Posts in Category: Training & Behavior

While it can feel great to come home to your best friend, it’s hard not to wonder what they got into while you were away. Sure, some pets will happily curl up on the couch for several hours, but others may pace, howl, whine, or stare out the window obsessively. Pet separation anxiety can also cause pets to damage property or even hurt themselves. 

There might not be alternatives to never leaving your pet home alone, but it is imperative to know their limits.

Our human world is centered on immediate gratification. We want what we want – and we want it right now. Knowing this about ourselves, it’s not surprising that we experience challenges regarding pet behavior. Specifically, when they do something they know is wrong (or at least we think they know it’s wrong). 

Since basically all of their behaviors hinge on instincts for survival, they eat, drink, and eliminate whenever and wherever they can. This can definitely land them in hot water with their owners, but the question remains: do pets feel guilty about their transgressions?

Cats make amazing pets, but they can definitely be a bit puzzling to live with at times. First of all, their awake in the morning, awake in the evening, nap all day, schedules make it seem like all they do is sleep. And when they are awake, they’re either grooming, eating, playing, or appearing to think really deep thoughts.

But the mysteries of feline behavior go deeper than their unique schedules and daily habits. Indeed, cats are highly intelligent, complex problem-solvers that not only require extra patience, understanding and observation, they deserve it.

Good pet owners spend a lot of time with their pets and understand what they’re doing (at least most of the time!). However, it’s not unusual to be utterly perplexed by certain behaviors. For example, typically laid-back animals can go from zero to sixty when scared, surprised, or stressed.

Aggression in pets can be the direct result, but, fortunately, there are ways to prevent and manage these behaviors.

Know the Signs

Body language is highly informative when it comes to understanding how animals feel about something or someone. Aggression in pets is sometimes warranted, but if it’s something you deal with on a daily basis, it’s time to take a closer look.

Be mindful of the following signs of aggression in pets:

Of the many things cat owners would likely discuss with their cats if they shared a language, their persnickety preferences might top the list. Even though we’re all dying to get to the bottom of what our cats are thinking at any given moment, if we stop and closely observe feline body language we may find they’re already giving us most of the facts.

Without a doubt, cat communication is subtle, but if you listen closely they speak volumes.

There are many aspects that go into taking care of a pet. Of course, you must provide food, water, and shelter, but there are less concrete needs that are still important. This includes things like basic medical care, companionship, and behavioral training.

Training your dog provides some very important benefits that can help you and your pet get the most from one another. That’s why the team at Harris Parkway Veterinary Hospital wants to share some of our best tips when it comes to training your dog.

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