From Fearful to Fear Free: A Positive Program to Free Your Dog from Anxiety, Fears, and Phobias

Almost every dog owner has a pet who suffers from fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS). They are the underlying cause of many concerning behaviors such as excessive barking, aggression, destructive behaviors, and house-soiling. They are also the source for deterioration of the human-animal bond, and can make a trip to the veterinarian, pet groomer, or boarding facility miserable for pet and owner alike. Left untreated, these negative experiences can lead to devastating consequences and permanent damage. Unfortunately, many well-meaning owners misinterpret or overlook the often subtle signs of emotional injury and turmoil, or think that the pet will simply "outgrow" it. This leads to unnecessary trauma and suffering.

Common FAS triggers include:

Trips to the veterinarian (even for routine services such as vaccinations and nail trims)

Bath time, brushing, or cleaning ears.

Loud noises; thunderstorms; fireworks; the vacuum cleaner; construction; gunshots; or even buzzers on appliances.

Less-familiar people or animals encountered on walks or near the home.

Being left alone during work hours or even for short errands.

Travel, including car rides.

Finally, there's help. From Fearful to Fear Free is based on the groundbreaking Fear Free program embraced by tens of thousands of veterinary healthcare professionals and hundreds of thousands of pet owners (fearfreepets.com and fearfreehappyhomes.com). This is the first and most authoritative book on the subject of reducing FAS and increasing "happy and calm" in dogs. Since pets communicate nonverbally, this book will help you recognize if your pet is suffering from FAS. By knowing your dog's body language, vocalizations, and changes in normal habits, you can make an accurate diagnosis and take action to prevent triggers or treat the fallout if they do happen.

You'll learn:

The most effective prescription sedatives for keeping dogs calm and happy during thunderstorms, fireworks, and other stressful events.

The positive steps you can take to keep your pet occupied, calm, and content while you're away at work or play.

Simple, practical tactics for helping your dog learn to love going to the veterinarian's office—literally pulling you into the practice instead of avoiding it!

How to easily groom your dog and give him medication.

Tips to tame the chaos when guests arrive in your home or when your dog encounters other dogs and people on walks.

Ways to tackle some of the common behavior issues that often have a root cause of FAS, while also improving your communication and bond with your pet.

The three veterinary coauthors and one highly respected pet trainer have a combined 88 years of experience in the trenches of veterinary medicine, with specialties in behavior and training. By using their cutting-edge techniques, you'll have pets that are happier, healthier and live a longer, fuller life.

Dr. Marty Becker, 'America's Veterinarian,' has spent his life working to create better physical and emotional well-being for pets. This commitment led him to create and launch the Fear FreeSM initiative, an educational certification program to train veterinarians and pet professionals to ease the fear, anxiety, and stress of the pets in their care. Dr. Becker was the resident veterinarian on Good Morning America for 17 years, and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the American Humane Association. Mikkel Becker is the lead trainer for FearFreePets.com and specializes in reward-based training with a focus on helping animals (and their people) learn to calmly their fears and gain greater confidence, freedom and peace on the other side. Mikkel is a Certified Behavior Consultant Canine (CBCC-KA), a Karen Pryor Certified Training Partner (KP-CTP), a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), a Certified Dog Behavior Counselor (CDBC), a graduate from the SFSPCA Dog Training Academy. Dr. Lisa Radosta is a board-certified veterinary behaviorist who graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and later completed a residency in behavioral medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She has owned Florida Veterinary Behavior Service since 2007. Dr. Radosta lectures nationally and internationally and has written textbook chapters, scientific research articles, and review articles. She serves on the Fear Free™ Executive Committee and the AAHA Behavior Management Task Force. Dr. Wailiani Sung is a board-certified veterinary behaviorist with a passion for helping owners prevent or manage behavior problems in companion animals, enabling them to maintain a high quality of life. Dr. Sung owns All Creatures Behavior Counseling in Kirkland, Washington, where she focuses exclusively on treating behavior problems in dogs, cats, and birds.