Description

Veterinarians are usually the first animal professional that the new puppy owner meets. We therefore have a unique opportunity to ensure that we get our clients and their new puppies off to the perfect start. By giving them correct information at this point we ensure that the puppy’s mental health and welfare is protected. Behaviour problems in dogs are the number one reason for dog owners to request veterinarians to euthanise their pet. It’s our job to prevent mental health issues from developing in the first place. Remember, “Prevention is better than cure”! In this webinar we’ll discuss the correct use of positive reinforcement and the pitfalls of punishment. We’ll cover topics such as house training, crate training, socialisation, preventing the development of nuisance behaviours and what every puppy needs in his environment to ensure his mental well-being. Valerie graduated from the Veterinary College of Ireland, University College Dublin in 2003. She worked as a veterinarian in mixed practice in Wales; the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) and Eurogroup for Animals in Brussels; for a local horse racing track (flat racers) and a companion animal clinic in Mumbai, India. She was also an invited expert at several local animal shelters and a riding club in India. In 2006 she attained a Masters in Laboratory Animal Science (Ghent University, Belgium) her Masters thesis was on “The care and use of horses and ponies as research animals” with a focus on behaviour and welfare. During that time Valerie visited equine research centres in India, The Netherlands and the UK. In 2010 Valerie attained a Certificate in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, UK). After her time in India, Valerie spent almost 4 years at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University in the Netherlands where she worked as a behaviour veterinarian, behaviour/welfare researcher and lecturer. Valerie now owns and runs Animalytics Veterinary Behavioural Medicine and Animal Welfare Consultancy (www.animalytics.nl) in the Netherlands. Under the flagship of Animalytics, Valerie sees all of her cat and dog behaviour cases at V.S.C. de Wagenrenk (www.wagenrenk.com), a specialist veterinary referral clinic in the Netherlands. Horse behaviour and animal welfare consultations/expert opinions are by private appointment only. Valerie also conducts scientific research and is a well known lecturer on both the national and international circuit.

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