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Reducing Dog Bites by Understanding the Secret Language of Dogs

Dog bites and injury to veterinarians, staff, and pet professionals are often considered an occupational hazard. Many of the situations that may result in a dog bite can be prevented by understanding the language and emotions of dogs.

Celebrity dog trainer and author Victoria Stilwell discusses dog body language, behavior, and how to safely interact with dogs as part of National Dog Bite Prevention Week.

Stilwell is joined by State Farm Brand Specialist Heather Paul, who discusses dog bite insurance claims data for 2018, dog bite liability, and how the insurance company is working to reduce dog-related injuries as a member of the Dog Bite Prevention Coalition.

Sponsored by State Farm

Course Overview

In this module, we will review the signs and risk factors associated with infectious diseases in dogs and cats. We will cover how to minimize disease risk when training pets as well as how to properly disinfect and manage the training environment.

This module has been approved for 1.5 RACE CEU and 1 CEU from CCPDT, IAABC and KPA.

The one-hour course is only for trainers with renewal credits and costs 1 credit.

Lesson One: Common infectious diseases of dogs and cats

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Recognize possible signs for various types of infectious diseases in dogs and cats
  • List common modes of transmission

Lesson Two: Minimizing disease risk when training

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Identify ways of minimizing the spread of disease in the training setting
  • Recognize the components of a clean environment and how to achieve it
  • Identify when to liaise with veterinary professionals over preventative health concerns

How many times have you seen an animal shy away from the blow dryer or the nail clippers? How about trembling in the bathtub? Many animals don’t necessarily enjoy having their feet handled, getting a haircut, or taking a bath. But there’s a lot that groomers can do to make those things more comfortable (and even fun!) for them.

The Fear Free Groomer Certification Program teaches you how to use Fear Free concepts to ensure that the grooming experience is as enjoyable as possible for every pet, every time. Step-by-step video clips and slides show you how to teach animals to love the grooming table, clippers, the bathtub, the blow dryer, grooming shears, the groomer’s loop, and more.

Whether it is the animal’s very first visit to the salon or they have already developed a fear, you can help them. You’ll learn how to recognize even the most subtle signs of stress, and you’ll be well equipped on how exactly you can help a pet who is feeling stressed.

You’ll learn how to set the salon environment up to help ensure Fear Free grooms, from the moment a pet enters the salon, throughout the groom, and until the moment they leave. This includes shop layout, sights, sounds, smells, entrances and exits, and more.

All this translates into happier pets, more frequent visits, and satisfied pet owners spreading the word about how much fun their dog or cat had at your salon. Decrease stress on you and the animals, and increase your revenue!

The purchase of the Fear Free Groomer Certification Program provides you with an annual membership for the program, which requires an annual renewal fee and completion of additional annual CE to maintain your membership.

This course has been approved by the PACCC for 5 CEU

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Vaccinations for the Mind: Positive Puppy Socialization

Monique Feyrecilde, CVT, VTS (Behavior)

Puppies should explore the world and the people with whom they share it. When clients bring home a puppy, they have a golden opportunity to protect their newest family member from fear and anxiety later in life. By making a positive puppy transition and socialization plan, owners can help puppies have a smooth and happy puppyhood, adolescence, and adulthood. In this Fear Free webinar, sponsored by Ceva, Monique Feyrecilde, CVT, VTS (Behavior) covers techniques, products, and client education to get puppies started off on the right paw; how early detection and intervention can help shy puppies blossom; and more. Sponsored by Ceva.

In this one-hour module, you will learn what natural functions scratching serves for cats; common owner responses to scratching and the problems associated with them; and the potential fallout from declawing cats. Most importantly, you’ll come away with several safe and effective alternative solutions to the problem of unwanted scratching, and a made-for-owners handout to help guide them in the right direction.

This module is open to all professionals that are already signed up for the certification program, and is RACE approved for 1 hours in the category of Scientific.

    Feline Destructive Scratching is divided into five lessons:

  • Lesson 1: Feline Scratching Defined (The Good)
  • Lesson 2: Scratching as a Problem for Owners (The Bad)
  • Lesson 3: Common Responses (The Ugly)
  • Lesson 4: Why Not Surgically Declaw Cats?
  • Lesson 5: Safe, Effective Alternatives to Declawing
While Fear Free can often seem as though it’s only about animals’ emotional wellbeing, Fear Free is passionate about the science of animal care as well. Gary Landsberg, DVM, DACVB, DECAWBM (CA), Head of Research at Fear Free, brings you behind the scenes to tell you how Fear Free is advancing research in the field of veterinary medicine.

Many of those not familiar with Fear Free think it’s all about the treats. Rachel Abrams, DVM (Practice Certification Manager, Fear Free), shows us that while treats are an effective tool for veterinary professionals, they’re just the beginning of ways that Fear Free can help improve your treatment of patients.

Fourth of July Pet Safety Infographic

Educate your clients on Fourth of July safety with this infographic

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Canada Day Pet Safety Infographic

Educate your clients on Canada Day safety with this infographic

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Thanksgiving Pet Safety Tips

Use this infographic courtesy of Trupanion™ to educate your clients on safety during Thanksgiving.

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New Year’s Pet Safety Infographic

Use this infographic to educate your clients about the dangers of New Year’s celebrations and pets.

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Australia Day Pet Safety Infographic

Educate your clients on Australia Day safety with this infographic

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Halloween Pet Safety Infographic

Educate your clients on Halloween safety with this infographic

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Fear Free Patient Report Card

When it comes to creating Fear Free veterinary visits, thinking about a patient’s individual needs is critical. Communicating those needs to the pet’s owner is also very important, as many of the pet’s preferences and behavioral tendencies carry over into other aspects of the pet’s life and future veterinary visits.
As somewhat of a client-friendly variation of a pet’s emotional record, use this digitally fillable or printable Fear Free Report Card to help connect with the client and ensure they go home with an understanding of their pet’s needs and emotional health while at the veterinarian.

Fear Free Groomer Client Report Card

Use this report card to take your grooming service to the next level. This report card lets your clients know you value their pet and strive to give them the most Fear Free grooming experience possible. You can mark what their pet enjoyed, what treats you gave them, any sensitive areas they may have, and even additional behaviors owners can work on to make their next grooming experience even better.

Fear Free Trainer Client Report Card

This report card can help you educate your training clients and help increase compliance. Mark what treats and activities their pet enjoys, what behaviors and ques they already know, and what behaviors they should work on.

Fear Free Groomer Client Report

When it comes to creating Fear Free grooming visits, thinking about an animal’s individual needs is critical. Communicating those needs to the pet’s owner is also very important, as many of the pet’s preferences and behavioral tendencies carry over into other aspects of the pet’s life and future grooming visits.

Use this digitally fillable or printable “Groomer Client Report” to help connect with the client and ensure they go home with an understanding of their pet’s needs and emotional health while at the groomer.