Be Well Dog Behaviour & Training

08/30/2024

08/12/2024

08/10/2024

“Behaviour problems kill way more patients than pain management trials”

08/03/2024

🐾 Are you planning to bring home a new pet? Follow these 5 tips for a positive introduction into your home, and book a FREE 30 minute virtual consult with one of our team members for more advice (link to booking portal on main profile)

1) Create a safe space for them to come home to (eliminate access to potential hazards, offer multiple resting and hiding places, use baby gates and exercise pens to set your new pet up for success)

2) Have a plan for introductions to other pets in the household (introduce pets when they are content and relaxed, allow pets to see each other and maybe interact while supervised for short periods of time before separating them again, walks together in a neutral outdoor space for two dogs, feed separately and pick up all chews and toys to start)

3) Be mindful of the rule of 3’s (3 days to settle in and process the initial change, 3 weeks to show their normal behaviour and temperament, 3 months to be fully acclimated to their new environment and routine)

4) Avoid having many visitors or removing your dog from the home for grooming, day care, travel etc within the first week or two while they adjust

5) Set up a camera for absences and start with seconds at a time. Don’t wait to consult a qualified professional if seeing signs of possible separation anxiety (prolonged pacing, vocalizing, destructive behaviours, attempts to escape, inability to settle and sleep)

📲 Have more questions about bringing home a new dog? Send us a DM!

07/24/2024

🐾👩🏻‍⚕️Dr. Christina Lucas is a veterinarian (Ontario Veterinary College 2021 Graduate) and Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) living in Woodstock, ON. Two years ago she started Be Well Dog Behaviour & Training, offering in person (often in home) and virtual behaviour and training support services to guardians as well as consulting with other veterinary and pet professionals, all while continuing her education in behaviour. Dr. Christina is passionate about educating guardians and other professionals about dog behaviour and learning theory, as well as bridging gaps between the dog training and behaviour world and veterinary and animal health world.

Dr. Christina offers one on one behaviour support, runs our social media, networks with other vet and pet professionals, and supports the Be Well Dogs team in providing a variety of training and pet care services with high standards for pet wellness. She is excited about offering more learning opportunities for vet professionals, expanding the Be Well Dogs Team, and applying this year for accreditation as a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant through the International Association for Animal Behavior Consultants.

Whether you are a dog guardian, an aspiring trainer or behaviour consultant, or a fellow professional in the companion animal industry or veterinary world, if you want to talk about behaviour, Dr. Christina would love to chat! Email us at [email protected] or self-book using our portal.

07/16/2024

If you've worked with me you may already be familiar with these colours! Keeping our dogs under threshold for any exposures to triggers as well as addressing stress and potential underlying causes is what forms the basis of a behaviour modification plan for reactivity.

TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND REACTIVITY

Before trying to work on improving reactivity, consider what colour your dog’s emotional state is in.

The belief or expectation that by continually exposing reactive dogs to triggers will make them get over it, is setting dogs up to fail.

Generally, a dog that is reacting to something does not feel safe – they are in survival mode – a mode where learning and appropriate responses simply cannot take place.

Neurotransmitters like adrenaline and cortisol flood the brain causing automatic responses intended for survival. This red zone is certainly not the time or the place to try to change behaviour.

We need to start working with a brain that is calm, relaxed, focused and feels safe – the green zone, where learning can take place.

A calm nervous system is essential to learn a new way to respond.

To recognise which colour an emotional state is, we need to become more adept at recognising and interpreting our dog’s body language.

Being aware of body language enables us to intervene before our dogs’ emotions – the “traffic light” changes colour.

Always start in the green zone, this is where we can really help our dogs to learn strategies to cope with triggers.

Keep working in the green - reinforcing, proofing and building confidence.

Once behaviours are established in the green, we can try moving into the amber zone by allowing our dogs to notice and be aware of distractions, but at a sufficient distance where they still feel safe and are able to focus. This is where we can make distractions or triggers feel far less threatening.

Stay out of the red as much as you can. Avoiding this is not always possible – life happens / the unexpected happens and we have no control over this.

In this case get as much distance as possible between your dog and the trigger.

We can’t teach our dogs to feel safe, but we can help them feel safe by managing the environment, taking small achievable steps, being aware of body language and intervening when their emotional traffic light is about to change colour.

07/07/2024

Thank you for the wonderful review 🥰 🙏🏼

07/05/2024

We are so excited to be offering our first in person workshop for veterinary teams, and we can’t wait to share our passion and expertise to help your team lower stress of appointments and procedures, communicate with guardians of fearful or “difficult dogs” for better outcomes, and reduce risk of bites. Registration Fee is $85+HST and Self-Registration is NOW OPEN: https://portal.busypaws.app/customers/be-well-dog-behaviour-training?location_id=2019&service_id=14235 Email [email protected] for more information or if experiencing difficulty self-registering.

06/19/2024

At Wienerfest all day Saturday and Sunday this weekend in Woodstock with

Please come talk to me about behaviour, it’ll make my day! 🙏🏼😄

06/18/2024

It sure feels like summer 🥵 ☀️ This announcement is specific to one on one behaviour support with Dr. Christina. We pride ourselves on flexible scheduling and accessible support, so don’t hesitate to email us or direct message if you are struggling to book (including details about your availability and desired time slots will speed up the process).

06/09/2024

Thanks to .tooth.banjo for the love! 🩵

06/09/2024

Slow is fast, and fast is slow.

It can be tempting in our training to skip the little steps.

It’s great to have faith in our dogs but if we stick to small steps, it’s so much clearer to them what we want.

The result is getting to the end goal faster with a much more solid behaviour.

06/08/2024

💵⭐️DISCOUNTED In Home One on One Training Support for Kitchener residents! ⭐️💵

For a limited time only we are waiving our travel fees for in home training support in Kitchener! Book a 1.5 hour initial appointment for only $75+hst while savings last.

💬Comment TRAINING to receive the link for booking.

🔹No commitment to further training
🔹Flexible scheduling and convenient self-booking process
🔹Progressive, holistic, and reward based training methods
🔹Helper dogs available for social learning
🔹Veterinarian owned and operated, first aid certified trainers, fully insured services

**In-Home Service Areas Include Oxford County, Tavistock, New Hamburg, Norwich, Tillsonburg, Princeton, Drumbo, Ayr, Paris, Cambridge, Kitchener, Locations >30km from Woodstock, ON may not be serviceable. Travel Fee of ~$1/km each way will be added to base rate** For Puppies: Socialization guidance....

06/05/2024

In collaboration with Jade, an RVT at Yates Veterinary Hospital, we created this tip sheet for puppy guardians. If you work in a veterinary setting or other capacity with puppies and would like to hand this out, send me a message and I’ll gladly share the printable PDF with you.

06/05/2024

We often get questions on the outcomes and side effects of behavioral medications in young dogs. Dr. Sackman presents her study on this. Spoiler alert...pretty effective and minimal side effects, similar to those seen in adult dogs.

05/30/2024

If a dog is repeatedly not following a cue, it's important we don't decide they are being 'stubborn'. Dogs are not stubborn because they choose to be.

It may be that they haven't actually learned the cue properly.

They may be feeling unwell.

There may be distractions in the environment that mean they can't concentrate and respond to the cue.

The reward on offer might not be motivating enough for them in that moment.

Look at the environment for distractions, look at the coaching history to see if the cue has been fully established and proofed in the wider world, and look at the value of the rewards you are offering.

05/11/2024

Check out these amazing, affordable, self-paced courses on three highly relevant topics for sharing life with your dog!

📣Introducing Our Self-Paced Courses📣

🤩ONLY $19.99 for each course🤩

⭐ Go at Your Own Pace ⭐
Learn and practice whenever suits you and your furry friend!

⭐ Hours of Video Content ⭐
Dive deep into comprehensive lessons and demonstrations!

⭐ Comfort of Your Home ⭐
No need to leave the house – all the expertise comes to you!

How to Enroll 📚👇🏼

🐾Worry Less, Walk More: A Self-Paced Loose Leash Walking Course
https://behaviorvets.mylearnworlds.com/course/loose-leash-walking
Learn the art of loose leash walking, and strategies to introducing distractions!

💤Stressed Out to Chilled Out: A Self-Paced Dog Relaxation Course
https://behaviorvets.mylearnworlds.com/course/dog-relaxation-1
Learn relaxation exercises to help your dog settle at home and in new environments!

🩺Happy Handling: The Foundation: A Self-Paced Cooperative Care Course
https://behaviorvets.mylearnworlds.com/course/happyhandlingselfpaced
Learn how to make vet visits, nail trims, and grooming a more positive experience!

05/07/2024

Thanks for the love 🥰

04/27/2024

For any of my clients (or followers) learning how to support their dog with reactivity towards other dogs and/or people I highly recommend considering this virtual course by Tess Morgan! It will be a great asset for any counterconditioning and desensitization work you are doing, or will do in the future. There’s still space in this offering and it will be offered again!

Virtual group classes and support groups for reactive, fearful and aggressive dogs and their people. Dog trainer and behaviour consultant, behaviourist for reactive dog training, aggressive dog rehabilitation, online dog training classes. Get help for stranger danger, leash reactivity, aggression, f...

04/17/2024

Check out this amazing free webinar all about why to avoid punishment and e collars in dog training!

SJDAWC 2023 Webinar Serieshttps://awc.upei.ca

04/05/2024

Did you know we offer 40% off our services for dogs currently in the care of a rescue organization or shelter? We also offer 15% off our services for newly adopted/re-homed animals to support pets and their guardians during transition (up to three months post adoption date).

E-mail us at [email protected] or book online today (booking link in bio)

04/04/2024

Ever wondered why a puppy's behavior seems erratic during adolescence, which occurs between six months and 18 months of age?

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, s*x hormones are changing which effects the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to modulate sensory processing and subsequent behavior.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control.

So what does this mean? This could mean that your dog, who used to come when called, suddenly cannot. This could mean that your dog, who didn't jump up on guests, suddenly does. Your dog that walked nicely on leash is now pulling. Or perhaps it seems like some days your dog responds to behaviors you ask of them, and some days they don't, without any rhyme or reason.

We also see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, frustration and impatience sometimes cause us to act unpredictably.

This adds to your puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for puppies to adjust.

By understanding this we can gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we can help create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best selves.

03/29/2024

In Search Of: Groomers in the Oxford County, Wilmot, Norwich, Brant, & KW regions interested in collaborating.

We are looking for any groomers who value low stress grooming practices and are able to 1) Take on new clients and 2) Accommodate “Victory Visits” prior to or in between groom appointments. These salon visits would be 15-30 minutes (You charge the client accordingly) in duration, where Dr. Christina accompanies a client and their dog to help you facilitate a positive experience for the dog with the salon, any staff, any kennels used between grooms, etc. and discuss with you any behaviour concerns/special needs of the dog.

These visits could be scheduled and conducted in a way that interferes as little as possible with regular operations (We are flexible and happy to discuss how we can make this work if you are open to it!). Email [email protected] or DM if interested. We will be reaching out directly to groomers as well as we have multiple clients in need of this service.

03/21/2024

Dr. Christina will be at the Oxford Auditorium from 3-6pm with Willow Grove Animal Wellness Centre, happy to talk with anyone about careers with animals, veterinary medicine, and all things dog behaviour and training.

Interested in learning about veterinary careers or more about the world of integrative medicine? We will be at Oxford Auditorium tomorrow with high school students from 8:30- 3pm and open to the public 3-6 pm. Come say hi to Chloe and I!

03/18/2024

Announcing our new Client Self-Booking Portal through BusyPaws! https://portal.busypaws.app/customers/be-well-dog-behaviour-training

All our services in one place, and easy self-onboarding and booking for new clients. Bookmark it to your device!

What does this change for our existing clients? We will transition from google calendar or e-mail booking to self-booking through the BusyPaws portal. You do not need to re-book appointments or services that have already been scheduled. You may receive e-mail communication, requests for updating information, & reminders through BusyPaws.

Thank you for your support and patience as we navigate this exciting transition. Please report any technical difficulties and contact us with any questions.

03/13/2024

* Bringing this post out of the vault, because it’s so important * 👇🏻

I think it’s common to think that when our dog is unruly, there is something wrong with them. 

Especially when we look around us and see perfectly behaved pups strolling happily down the street with their owners. 

But the truth is…

Everything your dog does is NORMAL. 

Chewing…

Digging…

Barking…

Pulling on the lead…

Lunging at other dogs or joggers…

Growling…

It’s all NORMAL. 

This is  a normal response for a predator (because that’s what dogs once were) that got plucked out of their natural environment and dropped onto your sofa. 

What’s not normal? 

Walking on a leash at a mind numbingly slow pace as you stare at your phone…

NOT chewing things, or mouthing you…

Holding a sit stay or a down stay as you chat to a friend…

NOT losing their mind around another dog. 

Sure selective breeding has curbed some of the more natural responses our dogs have…

But the truth is…

Your dog’s behavior is a NORMAL response to them trying to adapt to an environment that truthfully is NOT normal for them. 

So tell me…

What does that shift for you? 

Because your dog isn’t “Bad”. There’s nothing wrong with them. Everything they are doing is completely normal.

03/05/2024

Thanks for the love 💙 We are so grateful when our clients leave us reviews!

📲 Email [email protected] if you’d like support with your dog.

03/04/2024

Join us Saturday March 9th 4-5pm for our De-Stress & Relaxation Drop-In and learn how to teach your dog to relax! So many of us have training goals related to our dogs learning to “chill”, but don’t know where to start. Maybe you’d like to be able to do a group class with your dog, but they struggle to focus in these settings. We can help 😊

De-Stress & Relaxation Drop-ins are held once a month on the second Saturday from 4-5pm at Willow Grove Animal Wellness Centre near Princeton. Pre-registration is required. E-mail [email protected] to get on the list for this Saturday or a future drop-in!