Behavior Tips

Need help with your dog or cat?

If you're having difficulties with housetraining your pet, excessive barking, scratching or other pet concerns, take a look at our Behavior handouts on this page. If you still need assistance after reading our information, please call us at 831-264-5422. Our helpline can receive calls, 24 hours a day, with an automated greeting and will record your concern and questions. Calls are usually returned within 24 to 72 hours.

• Click here for schedule of Behavior Training classes.

The following behavior handouts are available and may be printed by clicking on the appropriate link.

Selecting a Pet

• Is this the Best Time to Adopt a Pet?

Seasonal Pet Care Tips

• Protect Your Pet from Hot Weather
• Keep Your Pet Safe on the Fourth of July
• Halloween: How Keep Your Pet Safe
• Holiday Hazards: Keeping Your Pet Safe During the Holiday Season
• Stuffed Toys Make the Best Easter Pets

Other Pet Related Information

• Successful Cleaning to Remove Pet Odors and Stains
• Preparing Your Pet for Baby's Arrival
• "After All He was Only a Pet..." (When Being Strong Hurts More than Grieving)
• Positive Reinforcement: Training Your Dog or Cat with Treats and Praise
• When the Behavior Helpline Can't Help
• When You Move
• Grieving the Loss of Your Pet

Dog Behavior Information

• The Fearful Dog
• Nothing in Life is Free
• Dealing With Normal Puppy Behavior: Nipping and Rough Play
• Dealing With Normal Puppy Behavior: Chewing
• Canine Rivalry
• Separation Anxiety
• How to Use a Head Halter
• Keeping Your Dog Confined To Your Property
• Dealing With Dominance in Dogs
• Developmental Stages of Puppy Behavior
• How to Solve the Digging Problem
• Inside or Out? - Making Your Dog Part of the Family
• Submissive or Excitement Urination
• Children and Dogs: Important Information for Parents
• Helping Your Dog Overcome the Fear of Thunder and Other Startling Noises
• Aversives for Dogs
• Introducing Your New Dog to Your Resident Dog
• Crate Training Your Dog
• Why Dogs Bite: a Guideline for Children
• Dog Toys and How to Use Them
• The Benefits of an Educated Dog
• Understanding Aggressive Behavior in Dogs
• The Canine Escape Artist
• Housetraining Your Puppy
• Re-Housetraining Your Adult Dog
• The Barking Dog
• Destructive Chewing

Cat Behavior Information

• Aversives for Cats
• Feline Social Behavior and Aggression Between Family Cats
• Understanding Cat Aggression Towards People
• Cat Toys and How to Use Them
• Destructive Scratching in Cats
• Introducing Your New Cat to Your Other Pets
• Solving Litter Box Problems
• Discouraging Roaming Cats
• Your Cat: Indoors or Out
• Your Cat Needs a Tag!
• Managing Your Kitten’s Rough Play
• Developmental Stages of Kitten Behavior
• The Fearful Cat
• Your Talkative Cat
• Starting Out Right With Your New Cat and the Litter Box