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T he veterinary profession has long recognized a need for client relations (CR) and communication skills training. [1][2][3] This need was clearly identified in the executive summary by Brown and Silverman, 4 who found that the characteristics most desired by pet owners when selecting a veterinarian included kindness, gentleness, and respect. This supports results of a study 5 that indicated that people have similar expectations and needs, in terms of communication, whether dealing with their veterinarians or their own medical doctors. As McCurnin 6 stated, clients most often leave practices due to poor human relations, not because of inadequate medical care. Furthermore, most complaints registered against veterinarians are related to poor communication and interpersonal skills. 7 This emphasizes the importance of good communication and listening skills in terms of client satisfaction and retention.Good communication becomes even more crucial during emotionally intense interactions, when an owner' s emotions can impede and restrict comprehension. 8,9 For this reason, clients who are facing emotional situations that require difficult decisions and need their veterinarian' s professional counsel test their veterinarian' s skills and abilities most. 10 Despite the apparent understanding of the importance of good CR and communication skills, most practitioners feel that new graduates are well-prepared with technical skills but frequently are deficient in communication and interpersonal skills. 7 These sentiments are echoed by veterinary students. In a recent national survey, 84% of fourth-year veterinary students reported believing that CR training is important to their professional development but was not adequately addressed in their veterinary curricula. 11Colorado State University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (CSU CVMBS) has long recognized the importance of CR and communication skills. The professional veterinary medical curriculum at CSU CVMBS offers students numerous opportu-

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