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Pet Behavior Help

I’m veterinarian Dr. Jeff Nichol. After years of caring for dogs and cats with illnesses and injuries I shifted to my greatest passion: improving their lives by guiding better behavior. My residency training is driven by research into the causes of these problems along with healthy, straight-forward treatment strategies for everybody’s wellbeing.

(505) 792-5131

Dr. Jeff Nichol

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Stick–in–the Mud Cats

November 18, 2024

Love cats enough to bring out their inner snuggle bunny? For some it’s a walk in the park of catnip, for others it can be more like a briar patch.

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Cats Gone Wild-Indoors

November 4, 2024

Cats are predators wherever they live. Satisfy those essential primal urges with this cool Indoor Hunting Feeder.

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Children & Dog Bites

October 28, 2024

This is serious business. We want our dogs to be trustworthy with children despite kids being, well, kids.

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Big Dog Bloat

October 21, 2024

A twisted stomach, filling with gas is a painful medical and surgical emergency. If you have a large breed, deep chested dog you need the facts on bloat, also called…

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Puppy crying, barking, chewing

October 14, 2024

Dogs of any age who struggle with Separation Anxiety are miserable – and so are their people. Incessant barking disturbs neighbors; frantic attempts to escape can damage your home. You…

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Meeting Dogs: Hand up? Hand Down? Hand Bite?

October 7, 2024

We love dogs and so do our kids. When encountering a canine beauty with a gently wagging tail you want to make friends and rub his fuzzy little head. Are…

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Stories

Spank him? Send Him Packing?

We love our pets like little people in furry suits but if they bite, chew, bark, or relieve themselves indoors they need to stop that @#%& right now, don’t they?…

woman grey poodle

Predatory Aggression – Lucky to be alive

Early in my career my veterinary clinic had a feed store as a next-door neighbor. Being a backyard poultry farmer, I visited often for chicks (baby chickens, that is) and lay pellets. I lived the life of North valley chic. The only thing missing was the chic.

man and dog

Airborne Monstrosities – High Anxiety

Gas Abuse; Paw Pain Frustrations come with every job. I’ve been lucky. The problems I have faced that have risked baldness, you know – tearing out my hair – have…

Jamie

Horse Play – Fun Until it Isn’t

We were just wrapping up a routine day of limping, itching, and diarrhea (ah, my patients, not me) when Jamie arrived. She’d been frolicking in the pasture with the neighbor…

Upcoming Events

Zoom Group Conference for Dog Parents – December 5, 2024

December 5 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm MST

For less complex pet behavior problems a Zoom Group Conference may provide enough help to get you and your pet started. 60 minutes shared with 4 people/families max. During our…

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Zoom Group Conference for Dog Parents – December 19, 2024

December 19 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm MST

For less complex pet behavior problems a Zoom Group Conference may provide enough help to get you and your pet started. 60 minutes shared with 4 people/families max. During our…

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Zoom Group Conference for Cat Parents – January 2, 2025

January 2, 2025 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm MST

For less complex pet behavior problems a Zoom Group Conference may provide enough help to get you and your pet started. 60 minutes shared with 4 people/families max. During our…

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Resources

Albuquerque Journal Articles

The following questions and answers have appeared in my weekly column in the Albuquerque Journal since July, 1996. Each week a new one is added. You'll find information on the physical and behavioral maladies of dogs and cats and a few other species too. I invite you to use the search feature to find the specific answer that you and your pet need.

Videos

Bringing out the best in a cat or dog is a hands-on task. Seeing it in a video is often better than reading it. My goal with these videos is to make behavior management easier to understand and implement.

Blog

Reading can be the fastest and easiest way of gathering the details you need to get control of a pet behavior problem. Like all of the information in my website these recommendations are research-based. It may most helpful to use the search function to quickly find what you need.

Podcasts

You’ll find a growing trove of podcasts on the management and prevention of pet behavior problems and other concerns. Some will involve interviews with other experts in veterinary medicine. I want you to have all the information you need to take great care of your dog or cat.

About Dr. Nichol

Caring for pets is what I’ve wanted to do since I was 8 years old. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan I started undergraduate classes at Michigan State University as a Pre-Veterinary major just 3 days after high school graduation. What a thrill! I was on my way to reaching my dream.

Your Questions, Answered: Quick Resources

Biting, fighting, destructiveness, fear, urine and fecal soiling, and so much else have been scientifically researched and understood. My post graduate behavior residency training has provided me a wealth of information that I am happy to share. I have created a blog, podcasts, instructional videos, and articles with answers to 2000+ pet owner questions to help with the most frustrating and vexing dog and cat conundrums.

Recently posted articles

Recently posted videos, podcasts, blogs & Albuquerque Journal Pet Care articles. You'll find information on the physical and behavioral maladies of dogs and cats and a few other species too. I invite you to use the search feature to find the specific answer that you and your pet need.

dog staring

Why fight if a hard stare would send the message?

Third in a series A healthy canine brain is programmed to communicate with body signals and occasionally words like, “Grr!” Knock down, drag out fights in the wild can happen…

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feral cats

Stick–in–the Mud Cats

Love cats enough to bring out their inner snuggle bunny? For some it’s a walk in the park of catnip, for others it can be more like a briar patch.

Read More
hyena

Can’t We All Just Get Along?

Second in a series Can’t We All Just Get Along? Veterinary behaviorists treat a lot of aggression between family dogs. Tandy and Atticus had already endured multiple mutual maulings without…

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cairn terrier

Stop Fighting!

First in a series
Quizzes are fun when I know the answers.  Fights between family dogs are caused by:

a) Dominance
b) Resource guarding
c) Jealousy
d) Bad juju
e) Sometimes a) and/or b)

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"I brought a Dobie to you a few years ago for a consultation about separation anxiety. During our two hour visit you picked up so many things I was doing to increase his anxiety that I was completely unaware of. Then you gave me a written list of recommendations that I could refer to along with an anti-anxiety medication to help him. I was so impressed and would like everyone to know what a great idea it is to consult with someone like you to help work through the problem with a plan for tailored for their individual dog and the household they live it. It's worth every penny of the consultation fee." Debra

"Knut has made a wonderful transition thanks to your master plan!!!! So we will keep up with the good training… We love you for helping us with Knut." Kathleen and Andre

"Dr. Nichol, Our previously vicious basset, Pepper … has become a nicely mannered dog. He especially loves our grandchildren. We are grateful for your lessons about a year ago. It works!" Harold and Lezlie Ann, Charlie

"Your help allowed our little guy to be a much happier & calmer dog. Seeing him cope with his anxiety enriched our lives with him tremendously. Thank you for that peace of mind." Andy

“Charley is doing GREAT--she is really the dog she was meant to be. Hardly ANY accidents anymore--she is loving, playful and confident. Thanks SO much” Kim

“Echo is doing great—sort of morphed from a shy, fearful dog into a normal, happy, excited 8 month old. She can easily approach dogs and people. Thanks for your help.” Jim & Rhonda

“I do not even know how to convey how the environment has shifted without the worry of a fight just around the corner. Very happily reporting low tension in this canine household! I cannot thank you enough!” Kaya