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 Tag:
Aggression
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)
It's important to have realistic expectations when introducing a new pet to a resident pet. Some cats are more social than other cats. For example, an eight-year-old cat that has never been around other animals may never learn to share her territory (and her people) with other pets in the...
While some are more social than others, cats are wonderful companions to each other. An 8-year-old cat that has never been around other animals may need several weeks or even months to learn to share her territory (and her people) with other pets in the household. However, a very young...
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...
Play-motivated aggressive behaviors are common in young, active cats less than two years of age, and in cats that live in one-cat households who don't have enough mental and physical stimulation. When cats play, they incorporate a variety of behaviors into their play, such as exploratory, investigative, and predatory behaviors....
Does your cat demand to be petted or played with? Ignore you when you call him? Wake you up to be fed in the middle of the night? "Nothing in life is free" (NILIF) can help. NILIF is not a magic pill that will solve a specific behavior problem; rather...
Cat owners sometimes have difficulty understanding why their cats, who seem to be friendly and content one minute, may suddenly bite and scratch them the next. While overstimulation isn't aggression, the response may appear aggressive. Cat owners however can find some relief, knowing that this behavior is normal and is...
While pet owners would never consider withholding food or water from their cats, many forget to provide adequate exercise and stimulation. Yes, cats do sleep a lot, but play is an important component of any pet's health and well-being. The release of energy triggered by regular daily interactive play sessions...
When puppies play with each other, they use their mouths. Therefore, puppies usually want to bite or "mouth" hands during play or when being petted. This behavior is rarely aggressive and, therefore, not intended to cause harm. Because puppies are highly motivated to exhibit this type of behavior, attempts to...
Your new dog has a history of guarding food or other resources in the home. This means he (or she) may have frozen up, growled or even bitten!
There is no guarantee that your dog will never guard again, but there are ways you can reduce the chances of it...
Dogs with separation anxiety exhibit behavior problems when they're left alone. Typically, they'll have a dramatic anxiety response within a short time (20-45 minutes) after their owners leave them. The most common of these behaviors are:
- Digging, chewing, and scratching at door or windows in an attempt to escape...
When cats feel threatened, they usually respond in three ways to the object, person, or situation they perceive as a threat: fight, flee, or freeze. Some cats become so frightened they lose control of their bladder or bowels and eliminate right where they are. Each cat has his/her preferred way...
Is your cat more independent than you would like? Is your cat affectionate but only pays attention to you when he decides? A common misperception about cats is that they aren't affectionate, or only give affection on their terms. Another misperception is that you can't train a cat–but you can!...
A training tether is a temporary management tool that can be used to prevent behavior problems or assist in resolving an existing problem. The idea is to tether your dog in the places where your family spends time, such as the kitchen, the TV room, or the bedroom, so he...
Aggression means intent to do harm. The word aggression however can refer to a range of behaviors from barking and growling, snarling and snapping, to biting and attacking. Threats of aggression are one way dogs have of communicating and are often displayed as a means of avoiding outright aggression. However,...