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.

Eat? Protect? Bury? Find out how Homer survived

By drjeffnichol | July 10, 2023 | Comments Off on Eat? Protect? Bury? Find out how Homer survived
homer

“Homer” flummoxed his people by refusing to eat. Rather than chowing down like most dogs he was skittish and anxious about protecting his dinner from Axel and Gryphon, the other two dogs in his home. He looked behind him and watched them. Sometimes Homer picked up pieces of food carried it for long periods, putting it down and picking it up. The recent addition of mulch to the yard resulted in food being squirreled away. Sometimes Homer would hoard it among blankets in his pet parents’ bed. This nervous pupster needed a structure. I instructed his people to put his…

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Fireworks Freak-Out

By drjeffnichol | July 3, 2023 | Comments Off on Fireworks Freak-Out
fireworks

There will be a whole lot of scared pets this weekend. It’s hard enough if they tremble and hide but some panic and escape the yard in search of safety from the bombardment. We can make a big difference for these panicked pupsters.

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Elephant Basketball

By drjeffnichol | June 26, 2023 | Comments Off on Elephant Basketball
elephant video

Wild animals don’t make good pets nor do they belong in display enclosures. But these relaxed creatures have work they enjoy – and they have space to move and interact. Elephants are smart, fascinating, and deserve our respect.

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Good Buddies

By drjeffnichol | June 19, 2023 | Comments Off on Good Buddies
buddies

Friendships happen between creatures of different species because they share empathy and kindness. Our species could do better with other humans  – we aren’t really different than each other. We can help set the example.

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Avoiding Conflict – Living Gracefully

By drjeffnichol | June 5, 2023 | Comments Off on Avoiding Conflict – Living Gracefully
dog

A peaceful existence is difficult for a lot of us in today’s world. Strife and acrimony should be rare. For a canine senior called Grace, getting up and around is becoming increasingly difficult; she has a bad back and structurally incorrect knees. But she runs and sniffs and eats and plays with the other free-ranging dogs. If you watch carefully you’ll see them making allowances, giving her a clear path. She is one of them. She belongs. Grace’s good life, as a disabled pint-sized member of a big, active canine social group, would seem anomalous but not if you understand…

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Willets of Chincoteague

By drjeffnichol | May 29, 2023 | Comments Off on Willets of Chincoteague
willets

If you kayak from Chincoteague to Assateague Island on the Atlantic shore or Virginia you might get lucky enough to enjoy the sight of wild Spanish ponies. You’ll also have great views of willets, relaxing in the marsh. We watched these shorebirds hanging out in their flock, feeding on insects and marine worms. There were also plenty of oyster beds for their snacking. Wildlife is good for the soul. We should all be so free to live in the moment.

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Ponies of Chincoteague

By drjeffnichol | May 22, 2023 | Comments Off on Ponies of Chincoteague
horses

Remember Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry? Well, even if you never read this excellent series of children’s books you would love a visit to Chincoteague Island. We took a kayak tour to nearby Assateague Island for a great visit (not too personal) with the wild Spanish ponies whose ancestors swam ashore, from a shipwrecked galleon off the coast of what is now Virginia, back in the 16th century. They are beauties. We slept in the Marguerite Henry room at Miss Molly’s Bed & Breakfast in Chincoteague, Virginia. This is the same room where Ms. Henry stayed and wrote these…

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My Dog Is Scared Of Men

By drjeffnichol | May 15, 2023 | Comments Off on My Dog Is Scared Of Men
dog scared of men video

A pet owner wonders how to address her dogs fear of men.

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Why Is My Older Cat Shrinking?

By drjeffnichol | May 8, 2023 | Comments Off on Why Is My Older Cat Shrinking?
video

Senior kitties can lose weight for some important reasons. A lot of this can be treated; some of it can be cured.

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Destruction & Panic when Alone

By drjeffnichol | May 1, 2023 | Comments Off on Destruction & Panic when Alone
destructive dog video

Destruction & Panic when Alone So what can you do if the dog who’s stolen your heart damages your house while you’re away-often? If you have a dog like this you can feel desperate. Dogs with separation anxiety can actually look forward to their alone time because that will be their chance to engage their innate survival instincts.

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