Putting Your Best Paw Forward

While there’s no limit to the information you can get about training dogs and cats on the Internet, taking part in training programs at your local humane society or with a private trainer can be a great first step. At the humane society, classes are usually held in groups and focus on general behaviors. Private trainers can arrange to work with you and your pet individually to address a specific behavior, particularly aggression issues.

In either case, training lets you interact with an animal behavior specialist who will show you techniques for training, explain the reasoning behind them and help make sure you’re able to perform training yourself once you get home. That consistency and frequency of training is important to get your dog or cat in the habit of good behavior. A veterinarian can also be a valuable resource in helping you to uncover any underlying reasons for your pet’s behavior problem—especially if it’s related to a physical condition.