SF Pet Behavior Consulting

09/29/2023

I am Dr. Keely Commins. I founded San Francisco Pet Behavior, A Veterinary Consulting Service, in 2015 to meet the mental health needs of the dogs and cats we share our homes with in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was a pleasure to serve my patients and clients as we worked together to improve their pets’ - and their own - qualities of life. I am grateful to all of you, and regret to announce the closure of my house call practice. A family emergency first strained my ability to serve my clients and patients. I am unable to provide the quality of service I wish to deliver and have decided to close San Francisco Pet Behavior.

A few thoughts:

Never hurt, scare, or intimidate your pet. If they seem scared or if they are misbehaving, remove them from the situation.

Please read about pet behavior before you get your pet (some recommendations may follow - watch this space).

If a veterinarian suggests that behavior-modifying medication may benefit your pet, please follow their recommendation. Your pet may benefit greatly from your veterinarian’s recommendation.

Choose your trainers carefully. Our goal in training is to learn how to effectively communicate with another species to manage them safely in daily life.

Many behavior problems are genetic. Have compassion for yourself. You may need a better skill set for your pet as compared to most pets, yet it probably isn’t your fault you are struggling. Consult with a highly qualified trainer and/or behavior veterinarian to learn what to do - and what to avoid doing - to best help your pet.

Most behavior problems aren’t ‘fixed’, yet managed, with a combination of environmental management, behavior modification/training, and medication.

I recommend Dr. Wailani Sung: https://www.sfspca.org/veterinary-care/behavior-training/

Gratefully,

Dr. Keely Commins

Expert professional help from a qualified veterinary behaviorist with consultation process info and appointment scheduling information.

02/01/2023

01/27/2023

The less control we have over our dog’s environment, the more control we need over our dog.

Feel like you could never give up the prong collar or walk your dog on a long line? What if you had the space and communication with your dog to do just that?

Remember, it’s up to us to set our dogs up for success. Where skills end, force begins.

01/26/2023

A little goes a long way when it comes to training. And if we want to make something sustainable, we need to start small.

One minute is enough, it’s achievable.

Use it for whatever is useful for your dog. A find it game, a 1 minute pause and cuddle. A one minute training session.

Make one minute just for you and your dog because that one minute of you focused on them, will make more of a difference than you might think.

And then anything more is a bonus.

01/17/2023

💁 It’s Training Tips Tuesday!!!!!

Getting a puppy can be a messy endeavor…but it doesn’t have to be! Join us as we break down the process to successfully potty training your pooch. From choosing the right location to figuring out your puppy’s “tells,” we will help you demystify your puppy’s patterns. Older dogs are also welcome if they (or you) need a refresher following a recent adoption.

✅ Stay consistent -

You’ve been potty training for a while now, and it’s going great! It’s going so well that you decide it’s okay to finish that episode of TV or scroll just a couple more minutes on TikTok before letting the puppy out…And before you know it, there’s a puddle on the floor. While it may be tempting to stretch the routine when it feels like your puppy “gets it,” puppies thrive on a potty routine and most accidents happen when we try to squeeze that “one more thing” in between our usual potty breaks. Stay consistent to keep being successful!

✅ Don’t get mad -

After a long day at work, it can be very upsetting to handle an accident especially when it feels like your puppy knows exactly where your best rug is! As tempted as you might be to assign blame, remember that puppies do not operate out of “spite.” That is not in the canine repertoire. They are young brains learning a new skill, which takes time and patience. So don’t get mad, get more observant of your puppy’s signs that they need to go out!

✅ Praise -

Our puppies love feedback during the learning process, and potty training is no different! When your puppy does go to the desired place, throw them a party (after they’re finished)! Let them know they are brilliant and wonderful for going outside or on their potty pad or their patch of grass, wherever you’ve chosen. They are more likely to repeat the behavior if they have been reinforced for doing so. Your praise can be very powerful, use it to your advantage!

✅ Don’t be a distraction -

Puppies are cute and irresistible, which has its pros and cons. While we might be tempted to play and snuggle when we have them outside on leash, save the cuddles and playtime until after they have emptied. Puppies are easily distracted and might forget to go until the excitement dies down and they are back inside on the rug. Plus bringing the fun after your puppies goes helps to reward that behavior!

🗣Join us for our virtual workshops to learn how to put these tips into practice:

Potty Training 101 🐶
Wednesday, February 8th at 7pm EST

Getting a puppy can be a messy endeavor…but it doesn’t have to be! Join us as we break down the process to successfully potty training your pooch. From choosing the right location to figuring out your puppy’s “tells,” we will help you demystify your puppy’s patterns. Older dogs are also welcome if they (or you) need a refresher following a recent adoption.

👉 Working Spot: $29.00
👉 Auditor: $15.00

Enroll Today! Auditors please enter the auditor code at the time of payment to receive the $15 ticket price: PTAUDIT22

https://behaviorvets.mylearnworlds.com/course/potty-training-101-workshop

Crate Training 101 🐶
Wednesday, February 15th at 7:00pm EST

Join us to practice the necessary art of crate training! Give your puppy a safe space to rest, relax, and most importantly stay out of trouble. We will go over the three phases of crate training: going in, staying in, and coming out. Young dogs and older dogs alike are welcome to participate. A crate is an often misunderstood and therefore underutilized tool that has many important applications throughout your dog's life.

👉 Working Spot: $29.00
👉 Auditor: $15.00

Enroll Today! Auditors please enter the auditor code at the time of payment to receive the $15 ticket price: CTAUDIT22

https://behaviorvets.mylearnworlds.com/course/crate-training-101

There are two ways to participate:

✔️Live Participants
Each workshop is open to 4 working spots. These participants will receive feedback and coaching from Erin Hensley and Claire Cairo during live sessions. Each participant will have a chance to practice the games!

✔️Auditors
Each live class will be open to unlimited auditors. Auditors will have access to all learning materials. They can watch the workshops live or recorded; Auditors will not be permitted to unmute or turn on their video. You may communicate via the chat and with the Behavior Vets community!

We’ll see you there!!! 🎉

12/14/2022

For starters, don't scare them.

12/13/2022

12/02/2022

As the end of the year draws close, I've been reflecting on the fact that Companion Animal Psychology turned 10 earlier this year, and on some of my own personal favourite posts in this time. This is one of them, because it's always a pleasure to write about well-designed research on an important topic. https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2020/07/positive-reinforcement-is-more.html

11/29/2022

Giving Tuesday is here! We’re so thankful for the support of our donors just like YOU. Today we are looking to raise $5,000 to feed hungry mouths like these! Can you help us by donating and sharing this post?

https://yuwr.org/donate/

11/27/2022

Most animals thrive when their lives are predictable. When they know what to expect and how to achieve their goals, and when their expectations match their reality, there’s no need for them to worry. Their anxiety diminishes. That’s why predictability is one of the seven domains of the Behavior Vets’ Resilience Rainbow. 🌈

Since our pets thrive on predictability, we like to use Pattern Games when helping dogs acclimate to environments and situations.

Pattern Games are designed to do two things:

👉 They create a strong reinforcement history for a particular behavior or series of behaviors.

👉 Patterns create predictability in environments that can be unpredictable, thereby helping to reduce anxiety.

Trainer Leslie McDevitt 🦄, has gifted the world with many Pattern Games, including the "1-2-3 Game." It can look like a ‘walking game.’

What you'll need:

✅️ Treats
✅️ Calm low-distraction space
✅️ A leash for going outside

Step One:
✅️ Say "three", and then immediately deliver a treat.
✅️ Repeat several times.

Step Two:
✅️ Next, build a chain by saying, ''two, three,” then immediately deliver a treat.
✅️Repeat several times.

Step Three:
✅️ Say, "one, two, three", then immediately deliver a treat.

Step Four:
✅️ Try practicing in a slightly more distracting environment. We recommend starting in the backyard.

There are many applications to this game. This is just an introduction as to how to teach the game. The 1-2-3 Game can be played with a variety of animal species, including cats and horses!

11/26/2022

Dogs don't understand don't, because don't is a concept. Dogs understand DO. They understand behaviours.

Create a behaviour that you DO want, so that your dog can be right and you're setting him up for reinforcement.

This makes for a much better relationship for you and your dog, and for anybody else who comes in contact with your dog.

~ Susan Garrett

11/25/2022

I often hear R+ trainers say that "no" is not a behavior. I know why they say that. But I think we should explore it a little further.

11/23/2022

A Calming Cap is an excellent way to improve your pet's stress during a visit to check his/her health.

11/19/2022

If you plan on gathering with friends and/or family this holiday season, there are a number of things you can do to keep your dog (and your visitors) safe.

Remember, there is nothing "wrong" with your dog if you need to manage amid all the chaos; that is 100% normal.

Check out this week's blog post for more info on how you can implement each of these strategies: https://rescuedbytraining.com/2022/11/14/holiday-gathering-tips/

11/16/2022

Sometimes, it can be hard to tell if your dog is comfortable in chaotic situations.

When in doubt, the kindest thing you can do for your dog is to put them away.

Don’t wait until they're hiding, avoiding, growling or snapping to help give them relief.

Be proactive.

Keep everyone safe this holiday season!

11/09/2022

Dog licks are often thought of as doggy kisses. But, it’s actually something to take a step back and notice. And could sometimes be considered a, “Kiss to Dismiss” (more on that below). These licks do trigger some questions that may seem a bit silly to ask in response. Something like, “Describe the licks for me. Fast, slow, and then does the dog move away?”
“Is it a full tongue or a little bit?”
“Full tongue lick or quick flick?”
“Is the child sitting and the dog approaches or vice versa, what level of mobility does the child have, is food present or remnant?

There’s many questions! But, these questions help us gather valuable information to help us understand what the dog may be communicating. At Family Paws Parent Education, we want to help parents consider and recognize that dog licks may not always be what we think they are, “affectionate kisses”, or indications of “love,” but could have other meanings. We refer to this as “Kiss to Dismiss”. If you are curious of these doggy “kisses” and if they are a “Kiss to Dismiss”, ask yourself,
🐶 Is your dog in need of space? (what just happened? Did your baby crawl closer to your dog?)
🐶 Is your dog in need of space and there is a reason they may choose not to move? (example: comfy spot, resource, pain)
🐶 Does this licking deter closeness or lead to an increase in space?

Thank you, Steve Bishop of Bishops Gate Dog Training for this graphic! Steve is also a Family Paws Parent Educator.
We do not recommend baby and dogs interact as shown in these illustrations. Never allow your baby to crawl up to or freely explore your dog in this way.

You can also find him on Instagram at

11/02/2022

The boys are back in town. And they love Back Ranch Meadow. Come check out what’s happening, especially early mornings and evenings.

10/27/2022

10/21/2022

10/21/2022

Is your dog used to doing and going everywhere with you? Or, are you used to bringing your dog everywhere? If you’re preparing for baby’s arrival, it’s never too early to start activities and doing things in the house without interacting directly with your dog. This will increase your inclusion success! This can be as simple as cooking dinner and setting up your dog in a success station. More examples below!

🥰Set up a success station (gate, crate, x-pen) and give your dog some yummy to lick or their favorite toy while you are washing dishes, you can also invite them into the room with you while you are watching TV and work with them resting on their "place" or "mat", then they can learn it's ok to just hang out without interaction.

🐾Perhaps when the baby is born you'll be reading books to your child and your dog can be resting on their place.

🐾You can also use this time to work out any wrinkles if you are having issues with your dog and moving into this new way of being in your home. Reaching out for help with this is
encouraged!

👉We've all gone through so many changes and are always learning and growing.

10/21/2022

https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2022/10/saying-same-thing-over-and-over-in-dog.html?fbclid=IwAR1vIZCd7pzd5ZIGJNBzhHmXz7bBgJPjxYMsQ7Nkrct6W7nj5WAvXpIpr4c&m=1

Why we need to keep repeating that reward-based methods are the best way to train your dog.

10/19/2022

Puppy parents and fosters, please join us this Sat, Oct 22 at 2pm ET for a Free Webinar all about puppies!
Register at https://yourdogsfriend.org/free-workshops/! 🐶

For this webinar, we have a speaker with vast puppy experience who is also co-founder of the Puppy Socialization Project and co-author of Puppy Socialization: What It Is and How to Do It. Marge Rogers has learned that to successfully train and socialize a puppy, you need to understand both puppy body language and the principles of positive training. Marge will discuss these concepts, as well as common puppy issues, like puppy biting, housetraining, and the right way to socialize a puppy. Speaker: Marge Rogers, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, CCUI, Rewarded Behavior Continues

10/19/2022

Training Tuesday:
This study demonstrated that service dogs trained with humane methods were closer with their partners, while those trained with punishment-based methods had increased fear. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2019.00023/full?_ga=2.75131221.656796544.1600800502-51975183.1600173077

10/18/2022

Confession time: I cringe when I see most videos online of dogs and kids. Why? Mostly because what people think is "cute" is usually an uncomfortable dog asking for space. And when I see dogs licking babies and people chalking it up to the dog "kissing" the baby because the dog loves the baby, I see a future bite waiting to happen.

Parents, especially new ones are overwhelmingly hopeful and optimistic that their dog and child will get along and they'll have an Instagram-worthy life together. And I think this optimism clouds the reality in many cases.

Read about this important topic in the this week's post. And be sure to grab my free guide, 10 Dos and Don'ts When Introducing Your Dog to Your New Baby, also linked in the post.

https://rescuedbytraining.com/2022/10/17/kiss-to-dismiss/