Synergy Veterinary Behavior

03/02/2025

“Do you want to see what Fluffy does when I...?”

No, we don't need to! While it’s a common assumption that trainers or behavior consultants need to witness aggression firsthand, a well-trained professional can assess a case without putting anyone at risk.

Here’s why seeing aggression isn’t necessary:

1️⃣Historical Patterns Tell the Story
A detailed history—gathered through interviews, observations, and past incidents—paints a clear picture of what’s happening. A skilled consultant will ask the right questions to identify triggers, patterns, and antecedents that contribute to aggression.

2️⃣Recreating Aggression is Dangerous
Intentionally provoking aggressive behavior can create reinforcement loops, where the dog practices the behavior and learns that aggression "works." Worse, it can escalate the response, making things more severe over time.

3️⃣Behavior is Predictable When You Understand Triggers
Instead of waiting for aggression to happen, a behavior consultant will analyze:
✅ Past incidents (when and where the aggression has occurred).
✅ The dog’s body language before an escalation.
✅ Environmental triggers and stress factors.
✅ What the dog does instead of being aggressive (avoidance, freezing, tension).

4️⃣Real-World Context Matters More Than a Single Moment
Aggression isn’t just about what happens in a session—it’s about what happens daily in the dog’s environment. A consultant will assess:
- The home setup and routines.
- How the dog interacts with family members.
- What management strategies are already in place.

What Should a Trainer or Consultant Do Instead?
A behavior consultant will work with you to set up a safe, structured training plan without exposing anyone to unnecessary risks. They will observe behavior without escalating it and provide solutions that address the root cause rather than the symptom.

A good detective doesn’t ask a suspect to commit the crime again—they gather evidence to understand what happened. The same applies to aggression cases.

03/02/2025

Upcoming events and closures at Synergy!

🔹 Sunday, March 30th: Dr. Valli will be out of the office for a continuing education event. Jenn and our trainers will still be around for appointments 😊
🔹 Sunday, April 6th: Dr. Valli, Dr. Nicole, and Lorenzo will be presenting at the Rose City Veterinary Conference. Our booth will be run by Jenn! There will be no medical staff at the facility this day, but we will still be reachable for scheduling and other non-medical needs.
🔹 Sunday, May 25th and Monday, May 26th: We will be closed for Memorial Day Weekend.

02/28/2025

🧐 Thinking about starting behavioral medications for your pet but worried about doing so? What are the things holding you back? 💊

Join us for Dr. Valli's Facebook live on the top 5 myths and misconceptions of using behavioral medications with animals.

When: Tuesday, March 4th at 5:00 PM PST

❓ Have any specific questions you'd like answered? Comment below or feel free to message us!

For our veterinary professionals: there will be several presentations at the Rose City Veterinary Conference on behavior, including ones by Dr. Valli and some of our team!

02/27/2025

Borrowing this from Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin 💙

Humans often use labels to help us understand concepts, and that isn't always a bad thing, but it can lead to misinterpretations and assumptions that don't necessarily hold true.

So, if you're not doing this already, start challenging yourself to describe the behaviors being performed by your pet in different situations and assess what conditions those behaviors occur in!

An example could be:
Label: My dog is "aggressive" towards visitors.
Behaviors seen and conditions these happen in: He growls and barks when people knock. When people come in, he barks incessantly and has to be held back on a leash so he won't run up and bite them. Sometimes, after the visitors have been sitting for a while, he calms down enough to walk up and sniff their legs, but will snap if they reach for him. If they don't reach to pet him, he will sniff them and walk away.

Why is this useful?
We have identified three specific events that trigger big reactions from your dog! Identifying that the door, people entering, and people trying to pet him are part of what triggers the behaviors can help us figure out what we could try differently. Can we instruct guests to call us when they arrive rather than knocking? Would he do better meeting people on leash on a walk before coming in together? Would he do better being confined to a separate space and kept occupied with enrichment until everyone has settled enough for him to explore and investigate on leash in a controlled way, where the visitors have specific instructions NOT to pet him? We have so many more options to explore to see what helps in these situations.

02/25/2025

📖 Behavior Term Tuesday! ➡ ➡ Backchaining

Backchaining is a training technique used where one teaches a sequence of behaviors in reverse order. Instead of beginning with the first step and adding subsequent steps, the process starts with the final step, then moves backward by introducing the preceding steps one at a time.
This method is beneficial because the learner always ends with a well-practiced and well-rewarded behavior, making the learning process easier and more reinforcing.

02/23/2025

Exciting news! 🎉

Our new and improved website will be launching within the next couple of weeks! Here's a little sneak peak for you all 🤩

Our URL will remain the same (https://www.synergybehavior.com/), and the refill request form for current clients will still be in the top corner.

We hope you find it fresh, accessible, and easy to use—let us know what you think! We’d love your feedback! 💬✨

02/21/2025

Why are behavioral medications used? Isn’t behavior modification and training sufficient?

In many situations, working with a qualified positive reinforcement-based trainer can lead to significant improvements. However, there are just as many cases where medication can greatly enhance your pet’s quality of life. Medication often aids in the learning process but should complement, not replace, behavior modification and training—they work best when used together!

It appears that behavioral medications for pets still carry more or a negative connotation than those for humans, though they shouldn’t! We understand that prolonged stress affects our sleep, work performance, and ability to unwind. When we don’t feel our best, we don’t function at our best—and the same goes for our pets. If your pet is experiencing behavioral challenges, don’t hesitate to ask your vet about potential medication options to help.

02/19/2025

Important read from AVMA regarding the bird flu!

ALERT - The Washington State Department of Agriculture and Oregon Department of Agriculture are warning pet owners about the risks of raw pet food after indoor cats in Oregon became ill from HPAI. Officials found the cats all consumed the same brand of raw pet food before becoming ill.

Samples collected from open containers of the raw pet food confirmed the presence of HPAI. This public health notice was initiated in response to these findings. The raw pet food was manufactured by Wild Coast Raw.

Impacted food includes: Wild Coast Raw Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula; Lots #22660 and #22664; Best By Date 12/2025. MORE INFORMATION: https://bit.ly/41j1CL

02/19/2025

Sometimes when our dogs our taking their time, they are also reminding us to slow down.

02/19/2025

📖Behavior Term Tuesday! ➡️ ➡️ Intermittent Reinforcement

Intermittent reinforcement happens when a reward is given occasionally rather than every time a behavior is performed. This type of reinforcement can make behaviors highly persistent.

A good example is a slot machine—people keep pulling the handle because they occasionally receive a reward (money), but they never know when it will happen, so they keep trying.

In dogs, an example would be a dog that jumps on people for attention. Sometimes they get scolded, sometimes pushed away, but occasionally they receive a pet. That occasional reinforcement encourages the jumping behavior to continue.

02/17/2025

Group Dog Classes at Synergy Veterinary Behavior: Train together, grow together, and have fun together!🐶💙
Located: 2127 NW York St, Portland, OR 97210 and online via Zoom

📅 Limited spots available—sign up today! 🐕💨
https://www.synergybehavior.com/classes/

🔹 Nose Knows: Scent Games (Starts 2/24 at 6pm, 5 weeks, 1 online + 4 in-person)—An engaging introduction to scent and scent-based games and activities!
🔹 Nose Knows More: Advanced Scent Games (Starts 4/7 at 6pm, 5 weeks, in-person)—Take your dog’s scent games to the next level! Level 2 of our popular Nose Knows class.
🔹 Reactive Rover: Homeschool (Starts 4/13 at 5:30pm, 4 weeks, online)—Support for reactive dogs from the comfort of home. Learn powerful, simple tools and skills for transforming your walks from stressful to calm.
🔹 Control Unleashed: Reactive to Resilient (starts 6/1 at 5:30pm, 6 weeks, in-person)—Based on the acclaimed book series and training program created by Leslie McDevitt, our Control Unleashed class is for dogs and handlers who are ready to take their training skills to the next level.

Can't wait to see you there!

02/14/2025

This Valentine’s Day, we celebrate love in all its forms—love that is unapologetic, diverse, boundless, and powerful. To our LGBTQ+ family, to people of color, to immigrants and dreamers, to every human being who deserves love, respect, and joy—you are seen, valued, and cherished.

May today and every day remind us that love is an act of resistance, a force for change, and a right for all. 💕🏳️‍🌈✊🏾🌍🏳️‍⚧️

02/13/2025

02/10/2025

Many pet owners who come to see us tend to place too much blame on themselves for their pet’s behavior. While it’s natural to wonder if things could have been different with a different approach from the start, the reality is that you simply didn’t have that knowledge at the time—and that’s okay.

Instead of focusing on what could have been, let’s look at what can be done now to support both you and your pet on their behavioral journey.

Our team has dedicated thousands of hours to studying animal behavior, behavioral medications, and behavior modification—so we can help guide you and your pet toward a better, more harmonious life together. You’re not alone in this, and we’re here to support you both along the way!

In short, please don't beat yourself up over your pet's behavior. Not everything is in our control. Even those who have done everything "right" can have unexpected, uncontrollable setbacks. We can only work on what we know and reach out for help when we don't!💙

02/08/2025

Our next round of reactive dog classes are here!
Location: Virtual (via Zoom) and at our facility at 2127 NW York, St, Portland, OR 97210

Reactive Rover: Homeschool🐶💻 Starting Sunday, 4/13/25 at 5:30pm
a 4-week virtual class that'll teach you and your dog powerful and simple skills to help transform your stressful walks to calm.

Control Unleashed: Reactive to Resilient🐶🚶 Starting Sunday, 6/1/25 at 5:30pm
a 6-week class based on the acclaimed book series and training program created by Leslie McDevitt. This class is for dogs and handlers who are ready to take their training skills to the next level.
Prerequisites: Our virtual foundations class, Reactive Rover: Homeschool or via individual instructor permission

Register here: https://www.synergybehavior.com/classes/

02/06/2025

Want to keep your cat engaged even when you're not around? Interactive play is essential, but safe solo toys are just as important for enrichment! Too often, they end up forgotten in a corner. Keep things fresh by rotating toys, adding a sprinkle of catnip a couple of times a week, and placing toys in fun, unexpected spots for your cat to "hunt." A little effort goes a long way in keeping your cat happy, engaged, and entertained.

02/06/2025

As exciting as bringing home a new pet can be, we know there are so many things needed to prepare! What should you prioritize?

1. Saving money! Whether you bring home a puppy or kitten or an adult dog or cat, having savings put aside is important! All new animals should have a vet visit, ideally within the first couple of weeks of getting them home, regardless of if they came from a shelter, rescue, or were purchased from a breeder. This could also help cover expenses if you need to find a trainer to help your pet integrate into your home. It's estimated people spend anywhere from $800-$4500 on supplies, vet care, and more within the first year of getting a new pet.

2. Plans for management! We don't always know what will happen, so prepare for anything! Baby gates and playpens can help block off areas you'd prefer they stay out of until you know what habits they may or may not have.

3. What will your household rules look like? Who will be responsible for which parts of pet care (feeding, grooming, exercise, etc)?

4. If you have children, how confident are you that they are comfortable with the energy level your new addition will have? How confident are you that you can manage a pet with a child too? Especially for younger kids who haven't been around many animals, pets can be very overwhelming!

5. What are your plans for socializing your new addition (puppies and kittens in particular)? If they aren't fully vaccinated, do you know what safe socialization looks like? Have you registered for puppy or kitten classes yet? Puppy socials?

6. If you have other pets, how will you introduce them safely and not in a rushed way? Again, what management is going to be in place to ensure a smooth introduction process? Are your current pets going to be able to adjust to a new animal in the home?

While this isn't a comprehensive list of EVERYTHING needed to prepare, it's a great starting point for those considering adding a furry companion to their home.

02/06/2025

We can't wait to see everyone there!😄

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