Fetch the Facts

08/11/2022

Be sure to submit your abstract for our 2023 Veterinary Behavior Symposium. Deadline is February 1.

https://www.dacvb.org/page/2023vbscallforpapers

06/09/2022

Helper Dog Bob is checking in from the Washington Monument to share some exciting news: Instinct Washington D.C. is officially open for business!

Co-owned by Instinct National and Ciera Moberg (a fantastic behavior consultant & former full-time team member of Instinct Portland) Instinct D.C. will offer help & hope to D.C. area dogs and owners navigating behavior issues large and small.

Service offerings include behavior consulting, private coaching, home school (day training), and puppy raising camps. Later this fall, they’ll roll out free alumni group classes as well.

Please share with your D.C.-area friends & family!

www.instinctdogtraining.com/location/washington-dc

26/05/2022

Hi all,

If you want to see a cool behavior case using digatherm technology please click on link below.

I will be posting on that page moving forward so if you want to continue to see posts like these, please like that page.

https://www.facebook.com/Animal-Behavior-Clinic-Of-New-Jersey-102741119010480

Pet Service

23/04/2022

Hi all!

I am excited to be presenting some behavior cases at a pain/ digatherm conference tomorrow! See below for an image of one of our patients to get a look at what a digatherm image looks like. I have been incorporating this into the behavior practice for the past 7 months. Quite a learning curve and still learning but it has been helpful in many aspects thus far. Really excited to have this in the practice so we can further help our patients.

Since we have had a second vet behaviorist join the practice, I will be starting a facebook and instagram page for the Animal Behavior Clinic of New Jersey. This is where I will be posting future posts about my cases, digatherm findings, important resources, videos and pictures. Please click on the links below and like the pages to follow if you are so inclined.

Have a great weekend all!

https://www.facebook.com/Animal-Behavior-Clinic-Of-New-Jersey-102741119010480

https://www.instagram.com/abc_of_nj/l. See less

22/04/2022

14/05/2020

Free online course about dogs and kids!! Share widely to help disseminate this info so we can keep dogs in happy loving homes and prevent bites to kids!

The essential guide for parents & guardians of dog-and-kid families. Practical strategies to help kids and dogs live together, safely & happily.

03/05/2020

I am so thrilled to announce that a book I wrote for young kids (2 to 4 years of age) is available on Amazon!!! I wrote this years ago when my daughter was 2 years old as I couldn't find any kids books that taught appropriate safety information/illustrations to teach little kids how to be around dogs safely and therefore prevent bites while at the same time, starting to teach them dogs have emotions. Getting this published has been on my to do list for years.......With the encouragement of colleagues, co-workers, and friends, it finally moved to the top of my list. I couldn't have done this without them - you know who you are and thank you! My sincere hope is that this helps to bring basic safety culture about kids and dogs into family homes that will prevent dog bites that are super preventable with some basic safety info presented in a very kid friendly way.

https://www.amazon.com/Doggy-Donts-Emily-Levine-Dacvb/dp/1662900244/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=doggy+do%27s+and+don%27t+emily+levine&qid=1588466981&sr=8-1

Doggy Do's & Don'ts

24/04/2020

Calling all dog owners. An international study looking at how Covid-19 is affecting dog behavior is underway. If you want to participate, please click on the link below to learn more. The lead US researcher on this is Dr. Karen Overall.
Feel free to share!

https://form.jotform.com/200826740303042

Please click the link to complete this form.

20/04/2020

Hi all,
This is a great podcast for parents, people who plan to be parents, guardians, dog owners, people who foster dogs or work with dogs in any capacity. This information is particularly relevant at this time given the kiddos are at home all day with the dogs. The goal of this podcast is to disseminate safety information to help reduce the number of young kids being bitten by the family or a familiar dog.
We want to increase awareness of safety culture when living with kids and dogs to keep everyone happy and safe! Please share this podcast to help us with this campaign!

In today's episode, we discuss Dog and Kid Safety with veterinary behaviorist Dr. Emily Levine, and Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Helen St. Pierre. We discuss Dr. Levine's soon-to-be-released children's book titled "Doggy Do's and Don'ts" (em...

16/04/2020

During this stressful time, one of the things that really warms my heart and spirit is knowing I can still help pets feel better. This adorable dog pictured here has lovely parents who have tried so much to help her. They were really struggling and then they found a great trainer at Instinct Dog Behavior and Training in Englewood who quickly identified that this pup needed more than just training, exercise, and mental stimulation. That trainer advised they see a veterinary behaviorist and that is when I entered Nami's life. I diagnosed Nami with hyperkinesis or hyperactivity for which one of the clinical signs for her was barking for longer periods than a non-hyperactive dog would. You can imagine how challenging it could be living with a dog with hyperactivity during "normal" times but add in a quarantine for a couple who live in an apartment with all of their neighbors home and trying to work...well....a very challenging situation becomes dire.
Fortunately Nami was able to stay at the Instinct Englewood facility to do a behavior modification camp where amazing trainers could work with her while I helped monitor and adjust medications daily. Her response to medications was tremendous and her ability to learn in the board and train camp has been amazing. Seeing a dog who simply did not have the ability to be still, rest, and with her brain and body going a mile a minute, gain the ability to be calm, to rest, to be still, and slow down to enjoy life is nothing short of amazing to see. That in and of itself is tremendously gratifying but knowing we were able to provide this couple both relief and help during these stressful times, is overwhelmingly satisfying.

18/03/2020

Virtual Behavioral Consultations Available at The Animal Behavior Clinic of New Jersey!
Please share so people know, if they need help, they can access that help during this challenging time.
www.animalbehaviorclinicnj.com

201-212-6448 | ABC of NJ - Expert, Compassionate Behavioral Health Care for Pets

29/10/2019

Behavioral Characteristics of Dogs with Chronic Allergic Skin Disease

If you would like to participate in a study on the correlation between behavior and dermatological problems please fill out the following form and questionnaire at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMy7JtrY_UvOtAj19aexXcAZXoPgzK3nLsayqwjzUylXQn-Q/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1

Please help us! We are doing a research study to evaluate behavioral characteristics of dogs with long-term itchy skin disease. Please fill out the following survey to the best of your ability. First, choose your dog's current itch level on the form below. If they recently started treatment and are....

18/10/2019

Home | Animal Behavior Clinic of New Jersey

To all my dog training friends, vet tech friends, animal welfare friends, rescue friends, veterinary friends etc...if you need to direct someone my way please feel free to give them my new business information. Ill be starting in January!
www.animalbehaviorclinicnj.com

201-212-6448 | ABC of NJ - Expert, Compassionate Behavioral Health Care for Pets

07/08/2019

Canine Emotions: The New Frontier for Understanding Dogs

Last chance to sign up for this amazing event. There are still a few tickets left. If you work with dogs you do not want to miss this!

Dr. Daniel Mills and Dr. Emily Levine team up to bring you: Ground breaking research on separation anxiety and attachment Cool neuroscience research about puppy socialization What you need to know about psychopharmacology to help your clients and more! CEU's approved for CCPDT and IAABC See the comp...

18/04/2019

Canine Emotions: The New Frontier for Understanding Dogs

Time is running out to get the early bird special pricing for this extraordinary opportunity! Sign up by April 30 and save $60!

Dr. Daniel Mills and Dr. Emily Levine team up to bring you: Ground breaking research on separation anxiety and attachment Cool neuroscience research about puppy socialization What you need to know about psychopharmacology to help your clients and more! CEU's approved for CCPDT and IAABC See the comp...

27/02/2019

Canine Emotions: The New Frontier for Understanding Dogs

Dr. Daniel Mills and Dr. Emily Levine team up to bring you
ground breaking research on separation anxiety and attachment and much, much more!

This is an opportunity no dog trainer, veterinarian, veterinary technician, or dog enthusiast will want to miss!

Dr. Daniel Mills and Dr. Emily Levine team up to bring you: Ground breaking research on separation anxiety and attachment Cool neuroscience research about puppy socialization What you need to know about psychopharmacology to help your clients and more! See the complete schedule here. This is an oppo...

19/02/2019

Training Hack: Jumping Up on Guests | Instinct Dog Behavior & Training

https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/training-hack-treat-bomb/?fbclid=IwAR05i3U7uxqseM7kq13aATAxdrQpUZJ17jXPnPkul8VONfMNTYHAUwQXH1k

Is your dog an overly excited greeter? Does she LOVE to jump all over you and your guests when you walk through the door? We have great news! There’s a quick, easy, effective, AND dog-friendly solution to your dog’s jumping problem: the TREAT BOMB!   What’s a Treat Bomb? Place a treat jar at ...

05/12/2018

Instinct Dog Training Online School

https://onlineschool.instinctdogtraining.com/?utm_source=paid+facebook&utm_campaign=leash+pressure&fbclid=IwAR2LaK8ZxK4zEtt7zTtSuF6d0ZjXIkUI75Dk8_CsFkG4y4zWd9LBWMOB7V0

Since 2009, Instinct has helped thousands of dogs and owners co-exist together, happily and peacefully, in challenging urban environments. Now, we're steadfastly committed to doing the same for you and your canine family member, through fun, safe, and free online training & behavior resources. Our o...

24/10/2018

Careers at Instinct Dog Behavior & Training LLC

PLEASE SHARE far and wide! Instinct is hiring for 12+ positions right now, at both the Englewood NJ Location AND our East Harlem, NYC location. Help us build a Kinder World Through Dog Training!
Trainers; Full Time jobs available. Earn $50k-$60k per year, 3 weeks vacation, health care, retirement savings, long term disability, and actual sick days (5 accrued throughout the year). Several positions open for Englewood NJ AND one at our East Harlem Facility. If you are interested or know somebody, hit me up on FB messenger so we can give the applicant careful consideration.
Canine Care: Full Time and Part Time available at both Englewood and East Harlem Locations. Pay is $15 per hour. Full Time folks earn 2 weeks vacation per year, healthcare plan, retirement plan, Long Term Disability.
Client Services Counsellor (Front Desk): Also available at both locations. $15 per hour. Full Time team members earn the same benefits as the Canine Care folks above.
In-Home Trainers; Looking for In-Home Trainers for Northern NJ. Please message me so we can discuss details
Please see our Careers Page below for Job Postings and applications.

https://www.indeedjobs.com/instinct-dog-behavior--training-llc/_hl/en_US?cpref=JXWAtnzf3XW5aRnY2g_zonsfzg9-fxtS4o4bZHWxXc0&fbclid=IwAR1z9njUdslcij6nDucoGpBwGiyxnj1tQu-ZixR65Ufp9p1xDcY5alzbZt0

Find your next great career opportunity at Instinct Dog Behavior & Training LLC

18/03/2018

A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Medicine Go Down……

Below is a link to a short blog post about giving kitties medications and nail trims too...

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/decoding-your-pet/201803/spoonful-sugar-helps-the-medicine-go-down

17/03/2018

Fear free admin of meds to kitties in a shelter setting

Just another video of the staff at Liberty Humane administering medication to kitties in a low stress fear free method!

17/03/2018

Fear free ways to give medications to kitties in a shelter

See how easy it can be to administer medications in a fear free low stress method to kitties in a shelter with upper respiratory disease! The medication is mixed in with the baby food in the syringe.

02/12/2017

Cat Welfare Research Project

All you cat lovers! Please read Dr. Moesta's statement below and then click on his link if interested.

If successful, this would be the first reliable and validated tool to assess quality of life of cats in kennel environments and a major step towards an objective, scientific approach to improving welfare of cats. - Dr. Moesta
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUPU7d8kwVE

WALTHAM is partnering with Anglia Ruskin University and Nottingham Trent University on a cat welfare study. This animation, produced by the research team, ex...

06/09/2017

To Muzzle or Not to Muzzle: That Is the Question

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/decoding-your-pet/201709/muzzle-or-not-muzzle-is-the-question

Weighing the pros and cons of wearing basket muzzles for dogs who may bite.

02/09/2017

https://www.facebook.com/DogsCatsScapegoats/photos/a.1030635290387425.1073741834.780536572063966/1399227676861516/?type=3

28/08/2017

Dogs Cats and Scapegoats

Watch Dogs, Cats and Scapegoats movie today!

18/05/2017

Pet Professional Guild Australia

Pet Professional Guild Australia

"There is no longer a reason for people to remain misinformed. Let me make my opinion perfectly clear: Shock is not training - in the vast majority of cases it meets the criteria for abuse.” - Dr. Karen Overall as quoted in PPG's Open Letter to Pet Industry Representatives Regarding the Use of Shock in Animal Training:

03/03/2017

Meet Suki! Suki would growl, snarl, and bite if a veterinarian tried to do anything to her. She came to the Animal Behavior Clinic saw Dr. Levine and worked with her staff behavior modification trainer, Suzy Arrington. Suki was making great progress but there was a time sensitive need to get certain health care done so Dr. Levine participated in the sessions a bit earlier than expected to get a sense of what meds would be needed for the vet visit to help facilitate giving vaccines and taking blood. With the work that had been done and the chill pills on board, Dr. Levine expected to be able to get vaccines in that day with it being low stress for Suki but she didn't expect to be able to get blood work done as well....but Suki rocked it and she is all vaccinated and update to date with her blood work. Watch the video and see how amazing Suki does getting her vaccines! The power of behavior modification and medications is undeniable but it takes a very dedicated dog parent to do this so cheers to Suki's mom! When watching this video - remember ...Suki would not let vets examine her, give vaccines, etc..

29/06/2016

A New Treatment for Dogs Scared by Thunder and Fireworks

Dr. Levine was one of three board certified behaviorists interviewed for an article on noise fears...an important read for this time of the year

A new drug, Sileo, has been developed to help with canine noise phobia. But you play the key role in making your pet more comfortable.

06/04/2016

Leashes…what are they for and how should we view them:

Get a dog. Get a leash. The two go hand in hand for most people. Most people think of a leash as something that is needed to walk a dog so the dog doesn’t run away or escape. In other words, they view it as a control device. If a dog is having some behavioral issues such as not walking nicely on leash or showing aggressive behaviors, some will advise to take this leash and jerk the dogs neck for a “correction”. If the dog doesn't respond as the people had hoped, they may be advised to jerk the dog harder and longer. If that doesn't work, perhaps they need to switch collars from a flat collar to a collar with spikes on it ( i.e prong collar) or a small metal collar that can be sinched down to hurt the dog ( i.e. choke collar). The worst of the worst will use the leash and collar to lift the dog by his neck up off of the ground to choke the dog to try and correct the dog’s behavior.

Here is where we need a change in perspective.

Get a dog. Get a leash. The two should go hand in hand for people. But, we need to understand that the leash is and should be a communication tool - not a corrective tool. We must first find proper leashes, collars, harnesses for each individual dog. Once those have been identified we need to know how to safely hold the leash in our hand, when to let the leash loose, when to slide our hand down the the leash in a certain way to teach the dog when to slow down and how the speed or our own footsteps actually are part of the leash/collar/harness communication. That’s right, how we walk, the speed at which we walk, how we turn with our feet work in tandem with the leash and collar to kindly and humanely teach our dogs how we want them to walk, at which speed we want them to walk and then using cue words to help inform our dogs when we want them to speed up, turn around, or stop or slow down. Any educated trainer will be able to teach and guide you how to communicate with your do using proper equipment and leash handling skills. This kind of communication helps to build and establish good relationships between dogs and their people based on trust and clear communication that is not scary.
This is for EVERY DOG not just dogs with behavior problems. In fact, proper leash handling and communication can be a preventative for some behavior problems. Proper equipment and leash handling skills should be considered just as basic and necessary as getting vaccines.
* Good rule of thumb: if you have a trainer who is recommending techniques that you would not feel comfortable applying to a child ( prong, choke, shock etc…), don't apply them to your dog.

16/03/2016

Why One Pig is Making Me Speak Out Against Bad Science | DrAndyRoark.com

http://www.drandyroark.com/one-pig-making-speak-bad-science/

Guest author DEBRA F. HORWITZ DVM DACVB I love being a veterinarian and I love what we stand for-using science to provide the best hea

09/03/2016

Two weeks ago, a member of our behavior team went out to a local school to give a talk on how to interact safely with dogs. The kids were 4-5 years old. We heard today from the school that a parent brought a dog into the school and was telling the kids they could kiss and hug the dog bc the dog was friendly. Those very young KIDS told the parents that they should only blow a kiss to the dog and that most dogs don't like hugs. Totally amazing! Great job Suzy. Once again reminded how gratifying and important it is to be on the preventative side of things.

10/02/2016

Lets start off giving kittens good experiences with their nail trims at vets, shelters, etc...See the short video below of a kitten in our clinic for a first time nail trim ( normal kitten..no behavior problems).
Necessary ingredients to do this: Nail clippers, syringe with baby food ( or any yummy stuff), and compassion!
For those with the time, skills, and staff to do real conditioning so that one person can trim a few nails and then give a treat, that is great but we all know not everyone or every facility can do that so this method is easy, quick, and everyone can do this!
Please share with anyone you know who works at vet offices, shelters, rescues, fosters, new kitty owners etc....

28/01/2016

In animal welfare circles, primarily production animal welfare circles, there has been discussion about the five freedoms for decades. More and more people are talking about these freedoms with respect to companion animals.

1. freedom from hunger and thirst
2. freedom from thermal or physical discomfort.
3. freedom from pain, injury and disease.
4. freedom from fear and distress.
5. freedom to indulge in normal behaviour patterns.

The first three are generally well accepted for most pet owners and would not cause many people to ponder if they are providing that freedom to their pet. The last two however, should make us all look hard at our own pets and the pets we serve in whatever capacity that may be. I think knowing these five freedoms is a good place to start when we think of how we should ethically care for our pets. Wouldn't it be nice to see a shift in our perspectives from "how can I make this pet listen to me and do what I say regardless of the technique used" to " how can I make sure that my pet is living a good quality of life with minimal fear and distress?"

16/01/2016

Facebook - Log In or Sign Up

Just one short piece about fear free....a movement in veterinary medicine that is going to change the way standard veterinary practices operate. If you are a vet or work in a vet practice, stay tuned as there will soon be ways for you all to learn how to implement some basic fear free tips!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/vets-are-using-fear-free-tactics-so-pets-can-chill-out-at-the-doctors-office_56969a36e4b0778f46f7c7f9

Create an account or log into Facebook. Connect with friends, family and other people you know. Share photos and videos, send messages and get updates.

10/01/2016

Local couple says dogs came back from Upstate trainer severely starved and dehydrated

http://counton2.com/2016/01/08/local-couple-says-dogs-came-back-from-upstate-trainer-severely-starved-and-dehydrated/

This is why we need laws, regulations, and people willing to file suit against "dog trainers" who simply abuse pets.

A Summerville couple was shocked this week when they picked their dogs up from a dog trainer. The dogs did not come back in the same condition as when they left. Frank and Jessie are two year old d...

09/01/2016

www.avma.org

Check out the AVMAs literature review on socialization for puppies and kittens! Important info to pass around!

https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/LiteratureReviews/Documents/socialization_puppies_kittens.pdf

20/12/2015

A great way to help reduce anxiety in cats at the vets office is to cover their crate with a towel so they do not see all the other pets/people in the waiting room. A towel with Feliway spray may help to further reduce the stress. When I lecture on the subject, I advocate that towels are kept at the reception desk so they can be handed out to clients who do not come in with their cat carrier covered. But look at what the Veterinary Center of Morris County here is New Jersey did!! They have a basket of towels in the waiting room for clients to help themselves. This is great and I hope people will share this idea and other veterinary practices around the world will start to offer some low stress tools to their feline patients! In case you can't read the sign, it says " For Your Cats Comfort....Feel free to take a feliway infused towel to cover his or her carrier"