Today's Topic: When you adequately prepare your dog for a visit to the vet, it can reduce stress for all parties (dog, dog parent(s) & vet staff) and contribute to an overall smoother experience at the vet.

But what is the best way to prepare, and how do you know you're doing all that you can to make the vet experience as positive as possible for your dog?

That's why we invited the founder of Animal Behavior Training Concepts in Chicago, Illinois, Laura Monaco Torelli, to the podcast to discuss the differences between husbandry training and cooperative care, how dog parents can better advocate for their dogs at the vet clinic, specific proactive training tips to help your dog remain calm during vet visits, her advice on preparing dogs for common procedures like blood draws, vaccines, and nail trims, and so much more!

Guest Bio: Laura Monaco Torelli is the founder of Animal Behavior Training Concepts in Chicago, Illinois. Her career began in 1991 with Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, where she was part of the animal care team for beluga whales, dolphins, sea otters, seals, river otters, and penguins. After nearly a decade at the Shedd, she moved on to the San Diego Zoo and then Brookfield Zoo as a lead supervisory trainer. During her time in the zoo community, Laura worked with a wide variety of species, including primates, large cats, birds of prey, horses, parrots, tree kangaroos, giraffes, red pandas, and dogs.

Laura is a faculty instructor of Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior, and serves as a Teaching Assistant for Dr. Susan G. Friedman’s Living & Learning with Animals online course. She has been an invited speaker for numerous conferences that include the American Veterinary Medical Association Convention, Midwest Veterinary Conference, Penn Vet Working Dog Conference, ClickerExpo, and the Aggression in Dogs Conference.

Connect With Laura Monaco Torelli:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube

Other Resources Mentioned In The Episode:

• Julie Benson (Made artwork on behalf of Laura's dog, Santino)
• Living & Learning with Animals: A Super Short Course in the Science and Practice of Behavior Change by Dr. Susan G. Friedman
• Laura's Appearance on The Bitey End Of The Dog Podcast
• The Spectrum of Fear, Anxiety and Stress - Fear Free Website
• Low Stress Handling® University CE Online Courses