Dog training advice. When hiring a dog trainer, it’s important to consider several key factors to ensure a successful experience for both you and your dog. First, look for a trainer with proper credentials and experience, ideally certified by a recognized organization like the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) or the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP). Their training philosophy is also important. Positive reinforcement techniques are widely recommended as they encourage good behavior through rewards rather than punishment.
Consider the trainer’s experience with your dog’s specific breed or behavioral issues. Communication is vital, so choose someone who is patient, listens to your concerns, and explains training techniques clearly. It’s also helpful to observe a session or ask for references to gauge the trainer’s effectiveness and approach. Remember that training is a partnership; the trainer should involve you in the process, teaching you how to reinforce good behavior at home. Ensure that the dog training environment is safe and conducive to learning, whether it’s in a group setting or private sessions. By thoroughly evaluating these aspects, you can hire a dog trainer who will help your pet develop good habits, improve behavior, and strengthen your bond.
by Sandra Roosna, Professional Dog Trainer, CCDT, FDM, & owner of Benny’s Best Dog Training.
Want your dog to listen to you? Be someone worth listening to.
How?
Establish a relationship with your dog.
Your relationship is the basis for trust and safety. It is what helps your dog to recognize that you make the right decisions, so they don’t feel the need to step up to the plate when a situation may call for it (what we define as “misbehavior”). (more…)
By Alex Eaton, owner of Healing Bay Pet Nutrition.
Adopting a Dog or Cat. Congratulations! You have made the wonderful decision to adopt a furry family member. It’s an exciting feeling, but figuring out the next steps can be a little daunting — especially for those new to pet parenting. Whether you’re adopting a new fluffy puppy or a senior kitty, here are some important tips and tricks you need to know to build a strong relationship with your new pet — and ensure they have proper care from the moment they arrive home.
As responsible pet parents, staying abreast of the latest available pet health and wellness care services available is important for ensuring the well-being of our furry companions. Recent strides in veterinary technology have revolutionized the way pet parents access essential veterinary services, making it more convenient than ever to provide optimal care for our beloved pets.
While the terms vet telehealth and veterinary telemedicine may seem interchangeable, it’s important to recognize that these two pet care services serve distinct purposes. Vet telehealth primarily focuses on providing advice and guidance related to a pet’s general health and wellness, whereas veterinary telemedicine mirrors an in-person veterinary visit, enabling veterinarians to diagnose conditions and prescribe medication remotely. In this guide, we’ll delve into the differences between these services and how pet parents can utilize them to support their furry friends effectively.
Vet telehealth utilizes electronic communication methods, such as video calls, to provide pet parents with access to education, resources, and advice concerning their pet’s health. This service is invaluable for addressing various aspects of pet care, including nutritional planning, behavior and training consultations, emergency triage guidance, preventative care advice, and assistance with international or interstate travel planning. Conversely, veterinary telemedicine involves virtual consultations guided by state regulations, akin to traditional in-person veterinary visits. These consultations enable veterinarians to review a pet’s medical history, prescribe or adjust medications, discuss treatment options, order blood work and diagnostics, and address non-emergency health concerns. Additionally, telemedicine services can facilitate end-of-life or palliative care planning, offering pet parents compassionate support during difficult times.
Veterinary telemedicine services offer unparalleled flexibility for pet parents, allowing them to seek care for their pets from the comfort of their own homes. There are now many online platforms which utilize video consultations to address non-emergency pet issues, providing a stress-free alternative to traditional veterinary visits. During these video consultations, veterinarians discuss the pet’s health needs with the pet parent, offering diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and, when appropriate, prescription medication. Despite its convenience, telemedicine is intended solely for non-emergency pet issues. In cases of serious or life-threatening medical emergencies, prompt care should be sought at an emergency or urgent care clinic.
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Vet telehealth services offer unparalleled flexibility for pet parents, allowing them to seek care for their pets from the comfort of their own homes. Platforms like Petworks utilize video consultations to address non-emergency pet care services needs, such as dog training sessions and consultations with animal nutritionists, providing a stress-free alternative to traditional vet visits.
Telehealth and telemedicine services represent the future of veterinary care, offering numerous advantages that enhance accessibility, communication, and efficiency. By harnessing technology to access veterinary guidance and support, pet parents can save time, receive timely assistance, and strengthen their bond with their veterinary teams. As these technology-driven services continue to evolve and expand, it’s evident that they are here to stay, revolutionizing the way pet parents engage with veterinary care. By embracing telehealth and telemedicine, pet parents can take proactive steps towards safeguarding the health and well-being of their beloved pets, ensuring they receive the care and attention they deserve, whenever and wherever they need it.
In 2021, Dr. Marty Goldstein DVM joined the pet care platform Petworks as an advisor in its Animal Nutrition care division. Dr Marty Nature’s Blend is on a mission to help your pets live their healthiest lives possible. Dr. Marty’s pet nutrition expertise and guidance has helped Petworks evolve and become the preeminent animal and pet nutrition consultation service for pet parents in North America.
In 2022, Blue Buffalo Founder Bill Bishop Jr. joined Petworks as Senior Advisor in our Animal Nutrition Care Division. Bill brings his extensive expertise in pet food innovation and business leadership. His guidance helps Petworks enhance our pet nutrition service offerings, helping to ensure that pet parents throughout the world receive trusted, science-backed nutritional support for their dogs, cats, and animals.
About The Author
Petworks Co-Founder Kevin Kinyon is a life-long animal lover who works tirelessly to improve the lives of pets and their parents. Human and animal qualities he values most are integrity, humor, and empathy.
by Suzanne Fuqua, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA.
We love our pets, there’s no question about that. And love includes feelings of affection and attachment, care, closeness, and trust.
How can we show love to our pets beyond the basics of appropriate care? By understanding them and being patient when we don’t understand them. Canine emotion and cognition are being studied more and more and provide us with a peek into the secrets of how dogs think about the world and us. Then there are those mysterious felines that are beginning to be studied and are revealing more about what might be going on inside their heads. (more…)
by Molly Krutkramelis, Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)
You read that right; dumb dogs don’t have problems.
A majority of behaviors that owners get frustrated with are a result of having a smart dog. Dogs are always learning, and highly intelligent dogs can quickly learn behaviors that we might not have intended.
Let’s begin with a story of a scared little puppy. One day you notice that every time you turn on a water faucet your 12-week-old puppy is running, shaking and hiding under the bed. What happened? This behavior seems to have come out of nowhere. Why is my puppy so scared? What you didn’t see is that one night while doing dishes you dropped a pan making a very loud bang. Your puppy was close to you and made the association that running water makes scary loud noises happen.
Why did this association happen? Understanding what occurred involves some understanding of Classical Conditioning. Classical conditioning involves creating a conditioned response to a conditioned stimulus. This is done in a few steps:
Step 1: An Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) results in an Unconditioned Response (UCR).
Step 2: Conditioned Stimulus (CS) is paired with the Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) resulting in an Unconditioned Response (UCR).
Step 3: Conditioned Stimulus (CS) results in Unconditioned Response (UR) which is now considered a Conditioned Response (CR).
The father of Classical Conditioning is Ivan Pavlov. Many people are familiar with Pavlov’s dogs. Pavlov conditioned dogs to salivate on cue. The stimulus of the ringing bell (CS) was paired with food (UCS) which resulted in the dogs salivating (UCR). After many repetitions the dogs are conditioned to salivate at the sound of the bell. The higher a dog’s intelligence, the fewer repetitions are needed to form this conditioned response.
Step 1: UCS Food = UCR Salivation
Step 2: UCS Food + CS Bell = UCR Salivation
Step 3: CS Bell = CR Salivation
Let’s take a look at the story above and how we can apply classical conditioning. The water is initially a neutral stimulus and the bang from the pan is an unconditioned stimulus that results in fear, an unconditioned response. Your 12-week-old puppy is very smart because it only took one repetition for him to learn that running water is scary. A less intelligent dog would take many, many repetitions to make this unfortunate conditioned response. Dumb dog’s don’t have problems because they take more repetitions to make these associations.
Step 1: UCS Loud Noise = UCR Shaking and Fear
Step 2: UCS Loud Noise + CS Running Water = UCR Shaking and Fear
Step 3: CS Running Water = CR Fear
The puppy in our story is very smart because he learned that water running is scary after only one exposure. If the story of this puppy sounds familiar to you, take comfort in knowing that you have a very smart pup on your hands. The bad news is, you have a very smart pup who makes very quick associations. Now what? Rest assured that if caught early, you can “re-train” your pup to no longer be scared of the running water, or any other surprise behaviors that might creep up that are undesired.
When you live with an animal you are always teaching something on purpose or by accident. Your dog will repeat behaviors that are reinforced. Make sure, especially with young pups, that they are learning the behaviors you desire. If a problem behavior comes up, think about what has happened recently and if your dog might have made an unintended association. Hiring a professional dog trainer or behaviorist can help you find those associations and work on training new associations that result in more desired behaviors.
At the end of the day, take comfort in knowing dumb dogs don’t have problems. Those problem behaviors you are seeing are because you have a highly intelligent pup and with some work and awareness your pup can learn all the best behaviors too!
Molly Krutkramelis is the owner of Optimal Training. Molly has an extensive background in mental health counseling and behavior modification techniques. She specializes in creating programs that are achievable and successful. Molly started training dogs in her teen years, following in the footsteps of her mother Sandy Myers who is a certified dog behavior consultant. Over the years, Molly and Sandy started and ran a successful business in Laramie, Wyoming. Now that Molly’s family has relocated to Southern California, she is excited to utilize her 20+ years of knowledge to help all family members live together in harmony.
