Behavior Tips & FAQs
Check out our best tips for dealing with common unwanted pet behaviors...
Why is my cat house soiling?
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Location of Box
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Medical Issue
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Old Age
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Fear
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Litter Type
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Litter Cleanliness
Is your cat declawed?
Declawing causes cat paws to be sensitive to certain litters!
Why shouldn't I declaw my cat?
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It's painful
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Leaves them defenseless
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Can cause litter box issues
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Can lead to joint problems
Real Talk
Let's be real about what declawing really is. Declawing your cat is the removal of their first toe joint.
What do I do when my dog reacts?
R​etreat to a distance at which your dog stops reacting and you can regain his or her attention.
Evaluate the situation. What triggered the reaction? What could you have done differently? How should you proceed?
Adjust your training plan accordingly: start by giving your dog more distance, shorter duration, and lower intensity of exposure.
Click every behavior you would like your dog to repeat, such as looking at you, looking at the trigger without barking, etc.
Treat your dog generously for good behavior.
Reactivity is commonly confused with aggression. Although reactivity can present as aggression, it is often caused due to confusion or fear of a stimulus. By exposing the dog to the stimulus in a positive way. this behavior can be worked on.
Dog Bite Prevention
By not recognizing a dog's behavior, you can put yourself at risk of a dog bite. Keep reading how to properly and respectfully interact with a new dog in order to set yourself and the dog up for success.​
"May I pet your dog?" This is the ONLY way to begin an interaction with a dog. Sometimes you see the cutest dog in the world and all you want to do is run over and give it a pat, but it's important to always ask the dog's handler first before approaching the dog.
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Say a Slow Hello When meeting a new dog, it is best to let it sniff your outstretched hand before petting. Think of it as the difference between greeting a stranger with a handshake versus a giant hug. It is polite to give the dog a chance to refuse and interaction.
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Know when to Back Away If a dog is exhibiting any behavior that makes you think it may be uncomfortable, the best course of action is to back away. Barking, growling, raised hackles, wide eyes, and curled lips are all the behaviors that indicate you should back away from the dog.
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Understanding Emotions One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to project human emotion onto dogs. They have very complex emotions, but the way they manifest emotions and respond to certain cues are very different. For example, it is polite to look another person in the eyes when speaking to them, but a dog could easily interpret this as a threat.
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Warning Signs
If you notice a dog exhibiting any of the following body language or behavior, do not approach it. Even though they can't speak, dogs are wonderful communicators. It's up to us to recognize their warning signs and corrections and respond appropiately.
