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Announcement: Upcoming Webinar on Anxiety Disorders in Dogs

Announcement: Upcoming Webinar on Anxiety Disorders in Dogs

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Hi all! A quick announcement – I will be hosting a webinar tomorrow evening (Thursday, 10/31) through the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy about anxiety issues in dogs. Full description and registration link are below. **Note: you DO NOT have to attend the webinar live, if it doesn’t fit with your schedule.  As long as you’re registered, a recording will be available for you to watch at your convenience.  But, you do need to make sure to register BEFORE the webinar…

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Announcement: Upcoming webinar on anxiety disorders in dogs

Announcement: Upcoming webinar on anxiety disorders in dogs

Hi all! A quick announcement – I will be hosting a webinar tomorrow evening (Thursday, 3/31) through the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy about anxiety issues in dogs. Full description and registration link are below. **Note: you DO NOT have to attend the webinar live, if it doesn’t fit with your schedule.  As long as you’re registered, a recording will be available for you to watch at your convenience.  But, you do need to make sure to register BEFORE the webinar…

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Will My Puppy Grow Out Of This? Early Intervention For Behavior Issues

Will My Puppy Grow Out Of This? Early Intervention For Behavior Issues

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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Vet Visits For Aggressive Dogs: A Case Study

Vet Visits For Aggressive Dogs: A Case Study

Today, I want to tell you a story about one of my favorite patients. Hudson is a 13-year-old Border Collie mix – very handsome, with a long fluffy coat and bright, intelligent eyes.  Like most dogs, he adores his family.  He’s getting a bit grey in the face now and he doesn’t see quite as well as he used to, but he’s extremely smart and his nose works just fine.  His favorite hobbies include snuggling on the couch with his…

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On “Fixing” Behavior Problems: Reachable Goals and Wishful Thinking

On “Fixing” Behavior Problems: Reachable Goals and Wishful Thinking

As part of my job, I spend a fair amount of time talking on the phone with potential clients who are interested in scheduling a behavior consult.  We talk briefly about the dog’s issues, the owner’s main concerns, and how the consultation visit works. Most of these people are good owners who love their dogs, and genuinely want to know how to help them.  Not surprisingly, many of them are also somewhat desperate for a solution – a dog with…

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Solutions For Separation Anxiety: How To Make “Alone Time” Less Scary

Solutions For Separation Anxiety: How To Make “Alone Time” Less Scary

Welcome back for this week’s follow-up post on separation anxiety!  If you missed my previous post on recognizing some tell-tale signs that should make you suspicious of this problem, you can find it here. Today, I want to delve a bit deeper into what we can do to help dogs with separation anxiety – including some details on what strategies worked well for our boy Duncan, many years ago.  We will also discuss some ways that you can be proactive…

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When Love Is A Double-Edged Sword: Recognizing Separation Anxiety

When Love Is A Double-Edged Sword: Recognizing Separation Anxiety

Today’s topic is one that has always been close to my heart, for reasons that I hope will soon become obvious.  This is the story of Duncan – my family’s very first dog.  My first agility partner, snuggle buddy, and all-around best friend.  I could fill a novel with all the things he taught me, and I will always be grateful that he was my canine “first love.” His story is painful to tell in some ways, because I see…

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When Obedience Isn’t The Answer

When Obedience Isn’t The Answer

“Hello!” The voice on the line is earnest and cheerful.  “I’m calling to sign my dog up for obedience class, please.” Of course, I say.  We have new class sessions starting every few weeks, and we’d be happy to help her sign up.  I ask for a bit more information about her dog, and what skills she’s hoping to work on in class. “Well, he’s a nice dog.  I mean, he’s great with the family.  But whenever strangers come around,…

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It’s Not “All In How You Raise Them”: The Role Of Genetics In Behavior

It’s Not “All In How You Raise Them”: The Role Of Genetics In Behavior

If you’re a dog owner, I’m sure you’ve heard this refrain. Conventional wisdom says that young puppies come to us as blank slates.  Full of promise and limitless potential, ready to be molded into your ideal companion as long as you do your part – provide lots of love, the right amount of discipline, and appropriate training along the way.  If you’re a caring, responsible pet owner, there’s no reason that your puppy should not grow up to be a…

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Behavior Medication: First-Line Therapy Or Last Resort?

Behavior Medication: First-Line Therapy Or Last Resort?

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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