feuerbacher's bio:Dr. Erica Feuerbacher is an Associate Professor in Animal & Poultry Sciences atVirginia Tech and director of the Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare Lab, where she focuses her research on dogs and horses. She also coordinates the online Masters program in Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare at Virginia Tech. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Florida in the UF Canine Cognition and Behavior Lab and her Master's in Behavior Analysis at the University of North Texas in the Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies with Animals. She is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. Her research and publications focus on understanding domestic animal behavior and learning from a behavior analytic perspective, using applied animal behavior to solve behavioral issues in dogs and horses, and identifying interventions that improve shelter dog welfare. She is passionate about humane, effective animal training, and working with owners, trainers, and shelter staff to improve our interactions with animals.Links:Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare Lab at Virginia Tech FB page www.facebook.com/aabvtVirginia Tech's Online Master of Agricultural and Life Sciences program with a concentration in Applied Animal Behavior & Welfarehttp://www.ericanfeuerbacher.com/Theme music composed and performed by Andy SellsContact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram

For the debut of "The Behavior Files", a series of real life case studies shared by the Behavior Vets team, Fanna and her client Christina attempt to treat canine compulsive disorder (CCD) exhibited by Rigg, a 1.5 yo bull terrier. Rigg will compulsively chase his tail and chomp at it, to the point of injuring himself or anyone who attempts to interrupt him. According to Tufts University, up to 85% of bull terrier litters will exhibit some form of CCD. Find out the history of Rigg's CCD and how Fanna helps her client manage and treat the very serious disorder. What steps did they take? Will they be successful? What kind of effect does Rigg's CCD have on his quality of life with Christina? Fanna's bio:Fanna Easter is based in Lafayette, Louisiana and has a special focus on separation anxiety and compulsive behaviors. She is a Certified Separation Anxiety Dog Trainer, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Fear Free Animal Trainer and Karen Pryor Academy graduate. She has been instructing dog training group classes and behavior consults for over 30 years. Living with Bull Terriers, Fanna is fascinated by canine obsessive compulsive disorders. Fanna is well known throughout the Bull Terrier world for her extensive knowledge pertaining to CCD and skilled at creating behavior modification programs for extremely challenging CCD cases with great success. Fanna is an industry expert who has been quoted in VICE News, HGTV, Newsweek, Animal Wellness, Dogs Naturally, and Forbes. She is the current Chair for the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). Fanna spent 5 years as Petco's National Dog Training Expert where she and her team developed a new positive reinforcement training program that launched nationwide to over 2,000 stores. While at Petco she also created the Petco Dog Training Instructor Program and the Petco separation anxiety course. Additionally, Fanna developed the updated the dog trainer curriculum for Animal Behavior College. Fanna loves Bull Terriers and shares her home with a Miniature Bull Terrier, Eli. When she's not working with animals, Fanna enjoys attending festivals and conformation dog shows and is learning to appreciate yoga and meditation.Links:https://behaviorvets.com/Contact Behavior Vets tweet us @BehaviorVets follow us on Facebook email us at nyc@behaviorvets.com follow us on Instagram

In this episode, Lauren shares the findings from her research on dog activity in fenced yards and the impact of fenced yard requirements on dog adoptions. It is so common for shelters to require a fenced yard for dogs for various reasons, most commonly for very active dogs. But do fenced yards really make a difference on dog activity levels? Are shelters unnecessarily limiting the pool of potential adopters with a fenced yard requirement? We discuss:How dog activity levels sync with human activityOwner perceptions of their dog's activity level compared with the resultsHow important are fenced yards for highly active dogs?The potential impact of fenced yard requirements on dog adoptionsA better understanding of activity levels in dogs can increase the success of adoptionsLauren's bio: Lauren Tsao, BS, CDBC, CPDT-KA is one of Mississippi's only Certified Professional Dog Trainers - Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) and Certified Dog Behavior Consultants (CDBC). She founded Faithfully Yours Dog Training, LLC in 2014 to help dog owners live stress-free lives with their faithful companions after adopting a project dog of her own. Through her business she provides training and behavioral consultations for a variety of animal species both in-person on her beautiful 11-acre farm in Mississippi and virtually to anyone in the world.Lauren has an Associate of Arts with a concentration in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She is currently completing her Master's degree in Agricultural and Life Sciences with a concentration in Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare at Virginia Tech. Her research focuses on dog activity levels and animal shelter policy.Her expert opinion has been featured by Honest Kitchen, 4Knines, SuperTalk MS, WLBT/FOX40, and more. Additionally, Lauren is available to serve as an expert witness for dog bite and dog aggression legal cases.Links:Lauren's Thesis: The Great Outdoors: Fenced Yards and Their Impact on Companion Dog Activity and Adoption Faithfully Yours Dog Training, LLCFaithfully Yours Dog Training FacebookApplied Animal Behavior and Welfare Program at Virginia Tech

In this episode, Evia Russell and I talk about the benefits of cooperative care training and how important it is if you want to keep your pet as healthy as possible. Do you have a pet who panics at the vet clinic? Do you struggle to do routine grooming with your pet? Are you filled with dread every time your pet has a medical issue because they can't be touched by a veterinarian? Fear not! Learn more about cooperative care training and our new virtual Happy Handling program. We discuss:Why cooperative care training should be an essential part of pet careThe difference between a "need" and a "want" in veterinary careBenefits to the human-animal bond through cooperative care trainingGiving animals agency and "Start" and "Stop" button behaviorsShort-term investment for long-term gain for veterinarians and caretakersLaunching our new Happy Handling virtual coaching programEvia's bio:Evia Russell is a CDBC and graduated from Carleton College with a B.A. in Animal Behavior. Evia worked in shelters and rescues before transitioning into the veterinary field. She followed her heart to Colorado where she accepted a position at Behavior Vets. She trained with Debbie Martin, renowned for cooperative care and is also a Fear-Free (TM) Certified Veterinary Professional. Evia is also Fear-Free (TM) Certified, a consultant through the IAABC, and is going to vet school at St George's University starting January of 2023 in order to offer more cooperative handling throughout the veterinary world. Links:Contact Behavior Vets at info@behaviorvets.com if you are interested in the Happy Handling Program!Interesting studies for a deeper dive into cooperative care training:Bertilsson, E., & Johnson Vegh, E. (2019). Animals in control – Start-button case studies. Video On Demand, Karen Pryor Clicker Training. https://video. clickertraining.com/programs/animals-in-control- start-button-case-studies?cid=719162Ramirez, K. (2012). Marine Mammal Training: The History of Training Animals for Medical Behaviors and Keys to Their Success. Veterinary Clinic Exotic Animal Practice, 15, 413-423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvex.2012.06.005Stellato, A.C., Jajou, S., Dewey, C.E., Widowski, T.M., Niel, L. (2019). Effects of a Standardized Four-Week Desensitization and Counter-Conditioning Training Program on Pre-Existing Veterinary Fear in Companion Dogs. Animals, 9, 767. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9100767 Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells

In this episode, Debbie Jacobs (CPDT-KA, RBT) shares key lessons she has learned from treating fear in humans and non-human animals. I love what Debbie has to say about why working with different species forces us to question what we think we know about behavior.  We discuss:The animal trainers retreat at Lemon's Hope SanctuaryHow Debbie learned about applied behavior analysisThree strands for working with fearful animalsHow to find the starting point with helping an animal feel safe and learnThoughts on the constructional approachDebbie's bio:Debbie Jacobs is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and a Registered Behavior Technician which qualifies her to work with a range of behavior challenges and skill deficits in people, under the supervision of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She is the creator of the fearfuldogs.com website and the author of A Guide To Living With & Training a Fearful Dog and Does My Dog Need Prozac?She lives in Vermont where she offers onsite educational workshops for trainers interested in taking a deeper dive into Applied Behavior Analysis as it can be used to address challenging behavior problems. She provides info and support to owners, foster caregivers, trainers and anyone trying to help dogs struggling with fear, anxiety, reactivity or aggression. Links:Debbie's website https://fearfuldogs.comEvents for trainer professionalsTheme music composed and performed by Andy Sells 

In this episode, Kayla Fratt tells us about conservation detection dog training and how trained detection dogs are increasingly becoming an important tool in wildlife conservation and management. If you love wildlife and dog training and you've wondered how you might be able to help save wildlife, pay attention to this episode. We discuss:What is the growing field of conservation detection dog training?The traits that Kayla looks for in a good detection dog.Interesting projects Kayla has worked on with detection dogs.Challenges in the field and other factors affecting detection dog performance.Skills important for detection dog handlers to learn.Developing an online conservation detection dog handler course.Kayla's bio:Kayla Fratt is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and the founder of K9 Conservationists. She is passionate about using humane and effective training techniques to train dogs to help biologists with their research.Links:K9conservationists.org Instagram @k9conservationists TikTok @k9conservationists Twitter @kaylafrattK9 Conservationists PodcastTheme music composed and performed by Andy Sells

In this episode, Dr. Kathy Murphy (BVetMed, DPhil, CVA, CLAS, MRCVS ) discusses how pain is frequently overlooked as an important component of behavior problems. Don't miss this episode. We discuss:The challenges of understanding and treating pain in animalsTakeaways from the landmark Mills et al. (2020) study "Pain and Problem Behavior in Cats and Dogs"Direct and indirect effects of pain on the nervous system and behaviorHow to be a "pain detective" to help your vet diagnose medical issuesDr. Murphy's bio:Dr Kathy Murphy (BVetMed, DPhil, CVA, CLAS, MRCVS) is a veterinary surgeon and neuroscientist. She graduated from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons UK in 1999, initially working in mixed clinical practice before studying for two post graduate clinical qualifications with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, in Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, and Laboratory Animal Science.In 2009 she was awarded a highly prestigious Wellcome Trust Research Training Fellowship to study for her PhD, in Behavioral Neuroscience, at The Queens College, University of Oxford, UK. She subsequently worked in the USA as Assistant Professor of Neuroscience and Anesthesiology at the Icahn School of Medicine NYC, where her research into the long term effects of anesthesia on learning and memory contributed to a change to the safety advice for the use of general anesthesia in children. She moved back to the UK in 2013, to take up clinical-academic positions at the University of Oxford and subsequently Newcastle University, and concurrently completed a Residency in Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia with the European College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, during which she became increasingly interested in how pain re-models the nervous system and this can manifest as behavioral problems in pets.Dr Murphy founded, and is now Director of, Barking Brains Ltd (a neuroscience outreach platform for the animal behavior and training community), which focuses on translating neuroscientific information into practical and useful information for people interested in animal behavior. In order to maximize the impact of her diverse interests and skill set, Dr Murphy teamed up with Behavior Vets LLC in 2022 as the new Chief Scientific Officer. She is now able to focus on her new found passion for science communication and providing evidence based, up to date, accessible, scientific information to clinicians, animal professionals and their clients, about subjects related to pain, behavior, neurobiology and the many interrelated factors.In addition to Dr Murphy's primary career roles she was Trustee and Veterinary Advisor to the Rottweiler Welfare Association for 14 years; is co-founder of Ethics First (a collective which lobbies for ethical decision making in clinical practice); is an Oversight Committee Member for the UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter; sits on numerous National and International boards, working groups and ethical review panels; is an ad-hoc reviewer for neuroscience, veterinary medicine and anesthesia and pain journals; and continues to collaborate on research projects. Dr Murphy lives in the UK with her husband Elliot (ex Search and Rescue handler and now scentwork and mantrailing trainer) and their 5 dogs: Dennis a Yorkshire Terrier mix, Nancy a Rottweiler mix, Zebedee and Nela the German Shorthaired Pointers and Albi a Weimaraner.Links:Pain Rewires the Brain SeriesMills et al. 2020. Pain and Problem Behaviors in Cats and DogsBarking BrainsTheme music composed and performed by Andy Sells

In this episode, Trish McMillan bravely shares her experiences with dangerous rescue dogs and the unintended side effects of a 100% No-Kill policy by shelters and rescues. This is an important episode for anyone involved with working for shelters and rescues. We discuss:Can training fix every single behavior issue?How a 100% No-Kill policy may place more high-risk dogs into your community.If every safe and family-friendly rescue dog is spayed/neutered, will it be harder to find safe family dogs in shelters?Creating an adoptability criteria document for your shelter or rescueTrish's bio:Trish McMillan holds a Master of Science degree in animal behavior, and is a certified professional dog trainer, certified dog behavior consultant and associate certified cat behavior consultant.  She has been involved in the animal rescue and sheltering world since the mid-1990's, starting out as a volunteer and working her way up to director of animal behavior. She worked for the ASPCA for nearly eight years; first as Director of Animal Behavior at their NYC shelter, then as a behaviorist on their field team, helping assess and rehabilitate dogs from cruelty cases, dogfighting and hoarding situations, then she joined the Shelter Research and Development team. Trish currently does animal behavior consulting near Asheville, North Carolina, working with dogs, cats and horses. Her farm, Pibble Hill, is home to a happy herd of animals of five species. Trish speaks and consults nationally and internationally on animal sheltering issues, dog, cat, and horse behavior, dog aggression, and defensive handling. Her online shelter dog behavior mentorship has helped students from around the world apply best practices at their respective shelters and rescues.Links:Shelter Behavior Hub: https://trish-s-school-bcb6.thinkific.comhttps://trishmcmillan.com/https://www.facebook.com/McMillanAnimalBehaviorhttps://www.facebook.com/shelterbehaviorhub Shelter dog (and hopefully soon shelter cat) behavior mentorships here: https://trish-s-school-bcb6.thinkific.com/collections?category=coursesTheme music composed and performed by Andy Sells

In this episode, Eric Gillaspy shares his tips for dog owners to get the most out of group training classes. Highlights include:Why having a great time with your dog or puppy should be the priorityThe value of taking class field trips and how to be safeHelping dogs focus on the handler in distracting environmentsThe pros and cons of group class vs private lessonsHow to recognize when a group class is not the right learning environment for your dogEric's bio:Eric's dog training career started in Seattle, Washington at the Academy of Canine Behavior. There, he specialized in working with aggressive dogs. Simultaneously, he taught classes at Downtown Dog Lounge and was the head trainer at Pit Bull Rescue.Eric moved to Colorado in 2004 and became a Certified Professional Dog Trainer in 2006. For the past 15 years, he was the head trainer at Lone Tree Vet. There, he built and ran a wide variety of behavior services including Boarding School and Playcamp, ran AKC STAR puppy classes and Canine Good Citizen evaluations, and provided private lessons both in home and at the facility.His written work has been featured on Petfinders, Petocracy, and Good Dogs Rule.In his free time, he loves to spend time with his wife Karen and dogs Lulu, Knuckles, and Kitty. He is in his element in the mountains or on a river, especially if he's on a snowboard or kayak.Links:How to Find Erichttps://behaviorvetsco.com/Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells

In this episode, Jen Deane discusses her work in creating prison dog training programs and the transformative power of dogs. Highlights include:How Jen selected the dogs for the programThe power of a dog's unconditional loveThe life lessons the human participants learned from their dogsThe story of Sugar Momma and her trainerHow troubled men and dogs helped each other turn their lives aroundJen's bio:Jennifer Deane is a New Jersey native who lived most of her life in Jacksonville, Florida and now resides in South Carolina. She is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer working as a remote Behavior Consultant for Behavior Vets. Jen worked with dogs from dog fighting cases, hoarding cases and animal cruelty cases for most of her professional career. Jen has worked with several shelters in Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina in evaluating, placing, and rehabilitating dogs as well as counseling adopters. Although Jen specializes in dogs, specifically pit bulls, Jen has helped many families with both dogs and cats. For three years, Jen ran a prison training program at the county, state and federal levels where inmates were responsible for rehabilitating and training shelter dogs. Jen currently volunteers with Animal Rescue Corps, is on the Board of Directors for the Friends of Bahamas Animals and is on the Board of Directors for the Miami Coalition Against Breed Specific Legislation. She has presented at the Florida Animal Control Association Conference and has assisted and trained several shelters in canine behavior modification and training. Jen also has had the honor of working closely with world renowned canine aggression expert, Jim Crosby.  Over the many years of her career, Jen has been quoted in People, Good Morning America, ABC News, Washington Post,  the book “Rescued” by NY Times Bestselling Author Peter Zheutlin,  Florida Times-Union, Chicago Tribune,  and has appeared on many times in television segments about shelters and pit bulls.   Jen enjoys spending time with her rescued dogs and cats, as well as her daughter. She also enjoys visiting local wineries, the beach in Florida, and the mountains in the Carolinas.Links:Jen's book: True Tails: A Must Read Story About Dog RescueFind Jen Deane hereTheme music composed and performed by Andy Sells