Veterinary Blog in Gilbert

Dos and Don'ts of Choosing the Right Dog Trainer

Choosing the right dog trainer is tough. Sure, you already know the hand-lettered sign on the freeway off-ramp isn’t a good place to start. Beyond that, though, what’s a dog lover to do? A good trainer helps you learn to teach your dog in a way that doesn’t promote fear, require you to dominate your…

Read More

Dog Training Myths Guaranteed to Help Make Your Dog More Fearful

We all start dog training with the best of intentions. Nobody wants to make their dog fearful in the process. However, many dog owners, trainers, and even veterinarians still subscribe to common myths about dog training that can contribute to fearful behaviors. Here are three of those myths, the reality behind them, and some suggestions…

Read More

5 Great Positive Gun Dog Training Resources

We meet dogs that serve many roles in their families: service dogs, lap dogs, running partners, you name it. We also meet hunting dogs. And before you start imagining dusty hounds living in a little dirt-floored kennel in the back yard, let me re-state that: we also meet hunting buddies. Loveable, happy, spoiled-rotten retrievers, flushing,…

Read More

How do I stop my dog from eating poop?

Q: My dog has the grossest habit: he eats poop. How can I make him stop? A: According to a veterinary study, picking up dog droppings immediately was the only effective way to control this habit. A couple weeks ago I wrote about the traits common to dogs that engage in coprophagia (the medical term…

Read More

Portrait of a Poop Eater: notes from the 2012 AVSAB Behavior Symposium

I spent the better part of today at the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior’s annual symposium listening to the best and brightest in our profession talk about–you guessed it–animal behavior. One lecture–about dogs that eat poop–really stood out as something I should share with all of you. We get lots of questions about this…

Read More

Is it safe for my dog to drink out of the swimming pool?

Q: My dog likes to drink out of my swimming pool. Is this safe? What if it’s a salt system, instead of chlorine? A: Occasional drinks from a well-maintained pool are not harmful to most pets. Ah, the “big backyard water bowl!” We get this question all the time, and we’re happy to say that…

Read More

5 Great Training and Behavior Resources You've Probably Never Heard Of

Behavioral wellness is critical for all pets, dogs in particular. Fractures of the human-animal bond resulting from unwanted and inappropriate behaviors are one of the most deadly injuries we treat. Like most diseases, these behavioral problems can often be prevented; teaching clients to foster good behavioral health is among the most important services a veterinary…

Read More