Amimal Lovers

Worth checking out. If you Love your pets.

How to Hire a Dog Trainer (American College of Veterinary Behavior) It is advised that dog owners call, interview, and ideally observe a trainer prior to hirin...g them. If the trainer you are considering using falls into any of these categories, you should pick another trainer. 1. The equipment recommended for basic obedience includes or is focused on choke collars, prong collars, or shock collars. 2. Trainers who ban head collars of any kind may rely unduly on force. 3. The trainer instructs you to manage your dog’s behaviors by pinching toes, kneeing the dog in the chest or abdomen, hitting the dog, forcibly holding the dog down against their will, constantly yelling at the dog, frequently yanking the collar constantly, or using prong, choke, pinch or shock collars or electronic stimulation. 4. The trainer believes most or all training is about encouraging the person to be alpha and teaching the dog to submit. 5. The trainer explains that most dog behavior, for example, jumping on people, occurs because the dog is trying to be dominant. 6. A trainer recommends alpha rolls, scruffing, helicoptering, choking or any other painful or physical methods as a means of training or modifying behavior. * Please note that having initials after one’s name is not a guarantee of a trainer who will not engage in these practices. To maximize the chances of recommending or using a qualified trainer, the dog owner will need to ask the trainer some basic information, and see for themselves how the trainer treats the dogs in the classes/consultations. Should your dog ever start to show signs of aggression, fear, anxiety, distress, or any other condition that you find worrisome during training let your veterinarian know. If you ever feel uncomfortable with something the trainer asks you to do to your dog, stop working with that trainer and alert your veterinarian so they can give you guidance.

Look before you kill

Thought this would be a little up lifting....LOL.

Vet medicine is a money grab! You better do this for me or else I’ll leave a bad review and tear your clinic apart! You’re going to let my pet suffer becau...se I cannot afford treatment? I have an emergency, my dog has been vomiting for 2 weeks, and it needs to be seen TODAY! My pet is not getting better...(didn’t listen to advice that was given in the first place). Why can’t I get antibiotics for my pet (we’ve never seen this patient before)? What do you mean you won’t refill that medication from 3 years ago?! Are you kidding me...you’re charging an emergency fee for a 3am appointment (when we have already put in a full work week)?! Can you kill my healthy 2 year old cat because I don’t want it anymore. You don’t understand...you’re pissing me off...can I speak to the actual vet... THESE ARE REAL AND FREQUENT STATEMENTS that frontline veterinary staff deal with. Bullying is NEVER a way to get what you want. I wish I was exaggerating on this. These cruel encounters...when all we want to do is help their pet...is a top reason I have left the industry. Animal Health Care workers are unsung heroes. They are under appreciated, looked over, and to many people’s surprise- under paid. They work their butts off, and in most cases the support staff live pay to pay. Respect them. Don’t be part of the reason another person who is passionate about animals either leaves, or gives up on their life all together. I’ve had to walk away from the negativity and misunderstood profession, but I will never stop pushing for appropriate treatment for those who have devoted their lives to saving animals. To all veterinarians, vet techs, vet assistants, receptionists, kennel staff, managers, clinic owners, students looking to begin this journey....I see you and I don’t know what I would do without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for all that you do.