Pet Behavior Expert To Give Two-Part Seminar For Interested Public And Veterinary Staff
Wednesday, August 13, 1997
FORT COLLINS--A veterinarian known internationally for his
expertise on pet behavior will address the campus and community
on how to correct and prevent common dog and cat behavior
problems.
Dr. Rolan Tripp, an animal behaviorist, will give a seminar
for the public from 7-9 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Colorado State
University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, 300 W. Drake Road. A
seminar the following evening will include community veterinary
staff and interested public. Both nights are free and open to the
public.
In his first talk, "Inside the Mind and Spirit of Cats and
Dogs," Tripp will explore the emotional makeup of pets and how
people can understand how pets think. He will look at specific
techniques that enable owners to communicate more clearly with
their pets.
"This seminar is for anyone who has a relationship with a
dog or cat and wants to increase the joy, love and happiness in
that relationship," Tripp said.
In order to give the audience a deeper understanding of how
dogs and cats think, Tripp will look at the genetic wiring of the
brain that explains their behavior. He also will explain how pets
behave from an evolutionary point of view.
"Many times friction between pet and human originates from a
lack of understanding of how the other thinks," Tripp said. "For
example, if the dog has an accident on the carpet, the owner
might rub the dog's nose in it and tell him he is bad, hoping to
discourage him from doing it again. The owner is trying to
communicate: 'You have done something wrong. Don't do it again.'
However, what the dog understands is: 'You want me to eat my own
stool?'" Tripp said it is much easier for a human to learn to
think like a pet than it is for a pet to learn to think like a
human.
Tripp, a published author, international speaker and
instructor at Colorado State, is known for his captivating
speaking style and extensive use of body language in his
presentations. His engaging lectures are presented in a way that
entertains as well as educates.
For the second seminar on Aug. 27, Tripp will give a talk
for all interested veterinary staff in the community including
doctors, receptionists and technicians. Topics will include
understanding the basics of clinical animal behavior, how to
select a referral animal behaviorist, and using behavioral
techniques to bond clients and pets to a practice. He also will
discuss ways to handle difficult situations such as barking in
waiting areas and restraining aggressive animals. Veterinary
staff are encouraged to attend both the Aug. 26 and 27 seminars.
Tripp, owner of the La Mirada Animal Hospital in California,
is a favorite speaker among veterinary staff and students. He
drew the largest audience of any speaker for two consecutive
years at the Student American Veterinary Medical Association
Annual National Symposium. In April, Tripp presented a paper at
the International Conference of Behavioral Medicine in
Birmingham, England, and he has been invited to speak at the
Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. in October.
"There are a lot of people who simply don't know how to
correctly discipline or communicate with their pet," Tripp said.
"I am going to explain the mind and spirit of the animal, and how
to optimize the relationship."
The seminars are offered as a community service of the
Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine.
For more information on either of the seminars, contact
Rosalie Mittman at (970) 491-1266.
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