.taLqKM { display:none; }
top of page

Your pet's behaviour problems don’t have to take over your life. We are here to help.

​
At Kindheart Veterinary Behaviour Services, underlying reasons driving behaviour are addressed, and treatment plans incorporate emotional needs.  Veterinary psychiatry utilizes psychology, learning theory, assesses environmental impacts and training to achieve long-term behavioural change.  

​

Dr. Dudzic uses her veterinary experience of 30 years in addition to her current residency training in Animal Behaviour Specialty consulting. 

 

Aversive methods are never utilized, and strongly discouraged.  Medical conditions are discussed to assess impact, working with your regular veterinarian.  Assistance is provided in daily management routines to help live with special needs patients, creating harmony and trust-building, honoring the human-animal bond. 


Anxiety problems are a very real thing for us and our pets. Our constant companions mirror our lives and so do their emotions. Behaviour problems are complex, multi-factorial and need multiple methods to target the underlying causes. Not all behaviour problems are abnormal and require medication. Many problem behaviours are actually normal behaviours for the pet. It is imperative to decipher and distinguish between anxiety disorders and "problem behaviours" to us. This is the goal of the initial assessment and may change outcomes dramatically.


Consulting a veterinary behaviourist allows all aspects of mental health to be addressed.

 

A veterinary behaviourist is a veterinary psychiatrist for pets, with the additional training. A veterinary behaviourist can also prescribe medications that can make all the difference in helping your pet heal, and finally get relief.  

Dr. Dudzic graduated veterinary school in 1996 from WCVM in 1996.  She has practiced in the Saskatoon in mixed animal practice, the lower mainland in various hospitals including emergency facilities, before finally settling in Victoria, in general practice at Oak Bay Pet Clinic in 2001.
After many years of providing behavioural help and acquiring additional intensive training in animal behaviour, she decided to pursue certification in 2023, offering referral consultations for veterinarians in BC. 

She has worked with many veterinary behaviourists over the years in Toronto, Seattle, Australia and now Western Canada. 

She enjoys mentorship by Dr. Katherine Houpt, a founder of the specialty and Cornell Professor in the area, for her residency training with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorist.  

Her passion remains helping welfare of all our companion species, with their lives emotions.

Her areas of interest are early puppy periods, senior mental health, canine and feline aggression. 

When she is not at work, she is busy in Metchosin with her small farm of friends, including chickens, birds and horses.

Annie, Rita, Maui share her home, as they watch Charlie, Roban, Chip and Bobeep fly by....

© 2026 by Kindheart Veterinary Behaviour Services. Powered and secured by Wix

bottom of page