On Wednesday, December 12, CPT Trainer/Owner Mark Spivak and Krista Weaver appeared at Averill Animal Hospital on Villa Rica Way in Marietta. This was Averill’s second lunch and learn with CPT. Averill’s veterinarians and staff found the first meeting informative and productive. Therefore, they requested a second meeting to better learn about CPT’s programs and obtain additional consultation for their dogs.
Mark first explained CPT’s history and services, then assisted Dr. Matt Nelson, Dr. Carrie Friedewald and the Hospital staff in resolving their pets’ behavioral and obedience problems, including consultations on jumping, excitability, leash walking, coming when called, basic obedience, anxiety reduction, and aggression reduction. Mark performed a live demonstration of how to reduce jumping behavior with one of the clinic dogs. We also did follow-ups on two clinic dogs treated during the previous lunch & learn. One dog was previously highly sensitized and potentially aggressive amidst the clinic’s cats. However, now he can congregate safely in a relaxed manner when in a room with the cats. Another dog was highly possessive aggressive when proximal to his food bowl. Now, clinic workers can safely approach him when he is eating. Both dogs were trained with a clicker training methodology emphasizing counterconditioning and systematic desensitization.
The attendees appreciated the insights of CPT’s professional trainers as well as CPT’s cognitive, personalized emphasis. Consequently, the Averill staff can now speak more knowledgably and confidently when recommending CPT for improving their clients’ behavioral and obedience issues.
Veterinary hospitals, such as Averill, realize that forming a relationship with CPT increases the productivity and profitability of the clinic. Happy dog owners with well trained pets do not return their pets to the breeder or shelter. Consequently, they remain clients of the veterinary practice and better enjoy their pet owning experience with their current pet, as well as future pets. Thus, they remain happy clients for many years.
Moreover, veterinarians prefer examining calm, obedient dogs versus fearful, aggressive, or overly exuberant dogs that require the assistance of one or more technicians. Calm, obedient dogs trained by CPT are more pleasant, safer clients. Furthermore, cooperative, well-behaved dogs lead to faster exams and less need to distract vet techs from other assignments, which reduces overtime and associated labor costs for the hospital. In addition, when exams progress more quickly and veterinarians are not burdened by communicating lengthy complimentary behavioral consultations on housebreaking, household manners, obedience, dominance or aggression, the veterinarian’s time is more productive and profitable. In contrast, when veterinarians have an expected 10-minute exam turn into a 30-minute exam, waiting clients often sit in the lobby an excess amount of time. Alternatively, referring the obedience, household manners, or behavioral consultation to CPT enables a trainer to perform the consultation at the client’s home, where it is often most beneficial, and improves customer service and client wait time at the hospital.
Atlanta area veterinary clinics desiring a similar presentation, should contact the CPT office by phone at 770-396-6433.
