How to Raise a Gentle PUP: 3 Tips to Share with Every Puppy Parent
“PUP” isn’t just short for “puppy.” It stands for three core puppy-raising principles: Praise, Unflappable, and Prevention.
In this webinar, Jacqueline Neilson, DVM, DACVB, covers how to:
Provide puppy parents consistent and concise behavioral guidance during veterinary visits to assist them in raising a gentle, behaviorally healthy dog.
Make sure every puppy parent knows at least three core PUP raising principles: Praise, Unflappable, and Prevention.
Make PUP part of the dialogue for every puppy parent at every visit.
Do you still believe that a puppy should have all her vaccinations before ever meeting another dog? Do you think the safest place for every new puppy is within his own home until after the last set of vaccinations? If so, you may be running the risk of the puppy’s early death due to behavior problems.
Studies have demonstrated that behavior problems likely result in more pet deaths than any other single cause.1, 2,3 A properly run puppy socialization class should not put your patients at any increased risk of communicable disease.4
If you do not have a reliable, safe place to refer your clients to for puppy classes, then consider offering them at your own clinic. Puppy classes are fun and, when held at your clinic, allow you and your staff to reap the benefits. Here are four reasons to consider adding puppy classes to your practice’s programs:
1. Proper socialization is critical to the puppy’s proper development and the window for this period of development is only open until about 14-16 weeks. After that time, puppies are not as able to learn to cope with novelty and develop new relationships with other individuals.
Your clinic is a safe place for this experience to happen because:
You can sanitize the surfaces puppies will contact.
You can be certain that all puppies who attend have had at least one vaccination several days prior to their visit.
You can give each puppy a brief exam and send puppies home if they appear to be sick.
2. Puppy classes help create more cooperative patients. When puppies come to your clinic once a week for a few weeks, and the only thing that happens there is they get to play with other puppies, meet some new people, see some strange things and get lots of treats, they learn that there is nothing scary about the vet clinic.
Part of at least one puppy class session should involve demonstrating to pet owners how to handle their new puppy’s ears, toes, tail, and other body parts in a way that mimic handling for veterinary and grooming procedures. When this is done while giving treats, puppies learn that this type of handling is routine and “no big deal.”
You can help set the puppy up for success in advance by recommending the owner use an Adaptil Junior collar. This is a collar impregnated with dog appeasing pheromone, the same pheromone that mother dogs release during the period of time when they are nursing puppies. Numerous placebo-controlled studies have demonstrated its ability to help decrease signs of fear and anxiety in many situations.5,6,7 When placed on puppies during their critical period for socialization, the collar has been proven to help with the socialization process.8 Puppies between 8 and 16 weeks of age who wore an Adaptil collar for just 30 days while attending a puppy class showed signs of being better socialized 1, 3, and 6 months later than puppies who wore a placebo collar.9
3. Puppy classes will bond clients to your practice. When clients see how much you care about their puppy’s healthy development and good behavior, they will appreciate your commitment to their puppy’s overall health.
When they see how happy their puppy is to return to your clinic time and time again because he only has good memories associated with the visit, they will have no reason to ever consider going to another practice.
4. Puppy classes provide an added revenue stream. They do not have to be managed by the veterinarian. It is very possible that you have a staff member who is interested in learning more about how to do this and would love the opportunity to take on such a valuable and rewarding project. There are several excellent resources available for learning how to teach a puppy class and with some training and practice most anyone can add puppy classes to their clinic’s list of services. One of the best is the Puppy Start Right for Instructors Course, which offers a discount to Fear Free Certified Professionals using code FEARFREEPSRI.
This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.
References
This article was brought to you in collaboration with our friends at Ceva.
Dolan ED, Scotto J, Slater M, et al. Risk factors for dog relinquishment to a Los Angeles municipal animal shelter. Animals (Basel) 2015; 5: 1311-1328.
Dreschel NA. The effects of fear and anxiety on health and lifespan in pet dogs. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2010;125: 157- 162.
Houpt KA, Honig SU, Reisner IR, Breaking the human-companion animal bond. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1996; 208: 1653-1659.
Stepita ME, Bain MJ, Kass PH. Frequency of CPV Infection in Vaccinated Puppies that Attended Puppy Socialization Classes. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2013; 49:95-100.
Pageat P, Gaultier E. Current research in canine and feline pheromones. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2003: 33;187-211.
Mills DS, Ramos D, Esteller MG, et al. A triple blind placebo controlled AABS investigation into the assessment of the effect of Dof Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) on anxiety related behaviour of problem dogs in the veterinary clinic. 2006;98:114-126.
Gaultier E, Bonnafous L, Vienet-Lague, et al. Efficacy of dog-appeasing pheromones in reducing stress associated with social isolation in newly adopted puppies. Vet Rec 2008;163:73-80.
Gaultier E, Bonnafous L, Vienet-Lague, et al. Efficacy of dog appeasing pheromones in reducing behavours associated with fear of unfamiliar people and new surroundings in newly adopted puppies. Vet Rec 2009;164:708-714.
Effects of dog appeasing pheromone on anxiety and fear in puppies during training and on long term socialization: Denenberg S. & Landsberg G.M. JAVMA, (2008) 233;12
As veterinary professionals, wouldn’t we all love ways to keep our clients and feline patients happy, healthy, and even make our jobs safer? Let’s scratch the surface of the basics of kitten socialization, the benefits of kitten socialization classes, and how we can start these courses in our own practices.
Who doesn’t love a sweet, fluffy, and cuddly kitten? But they don’t become that way on their own. Veterinary team members and owners have long recognized the importance of puppy socialization and training classes, and these same tactics can be used for kittens as well. That’s right! Socialization is just as important for kittens as it is for puppies. It’s important for humans, too. Here’s why.
Educating Owners and Staff
As veterinary professionals, we have only a certain amount of time to discuss these things with new kitten owners during appointments. An educated veterinary team is key to starting kittens off on the right track to enjoy handling, being placed in their carriers, and be more comfortable with husbandry care at home.
These things are beneficial for the veterinary team as well. Revenue increases because cats are more compliant about being brought to the veterinary hospital, and everyone is safer because fewer patients display fear, anxiety, or stress. Implementing and recommending these classes in a practice can also increase revenue as a new service and be a way to bond kittens and owners to the practice.
Socialization Timeline
Knowing and acknowledging the kitten socialization period is critical in setting up new owners and kittens for success. For kittens, the socialization period starts at 2 weeks and ends at 7 to 10 weeks. This is the time when kittens begin to become less reliant on the queen for survival and have increased interaction with social and environmental stimuli. It’s the most important sensitive period in feline development and can help to prime felines to live safely and comfortably in human households. Positive social experiences in kittenhood with other species and stimuli are hugely beneficial in creating behaviorally healthy adult cats.
You may be thinking that kittens do not come into the practice until after this developmental period has passed and you are correct! Kittens may not come into our practices until they are 8 to 10 weeks old. Kitten classes can still be beneficial because the socialization window does not slam shut. It closes slowly, so these classes can be beneficial for kittens up to 14 weeks of age.
Kitten Classes
Kitten Kindergarten or Kitten Kindy was brought to the forefront by veterinary behaviorist Kersti Seksel, VBSc (Hons), MRCVS, MA (Hons), FACVSc, DACVB, DECAWBM of Australia. The classes have the following goals:
Socialize kittens
Educate owners about normal feline behavior
Teach owners how to interact and play with their kittens
Train kittens to accept handling procedures
Identify any problem behaviors and provide up-to-date, humane, and scientific advice
Educate owners on all aspects of kitten development, pet care, and living with a cat in the family
I structure and run kitten classes as follows:
Interaction with other pet owners and felines of the same age range (with appropriate health and vaccination requirements)
Provide different surfaces, textures, objects, and sounds for the kittens to experience during exploratory time
Discuss and demonstrate carrier training using marker training
Review the following focus points to set the new kitten owners up for success:
Litter Box Basics
Socialization Period
Fear Free has a fantastic Kitten Socialization Bingo Worksheet in the Toolbox. I have used something similar in the past and given prizes for owners who get the “Bingo” or successfully socialize their kittens to many positive things from week to week.
Scratching and playing
Handling and administering medications
Courses can be offered weekly in a rotational style to get as many kittens into the class as possible, monthly as a kitten party, or in a weekly 3-week course. The possibilities are endless!
This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.
Rachel Lees, a Level 3 Fear Free Certified Professional, is a veterinary technician specialist in behavior, a KPA certified training partner, and lead veterinary behavior technician at The Behavior Clinic in Olmsted Falls, Ohio. She loves helping people create and maintain a strong human-animal bond and has a special interest in kitten and puppy socialization and development.
Puppy Socialization: Running a Puppy Socialization Program in Your Practice
Normal or abnormal, all puppies can benefit from a puppy socialization program. Offering a puppy socialization program in your practice is a great way to have your clients bond with the practice, monitor puppy development, and ensure that clients get support during this critical period. In this final webinar in the puppy socialization series, Rachel Lees, RVT, KPA CTP, VTS (Behavior), reviews how to set up a program, tailor it to your practice, and support puppies who are “lemons” during their participation.
Puppy Socialization: Is This Puppy Normal or a “Lemon”?
Once you know what you are looking at and can identify puppies who are “lemons,” what do you do about them? In this webinar, Dr. Elizabeth Feltes, ACVB Resident in Private Practice, and Amanda Eick, RVT, KPA CTP, VTS (Behavior), cover options from pheromones to supplements to medications used to get these little lemons back on track and keep them in their homes. Find out how they approach these puppies during puppy consultations and what you can do in your hospital to improve the lives of everyone involved.
Puppy Socialization: Is This Puppy Normal or a “Lemon”?
Ever wonder if the behaviors a client is describing are normal? What behaviors should your watch for that can tell you if a puppy is going to need more help? In this webinar, Dr. Elizabeth Feltes, ACVB Resident in Private Practice, and Amanda Eick, RVT, KPA CTP, VTS (Behavior), review normal puppy socialization and development and how to identify “lemons” who may show up in your practice. This presentation includes a review of body language in puppies using video and photos. Sponsored by Ceva.
A wonderful way to educate clients and potentially help out local pet adoption groups is to hold a kitten or cat care clinic. June is an ideal time for a kitten-themed clinic but any time of year will work. You might choose to do a couple of cat care clinics each year; consider one with a focus on senior cats, for instance.
A Job for a Cat Lover
Have a clinic employee who is considered one of your “cat people” in charge of this. If your clinic has a room big enough for a seminar, use that. I have used our local cooperative extension meeting room, usually available free of charge. As an alternative, a community college might have a free room available.
Most communities have local radio talk shows that are always looking for interesting people and events. Between that and posters at local shelters, pet stores, and your own clinic you should have plenty of free PR.
Gather Info and Freebies
Once you have a site, start collecting freebies to hand out. Our local pet store offered up bags and some treat samples. Go directly to companies; for example, Arm and Hammer donated small boxes of litter box deodorant. I have had samples of joint supplements, treats, food, catnip, and toys to put into the bags. You might be able to get starter kits to include as well, especially for kittens. The Pet Poison Helpline will donate magnets. If you got some donations of larger items you can make up baskets for a free door prize raffle for attendees.
Next, look for educational literature. Between AVMA, AAFP, Winn Feline Foundation, Cornell Feline Health Center, and AAHA, there is plenty of wonderful information for cat owners. You can also make copies of any handouts your own clinic has customized.
Involve Some Felines!
With June not only being Adopt a Cat Month/Adopt a Shelter Cat Month but also prime kitten time, I also recruited a couple of kittens from a local shelter. We bathed them, did FeLV and FIV testing, performed fecal checks, and provided their first vaccines. The kittens attended as demo animals for things like nail trims but also with the hope that they would charm their way into new homes. You could also have an adult cat or two present. If you aren’t comfortable using “unknown cats,” bring a clinic cat or employee cat who is good with crowds. I have used my own cats who were certified therapy cats as well as shelter cats and kittens.
Educate and Expand
Have a set list of topics to cover. Basic wellness care is a good starting point. If our clinic was concentrating on kittens I would bring up carrier training and behavior modification to prevent scratching or biting problems. Emphasize techniques to get kittens started on the Fear Free path. For senior cats you might want to discuss one or two of the most common senior cat problems such as kidney disease and arthritis.
Once you start doing “care clinics” you may find you have other topics to cover. Basic first aid is a good one or a nutrition basics seminar. These clinics can draw in new clients and also help your staff in the long run by educating people and answering their questions outside a busy work environment.
This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.
The socialization period of puppies and kittens is extremely important in the formation of a happy, healthy, and well-adjusted pet. Help your clients take full advantage of this in a fun and engaging way with these socialization bingo cards!
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.
