Meeting Your Dog’s Needs
Meeting Your Dog’s Needs
In this webinar held on March 25th, Dr. Vanessa Spano, AMC’s Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist, and Maddie Messina, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, presented an engaging and in-depth look at the foundations of canine behavior.
This webinar examined how a dog’s innate needs, early experiences, daily environment, and communication style shape behavior and overall well-being. Viewers gained insight into why many commonly perceived “behavioral issues” — such as barking, chewing, reactivity, or anxiety — are often meaningful signals that a dog’s physical, emotional, or social needs may not be fully met.
The webinar also provided practical strategies rooted in enrichment, environmental management, and positive behavior modification. Viewers were provided actionable tools to help prevent common challenges, strengthen the human–animal bond, and create a home environment where their dog can thrive.
This session was ideal for current and prospective dog owners who want to deepen their understanding of behavior and build a more supportive, compassionate relationship with their canine companions.
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Speakers
Vanessa Spano, DVM, DACVB
Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist and Head of AMC’s Behavior Service
Dr. Vanessa Spano is a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and Head of AMC’s Behavior Service. She received her board certification in 2023 after completing her residency with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, a college which includes less than 100 specialists in all of North America. Dr. Spano’s special interests include the implication of psychological trauma for patients’ part of cruelty cases, psychopharmacology, shelter medicine, and companion and farm animal welfare. She actively contributes to multiple scientific articles and received the Fear Free Grant for her research on pre-veterinary visit anxiolytics in shelter cats in 2023.
A native New Yorker, Dr. Spano attended Barnard College of Columbia University for her undergraduate degree. In 2017, she received her doctorate in veterinary medicine from the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island, Canada and subsequently completed a rotating internship in medicine and surgery at the ASPCA in NYC. While completing her residency with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, she practiced as an associate behavior veterinarian in NYC and as a per diem veterinarian with the ASPCA. Upon completing her residency, she was appointed Medical Director of the ASPCA’s Adoption Center, before joining the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center.
Dr. Spano is a recurrent lecturer for various veterinary schools, hospitals, and conferences and serves as a correspondent for multiple media publications. She and her family share their home with their 1 rescue puppy, Puppia, and 5 rescue cats, Little Prince, Dancer, Princess, Sunny D, and Brodie.
Maddie Messina, MA, ACAAB, CSAP-BC, FFCP
Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist
Maddie Messina, a certified applied animal behaviorist with over 7 years of experience, empowers guardians to nurture deep and fulfilling relationships with their canine companions. Armed with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Behavior from Bucknell University and a Master of Arts in Animal Behavior and Conservation from Hunter College, she possesses a comprehensive understanding of animal behavior and welfare.
After witnessing the transformative power of personalized training in her veterinary and shelter experience, Maddie shifted her focus to private dog training. Inspired by a desire to go beyond basic obedience, she founded Paws for Thought Dog Training in 2021. This practice was built on the principle of providing thoughtful, solution-oriented services that tackle complex behavioral issues often unresolved in traditional group classes.
Her expertise encompasses puppies, adolescent dogs, and those exhibiting challenging behaviors. From teaching puppies to thrive in the city’s vibrant atmosphere to helping fearful dogs gain confidence and reduce leash reactivity, Maddie’s goal is to empower clients to cultivate happier, more fulfilling relationships with their dogs.
