Fear Free Happy Homes
Reading Time: 3 minutes I had just started a private training lesson when I noticed the little Poodle’s right eye was swollen, with yellow-greenish goop gathering in the corner and seeping down the side of his nose. He kept winking at me, clearly uncomfortable. “Has Buddy seen your veterinarian?” I asked. “Poor guy, his eye looks awful!” “I just […]
Reading Time: 4 minutes When a horse becomes part of your life, it is important to help him learn to deal with changes and unusual interactions without fear.
Reading Time: 3 minutes Parrots can be a lot of fun. But sometimes they do things humans find annoying. This can include refusing to go back into their enclosures, biting, and vocalizing for attention. Parrots aren’t hatched with behavior problems. They learn through experience to do certain things to get desired outcomes. For example, if a scream causes people […]
Reading Time: < 1 minutes You take your dog or cat to the vet or groomer, and when they come back, your other pets growl or hiss at them, as if they’ve suddenly become the enemy. That’s because your pet smells different, maybe even scary, thanks to the scents they bring back from the clinic or salon, where they’ve been […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes What simple behavior could save your parrot’s life? Scale training! Sounds silly but getting and recording regular weights on your parrot can be a life saver. One of the things we know about parrots is that they have a tendency to mask signs of illness. The theory behind this is that in the wild, a […]
Reading Time: < 1 minutes Horses are like any other animal. They can be reluctant to take medication, especially when it’s given orally. It doesn’t have to be a fight, though. Our handout offers tips on teaching horses to take medications voluntarily and happily from a dosing syringe.
Reading Time: 3 minutes “I don’t understand why my dog is so aggressive toward other dogs when she’s on leash. When she’s off leash, she’s great with other dogs!” my client said. “When does she get to interact with other dogs off leash?” I asked. “We go to the dog park at least four times a week,” the client […]
Reading Time: < 1 minutes There’s nothing more fun than playing with a kitten. They love participating in chase and hunt games. But did you know playtime can be a learning experience, too? Our handout offers tips on teaching kittens to play gently.
Reading Time: < 1 minutes Who doesn’t love giving treats to their pets? It’s a great way to reward them for behavior we like, to signal bedtime, or just to say “I love you.” But can you give too many treats? A good rule of paw is that treats should make up no more than 10 percent of a dog’s […]
Reading Time: 4 minutes Emotional Support, Therapy, Service. Each is a different type of job a dog can have. Can you guess which label fits each dog?