Articles: Fear Free

Blah! Blah! It’s scary. And you’re not alone, as more than 4.2 million dog-owning households and nearly two million cat-caretakers will be treating their furry companions to ghoulish goodies and grisly toys this Halloween, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). Also, according to the NRF, pet “moms” and “dads” will spend over $440 million…

Fear Free  supports what’s best for our pets. People want the best for their pets,  but are we always giving them what we think we are giving them? Love matters, of course! But do our pets require more? Maybe love isn’t all you need. And are we noticing when they are suffering even low level…

Fear Free is taking off: From Fear Free veterinary medicine (veterinarians and entire practices certified as Fear Free) to Fear Free certified dog trainers to Fear Free certified animal shelters to Fear Free Happy Homes and pet caretakers who simply love their pets. On Steve Dale’s Pet World, I speak with the founder of this…

The Fear Free initiative first began to minimize fear, anxiety and stress for pets at the veterinary clinic. And veterinarians and veterinary nurses have had to actually become certified as Fear Free, working toward making the experience FAR better for their 4-legged clients. Now, entire veterinary practices can be certified. Visiting Fear Free practices, compared…

Fear Free is more than a new buzz word in the veterinary medicine, it is a new way to practice medicine – not only for individual veterinarians and veterinary nurses (technicians), but for entire veterinary practice. On Steve Dale’s Pet World, on WGN Radio, I talk HERE with Dr. Natalie Marks about what this Fear…

The Winn Feline Foundation supports funding for cat health studies for the past 50 years. Winn Feline mostly funds studies to support physical health, but studies have also supported emotional health. One major obstacle to visiting the veterinarian is the fear, anxiety and stress cats experience during the visit. Clients then become stressed, and even…

Whenever my time slot has changed at WGN radio or something happens – my first go-to guest, and the person has appeared over 22 years more on my shows than any other is Dr. Sheldon Rubin. So, for my first day in our new sparkling new studio, HEAR Dr. Shelly Rubin on WGN radio. Dr. Rubin’s…

“From Fearful to Fear Free: A Positive Program to Free Your Dog from Anxiety, Fears and Phobias” is definitely the most important pet book of the year, and likely of the decade. Many of our pets experience fear FAR too often. Sometimes we totally get when that happens (going to the veterinarian or groomer, for…

Kittens going to school? Veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kersti Seksel, who initiated Kittie Kindies in Australia, explains the concept HERE on my national Steve Dale’s Pet World radio show. I love this idea, and I’ve taught kitten classes myself. Seksel explains the many benefits, including getting cats accustomed to their carriers, the car ride to the…

The Lincoln State Cat Show is one of most celebrated cat shows in America, but what is a cat show all about? Do people strut around the ring with a cat at the end of the leash? We describe what happens at a cat show and how the Best in Show—and all the cats—are judged. Of…