Steiss, J.E., Schaffer, C., Ahmad, H.A., & Voith, V. L. (2007). Evaluation of plasma cortisol levels and behavior in dogs wearing bark control collars. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 106, 96-106. Abstract On Week -1, 24 healthy mixed breed kennel dogs were screened by physical examination, complete blood count, serum biochemistry, and plasma cortisol measurement. Dogs were […]

A recent study by E. Garde, G.E. Pérez, R Vanderstichel, P.F. Dalla Villa, and J.A. Serpell and published in November 2015 in Preventive Veterinary Medicine, furthers our understanding of the behavioral effects of sterilization. The study’s abstract is presented here. Population management of free-roaming domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) is of interest due to the […]

In this excerpt from her pet behavior advice column, Dr. Megan Maxwell encourages pet owners to find opportunities to reward desirable behavior in their pets using natural reinforcers in daily routines. New Beginnings With the dawn of a new year often comes the embrace of new personal or professional goals and an extra dose of […]

A recent blog post from Dr. Patricia McConnell, CAAB, on the importance of letting your dog stop to smell the roses! http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/take-your-dog-on-a-sniff

Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist Dr. Mary Burch provides this summary of her book, How Dogs Learn, for the National Animal Interest Alliance. This book remains an excellent resource for any pet behavior professional’s library! http://www.naiaonline.org/articles/article/how-dogs-learn1#sthash.kiIf3Hxc.dpbs

A visit to cattle dog publishing- the legacy of Dr Sophia Yin 12/4/2015 I had a wonderful opportunity to travel to Davis, California this November and visit the offices and staff of Cattle Dog Publishing founded by Dr Sophia Yin. Dr Yin and I knew each other fairly well and developed a friendship through our […]

Here Come the Holidays! Nothing rings in the holiday season like including the animals in our lives into our celebrations and gift-giving activities. Tis the season for increased hustling around while visiting family and friends, and purchasing those special new treats, toys, and gear for our animal family members. With our personal and professional calendars booking […]

The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB; www.dacvb.org) is pleased to announce the 2016 Veterinary Behavior Symposium (VBS).  The 2016 VBS will be held on Friday, August 5, 2016, immediately preceding the AVMA Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas, USA. The meeting focus is on cutting-edge, original research in the field of animal behavior. Scientists, veterinarians, and applied […]

Fall is a good time to be in California! This September, ten behavior residents had the opportunity to attend a week-long course focused on food animal behavior and welfare hosted and organized by Dr. Melissa Bain DACVB, DACAW at UC Davis. The residents had the opportunity to learn from members of the UC Davis food animal faculty and […]

In this National Geographic article, an MRI study of OCD in dogs is discussed and strategies for addressing OCD are offered by Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist Dr. Jill Goldman. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/06/130610-ocd-dogs-health-animals-science-brains/