Veterinary Behavior Specialties of Minnesota

08/19/2025

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Here’s the truth: there is no such thing as a guaranteed “kid friendly” dog breed!

✅ Dogs are individuals.

Just like people, dogs have unique personalities, sensitivities, and comfort levels. Even within the same breed or household, two dogs may react completely differently to the same child’s behavior.

✅ Labels can be risky.

When we assume a dog is automatically “kid friendly,” we may let our guard down—skipping supervision, ignoring stress signals, or expecting too much tolerance.

✅ What really matters:

• Active, adult supervision during all dog-child interactions 🧑‍🍼

• Teaching kids respectful behavior around dogs (no grabbing, hugging, or climbing) 🛑

• Setting up success stations (like gates, crates, or mats) so dogs always have a safe retreat spot 🛋️

• Watching for body language cues that show discomfort (lip licking, whale eye, stiff body) 👀

👉 Instead of looking for a “kid friendly” dog, look for ways to create a dog aware home where both your dog and your child feel safe, respected, and supported.

Because the safest dog is not the one labeled “kid friendly”… it’s the one who is set up for success. 💛

08/18/2025

"We are so grateful for VBS! We felt very hopeless at times and I’m so glad we didn’t give up on Arlo. There is honestly no way we could have kept him without the help of Dr. Hayes and her team. He is such a good boy, and they helped us actually get to see that side of him.

It was a very emotional journey. I still remember how I didn’t even want to try medication at first. But Dr. Hayes was patient, knowledgeable, and flexible with us every step of the way. My regular vet wasn’t as familiar with some of the options, so having this group’s support when we needed to tweak things was absolutely critical.

We couldn’t even get through basics before—like his vaccinations. We had to reschedule his appointment five different times before we gave up and sought out this additional support. Grooming and routine care felt impossible, and I used to dread vet visits months in advance. With the training techniques and medication recommendations from Dr. Hayes, those experiences have turned into something we feel confident we can handle safely, without further traumatizing Arlo.

They also taught us how to read and understand his body language better, which completely changed the way we interact with him. Now he’s happier, healthier, more trusting, and we feel so much more connected and confident with him.

I would love if our story helps someone else who feels the way we once did. There really is hope!"

Thanks for sharing your journey with Arlo.... ❤VBS

08/15/2025

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What is a Growl Zone? 🤔

These are tight, crowded spaces where a dog feels trapped—often with no clear escape route and/or near a valued resource (like food, a toy, or a resting spot).

If approached here, a dog may growl, snap, or even bite.

We can reduce the risk of conflict by planning ahead and preventing children from entering a dog’s growl zones!

One of the best ways to do this is by using success stations to give your dog a secure, undisturbed space.

Key Tips:

❌ DON’T: Let children corner a dog or enter their resting area (this includes crawling towards the dog)

✅ DO: Use success stations and proactive supervision to create a safe play space for kids and a peaceful retreat for your dog.

*THIS IS A STOCK PHOTO AND AN INTERACTION WE DO NOT ENCOURAGE*

Comment GROWL and we will send you our FREE resource on Grumble & Growl Zones!

08/14/2025

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When we live with dogs, sometimes we can find the things they do problematic. The term 'behaviour problem' is commonly used, but the truth is that most of the dog behaviours we see are normal and natural dog behaviours. They are not really a problem as far as the dog is concerned, but they are somet...

08/13/2025

"When I adopted Nelson in 2020, I didn't realize all that went into adopting a shelter pup. I quickly grew a strong bond with him, but I also quickly realized he was filled with panic and anxiety any time I would try to leave him alone in the house. Without knowing anything from the first year of his life, I worked with his general vet to find a medication that might work for him, but we just kept running into walls. I tried everything in the book - calming sprays, thunder vests, CBD chews, the dog stuffed animal with a heart beat, calming music, food to occupy him, even mimicking my body with pillows and the scent of my clothes to trick him into thinking I was still there. I finally hit a turning point when nothing was working and his panic just kept getting worse. I couldn't leave Nelson alone in my house for more than 20 seconds without him starting to panic.

Working with Dr. Hayes and the entire behavior team has been life changing. It can feel so isolating to have a dog with separation anxiety; I truly never thought he would improve. After a few years of juggling medication dose changes, daily training with Nelson (from working with the behavior trainers), and the most patient dog sitters, I can finally leave Nelson for 6+ hours! He is now so confident that I will eventually come home, plus his general anxiety has almost gone away! I'm so glad I never gave up on Nelson and that he's living a stress-free life ❤ "

Thank you so much for sharing your journey with Nelson. ❤VBS

08/12/2025

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WHAT THE F? –
Stress responses in dogs

Fight or flight are well known reactions to fear or stress, but these other “F” words are also important to understand and be aware of as they may not always look obvious.

Freeze, Fawn, Fidget and Fool around are also responses to stress or fear and are also commonly seen in people.

Some dogs may have a genetic predisposition to one type of response while some react based on previous or a learnt experience - what has worked before or what hasn’t.

Some dogs will have different reactions depending on the specific context.

Recognising and taking note of situations or circumstances where these responses are seen is important to understand how our dogs are feeling.
Take note and be aware of what an individual dog’s signs of stress look like and try to avoid exposing them to situations where they feel stuck or trapped.

Try to give dogs as much appropriate choice as possible. Look at using positive reinforcement to help dogs form new, neutral or positive associations.

When we take the time to recognise a fear or a stress response, we are able to intervene and advocate for our dogs before the situation escalates or becomes a learnt pattern.

08/11/2025

From 150lb mastiffs to 6lb terriers, our staff loves them all! ❤

Pictured is Fezzik (Male) the 150 lb Neapolitan Mastiff and Twiggy (Female) the 6 lb Biewer Terrier. 🥰

08/08/2025

Happy International Cat Day!!! We would love to see your furry friends, so please share a pic!! 🐾❤️

08/07/2025

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08/06/2025

Something silly for today;):)

08/05/2025

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Not all licks mean love. Sometimes, they mean “please stop.”

We call this Kiss to Dismiss—when a dog licks a baby, child, or adult not out of affection, but to make space.

These licks are actually polite warnings:

🗣 “I’m overwhelmed.”
🗣 “This is too much.”
🗣 “I need space.”

👀 Watch for signs like:

✔️ Lip licking, yawning, whale eye, or a stiff body
✔️ Hard pushing away with their tongue
✔️ Avoiding contact right after + checking in with a trusted adult

🎯 Why this matters:

When we misread these signs as sweet kisses and encourage more closeness, we risk crossing their comfort line—which can lead to a growl or even a bite.

Let’s advocate for both our dogs and our kids 💛

Understanding these cues keeps everyone safer—and strengthens trust.

Want to learn more about this topic? Register for our upcoming Dogs & Storks on August 12th at 8:30PM EST

Comment STORKS for a direct link to be sent to you OR use the link below ⬇️

🔗https://familypawsbooking.as.me/schedule/1450ac5a/?appointmentTypeIds%5B%5D=19390846