Helpful Behavior Tips and Counseling

Do you 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 the behavior tips on this page. If you still need assistance after reading our information, please call us at (603) 448-6888 ext. 103. Please leave a daytime phone number because specially trained employees return all calls during regular business hours and volunteers who are dedicated to helping people understand why pets do what they do.

Behavioral Counseling: If the classroom setting isn't right for you, try private one-on-one training. Our qualified staff can help you deal with specific behavior problems like housetraining, destruction, stealing, and more. We know first hand from our work with shelter dogs that dog-to-people aggression problems can mean life or death for your dog. If your dog is people aggressive, you are not alone! Call us. Our team has developed some exciting behavior modification programs to help owners deal with their dog's problems with aggression and/or fear. Call 603-448-6888 ext 123 to schedule an appointment.

Click here for Dog Training Classes information

(Most of the behavior tips are reprinted with the kind permission of the Denver Dumb Friends League www.ddfl.org)

SELECTING A PET
· Selecting the Right Pet
· Choosing A Puppy
· 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
· Keep Your Pet Safe from Winter Hazards
· Holiday Hazards: Keeping Your Pet Safe This Holiday Season
· Stuffed Toys Make the Best Easter Pets

PET RELATED INFORMATION
· Successful Cleaning to Remove Pet Odors and Stains
· Preparing Your Pet for Baby's Arrival
· Teaching a Child to be Gentle
· "After All He was Only a Pet..." (When Being Strong Hurts More Than Grieving Can)
· Territorial Marking Behavior in Dogs and Cats
· Retraining Marking Behavior for Your Dog
· Positive Reinforcement: Training Your Dog or Cat with Treats and Praise
· Guidelines for Finding a Good Dog Trainer
· When the Behavior Helpline Can't Help
· Moving with Your Pet
· Unusual Eating Habits in Dogs and Cats
· Pet Loss Support Information
· The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement, Inc.

DOG BEHAVIOR INFORMATION
· Housetraining Your UVHS Puppy
· Small Dog, Big Attitude
· The Puppy's Rule of Twelve
· The Fearful Dog
· Earn While You Learn- The No Free Lunch Program
· Puppy Nipping
· Double Trouble
· Puppy Chewing
· Canine Rivalry
· Separation Anxiety
· How to Use a Head Halter
· Keeping Your Dog Confined To Your Property
· Self-control With A Relaxed Down
· Who's In Charge-It's All A Question of Leadership
· Developmental Stages Of Puppy Behavior
· How to Solve Digging Problems
· 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
· Sample Aversives for Dogs
· Introducing Your New Dog to Your Resident Dog
· Successful Cleaning to Remove Pet Odors and Stains
· Crate Training Your Dog
· Cat and Dog Introduction
· 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
· Destructive Chewing Behavior in Dogs
· The Canine Escape Artist
· Housetraining Puppies
· Ring The Bell To Go Out
· Re-Housetraining Your Adult Dog
· Stopping Barking When the Doorbell Rings
· Puppy/Dog Socialization

OH NO, NOT THE VET!
(Helping your dog feel positively about being touched, held, & groomed by family and strangers is vital to their good health. These articles address the basics. If your dog has aggression problems related to handling by you or others please give us call for help with private consultation or our Feisty Dog Classes.)
· Crate Training
· Gentle Leader
· Handling and Restraint
· The Veterinary Olympics
· Preparing for Veterinary Procedures
· Animal Husbandry at Home
· Nail Trimming for Sensitive Dogs

CAT BEHAVIOR INFORMATION
· Aversives for Cats
· Feline Social Behavior and Aggression Between Family Cats
· Understanding Cat Aggression Towards People
· Starting Out Right with Your New Cat & the Litter Box
· Cat Toys and How to Use Them
· Cat and Dog Introduction
· Destructive Scratching in Cats
· Introducing Your New Cat to Your Other Pets
· Solving Litter Box Problems
· Discouraging Roaming Cats
· Cats: Indoor vs. Outdoor
· Your Cat Needs a Tag!
· Managing Your Kitten's Rough Play
· Developmental Stages of Kitten Behavior
· The Fearful Cat
· Your Talkative Cat

Small Pet Care Information
· Ferrets
· Gerbils
· Guinea Pigs
· Hamsters
· Mice
· Rabbits
· Rabbit Care Guide
· Rats