By Your Side Pet Behavior Consulting

13/11/2025

Where are my reactive dog p*eps? Check this out. 👇

Intro To Nosework Workshop for Reactive Dogs!

31/10/2025

Good advice for anyone in any town. Make sure that the person to whom you are entrusting your beloved pet is qualified to take the best possible care of him/her - in every way.

Important Reminder About In-Home Pet Boarding

Due to recent concerns regarding in-home pet boarding within town, we’d like to share a few important reminders with our community.

If you are planning to board your beloved pet at someone’s home, please take the time to do your research and ensure they are following all state guidelines and local bylaws.

Anyone offering in-home boarding services — whether through Rover or any other platform — is required by law to obtain a valid kennel license issued by the town, and must comply with all related regulations. This applies to anyone caring for even a single animal in their home for compensation.

We strongly encourage pet owners to confirm that their chosen sitter or boarding provider is properly licensed and following the necessary rules to keep pets safe and cared for responsibly.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time.

30/10/2025

With two 19-year-old feline siblings in our home, CDS and arthritis impact our lives daily. Even though it's hard to watch them age, I love that we've been able to enjoy a long relationship with our kitties. These are two good articles if you are navigating - or heading into - the senior years with your cat.
https://icatcare.org/articles/cognitive-dysfunction-syndrome-in-cats

https://icatcare.org/articles/arthritis-in-cats?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=iCatCare%20Community%20OCTOBER%202025&utm_content=iCatCare%20Community%20OCTOBER%202025+CID_85846c5f3fe9b63dc976220aaf3bd519&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=Visit%20our%20website

How to spot arthritis in cats and support their comfort and mobility.

26/09/2025

GUIDELINES FROM THE ACVB (AMERICAN COLLEGE OF VETERINARY BEHAVIORISTS) ON CHOOSING A DOG TRAINER

If the trainer you are considering using falls into any of these categories, you should pick another trainer.

• If the equipment recommended for basic obedience includes or is focused on choke collars, prong collars, or shock collars.

• Trainers who ban head collars of any kind may rely unduly on force.

• If the trainer instructs you to manage your dog’s behaviors by pinching toes, kneeing the dog in the chest or abdomen, hitting the dog, forcibly holding the dog down against their will, constantly yelling at the dog, frequently yanking the collar constantly, or using prong, choke, pinch or shock collars or electronic stimulation.

• If the trainer believes most or all training is about encouraging the person to be “alpha” and teaching the dog to “submit”.

• If the trainer explains that most dog behavior, for example jumping on people, occurs because the dog is trying to be “dominant”.

• If a trainer recommends “alpha rolls”, “scruffing”, “helicoptering”, “choking” or any other painful or physical methods as a means of “training” or modifying behavior.

The ACVB recommends selecting a trainer with certification from an organization that espouses scientifically based, humane training techniques, such as CPDT, IAABC, or KPA.

The ACVB recommends asking about the trainer’s education and training. Ideally they recommend choosing a trainer who has at a minimum taken classes in animal behavior, learning theory, and psychology. The ACVB recommends asking about records of continuing education, course syllabi, and a reading list.

Read the full guideline here:https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.dacvb.org/resource/resmgr/docs/How-to-select-a-trainer-vet.pdf

14/08/2025

For everyone who cares about dogs and their people....

We’ve been to conferences where trainers talk to trainers.

Where vets talk to vets.

Where behavior consultants, shelter workers, and sport competitors each stay in their own lane.

Not here.

The CANIS Conference 2026 was built to break those patterns.

This is a space for every canine professional to come together, not to debate who’s right, but to discover what’s possible when we work together.

You’ll learn from some of the most respected names in behavior, sheltering, veterinary care, dog sports, and canine science. You’ll leave with practical tools and a deeper understanding of the dog-human relationship across contexts.

Because better outcomes for dogs start with better conversations between people.

Comment "CANIS" and we’ll send you the link to register now.

10/07/2025

Just going to drop this cutie right here and say what a pleasure it was to help him and his humans start to build a nice foundation for their lives together. Thank you to team Franklin for letting be a part of your journey.

22/06/2025

It's going to be *wicked* hot here in MA for the next several days. Keep dog walks and outside play short. And PLEASE do not leave your dog in the car even "for a minute" while you run into the store, bank, wherever. Your dog will be safer and happier - and much cooler - at home!

It’s doggone hot outside this week! 🔥 Ensure your pets stay safe by staying informed about the current temperatures and learning how to respond in emergencies!

Signs of heat stroke: panting, weakness, bright red tongue, diarrhea, vomiting, and thick/sticky saliva

What to do if you think a dog is experiencing a heat stroke:
- Move the dog into a cool area. Get the dog out of direct sunlight and into a cool, shaded area. You need to cool the dog down, but NOT too quickly.
- Apply cool water all over body (NOT ice cold).
- If they are alert and conscious, give small drinks of cool water.
- Apply cool towels to head, neck and chest.
- Take your dog to the vet ASAP! Some complications of heat stroke include liver disease, sepsis, and muscle damage throughout the body.

Stay safe this week!☀️

30/05/2025

Advocate for your cats. You and your veterinarian can work together to make vet visits less stressful for your cat.....and for the humans too.

08/05/2025

I don't often post about my own pets (heck, I don't post often, period.) But today I am celebrating 19 years with Tuffy and Olive. They were the second group of kittens I trapped, along with their mom, when I lived in a Boston neighborhood that was teeming with community cats. Their mom was TNR'd but we fostered them because Olive had an eye injury, and Tuffy seemed to be her "protector" then. Needless to say, they never left.

Fast forward 19 years. Tuffy and Olive are old cats. In a lifetime of living with cats, they are the oldest I have had. I am learning about geriatric cat behavior, physical and cognitive decline, and how to care for them. It sometimes feels like finding my way in the jungle with a blindfold on because there's generally less knowledge and resources for cats than for dogs.

I am learning how important it is to do my own research, advocate for them, and be patient....with everyone on their teams....myself included.

I don't love this part of the journey, but I am glad we are on it. If we weren't, I wouldn't have as much time with them. I often say that the animals themselves have been my best teachers. I am so grateful for the lessons Tuffy and Olive continue to teach me.

The Cornell Feline Health Center is a good resource if you are caring for a senior cat.
https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/loving-care-older-cats

I also really like the Cat Friendly Homes website.
https://catfriendly.com/life-stages/senior-care/

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