Bay Area Vet Behavior

13/12/2024

Some of the chihuahuas will be available tomorrow!

12/12/2024

Unable to make it to this week's service dog foster info sessions in person? Don't fret! Joybound's Shelter to Service team is hosting a virtual webinar info session tomorrow afternoon at 1 pm. RSVP at the link below and find out how becoming a volunteer shelter trainer will change lives — including yours!
https://joybound.org/event/meet-the-shelter-to-service-team-2/

11/12/2024

We want 🫵YOU🫵 to get involved with Shelter to Service! By now, you know about how opening your home to a canine service dog candidate can change that dog's future forever. But, there's so much more to it than that! RSVP to this week's Shelter to Service information sessions to find out what all the hype is about!
https://joybound.org/event/meet-the-shelter-to-service-team-3/

07/12/2024

Retired Air Force Sergeant Jeff Thomas walked on stage from behind the curtain at the Lesher Center for the Arts with his psychiatric service dog, Maddie, and approached the podium at Walnut Creek’s 2024 Veterans Day Ceremony, flanked by presenters on his right and left, and the full Walnut Creek ...

07/12/2024

28/11/2024

The healing power of cat purrs, explained. https://www.considerable.com/home/pets/healing-power-purring-cat/?fbclid=IwAR1CBNHJPWZ50l8D42fK5wLyv7f6gec8sRBQ92FWNPkZfTiAXukZx5H7lSA

28/11/2024

There is no stigma attached to muzzles other than in your own mind. Teaching a dog who’s fearful, aggressive, has a bite history will make life much better and safer for everyone involved. Dogs are properly conditioned to it and get as excited to wear it just like a collar or harness.

While wearing the muzzle one can begin to help dogs feel safer while building up the trust account between you and your dog.

23/11/2024

23/11/2024

🌕🐶 Night or day, rain or shine, sweet Starla is on the lookout for YOU. Is it possible you're looking for her as well?
https://joybound.org/pet/42390743/

12/11/2024

25/10/2024

Differential reinforcement (DR) is a process where a desirable behavior is reinforced and an undesirable behavior is extinguished by withholding reinforcement. Using the principles of operant conditioning, the desirable behavior will therefore be more likely to occur in the future while the undesirable behavior will be less likely to occur in the future. Slowly, the undesirable behavior will become extinct as the reinforcement has been removed. There are 5 types of DR. I will briefly cover two types: differential reinforcement of other behaviors (DRO) and differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors (DRA). When doing DRO, the animal is reinforced for doing any behavior other than the undesirable or target behavior. For example, the target behavior is a dog showing interest in a guinea pig cage. If we were to do DRO for this behavior, we would reinforce the dog for doing anything other than paying attention to the guinea pig cage. This could include laying down, chewing on a bone, playing with their toy, etc. For DRA, the animal is only reinforced when doing an appropriate alternative behavior. In this case, the alternative behavior must have the same function as the target behavior. If the target behavior is a dog chewing on shoes. We will only reinforce the dog when they are chewing on their bones, an appropriate alternative behavior.

19/10/2024

😀☀️ Today's day of Subaru fun has begun! Our friends at Diablo Subaru of Walnut Creek are sponsoring the adoption fees for all of Joybound's animals — like Forester! 🚗🐕 Mobile adoptions at Diablo Subaru of Walnut Creek will be open until 3 pm and adoptions at Joybound's Walnut Creek headquarters are open until 6 pm.
https://joybound.org/blog/subaru-loves-pets/

15/09/2024

Do you have one of these "broken" cats? Not all cats have strong hunting instincts. Read about my interview with USAToday.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/pets/2024/09/13/cats-catching-mice-birds-personality/75172089007/

A study out of France found agreeableness and dominance correlated with different prey drives.

13/09/2024

A trained psychiatric service dog can change a life. ❤️🐕‍🦺 If you’ve ever wondered if a service dog is right for you, join us this Saturday for our A New Leash on Life: Shelter to Service Open House!
Community partners in attendance will include: Contra Costa Employment and Human Services, New Beginnings Church, Embark Behavioral Health, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Community Care, & U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Vet Center.
📅 When: Saturday, September 14, 10 am - 1 pm
📍 Where: Joybound People & Pets: Engelstad Hall
https://joybound.org/blog/a-new-leash-on-life-joybounds-shelter-to-service-open-house/

12/09/2024

Upcoming Dates Sunday, September 15 • 12 - 1 pmSunday, November 3 • 12 - 1 pmSunday, December 1 • 12 - 1 pm Joybound People & Pets2890 Mitchell Drive,

08/09/2024

The common assumption that cats hate water is simply not true. There are many cats that are fascinated by water. The Turkish Van is a breed known as the "swimming cat". Learn more about cats' preference for water in my latest interview in Scientific American.

Not all cats are hydrophobic

30/08/2024

A psychiatric service dog can be a life-saver for people living with depression, anxiety, PTSD, agoraphobia, and other emotional and mental health conditions. Learn more about how Joybound is training shelter dogs to become service dogs at our Shelter to Service Open House on Saturday, September 14.
Join us to find out all about the psychiatric service dog training process, hear from community partners, and more. Plus, JUNKED: Powered by Veterans will be there offering e-waste disposal services, with proceeds benefiting Joybound’s programs.
https://joybound.org/blog/a-new-leash-on-life-joybounds-shelter-to-service-open-house/