Worry Less, Wag More: The Behavior Vets Podcast

In this episode, Jen Deane discusses her work in creating prison dog training programs and the transformative power of dogs. Highlights include:

• How Jen selected the dogs for the program
• The power of a dog's unconditional love
• The life lessons the human participants learned from their dogs
• The story of Sugar Momma and her trainer
• How troubled men and dogs helped each other turn their lives around

Jen's bio:
Jennifer Deane is a New Jersey native who lived most of her life in Jacksonville, Florida and now resides in South Carolina. She is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer working as a remote Behavior Consultant for Behavior Vets. 

Jen worked with dogs from dog fighting cases, hoarding cases and animal cruelty cases for most of her professional career. Jen has worked with several shelters in Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina in evaluating, placing, and rehabilitating dogs as well as counseling adopters. Although Jen specializes in dogs, specifically pit bulls, Jen has helped many families with both dogs and cats. 

For three years, Jen ran a prison training program at the county, state and federal levels where inmates were responsible for rehabilitating and training shelter dogs. Jen currently volunteers with Animal Rescue Corps, is on the Board of Directors for the Friends of Bahamas Animals and is on the Board of Directors for the Miami Coalition Against Breed Specific Legislation. She has presented at the Florida Animal Control Association Conference and has assisted and trained several shelters in canine behavior modification and training. Jen also has had the honor of working closely with world renowned canine aggression expert, Jim Crosby.  

Over the many years of her career, Jen has been quoted in People, Good Morning America, ABC News, Washington Post,  the book “Rescued” by NY Times Bestselling Author Peter Zheutlin,  Florida Times-Union, Chicago Tribune,  and has appeared on many times in television segments about shelters and pit bulls.   

Jen enjoys spending time with her rescued dogs and cats, as well as her daughter. She also enjoys visiting local wineries, the beach in Florida, and the mountains in the Carolinas.


Links:
Jen's book: True Tails: A Must Read Story About Dog Rescue
Find Jen Deane here


Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells

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In this episode, Caitlin Kuczko shares creative strategies for safer and more positive shelter puppy socialization. We discuss:

• Common mistakes that are made during puppy socialization
• What ideal puppy socialization looks like
• Safer socialization practices in the real world
• Supporting puppies who are stressed or startled
• Supporting caretakers who are feeling the "puppy blues"

Caitlin's bio:
Caitlin Kuczko, KPA-CTP, CCUI, CTDI

Caitlin lives on a ranch in Colorado with her three dogs and a bunny. She is currently training two of her dogs to find bats on wind farms for conservation work; checkout k9 Conservationists for more information. Caitlin has over thirteen years of experience training and working with shelter animals, working k9s, and companion pets.

She is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, Certified Control Unleashed Instructor, Certified Trick Dog Instructor, Certified AKC CGC and Trick Evaluator, and a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She is a professional Responder for the ASPCA's Behavioral Sciences Team formerly the Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team where she works with dogs from dog fighting busts, puppy mills, and hoarding cases. 

Caitlin is the owner and operator of the PAWSability Center LLC.  Due to an accident in 2020, she must limit her training availability, but this gave her more time for other avenues. Caitlin has been the Manager of the Leadville Lake County Animal Shelter for almost two years now. Caitlin is one of the admins of the Pandemic Puppy Raising Support group, a free Facebook group run by professional dog trainers with over fifteen thousand members.

Caitlin hopes to create a non-profit where she can focus on quality rescue work. The rescue focus would be on dams and their puppies or pregnant females in need. Puppies would be raised with Puppy Socialization Protocols at the facility or in foster homes. She hopes to use the facility as an education center for the public and others in the animal welfare industry.

Links:
Caitlin’s Business Platforms
https://www.PAWSabilityCenter.com
https://www.facebook.com/PAWSabilityCenter

Caitlin’s Koolie Breeding Program
www.facebook.com/groups/kismetmountainkoolies 

The Animal Shelter Caitlin Manages
https://www.facebook.com/LeadvilleLakeCountyAnimalShelter

Pandemic Puppy Raising Support Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/802064763617784

Shelter Resources:

Puppy Culture
https://www.facebook.com/groups/383694245140783
https://www.facebook.com/puppyculture
https://shoppuppyculture.com/

Clickety Split
https://www.facebook.com/clicketysplitdog/
https://clicketysplitdogtraining.com/

MidWo

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In this episode, Mara Velez talks about the value of behavior modification as stress-reducing enrichment for shelter dogs. We discuss:

• The use of desensitization and counter-conditioning to help dogs learn how to appropriately interact with conspecifics
• The lack of positive reinforcement training focused behavior conferences for shelters and the reasons behind it
• Catering behavior modification exercises to the skillset of the handlers 
• The effectiveness of using of constructional aggression treatment (CAT) in shelter behavior modification programs
• Shy dog adopter's guide
• It's good welfare to work on behavior modification in shelters

Mara's bio:
Mara Velez (CPDT-KA) is the Executive Director of the Shelter Playgroup Alliance and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer.  Prior to co-founding the Shelter Playgroup Alliance, Mara spent over a decade in sheltering, including several years as a behavior and training consultant at Contra Costa Animal Services, an open-admission county shelter, where she collaboratively designed, developed, and implemented behavior program structures, including a robust volunteer training program, a behavior evaluation, and canine enrichment and playgroup guidelines.  Mara is also the executive director of Humane Dog Training Advocates a non-profit focused on owner education, which features a surrender diversion program. Mara holds bachelors and master’s degrees in psychology and completed all of the course work for a doctorate in education.

Links:
https://www.shelterdogplay.org/
https://www.shelterdogplay.org/2022-conference
https://www.humanedogtrainingadvocates.com/
https://www.humanedogtrainingadvocates.com/webinars
Shy Dog Adopter's Guide

An example of shelter dog behavior modification with positive reinforcement

Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells

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In this episode, Behavior Vet's Taylor Kelly introduces us to rabbit care and behavior. We discuss:

• Rabbit personalities
• Litterbox training
• Rabbit social behavior with humans and other pets 
• Body language and safe handling techniques
• Risks and important safety considerations before you let your rabbit outside
• Bunstruction and enrichment

Taylor's bio:
Taylor Kelly (MA, CPDT-KA), has an MA in Animal Behavior and Conservation from Hunter College and is a certified Fear Free Trainer. Before joining the Behavior Vets team as a behavior consultant in 2021, Taylor spent several years working at Animal Care Centers of NYC, the only open admissions shelter located in the city. Working as the canine behavior supervisor and then manager, she oversaw the canine enrichment program, conducted behavioral assessments and their basic training programs. Taylor also assisted in adoption of rabbits from the shelter, counseling and educating the public on rabbit ownership. Taylor began volunteering with Long Island Rabbit Rescue in 2013 where she adopted two of her rabbits, and has been dedicated to educating the public on both canine and rabbit behavior since then. 

Links:
Long Island Rabbit Rescue Group
House Rabbit Society 
Free Webinar: Bunny Basics - The Dos and Don'ts of the Rabbiting World

Find Taylor here



Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells

Contact Behavior Vets

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In this episode, Behavior Vet's Janna Dewey discusses:

• The shift to using a LIMA-based approach to horse training.
• How positive reinforcement training and safety management go hand-in-hand.
• The challenge of working with rescue horses who have negative associations with humans.
• How learned helplessness from the use of force can be detrimental to the horse's health. 
• The humane use of negative reinforcement in horse training (hint: think counter-conditioning).
• How to empower horses by giving them more choice. 

Janna's bio:
Janna Dewey is a Behavior Consultant for Behavior Vets located in Colorado where she specializes in working with animals who have behavioral sensitivities. Prior to working with pets, was a zoo keeper for 10 years at different facilities within show and education roles. She has always had a passion for working with equines and grew up working at different barns learning to ride various disciplines such as jumping, dressage, barrel racing, and polo. Her favorite riding activity is trail riding and loves to work with horses out on the trails. Janna is earning her Master’s degree in Counseling through Regis University in order to help those with sensitive animals. She also has a graduate certificate as an Equine Assisted Mental Health Practitioner and is a Certified Professional Bird Trainer.

Links:
Find Janna Dewey here
Introduction to Horse Training


Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells

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In this episode, our own Behavior Vets cat behavior consultant Mary Molloy joins me to discuss:

• The most common cat behavior issues she treats
• How environmental stress affects cats
• The 5 Pillars of Environmental Needs Guidelines from the AAFP and ISFM 
• Healthy ways to play with your cat
• How cats respond to punishment and what they really learn
• How scent is important to cats

Mary's bio:
Mary has always loved cats. When she began working in animal behavior, there wasn't much demand for cat behavior consultants. Thankfully, that is changing. After working with dogs for over 10 years, Mary completed a Cat Behavior Consulting mentorship through the IAABC, and in 2017 added feline behavior consultations to her private practice.

Mary is a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA) and holds a Certificate in Advanced Feline Behavior for Cat Professionals, with Distinction from ISFM/International Cat Care.

Now with Behavior Vets, Mary also works as a Cat Behavior Counselor for the Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team at the ASPCA. You can also find her at vet offices and community groups around NYC giving talks about canine and feline body language and holding kitten socialization classes whenever and wherever she can.


Links:
AAFP and ISFM Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines

Making your Home Cat Friendly: https://icatcare.org/advice/making-your-home-cat-friendly/

General recommended resources:

http://whatyourcatwants.com/

https://icatcare.org/

https://www.cats.org.uk/

Lili Chin's new "Cat's Need" Illustration inspired by Zazie Todd, PhD

Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells

Contact Behavior Vets

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In this episode, Allie Bender and Emily Strong join me to dive into:

• Meeting a dog's needs through enrichment
• How to use enrichment in behavior modification
• Why enrichment can help simplify a behavior training plan
• Meeting the client's needs and giving them motivation to participate
• The value of scent work for dogs
• Building resilience through enrichment
• Simple enrichment ideas for shelters

This episode was recorded January 19th, 2022

Allie's and Emily's bios:
Allie Bender, CDBC, CPDT-KA, SBA & Emily Strong CDBC, SBA are the co-owners of Pet Harmony Animal Behavior & Training and the co-authors of Canine Enrichment for the Real World. Through Pet Harmony, Allie and Emily oversee a team of behavior consultants, work with their own private clients, and work with current and aspiring behavior professionals through the Enrichment Framework for Behavior Modification Master Class, Pet Harmony Pro Campus, and the Pet Harmony Mentorship Program. 

Allie and Emily are national speakers, published authors, animal welfare advocates, and have made radio, podcast, commercial, and TV appearances. Allie has been working in animal welfare since 2006 and started professionally training in 2012. Emily has been working in animal welfare since 1990 and became a behavior consultant in 2008. Allie has a BS in Animal Science from Iowa State University and is certified through the Council for Certification of Professionals Dog Trainers. Both Allie & Emily are certified through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.

Links:

• petharmonytraining.com
• petharmonytraining.com/enrichmentframework
• instagram.com/petharmonytraining
• instagram.com/petharmonypro
• facebook.com/petharmonytraining
• Canine Enrichment for the Real World: Making It a Part of Your Dog's Daily Life (Dogwise Publishing)

Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells

Contact Behavior Vets

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In this episode, Malena and I discuss many aspects of separation anxiety including how to acclimate young puppies and newly adopted dogs to being left alone, why there seems to be an increase in dogs experiencing separation-related problems, how she preps her clients for the challenges of treatment, the value of working with a skilled separation anxiety trainer, the role of behavior medications, and the biggest takeaway she has learned from years of research.

This episode was recorded January 12th, 2022.

Malena DeMartini-Price's bio:
Malena DeMartini, Certified Trainer and Counselor, is renowned in the dog training world for her work on canine separation anxiety (SA) disorder over the last 21 years. Her book, Treating Separation Anxiety in Dogs, in addition to her newly published book, Separation Anxiety in Dogs, Next Generation in Treatment Protocols and Practices has helped countless numbers of dogs. Her online course for guardians called Mission: POSSIBLE has proven to be an invaluable resource in the industry and the success rate realized there is inestimable. In addition to writing and lecturing worldwide, Malena oversees a team of top separation anxiety trainers and runs an internationally accessible certification program for accomplished dog professionals looking to hone their skills. Malena is passionate about furthering education in this field through science-based methods. 

Links:
https://malenademartini.com

Online separation anxiety course for guardians (enter discount code BV2022 for $50 off):
https://malenademartini.com/possible

Malena's new book: Separation Anxiety in Dogs, Next Generation in Treatment Protocols and Practices

Behaviir Vets Malena DeMartini Separation Anxiety Webinars


Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells

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In this episode, Jim Crosby (BS, MS, CBCC-KA) discusses his work in veterinary forensics, how dogs can become "weaponized", what can be learned from dog bites, how he works with dogs in severe bite cases (including dogs who have killed humans), and what trainers should be teaching families with children.

This interview was recorded on January 3, 2022.

Jim Crosby's bio:
Retired Lieutenant James W. Crosby BS, MS, CBCC-KA (Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Jacksonville, FL, USA) is an internationally recognized authority and court accepted expert on canine attacks and aggression. Jim’s specialty is investigating dog bite related fatalities, especially evidentiary and behavioral factors involved in these deaths. Jim’s direct investigation of over 40 fatalities and post attack evaluation of over 50 subject dogs has been essential in numerous successful prosecutions. He assists and trains prosecutors and agencies facing these cases and was most recently on-scene for a homicide investigation in Central Georgia. Jim assisted, on-site, the Australian Federal Police on a fatality case in Canberra, Australia.

Jim earned his Master’s Degree in Veterinary Forensics from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida and is completing his PhD studies there.

Jim has extensive canine behavioral training and expertise which includes having been a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) and is a Certified Behavior Consultant-Canine (CBCC), both under the auspices of the Council for Certification of Professional Dog Trainers. Jim currently serves on the Board of Directors for the CCPDT.

Jim works extensively in the field of public Animal Control and sheltering. Jim served as Division Manager for Bay County (FL) Animal Control, and Management Consultant (acting chief) of Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services. Jim served on the Board of Directors of the Florida Animal Control Association and has worked with many Animal Control Associations across the US and internationally. Jim assisted the Department of Animal Services for the Australian Capital Territory, leading a National Study on Dangerous Dog policy and procedure for the Australian Capital Territory Government. 

Jim assists in dogfighting investigations and was the expert on the Polk County, GA case wherein Devicio Rowland was sentenced to fifty years for dogfighting, the longest sentence for that crime in US history. Jim serves as an expert consultant regarding the use of deadly force by police officers against companion animals. 

Links:
The Forensics of Aggression: Working With and Evaluating Canine Aggression
https://iaabcfoundation.org/courses/forensics-of-aggression/


Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells

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In this episode, Mara Velez (CPDT-KA) and I discuss how the Shelter Playgroup Alliance was created, developing best practices for safer shelter dog playgroups, how to match more compatible playmates, how to reinforce play breaks, and assessing organizational risk tolerance.

This interview was recorded on May 10, 2021.

Mara Velez's bio:
Mara Velez is the board secretary for the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA), and has spent more than a decade in sheltering at both open-admission and limited-admission facilities. She is the executive director for the Shelter Playgroup Alliance (SPA), a shelter enrichment educational organization that helps shelters implement enrichment programs, including playgroups. Mara is also the executive director of Humane Dog Training Advocates (HDTA), an owner-education focused nonprofit that aims to keep dogs in homes through education and training support. Mara holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology and completed all of the course work for a doctorate in education. She completed Trish King’s Canine Behavior Academy (CBA), levels I & II; Dr. Susan Friedman’s Living and Learning with Animals (LLA); The Karen Pryor Academy Professional Animal Training program (KPA); and more than 2,500 hours of animal-related continuing education. Mara is also a learning and development consultant to corporations across a variety of industries, where she advises and works on projects related to leadership development, process improvement, and learning program management.

Links:
Shelterdogplay.org
Shelter Dog Playgroup Guidelines
Mara's email: [email protected]


Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells

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