Animal Behavior Consultants of Michigan

11/20/2024

Ouch! That hurt.
The beauty of long, thick and curly fur is often matched with the challenge of keeping it free of mats and snaggles. Many of my patients struggle with grooming appointments - loud noises, new people or dogs and the discomfort of having matted fur pulled. I am not sure I could put up with a hairdresser the same way we expect our dogs to handle grooming appointments! Did you know that there are experienced groomers that incorporate science-based positive training into their work? Ask your groomer if they use positive, reward-based training as part of an emotionally protective approach to pet grooming before booking an appointment.

11/08/2024

Dog Breeds Did You Know ... ?
In the early 1900s, the Pit Bull was one of the most popular breeds in the U.S.; they were considered THE All American Family Dog. They were used in posters to recruit soldiers and sell war bonds, Petey was popular pup on the show Our Gang, and a Pit Bull mix named Sgt. Stubby (in photo) was the first dog to be awarded Army medals- he survived being wounded twice in combat and saved his entire platoon by warning them of a poison gas attack. Pit Bulls continue to be brave and loving family dogs today.

11/07/2024

For everyone who needs a good laugh today 😉 I do sometimes wonder when just about every dog I know saw this movie!

10/30/2024

Family Dog Fights Hurt!
Fights between family dogs can be extremely serious, difficult to manage and devastating to the human and canine family. Called Inter-dog Aggression, fights among family dogs are a common reason families come to see me and other veterinary behaviorists. This excellent study confirms that resource guarding and high emotional arousal are the most common triggers. Identifying and eliminating the set up for triggers is essential for eliminating future fights.
Do you need help with your family dog? Find us at www.animalbehaviormi.com
Ref: Feltes, et al JAVMA, 2020

Our goal is to prevent, treat and effectively manage behavior problems in companion animals to enhance and strengthen the human-animal bond. If you have any questions about your pet’s behavior please contact us.

10/30/2024

National Cat Day is a day meant to help bring awareness of homeless cats, and encourage all cat lovers to spread the word about these wonderful expressive creatures.

10/25/2024

Are you an expert at reading dog body language?
Maybe not today, but with a little practice I am sure you can be!
Can you identify the fearful, anxious, stressed body signals the dog in this photos is showing? Here are just a few ... head lowered, tail tucked, no eye contact, ears back, lip licking, stress yawn ... is this a dog you have seen on a walk, at the dog park or maybe in your house? Most lunges, snarls and snaps occur immediately after a dog exhibits signs of anxiety and stress - being a good detective prevents bites.

Photo source - ASPCA

10/18/2024

Halloween is just around the corner! Many dogs are uncomfortable meeting new people especially at the door! Try handing out treats at the end of your driveway as an alternative to knocks on the door! Boo!

Our goal is to prevent, treat and effectively manage behavior problems in companion animals to enhance and strengthen the human-animal bond. If you have any questions about your pet’s behavior please contact us.

10/17/2024

We have lost some of our longest and dearest dog friends this fall. Our heart goes out to their families - we know that there is a huge empty place in their home and in their heart. We can only hope that this definition of heaven comes true.

10/16/2024

Did you know that dogs (and cats and horses too!) have a 'dominant' right or left 'handedness'?
Check out your dog and let us know which paw they prefer to use!

10/05/2024

Who's your Daddy? (or Momma?)

We all have fun trying to figure out what breeds make up our mix breed dogs! How accurate do you think most dog people are at correctly guessing the breeds in a mixed breed dog?
Not too good the evidence shows.
Over 900 people viewed one-minute, color video-clips of 20 dogs of unknown parentage and were asked to identify the dogs’ predominant breeds. For 14 out of 20 dogs, fewer than 50% visually identified breeds of dogs that matched DNA. This also has implications for breed 'profiling' laws based on visual assessment.
Here are answers below for the ones in the photo.
Ref: Voith, Am J of Soc Res. 2013

Row 1- #1- AmStaff/ St Bernard; #2 Am Eskimo/ Golden;
Row 2 - #6 Chow/ Dach; #7 Am Water Spaniel/Pom/ Shih Tzu;
Row 3- #11 AmStaff / GSD; #12 Australian Shepherd Dog; Boxer; Dachshund; Dalmatian; Glen of Imaal Terrier

10/03/2024

Dog Breeds -they've not been around very long!

Most dog breeds were developed in the last 150 years, spurred by what’s call the 'Victorian Explosion'. During this time in Great Britain, dog breeding intensified resulting in many of our most recognizable breeds of dogs. The Victorians, influenced by the ideas of Darwin, became passionate about breeding for the ideal of a certain breed. Many of the conformational traits we think of as classic for a certain type of dog have their origins in this era.
Breeding continues! Take a look at what a Dachshund looked like 100 years ago!

09/20/2024

Let sleeping dogs lie...?
Such great advice, for children and adults!
If your dog is a senior they may have some aches and pains and even younger dogs need their rest and do not want to be disturbed. Any dog may be startled and snap if they are abruptly petted/hugged while sleeping. I know I would jump out of my skin if someone just hugged me out of nowhere while I was sleeping!
Thanks for such great advice from our friends at Family Paws!
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09/19/2024

Thank you for such kind words!
Can we help you with your dog's behavior challenges? Find us at www.animalbehaviormi.com we'd love to help!

09/17/2024

Can Dogs Learn by Observation? You bet!
Social learning is an efficient and fast way to transfer information from more experienced (often, older) to less experienced (younger) individuals.
Studies show that dogs learn by observation both from other dogs AND humans.
After observing a human releasing a ball by manipulating a lever mounted on a box, dogs were MORE successful in also using the lever to achieve the same goal.
Adult dogs are known to be able to remember and re-enact human actions after a delay of 1 hour and some of them even after delays up to 24 hours. Whoa! Better watch how you close the refrigerator next time!
Ref: Kubinyi, E., et al. J. Comp. Psychol. 117, 156–165 (2003).

09/12/2024

Love is Real
When we are captivated by someone, our brain dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin levels rise. That’s love! It is the bond between a mom and baby and it is the same same neurochemical bonding process dogs and humans go through. Dogs may not be able to put their emotions into words but show love their own way when they gaze into your eyes and we into theirs.

Our goal is to prevent, treat and effectively manage behavior problems in companion animals to enhance and strengthen the human-animal bond. If you have any questions about your pet’s behavior please contact us.

08/30/2024

I am so grateful for all of the families, pets and veterinarians I have a chance to work with!

08/28/2024

How secure are electric fences?

A survey of 974 dog owners asked how their dogs were confined to the yard, whether they had escaped. The results showed that an electronic fence was the LEAST effective method of containing a dog: 44% of dogs contained by one had escaped. Dogs were less likely to have escaped from a tether (27%) or from a see-through fence (e.g. chain link or slatted wood) (23%) or a privacy fence that is not see-through (also 23%). Escape rates were not associated with how dogs were trained on them.


Ref: Starinsky, et al (2017). Escape rates and biting histories of dogs confined to their owner's property through the use of various containment methods. JAVMA, 250(3), 297-302.

08/27/2024

Take a Nature Sniff Walk!
Try a leisurely stroll that allows your dog to explore their environment it's great for their mental well-being. The act of sniffing provides mental stimulation and enrichment - like solving puzzles or reading a captivating book! This mental stimulation is particularly important for senior dogs who may have physical limitations but still crave activity. It can help keep their brain sharp.