Exploring the world of veterinary behavior to help pets and people live in harmony! Follow me at facebook.com/nellie.wilbersdvm.7
An online community to support behavioral wellness through understanding body language, communication, and the environmental and social needs of companion animals.
Good morning everyone!
I have really enjoyed providing this page as a resource on animal behavior, body language, and how to live in harmony with your furry friends; but since I am no longer providing in-home behavior consultations, the day has come to retire this page.
I invite you to follow my professional profile Nellie Wilbers Dvm to continue to learn about animal behavior and senior pet care!
Love to all!
facebook.com/nellie.wilbersdvm.7
How to choose the right clicker for your pet!
There are so many different options, and we want to pick one that our pet can easily hear in the environment we are training them in.
BUT we must be careful to choose one that is not so loud that it causes any ear drum sensitivity or startle response.
All cats need to play. Everyday!
đș Cats of all ages love to play â from kittens to super seniors! Just like dogs, cats need daily physical and mental stimulation to stay healthy and happy. ...
I really enjoyed listening to this podcast and the parallels between animal training and human behavioral therapy.
So happy that science and kindness are now leading how we care for ourselves and our pets.
âShow Uniquely Human: The Podcast, Ep Anxiety, Phobias, and the Therapeutic Use of Humor - with Dr. Karen Levine - Nov 24, 2023
Check out this webinar from Fear Free!
"Preserving the Human Animal Bond | Supporting Your Pet Through Common Stressors"
The human-animal bond describes the dynamic relationship between pets and their caregivers. This relationship is influenced by the emotional, psychological, and physical interactions between people, pets, and the environment. Join our webinar hosted by Fear Free Director of Veterinary Affairs Jennif...
An incredible demonstration of what is possible with science, patience and understanding in training.
The days of forced and scary restraint are over. We know how to do better đ
Today, we talked about my top 5 tips for dealing with peeing issues in your feline friends!
Remember to always consult with your veterinarian first to rule out or treat any medical causes and potentially discuss behavioral medications that might help you be more successful with your plan.
And I might not have said it out loud (whoops!) but donât forget to scoop all those boxes EVERY SINGLE DAY, at least once a day!
Learn more about litter boxes and your kittyâs dream home in the link below đ
https://www.petsandpeopleinharmony.com/litter-boxes
It made my heart so happy yesterday to hear about a new science based, R+ trainer in town who has the support of one of our local boarded veterinary behaviorists.
I always caution against Board and Trains in general since most use punitive methods that often cause life-long trauma and harm, but for families who really need that option, there's finally one around town that is safe for your pup.
You can find other modern, science based trainers and learn how to spot red flags (such as "balanced", "pack-leader" and "dominant") on my website: https://www.petsandpeopleinharmony.com/trainers-and-tools
Learn to speak your dogâs language through professional dog training in Columbus Ohio. Teach your dog to listen to you through positive reinforcement training.
Time for newly marinated catnip and silvervine toys!!!
We use this airtight container to marinate everything (thanks Fundamentally Feline for the tip!) and keep everything new and exiting by rotating toys.
You can tell by the swarm that they are positively conditioned to the sound of it clicking open đ
We also have our cat scale here to create positive associations with it so they are always eager to hop up to get their weights checked đ»
Great advice but watch until the end for context đ
STOP WALKING YOUR DOG! #
A healthy pup is a happy pup!
Itching leads to anxiety and more licking which leads to more itching which leads to more anxiety! It's a positive feedback loop that is easier to get under control before it gets out of hand.
Make sure to talk with your vet at the first sign of itching and allergy symptoms in your furry friend!
There are some things you can do to help
Such an important conversation during a first puppy or kitten visit!
Educating pet owners can help prevent behavioral issues down the line
You canât do a donât!
This applies to dogs, cats, horses and people! Remember to reinforce the behaviors you like instead of focusing on the behaviors you donât want.
Consent. It's not just for people!
The rise of consent training and animal agency.
Words matter!
The words we choose to describe behavior affect how we interact with our patients. Has your vet team adopted any of these Fear Free ideas?
Catios are a fantastic way to provide enrichment for your feline companions. We have one and our kitties sure do love it.
Do you have one? Share pictures below!
And please remember to keep your kitties protected with vaccines and flea and tick prevention, especially if they have outdoor access like this đ»
âCatiosâ provide cats an enclosed space outside where they can take in the fresh air, sounds, and sights of the season
An adorable Valentineâs message from a fantastic positive reinforcement trainer!
Learning should always be fun and never scary or painful. Kikopup/Dogmantics videos can show you how to teach all kinds of fun tricks and how to make sure you and your pup are having a blast!
Happy Valentineâs Day!! What are you gifting your pet? Check out this article to learn the secret behind what most dogs and cats really want from us this year đ
Dr. Amy Attas VMD, the founder of City Pets, provides thoughtful Valentine's Day gift ideas for pets that will show your furry friend how much you care
Is your veterinary practice considering becoming Fear Free Certified? It's obviously great for our patients to have a calm and comfortable vet visit but what other benefits might there be for the business, team and your clients?
From a DVM 360 article: "Iâm often asked whether Fear Free takes too much time and money. In our experience, it actually saves on both. It is an efficient way to relieve everyoneâs uneasiness while making visits more productive. We also believe that itâs as important for the client as for the pet to have a Fear Free experience because when a pet isnât comfortable, neither is the client. Fear Free helps build trust between the client and the veterinary team, so they understand weâre going the extra mile for their pet and family."
Here's our regular rundown of new and notable veterinary products
Letâs talk training collars!
Why are they so popular and why do they seem to work? Today we talked about what actually happens in the brain when a shock collar is used for training and why other methods of modifying behavior are more effective long term - and FUN!
Great advice!!
While your are learning how to read your catâs body language, itâs a good rule of thumb to pet no more than 3 times or for 3 seconds at a time and also try to pet around the head, neck and cheeks where most cats prefer and accept petting. Next steps are to start studying up! Your kitty (or dog, horse, rabbit etc) will be very grateful đ»
You can learn more about body language here: https://www.petsandpeopleinharmony.com/body-language
This trick is the tip of the iceberg of medicating tricks and possibilities, but it is an excellent and often underutilized tool.
If you need help medicating your cat, I am here to help! However, I cannot recommend enough getting ahead of it and training your cats to take medications BEFORE they need medications. Here is a link to get you started if you would like guidance.
https://www.fundamentallyfeline.com/services/medicating-consults/
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How to choose the right clicker for your pet! There are so many different options, and we want to pick one that our pet can easily hear in the environment we are training them in. BUT we must be careful to choose one that is not so loud that it causes any ear drum sensitivity or startle response. #clickertraining #positivereinforcement
Today, we talked about my top 5 tips for dealing with peeing issues in your feline friends! Remember to always consult with your veterinarian first to rule out or treat any medical causes and potentially discuss behavioral medications that might help you be more successful with your plan. And I might not have said it out loud (whoops!) but donât forget to scoop all those boxes EVERY SINGLE DAY, at least once a day! Learn more about litter boxes and your kittyâs dream home in the link below đ https://www.petsandpeopleinharmony.com/litter-boxes
That was easy! This cat scratching post wasnât quite cutting it to discourage scratching on the couch so we added this double sided sticky tape to try and save the upholstery. Worked like a charm and didnât leave a sticky residue! One Sight Cat Training Tape, Cat Tape for Furniture, Cat Scratch Furniture Protector 4 Inches x 30 Yards Cat Scratch Deterrent for Furniture, Couch Protector for Cats Double Sided Tape https://a.co/d/e7sfpCS
Letâs talk training collars! Why are they so popular and why do they seem to work? Today we talked about what actually happens in the brain when a shock collar is used for training and why other methods of modifying behavior are more effective long term - and FUN!
Thanks Committed to Claws for the awesome catnip toys! Arya approves đ» A catâs claws are vitally important for play, stretching, marking, and expressing day to day normal behaviors. Need tips to decrease scratching on your favorite sofa? Say no to declaw, and check out the Committed to Claws website: https://committedtoclaws.com.
Enjoying scavenging for kibble! đ»
Adoptable Topaz and Jasper checking out the cardboard cat house đ»
Dinner is served! Did you know that providing mental enrichment like this food puzzle toy can help slow changes in the aging brain and help our senior pups stay sharp? Enrichment toys are also great for physical health and stretching parts of the body that may not otherwise be used!
Marsie gets a food puzzle for dinnerl!! Turn on the audio for my narration đ¶
Mars and Moki are getting used to their rain jackets before we go backpacking in Asheville next week!
Thunder = pea sized treats raining from the sky! If your pet is not interested in the treats he usually enjoys, this is a sign of anxiety. Your pup will likely need the help of medication or supplements from your veterinarian and environmental modification of your home.
New cardboard box turned cat tunnel đ»
Marsie having fun with her destroy toy! Itâs just a thick cardboard roll with peanut butter smeared on the inside đ¶ These are great for dogs who need an appropriate outlet for destructive behaviors. Some dogs may need some initial encouragement when learning new puzzles, especially those that require manipulation with a paw or nose to get the kibble out. Showing them and allowing some kibble to fall out can help. For dogs or cats who are still not quite sure how it works and seem to get âboredâ with it you can click or say âyesâ and toss a kibble when they start to manipulate it correctly. Sometimes we need to learn how to learn and that can take time and encouragement đ
Another imperfect video of real life training. Today I talked about helping Elliot become more comfortable with clippers. We use classical conditioning to help him learn that the sound of clippers equals treats. Mistakes are made and you can watch the body language to see where it happens!
Have you ever taught a pet âtouchâ or target? Check out this video to learn the hows and whys of this fun behavior đ P.S. Sorry you canât see my face at all đ€Ł
Management Tip of the Day! Moksha is all about helping me in the kitchen but Marsie is super worried about the mess and commotion (her body language tells me she is nervous: ears back, worried face, lifting one paw up, quickly flicking her tongue out like a snake, and startling easily)!! Weâre using management (preventing her from being part of something that scares her) to allow her to feel safe and relaxed in another space far away from the kitchen (her body language in the video that shows us she is happy: ears forward, jaw loose, body and tail wiggling loosely, âhappyâ face, able to easily offer a default behavior she knows well: âsettleâ). She has an awesome puzzle toy stuffed with soft food so that her mind and body stay busy while sheâs by herself! Even better yet: My home is fairly small and open so adding white noise as a barrier between the rooms and turning on familiar music would be helpful if I was making a lot of noise in the kitchen. How do you manage your pets to prevent them from being in situations that scare them?
Do your cats prefer toys that creep along the ground or fly in the air? My kitties love the flying toys. I make sure they âwinâ a couple times each session by letting them catch their prey and enjoy it đș
A very IMPERFECT but real life example of playing the engage/disengage game. Luckily Mars was able to keep eating treats but I pushed her way too close to her threshold of what she was able to handle before becoming too worried (what body language did you notice that tells us she was worried? Comment below!). If we expose our dogs to something that makes them too worried or reactive and they are unable to eat treats, they wonât be able to learn and their fear and anxiety will actually increase. Remember to go slowly, making it easy for your dog to succeed and FUN for both of you. Check out the engage/disengage poster below for more details if youâve never played the game!!
Arya figured this toy out in minutes đ»
I just got home from an in-home behavior consult and wanted to share some thoughts while relaxing in my hammock! Today I talk about different types of training methods; why some look so effective but cause unintended consequences and then some fun and safe alternatives! Hope you enjoy!!
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