Blog

Of course this is partly a proud father moment. My daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, is being featured by Barcroft Animals as she helps dogs and a pet pig with behavior challenges using reward-based methods. But it’s more than just a proud father moment. Mikkel is the Chief Trainer for Fear Free, and her strength, compassion, […]

We all know we need protection from the sun. What about our pets? Here’s what I told a reader who asked about her cat’s love of sunbathing. Q: My cat loves to nap in the sun. Why is that, and do I need to worry that he’ll get sunburned? A: Cats have made their way […]

Just like this time every year before, my mailbox is full of pleas for help from owners of pets, mostly dogs, who are terrified of fireworks, thunderstorms, and other loud or unusual noises. I’m hearing about it from my clients, and dealing with it in my own dog Quixote. I don’t know if noise phobias […]

Can you win the war against feline fleas? Here’s what I told a reader. Q: Help! My cat has fleas. How can I get rid of them? A: You’re smart to want to protect your cat from these freeloading bloodsuckers. Flea bites cause cats to be itchy and uncomfortable. (Did you know that a single […]

I hope you’ll all join me for a special Facebook Live interview with my close friend and colleague Dr. Mark Goldstein. Mark is the author of a new book,  Lions and Tigers and Hamsters: What Animals Large and Small Taught Me About Life, Love, and Humanity, and he is pretty much  the only veterinarian I […]