When to Use a Veterinary Behaviorist, The Psychiatrist of the Dog World

Delve into dog-to-human aggression and how to deal with extreme cases with the “psychiatrist” of the dog world, a veterinary behaviorist.

Dr. Amy Pike, DVM, DACVB, IAABC-CABC, Boarded Veterinary Behaviorist talks about the role a vet behaviorist plays in dealing with aggression and extreme fear in dogs. One of only 84 vet behaviorists in North America, Dr. Pike is a specialist in behavior medicine, who is essentially the “psychiatrist” of the veterinary world. She discusses her field and how she works with dog owners, dog trainers, behavior consultants and other veterinarians. Dr. Pike discusses the importance of reward based dog training, early warning signs of fear and aggression in puppies, when you should consider contacting a vet behaviorist, the importance of socialization and the role it plays in aggression, and how she uses medication and natural supplementation to deal with dog-to-human aggression.

Veterinary Behaviorist Dr Amy Pike

Dr. Amy Pike, DVM, DACVB, IAABC-CABC, Boarded Veterinary Behaviorist, of the Animal Behavior Wellness Center in Fairfax, Virginia, talks about the role a vet behaviorist plays in dealing with aggression and extreme fear in dogs. One of only 84 vet behaviorists in North America, Dr. Pike is a specialist in behavior medicine, who is essentially the “psychiatrist” of the veterinary world. She discusses her field and how she works with dog owners, dog trainers, behavior consultants and other veterinarians. Dr. Pike discusses the importance of reward based dog training, early warning signs of fear and aggression in puppies, when you should consider contacting a vet behaviorist, the importance of socialization and the role it plays in aggression, and how she uses medication and natural supplementation to deal with dog-to-human aggression. She also sits on the board of Fear Free and discusses Fear Free practices in her own clinic in dealing with difficult patients. 

Michelle McCarthy, CDBC, has been the Owner and Director of Training for K9 Home Schooling since 1999, which provides force free/clicker training methods in southeast Michigan.  She is a nationally recognized Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and Certified Therapy Animal Consultant with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). She has completed advanced certification programs in canine behavioral studies and has 18 years of experience working with complex behavior problems. For the past 10 years she has worked closely with medical professionals and educators who utilize a Therapy Dog at their work place or in Animal Assisted Play Therapy.  She has raised, trained and placed Therapy Dogs who work in medical facilities and private practices around the US.

Kim Merritt is a serial entrepreneur who started her first company, Kim’s Khocolate, at eleven years of age. As a teenager, she was discovered by Guy Kawasaki who invited her to make custom Khocolate for Apple. Kim went on to do business with The Rolling Stones, AT&T, MCI, Becton Dickinson, Bausch & Lomb, and Range Rover. Her second company, an e-commerce play, sold brand name dinnerware and home decor items across North America. She founded Good Dog in a Box with her sister, professional dog trainer Jenn Merritt, CPDT-KA. Her love of dogs and kids has pushed her to develop and co-develop a number of products, online training courses, and curriculums revolving around dog bite prevention and dog safety. Her latest endeavor, Good Dog Pro, is a subscription based online education system and community for dog professionals.

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