Synergy Veterinary Behavior

Fairs, festivals, markets, oh my!

☀️ Pet-friendly events get everyone excited, but it's only fun if EVERYONE is having a good time.

Take into consideration whether the dog *actually* wants to attend and will enjoy their time there.

▪ What will the weather be like? How hot will it be, and will we have access to shade, water, and the indoors?
▪ How long will we stay?
▪ How does our dog feel about large crows, strange dogs, loud noises, etc?
▪ Can we leave early if our dog has had enough?

▶ Many dogs would actually prefer to stay home.
It's sad to see how many stressed, hot, and exhausted dogs we see at events while their humans are having a good time.

Reinforcement can feel a little tricky, especially when we're navigating behavioral challenges.

Sometimes it can feel like our pet isn't motivated by anything. In most cases, there's a reason (or reasons) behind it!

▪ Timing is important. Are we reinforcing the wrong behavior at the "right" time?
▪ Have we practiced enough, in enough different situations, when our pet has been successful?
▪ How is our pet's emotional state? Are we asking for too much at once, or are they too excited or worried to be successful in this situation?

We should also keep in mind that physical health concerns can impact a pet's ability to perform. We see this a lot in pets with GI issues, allergies, pain, etc.
If they're not feeling the greatest, they won't be at their best!

The 4th of July is a stressful time of year for many pet parents.

Even for those of us whose pets don't mind fireworks, they can still get spooked by an unexpected loud boom 💥

▪ Make sure your pet has a collar with updated tags on at ALL TIMES. Make sure they're microchipped and that information is also up-to-date.

▪ Meet their exercise and potty needs early! Prioritize indoor enrichment if they will eat.

▪ Keep your pet on leash for outside potty breaks.

▪ If you're having guests over, keep your pet confined in a separate space (like a Zen Den - see our post from last week on how to set yours up!). If you're going out, keep your pet at home or with a sitter rather than bringing them to the outing.