Episode 31 – Fears, Phobias and Anxiety   So many of our pets struggle with anxiety or specific fears and phobias. But how can we tell if this is just a normal and adaptive response to the pet’s environment or if they are “abnormal” or maladaptive responses that need treatment?   What you will learn in this episode: 1.      The definitions, differences and similarities between fear, phobia, and anxiety. 2.      How to tell if this is an adaptive or maladaptive response to the pet’s...

Episode 30 – Stress and Disease with Dr Gaelle Joanny   This is SUCH a great episode packed with information for vets, vet nurses, pet care professionals and pet caregivers alike.   Listen as Dr Katrin chats with Dr Gaelle about 2 of the most common physical diseases caused or precipitated by stress - gastro-intestinal disease in dogs and cats and FIC (feline idiopathic cystitis) in cats. We can see time and time again how physical and mental/emotional health are intertwined and these...

Episode 29 – Stress – what is it and why is it important for our pets?   Stress is a big topic – not only in pets but also us humans and having a good understanding of what it is and how it affects us can be really important. Stress is actually a totally normal and important response, which keeps us safe and working in an optimal state – both physically as well as mentally and emotionally.   Dr Katrin explains the physiological stress hormone cascades and how they can be dysregulated to...

Episode 28 – Hypervocalisation, Love Bites and more – Faryal and Simba’s Story   Does your cat vocalise all the time? Do they keep you up at night with their cries or screams? Are you struggling to know what they want and how you can help them to change this behaviour?   Does your cat nip at you? Or even worse, do they bite or scratch? How can you know if this is exuberant or playful behaviour or if this is aggression driven by negative emotions such as fear or frustration?   Well,...

Episode 27 – The Risks and Downfalls of Punishment Based Dog Training   In this episode, Dr Katrin talks about punishment from a learning theory point of view, how and where it fits into B.F. Skinner’s 4 quadrants of operant conditioning, and why it is extremely risky and welfare-negative to use punishment-based training and methods.   Dr Katrin gives her top 10 reasons (although there are many more) why punishment-based training it NOT the way we want to go when working with our animals...

Episode 26 – Positive Reinforcement and Beyond – A chat with Ilse   We had so much fun making this episode as we got to talk about some of the things that are closest to our hearts – how we can use therapeutic approaches that go beyond the operant to help our patients.   In this episode you will learn all about our “5 Cs”: 1.      Calm 2.      Confidence 3.      Connection 4.      Coping Strategies 5.      Cognitive Abilities   We use these not only to treat but also to...

Episode 25 – Dominant Dogs – Do they exist?   This is a big topic and one that often sparks quite a bit of controversy! Dr Katrin unpacks the sometimes-confusing subject of Dominance Theory and why this does not apply to our domesticated dogs and certainly not to their relationships with humans.   In this episode you will learn: 1.      The difference between the colloquial use of the word “dominance” and its technical definition in ethology. 2.      How our domestic pet dogs differ...

Episode 24 – Anxious Puppies – Eva and Atlas’s Story   What is the right age to start treating puppies with mental, emotional, and behavioural ill health disorders? Well, the answer is that it is never too early. If a puppy had a bacterial infection or was in pain, we would not withhold antibiotics or pain relief, therefore, why would we not do the same when it comes to mental and emotional ill health?   In this episode, Dr Katrin chats to Eva, whose lovely boy Atlas was just such a...

Episode 23 – Is it behavioural, is it physical or is it both?   Physical, mental, and emotional health are intertwined and ultimately affect each other. This is why our company is called Trinity Veterinary Behaviour – because we need to consider, assess, and treat all three aspects to create long lasting and healthy behaviour change.   In this episode, Dr Katrin chats about the importance of physical health as a part of behavioural health and how amazed she has been at how many of her...

Episode 22 – Diets and Pheromones with Dr Hannah Rowles from SV Animal Health Dubai   This is an episode you won’t want to miss if you are looking for products to support your pet’s behavioural health without the prescription of psychotropic medication.   In this episode, Dr Katrin chats to the wonderful Dr Hannah Rowles, veterinarian, and Head of Scientific Communications at SV Animal Health, one of the largest veterinary health supply companies in the Middle East.   Their...

Episode 21 – Supplements versus Behaviour Medication – What’s the Difference?   This is a topic that was requested by a listener and I’m sure we can all agree that it can definitely cause a lot of confusion.   What is the difference between over-the-counter calming supplements and Behaviour Medication also known as psychotropic, psychoactive or psychopharmaceutical medication? How do you know what your pet needs or would benefit from? Do supplements work and when could they be used...

Episode 20 – Life in a Multi-Cat Household – Theresia and Shiro’s Journey   Multi-cat households can range from 2 cats to over 20 cats and, whilst in many, the cats co-exist in relative harmony, in others, there can be a whole host of behavioural and mental health challenges.   In this episode, we take a closer look at a 6-cat household, we meet the individual cat personalities within the household, and we learn about the challenges that existed for both the cats as well as their lovely...

Episode 19 – The Perfect Litterbox…From Your Cat’s Perspective   Is your cat peeing or pooping outside of the litter box? Have you tried everything? Are you at your wit’s end? In this episode, you will learn the 7 things your cat wants you to know when it comes to litterboxes! Feline House Soiling (aka peeing outside the litterbox) is the most common feline Behaviour Problem presented to Veterinary Behaviourists globally. While these cases are mostly complex and multifactorial and...

Episode 18 – The 5 Pillars of a Healthy Feline Environment   In this episode, you will learn about the 5 things your cat needs to be behaviourally healthy in any environment including the home, garden, veterinary clinic, and shelter.   Based on the ISFM/AAFP Environmental Needs Guidelines , Dr Katrin shares the 5 pillars we all need to be aware of to meet our cats’ behavioural needs in different circumstances.   Here’s what you’ll learn: 1.      How to provide safe spaces in...

Episode 17 – Top Training Tips for Aggressive Dogs – with Dr Katrin and Ilse   In this episode, Dr Katrin and Ilse chat about possible behaviour modification strategies that can be useful when dealing with aggressive dogs. Of course, these should only be utilized in the context of a comprehensive treatment plan, and Dr Katrin explains why!   Here’s what we cover: 1.      A great exercise to help get you and your dog out of those tricky situations. 2.      Why muzzle- and crate...

Episode 16 – When Dogs and Children clash - Shaun and Crunchie’s Journey   What happens if your dog is aggressive to your new baby, your new family member? What should you do? Should you re-home your dog or even put them to sleep? Whilst this may be necessary in some cases, there are SO many things that can be done to help and overcome these distressing situations. In this episode, Dr Katrin chats to Shaun, who was in this exact position.   Here’s what we cover: 1.      The initial...

Episode 15 – Aggression at the Veterinary Clinic This is one of the topics Dr Katrin gets most questions about from both Pet Caregivers as well as Veterinary Teams. What to do when pets act aggressively at the veterinary clinic?   What you can expect from this episode: 1.      The main reasons why pets act aggressively or defensively at the veterinary clinic. 2.      5 things that Pet Caregivers and Veterinary Teams can do to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress, and therefore defensive...

Episode 14 – Talking XL Bullys and the UK Breed Ban with Dr Sophie White The XL Bully Breed Ban is sadly a big topic in England, Wales and Scotland at the moment and is putting huge amounts of pressure and stress on all stakeholders involved including dog owners, shelters and rescues, veterinary teams and veterinarians working in Behaviour Medicine.   In this episode, Dr Katrin chats to Dr Sophie White, a veterinarian working in the behaviour sector in the UK about this topic.   In this...

Episode 13 – When Dogs and Cats Bite – Safety Management and Behavioural First Aid “Help, my dog or cat has just bitten a person or another animal. I don’t know what to do next.” These are the words that clients often come to us with. They are sad, distressed, angry, and scared. Because they don’t want their families or others to be in danger and they are scared about what this could mean for their pet. And, most importantly, they don’t know what to do next. In this episode, Dr Katrin...

Episode 12 –- From Separation Anxiety and Fear of People to becoming an International Jetsetter! Eileen and Mutley’s Journey In this episode, schoolteacher and dog mom, Eileen, shares her and her canine companion Mutley’s amazing behavioural health journey. When Dr Katrin first met Eileen and Mutley in March 2020, they were struggling with Mutley’s Separation Anxiety, Fear of People coming into the home, Fear at the Veterinary Clinic and having his nails trimmed. Listen as Eileen talks about...

Episode 11 – Welcome to the New Year and our 30 Day Pet Appreciation Challenge Happy New Year!!!!!! I hope that 2024 brings you and your pets all the joy, love, and happiness! This episode is all about just how much we love and appreciate our pets and that very important human-animal bond. To honour this, I am inviting you to join our 30 day Pet Appreciation Challenge over in our Facebook Group  https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepetbehaviourcommunity where we challenge you to post one...

Episode 10 – The Emotional Experience – A Conversation with Andrew Hale Andrew Hale is a human psychologist and long-time dog professional who is passionate about the emotional experience of both animals and caregivers. In this episode, Dr Katrin and Andrew chat about The Emotional Experience – what it is and how everyone including our pets has one, the idea of Emotional Safety of pets, caregivers and pet care professionals, and the concept of Task versus Care. This episode is an absolute...

Episode 9 – Getting Ready for the Holiday Season from a Pet Mental & Emotional Health Perspective Yes, the festive season is upon us once again. Decorations, feasts, and family gatherings. Whilst some pets love this time of year, for others, it can be challenging. In this episode, Dr Katrin shares her 7 top tips for keeping our pets MENTALLY and EMOTIONALLY safe and healthy during the holiday season. Learn about stable routines, safe places, stranger danger, and quality time, to name a...

Episode 8 – Alex & Tiglet’s Journey Join Dr Katrin as she chats to Alex about her cat Tiglet’s behavioural journey. Learn how Tiglet’s aggressive behaviours towards family members was getting worse and worse and how addressing Tiglet’s chronic pain helped reduce her levels of arousal and aggression. Dr Katrin and Alex chat about which medications helped Tiglet and stress the importance of a comprehensive treatment plan including environmental management  - the simple act of asking...