A variety of research studies have demonstrated that environmental enrichment improves animal welfare in a variety of settings, from laboratories, to farms to zoos. The most common approach to evaluating the effectiveness of environmental enrichment is direct observation of behavioral measures over time, such as the occurrence of stereotyped behavior. But this method can be […]

September 14-17, 2017 Samorin, Slovakia Abstract submission instructions Abstracts must be submitted electronically using Microsoft MS Word file. The abstract must be submitted online (www.ivbmslovakia.org). Place your email in CC for verification of delivery. In the subject line indicate your name, abstract submission, and a number of the submission (if submitting more than one). For […]

The health benefits of human-animal interactions have been well-documented. Thousands of horses provide therapy to people with a wide range of physical, cognitive, and emotional abilities.  Some unique features of horses, compared to dogs and other therapy and service animals, is that they are large and strong, and can be ridden. Unfortunately, horses are often […]

As we settle in for the typically more sedentary wintry months ahead, it’s important to assess the exercise and enrichment needs of our dogs. For many dogs, warmer weather promises opportunities for long walks, exciting Frisbee and ball play, or hours just basking under the sun with their humans in the back yard. But these […]

How about starting the new year with a reading or re-reading of the AAHA 2015 Canine and Feline Behavior Management Guidelines? Here’s the link! https://www.aaha.org/professional/resources/behavior_management_guidelines.aspx

In the fourth installment of a series, Dr. Melissa Bain discusses owner factors that play a role when assessing pet behavior problems. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/decoding-your-pet/201511/risk-analysis-behavior-problems-owner-factors-4

Dr. Megan E. Maxwell, CAAB, discusses some of the factors that impact a dog’s response to behavior therapy: For some dog owners, the question of how much their dog can learn is a challenging but exciting one. They envision fun possibilities in agility, advanced obedience, therapy dog work, or just the ever-expanding repertoire of fun […]

In this post from Psychology Today’s Decoding your Pet series, Dr. Liz Stelow, DVM, DACVB, describes some products that can be useful in the management of canine aggression. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/decoding-your-pet/201610/tools-managing-the-aggressive-dog

“Science Friday!”: A review of cat behavior in relation to disease risk and management options.

In this post from Psychology Today’s Decoding your Pet series, Dr. Liz Stelow, DVM, DACVB, describes some fun and engaging sports for dogs. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/decoding-your-pet/201610/canine-sports