Fear Free Dogs

Fear Free Pets is one of the single most transformative initiatives in the history of animal care. Fear Free certified professionals focus on the emotional wellbeing, enrichment, and the reduction of fear, anxiety, and stress in pets. This collaborative approach with the pet guardian improves the experiences of dogs and their humans.

Camp Counselor Caitlin is a certified Fear Free professional with a focus in dog daycare and boarding and a special interest in at-home medical treatments. Caitlin's goal is to recognize the individual personality of every dog in her care and meet their needs at their own pace. Implementing Fear Free best practices will make Adirondack Sniffari safer, more individualized and an overall more enjoyable experience for campers. Outside of camp, Caitlin's goal is to empower dog guardians to better care for and advocate for their dogs.

Is your dog:

• Nervous about routine vet procedures such as external body exams, eye drops, ear cleaning, teeth cleaning, etc.?

• A senior or on long-term medications that you need to administer at home and they are uncomfortable with getting medication?

• Having a hard time at doggy daycare or boarding and you're not sure why?

• Pulling on the leash and you don't want to use aversive tools such as the e-collar or prong collar?

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Would you like to:

• Learn how to get your dog comfortable with having medications administered and given external body exams at home as a preemptive measure in case your dog ever needs medical attention or is currently fearful of medications/exams.

• Learn how to better advocate for your dog's needs at the vet, groomer's, daycare, boarding, etc.?

• Not have to go to a pet supply store or the vet every time your dog needs their nails done?

• Muzzle train your pup?

• Deepen the trust bond between you and your dog?

• Learn how to read your dog's body language and react appropriately to alleviate their fear, anxiety or stress?

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To help you and your pup we can:

• Provide in-home sessions with you and your dog on how to make procedures such as external body exams, eye drops, ear cleaning, teeth cleaning, nail dremeling, etc. easier for you, your dog and your care provider. If your dog is not a fan of strangers in your home, we can meet at a neutral location with your dog or your pup can stay at home and we can use Brody (stuffed dog) as a stand-in. 

• Recommend and teach you how to introduce appropriate tools and provide guidelines to help your dog walk better on leash, be more engaged with you outside and have a better recall.

• Accompany (or advise) you on a walk-through of your current/potential daycare, boarding facility, groomer, etc. to assess which Fear Free practices they implement, ask strategic questions, help you advocate for your dog and give you a detailed report with suggestions/recommendations.

• Discuss Fear Free alternatives for a variety of aspects in your dog's life. Maybe you have found some training techniques too aversive or you have seen them have a negative impact on your dog's mental/emotional state. We can work with you to see where improvements can be made. Some areas may include the car, barking at windows, jumping on guests, not dropping toys during play, etc.

• Answer general questions about how/when/why to implement Fear Free practices into you and your dog's lives.

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Sessions are $40 for one hour and $25 for half an hour.

In most cases, 1 to 3 sessions are recommended. 

Virtual sessions via Zoom can be an option in some cases.