Today we begin another special series of Behavior Talk episodes featuring conversations I had with a number animal behavior experts last summer while I was in Washington D.C. for the AVMA, AVSAB and ACVB meetings. Our first interview is with Dr. Bonnie Beaver. Dr. Beaver is the Executive Directorr of the American College of Veterinary Behavior, the past president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and is on the faculty of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

During our conversation, we talked about the about the role of science in animal welfare, and about the need to educate the public about what constitutes normal behavior for dogs and cats. We also talked about the effectiveness of both pharmaceuticals and behavior modification protocols in dealing with some issues in dogs.