Companion Animal Training

09/04/2024

One space left!

In Puppy Socialization & Exploration, we teach the fundamentals of place, touch, recall, loose leash walking, paw to the button for house training and husbandry (intro to nail trims, teeth brushing).

We also have discussions about housetraining, crate training, enrichment, puppy biting and how to set up home alone training.

Then, each week we explore different novel stimuli (kids toys, things the roll, obstacles and surfaces)

Puppies will have the opportunity to socialize with their classmates at the beginning and end of each class. Puppies are separated by play style to ensure a successful playtime experience.

Join us for a fun, positive and Fear Free Class!

🗓 Sundays, September 8 to September 29
⏰ 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
💲 $235 plus GST

Register now 👉 https://www.companionvet.ca/classes/

Email [email protected] if you have any questions!

All dogs must be fully vaccinated (including Bordetella) and comfortable around other people and dogs. If your dog is fearful or anxious, we have private training options available.

09/04/2024

Rambo’s Cooperative Care skills have come a long way from where he started! Before his sessions, he often barked and became defensive during veterinary care. Now, he eagerly runs into the clinic, enjoys playing with toys in the exam room, and even offers consent for his exams and mock injections.

Rambo’s still working on trusting the rest of the team as much as he trusts Jessica, but we know this determined little guy will get there!

We couldn't be more proud of how far Rambo has come!

08/23/2024

Congratulations to Fig on his amazing Cooperative Care Training progress! When Fig first started working with Janna, he would show a lot of avoidance behaviours and had a history of difficult experiences at the vet due to treatment for pancreatitis. But he and his guardian put in a lot of work to change all that! Now he can't wait to come to the vet, and when we see him, he is eager and smiling and has a happy wagging tail. Way to go, Fig!

Does your pet struggle with vet visits? We can help! Contact us for more information on cooperative care training, today!

08/22/2024

Looking for ways to improve your canine and feline patients' experience in your clinic? Nail trims can be stressful for patients, clients and the veterinary team. In our webinar Trimming the Fear out of Nail Trims, we will discuss why nail trims can be challenging and how we can improve this experience. You will learn:

✅ Factors that contribute to fear during nail trims
✅ Distraction and handling techniques
✅ When to stop: the importance of reading body language
✅ Implementing prevention for long-term success
✅ How to desensitize and counter-condition patients to nail trims
✅ How teach an animal to use a nail board

Register online: https://www.companionvet.ca/events/

⭐Approved for 2 hours of CE with ABVMA

Sign up and take the fear out of nail trims in your clinic, today!

08/06/2024

⭐️ We opened up another round of Mind Your Manners ⭐️

This class is for dogs 6 months and older, that missed out on puppy class or older dogs that need to learn foundation behaviours. This class is great preparation for our Advanced Foundations class. Your dog will learn foundation behaviours such as sit, down, touch, place, recall, loose leash walking, and calmly through the door. We’ll also incorporate discussions on common behaviour concerns.

Join us for a fun, positive, and Fear Free class!

🗓 Tuesdays, September 10 to October 1
⏰ 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
💲 $235 plus GST

Register now 👇

https://www.companionvet.ca/classes/

Dogs must be comfortable around other people and dogs. Owners with fearful or anxious dogs require private training and are not suited for group classes. Questions? 📧 [email protected]

08/03/2024

For puppies aged 14-24 weeks. Maximum age for registration is 21 weeks. This class will build on the puppy social skills and advance the basic manners such as; sit, down, recall, place, leash manners, and a new trick every week! Join us for a fun, positive and Fear Free class!

Veterinary exam, deworming and two sets of vaccines including Bordetella is required.

Class starts on Sunday, September 8th at 11:00AM.

Register online:

https://www.companionvet.ca/classes/

08/02/2024

The August newsletter is out now and it's all about Debunking Common Myths About Puppy Care. Can you separate fact from fiction? Read all about it! https://hubs.ly/Q02JJqvH0

08/01/2024

In Puppy Socialization & Exploration, we teach the fundamentals of place, touch, recall, loose leash walking, paw to the button for house training and husbandry (intro to nail trims, teeth brushing).

We also have discussions about housetraining, crate training, enrichment, puppy biting and how to set up home alone training.

Then, each week we explore different novel stimuli (kids toys, things the roll, obstacles and surfaces)

Puppies will have the opportunity to socialize with their classmates at the beginning and end of each class. Puppies are separated by play style to ensure a successful playtime experience.

Join us for a fun, positive and Fear Free Class!

🗓 Sundays, September 8 to September 29
⏰ 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
💲 $235 plus GST

Register online:

https://www.companionvet.ca/classes/

Email [email protected] if you have any questions!

All dogs must be fully vaccinated (including Bordetella) and comfortable around other people and dogs. If your dog is fearful or anxious, we have private training options available.

07/30/2024

Congratulations to our Puppy Foundations graduates! 🎓

07/27/2024

🚩RED FLAGS🚩

Yikes, lately I have seen so many ads for dog training services, tools, and courses that make me absolutely cringe. If you didn't know, dog training and dog behaviour consultancy is UNregulated. So although there are certifying bodies out there that offer some assurance, there are a huge array of competency levels and anyone can "set up shop" and call themselves whatever they want (professional, expert, behaviourist...) even with no education, experience, or humane practice.

That puts a lot of the honus on canine caregivers to find someone who is, indeed, professional, knowledgeable, and skilled. And without the RED SEAL of approval by one large overseeing body who test and police their members, it can feel like wading through sludge for the few gold coins at the bottom of the well.

Here are my RED FLAGS (things that should make you think twice):

🚫 The person is offering a "fix." Dogs are living, reacting, emotional animals like you and me. They do not need fixing, they need to learn skills, feel safe, be set up to succeed, and learn alternative ways of behaving.

🚫 Ad offers guarentees. Nope, impossible. Behaviours can be managed. We can improve the environment. We can weaken and strengthen the chances of behaviours occuring. We can set the dog up for success. We can strengthen the relationship, increase feelings of trust, help them to feel safe and understood so that they do not feel the need to behave in ways that served them in the past. But we cannot guarentee the behaviour or reaction of another being.

🚫 The ad says "You will achieve X behaviours in just Y days!" For example, I saw an ad yesterday saying, "Have an obedient dog in just 10 days!" No. Just no.

🚫 The ad uses dominative terminology, like "obedience" or "command." This is super outdated which makes me question just how outdated their practices might also be.

🚫 They say they have X years of experience but they don't have certifications. This one is tricky because some people who do not have certifications are great. Some people have certifications but those certifications are pretty terrible. To me, however, education and qualifications are important. So take a moment to read about the certifying organisation from which they received their credentials.

🚫 They are not transparent about their methods. Lots of people will say they "use positive reinforcement" to train, which they likely do. But what else? What equipment do they use? And how about dealing with unwanted behaviours? What do those strategies look like?

🚫 Gimmicky type marketing, like, "sign up for this free e-book or this free 7-day challenge!" Teaching dogs is not a challenge, it is about building a great, communicative relationship and it's worth investing in someone who is qualified to give you the right advice.

🚫 Claiming that the use of "e-collars" to teach a dog a behaviour (another name for shock collars) "does't hurt" or it is "only on vibration" so it's harmless. Even if the setting is low or on vibrate, even if the dog isn't THAT uncomfortable with the stimulation it delivers, this is a good indication that this person doesn't understand learning science properly which is concerning. These tools are literally designed to work as negative reinforcement or positive punishment (both requiring an unpleasant or aversive stimulus). At best, it doesn't work, at worst, well...

Ask around, check websites and socials to view pictures, (what are the dogs wearing for equipment, and what is their body language saying), check credentials and visit the websites of those credentialling organisations, sit in on a class, and ask questions.

You will be happy you did and so will your dog!

07/27/2024

If you are an evacuee from the Jasper fires and have a pet with you, Companion Veterinary Clinic would like to make your ordeal a little bit easier in any way we can. Does your fur baby need a checkup for peace of mind? Dog or cat food? A kennel for easy transport and a safe space to rest? We are here for you. Please contact us @ 780-439-4353 for more details.

07/26/2024

Thank you to the Karen Pryor Academy for having Debbie, Tabitha and I for a panel discussion on our Veterinary Technician Specialist designations and how we contribute to the animal behaviour community!

It was fantastic speaking with a great group of KPA-CTPs about Veterinary Technician Specialists (VTS) in Behavior—who we are and how we can help today!

I've always known that there’s a lack of awareness about VTS in behavior among trainers and behavior consultants, but it's surprising to see this extends to veterinary colleagues as well.

We're a valuable resource, yet it seems like not many people are aware of us. (or the other amazing VTS in different academies, ECC, anesthesia, nutrition, etc)

I also want to spread awareness to encourage and support technicians interested in this path so we can have more than 30 behavior specialists in the field.

A veterinary technician specialist (VTS) in behavior is a credentialed veterinary technician who has completed a rigouous process including 4000 hours in prevention and intervention, submitting 50 cases, learning about multiple species, behavior modification, and behavior psychopharmacology and completing and passing an exam to become a specialist. Just as there are board certified veterinary Behaviorists, we are board certified veterinary technicians and are invaluable working with both prevention and intervention cases.

VTSs can also help manage more complicated cases, provide behavioural education, and compliment the behavioural community by authoring resources and research

I'm grateful to have so many wonderful colleagues in the behavior profession—the more, the better!

07/25/2024

Are you planning to take your dog across the border and into the US? Whether you are moving there or just going on a holiday, there are new requirements. As of August 1, 2024, all dogs entering the US from Canada must:

✅ Be at least 6 months of age
✅ Be microchipped
✅ Have a CDC Import Form

For more information visit: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s0722-dog-importation.html

07/21/2024

Tug can be a fun, bonding game for you and your dog and it can also be an alternative for food rewards. Find out how to play tug safely in the July Behavior Byte, out now! https://hubs.ly/Q02Fc_6J0

07/13/2024

Last chance to register! ⭐

What if I told you it was possible to set your puppy clients up for success while building your business at the same time? Attend our webinar, Implementing Puppy Classes into Your Veterinary Clinic!

Puppy classes help create more cooperative patients and confident puppies, will bond clients to your practice, and provide an added revenue stream. In this webinar you will learn about the business side of running puppy classes, different class style suggestions, the importance of positive reinforcement, and recognizing high risk puppies. You'll even get curriculum ideas and other recommendations to make your puppy classes the best they can be!

Register online:

https://www.companionvet.ca/events/

Approved for 1.5 hours of CE with ABVMA

What are you waiting for? Sign up today!

07/03/2024

Chew on this! 🐶

Puppies use their mouth to explore and learn about their environment.

When playing with other puppies in their litter, mouthing is part of play! And when a puppy gets too rough with their littermates, the others communicate by vocalizing and/or biting back.

Appropriate play toys, consistency from humans, and socialization with other puppies is very important to help teach your puppy appropriate ways to use their mouth.

Click the link below to download a FREE handout that explains step-by-step what to do when your puppy bites you 👇🏼

https://www.companionvet.ca/dog-resources/

06/30/2024

Summer training classes are filling up fast! Next sessions start in September.

🐶 Puppy Socialization: Starts July 7th for puppies aged 8 to 13 weeks

🐶 Puppy Foundations: Starts July 7th for puppies aged 14 to 21 weeks

🐕‍🦺 Mind Your Manners: Starts July 23rd for dogs 6+ months

In Puppy Socialization and Puppy Foundations, puppies will have the opportunity to socialize with their classmates at the beginning and end of each class. Puppies are separated by play style to ensure a successful playtime experience. Initially, if your puppy is uncertain about playing, they will be given an opportunity to watch from behind a baby gate where they can feel safe until they gain the confidence to join in.

Mind Your Manners classes are not set up for dogs to interact with one another. We will work on foundation behaviours (sit, down, touch, place, recall, loose leash walking, calmly through the door, etc.) in a minimally distracting environment.

Cost: $200 plus GST

Register today 👇

https://www.companionvet.ca/classes/

06/26/2024

The needs of your cat change throughout its lifespan. Much like us, as cats age they can experience physical changes such as loss of vision and hearing, reduced mobility, and arthritis. They can also suffer from mental health concerns.

The good news?

You can make some really simple changes to help your cat enjoy and feel comfortable in their golden years!

✅ Orthopedic and heated beds
✅ Easily accessible food and water, including an increased number of water stations and/or water fountain
✅ Ramps, stairs, and lower or multi-perched cat trees for easier access to elevate surfaces
✅ Night lights can help them navigate in the dark or in low-lit areas. Dim red or orange lights would be ideal.
✅ Low-sided litter boxes in a well-lit area
✅ More horizontal scratchers vs. vertical scratchers, as they take less effort to use
✅ Food, water, litter, beds, perches, and scratchers should all be available on one level of your home so your senior cat does not have to do stairs if they do not wish to

In addition to managing their environment to provide assistance with the physical changes in their bodies, addressing their mental health is important too!

✅ Offering your a variety of food and is essential to their mental wellbeing, even if they don’t play as often.

If you follow these suggestions, there is no reason your cat can't thrive in their senior years! However, regular veterinary care is an important part of any senior pet's life. If you suspect that your cat is experiencing pain or discomfort, contact your vet so they can help!

For regular veterinary visits, bringing in a video recording of your cat walking, getting on and off furniture, eating, and interacting with toys is also a great idea so your vet can see how they are behaving in their day-to-day life.

Follow us for more!

06/21/2024

Congratulations Dani and Ernie!

The guardians for these sweet kitties contacted our team because they were struggling with taking medications to make vet visits and nail trims less stressful. They were so averse to taking oral medication that it became very stressful for both the cats and their guardians to even try! This is very common with cats, and unfortunately if medications can't be administered cooperatively and successfully then stressful veterinary visits can start from home.

After some medication training, Ernie and Dani now willingly take medication orally via capsule AND syringe! They also learned a consent behaviour, called stationing, for medication administration and veterinary exams.

This week they were both able to take their medications at home for two successful nail trims!

Thank you to their incredible guardians for all their hard work and dedication! And of course, great work Ernie and Dani!!

06/21/2024

⭐️ We opened up another round of Mind Your Manners ⭐️

This class is for dogs 6 months and older, that missed out on puppy class or older dogs that need to learn foundation behaviours. This class is great preparation for our Advanced Foundations class. Your dog will learn foundation behaviours such as sit, down, touch, place, recall, loose leash walking, and calmly through the door. We’ll also incorporate discussions on common behaviour concerns.

Join us for a fun, positive, and Fear Free class!

🗓 Tuesdays July 23 to August 13
⏰ 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
💲 $200 plus GST

Register now 👇

https://www.companionvet.ca/classes/

Dogs must be comfortable around other people and dogs. Owners with fearful or anxious dogs require private training and are not suited for group classes. Questions? 📧 [email protected]

06/20/2024

For puppies aged 14-24 weeks. Maximum age for registration is 21 weeks. This class will build on the puppy social skills and advance the basic manners such as; sit, down, recall, place, leash manners, and a new trick every week! Join us for a fun, positive and Fear Free class!

Veterinary exam, deworming and two sets of vaccines including Bordetella is required.

Register online:

https://www.companionvet.ca/classes/

06/19/2024

It is thunderstorm (and firework) season! Here are some helpful tips to make your pet feel safe and signs you can watch for if despite your best efforts your pet is still distressed. You CANNOT reinforce fear so please comfort your pets in the event that they are stressed.

Do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian to get additional help for your pets. Storms and loud noises are scary for our pets and feeling that sense of panic for months can affect their physical and mental health.

Desensitization and counter-conditioning to storms is best done outside of thunderstorm season. Contact one of our certified positive, science based trainers to help!

06/17/2024

Congratulations to our Puppy Socialization & Exploration graduates 🎓 Great work!

06/17/2024

Congratulations to our Puppy Foundations graduates! 🎓

06/14/2024

In Puppy Socialization & Exploration, we teach the fundamentals of place, touch, recall, loose leash walking, paw to the button for house training and husbandry (intro to nail trims, teeth brushing).

We also have discussions about housetraining, crate training, enrichment, puppy biting and how to set up home alone training.

Then, each week we explore different novel stimuli (kids toys, things the roll, obstacles and surfaces)

Puppies will have the opportunity to socialize with their classmates at the beginning and end of each class. Puppies are separated by play style to ensure a successful playtime experience.

Join us for a fun, positive and Fear Free Class!

🗓 Sundays, July 7 to July 28
⏰ 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
💲 $200 plus GST

Register online:

https://www.companionvet.ca/classes/

Email [email protected] if you have any questions!

All dogs must be fully vaccinated (including Bordetella) and comfortable around other people and dogs. If your dog is fearful or anxious, we have private training options available.

06/13/2024

What if I told you it was possible to set your puppy clients up for success while building your business at the same time? Attend our webinar, Implementing Puppy Classes into Your Veterinary Clinic! Puppy classes help create more cooperative patients and confident puppies, will bond clients to your practice, and provide an added revenue stream. In this webinar you will learn about the business side of running puppy classes, different class style suggestions, the importance of positive reinforcement, and recognizing high risk puppies. You'll even get curriculum ideas and other recommendations to make your puppy classes the best they can be!

Register online:

https://www.companionvet.ca/events/

Approved for 1.5 hours of CE with ABVMA

What are you waiting for? Sign up today!

06/12/2024

It's becoming popular to bring dogs to local events and festivals. Dogs are now often permitted to attend fireworks displays, downtown events such as Taste of Edmonton, or lunch on a patio. There are even dog-specific events and locations, such as Dog City or pop-up dog parks. What could be better than exploring these urban adventures with your furry friend?

Unfortunately, these venues and events are not fun for many dogs.

Fireworks are LOUD and take place in dark and crowded areas, so they are often far more scary than exciting. Instead, try:

✅ Long-line decompression walks to explore nature trails, parking lots, orLong-line decompression walks to explore nature trails, parking lots, or playgrounds
✅ Outdoor obstacle courses so your dog can work on their agility and problem-solving skills
✅ Training or sport classes

It might seem nice for your dog to join you for lunch on a patio on Whyte Avenue, but if your dog isn't used to crowds and noise it will be stressful for them. And imagine sitting on hot concrete and watching strangers eat! That doesn't sound fun to me. Instead, your dog may enjoy:

✅ Car rides
✅ Tactile enrichment such as new surfaces to explore or novel items to chew or shred with their mouth (cardboard, bark, etc.)

Dog parks also seem like a great idea, but remember that you have no control over other animals you might meet there. Consider these ideas instead:

✅ A friend's house with compatible playmates and people they already know
✅ Private dog parks

Of course, we want opportunities to safely socialize our animals. However, it is important to STOP and ask ourselves, "What's in it for them?" Because what's fun for humans can be terrifying, uncomfortable, or boring for a dog.

Your pup can have fun at home too! Give them the opportunity to engage in species-specific behaviour in their own space:

✅ Hidden treats for scent work
✅ Food puzzle or frozen treat
✅ Dig-box
✅ Kiddie pool

What dog-friendly activities have you created or come across in the Edmonton area? We would love to hear about them!

06/05/2024

The needs of your dog change throughout its lifespan. Much like us, as dogs age they can experience physical changes such as loss of vision and hearing, reduced mobility, and arthritis. They can also suffer from mental health concerns.

The good news?

There are some really simple changes you can make to help your dog enjoy and feel comfortable in their golden years!

✅ Elevated food dishes can reduce strain on their neck and joints
✅ Rubber mats provide additional support and traction. Senior dogs are at an increased risk for slips and falls, which can cause injuries and make them fearful about such events happening again
✅ Night lights can help them navigate in the dark or in low-lit areas
✅ Pet stairs and/or ramps offer senior dogs an alternative to jumping on and off furniture, which can add additional stress to their joints and potential for injury
✅ Heated blankets and orthopedic beds

In addition to managing their environment to provide assistance with the physical changes in their bodies, addressing their mental health is important too!

✅ Offering your a variety of food and is essential to their mental wellbeing. Olfactory enrichment can become increasingly important with hearing and vision loss
✅ "Considerate approach" is a term we use in veterinary care that is equally important at home. Any time you need to approach your senior dog, remember they may not be able to see or hear you coming as well as they used to. Make sure you approach them from the side and that they are aware of your presence before you touch and engage with them, to avoid startling them

If you follow these suggestions, there is no reason your dog can't thrive in their senior years! However, regular vet care is an important part of any senior pet's life. If you suspect that your dog is experiencing pain or discomfort, contact your vet so they can help!

For regular vet visits, bringing in a video recording of your dog walking, getting on and off furniture, eating, and interacting with toys is also a great idea so your vet can see how they are behaving in their day-to-day life.

Follow us for more!

05/29/2024

Aversive tools are devices used to decrease unwanted behaviour in an animal using physical and/or emotional discomfort via the use of positive punishment. Examples include: prong collars, choke collars, shock collars, slip leads, martingales, and even misused leashes and flat collars.

Positive punishment is defined as adding something a dog finds unpleasant or scary to decrease a behavior.

Imagine a dog is out for a walk while wearing a prong collar, and he begins to pull on-leash and/or a correction is applied by the handler. If this happens while he is looking at another dog, he may stop pulling toward this other dog because of the pain and discomfort the prong collar is causing. However, he is also making a negative association with the other dog ("that dog caused me pain"), and potentially many other stimuli observed or experienced while the punishment was applied, even if that was not the intended association.

The more this happens, the more likely the dog will become increasingly concerned about other dogs and environmental stimuli while wearing the prong collar. This could start with slight worry, and possibly lead to full-blown leash reactivity: barking, growling, and lunging.

This is how something as simple as pulling on-leash can evolve into more severe behaviour concerns. What started as innocent excitement or frustration from not being able to socialize with the other dog has now turned into an even bigger behavioural concern, resulting from pain, fear and anxiety.

Positive punishment can decrease and suppress behaviour; that is why it works! That’s not the argument. But the side effects and consequences are plenty. Increased fear and fear-related aggression, inadvertent and unintended negative associations, damage to the human-animal bond, and it also leads to apathetic learners.

You can see how positive punishment slows down an animal’s learning!

So, while aversive tools appear to work on a surface level, remember the possible costs to you and your pet before using them.