Pet Resource Center
Getting help for your pet
Regardless of your dog or cat's behavior, we offer several free options to help!
Our team of behavior specialists provides enrichment, daily training, and when necessary, additional behavior support to pets in our shelters so that they become the best possible candidates for adoption.
Other resources
Schedule a Behavior Help Line appointment:
helpline for a dog helpline for a cat Other Resource links Have General Questions?See our FAQ
clear filter Resources filtered by Category:
Resources/Dogs
Search
All Categories
All Tags
- Wildlife (2)
- Vocalizing (8)
- Veterinary Care (4)
- Training (56)
- Spay/Neuter (4)
- Safety (8)
- Pulling (4)
- Play (4)
- Pet-friendly Rentals (1)
- Pet Food (1)
- Other Shelters (2)
- Life Events (7)
- Jumping (1)
- Introductions (14)
- Instructions (2)
- Indoor or Outdoor? (7)
- House Soiling (20)
- Holiday (2)
- Health (19)
- Fearfulness (16)
- Estate Planning (5)
- Escaping (8)
- Eating Disorders (7)
- Dumb Friends League Guidelines (1)
- Dogs (2)
- Destruction (14)
- Cats (1)
- Breed Ordinances (3)
- Aggression (33)
Firework and thunder season are almost here. It's so difficult to watch our beloved pups suffer from noise phobias. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to help your canine companion cope: Prepare: First, keep your dog indoors and stay home with him, when possible. A panicked dog will...
Dogs are complex animals that may display a variety of different behaviors in any given situation. Any dog–from your best friend at home to the stray dog on the street–will react differently, and possibly unexpectedly, to people, places and other animals. Animal behavior can shift from moment to moment, so...
Digging is a normal behavior for most dogs, but may occur for widely varying reasons. Your dog may be:
- ¬ôseeking entertainment ¬ôseeking prey
- ¬ôseeking comfort or protection ¬ôseeking attention
- ¬ôseeking escape
- seeking prey
- seeking attention
A head halter is a special kind of collar with a strap that goes around your dog's nose and another strap that goes around his neck, just behind his ears. The leash fastens under his chin to a ring that's attached to the nose strap. When your dog begins to...
Some dog owners believe that dogs, especially large ones, should be "outdoor only" pets. At the Dumb Friends League, we believe that dogs of all sizes are happier, healthier and safer when they can be indoors with their people the majority of the time. Dogs have a need to be...
Animals that live in groups, like dogs, establish relationships, through which the individuals involved interact and live together. The roles that the individuals play within the relationship can change with each new day or situation. These relationships also take time to build, so proper introductions are important to help the...
We recommend that you keep your dog indoors, unless you're present to supervise his time outside. Dogs are social creatures and need to socialize with you and the world around them. By walking your dog regularly (at least twice a day), you can provide him with the exercise and mental...
Be sure to make this holiday season safe and enjoyable for everyone in your family by observing the following pet safety tips:
- If you have a live Christmas tree, keep the water stand covered. Pine sap mixed with water makes a poisonous drink for your pet. The smell...
Halloween is a fun holiday for humans, but there are some things you should do to make sure it doesn't get scary for pets. Here are some tips that will help keep pets safe:
- Protect your pets on Halloween by keeping them indoors. A pet that's out at night...
There are many ways of teaching loose leash walking and you may want to use several of the methods below. The most important thing is that, while you are teaching this skill, you must NEVER allow the dog to pull on the leash. We understand that this is hard because...
Urine-marking occurs when there is either instability in a dog's relationships or when a dog is feeling anxious. It is not a house soiling problem. To resolve the problem, you need to address the underlying reason for your dog's need to mark.
House Soiling or Urine Marking? How to Tell...
The arrival of your new family member will bring changes for everyone. Handling your pet's curiosity, anxiety, and increased insistence for attention may seem like an overwhelming task. In addition to preparing yourself and your household for the baby's arrival, but you can help your pet adjust to the big...
Conditioning your dog to the clicker:
Work with your dog in several short sessions over the course of about two days. Click (once) and give your dog a treat. Repeat 10 to 12 times. Make sure you vary the amount of time between clicks and that both you and your...
- Never leave your pet in a parked car. Even cracked windows won't protect your pet from overheating or suffering from heat stroke during hot summer days.
- Exercise your dog in the early morning or evening hours, instead of during the middle of the day when it's hottest.
- If your...
It's often important to manage situations while you're working towards a final solution. In dog ownership, this means setting up your home and life in a way that prevents or discourages your...