Not only is Dr. Martin a highly qualified veterinary professional, he is also an extremely experienced animal trainer. Dr. Martin grew up in a multi-pet household of dogs, cats, birds, and many other exotic pocket pets. He has owned multiple different breeds of dog and began training dogs for AKC obedience and conformation when he was just eight years old. He has trained and handled dogs in Conformation, Obedience, Agility, Search and Rescue, Dog Therapy, and Ringsports. 

Dr. Kenneth Martin is one of less than 100 veterinarians in the world to obtain the status of a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. He is not just an avid dog trainer, but a board-certified specialist in animal behavior. Veterinary behaviorists are essentially veterinary psychiatrists - medical doctors qualified to assess both mental and physical aspects of behavior problems in pets. He is an international lecturer, a published author in scientific journals and texts, and an experienced educator who has helped thousands of pets with emotional and behavioral issues.

Kenneth M. Martin, DVM, Diplomate American College of Veterinary Behaviorists

Dr. Martin is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and a licensed practicing veterinarian in the great state of Texas. He completed a clinical behavioral medicine residency at Purdue University's Animal Behavior Clinic under the mentorship of Dr. Andrew Luescher PhD, DVM, DACVB in 2004 and graduated from Louisiana State University - School of Veterinary Medicine in 1999. He was invited to join Phi Zeta, the honor society of veterinary medicine, while at Purdue University.  

Dr. Martin’s professional interests include behavioral development, cognition/learning, psychopharmacology, conflict related (owner directed) aggression, and alternative medicine. He is a frequent lecturer on animal behavior disorders and teaches a small animal behavior course for veterinary students at Louisiana State University. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. He is a consultant and subject matter expert for Fear Free.

He is a published author in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research and has contributions to the texts Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion Canine and Feline Behavior, 2nd Edition, Manual of Parrot Behavior, Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice –Behavior, and Canine and Feline Behavior for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses, 2nd Edition.  Dr. Kenneth Martin and Debbie Martin co-authored Puppy Start Right: Foundation Training for the Companion Dog book and the acclaimed Karen Pryor Academy Puppy Start Right for Instructors Course. Dr. Martin is an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional.

Professional Affiliations

Training Photo Gallery

Training Videos

See more videos of Ken and Debbie in action on the Videos page.

Animal Behavior Publications

• Richter C and Martin KM. The use of mirtazapine as an adjunct agent to fluoxetine and paroxetine in the treatment of canine fear-, anxiety-, and aggression-based disorders: a retrospective study of 71 cases. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 5 December 2023.

• Martin KM, 2023. Introductory neurophysiology and psychopharmacology. In. Canine and Feline Behavior for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses.  2nd edition.  Eds. Martin DA and Shaw JK. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.

• Martin KM and Martin DA, 2023. "Role of the Veterinary Technician in Animal Behavior."  In. Canine and Feline Behavior for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses.  2nd edition. Eds. Martin DA and Shaw JK. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. 

• Martin KM and Martin DA, 2018. Puppy Behavior Problems; Starting Puppies Off Right; Housetraining a Puppy. In. Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult-Clinical Companion, Canine and Feline Behavior. 2nd edition. Ed. Horwitz DF.

• Martin KM, Martin DA, Shaw JK.  2014. “Small Animal Behavioral Triage – A Guide for Practitioners.”  In. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice –Behavior. Elsevier Saunders.

• Martin, KM and Martin, DA. Puppy Start Right: Foundation Training for the Companion Dog. Kindle version, 2012.

• Martin, KM and Martin, DA. Puppy Start Right Foundation Training for the Companion Dog. Sunshine Books, Waltham, MA. Second Edition, 2011.

• Martin, KM and Martin, DA. "The Cure for Problem Behavior" in Austin Pet Directory Magazine, Issue 12, Volume 10: December 15, 2011/January 15, 2012, pages 10-11. 

• Martin, KM.  2010.  "Train Your Furniture-Scratching Cat To A Scratching Post."  May 21, 2010. Online article available at - www.MyPetsDoctor.com

• Martin, KM.  2010.  "Effect of Clomipramine on the Electrocardiogram and Serum Thyroid Concentrations of Healthy Cats."  Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research. Volume 5, Issue 3. May-June 2010. pp. 123-129.

• Martin, DA.  2010.  "Case Report: Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) in a Geriatric Cat."  The Behavior Perspective, Vol 9, Issue 4, pp. 3, 6, 8-9.

• Martin, KM and Martin DA.  2009.  Puppy Start Right: Foundation Training for the Companion Dog.  Veterinary Behavior Consultations: Self Published.  196 pages.

• Martin, DA.  2008.  "Ask the TECHspert: Feline Psychogenic Alopecia."  Veterinary Technician, Vol 29, No 8, August Issue, pp. 484-487.

• Puppel, DA.  2007.  “Making the Perfect Puppy; The Importance of Puppy Socialization.” Animal Magazine, Vol 2, Issue 7, July Issue, pp. 33-35.

• Martin, KM.  2006.  "Psittacine Behavioral Pharmacology."  In: Manual of Parrot Behavior, ed. A. U. Luescher, Iowa: Blackwell Publishing, pp. 267-279.

• Puppel, DA.  2006. “After Katrina.”  Spring SVBT Newsletter

• Martin, KM.  2005.  "When Dogs Fight: Sibling Rivalry, Part 2."  Animal Magazine, Vol 2, Issue 6, pp. 6-8.

• Martin, KM.  2005.  "When Dogs Fight: Sibling Rivalry, Part 1." Animal Magazine, Vol 2, Issue 5, pp. 6-8.

• Puppel, DA.  2005.  "Preventing Puppies from Fearing the Clinic."  Veterinary Technician.  Vol 26, No 7, July Issue, pp. 484-487.

• Martin, KM.  2004.  "Behavioral Approach to Psittacine Feather Picking."  AAV Annual Conference.  August.

• Martin, KM.  2002.  "A Case History - Aggression Between Cats After Reintroduction."  SVBT Newsletter Volume 1, Issue 3, Spring.