Articles: American College of Veterinary Behaviorists

Dogs are now overwhelmingly considered family members. Tragically, that doesn’t stop some from bullying, doesn’t stop some from mental or physical abuse. In my view this is never an explanation for “saving” an animal since we KNOW there are other ways to communicate with dogs and to change behavior using various positive reinforcement techniques. I…

Dr. Kelly Ballantyne is a Chicago-based veterinary behaviorist and a contributor to Decoding Your Cat . We spend time talking all things cats HERE on Steve Dale’s Pet World on WGN Radio. I explain how Decoding Your Dog came about, and because that book continues to sell so well, it’s no surprise the publisher gave…

Listen HERE to this week’s Steve Dale’s Pet World on WGN Radio show with Emily Klehm, CEO of South Suburban Humane Society describes not only what’s going on at her shelter but also talking about the overall Chicago shelter scene – and so far, so great. Adoptions and fosters remain way up. Klehm comments on…

Decoding Your Cat, now available on Amazon, was co-edited by veterinary behaviorist Dr. Meghan Herron, who Dr. Liz Bales and myself interview. In Decoding Your Cat, members of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (also co-edited by Dr. Debra Horwitz and Dr. Carlo Sracusa) reveal why cats do what they do, and often what they’re…

When it comes to pets and COVID-19, the most up to date and real information is found through the American Veterinary Medical Association.  Once again, on my WGN Steve Dale’s Pet World radio show, listen here to Dr. John Howe, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Howe begins answering whether or not dogs,…

Fear Free is now a BIG DEAL! I talk on my national radio show, Steve Dale’s Pet World, about the Fear Free initiative with its creator Dr. Marty Becker. And boy has this idea taken off! The idea was originally to minimize fear, anxiety and stress of veterinary visits. And while individual veterinary professionals and…

The 2018 American College of Veterinary Behavior Symposium of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists was held in Denver in July, just prior to the Convention of the American Veterinary Medical Association. This is where much of the latest research in veterinary behavior is first revealed. One of the most fascinating presentations was from ethologist…

On Steve Dale’s Pet World, I begin HERE by chatting about how I just returned from the taping of the National Dog Show presented by Purina, the Kennel Club of Philadelphia. I had the opportunity to chat on two different facebook live broadcasts and discuss #dogthanking. *National Dog Show announcers David Frei and John O’Hurley.…

Veterinary behaviorist Dr. Nicholas Dodman, professor emeritus at Tufts University, has launched a nonprofit called the Center for Canine Behavior Studies. HEAR Dr. Dodman talk about his new endeavor on my national Steve Dale’s Pet World radio show. The goal is to increase dog adoptions and decrease the number of dogs returned or relinquished to…

Here are eight messages I resolve to attempt to communicate in 2018: Fear Free:  There’s an initiative, called Fear Free, which began among veterinary professionals with the intent to lower the fear, anxiety, and stress of veterinary visits. And, that fear, anxiety, and stress is real. Most cats and many dogs are so terrified of…