Skills Assessment Form VTS-Behavior Task Date Initials Client/Staff Communication and Consultations Triage behavior problems / lack of training issues and know when a veterinary diagnosis is required Recognize and be prepared to provide examples of normal and abnormal behaviors in several different species Give management and safety advice to a client / staff before a behavior consultation Take a detailed and accurate behavioral history Teach a client / staff to recognize and avoid triggers of aggression or anxiety Teach a client / staff to recognize and ignore attention seeking behaviors Instruct a client staff how to use command response reward interactions 1
Instruct a client / staff on using a behavioral diary Instruct a client / staff on the proper use of a head collar Perform grief counseling Perform pet-selection counseling and write a professional pet selection report Perform a behavior assessment and be able to explain / use results Be familiar TAG Teach (www.tagteach.com) Discuss behavioral medications including effects, side effects and contraindications Assist a veterinarian during behavior consultations Explain the purpose of environmental enrichment and provide several examples Accurately identify and differentiate ritualized appeasement and conflict behaviors in a minimum of two species 2
Accurately identify and differentiate offensive and defensive behaviors in a minimum of two species Be proficient at behavioral reporting in animal's records Develop a minimum of 3 animal behavior related handouts for clients /staff Perform problem prevention counseling Teach a minimum of 1 public lecture / community awareness program (examples: community lecture, humane society lecture, write an article for community newspaper, radio interview, etc.) on an animal behavior related topic (specifically with a problem prevention theme) Teach or assist with a Puppy or Kitten Kindergarten classes Teach or assist with teaching an adult dog training classes (positive reinforcement based only) Instruct a client / staff to the side effects and requirements of +P Discuss and demonstrate guarding prevention techniques 3
Discuss separation anxiety prevention with a client Create a departure cue desensitization / classical counter-conditioning plan Demonstrate proper introduction of dogs Demonstrate proper introduction of cats Demonstrate proper introduction of inter and intra-species in two species of animals Training Tools / Equipment Desensitize and counter condition a muzzle Desensitize and counter condition a head halter Properly fit and use a Gentle Leader head collar Properly fit and use Halti head collar Properly fit and use a Snoot Loop head collar Properly fit a use an Easy Walk harness Properly use a conditioned reinforcer 4
Assist a client/staff in developing an unconditioned reinforcement hierarchy Use a remote reward system (Manners Minder www.premier.com) Specific Training Exercises and Styles Train a minimum of 3 species Participate in or teach agility training Train a minimum of 2 service dog skills Teach scent recognition / searching Be proficient at lure reward training Be proficient at clicker training Teach clicker training to a client/staff Teach targeting Shape a behavior and place on cue Capture a behavior and place on cue 5
Understand and describe techniques for fading prompts Create a 5 behavior chain Teach a modifier cue (right, left, etc) Test a cued behavior for stimulus control Teach attention on cue Teach bite inhibition Teach claw inhibition Teach tug (take it - tug - drop it - sit - take it, etc) to teach impulse control Teach crate / confinement training Teach go to place / mat Teach leave it / drop it Teach relaxation on cue Teach retrieve on cue Teach sit on cue and under stimulus control Teach down on cue and under stimulus control 6
Teach a recall on cue and under stimulus control Teach stay on cue and under stimulus control Demonstrate techniques for preventing food bowl guarding Behavior Modification Be able to define and demonstrate the following: Habituation Abandonment exercise(s) Response substitution (operant counterconditioning) Classical Counter-conditioning Flooding Desensitization Create a detailed desensitization hierarchy plan 7
Counter-condition and / or Desensitize to: Noise veterinary hospital or other feared context handling / restraint nail trimming venipuncture People Same species of animal (dog aggression) other animals Head collar food (guarding) 8