Worry Less, Wag More: The Behavior Vets Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Paula Croxson shares insights into the formation of memories, the impact of stress and trauma on memories, and how we can change learned associations from traumatic memories. We discuss:

• Different types of memories
• Memories and the sense of self
• The effect of stress and trauma on memories
• Hardwiring of fear memories
• Making traumatic memories more vulnerable to change

Dr. Croxson's bio:
Paula Croxson, PhD is a behavioral and cognitive neuroscientist, science communicator and storyteller. Dr. Croxson is a freelance public engagement specialist and consultant, working with academics and nonprofits to communicate science with the public in meaningful and effective ways. She is also an adjunct Assistant Professor in Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and a consultant for Columbia University. She is a Senior Producer for The Story Collider and is passionate about sharing science with as many people as possible.

Links:
www.paulacroxson.com
@paulacroxson on FB
@paulacroxson on Instagram
The Story Collider podcast
Dr. Croxson will have a chapter in a new book: How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi

Dr. Croxson's webinars on Behavior Vets Learn Worlds:
Revealing Animals' Intelligence
Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks: The Aging Brain
The Sensory World of Animals: The Neuroscience of Smell
What Can Animals Remember? The Neuroscience of Memory
Talk to the Animals: The Neuroscience of Communication

Contact Behavior Vets

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• Online courses
• Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Dr. Marsha Penner delves into the neuroscience behind impulse control, why adolescent dogs notoriously struggle with it, and what we can do about it. We discuss:

• How reconnecting with her Native American heritage reaffirmed the way she works with animals
• Different types of impulse control
• How adolescent brains develop
• Finding more compassion and patience for the unruly adolescent dog
• How trust can improve impulse control

Dr. Penner's bio:
Dr. Marsha Penner is a behavioral neuroscientist, certified dog trainer (KPA-CTP), and owner of Learning to Dog Training & Enrichment. Marsha worked as a research scientist and award winning professor, focusing her attention on learning, memory, and effective teaching strategies. She turned her love of learning, behavior, and teaching into a full time career as a professional dog trainer after graduating from the the Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior in 2015. She is a proud Anishinaabe Kwe from Treaty One, but currently lives in Durham, NC with her husband and two dogs.

Links:
https://learningtodog.com/
https://www.marshapenner.com/
A collection of studies analyzing impulse control - this is really cool for those who want to dive deeper!
https://saverezdogs.com/
Asher L, England GCW, Sommerville R, Harvey ND. 2020. Teenage dogs? Evidence for adolescent-phase conflict behaviour and an association between attachment to humans and pubertal timing in the domestic dog. Biology Letters. 16: 20200097. 

Contact Behavior Vets

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In this episode, Claire Cario (MA, CPDT-KA, FFCT) was tasked to train Queenie, an intensely dog-reactive cattle dog, in New York City. Queenie's over-the-top reactions became a scary safety risk as she redirected a bite towards her human guardian. Listen to how Claire expertly guided Queenie's mom to find safety and stability in a highly unpredictable environment.

Claire's bio:
Claire F. Cario has been working within the animal welfare and veterinary medicine fields since 2001. She received her MA in the Advanced Psychology of Animal Behavior and Conservation in 2008. The most rewarding aspect of her work is strengthening the human-animal bond and seeing her clients achieve a deeper understanding of their dog’s communication, motivations and behaviors.

Claire started her own business in 2009 and since then, has supervised, managed, and trained animal behavior staff across all sectors of the animal behavior world, developed curriculum for training programs for training schools, municipal shelters, and therapy dog programs, given webinars on canine behavior topics, built behavior assessment systems, and developed individualized behavior training plans for dogs displaying a wide variety of behavior concerns. She is certified through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and a Fear Free Certified Professional. Currently Claire is a Behavior Consultant for Behavior Vets of NYC and an instructor at CATCH Academy. Prior to this, she spent three years as the Private Trainer Manager at School For the Dogs in NYC, four years as the Behavior and Enrichment Assistant Manager at Animal Care Centers of NYC, three years as a behavior consultant on the ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team, six years as the executive trainer and coordinator for The Good Dog Foundation.

 Click here for more about Claire Cario.

Contact Behavior Vets

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• Online courses
• Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Sassafras shares some tips about writing to engage your audience and how trick training has helped improve the lives of hir dogs. We discuss:

• The art of writing about behavior and training for a broad audience
• Her books Tricks in the City and Chew This Journal
• How trick training can complement behavior modification plans
• Trying to help people enjoy their pets and avoid unrealistic expectations

Sassafras's bio:
Sassafras Lowrey (CPDT-KA, CTDI) is an author, dog trainer, and multimedia educator.  Sassafras' work with dogs focuses on engagement, enrichment, play, and competitive trick training.  Sassafras is the author of the dog training books Tricks In The City and Chew This Journal. Sassafras' dog training articles have regularly appeared in leading dog magazines like Dogster, The Bark, Modern Dog, and The American Kennel Club as well as publications including WIRED, Apartment Therapy, and The New York Times.

Links:
https://sassafraslowrey.com/
Facebook @SassafrasLowrey
Twitter @SassafrasLowrey
Instagram @SassafrasLowrey
Instagram @SiriusTheBear

Books
Tricks in the City
Chew This Journal

Articles
American Kennel Club:
https://www.akc.org/author/sassafras-lowreyctdi/
WIRED:
https://www.wired.com/author/sassafras-lowrey/
Apartment Therapy:
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/authors/sassafras-lowrey
Cuteness:
https://www.cuteness.com/user/sassafras_lowrey
New York Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/27/smarter-living/dog-training-behavior.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/06/smarter-living/the-dog-park-is-bad-actually.html?smid=url-share
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/31/smarter-living/before-you-adopt-planning-a-lifelong-commitment-to-your-pets-health.html

Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells 

Contact Behavior Vets

• tweet us @BehaviorVets
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• Online courses
• Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Suzanne shares her insights for Relationship Centered Training™ (RCT) and having a persistent curiosity of the animal in front of you. We discuss:

• Communication and the willingness to hear others
• Being a carpenter or a gardener
• Humility in training
• Dandelions and orchids
• Her new Functional Assessment Tracking tool

Suzanne's bio:
Suzanne Clothier has been working with animals professionally since 1977. She is well respected internationally for her holistic Relationship Centered Training™ (RCT) approach to dogs and the people that love them. This positive and humane approach keeps the relationship central at all times, and promotes promote healthy, respectful and joyful dog/human connections.

Since 1991, she has taught on a broad range of topics throughout the US and internationally for a wide variety of groups, and served as a consultant to major service dog schools.

An award winning author of multiple books & videos, her book, Bones Would Rain from the Sky: Deepening Our Relationships With Dogs (2002) has received widespread praise from every corner of the dog world. Her innovative programs include Treat/Retreat, the Enriched Puppy Protocol, CARAT™, RAT™, FAT™, as well as many RCT techniques, online courses and webinars.

A long-time breeder of German Shepherds with 10 generations successful in nearly every dog sport, Suzanne lives on an upstate New York farm with husband John Rice, and their (large!) animal family.

Links:
https://suzanneclothier.com
RCT Online courses
FAT for dogs

Webinars:
Intro to CARAT
Treat/Retreat Overview

Contact Behavior Vets

• tweet us @BehaviorVets
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• Online courses
• Webinars and seminars

This is PART 2 of a 2-episode interview with Lauren Novack, who discusses her graduate research about the science and social validity of companion animal welfare. If animals can't talk to us, how do we really know if the treatments we employ and behavior change we strive for is actually doing good for companion animals? In Part 2, we discuss:

• Adding more choice in training
• Detecting pain and how it affects behavior
• Heart rate, heart rate variability, and its potential as a measure for affective state
• The potential to measure an animal's emotional affect before, during, and after intervention

Lauren's bio:
Lauren Novack has a Masters of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis with a specialization in Companion Animal Behavior from Hunter College. Applied Behavior Analysis is the science of behavior, which focuses on the identification of environmental conditions that cause behavior and the development of evidence-based behavior interventions. Her research focuses on the intersection between animal welfare and behavior interventions for companion animals. She is a Behavior Analyst, Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, and Family Paws Parent Educator.

Lauren founded dog walking and training company Lauren’s Leash in 2011 which she operated in Manhattan through 2018 before joining Behavior Vets. She creates custom behavior intervention plans for dogs (and their people) who have been diagnosed with neophobia, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, various types of aggression, and separation anxiety. In addition to her work with private clients, Lauren offers education through Behavior Vets, professional organizations including the International Association for Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and both professional and academic conferences.

Links:
Novack, L.I.; Schnell-Peskin, L.; Feuerbacher, E.; Fernandez, E.J. The Science and Social Validity of Companion Animal Welfare: Functionally Defined Parameters in a Multidisciplinary Field. Animals 2023, 13, 1850.

Constructional Aggression Treatment 4- Part Webinar Series with Lauren Novack and Kellie Sisson Snider (MS)

Gait analysis by Gemma Hodson: https://www.dynamicdog.co.uk/

Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells 

Contact Behavior Vets

• tweet us @BehaviorVets
• follow us on Facebook
• follow us on Instagram
• Online courses
• Webinars and seminars

This is PART 1 of a 2-episode interview with Lauren Novack, who discusses her graduate research about the science and social validity of companion animal welfare. If animals can't talk to us, how do we really know if the treatments we employ and behavior change we strive for is actually doing good for companion animals? In Part 1, we discuss:

• "Freedom From" to "The 5 Domains"
• The challenges of objectively measuring animal welfare
• Behavioral variability
• Degrees of freedom and the enhanced choice model
• How our values affect the way we train

Lauren's bio:
Lauren Novack has a Masters of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis with a specialization in Companion Animal Behavior from Hunter College. Applied Behavior Analysis is the science of behavior, which focuses on the identification of environmental conditions that cause behavior and the development of evidence-based behavior interventions. Her research focuses on the intersection between animal welfare and behavior interventions for companion animals. She is a Behavior Analyst, Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, and Family Paws Parent Educator.

Lauren founded dog walking and training company Lauren’s Leash in 2011 which she operated in Manhattan through 2018 before joining Behavior Vets. She creates custom behavior intervention plans for dogs (and their people) who have been diagnosed with neophobia, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, various types of aggression, and separation anxiety. In addition to her work with private clients, Lauren offers education through Behavior Vets, professional organizations including the International Association for Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and both professional and academic conferences.

Links:
Novack, L.I.; Schnell-Peskin, L.; Feuerbacher, E.; Fernandez, E.J. The Science and Social Validity of Companion Animal Welfare: Functionally Defined Parameters in a Multidisciplinary Field. Animals 2023, 13, 1850.

Constructional Aggression Treatment 4- Part Webinar Series with Lauren Novack and Kellie Sisson Snider (MS)

Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells 

Contact Behavior Vets

• tweet us @BehaviorVets
• follow us on Facebook
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• Online courses
• Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Kim and Ferdie have a fun time discussing ethology applied to dog training. We discuss: 

• What is applied ethology?
• Purpose and function as extremely important to animals
• The evolution of dogs
• Are we watching bears and coyotes lose their fear of humans?
• How the LEGS model has shifted the perspective of dog trainers

Kim's bio:
Kim Brophey, CDBC, CPDT-KA, FDM, is an applied ethologist and owner of The Dog Door Behavior Center in Asheville, NC. Kim’s commitment to Family Dog Mediation® has been recognized internationally, awarded the APDT Outstanding Trainer of the Year in 2009 and the Best Dog Trainer of WNC eight years in a row. She is a member of the International Society for Applied Ethology and the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, and a certified member and past board member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Kim Brophey’s L.E.G.S.® model of integrated canine science has been endorsed by prominent canine scientists such as Raymond Coppinger and embraced by reputable academics and dog trainers worldwide. From her applied ethology content in Michael Shikashio’s Aggression in Dogs Master Course to her market-disrupting L.E.G.S.® Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation® Course, Kim’s work is a celebrated contribution to the field. Her groundbreaking sold-out first edition book, MEET YOUR DOG, TED talk, Beyond The Operant (BTO) collaborative, numerous public speaking venues at institutions & conferences around the world, and countless radio and podcast features have made profound waves throughout the dog behavior world as well as the general public. Kim continues to build bridges and invite others to contribute to a new conversation about dogs- one that challenges us to redefine how we perceive, talk about, and treat our canine companions as a society.

Links:
Kim Brophey's educational offerings
L.E.G.S. Main Course ($400 dollars off with code BV for WLWM listeners!)
L.E.G.S. In Motion Conference December 5-7, 2023 (and the Golden Ticket Bundle with the Resilience Rainbow Tour)
Meet Your Dog: The Game-Changing Guide to Understanding Your Dog's Behavior 

Montgomery, J. Evolutionary Mismatch, Emotional Homeostasis, and “Emotional Addiction”: A Unifying Model of Psychological Dysfunction. Evolutionary Psychological Science 4, 428–442 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-018-0153-9 

Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells 

Contact Behavior Vets

• tweet us @BehaviorVets
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• Online courses
• Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Marge Rogers joins Ferdie and Bobbie Bhambree to discuss her expert insider's take on how to implement Dr. Karen Overall's protocols for relaxation, deference, and take a breath. We discuss:

• Benefits of biofeedback exercises
• The Protocol for Relaxation by Dr. Overall
• The Protocol for Deference vs Social Referencing
• Teaching Take a Breath and how to use it

Marge's bio:
Marge Rogers (she/her) co-authored the veterinary behaviorist-recommended book Puppy Socialization: What It Is and How to Do It. She holds certifications through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers as a behavior consultant (Canine) and a Professional Dog Trainer. Marge is also a Certified Control Unleashed Instructor and a Certified Fear Free Professional. She is a popular and engaging speaker with a passion for sharing her knowledge and experiences. Marge has presented for Conference Unleashed, The Association of Professional Dog Trainers, Behavior Vets, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine (Behavior), Appalachian State University (Veterinary Technology Program), local veterinary clinics, libraries, businesses, and dog sports clubs.

Links:
Protocol for Relaxation: A Trainer's Guide to Practical Application (webinar)
Shape Your Puppy's Future: What Modern Day Socialization Looks Like (webinar)
https://rewardedbehaviorcontinues.com
Puppy Socialization: What It Is and How to Do It
Protocol for Relaxation
Champion of My Heart - Relaxation Protocol Audio Files
Protocol for Deference (aka Social Referencing - as Marge prefers to call it)
Take a Breath

Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells

Contact Behavior Vets

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• Online courses
• Webinars and seminars

In this episode, Kimberly McRae and Ursa Acree take us on an RV journey through Mexico with Hazel, a 9 year old rescue German Shepherd who suffers from extreme anxiety among other issues both medical and behavioral. Kimberly packed her life into an RV with her two dogs Hazel and Taco. In the beginning, Hazel was paralyzed with fear in unfamiliar environments and was ready to resign to living an isolated, couch potato lifestyle. Hazel is now living a life as an international traveler, facing challenges head-on with tools she has learned through ethical training and supported by the right medication and care team.

Kimberly's bio:
Kimberly is a former CPDT-KA and Fear Free dog trainer who owned and operated a Denver, CO-based dog training company and worked as a behavior coordinator in non-profit animal sheltering. Kimberly is a dog-obsessed behavior enthusiast and experienced project manager, digital nomading as a Director for Behavior Vets. Kimberly has roots in Denver, CO and Louisville, KY, but has been traveling throughout Mexico with her two dogs in all of 2023.

Click here for more about Kimberly McRae

Ursa's bio:
Ursa Acree is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, and Fear Free Certified Trainer. She founded Canis Major Training in 2016 which operated as the premier training, board and train, and daycare facility of Denver, CO through 2021. She is currently the Director of Training at Behavior Vets.

Click here for more about Ursa Acree

Links:
Dogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior, and Evolution by Raymond and Lorna Coppinger

Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells

Contact Behavior Vets

• tweet us @BehaviorVets
• follow us on Facebook
• follow us on Instagram
• Online courses
• Webinars and seminars