The legendary Patricia McConnell stops by to discuss human-animal relationships and how she creates a sense of safety and security for dogs. We talk about her life's mission and how her own personal trauma has shaped her work. Her courage, compassion, and energy is an inspiration to all of us.

• Her life's mission to improve human-animal relationships
• The relationship between security and resilience
• How to create a sense of safety & security
• Safe spaces
• Writing a mystery novel

Patricia McConnell, PhD, CAAB is an author and animal behaviorist who has consulted with pet owners for over thirty years about serious behavioral problems. She taught "The Biology and Philosophy of Human/Animal Relationships" in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for twenty-five years, co-hosted Calling All Pets with Larry Meiller on WPR for fourteen years, and has spoken around the world about canine behavior and training. Her self-published books on behavior and training have sold over a quarter of a million copies. Her nationally published books, The Other End of the Leash, and For the Love of a Dog, are considered classics, and together have been translated into 15 languages. Her latest book, The Education of Will, a memoir focusing on healing from trauma in both people and dogs, has generated heartfelt praise and helped other trauma victims around the world. Patricia and her husband live with their working Border Collies, Skip and Maggie, and a very spoiled flock of sheep.

For more information, go to www.patriciamcconnell.com or visit her blog, at www.theotherendoftheleash.com, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Links
Patricia McConnell's website
Patricia McConnell's blog


Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells

Contact Behavior Vets

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In this episode, anthrozoologist Amanda Gagnon examines the history of controlling dogs and the things we do in Western culture to keep dogs in their place and under control. We discuss:

• What is anthrozoology?
• Brief history of humans controlling dogs and why do we do it? (this gets a little dark)
• Controlling dog behavior
• Letting dogs be dogs
• Advocating for more dog-friendly public spaces

Amanda's bio:
Amanda Gagnon is an anthrozoologist, dog behavior consultant, and dog trainer. Amanda is the founder and training director at Amanda Gagnon Dog Training, in New York City, where she mentors apprentices, conducts training programs for shelters and rescues, and researches dog-human cultures. Her favorite thing to do is to work directly with humans and dogs during her group classes, private training sessions, and online courses. Amanda is unique in her approach to training, because she makes it fun and soulful while introducing people to the science and art of cross-species connection!

Amanda has a masters degree in Anthrozoology. She is certified as a behavior consultant by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She is certified as a dog trainer by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. She is a professional member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. She was a founding board member of Muddy Paws Rescue. She is sought after by major media outlets including; Good Morning America, Inside Edition, News Week, and Fox and Friends. She speaks worldwide at dog training events and workshops, and she loves to discuss dog-human cultures. She lives in Connecticut and New York City with her husband, daughter, dog, and flock of chickens.

Links:
AmandaGagnonDogTraining.com
Insta: @Amandagagnondogtraining

Contact Behavior Vets

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In this episode, Dr. Sheila Segurson discusses how she builds shelter behavior programs drawing on her multifaceted experience as a shelter veterinarian, shelter veterinary behaviorist, dog trainer, foster caregiver, volunteer, consultant, and educator. We discuss:

• Maddie's Fund and its mission
• How trauma effects behavior
• Essential components of a sound shelter behavior program
• Understanding the unique personality and needs of a dog
• Maddie's University Camp Maddie event

Dr. Sheila Segurson's bio:
Dr. Sheila Segurson is the Director of Community Solutions for Maddie’s Fund and a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists with over 25 years of experience supporting animal welfare organizations in the United States.

Dr. Segurson’s interest in shelter behavior began in 1987 when she volunteered in the behavior department at the San Francisco SPCA. Over the years, Dr. Segurson developed a diverse skillset via experiences as a volunteer, student, dog trainer, foster caregiver, veterinarian, shelter veterinarian, shelter veterinary behaviorist, consultant, and educator. Dr. Segurson utilizes that background to help shelters maximize animal welfare, lifesaving and make appropriate outcome decisions for the pets in their care and people in their community.

Dr. Segurson regularly speaks at shelter and veterinary conferences, and has contributed to several online courses and textbooks. She was the first author of University of Florida’s Shelter Animal Behavior and Welfare course (online), contributed to IAABC’s Animal Behavior Consulting course, contributed to the Fear Free Shelter Course, and contributed chapters to Animals as Crime Victims, Blackwell’s Five-minute Veterinary Consult: Canine and Feline and BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Behavioural Medicine, Second edition.

Dr. Segurson has expertise in dog and cat behavior and behavior programs, including program structure and development, admissions, enrichment, behavioral assessment, decision making, behavior modification, foster care, adoption and safety net programs.

Links:
MaddiesUniversity.org
MaddiesPetForum.org
Maddiesfund.org
Register for Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition
Register for Maddie's Monthly Behavior Meeting

What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey
Dr. Monique Udell (PhD, CAAB) Maddie’s Insights: Becoming a Secure Base: Using science to improve human-animal bonds and welfare

Contact Behavior Vets

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• Webinars and seminars
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In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Congdon and Dr. Jessica Owens describe how play therapy reduced salivary cortisol levels in shelter dogs and improved behavioral responses and emotional regulation. We discuss:

• Study design with Calmr dog toys and goals
• How play with improved relationships and wellness for shelter dogs
• Special design of Camlr toy mimics prey
• How cortisol affects behavior
• Thoughts on developing programs for shelters involving play therapy

Dr. Elizabeth Congdon's bio and links:
Dr. Elizabeth Congdon is an Associate Professor of biology at Bethune-Cookman University with an extensive background in behavioral ecology, conservation biology, and science education. She is particularly interested in the relationship between social structure and dispersal in neotropical mammals, specifically capybaras. Locally, Dr. Congdon works with animal shetlers to use data-driven strategies to improve the quality of life and adoption rates for the dogs and cats - especially the large dogs and 'bully breeds'. The latest results from her team show that therapeutic play as an enrichment strategy can bring down cortisol with a lasting effect. She founded BEC Research, Inc to help fund these efforts and support student research projects.

APDT 2023 session description:
Using interactive and therapeutic play leads to improved health and wellness in shelter dogs
BEC Research, Inc www.becresearch.org
Calmr Dog Toys www.calmrdog.com

Dr. Jessica Owens' bio and links:
Dr. Jessica Owens is an Experimental Psychologist studying animal behavior and communication. Their day job is serving as the lead behaviorist and CEO of Unleashed Training. They specialize in working with dogs and their guardians to overcome behavior and emotional challenges resulting from trauma – including abuse, neglect, lack of socialization, etc.

www.unleashedtraining.org
unleashedvolusia@gmail.com

Contact Behavior Vets

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In this episode, Dr. Paula Croxson shares insights into the formation of memories, the impact of stress and trauma on memories, and how we can change learned associations from traumatic memories. We discuss:

• Different types of memories
• Memories and the sense of self
• The effect of stress and trauma on memories
• Hardwiring of fear memories
• Making traumatic memories more vulnerable to change

Dr. Croxson's bio:
Paula Croxson, PhD is a behavioral and cognitive neuroscientist, science communicator and storyteller. Dr. Croxson is a freelance public engagement specialist and consultant, working with academics and nonprofits to communicate science with the public in meaningful and effective ways. She is also an adjunct Assistant Professor in Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and a consultant for Columbia University. She is a Senior Producer for The Story Collider and is passionate about sharing science with as many people as possible.

Links:
www.paulacroxson.com
@paulacroxson on FB
@paulacroxson on Instagram
The Story Collider podcast
Dr. Croxson will have a chapter in a new book: How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi

Dr. Croxson's webinars on Behavior Vets Learn Worlds:
Revealing Animals' Intelligence
Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks: The Aging Brain
The Sensory World of Animals: The Neuroscience of Smell
What Can Animals Remember? The Neuroscience of Memory
Talk to the Animals: The Neuroscience of Communication

Contact Behavior Vets

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In this episode, Dr. Marsha Penner delves into the neuroscience behind impulse control, why adolescent dogs notoriously struggle with it, and what we can do about it. We discuss:

• How reconnecting with her Native American heritage reaffirmed the way she works with animals
• Different types of impulse control
• How adolescent brains develop
• Finding more compassion and patience for the unruly adolescent dog
• How trust can improve impulse control

Dr. Penner's bio:
Dr. Marsha Penner is a behavioral neuroscientist, certified dog trainer (KPA-CTP), and owner of Learning to Dog Training & Enrichment. Marsha worked as a research scientist and award winning professor, focusing her attention on learning, memory, and effective teaching strategies. She turned her love of learning, behavior, and teaching into a full time career as a professional dog trainer after graduating from the the Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior in 2015. She is a proud Anishinaabe Kwe from Treaty One, but currently lives in Durham, NC with her husband and two dogs.

Links:
https://learningtodog.com/
https://www.marshapenner.com/
A collection of studies analyzing impulse control - this is really cool for those who want to dive deeper!
https://saverezdogs.com/
Asher L, England GCW, Sommerville R, Harvey ND. 2020. Teenage dogs? Evidence for adolescent-phase conflict behaviour and an association between attachment to humans and pubertal timing in the domestic dog. Biology Letters. 16: 20200097.

Contact Behavior Vets

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In this episode, Claire Cario (MA, CPDT-KA, FFCT) was tasked to train Queenie, an intensely dog-reactive cattle dog, in New York City. Queenie's over-the-top reactions became a scary safety risk as she redirected a bite towards her human guardian. Listen to how Claire expertly guided Queenie's mom to find safety and stability in a highly unpredictable environment.

Claire's bio:
Claire F. Cario has been working within the animal welfare and veterinary medicine fields since 2001. She received her MA in the Advanced Psychology of Animal Behavior and Conservation in 2008. The most rewarding aspect of her work is strengthening the human-animal bond and seeing her clients achieve a deeper understanding of their dog’s communication, motivations and behaviors.

Claire started her own business in 2009 and since then, has supervised, managed, and trained animal behavior staff across all sectors of the animal behavior world, developed curriculum for training programs for training schools, municipal shelters, and therapy dog programs, given webinars on canine behavior topics, built behavior assessment systems, and developed individualized behavior training plans for dogs displaying a wide variety of behavior concerns. She is certified through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and a Fear Free Certified Professional. Currently Claire is a Behavior Consultant for Behavior Vets of NYC and an instructor at CATCH Academy. Prior to this, she spent three years as the Private Trainer Manager at School For the Dogs in NYC, four years as the Behavior and Enrichment Assistant Manager at Animal Care Centers of NYC, three years as a behavior consultant on the ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team, six years as the executive trainer and coordinator for The Good Dog Foundation.

Click here for more about Claire Cario.

Contact Behavior Vets

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In this episode, Sassafras shares some tips about writing to engage your audience and how trick training has helped improve the lives of hir dogs. We discuss:

• The art of writing about behavior and training for a broad audience
• Her books Tricks in the City and Chew This Journal
• How trick training can complement behavior modification plans
• Trying to help people enjoy their pets and avoid unrealistic expectations

Sassafras's bio:
Sassafras Lowrey (CPDT-KA, CTDI) is an author, dog trainer, and multimedia educator. Sassafras' work with dogs focuses on engagement, enrichment, play, and competitive trick training. Sassafras is the author of the dog training books Tricks In The City and Chew This Journal. Sassafras' dog training articles have regularly appeared in leading dog magazines like Dogster, The Bark, Modern Dog, and The American Kennel Club as well as publications including WIRED, Apartment Therapy, and The New York Times.

Links:
https://sassafraslowrey.com/
Facebook @SassafrasLowrey
Twitter @SassafrasLowrey
Instagram @SassafrasLowrey
Instagram @SiriusTheBear

Books
Tricks in the City
Chew This Journal

Articles
American Kennel Club:
https://www.akc.org/author/sassafras-lowreyctdi/
WIRED:
https://www.wired.com/author/sassafras-lowrey/
Apartment Therapy:
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/authors/sassafras-lowrey
Cuteness:
https://www.cuteness.com/user/sassafras_lowrey
New York Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/27/smarter-living/dog-training-behavior.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/06/smarter-living/the-dog-park-is-bad-actually.html?smid=url-share
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/31/smarter-living/before-you-adopt-planning-a-lifelong-commitment-to-your-pets-health.html

Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells

Contact Behavior Vets

• tweet us @BehaviorVets
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• Online courses
• Webinars and seminars
• Email Ferdie at ferdie@behaviorvets.com