Laura Perkins Animal Behavior

03/12/2023

Our goal is to prevent, treat and effectively manage behavior problems in companion animals to enhanc

21/06/2023

And if you need medication from your vet, call early!

🐾 Keep your furry friend safe this 4th of July with this important tip! 🎆

❓Did you know that more dogs go missing on Independence Day than any other day of the year? Don't let your pup become a statistic.

🐶 Ensure your dog's tags and microchip information are up to date. It's crucial for their safety and a quick reunion if they happen to get lost. Let's make sure they have all the identification they need!

🔖🔍 Take a moment to check their collar tags and verify that the contact information is accurate. And don't forget to update their microchip details with your current contact information.

🏷️📞 Let's make this 4th of July a celebration of safety and togetherness for our furry companions!

03/06/2023

I've had lots of new inquiries lately and realized I need to share an update here. I've decided to extend my maternity leave indefinitely. I'm loving being home with my baby daughter and for now this is what we both need. If you are in need of training and would like a referral please feel free to email me ([email protected]). I am checking email about once per week at the moment.

I miss you all and your dogs!

23/05/2023

Check out this program Meadow and Mates is offering!

Updates!

✨Meet my latest new mate, Archie the Lagotto Romagnolo an Italian breed with the name meaning "Water Dog". Archie is one of the calmest puppies I've met. His family and I will be working on foundational skills as well as proper puppy socialization.

✨Coming soon!
Canine Enrichment Program
I am a HUGE advocate for canine enrichment and I am wrapping up my Canine Enrichment Technician Certification. The Canine Enrichment Program will guide you on providing a stimulating living environment for your dog that offers ample opportunities for your dog to engage in natural behaviors.
With this program, I will help you create a personal enrichment plan based on your dog's needs and favorite activities. To find out more, visit my website and fill in the "Apply for Training" application. Available both in-person & online!

💛Thank you to my past, current, and potential new clients! My books are almost full for June and I'm so grateful to you for choosing Meadow & Mates! Let's continue this journey! 💛

21/03/2023

My latest article in the local paper.

Good article in this week's Chelsea Guardian! https://www.guardiannewspapersmi.com/uploads/1/2/5/8/125836507/chelsea_guardian__3_17_23_final.pdf

20/03/2023

31/01/2023

30/11/2022

Well this is a super cute enrichment idea!

Christmas tree in a box!🎄

I cut 12 toilet paper rolls in half, glued them in a box in the shape of a 🎄 and decorated it with 24 pieces of fabric with treats hidden in them.

A perfect, cheap and easy to make puzzle for .

TIPS:
👉🏻 Start with only a couple of pieces of fabric and only push them in the tubes lightly, so your dog gets to learn how he can get the treats without frustration!

👉🏻 Build up in steps using more fabric pieces and pushing them in the tubes a little further.

👉🏻 HOLD THE BOX to prevent sliding and moving.

👉🏻 Because the tubes are glued to the box your dog won’t be able to move them around, the half tubes are too deep to hide treats in (your dog won’t be able to reach them without shredding), so only hide treats in the pieces of fabric.

Have fun! 🎄

21/11/2022

16/11/2022

Last week, the ORCA lab, along with Dr. Jesús Rosales-Ruiz's A+ lab, gave a joint presentation for the students and faculty in the Department of Behavior Analysis.

They presented some of their current projects related to the topic of "reinforcement systems." The concept of the reinforcement system is something that we have been talking about A LOT in ORCA over the past year.

In order for training to be effective, you need a well-designed reinforcement system. Your learner needs to know when reinforcement will be available, where the reinforcer will be delivered, and what behaviors they need to engage in to collect and consume the reinforcer.

If you teach and practice these behaviors FIRST, before moving on to your goal behaviors, you'll have faster learning and fewer errors.

ORCA graduate students Hannah McGee and Sarah Owen introduced the lecture. They discussed what a reinforcement system is and showed several video examples of what might happen if certain components of a reinforcement system have not been taught or are unclear to the learner.

This was followed by a presentation by ORCA alumni, Mary Hunter. Mary discussed a project she has been working on with rescued horses. The project is related to teaching a specific reinforcement system and the positive impact this has on future training.

At the end, doctoral student Crystal Fernandez, from the A+ lab, presented about the research she is doing for her dissertation. She is analyzing therapy sessions for children with autism, rebuilding reinforcement systems, and measuring the impact this has on the child's learning progress and affect.

It was an awesome presentation, which was followed by some great comments and questions from the audience.

We look forward to sharing more with you about these research projects as they continue.

Photo description: The photo shows, from left to right, Sarah, Mary, Jesús, Hannah, and Crystal. Behind them is a screen. The slide on the screen shows the title of the presentation: Accelerated Learning through Reinforcement System Training.

04/11/2022

I so appreciated the opportunity to be on the Making Ripples podcast recently. I loved getting to chat with Shelly - she's an excellent interviewer :).

Laura Perkins resides in Michigan with her husband, 2 dogs and 2 cats. They are eagerly anticipating the arrival of their baby daughter in December!

02/11/2022

Management means putting preventative systems and measures in place to help our dogs navigate their world without expressing behaviors in an undesirable way. A good management plan can be the key to expanding your dog's world and opportunities. When properly introduced, including a muzzle in your management plan can be a total game changer. We know that muzzles have acquired a negative stigma. Some people see dogs in a muzzle and assume they are bad, aggressive, out of control, or dangerous. We are here to break down that negative association and discuss how muzzles can be helpful for all dogs!

Realistically, most of us are used to implementing some form of management in our daily lives with our dogs. Consider leashes, for example. We use leashes when we bring our dogs to public spaces, to ensure that our dogs remain safe, and to prevent them from infringing on the rights of others. Even if the dog is unlikely to wander away, the leash is giving us additional security in the event that something unexpected happens, and it is communicating to those around us that we respect their personal space. Most people probably feel very comfortable using a leash, and can understand the practical benefits of it. That's because we can recognize the value of preventing bad things from happening, before disaster strikes.

That’s the same thought process behind using a muzzle: prevention. Even for dogs who don’t have a bite history, muzzles can be helpful in preventing a situation which could escalate in seconds. If a very friendly dog becomes seriously injured, pain and fear could easily put them in the position of using their teeth for self defense, and many vets will muzzle in an emergency situation. A scared dog who already has a positive association with muzzles, will experience less trauma if they need to wear one unexpectedly.

Muzzles aren't only used to prevent biting! Dogs who compulsively consume inedible objects (rocks, plastic) or who live in areas with excessive litter (chicken bones) can safely explore in a muzzle, and drastically reduce the risk of life-threatening complications from swallowing something dangerous.

For dogs who do have a history of aggression, muzzles can be the tool that gives them their life back. No dog should be put in a position where they are likely to bite, but for dogs who are at risk, wearing a muzzle can give them the freedom to go for a hike or take a swim, without fear.

One of our favorite resources for muzzle types, training, and usage is The Muzzle Up Project. Check it out for tips to comfortably incorporate a muzzle into your dog’s experience. The key place to start includes proper fit and a positive introduction. The goal is for your dog to feel comfortable and relaxed, while consenting to wearing their muzzle. Think of it like their leash or harness, just another piece of equipment for their well-being!

If you have questions about muzzle training, or would like to start that process, we are here to help. The next time you see a dog with a muzzle on, remember how valuable it is for them to be wearing it! Let’s break the stigma together, just like this handsome man Billy here is showing us!

24/10/2022

APOPO continues to do amazing things.

Non-profit APOPO is training rodents to search the rubble of disaster zones for survivors. Wearing tiny, high-tech backpacks, it hopes to help first responders communicate with and find survivors.

21/10/2022

If you've recently been an active client, then this isn't news, but for everyone else I wanted to share that Justin and I will be welcoming a baby girl in a couple of months! (Due date is Dec 3rd).

To prepare myself, my house, and my family for baby's arrival, I've begun my pre-maternity leave. At this point, I'm planning to return to work sometime in the spring - but I am not ready to commit to a date. We'll just see how everyone is doing and adjusting.

I intend to send out an email announcement when I'm taking new clients again. If you'd like to be on that contact list (or would just like updates in general about classes, events, etc) please either email or PM me and I will add you to that list.

If you need a referral to another trainer, you can also email me. I have a solid list of excellent trainers both virtual and in person.

I will not be checking my email or FB from Thanksgiving through the New Year. After that I plan to check in every week or so.

I'm so grateful for the supportive attitude that my clients have met me with on this decision. It's HARD to stop working for awhile, but I'm also grateful for the ability to do so. The ability to focus on our new version of our family is priceless to me.

Thanks to you all and please continue to share updates about your training adventures with your pups!

Laura

20/10/2022

I love this. I was explaining this concept in a group class one time and a client said "just like I always told my son - every family does it different".

Of course, any rule you decide to implement must be reasonable and taught with positive reinforcement so your dog can learn how to follow that rule without yelling or other punishment techniques.

I am a dog trainer and my dogs are allowed on the sofa.

They are allowed on my bed too. In fact I tuck my staffie into his own blanket on my bed every night and have for 8 years.

They don’t have to sit and wait for their dinner.

They don’t always walk with loose leads.

They bark when the door goes.

They don’t sit when I recall them.

The jump up on me.

Sometimes they get the zoomies in the house and knock things over.

This probably all sounds like I have woefully badly trained dogs but that’s not true. My dogs are trained for my lifestyle. They rest when I ask them to, they recall when I ask them to, they don’t barge out of doors, they love their sports they train and compete in.

Every week I get clients say ‘is my dog allowed on the sofa?’ Or ‘my dog waits before they are allowed to eat is that good?’. Honestly I really don’t care. That’s not to say I don’t appreciate your rules, but your rules are yours and your dog only needs to be as trained as you want and need them to be for your life.

You’ll read online that you shouldn’t allow dogs on your bed or should always eat before them or go through doorways first. At best these rules are weirdly controlling, at worst they are absolute bu****it.

Your rules are your rules and your dog is your dog. Want your dog on the sofa? Cool. Don’t want your dog on the sofa? Cool.

Take the pressure of yourself and your dog. Train what’s important to you. For me I want my dogs to be indifferent to people and dogs. To be confident and happy in novel environments. To recall when I ask. To not chew my house. To not pull my arm out of its socket. To not affect members of the public when we are out and about. That’s all I want from my dogs and they are pretty cool to live with.

Stop reading arbitrary rules on Google and choose your own (within reason!). Your dog is your dog. Your life is your life. Train your dog to suit your life and no one else’s. It will immensely improve your relationship and both of your mental well-being!

18/10/2022

This week is vet tech appreciation week. Take good care of your vet techs (and all vet staff!) - they work so hard for your pets

14/10/2022

The fall colors are popping, which means it's time to get out your safety orange! Rifle season is around the corner and I've already seen bow hunters out. You can always look up the current hunting season for your state. Here in Michigan the DNR page (department of natural resources) is the place to check.

Orange for your dog and orange for you if you are venturing into the woods!

27/09/2022

Building update! Last night's students got to break in the new floor and benches.

15/09/2022

I recently enjoyed auditing the muzzle puzzle class - these online courses will all be excellent!

We have quite a few classes offered this fall! All of our group classes are live, online classes with 4 working spots and additional auditor spots available. We also always hold one of the working spots in each class that is free for a BIPOC participant, and one spot available for sliding scale as needed.

We know that dogs learn well with short sessions and breaks in between training, and our group classes leverage that structure! All of our classes provide close, thoughtful support for you and your dog in the moment, as well as opportunities to see what other people are doing.

You can register directly on our website, or reach out with questions! Hope to see you in class.


Image description: the image is outlined in different shades of gray triangles. The DBI logo is at the top. A header reads “Fall Classes” and below that, the text reads: “Muzzle Puzzle - Wed 7-8:15pm EST starting 9/28; Puppies Unleashed - Thur 10-11am EST starting 10/20; Control Unleashed - Fri 12-1pm EST starting 10/21; Nailed It! Tue 1:30-2:30p EST starting 10/25.”

15/09/2022

Coming up Oct 1 - I'll be leading this class at Robin Hills Farm. We'll discuss some of the ethical progress in dog training and how to teach your dog using these modern concepts. Doug (my dog) will be there as my assistant so this is also a chance to get some Doug love! (Class is for human students only)

To register contact Robin Hills Farms.

14/09/2022

FEELING LIKE YOUR EFFORTS ARE FUTILE? DR. SUSAN SCHNEIDER TELL US HOW WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/diy-ideas-fight-climate-change

Unfortunately (and weirdly), information alone is not sufficient for behavior change. Think about the abundant diet and exercise info you know that doesn't result in changing what you do! We need actionable insights and this podcast with Dr. Susan Schneider hits the spot, as she applies some of our most fundamental principles of applied behavior science to meet a green goal. It will MOVE you!

14/09/2022

Mikey and Me in Chelsea is looking for a few new volunteers. It's a wonderful place to enjoy with the rescue dogs.

24/08/2022

UPDATE - To date, the results from the additional testing facilitated by Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development - MDARD and completed by the MSU VDL have revealed the illness impacting dogs in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula to be canine parvovirus. The affected dogs did not have a history of complete vaccination.
MSU VDL director Dr. Kim Dodd explains, "This situation is complex because although the dogs displayed clinical signs suggestive of parvovirus, they consistently test negative by point-of-care tests performed in clinics and shelters. Screening tests for parvo are done to help guide immediate isolation, disinfection, and treatment protocols. While those tests are valuable in the clinical setting, they are not as sensitive as the diagnostic tests we can perform here in the laboratory. We continue to further characterize the virus in hopes of better understanding why those animals were testing negative on screening tests.”
Please refer to today's full update for more information

Thanks to Heather Wynn Blakeman for sharing this latest update.

Veterinarians are encouraged to call the Laboratory if they have any questions about sample collection, submission, or diagnostic options and contact MDARD if unusual or reportable illnesses are seen.