Better Animal Handling
Humans have domesticated and handled animals for 14,000 years. Modern times have brought urbanization and technology which have caused a drastic decline in human-animal interactions. As a result, the knowledge of how to properly handle, restrain, and house animals is in decline. In Better Animal Handling, C.B. Chastain, veterinarian and professor emeritus, describes effective, humane animal handling with emphasis on safety measures to prevent injury and the transmission of zoonotic diseases.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 12 minutes
- Episodes
- 308
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
Approaching and Catching Dogs
In this episode, Dr. Chastain and Abby explain how to approach and catch dogs. Topics include:
- How to approach and catch companion and working dogs
- How to approach service dogs
Link to sh…
Transmittable Diseases of Dogs
This week, Abby and Dr. Chastain describe the diseases that can be transmitted from dogs to humans and how to prevent them, Topics include:
- Diseases that can be transmitted from healthy-…
Dog Bite Prevention
This week, Dr. Chastain and Abby explore causes and prevention of dog bites, including:
- Dog breeds and incidence of biting
- Steps to avoid dog bites
- Actions that provoke dog bites
- Teaching c…
Handler Safety, Puppy Socialization, and Incidence of Dog Bites
In this episode, Dr. Chastain and Abby cover the topics of:
- Socialization of puppies
- Rules for child-dog interactions
- Problems with commercial breeding of dogs
- Incidence of dog bites in the…
Domestication and Behavior of Dogs
In this week's episode, Dr. Chastain and Abby explain dog:
- Domestication
- Body language
- Vocal communications
- Diverse behavior by breed
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandling.com
Link to sho…
Containments for Turtles, Snakes, and Lizards
In this episode, Dr. Chastain and Abby go over the containment needs for:
- Chelonians (turtles and tortoises)
- Snakes
- Lizards
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandling.com
Link to show notes: …
General Requirements for Reptile Containment
In this episode Dr. Chastain and Abby describe the general requirements for reptile enclosure:
- Construction
- Substrates (bedding materials)
- Humidity
- Preferred optimal temperature zones
- Light
- W…
Caged Companion Bird Containments
This week Dr. Chastain and Abby talk about companion bird:
- Cages
- shape
- location
- size
- construction materials
- bars
- perches
- substrate
- cleaning
- enrichments
- Aviaries
- Indoor
- Outdoor
Link to show notes: Be…
Containments for Rabbits and Ferrets
In this episode, Dr. Chastain and Abby describe the essential requirements for:
- Pet rabbit containments
- European ferret containments
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandling.com
Link to sh…
Chinchilla, Gerbil, Hamster, Degu, Sugar Glider, and Hedgehog Containments
In this episode, Dr. Chastain and Abby describe the behaviors and physical needs of various small mammals for different containments.
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandling.com
Link to…
Rats, Mice, and Guinea Pigs Containments
This week, Abby and Dr. Chastain discuss the topics of:
- General containment requirements of small mammals
- Basic containment needs for rodents
- Containments for rats and mice
- Containments for…
Cat Containments
This week, Dr. Chastain and Abby cover:
- Cat cages and catteries
- Cat crates
- Cat fences and exercise tunnels
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandling.com
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandl…
Dog Containments
This week, Dr. Chastain and Abby describe and explain dog containments, including:
- Dog cages
- Crates
- Runs
- Houses
- Fences
- Tethering
- Entering and exiting dog enclosures
Link to show notes: BetterA…
Containments for Pets and Laboratory Animals
This episode with Dr. Chastain and Abby deals with:
- Small animal containment general requirements
- Confinement and behavior
- Ethics and liabilities of animal containments
- Recovering escaped s…
Health and Behavior
This week, Dr. Chastain and Abby discuss:
- Psychological health and stereotypic behavior
- Nutraceuticals for behavior modification
- Animal behavior specialists
Link to show notes: BetterAnima…
Species Differences in Aggressiveness and Training Methods
This week, Dr. Chastain and Abby explain:
- Species differences in aggressiveness and avoidance
- Training methods for animals
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandling.com
Link to show notes: …
Resistance Behaviors
This week's episode is about forms of aggression, including:
- Maternal
- Pain-related
- Predatory
- Territorial and possessive
- Fear-induced
- Intermate
- Dominance
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandlin…
Vision and Behavior
Dr. Chastain and Abby talk about how vision differs among animals and the effects on their behavior. Topics include:
- Field of vision
- Pupil shape
- Depth perception
- Acuity
- Color differentiatio…
Hearing, Touch, and Behavior
In this episode, Dr. Chastain and Abby explain the relationship between animal behavior and:
- Hearing
- Touch
- Body heat
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandling.com
Link to show notes: BetterA…
Socialization, Flight Zones, and Senses Effects on Behavior
This week, Dr. Chastain and Abby cover:
- Critical socialization periods with humans
- Flight zones and points of balance to move animals
- The sense of smell and behavior
Link to show notes: Be…