Dr. Nicole Froelich earned both her undergraduate (BS Zoology & BA Spanish) and veterinary degrees from Washington State University. She spent a summer working with grizzly bears at the WSU Bear Center and learned how powerful positive reinforcement could be. These 400 pound animals were trained to hold out a paw for a blood draw to be rewarded with apples and honey water. The bears, biologists, and veterinarians all looked forward to these interactions, and it was wonderful to see how much could be accomplished with relative ease.

Through working with her own dog’s behavioral issues, she has developed a soft spot for fearful and aggressive animals and for the people who care for them. She has a special interest in helping vetphobic animals and has completed the Karen Pryor Academy course on Better Veterinary Visits in addition to her Fear Free certification and low stress handling certifications. She uses the strategies from these courses combined with her own experience and medical knowledge to help fearful pets receive the care they need. In her free time, Dr. Froelich enjoys trail running, mountain biking, attending Portland Thorns games and obsessing over all things Doctor Who.