Synergy Veterinary Behavior

Fall is officially here! 🍁

Here are some fun enrichment ideas for your pups as we start to enjoy the cooler weather and fall festivities 😜

▪ Collect leaves and do a food scatter in them - it's like nature's snufflemat!
▪ Buy and hollow out mini pumpkins to make filled frozen food toys. Make sure to cut off any stems.
▪ Make pet-friendly apple "cider" or DIY sweet potato/pumpkin/squash chews
▪ Create a fall-themed charcuterie board with pet-safe seasonal fruits and veggies (and maybe a little cheese - get fancy with it!)

Calling all veterinary and training professionals in the Portland and surrounding areas!

You are hereby invited to our Good Behavior Gather-Up on Sunday, November 22nd, 2026, from 10 AM to 3 PM!

We'll have more specific details to come, but you can expect:
▪ Getting to know other industry professionals
▪ Meeting our team and touring our facility
▪ Snacks and drinks
▪ Pending CE
▪ Fun with old and new friends!

Find event details here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1H3W9p7BA6/

Children and pets do not need to interact as much as you may think! 👶 🐶

Your dog or cat doesn't need to go up and sniff your baby when you bring them home. (We promise: they can smell the baby as soon as they come through the door, basically!)
They don't need floor time together.
Your child should not freely interact with your pet.

⭐ Coexistence should be the goal; it's a far more important concept to prioritize everyone's comfort and safety.

Coexistence is the ability to share space with another animal calmly, without fear, stress, conflict, or aggression. We achieve this with specific desensitization and counterconditioning, training, management, and separation. Nobody wants their child to experience a bite. Yet, most bite incidents happen to children under the age of 12.

Our expectation cannot be that our pets must tolerate whatever a child does to them.

More education and resources for parents: https://www.familypaws.com/resources/

📣 Last Group Classes of 2026 at Synergy Veterinary Behavior!

Are you ready to tackle your dog's reactivity, or do you need to have some fun with your dog through scent games?

Register on our website here: https://www.synergybehavior.com/dog-group-classes/

We have spaces available in all of our classes, but space is limited!
Classes are held at our facility at 2127 NW York St, Portland, OR 97210, or online.

With fall creeping up on us, are you preparing your pet for the holiday season to come?

🍁 What are your travel plans? Do they include your pet, or where will they stay? Sitters and boarding facilities can book out far in advance, and last-minute planning is no fun for anyone!
🌻 What training or behavior modification will help your pet be successful when friends and family are over?
🍁 What management should you have prepared to help give your pets breaks or separate them from company, if needed?

Lights out tomorrow, Sept 16th, to help the migrating birds! 🥰

🚨Lights Out Alert! Tomorrow night approximately 4.1 million birds will migrate through Oregon's skies. Help keep them safe by turning off your outside lights and drawing your blinds between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Why is it important to go lights out during fall migration (now - October 19)? As migrating birds pass over brightly lit cities, skyglow drowns out the stars, confusing them and luring them into urban areas. Once trapped in the windowed maze of the city, birds either hit buildings directly or circle them until they collapse from exhaustion. Lights Out programs help to prevent birds from being attracted to urban areas.

👉Visit CSU's Aeroeco Lab for the nightly numbers: aeroecolab.com/oregon

P.S. For our neighbors to the north, Washington state has a red alert TONIGHT and tomorrow with 5.4 million and 4.6 million birds traveling through the state.

Word of the Day: Tolerance

In animal behavior, tolerance is when an animal *appears* neutral, "unfazed," or unbothered by a specific situation or stimulus.

Important distinction: Tolerance does not mean the animal doesn’t have preferences or feelings about the situation. It just means they are currently choosing not to react.

⭐ Tolerance is not infinite.
It always has a limit, and that limit can shift day-to-day depending on the animal's stress levels, health, and environment.

When people say a pet is "tolerant" (whether toward humans or other animals), they usually mean the pet will endure a certain amount of stress before hitting their breaking point. If the stressful situation doesn't change or improve, pushing past that limit can lead to things like:

▪ Excessive tension and anxiety
▪ Behavioral shutdown
▪ A sudden "explosion" or reactive outburst

Don't take an animal's quiet demeanor for granted. Understanding their limits is key to keeping everyone safe and happy!

Do you know how to interact with a fearful dog? 🐶

Fall and winter holidays and get-togethers are approaching rapidly, so let's bring back an important graphic! This is great to share with visiting friends and family.

▪ Let the dog approach you when they're ready. DON'T reach for them or try to force them to sniff or interact with you
▪ Toss treats to them, away from you. DON'T make the dog approach you to take treats from your hand.
▪ Relax your body language. Keep your body movement fluid and predictable. DON'T stiffen up, move rigidly/erratically, or hold your breath.
▪ Let the dog initiate any interactions or petting. DON'T put your face or hands in their face, and don't force them to accept your petting attempts. If they turn away or move away, leave them be.
▪ When you look at the dog, look at their side, feet, tail, or don't look at them at all! DON'T look them directly in the eyes.

If your dog has other specific needs or introduction protocols that are helpful, be transparent with any friends or visitors. If your dog goes into a separate room instead of meeting strangers, tell your visitors they are not to enter that room, and keep a sign on the door.