Jessica Hekman, DVM, MS

Whole Dog Journal reviews dog food, dog toys, and dog health and care products, and also teaches positive dog training methods.

The best in health, wellness, and positive training from America’s leading dog experts

Home
Dog Food
- All Canned Dog Food Dog Food Information Dog Treats Dry Dog Food Fresh, Dried or Dehydrated Nutrition Raw & Home-Prepared
  
  Food
  
  Changing Dog Food Too Quickly
  
  Dry Dog Food
  
  WDJ’s 2025 Approved Dry Dog Foods: Search Over 1,100 Varieties
  
  Dry Dog Food
  
  What’s the Best Dry Dog Food? 2025’s Top Picks in 8 Categories
  
  Dog Treats
  
  Raw Bones for Dogs
Dog Behavior
- All Aggression Biting & Growling Demand Behavior Fear & Confidence Humping Impulse Control Instincts & DNA Leash & Barrier Reactivity Reading Your Dog’s Body Language Resource Guarding Separation Anxiety Stress Signals
  
  Behavior
  
  Dog Socialization: Unleash Canine Confidence
  
  Behavior
  
  How to Help a Dog with Separation Anxiety
  
  Behavior
  
  How to Calm a Dog Down
  
  Behavior
  
  Understanding Prey Drive in Dogs
Dog Training
- All Advanced Dog Training Beginner Dog Training Cognitive Skills Crates House Rules & Good Manners House Training Positive Conditioning Professional & Group Training Recalls & Leash Training Sit, Wait, Stay Special Needs Training Tricks, Games, Sports
  
  Training
  
  Best Tools for Daily Dog Training
  
  House Rules & Good Manners
  
  How to Keep Dogs Off the Couch
  
  Crates
  
  How to Crate Train a Rescue Dog
  
  Training
  
  How to Get Involved in Rally, an Obedience-Based Dog Sport
Dog Health
- All Arthritis Bloat Cancer Common Medications Dental Health Digestion ER & Surgery Eye Disorders First Aid Heart Disease Injuries Kennel Cough Other Diseases Overweight Dogs Pee Problems Skin Allergies Spay and Neuter Ticks Vaccinations Vet Visits
  
  Health
  
  What Is IVDD in Dogs?
  
  Eye Disorders
  
  Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) in Dogs
  
  Health
  
  What is Shaker Syndrome in Dogs?
  
  Eye Disorders
  
  Pannus in Dogs
Dog Care
Lifestyle
- All Adoption Dog Gear Dogs with Jobs Human Focus
  
  Lifestyle
  
  What is Skijoring?
  
  Adoption
  
  Designer Dogs: Mixed Breeds with High Price Tags
  
  Adoption
  
  What Traits Make the Best Family Dogs?
  
  Dogs with Jobs
  
  Extraordinary Canines: The Dogs of Search and Rescue
Puppies
Blog
🛒
Login

Home Authors Posts by Jessica Hekman DVM, MS

7 POSTS 0 COMMENTS

Jessica Hekman, DVM, MS, completed her internship in shelter medicine at the University of Florida’s Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program in 2013. She now studies the genetics of dog behavior in Illinois, where she lives with her husband and two dogs. Check out Dr. Hekman’s Facebook page, where posts about dog brains and behavior (and sometimes shelter medicine).

Probiotics do have an effect on behavior, the exact effect though is unknown.

Health

Behavioral Probiotics

Jessica Hekman DVM, MS 4

Health

Pain’s Effect on Behavior

Jessica Hekman DVM, MS 5

Adoption

8 Steps to a Behaviorally Healthy Dog

Jessica Hekman DVM, MS 0

Behavior

Is Our Dogs’ Behavior Genetic?

Jessica Hekman DVM, MS 0

Common Medications

Behavior-Modifying Drugs for Dogs: Medications for treating fear, phobias, and anxiety...

Jessica Hekman DVM, MS 0

Puppy Health

How a Mother’s Stress Can Influence Unborn Puppies

Jessica Hekman DVM, MS 1

Health

Neutering Dogs Without a Scalpel

Jessica Hekman DVM, MS 2

Latest Blog

The canine good citizen test for dogs examines how well dogs react to touch, grooming, and gretting others.

Blog

Take the Canine Good Citizen Test

Nancy Kerns 12

I have been aware of the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen program for ages, and I always imagined that my dogs would rather...

ABOUT US

Whole Dog Journal has helped dog owners and their dogs since 1998. Sensible dog care, health and nutrition advice and no-force training tips, Whole Dog Journal equips you with the tools to understand your dog, to encourage his physical and emotional wellness and to elicit his full potential and vitality.

Whole Dog Journal’s experts are recognized veterinarians, dog trainers, groomers and dog food authorities. At-home care advice, recommendations of the best dog food for your dog, conventional veterinary medicine as well as complementary therapies, positive-reinforcement, training methods – you’ll find it all at Whole Dog Journal.

Your No-Risk Guarantee of Satisfaction

If you ever decide that Whole Dog Journal or any book or ebook sold by Whole Dog Journal is not for you, email us by clicking here and we’ll happily refund your entire purchase. Note that we may ask you to return any print book purchase before processing your refund.