Pet Behavioral Counseling

Is unwanted behavior driving a wedge between you and your animal companion?

Pets behave in a variety of ways, and many of their actions can be unpleasant. Bad behavior can be stressful for everyone, whether it’s a simple house training issue or something more serious, such as hostility. It is, in fact, the most common cause for people surrendering their pets to shelters. We want to assist your pet before it gets to that point. Our team has a lot of experience with companion animal behavior and can provide you with the advice you need to get your home back on the right path.

Understanding the Problem

The key to overcoming animal behavior concerns is pinpointing the exact issue. First, we’ll need to inspect your pet to rule out any medical issues. Many illnesses have symptoms that can easily be misinterpreted as undesirable behavior. A cat that urinates outside the litter box, for example, may not be acting out but rather suffering from a health problem. Before we proceed, we must rule out this possibility.

After your pet has been given the all-clear, the next step is to figure out what kind of behavior we’re dealing with. This is important since a larger problem can often present itself in several minor ways. For example, when left alone, destructive conduct could be a sign of separation anxiety. We’ll work with you and your companion to figure out exactly what’s going on so we can respond appropriately.

Some of the behavior problems we can provide assistance with include:

• Housetraining
• Excessive barking
• Jumping
• Digging
• Biting
• Destructive behavior
• Aggression
• Fear/anxiety

A Plan That Gets Results

With a correct diagnosis in hand, the following stage is to devise a strategy for permanently resolving the behavior problem. There are a variety of approaches we might take when dealing with a behavior problem. We’ll work with you to develop a unique plan that achieves results, whether it’s positive reinforcement, rewards, training, or something else.