Categories
Equines Other Training & Grooming

How to Make Grooming Stress-Free for You and Your Horse

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes Grooming your horse should be a Fear Free activity for both of you. When done correctly, grooming is far more than removing your horse’s dead hair, removing tangles from his mane and tail, and dirt from his hooves; it helps to build a bond between you and your equine pal. Getting Started No horse is […]

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Dogs Fears & Anxieties

What Fear, Anxiety, Stress, and Frustration Look Like in Shelter Dogs

Article

Reading Time: < 1 minutes Being in a shelter is stressful for dogs. They’re afraid, anxious, and frustrated, bouncing between boredom from lack of activity and excitement when they see people who may interact with them. Or they may have medical issues that are contributing to their behavior. Our handout explains the signs of FAS and offers ways to help […]

Categories
Dogs New Pets

How to Choose a Responsible Breeder

Article

Reading Time: < 1 minutes If you choose to purchase a puppy from a breeder, it’s critical that you work with a responsible breeder so that the mother dog (dam) and her puppies are raised in a Fear Free environment. When you buy a puppy from a pet store, the internet, or other unknown source, it is very difficult to […]

Categories
Dogs Training & Grooming

Stressed by Housetraining? So Is Your Dog. Here’s How You Can Both Be Successful

Article

Reading Time: 4 minutes Want your dog to potty on command? Fear Free wants you to have a better attitude toward teaching your dog house manners. When it comes to potty training a puppy or adult dog, dog trainer Irith Bloom, CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA, CDBC, CSAT, CBATI, FFCP, owner of The Sophisticated Dog Pet Training Service in Los Angeles, California, […]

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Dogs Fears & Anxieties Veterinary Care

Building a Foundation for a Fear Free Veterinary Visit

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Reading Time: < 1 minutes Do you hate the thought of taking your pet to the vet because the visit is so stressful for them? We’re here to help! Our handout shares ways you can start at home to prepare your pet for a veterinary visit so they stay calm and happy during the car ride, the exam, and the […]

Categories
Cats Veterinary Care

Feline Pain: Hiding in Plain Sight

Article

A woman's hand strokes a red cat.

Reading Time: 4 minutes When I was a child, I was fascinated by the story of Dr. Doolittle and dreamed about the exciting life I could live if I could only talk to animals. I think it was this story that led me to becoming a veterinarian, with a lot of help from some special feline family members along […]

Categories
Birds Fears & Anxieties

Is Your Bird Fearful, Anxious, or Stressed? How to Tell

Article

Reading Time: < 1 minutes If you’re new to birds, you might not be up on how to read avian body language, but it’s important to know to avoid a bite from that powerful beak. Our handout explains the clues that signal relaxed body language or fear, anxiety, or stress in your bird.

Categories
Activities & Enrichment Dogs

Stressless Daycare: Play and Treatments Help Pets Thrive

Article

Reading Time: 5 minutes Pet resorts go the extra mile, offering an array of play activities, therapeutic treatments, and even training to work on social skills.

Categories
Birds Fears & Anxieties Life at Home

Be Soothing, Not Scary: 8 Tips on Making Friends With a Parrot

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes If you are a fan of parrots, you look forward to those moments when you get to make a new parrot friend. While some dogs or cats may respond to a new person right away, birds can sometimes show escape and avoidance behaviors when meeting a stranger, and require a little extra effort on our […]

Categories
Dogs Veterinary Care

Incontinence Is Stressful for Dogs and People. What to Know About Recognizing and Managing It

Article

Reading Time: 4 minutes Canine incontinence is most commonly associated with aging dogs. However, bladder issues can affect dogs of all ages and breeds for a number of lifestyle and behavioral reasons as well as serious medical conditions.