Ottawa Veterinary Behaviour Services

04/25/2025

UPDATE: Our website is back up and running again!

Our website is currently down—sorry for the inconvenience! If you need to reach us in the meantime, please send us an email at [email protected].
We appreciate your patience!

03/28/2025

Highlighting Violet! 💜

Her Mom drove to PEI to pick up Violet when she was 9 weeks old and they have been stuck together like glue ever since. As a puppy, Violet was very active and adventurous, but she was also very cautious of everything she came in contact with. As she got older, her Mom could see her slowly develop some reactivity and anxiety towards various things, leading to some unwanted behaviours. She tried trainers and medications for Violet over the past year and a half and it was working well but she still needed an extra push.
When reaching out to her primary care vet with her concerns, she was recommended to Dr. Nicholson and Jamie. They met and gave Violet additional medications and new training methods and they haven’t looked back since!
Violet and her Mom are thankful to have Dr. Nicholson and Jamie here to help them on their journey. Violet has become so much more confident on walks, and even around the house. She finally sees a dog who can just relax and be her goofy, affectionate self!

The OVBS Team is proud of your hard work and dedication Kaitlyn & Violet!

01/29/2025

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01/14/2025

Know the facts!!!!

Electric collars rely on pain or fear to suppress unwanted behaviours. They deliver an electric stimulus that is intentionally unpleasant to deter the dog from repeating the behaviour. For the dog to associate the discomfort with their actions, the sensation must be sufficiently aversive to create a negative emotional response, such as fear, anxiety, or pain. Without this emotional impact, the dog is unlikely to alter their behaviour, as there would be no motivation to avoid the stimulus.

08/12/2024

Don't hesitate if your pet seems uncomfortable and not themselves. Starting a pain conversation with your vet is so important. Pain is a leading contributor to behaviour issues.

Dr. Lisa Radosta discusses the connection between pet behavior and pain, which is often overlooked by pet owners.Many people believe their pets aren't in pai...

05/14/2024

We know it's not Monday but this should be said every day of the week! Thanks to American College of Veterinary Behaviorists for this great post we just had to share.

03/25/2024

You are doing a good job regardless of where you are in your journey!

03/19/2024

Pet of the Month!

Willow's Story
Willow came to us as a foster from Playa del Carmen, Mexico. She had come into the shelter after being found, tied up and abandoned. She wasn't doing well at the shelter so they needed to place her asap. Willow didn't have any domestic dog skills and struggled with strangers, being alone, noise sensitivity, and was afraid to leave the house. Inside the house with her people, she was starting to open up and trust a little bit, and her silly personality was starting to shine. We adopted her seeing her promise, but geared up for a difficult journey. In the few years Willow has been with us she has transformed. She loves being outside and playing in the snow. In the summers, we had to install a doggy door so she could sunbathe at will. She is incredibly playful, compassionate, kind, and the very best communicator we know! She is starting to make some doggie friends, and even some human friends! She enjoys snuffle balls, croissants, and decimating her toys. She takes her role as bunny guardian very seriously, shooing birds and squirrels from our yard every spring so that the baby bunnies born in our yard are free from interference.

Her journey has been full of so many bumps and hurdles, but also so many successes. Willow's growth wouldn't be possible without the village of professionals and caregivers who see her spirit and love her as much as we do. She inspires us to lead our lives and relationships with kindness and understanding. She reminds us every day of the importance of rest and being present every moment you can.
~ Kayla

03/15/2024

Fun Fact Friday

Did you know that this look, called whale eye or side eye, is another non-specific sign of anxiety?

This look is typically pegged as guilty, or taken as a sign that they "know they did something wrong".

The truth is dogs don't identify right from wrong but rather safe from unsafe. It is safe to jump on the couch, it is unsafe to chew the couch. Dogs do not do something wrong deliberately, they don't understand what is expected of them, they are too anxious, they are completely panicked, or they have learned that they get attention from doing something "bad".

The look is just another sign of anxiety, about the situation, a reaction they've gotten, or your dog's internal state. It can be normal in the right context, however if your dog often shows whale eye or frequently shows this in an out-of-context situation keep a look out for other signs of daily anxiety or specific situations that cause your dog anxiety.

03/08/2024

Fun Fact Friday!

Did you know that a tongue flick or lip lick is a common non-specific sign of anxiety. Watch your dogs the next time you see a lip lick and if they aren't in the middle of eating something, the interaction just before the lip lick likely causes your dog anxiety.

Non-specific signs of anxiety are behaviours that are completely normal in one circumstance and likely anxiety based in another situation where that behaviour was out of context.

03/06/2024

**LET'S TALK REINFORCERS PART 1**

Treats, cookies, ball, toys, pets, praise, sniffing, barking, chasing, biting, chewing, digging. These all sounded like great rewards for dogs (and other pets!) until the last five.These are also reinforcers for your dog, just not ones chosen by you!

There are two main parts to understanding reinforcers in behaviour modification.
1. What does your dog find reinforcing that you can readily use to reward appropriate behaviours?
2. What does your dog find reinforcing about the *unwanted* behaviours that they are doing?

Once we have the answers to those questions we can get started with behaviour modification.

Stay tuned for part 2 of this three part series on identifying reinforcers!

03/05/2024

Here are some tips to help troubleshoot your dog's challenging behaviours.

If you are struggling with your dog's behaviour, contact us anytime. We are happy to help!