Laurie Schulze,DVM

30/07/2024

Let’s say it again! Babies grow up quickly! As soon as you become familiar with one stage, you enter into a new one. With fast and exciting growth can come a little uncertainty for our family dogs (sitting, crawling, walking, running and more!). It's important to keep this in mind when your baby reaches new milestones. Many families prepare with their dog for a new baby, we encourage parents and caregivers to prepare with their dog for life with toddlers too!

01/07/2024

How do you help your dog feel safe?

16/04/2024

An important post we had to share for ⚠️
・・・
As our children grow, it’s important to teach them the skills to interact with dogs safely. And, petting dogs is one of those skills to teach properly. We like kids to learn the phrase “one hand enough, two hands too rough!” from an early age.

When a child puts two hands on a dog, even if the interaction begins gently, it can escalate to rougher petting, grabbing, or hugging very easily. Teaching kids to pet a dog with one hand on the dog’s shoulder or back at the closest point relative to the child (i.e. NO reaching over the dog’s head or back) is a safe option and even something we adults can remember as well.

Remember to keep interactions brief and allow dogs plenty of opportunities to say “no, thanks!” (for kids and dogs!)

16/04/2024

Need a dog training fix heading into the warmer weather? Join our founder, Dr. Marty Becker, DVM, and Fear Free's Lead Animal Trainer, Mikkel Becker, CBCC-KA, CDBC, KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, CTC, for the on April 19, at 3:30 p.m. ET. This virtual event is open to dog lovers, dog trainers, pet professionals, and everyone in between!

During their lecture, Marty & Mikkel will be discussing different ways to reduce stress and promote emotional rest during an animal’s physical care. Not only will the duo be discussing core elements essential to Fear Free care, but they will also be giving live Cooperative Care demos to illustrate how animals can play an active role in their care!

In the meantime, you can learn more about our Fear Free Trainer Certification Program here: https://bit.ly/3AnQNt3

16/04/2024

We always do the best we can with the information we have at the time but we should strive to learn more and grow!

We have free handouts available to download online, visit us here! www.familypaws.com/resources/ -1

08/11/2023

08/11/2023

Great tips

We love this set up. 👏🏼The baby is playing and enjoying their time on the floor while the parent is enjoying a moment.

✅The dog is safely on the other side of a gate with a toy. We especially like that the chair is in between the dog and baby so that the parent is able to intervene and prevent the baby from approaching the gate.

✅This is a great example of inclusion without direct interaction. The dog is able to observe the baby and Mom but not be in the middle of things.

15/06/2023

Great graphic

FB Memories reminded me that 3 years ago I did something I had always wanted to do. Design and commission an infographic from Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin 🥰🥰

25/05/2023

Reposting … get an early start … talk your veterinarian now if your pet has trouble with storms .. fire works

Thunderstorm season is upon us, and firework season is fast approaching. Keep an eye on this page to learn ho to help your pets stay safe and comfortable during this noisy time of year.

All animals need a place where they feel safe and can decompress. A safe zone is a special new area we’ll create together for your dog. We may use a gate or pen to create this new area, or start with a new crate or bed. You and your trainer will discuss the most appropriate place to designate as a safe zone for your pet. The goal is to build lots of positive associations in this new area so your pet loves their new spot.

The safe zone should have:
An extra comfy bed/blanket
An Adaptil diffuser
A noise buffer
A high value, long lasting food dispensing toy such as a stuffed Kong or a snuffle mat sprinkled with chopped up hot dogs or cheese, unless your pup will guard this resource.

First, condition your pup to relax on their new bed (see relaxation handout). Then, every day, place your dog in the safe zone for 5-10 minutes with high value treats in a food puzzle (e.g., stuffed Kong) to help create a conditioned positive emotional response to this whole area.

14/05/2023

Safety Saturday. Reaching out your hand for a dog to 'sniff' is like someone waving your hand right in their face!

07/04/2023

Easter is on Sunday! As families prepare to celebrate, we want to remind pet owners to keep their pets away from these common Easter pet toxins! Contact a pet poison hotline, your family veterinarian, or your local animal emergency hospital if your pet gets into any of these Easter pet toxins!
Learn more: https://aercmn.com/common-easter-pet-dangers

16/02/2023

Check this out … fantastic opportunity

We have some VERY exciting news!

Starting March 1st, Instinct will be hosting ongoing free, live dog training & behavior seminars, including:

Puppy Parenting Roadmap, for caretakers of puppies ages 8-20 weeks, to be held the 2nd Wednesday of every month.

Rescue Dog Roadmap, for caretakers of recently adopted (or soon-to-be adopted) rescue dogs, to be held the 4th Wednesday or every month.

Hosted via Zoom, seminars will include a live presentation followed by a Q&A session. They are open to EVERYONE - dog owners, walkers, pet sitters, trainers, veterinary staff, shelter & rescue workers & volunteers, breeders, and of course - our Instinct clients!

Get kind, practical, step-by-step guidance & support from some of our most experienced certified trainers & behavior consultants at Instinct locations across the country.

Register today at www.instinctdogtraining.com/seminars

Know someone who could benefit from this resource? Tag them in the comments! We can’t wait to see you there.

31/08/2022

Good stuff

05/08/2022

This idea can also work for adult dogs too …

Here’s the setup myself and lots of other trainers use for puppies. It gives the puppy a safe place where they can’t get into things or be unsafe, and also gives them free access to their kennel so they see it as part of their own space.

So when does puppy go in here? For really young puppies it’s any time they can’t have my complete attention. So for example if I have to use the bathroom or run upstairs to help one of my kids, in puppy goes!

I also use this area when the puppy needs a break from my kids. Or vice versa.

Remember this is not a bad place to be and it’s not a punishment. There are fun things to do in the puppy pen! Yes, you can use it when the puppy is getting too feisty, but always be sure to give them something to do to get that energy out.

04/07/2022

On July 4, many animals become startled or frightened by the noise of fireworks. This may cause them to flee from familiar environments and people, and sadly become lost.

Ensure they are wearing their tags and that their microchips are current with correct contact information. New technology includes GPS collars and geo location tags.

Provide safe zones and sound buffers indoors to minimize stress.

If they must go outside, they must be on a leash.

24/06/2022

Good stuff from the great Behavior vets

Thunderstorm season is upon us, and firework season is fast approaching. Keep an eye on this page to learn ho to help your pets stay safe and comfortable during this noisy time of year.

All animals need a place where they feel safe and can decompress. A safe zone is a special new area we’ll create together for your dog. We may use a gate or pen to create this new area, or start with a new crate or bed. You and your trainer will discuss the most appropriate place to designate as a safe zone for your pet. The goal is to build lots of positive associations in this new area so your pet loves their new spot.

The safe zone should have:
An extra comfy bed/blanket
An Adaptil diffuser
A noise buffer
A high value, long lasting food dispensing toy such as a stuffed Kong or a snuffle mat sprinkled with chopped up hot dogs or cheese, unless your pup will guard this resource.

First, condition your pup to relax on their new bed (see relaxation handout). Then, every day, place your dog in the safe zone for 5-10 minutes with high value treats in a food puzzle (e.g., stuffed Kong) to help create a conditioned positive emotional response to this whole area.

18/05/2022

Great free education opportunity

FREE PRESENTATION!

Using The Power Of Play To Improve Shelter Outcomes

Tuesday May 24, 2022 - 7pm to 8pm EST

Play is our window into the canine experience. So much of canine communication and connection is learned through play. But, it's not all fun and games, play can be serious business. Come and explore the science of play and learn how to utilize play as a way to improve adoption and long-term outcomes and deepen the human-canine connection.

This presentation will be recorded and shared after the live event.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER:
Drew Webster is an IAABC Certified Dog Behavior Consultant who works with Behavior Vets of Colorado and has a passion for helping improve the lives of shelter animals and the people who care for them. Drew is also an adjunct professor at the University of Denver and teaches Canine Interactions in Social Work.

To register:
https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/register/ygvpdqwc

05/05/2022

Good stuff

Our majestic horse friends experience the world quite differently from us humans. Here we highlight a few of the notable features of four of their senses.

Smell: Like many other non-primate animals, horses have large olfactory bulbs in their brains for processing scent. Horses’ nostrils are separated and pointed in opposite directions. This provides stereolfaction (multiple fields of scent) to better localize the source of a smell.

Touch: Touch plays a big role in creating bonds within mammal species (intraspecific) as well as between species (interspecific) – in this case, as the main form of communication between horses and their riders. Horses have exquisite tactile sensitivity; they can sense pressure too light for a human to feel.

Hearing: Humans can hear lower frequencies than horses, but horses are able to hear much higher frequencies than humans. However, unlike the large scent-processing area of the brain, the area of a horse’s brain that processes high-frequency localization is small. Horses can sometimes localize prolonged high-frequency sounds (like whinnies), but with sharp, brief high-frequency sounds (like twig snaps) horses cannot pinpoint the exact location. Those sharp sounds are likely to result in defensive behavior, like running away.

Vision: Horses have wider visual fields than we humans, but a lower quality of vision over most of that field. Horses’ vision, as prey animals, is more effective for detecting predator approach than for identifying non-moving objects.

Do you want to learn more? Check out THIS 2002 paper by Carol A. Saslow

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159102000928

14/04/2022

One of my favorite resources to share

I've had some requests to repost the "Better Never Bitten" handout for National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Please let me know, by direct message, if you'd like a copy of the pdf, and thank you for your ongoing interest.

Edit: PLEASE send a direct message to me rather than leaving a comment below, and allow 24 hours for the pdf. Thanks again.

07/04/2022

How cool is this

31/03/2022

Tiger enrichment:)

31/03/2022

Great opportunity to learn and help others

Join Behavior Vets for this webinar about canine body language and relaxation games to raise money for homeless animals in Ukraine.

16/03/2022

Love love love everything about the awesome educational posts on body language. One of my favorite veterinary behaviorist to follow 🙂

If your dog responds to people in this way, he is fearful, anxious or stressed.

In this case, this dog wants to interact, but he is concerned. Better to have the person step away and toss treats to him or just let him look at the person and you reinforce him with treats.

23/02/2022

Bunnies

FREE PRESENTATION!!

Bunny Basics: The Dos and Don'ts of the Rabbiting World

Monday, February 28, 2022
5pm to 6pm EST

Becoming a first time rabbit owner can be overwhelming--with lots of information out there, where do you start?

Join us for an introduction to rabbit ownership and the do's and don'ts of the rabbiting world. Learn the best ways to provide safe and secure housing for your bun, create enriching environments to encourage natural behaviors, and bond and engage with your new rabbit.

Avoiding common mistakes can help prevent the development of behavioral issues, while promoting a healthy and harmonious rabbit relationship.

There will a live Q&A during the last 15 minutes of the presentation.

About the Presenter:
Taylor Kelly holds a Master’s Degree in Animal Behavior and Conservation and is a certified Fear Free Trainer. While earning her Masters, Taylor was part of a team that researched the adult human perception of distress in the cries of bonobo, chimpanzee, and human infants. The study was published in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. Not only does she have many years of experience working with dogs, she also has extensive experience in rabbit behavior with two rabbits of her own. She continues to volunteer as a dog walker, and foster for both cats and dogs from the Animal Care Centers.

To register for this FREE presentation:
https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/register/waghbfes

You do not need to have a BlueJeans account to view this presentation. All you have to do is click on the link above to register. You will then receive a link to access the event. We will ‘see’ you there! 🐇

20/02/2022

Great information .

17/12/2021

Excellent tip you can use every day not just the holiday parties

27/09/2021

Love this

Big pup and little girl? No problem! By using a stool you help to build space where your little one can give your pup a treat. In this picture, Kelsy is giving the down cue with a hand signal then tosses kibble.

29/06/2021

This is a great resource . Many of you may have new dogs that you did not have the last 4th of July . If your dog hides , shakes , paces , velcros to you during loud noises/storms chances are fireworks will be an issue for them to . It is not to early to start preparing them for it now .

There are things you can start doing today to help your dog who is afraid of fireworks.

19/05/2021

This is awesome....

Fear Free helps reduce injuries to veterinary staff and horses, improve the health and wellbeing of patients, save you time, create more manageable patients, and earn your clients’ lasting trust and commitment.