Hi all! A quick announcement – I will be hosting a webinar tomorrow evening (Thursday, 7/13) through the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, all about pre-visit medication for dogs who struggle with anxiety or aggression issues at the vet’s office. The webinar is open to anyone who wants to sign up, so feel free to join me if you’re interested! **Note: you DO NOT have to attend the webinar live, if it doesn’t fit with your schedule. As long as you’re…
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Today, I want to shed some light on a sometimes confusing, often maligned topic in the field of dog training – namely, the use of medication to treat behavior problems. You may have strong opinions about this already, and that’s okay. Many of my clients do. My goal with this discussion is not to convince you of anything in particular, but simply to provide information and clarify some misunderstandings that I often see. Medication may be an excellent, life-changing choice…
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Hi all, A few quick announcements about upcoming events! Webinar on canine pancreatitis I will be hosting a webinar tomorrow evening (Thursday, 11/10) through the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, all about pancreatitis in dogs – what causes it, what to expect at your vet’s office if you think your dog might have it, and what we know about preventing future episodes in dogs who are prone to recurrence. **Note: you DO NOT have to attend the webinar live, if it…
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I do offer remote consultations on a limited basis, for dog owners with behavior concerns. This is something I get emails about fairly frequently, so I wanted to put together a quick resource on my blog site with all the details about how it works! Because I am a veterinarian, there are strict laws regarding what I can (and can’t!) do remotely. The veterinary practice act in most states (including WV, where I’m located) requires a physical exam in person…
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Welcome back! Today, we’re going to plow ahead with our discussion about how to help fearful or aggressive dogs feel more comfortable with visitors. If you missed my previous post on this topic, you should probably go back and give it a quick look before reading further, since today’s discussion will build on that. Last time, I talked a bit about how I normally interact with fearful dogs when I do home visits. In today’s post, I’m going to outline…
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Well, dear readers – this is really something, isn’t it? Like so many of you, I have spent the past few weeks reeling at the sudden changes in both our daily routines, and in our sense of safety and security about the world. I know these are anxious times for all of us. My dogs and I are safely hunkered down at home, eating snacks and watching Netflix – I hope you and yours are safe as well. Many of…
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Hi all, I’m excited to announce that I will be doing another webinar through the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy this Thursday, March 21st! This time, the topic will be medical issues and behavior – how physical problems can impact your dog’s behavior, and when to be suspicious of an underlying medical problem when you’re dealing with anxiety or aggression. The webinar is open to anyone who wants to sign up, so feel free to join me if you’re interested! **Note:…
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As a veterinarian in general practice, seeing a brand new puppy for a wellness check-up is one of my favorite parts of the job. (I’d wager this is true for most vets – ask anyone!) Puppies are cute, and obnoxious, and very, very busy. They sniff all around the exam room, jump up to say hello, and try their best to eat my shoelaces. They chew on my stethoscope while I auscult their hearts. They eat treats eagerly when offered,…
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Hi all, I’m excited to announce that I will be doing a set of webinars on the topic of behavior medications in dogs on Thursday, August 9th through the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. These are open to anyone who wants to sign up, so feel free to join me if you’re curious about behavior meds and how they work! **Note: you DO NOT have to attend the webinar live, if it doesn’t fit with your schedule. As long as you’re…
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For today’s post, I want to switch gears a bit and highlight some awesome ways that you can delve deeper into the nitty-gritty details of dog training and behavior – for those who are so inclined. From time to time, I have readers contact me to ask my thoughts on the best way to become a professional dog trainer. I also have readers (and in-person students!) who simply find themselves fascinated with the science of how dogs learn, and how…
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