Dr. Jeff Nichol with Maddie. Courtesy photo
LADOC News:
Why does my dog do that? How can I gently mold his behavior?
Get expert answers on these and other dog behavior questions from Jeff Nichol, DVM. Dr. Nichol will present a class entitled How to Better Understand and Manage Your Dogs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 18, at the Los Alamos Dog Obedience Club (LADOC) Training Center, 246 East Road.
Does your dog bark excessively, chew inappropriate objects, dig in the yard, escape from your fenced yard, pee or poop in the house, pull when on leash? Does he exhibit aggression or fear with other dogs or people or separation anxiety when you leave the house?
Learn how to address these and other issues in Dr. Nichol’s class. He will tailor his presentation to specific problems outlined by attendees. Participants will get clear instructions on becoming a more effective canine leader/manager and will learn ways of setting up their dogs to succeed. Some folks will come away with everything they need to improve their dog’s behavior.
Others may need additional guidance, in which case Dr. Nichol will point them in the right direction to pursue their goals for their dogs. Because some behaviors are more complex than others, not all will have a simple solution.
Participants will be asked to describe the behavior problems in their dogs that they would like to modify at the time they register, and Dr. Nichol will address those issues during the class. He welcomes questions.
For more information on Dr. Nichol’s approach and to see examples of his suggestions for solving canine and feline behavior problems, check his website http://www.drjeffnichol.com/ .
Dr. Nichol is a well known, Albuquerque-based veterinarian, author and columnist. He has been the featured Pet Care columnist in the Albuquerque Journal since 1996. Since earning his DVM from Michigan State University, he has actively pursued the study of veterinary behavior medicine for the last 20 years. Behavior disorders of pets comprise 80 percent of his practice. His presentation style is warm and engaging.
Dr. Nichol is currently engaged in research on cognitive dysfunction in dogs. In dogs with cognitive dysfunction syndrome, the brain undergoes a series of changes that result in a decline in the mental faculties associated with thinking, recognition, memory and learned behavior. Fifty percent of dogs over age 10 will exhibit one or more symptoms of cognitive dysfunction syndrome.
To register for the class, email Julie Bremser, 3divers@newmexico.com, for a registration form or download the form from the LADOC web site, www.losalamosdogs.com .
Cost for early bird registration, by March 31, is $35 for LADOC members and $40 for nonmembers. After March 31, cost for all is $50. If you wish to bring your nonaggressive dog so Dr. Nichol can assess his behavior in person and possibly use him for a demonstration, be among the first 10 to request to bring your dog. You must make an advance request in order to bring your dog; please do not bring your dog unless the registrar says you may.
This class is sponsored by Los Alamos Dog Obedience Club, a nonprofit community resource for helping people train and manage their dogs for fun and better behavior. Part of the proceeds from the class will be donated to Los Alamos Friends of the Shelter.
