By Your Side Pet Behavior Consulting

31/03/2025

Scooping the litter box may not be your favorite task...but it's waaaay better than dealing with the alternative if you don't do it regularly. And keep in mind that as cats age, you need to adjust your behavior, too. With 3 senior kitties in my household (who p*e A LOT), I am scooping boxes four times a day (sometimes more).

21/03/2025

This.

A lot of dogs want you to know this -

Instead of a fancy collar and bed? They’d rather have a fenced in yard - even if it has to be small and home made - so they can have off leash time to dog and dig.

Instead of daily neighborhood walks? They’d rather you drive to a dirt road and put them on a 30ft line and let them zig zag and smell as long as they like

Instead of twice daily meals in a bowl? They’d rather have food through enrichment activities that stimulates their brain and their nose.

Instead of basic obedience training? They’d rather have purpose driven training that feeds their genetic make up and needs AND helps them survive and thrive in todays world.

Instead of a human wanting something from them? They’d love a human wanting to understand them better.

Instead of focusing on perfect “heels” and “stays”? They’d love to learn how to be resilient and less stressed and cope with the outside world and our expectations.

Instead of harsh punishments and corrections? They’d prefer proactive management and rewards for good decisions.

We can’t change everything about the lives our dogs are forced to live with us in, but we can make these kinds of changes and see a huge improvement in their quality of life and wellbeing.

-Helen St. Pierre

08/03/2025

This is what responsible rescue looks like. Being a safety net when an adoption isn't the right fit and not shaming a family for trying. Recognizing that a dog with behavior challenges needs skilled help and being that help. Not immediately rehoming the dog, crossing their fingers, and washing their hands. Thank you Animal Farm Foundation for doing right by Macho and the people who loved him. What a beautiful, lucky boy.

15/02/2025

A couple of days ago, we received a call from a dog owner whose dog went missing from a dog care provider’s backyard- less than four hours after she dropped off the dog at the provider’s home.

While this was not in our town, it was nearby, and we, and our community following, have become well-known for our help, outreach and compassion, for pet owners in need.

After several hours (well into the overnight) of searching for the dog (along with proper authority reporting and social media), the dog was sadly picked up by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), after it was found deceased on the on-ramp to a local highway.

This post ISN’T intended to break all of your hearts on this Valentine’s Day.

Make no mistake, it IS heartbreaking. And being on the other end of the phone with a devastated dog owner, several times throughout this week into today– has only heightened our genuine heartache for her.

[If you know us by now, then you know that these incidents bring us very close to these owners and families].

PLEASE, dog owners-do your research BEFORE you leave your dog with someone who is operating a business– OR operating a service UNDER a web-based app platform (i.e. Rover, Wag, Care. com, etc,)

In nearly every MA community, a Kennel License is needed (and often a Business Permit) to operate the business of caretaking for other people’s dogs – out of one’s home.

This INCLUDES those caretakers who operate under these web-based app platforms!

And these platform entities make it clear in their Terms of Service Agreements [to their providers], that as providers, each is responsible for adhering to their own local and state laws and ordinances, as they pertain to keeping dogs on their properties.

Care Providers-PLEASE understand that ‘Kennel’ does not just mean kenneling as in ‘boarding dogs overnight’. ‘Kennel’ refers to any place where dogs are being kept, temporarily-for a fee-whether they are being dropped off for daycare, group play, hikes, walks, outings, training, dog sitting, and/or overnight stays.

Dog owners-PLEASE require that your chosen dog care provider shows you a legitimate current year Kennel License.

Even prior to that, call your city/town Clerk’s office directly and ask if there IS a valid Kennel License (and business license) at such address.

THIS is how YOU best protect your dogs.

Report unlawful operations, as this is how you can protect other dog owners.

'Massachusetts General Law c.140 §137A governs the licensing of kennels. The law states that a person who operates a kennel without a license or violates the terms of their license may be fined.'

In this heartbreaking incident this week, the dog care provider did NOT have a Kennel License, nor a Business Permit. The provider was also caring for five other dogs in her home at the time of this incident.

So, on this Valentine’s Day – while we try to help this dog owner piece back together her heart, SHE is standing strong with us, in our fight to encourage everyone who is considering using a dog care provider through a Rover, Wag, Care. com, etc. platform app, OR through any other means of in-home pet care service offerings-to PLEASE do your homework and ascertain legitimacy.

We do not want to see any more broken hearts…especially on Valentine’s Day.

[Photo: ‘Morgan’, wearing a heart bandanna in honor of both Valentine’s Day and the loss of this beloved family dog]

12/02/2025

Sharing this after hearing from a client about a very scary incident in her yard involving her dog and three coyotes. Fortunately she had her dog on a long line and despite a chase, he was unharmed.

Please keep your dogs leashed on trails and in any unfenced area - including your yard. Their life may depend it!

11/02/2025

Sharing this for the message...(though if you are looking for a large breed dog, this guy is up for adoption!)

Do your research. Find a behavior professional who will *support* your bond with your dog instead of recommending that you cause him/her pain. Help your friends, family, and neighbors by recommending trainers, veterinarians, and other professionals who employ humane methods. We can all do better when we know better!

Lucky is an incredibly special dog! We bet you thought he was a doodle, when in fact, he’s a Komondor! This is a pretty unusual and unique breed of Livestock Guarding Dog that usually has a corded coat and requires lots of grooming maintenance. Unfortunately, parts of his coat needed to be shaved down after an injury caused by a prong collar. Lucky is a BIG(almost 100lbs!) boy and he’s very strong, so when his family starting looking for help managing him, a trainer recommended a prong collar seemingly without giving adequate information about the risks and function. This is SUCH a common recommendation from trainers here in New England and it’s such a shame because, at best, they work by causing discomfort to your dog and at worst, they cause serious injury. The MSPCA-Angell believes that the best approach for training and behavior modification is with rewards-based methodologies. To this end, we do not recommend the use of force in animal training as it can cause pain, injury, and/or mental suffering for the animal. The dog training field is totally unregulated, so it can be really easy to get harmful advice. If you need help finding a trainer, check out our website for tips for finding a safe trainer for your pet!
At the end of the day, Lucky’s family recognized it would not be possible for them to safely manage his size and strength and we’re honored that they entrusted us to find him a new place to call home. He’s available for adoption at our Boston Adoption Center. We’re happy to report that a front hook harness and treats have made it significantly easier to manage this big boy already, but he’ll definitely be looking for someone who can manage a big, squishy, energetic, strong boy! He’ll also need someone who is excited to take on those grooming needs! Sound like he might be a good fit for your household? Stop by the Boston Adoption Center, Tuesday-Sunday, 12-3!

31/01/2025

This one is for my dog clients....(if there are any still here given my inactivity)...

What ONE thing (service, resource, bit of knowledge) would most improve your quality of life with your dog? Share this far and wide...I want lots of answers!

Picture of a sweet shelter pup I worked with for the algorithm tax.

10/01/2025

It is now illegal to declaw cats (unless medically necessary) in Massachusetts. This is exciting news for cats for so many reasons! No more little paws will be mutilated in the Commonwealth. Not familiar with what declawing surgery entails? Checkout pawproject.org

26/11/2024

👇👇👇 Food for thought.

07/09/2024

For all my friends and clients surviving doggie adolescence. Hang in there!

Adolescence occurs between six months and 18 months of age—a time when guardians typically struggle the most with their dogs. Some guardians are so overwhelmed and underprepared for this developmental stage of their dog’s life, they choose to surrender the dog to a local shelter or rescue group. In a recent study published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science found that the majority of the surrendered dogs (47.7 percent) ) were between 5 months and 3 years of age (M.D. Salman,John G. New, Jr.,Janet M. Scarlett,Philip H. Kass,Rebecca Ruch-Gallie &Suzanne Hetts, 2010)

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

During canine adolescence, changing s*x hormones effect the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to process information they are receiving from the environment including the presence of dogs, vehicles, people, or really anything around them. They behave in ways that might feel frustrating or upsetting for the dog’s person.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control. We see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

So what does this mean? This could mean that what was once no big deal to the dog now feels scary; what was once easy to do is now stressful; what once made sense is now confusing. At times, the world can feel like ‘too much’ for the adolescent dog.

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, our own frustration and impatience can cause us to act unpredictably. This adds to our puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for our dogs to adjust.

If you have an adolescent dog, what can you do? You can give your dog the time and space to observe what is going on around them when on leash at a distance away from the activity when possible. You can give your dog long walks to sniff and explore in nature, giving their brain time to decompress. You can offer your dog a quiet space to sleep so that they can consolidate memories effectively. You can continue training various skills, breaking them down into easier steps that can be generously reinforced.

By understanding what our adolescent dog is experiencing we gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best adult selves.

19/07/2024

I saw a post on Facebook that has me concerned.
The post was by a person recommending that someone use a shock collar on a cat. Never have I ever heard of such a thing. I thought the indoor electric fences were bad enough (I've heard of people using these for both dogs and cats, sadly).

I went to that person's professional website and - not so shocking - (pun intended) found ZERO credentials or evidence of education about cats as a species or their behavior. This person is a balanced dog trainer.

I am not here to argue training methods for dogs (though I certainly have thoughts and feeling). I just need to say - BE AN INFORMED CONSUMER when you hire a professional to help you with your pets. Find people who know what they are talking about, the species with whom they are working, and the impacts (both good and bad) of the methods they are using.

Sadly, ANYONE (yes, that includes you) can put up a website and claim to be an animal behavior expert - dog trainer, cat whisperer, whatever.

Learn what to look for to find a QUALIFIED professional. I will put some information in the comments on this.
And PLEASE , don't shock your cat.

Picture of my sweet Peanut as a kitten for algorithm tax.

18/07/2024

A couple of puppy grads this week!

Congratulations to Team Bruno and Team Riley. I had so much fun with both dogs.

As different as they look, they have a few things in common. They are both 5-month-old certified good boys! Both joined families who did their research and found good breeders who focused not only on appearance and health but temperament too. And they both have dedicated families who want to understand them and enjoy them for who they are!

Bruno and Riley met each other today for the first time and had a fantastic play date to celebrate school being out for the rest of the summer!

05/07/2024

Food for thought....
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/are-we-loving-our-pets-to-death/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=article_inset_1.1&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR24u885_ZTJZ077VQbX-_gnxntvtMBZbtQzUEzBNmiZEapdo3aSDP-xdA4_aem_Cf37bNzWBpgmqD1R_bpPxw&sfnsn=mo

23/05/2024

I am looking for friends, colleagues or clients (current or former) who have done the EMBARK DNA test for their mixed breed dog and would be willing to share a screen shot of the results and a couple of good pictures of your dog. DM me for more information. Please and thank you!

11/05/2024

As a working cat behavior consultant, I repeat myself over and over again every day. I have compiled this list of some of the things I end up talking about the most.

1. If your cat is constantly begging for food, they’re hungry. Increase the frequency of meals to at least 4x a day and calculate how many calories they’re getting. An average 10 pound cat needs around 250 to maintain weight.

2. Don’t fall for the gimmicky litter or litter box. Your cat doesn’t want a Litter Robot or Pretty Litter or whatever. You do. 9/10 cats prefer a simple uncovered box with clay litter.

3. If you own multiple cats, your house needs to look like multiple cats live there. I know as soon as I enter a home if the cats are fighting or not based on the number of cat trees, beds, toys, feeding stations, litter boxes, etc.

4. I can tell you with 99% certainty that your cat is not displaying dominance with whatever behavior he is doing.

5. Play with your cat at least twice a day for at least five minutes. Even if your cat is just watching the toy, they’re playing. It counts.

6. The Jackson Galaxy cat introduction method does not work consistently enough to even be relevant. I could (and do with my clients) spend 90 minutes explaining exactly why and what to do instead.

7. Your cat can be trained to do anything using positive reinforcement. This includes cooperating for taking medication, having their nails trimmed, and going into a carrier. Punishment is primarily not effective because it doesn’t teach the cat good behavior. They don’t learn what they’re supposed to do instead.

8. The answer to your problems is ALMOST never to add another cat. It does help sometimes, sure. But often you just create more problems.

9. Cats thrive when given choices and they have a sense of control over their own lives. Use a consent test every time you interact with your cat (hold your hand out and wait for the cat to close the distance). Voila. You no longer get bitten during petting.

10. Learn body language, learn body language, learn body language. You’ll thank me.

Let me know if you have questions, and feel free to suggest your own!

(Reposted from Reddit)

30/04/2024

This came up in my personal FB memories from 11 years ago. I found it on a rescue website as I was in the midst of my dog's journey from a stray who found me to a local animal control facility where they were going to euthanize her based on breed to finding a rescue willing to pull her, give her time to decompress, and a proper behavior evaluation. I walked the road with her and her rescuers because I believed she was a good dog. She was a part of me from the moment I saw her.

She is the reason I help other dogs today. She was misunderstood. She needed someone to give her space and empathy. She need someone to hear her. We struggled at the time to find someone who knew what that meant. It took time, patience, and a lot of trial and error to figure out hear and help her, but what a gift - for both of us - when I did.

Listen. Honor what they are telling you. If you need help learning how to listen, to understand, to respect....ask. It is so worth it. Both of your lives will be so much richer.

23/04/2024

"Dogs were born to learn not be trained....
We should not be trying to change dogs but change the world in which they live." - Kay Laurence

My inspiration, my teacher, my "why"....

14/03/2024

A little late...but need to shout out to Gracie and her amazing humans for finishing up Puppy Foundations. I can't share a picture here, but wanted to acknowledge their hard work as a team!