Veterinary Behavior Nurse

12/16/2025

Flying with your pet this holiday season? Air travel can be stressful for animals, but planning ahead helps ensure a safer and smoother experience.

• Talk with your veterinarian about anti anxiety medications and required health certificates
• Review airline policies for carrier size, weight limits, and breed restrictions
• Use a U.S. Department of Agriculture or airline approved crate that allows your pet to stand, sit, and turn comfortably
• Label the carrier clearly with your contact information and the words LIVE ANIMAL
• Give your pet exercise before leaving for the airport
• Offer only a light meal three to four hours before takeoff
• Add a familiar blanket or toy to the carrier for comfort

Wishing you and your pets safe and peaceful holiday travels. Purdue University American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) SAVMA American Airlines Southwest Airlines United Delta Air Lines JetBlue Frontier Airlines Allegiant Spirit Airlines

12/16/2025

12/16/2025

Don’t forget about tactile reinforcement! 😸

12/16/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BfWi5SqXU/?mibextid=wwXIfr

12/16/2025

There are breeds that are bred to work with us and breeds that are bred to work away from us or independently. They aren’t stubborn, their motivations just different.

The more challenging breeds are the ones who should excite us, an opportunity to think outside the box, to figure out how we can come together on a mutually beneficial behaviour.

We don’t need to up our threats, we need to up our skills.

After all, lions, crocodiles, tigers and hyenas are just some of the many animals we train using reward based methods.

12/16/2025

Try using large, edible leafy greens as “wrapping paper” for highly prized treats. Good options include kale, collard greens, endive, cabbage, mustard greens, and lettuce.

12/15/2025

12/15/2025

12/15/2025

12/15/2025

Management vs. Training — what’s the difference? 🤔

These two terms get used interchangeably in dog training, but they are not the same.

Management is about controlling the environment so unwanted behaviors don’t happen in the first place. This might look like using gates, crates, leashes, or distance to prevent jumping, chewing, counter surfing, or over-arousal. Management is immediate and keeps dogs (and humans) safe!

Training is about teaching your dog what to do instead. Through repetition and reinforcement, dogs learn behaviors like sit, settle, leave it, and recall. Training takes time, but it creates long-term behavior change.

Here’s the key part:
👉 Management prevents rehearsal of unwanted behavior.
👉 Training builds the behaviors you want to see more of.

The most effective dog training plans use both. Management supports learning, and training makes management less necessary over time.

That being said, it is also okay to JUST use management in situations when you feel you need it! As a busy parent, management is essential to both your success and the success of your dog and baby or toddler!

Have questions? We’ve got answers to help support you through this journey!

Send us a DM today and we will help connect you with the right resources to help!! 🐶

12/15/2025

Supporting an animal's behavioral health is just as important as supporting their physical health.

Let's talk Behavioral Medication Myths! 💊

Behavior medications for pets are medical tools, backed by decades of research and used to treat diagnosable conditions like anxiety disorders, compulsive behaviors, and fear-based aggression. In veterinary behavioral medicine, treatment plans are based on science, diagnosis, and welfare. Medication, when used appropriately, can be life-changing and should be considered as routine as treating pain, allergies, or arthritis.

“Medications mean I’ve failed.”
No! They reduce emotional distress and show you’re advocating for your pet’s well-being.

“It’s just a training problem.”
Not always. Training can help, but it doesn’t invalidate a diagnosed condition. Medications are not always necessary; however, they can greatly improve a pet's prognosis and ease of learning in cases where they're used.

“Meds will turn my pet into a zombie.”
The right meds shouldn’t sedate your pet (unless that’s the goal for things like vet visits). If something feels off, follow up with your veterinary behavior team. The right medications should help lower stress, improve recovery from triggering events, and support the learning process.

“Meds just mask the problem.”
They’re not magic. The use of appropriate medication should be combined with a comprehensive behavior/training plan from a qualified, positive-reinforcement-based professional.

“They'll need to be on meds lifelong.”
Sometimes. And that’s okay. The duration depends on the individual, same as with humans. Medications can be used short-term, long-term, and situationally.

“They’re a last resort.”
No! We don’t need to wait until things get worse. Medication can be a supportive tool from the start.