Synergy Veterinary Behavior

12/10/2025

Do you feel like you have to micromanage every move your dog makes?

Let it go! Let it go… 🎶

Dogs need opportunities to make choices. Giving them more agency supports their learning, improves their quality of life, and, honestly, helps your stress levels, too.

If you feel like you can’t step back, it’s worth asking why. Often, we’re not micromanaging for fun. Instead, we’re responding to real behavior concerns like conflict between pets, reactivity, or nonstop barking.

The goal isn’t to stop managing altogether. It’s to figure out what systems, medications, behavior modification and training, and/or environmental changes can reduce the amount of effort you’re putting in while still increasing your dog’s freedom and safety.

12/10/2025

The holidays can bring so much joy into our homes, and our pets feel that energy along with us. But with all the new sights and smells, they may encounter things that aren’t safe for them. Review these winter holiday tips to help keep your pets protected so everyone can enjoy the season together.

🐾🎁🐶🔌🎄🐱🕯️

Las fiestas pueden traer mucha alegría a nuestros hogares, y las mascotas también sienten esa energía. Pero con tantos olores y decoraciones nuevas, pueden encontrarse con cosas que no son seguras para ellas. Estos consejos para las fiestas de invierno pueden ayudarte a mantener a tus mascotas seguras y a que todos disfruten de la temporada.

12/09/2025

Did you know that snow days can be perfect for reactive pups? ⛄️

While most people hunker down indoors, a snowy day can be the perfect chance for you and your dog to get outside, explore, and enjoy a little peaceful fun together.

One of my favorite memories with my own dog was during our first icy snowstorm in Portland. Coming from the Midwest, I couldn’t believe how completely the city “shut down”. I thought it was silly until I experienced it myself. 😆

The neighborhood streets were untouched and almost eerily quiet. I tied his long line to my waist (arguably not my best idea), and we ran up and down the street until we were worn out. It was so joy-filled and hilarious, AND we didn’t have to worry about crossing paths with anyone (though we did spot one lone dog walker a block away).

This kind of outing won’t be right for every dog, but whenever you can, take advantage of those naturally quiet moments. Reactive dogs deserve opportunities to do things they truly enjoy, too.

Here’s to hoping Portland gets at least one good snow day this winter. 😋

12/09/2025

12/08/2025

Do we work with people who currently use aversive tools on their dog? 🐶

Absolutely!

As a veterinary behavior clinic, we work with people and their pets who have vastly different experiences and backgrounds, including dog trainers, veterinarians, and those who have never worked in a pet-related field before.

Regardless of one’s journey before us, we care about supporting and educating people and their pets now and into the future, addressing their behavioral concerns effectively and humanely.

We are happy to work with everyone. Along the way, we will provide alternative tools, methods, and education to improve the lives of people and their pets together.

American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's Position Statement on Humane Training:https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/AVSAB-Humane-Dog-Training-Position-Statement-2021.pdf

12/07/2025

Do you have a dog? 🐕
Yes? Boy, do we have the classes for you!

Our Control Unleashed Group Classes are appropriate for dogs of all ages and skill levels, and are especially great for our reactive pups. 🐶

Both CU1 and CU2 are 6 weeks long each and held in person at our facility at 2127 NW York St, Portland, OR 97210

Sign up here: https://www.synergybehavior.com/dog-group-classes/

In these classes, you'll work on leash skills, learn engagement strategies in different situations, and improve their resiliency in increasingly more challenging environments.

CU there! 😜

12/04/2025

Ready to turn your dog into a detective? 🔍 🐶 👃

Join our Nose Knows Group Class Series!

In each 5-week-long in-person class, you'll work on building your pup's detective skills by means of scent games!

Classes are in-person at Synergy Veterinary Behavior: 2127 NW York St, Portland, OR 97210

Sign up here: https://www.synergybehavior.com/dog-group-classes/

Classes begin after the New Year, so they'd make a great gift for your dog-loving friend this holiday season 🎁

12/03/2025

Bringing this back, as it's important! 👍

The problem with punishment in animal training is that it does work, and oftentimes quickly, at changing behaviors. But at what cost?

Aversive methods suppress unwanted behaviors by causing pain and/or discomfort that the animal will try to escape or avoid. While this works to stop a behavior, it does not address the underlying motivation for it. This can be effective in the short term but often leads to unintended consequences and lasting harm.

Research has shown that aversive methods increase fear and stress, and also risk causing aggressive and unpredictable behaviors. We also put our relationship with our pets in jeopardy. Punishment fails to teach the learner alternative behaviors and coping strategies, and can lead to learned helplessness.

If you feel stuck or don't know how to achieve your pet's behavior or training goals without using aversive methods, please reach out to a credentialed reward-based trainer, behavior consultant, or veterinary behaviorist.

We are here to help educate and make training and behavior modification feel achievable for everyone, without risking pets' welfare.💙

12/02/2025

How can we support pets in our community this holiday season? 🐶🐱

⭐ Volunteer or foster with your local animal shelter/rescue

❄️ Donate pet food, clothes, and supplies for the PVMA Drive and/or donate directly to local rescues: https://www.portlandvma.org/2025-pvma-winter-pet-food-and-supplies-drive
*Many food pantries will also take pet food and supplies!

⭐ If you're able to, give monetary donations to local rescues like 4 All Mutt Kind, Animal Aid, One Tail at a Time, Pixie Project, etc (there are too many to list out fully, but we promise they're all in need!)

❄️ Work with local TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) groups to provide insulated housing for feral/stray cats. Monetary donations can help with spay and neuter costs, too!

⭐ Share social media posts to bring awareness to the needs of pets in our community - whether it be information on pop-up clinics, the financial needs of pets in their care, requests for donations, etc.

12/01/2025

Sometimes, there's "snow"-place like home! ❄

(I tried to think of a rainy pun for us PNW-ers, but it was washed away! 😉 🌧)

Now that winter weather is officially hitting most of us, here are some fun indoor activities for you and your pups! 🐶

❄ Work on fun tricks like teaching them to bow, jump through a hoop, or how to bring you specific toys
❄ If you have fun with that, work on getting an AKC Trick Title! https://www.akc.org/sports/trick-dog/
❄ Provide snufflemats, frozen food toys, puzzle toys, and chews
❄ Build an indoor obstacle course with random household items. Practice having them go through different obstacles before putting it all together!

If you're lucky, you'll both be ready for a nap afterwards!😜

11/30/2025

What do you do when an off-leash dog comes running at you?

If you see an off-leash dog in the distance, the best thing is to move away instead of continuing on towards them, hoping they won't notice. However, we don't always notice them and sometimes they see us first!

▪ If you see the handler nearby, ask them to grab their dog and specifically tell them that your dog is "in training" and "needs space". We've found better success with this phrasing, as otherwise, many will yell back, "My dog is friendly!"

▪ Teach a "Get Behind" or "Take Cover" cue. The cue will help you stand between your dog and the loose dog.

🚩If they continue to approach, try:
▪ Throwing a handful of treats at their face. This can startle them or prompt them to stop, sniff, and ideally eat the treats, allowing you to escape.
▪ Pop open an umbrella at them. This can startle them, but also provides you with a barrier you can move to be between them, yourself, and your dog. (Teach your dog that the umbrella opening = food party!)
▪ Citronella spray. Compressed citronella spray can spray up to 20 feet. The stream can startle them, oftentimes before the spray makes contact with the loose dog. Aim it at their head or chest. Familiarize yourself with how to use it first, and shake the canister before use.

❗️PSA ❗️ Leash laws exist for a reason. If you want your dog off-leash, seek out off-leash areas. Don't burden and endanger your dog or others by ignoring leash laws.