BEHAVIOR SOLUTIONS
Alum Robyn and new friend, Admiral. With the help of veterinary behaviorists, we were able to reduce Robyn’s anxiety and reactivity. Admiral had undiagnosed pain which caused him to lash out towards other animals. With Dr. Pike’s expertise, she was able to properly diagnose both dogs, and without her, this photo would never have been possible!
HOW CAN VCS HELP?
When you love a dog who displays behaviors that are worrisome to you, and possibly dangerous towards people, other animals, or themselves, how do you help them? Especially when you feel like you've tried everything? We know what it's like to feel helpless, and it's not a good place to be.
VPBR has changed the way we approach behavior intervention. Rather than trying to train away negative reactions to triggers, we have started looking into medical and emotional reasons for them first.
We are now working in partnership with veterinary behaviorists to figure out why our dogs, whether they're our personal dogs or foster dogs, act out the way they do. We've been doing this for about a year, and our success rate with treatment plans has been high. We are not behavior professionals, we are just people who really love dogs, so handing the responsibility of determining what kind of treatment our animals need is a huge relief.
There are two veterinary behaviorists in Northern Virginia. We have had dogs seen by both, and they are excellent at what they do. We have no doubt that whatever behavior you're dealing with, they can help.
Veterinary behaviorists
Dr. Amy Pike, DVM, DACVB, IAABC-CABC
Dr. Meaghan Ropski, DVM
Animal Behavior Wellness Center
11230 Waples Mill Rd.
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Dr. Leslie Sinn, DVM, DACVB
There are approximately 70 board certified veterinary behaviorists in the country. We are very lucky to have two local to us!
National Directory of Veterinary Behaviorists
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Obedience Training vs. Behavior ModificationYes, there is a difference between obedience training and behavior modification! Although commonly confused, it's important to know their differences so you can provide your dog with the correct training. Both methods are important and have their place, however, knowing which approach your dog needs is key. No one dog is the same, therefore their training can’t all be identical. Figure out which training method your dog needs and make it happen! With the correct training method, both you and your dog will develop the tools and skills needed to communicate properly. WHAT IS OBEDIENCE TRAINING?Obedience training uses verbal commands or hand signals to teach a dog how to do something quickly (i.e., sit, stay, down, come). Obedience training is great to start right away especially with puppies, as this is the foundation you both will move forward from. Although obedience training is important for your dog, it is also an opportunity for YOU to learn how your dog responds and communicates. WHAT IS BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION?Behavior modification focuses on the physiological and psychological state of a dog which cannot be properly addressed through obedience training. The goal of behavior training is to identify the root cause of unwanted behavior. For example, if your dog bolts out of the door each time you open it, you could teach him the command “come” and hopefully get him back. However, the underlying issue that needs to be addressed is why your dog continues to run for the door in the first place. In most cases, if the root cause of a behavioral issue can be identified, the behavior can be modified for the better. Click here to learn more about how we can help with behavior counseling.~