Behavior Resources

These are resources that we have found useful when managing behavioral challenges, training, and anxiety reduction for our patients. Please let us know if you have any suggestions that you’d like to see added!

Apps

Puppr Dog Training App: Video instructions that walk you through how to train your dog
iTrainer Dog Whistle and Clicker App: Multiple different whistles, squeakers, and clicker sounds to use as cues during training sessions

Articles

Introducing new cats to resident cats or dogs by Patricia McConnell
Preparing your pet for a new baby by Animal Humane Society
Managing your dog’s separation anxiety by Karen Pryor
Interacting with fearful dogs by Nicole Wilde
Excessive barking: Why some dogs bark and how to fix it by Dr. Sophia Yin

Books

Fired up, Freaked out and Frantic: Training the Crazy Dog From Over the Top to Under Control by Laura Van Arendonk Baugh
Cat Vs. Cat: Keeping Peace When You Have More Than One Cat by Pam Johnson-Bennett
Control Unleashed: the Puppy Program by Leslie McDevitt
Control Unleashed: Creating a Focus and Confident Dog by Leslie McDevitt
Don’t Shoot the Dog! by Karen Pryor
I’ll Be Home Soon: How to Prevent and Treat Separation Anxiety by Patricia McConnell
The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell
From the Cat’s Point of View by Gwen Bohnenkamp
Perfect Puppy in 7 Days: How to Start Your Puppy Off Right by Dr. Sophia Yin
Decoding Your Dog: Explaining Common Dog Behaviors and How to Prevent or Change Unwanted Ones by Steve Dale, John Ciribassi, Deb Horwitz

DVDs

The Language of Dogs: Understanding Canine Body Language and Other Communication Signals by Sarah Kalnajs
Skills for Handling Your Hyper Or Reactive Dog: A Workshop for Developing Focus and Impulse Control by Dr. Sophia Yin
Dog Aggression: From Fearful, Reactive, and Hyperactive to Focused, Happy, and Calm by Dr. Sophia Yin

Facebook Groups

Cooperative Veterinary Care: Support for training your pet to voluntarily participate in their own health care and husbandry.

Products

Cat Foraging:

Doc & Phoebe’s No Bowl Feeding System: These mouse-shaped kibble dispensers can be hidden around your house to encourage hunting-like behavior.
Pipolino: This is an adjustable feeding dispenser that allows you to adjust the difficulty for your pet as they get more adept at using the toy.

For the Home:

Motion Activated Sprinkler: Many indoor cats will react with aggressive or territorial behavior when they see outdoor cats near their home. These sprinklers discourage outdoor cats from entering your yard.
Window Frosting clings: Window clings help to provide a visual barrier so that your pet cannot see things outside that trigger anxiety or reactive behaviors.
Wyze Video Camera: This is an inexpensive WiFi camera for monitoring your pet while you are away. We recommend these if you aren’t sure if or how long your pet is demonstrating anxious behavior when you are away from home, as well as for monitoring how your pet is progressing with training to tolerate separation.

Sound Sensitivities and Therapies:

iCalm Pet: iCalm (formerly known as “Through A Dog’s Ear” and “Through A Cat’s Ear”) provides a wide variety of “bioacoustic” music- music specifically designed to reduce anxiety and calm both cats and dogs. We use iCalm speakers in our kennel areas to help our hospitalized patients feel calmer.
Sounds Scary, Sounds Sociable, and Sounds Soothing: These audio tracks are designed to help desensitize dogs and cats to noises that can trigger anxiety, including fireworks, thunderstorms, vacuum cleaners, and baby sounds. These tracks are available for free via SoundCloud.
Happy Hoodie: Many dogs get overwhelmed with loud noises. A Happy Hoodie helps muffle noise and reduces noise anxiety.

Tools for Walking:

Gentle Leader: You can find Gentle Leaders in most pet stores. This version made by the Professional Animal Behavior Association has a metal chin clasp rather than a plastic clasp, which provides better longevity of use.
Halti headcollar: Another style of a headcollar.
Freedom No Pull Harness: The Freedom Harness has two attachment points to help provide excellent control over your dog while also allowing you to switch to a regular back-attachment harness for times when you’d like your dog to have more freedom to explore.
Lupine Leash: Lupine has a lifetime warranty, even if your pet chews on their leash or collar!

Videos

Does my dog REALLY want to be petted?: How to recognize dog communication that indicates if they want or don’t want to be petted.
Positive Cattitudes cat training videos
Sophia Yin Towel Wrap: Safely handle cats for procedures using gentle towel wraps.
Stop the 77: 77% of dog bites are caused by dogs owned by the family or a family friend. Stop the 77 has educational videos for parents and children to learn how to avoid dog bites and how to understand dog behavior.

Websites

Absolute Dogs: Dog training program
A Sound Beginning Training program: Program for transitioning rescue dogs into their forever homes
Fear Free Happy Homes: Educational videos and articles for reducing anxiety and improving pet happiness at home
Food Puzzle For Cats: Information about cat foraging
Fundamentally Feline: Educational material and behavioral consultations from a certified feline behavior consultant
Indoor Pet Initiative: Resources for enriching the lives of your indoor pets to reduce stress, anxiety, and boredom
Muzzle Up! Project: The Muzzle-Up! Project aims to reduce stigma around the use of muzzles and provides resources for training your dog to enjoy wearing a muzzle when it is necessary for the safety of themselves or others
Separation Anxiety: Education about the prevention and treatment of separation anxiety

Content prepared by St. Francis Animal Hospital, 1227 Larpenteur Ave. West, Roseville MN. 55113 - (651) 645-2808