http://abrionline.org/articles.php News about companion animal behavior en-us © 2009 ABRI http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=281Syndicated columnist and pet expert Steve Dale has been named a National Ambassador for American Humane Association, the nation’s voice for the protection of children and animals. Currently a member of the organization’s board of directors, Dale will provide additional support to American Humane Association as a vocal advocate and champion for society’s vulnerable and voiceless. 2011-02-18 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=277 American Humane Association will be exhibiting at several upcoming veterinary conferences, including North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, Florida, January 15-19, and Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas, NV, February 20-24, 2011. 2010-12-10 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=262 American Humane establishes Animal Behavior and Training Advisory Committee To benefit from and share the expertise of leading animal behaviorists and other companion-animal professionals, the American Humane Association has established an advisory committee for animal behavior and training. “American Humane is committed to the honorable values and principles that we have carried for more than 130 years,” said George Casey, interim president and CEO of American Humane. “It is our objective to increasingly be viewed as a valuable and meaningful repository and source of information that will grow professional capacity and competency in expanding human-animal interactions awareness and work.” 2010-11-18 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=264American Humane Association, the nation’s voice for the protection of children and animals, announced today that veteran philanthropy executive Robin Ganzert, Ph.D., has been named president and chief executive officer, effective Oct. 1, 2010. Dr. Ganzert currently serves as deputy director of philanthropic services at the Pew Charitable Trusts in Washington, D.C. 2010-11-18 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=263 In additional to the Advisory Committee, American Humane also has formed an Independent Review Board composed of respected industry professionals. The board will review all content to ensure it follows the standards of quality, appropriate theory and methods, and effectiveness that have been a hallmark of ABRIonline.org since its inception. 2010-11-18 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=252The 7th International Veterinary Behaviour Meeting will be held October 29th to 31st 2009, in Edinburgh UK. The IVBM has issued a call for papers for that meeting, with the deadline for submission May 1, 2009. Guidelines for abstract submission Abstracts based on completed research (qualitative or quantitative) or critical review are welcome. There will be three categories of abstract submission: Long spoken presentations (35 minutes plus 10) – these should be data based, original scientific research Short spoken presentations (15 minutes plus 5) – these may be case reports, treatment regimes, data based or other material Poster presentations – these may be case reports, treatment regimes, data based or other material The abstract must be in English, can be no longer than 300 words and should be concise, informative and explicit. Providing a list of topics to be covered, or using statements such as "results will be discussed" or "a new theory will be developed" is not appropriate. 2009-07-23 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=260The following is reprinted with permission of the author Every scientist, doctor or veterinarian who works in industry knows that there's a fine balance between the research needs and the marketing needs of a pharmaceutical company, but just where does that balance lie? Earlier this month, Merial, a veterinary pharmaceutical company, launched a national campaign against the advice of veterinary experts, to market Frontline and Heartgard while promoting outdated dog training and behavior modification techniques 2009-06-24 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=259 The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) promotes the welfare of animals and the human-animal bond using positive, evidence-based methods. ACVB Diplomates are disappointed that the veterinary pharmaceutical firm Merial has recently entered into a marketing agreement with a specific dog trainer and TV personality to promote their products Heartgard and Frontline, as well as this individual’s products. 2009-06-15 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=253According to a new veterinary study published in The Journal of Applied Animal Behavior (2009), if you're aggressive to your dog, your dog will be aggressive, too. Says Meghan Herron, DVM, lead author of the study, "Nationwide, the number-one reason why dog owners take their dog to a veterinary behaviorist is to manage aggressive behavior. Our study demonstrated that many confrontational training methods, whether staring down dogs, striking them, or intimidating them with physical manipulation, do little to correct improper behavior and can elicit aggressive responses." Indeed, the use of such confrontational training techniques can provoke fear in the dog and lead to defensively aggressive behavior toward the person administering the aversive action. 2009-03-17 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=248Dr. R.K. Anderson was honored for his lifetime achievement by the University of Minnesota at a special event February 5, 2009. Dr. Anderson first came to the University of Minnesota in 1956 as a professor of veterinary public health in the College of Veterinary Medicine and the School of Public Health. Trevor Ames, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, in his keynote address called Dr. Anderson the "founding father of the most successful and respected Veterinary Public Health program in the nation." 2009-02-25 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=235Temple Grandin has released her latest book, "Animals Make Us Human, Creating the Best Life for Animals." Drawing on the latest research and her own work, Grandin identifies the core emotional needs of animals. Then she explains how to fulfill them for dogs and cats, horses, farm animals, and zoo animals. Whether it's how to make the healthiest environment for the dog you must leave alone most of the day, how to keep pigs from being bored, or how to know if the lion pacing in the zoo is miserable or just exercising, Grandin teaches us to challenge our assumptions about animal contentment and honor our bond with our fellow creatures. 2009-01-16 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=229The Association of Pet Dog Trainers honored Dr. R.K. Anderson with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Citing his long career promoting positive training methods and his influence on thousands of professional trainers, the APDT presented the award during their 2008 annual conference in Louisville, Kentucky. 2009-01-09 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=212The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) and the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) put on their annual meeting in New Orleans on July 18th in conjunction with the American Veterinary Medical Association's annual conference. As part of this event, several veterinary students were honored with for notable achievements. The RK Anderson ACVB Behavior Resident Award (sponsored by Premier Pet Products) was won by Dr. Julie Albright who presented a paper titled "Gene mapping owner directed aggression in English Springer Spaniels." 2008-08-29 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=213Premier Pet Products is thrilled and honored to grant a $25,000 donation to the R.K. Anderson Animal Behavior Research Endowment Fund at the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF). Premier has long partnered with Dr. R.K. Anderson and shared a mutual love of animals and a passion for effective, innovative, and humanely positive training tools. Thus, it is with great honor that they bestow the donation to such a worthy cause. 2008-08-29 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=170Animal Planet is introducing a new program, "Housecat Housecall," featuring in-home visits and advice on feline behavior issues. The show is hosted by Dr. Katrina Warren, with Dr. Debra Horwitz and Dr. Stacy Fucino serving as "Housecat Housecall Mentors." 2008-06-17 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=171Camp Bow Wow launches fundraising effort to help cure cancer in dogs, via Morris Animal Foundations's canine cancer campaign. Camp Bow Wow doggy campers get a campaign bandana, and dog owners get an opportunity to help save their dog from cancer and other diseases. Camp Bow Wow, the nation's fastest growing premier doggy day and overnight camp, has launched a fund raising effort on behalf of Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) 2008-06-17 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=167Dr. R.K. Anderson has been named one of the "25 to Watch in 2008" by Pet Product News International. In their current issue, they have this to say: "After more than six decades as a veterinarian, one might think this 85-year-old co-inventor of the Gentle Leader would be resting on his laurels. Not so. In 2007, he launched the Animal Behavior Resources Institute, a nonprofit educational resource for animal behaviorists and their clients, and kick-started the Morris Animal Foundation's R.K. Anderson Animal Behavior Research Endowment Fund with a $100,000 donation toward a $5 million endowment to fund animal behavior studies." 2008-01-02 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=109Mary Lee Nitschke, PhD, CPDT, CAAB, was given the APDT Lifetime Achievement Award at the recent Association of Pet Dog Trainers Conference in Portland, Oregon. Nitschke is a charter member of the APDT, and has served as a member of the original Education committee which helped to develop the CCPDT certification program. 2007-10-31 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=110Kasey Cohen, CPDT, a trainer from Shaker Heights, Ohio, won an iPod nano at the 2007 APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) conference in Portland, OR. The winner of the iPod was picked in a drawing by Teoti Anderson, past president of APDT. 2007-10-31 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=105The Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) Web site, www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org, is now hosting a Q&A for pet parents interested in pet insurance. Veterinary services can be costly and problematic for a pet parent, especially when unanticipated. Pet insurance is one means for providing veterinary care - both preventive care, such as vaccinations and spay/neuter surgeries, and care for illnesses or injuries. 2007-10-27 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=80Morris Animal Foundation (MAF), the world-wide leader in humane companion pet and wildlife research, is proud to announce the R. K. Anderson Animal Behavior Research Endowment Fund. Intended to advance the science and knowledge of behavior in companion animals so that the quality and duration of their lives can be increased, the fund also seeks to honor the lifetime dedication of Dr. R.K. Anderson to the development of the fields of animal behavior, human animal bond, veterinary epidemiology and preventive medicine. 2007-08-06 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=76Becky Schultz has been named Senior Editor of ABRIonline.org. "We're thrilled to have someone of her calibre helping us," said Dr. R.K. Anderson, Chairman of the Board. "She brings a deep understanding of the industry, and has an outstanding reputation among her peers." 2007-05-31 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=55Animal Behavior Resources Institute, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, officially announced its ABRIonline website at the 2007 American Animal Hospital Association conference in Denver. 2007-05-29 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=17Animal Behavior Resources Institute, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has named R.K. Anderson, Duffer Schultz, and Rich Runbeck to its Board of Directors. Leading the board as Chairman is Dr. R.K. Anderson, veterinary behaviorist, educator, mentor, lecturer, and inventor. Dr. Anderson and Ruth Foster co-invented the Gentle Leader Headcollar, which was featured at the Smithsonian Institution exhibit Invention at Play, alongside Velcro, Post-It Notes, and the microwave oven. 2007-05-15 http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=19Animal Behavior Resources Institute, Inc., has launched the Animal Behavior Products web site, www.animalbehaviorproducts.com, which offers pet owners the opportunity to purchase quality behavior management products. These products are recommended and used regularly by leading veterinarians, behaviorists, and trainers. All proceeds from Animal Behavior Products go directly to support the work of the non-profit Animal Behavior Resources Institute. 2007-05-15