If a picture is worth a thousand words, then video is worth a million. As long as we acquire photo/video within safe conditions for handlers and animals.
Today’s training session at Fluffy’s new home ended quickly due to valuable information from his family, and observable behavior that I saw, too.
I requested we reschedule, and for my client to contact their veterinary team immediately.
As I walked from their home to run an errand, they texted to let me know they were headed to the veterinary clinic, and asked if I’d like to join. So, I rerouted my walk in the city immediately to @vetiquechicago with their approval to join the exam.
We were also able to acquire Fluffy’s weight for the first time voluntarily with my welcomed live-coaching tips. He’s #17.7 lbs.
Even the way he arches his back ever-so-slightly is valuable for us and Dr. Remnas to see. Fuzzy typically doesn’t eat food during vet visits, but we tried anyway and he took us up on the offer!
I left the video unedited with audio.
Thank you so much to Beth, Dr. Remnas, the veterinary team, and Fluffy for this opportunity to learn with you.
I’m so relieved a treatment plan has been mobilized to support his health care and adored life in his new home.
[Disclaimer: Fuzzy’s family and veterinary team gave approval for this photo and short video to be shared publicly. This social media post is a brief clip with written content that doesn’t give the full scope of our collaboration. Please consult your veterinary clinic with concerns that apply to you, the animal you share your life with, and their individual wellness/treatment plans.]
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#Teamwork #ChicagoDogs #DogCare #DogTeamSupport #Collaboration #ReadySetForGroomerAndVet #AlwaysLearning #ExploreTheJoyOfLearningTogether
🔅I’ve been collaborating with Team Rosie for a few months. Her offered baseline behavior during body handling, bathing, eye, and ear care was to run away, growl, and bite the handlers. So when her family showed off their amazing progress today, we advanced to a new goal. Being able to provide care for Rosie’s head, mouth, ears, and eyes.
❓I asked if they ever observe Rosie burrow her head into towels, furniture, dog beds, toys, etc., and they replied yes!
🐾 So we took Rosie’s lead and even added a soft, warm small damp hand towel underneath the large dry towel in this session.
🔅Please note: this short video doesn’t demonstrate or explain all the small, positive approximations it took for us to get here. It celebrates another moment of how when we take a closer look at the animals around us, they show us their smallest success point in their environment to build on.
🌟 Thank you for this fantastic learning opportunity, little Rosie. You helped us move forward to support you when we listened!
🎥 | Thank you @rosieinchitown for inviting me to help with your goals, and for taking this video. Rosie is so smart and adorable.
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#Teamwork #HusbandryAtHome #Joy #DogCare #DogTraining #Collaboration #DogTeams #ChicagoDog #SweetDogsChicago #PositiveReinforcementTraining #ReadySetForGroomerAndVet #ExploreTheJoyOfLearningTogether
Many thanks to the brilliant @hannah_branigan for inviting me back to chat more about husbandry care. We ended up going in a few different directions covering various other topics. Lots of rabbit holes with our fantastic live guests via her Patreon page. The podcast was recorded, so please stay tuned for the link.
🐾 A special shoutout to sweet Santino for helping with a live eye drop behavior demonstration.
🍷 And I called our young Vito “Vino” by accident. Or was it really an accident? Who knows. But “Vino” sends Hannah his wags! 🍷
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#TeamWork #Collaboration #Podcast #DrinkingFromTheToilet #Gratitude #HangingWithHannah #ExploreTheJoyOfLearningTogether
Hannah Branigan - Wonderpups
Another amazing day at the wildlife center with Kelly Schaaf and Rob Carmichael. The talented training team is doing fantastic with the red and Arctic fox training. Today Kelly showed me the harness behavior with Spartan (Arctic fox) and she reinforced him while I brushed out some of his beautiful white winter coat to help reveal his darker summer fur. Another spotlight on team work and collaboration with this spectacular crew and animals. Thanks again!
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#wildliferescue #wildlifeeducation #wildliferehabilitation #arcticfox
#explorethejoyoflearningtogether
Wildlife Discovery Center
This is our submission for this week’s #KPCTtrainingchallenge
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*Step 1: Observe behavior
*Step 2: Capture behavior
*Step 3: Add a visual cue
I’m so happy that both our girls jumped in to help demonstrate in this short video!
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#heartcats #rescuecats #sisters #husbandryathome #explorethejoyoflearningtogether
As promised, here is the edited video from Santino’s mass aspiration procedure that was done two weeks ago. We are truly grateful that the results came back as benign for both masses around his anal area. He enjoyed cheese on the front end while he offered his reverse clownfish trick as Dr. Coloumbe got busy with the needle on his back end. At the end of the procedure, I had to apply gentle duration pressure with gauze to help minimize bleeding. Way to go, Sweet Santino. We are so proud of you and relieved for the good news!
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#husbandryathome #practicemakesprogress #heartdogs #teamwork
#readysetforgroomerandvet #explorethejoyoflearningtogether
We’ve been working on approximating her layout position parallel to our body for close proximity and tactile games. Looking good, sweet Deenie. I want to nibble on you!
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#husbandryathome
#explorethejoyoflearningtogether
What does scotch tape have to do with paw care? Apparently a lot and quite the valuable tool for veterinary professionals. Sweet Vito developed red skin irritations deep in his paw pads. So we headed to our veterinarian two days ago to assess the cause. Dr. Coulombe brought out scotch tape to acquire a smear sample to then place under the microscope and determine if this is a bacterial or fungal infection. Vito was generous enough to allow this unexpected procedure to occur paired with generous amounts of treats. But now that I know what this specific procedure looks like, we brought the game back home to practice.
First step: I introduce/place the tape prop on my skin = treats.
Second step: I place the tape prop on the mats around him = treats.
No tape inside his sensitive paw pads yet. We’re letting the topical ointment and oral antibiotics kick this bacterial infection in its teeth. Day two of his treatment plan, and he’s looking and feeling fantastic. Training fun with tape! Who knew?
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#husbandryathome #explorethejoyoflearningtogether
Deenie’s horizontal layout behavior up against my legs is coming along beautifully. This specific position within close proximity to the handler for various tactile procedures has numerous benefits. Looking good, sweet Deenie!
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#husbandryathome
#explorethejoyoflearningtogether
“Sit! You’re fine! Sit. Sit. You’re FINE! SIT!”
That’s a common and unfortunate situation around scales and dogs at the veterinary clinic. The handler is yelling louder while treating the dog’s equipment like a steering wheel. And here’s the thing. No one is actually fine. The vet staff, handler, and animal are all stressed for a variety of reasons. And the dog is yelling louder for help via his/her canine communication strategies. It’s time to listen.
This brief video showcases our team effort today to help our sweet Vito. He’s smack dab in the middle of canine adolescence and could also be within the second fear period that dogs’ experience during canine development. Rather than ask him for calculus equations, me, the front desk/vet team, and Vito kept the math equations very simple. 1+1 = what does Vito want to offer? Head to the ground to sniff while he acquires valuable environmental information.
This was our third pass through the lobby from outside. The first two rounds, Vito stopped walking into the clinic. We kept offering space as a reinforcer. This video was our final pass today. We immediately provided space from the scale as an added reinforcer while we strolled right back outside. Whew! So many delectable scents for this young hound to enjoy. Many thanks to veterinary technician, Amber, and the team at West Loop Veterinary Care for slowing our handler roll with Vito. He’s telling us all he needs to help create this adventure as “Weigh Too Much Fun.”
Thanks for all that you teach us, Vito. We’re listening!
~Vito (11 months) 🧡
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#rhodesianridgeback #canineadolescence #teenagedog #patience #positivetraining #caninecommunication #dogfearperiods #scale #spaceasareinforcer #sniff #voluntaryweights #veterinaryvisits #weightoomuchfun #readysetforgroomerandvet #husbandryathome #animalcare #animaltraining #vettips #dogtips #trainingtips #animalteachers #explorethejoyoflearningtogether
Have an extra jump rope? Why not integrate that prop into your husbandry at home games? Team Deenie worked on our layout position with stethoscope and ultrasound positions today. She is seriously adorable and so smart!
#husbandryathome
#explorethejoyoflearningtogether
Insight Animal Behavior Services, PC
This is a short clip from our summer camp in Sweden posted by Agneta Eriksson. Thank you for joining us, and for sharing your handsome pup (Assar). He is an excellent teacher that helped put our initial training plan for the chin rest behavior into practice. Please keep me updated about your progress, Agneta. Miss you and the other teams already!
