Ears to Animals Training & Behavior

09/06/2024

I'm a girl who loves data so I seldom share info regarding supplements, but this study is being conducted by a trusted, reputable institution.

Animal Behavior Wellness Center is looking for dogs to enroll in a clinical trial investigating an oral behavioral support supplement in dogs with separation anxiety Please share!

Does your dog tremble, vocalize, pant excessively, or become destructive when you leave the house? Has your dog been diagnosed with separation anxiety? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, please contact us about enrollment in our double-blinded, placebo controlled, fully funded clinical study. This is a completely remote study, so you don’t have to worry about bringing your dog into the clinic. During the 30 day study, your dog will receive either a placebo or an oral behavioral support supplement. When you leave home (for example, to go to work) your dog will be evaluated via a 20 minute video, using a provided web cam.

Your participation is confidential, and you will be compensated for your time. At the conclusion of the study, regardless of the test group to which you’re assigned, you will also receive 3 FREE months of a nutritional behavioral support supplement.

Scan the QR code or visit https://www.abwellnesscenter.com/clinical-behavior-trial for more information. Thank you for helping to promote the behavioral wellness of our best friends.

Animal Behavior Wellness Center
Treatment. Training. Compassion.



11230 Waples Mill Road
Suite 125A
Fairfax, VA, USA 22030
888.438.0788 ext.1

04/06/2024

This is the spring of Marianne-Will-Not-Catch-A-Break!

Sustained a mild concussion over the weekend. I'm recovering well, but certain activities take longer than usual and that includes detailed emails. No group classes this week and I'll be in touch about individual clients.

01/06/2024

I think the term "forever home" leads to more harm than good.

I'm my dog's second home. I don't know much of her life before me and her foster family, only that she was loved. Circumstances ended a chapter of her life and she began a new one with me. It's sad, but life is unpredictable. And if something were to happen to me, I'd want her new chapter to be filled with just as much kindness.

Life changes. We get sick, divorced, financially devastated, flee conflict, and endure disaster. Sometimes, we can keep our dogs through these changes. Sometimes, training can help. But there are so many circumstances where that isn't a safe or healthy option for anyone, whether dog or human.

And that's okay.

If there's a home able to begin a new chapter for our animals, we can help them on that journey. And if it's not safe or if our animal is suffering, their story might end. It's heartbreaking, but we can give them the gift of a final chapter surrounded by love.

Dog training with clients has taught me the practical skills, but I find the non-training insight more valuable. We can't train our way out of life changes and there's no way to predict or stop them. They happen, and people blame themselves even if it's no one's fault but this crazy life. That's not a training issue - it's just life doing its thing in all the ways it hurts.

Instead of thinking of forever, think in a dog's timeline: today. Just today. In the moments passing us now, how can we be kind?

14/05/2024

Many texts and emails have been getting mistakenly flagged as spam or filtered lately. If you haven't heard from me, feel free to reach out again. I'll be combing my filtered messages for a while reaching out to everyone.

02/04/2024

It never ends! Thankfully not sick, but overstrained my voice. Rescheduling consultations and cranky about having to be quiet. 😉

01/04/2024

Look, it's not even an April fools thing at this point. I'd LOVE to train some dragons, and every television family with one could really use some compassionate consultation.

I mean, I can't help with the human family drama, but I'd be happy to get an enrichment plan going for all the dragons.

27/03/2024

Thank you for your continued patience ‐ I'll be all right, but need to slow down more than I thought. Best wishes in this upcoming mud season!

26/03/2024

I hate being down and out, but snow shoveling exacerbated a shoulder injury and I've got to do something about it. Thank you for your patience with any delays in emails or inquiries! Clients are still on schedule unless otherwise noted, and I'll keep you posted.

14/03/2024

Behavior challenges are hard on dogs and their humans, too. I've cried over my own dog's behavior and I do this for a living. I tell clients all the time that we do the best we can and work with factors we can control. Sometimes, that means some extra help from our veterinarians. Medication saves lives. It's easy to say that, but sometimes harder to absorb in our own lives.

Glinda was reactive ever since her adoption. She has profound noise sensitivities and bicycles overwhelm her. Some of these traits are typical in herding dogs, and she did recover with training, but we hit a wall after a while. I thought I was just a terrible trainer with "too much dog," despite her contentment with napping while I wanted more intense exercise.

Because of her difficulty coping, I started her on medication, thinking I might see some temporary hope.

Holy bananas, I had forgotten what I tell my clients all the time. Glinda's quality of life has improved dramatically.

She can nap in the house without worrying about everyday noises. She absorbs redirection games MUCH better. She can explore places she likes without getting as overwhelmed by surprises. And most of all, she's still Glinda. The laziest working dog I've ever met, but that's who she's always been.

We're still on our journey, but I'm happy to continue on alongside all of you. The road is ruff but I'm glad to walk with each and every one of you.

06/03/2024

Do you feel like your training is going about as fast as a turtle in peanut butter? GOOD; you’re doing it right. Anyone who knows me knows I’m not in this to make money. I don’t use tactics to try to bring you back to me as many times as possible (quite the opposite).

Plenty of trainers will guarantee “Fast results!” “Stop reactivity in just a few days with our program!” “No one gets faster results than us!”

Slow down everyone. Real, and LASTING behavior change takes time. Trainers who make those sorts of promises almost always use unfair punishments that temporarily suppress a behavior rather than examining and treating the cause. Punishment is easy and takes little skill.

Is your dog growling at strangers that reach out to pet their head? A trainer that guarantees fast result would punish that growl, and it might work! Your dog might stop growling. BUT… here come the big questions.

Does your dog have a medical issue such as an infected molar that is causing pain?

Is your dog afraid of strangers? What will he think of them when he is continually punished for communicating his fear? Will he skip the growl and just go right for the bite (after all he was punished for making noise right?)

Will your dog suddenly be “safe”? Would you want kids coming up to pet a dog that has had the warnings punished out of them?

Is your dog guarding you? What works better in the long term? Punishment, or taking the time to show that approaching strangers predict great things for your dog?

Dogs may also develop a punishment callus. Over time, harsher punishments are required to achieve the same results.

Some trainers will say that the “real world” is full of aversive events and natural consequences and that’s why punishment is needed. But shouldn’t we strive to reduce such aversives, and not use the fact that there is pain in the world as an excuse to inflict more?

I’ve heard people say: but I don’t have to use the shock function on the collar anymore, I just have to use the beep. Ok, but the beep is the threat of the shock. And do you really want a pet that you have to control with a remote?

My two cents: take the time to train slowly. Build a trusting relationship. The investment will pay off a thousand fold.

“Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.”
-Navy SEALs

02/03/2024

Eats super secret pup cups like they're caviar.

01/03/2024

It's brutal outside, so many dogs won't be happy or safe staying out for long periods. Scentwork has your back! This introductory exercise can help enrich your dog in a balanced way, foster self-settling skills, and channel natural foraging behaviors you might want to use outside when the weather improves.

Once your dog gets the easy game, have them sniff between the two scents with your original being the "winner." Then, you can begin hiding the scents.

08/02/2024

Pro treat detector.

02/02/2024

Squeeze bottles full of wet food make for fun vet visits! Just like the dentist for us, going to the dogtor can be a source of worry for our pets. Bring fun treats, give them liberally, and don't be afraid to ask about protocols to help your pet have a calmer experience at a scary place.

09/01/2024

09/01/2024

E2A is unabashedly owned by a q***r person, and aside from enhancing the welfare of the North Country's pets and families, I hope every day Littleton gets more affirming than the day before. I'll be there helping make that happen, too.

03/01/2024

Welcome to 2024! 2023 was a bumpy and busy year for everyone, it seems - I'm excited to see what the next year brings for you and your fuzzy families. Hoping for some colorful summer surprises...stay tuned 👀

GROUP CLASSES
I appreciate everyone's patience navigating the uncertainty regarding the novel canine respiratory disease, as there aren't firm recommendations in either direction. I keep an eye on NHVDL, Cornell, and the latest recommendations from veterinary behaviorists on balancing risk.

Right now, I'm leaning on having indoor size-limited classes. If that changes, you'll be the first to know. I'll be adjusting class packages for longer-term flexibility, but everyone's current packages still apply if you have unused days.

If you'd like to convert your unused days to private consultations, just let me know.

IN-HOME CONSULTATIONS
Storms and flooding paused the tail end of 2023 consultations. I'll be reaching out to you soon for make-up days. January picks up quickly, so new clients will get the best chance by inquiring and booking ASAP.

REMINDERS
You're doing your best and that's worth celebrating. All dogs have their days, occasionally do silly things, and the human world is full of trips and stumbles and days we really just feel like we didn't do as well as we wanted. Give yourself grace.