Adoption & Pet Care

When people think about training an animal, they often imagine tricks and performances. But training a pet goes beyond just showing off his talents and intelligence.

The good news is that many of these behavior problems can be improved with a little patience and understanding -- and some training.

Look to the box to the right for information on specific issues you might be dealing with. But before you get started, consider these three steps:

Step 1:

Rule out any physical or medical reasons for your pet’s problems. Take your pet to the veterinarian for a complete physical and lab tests. This is especially important for sudden aggression and house-soiling issues. Your pet could have a medical condition that a veterinarian needs to diagnose as soon as possible.

Step 2:

Once you rule out any medical causes, determine if you can resolve the issue on your own. Refer to the information at the right.

Step 3:

Ask for help. In some cases, assistance from a professional may be the best solution. Contact your local humane society, animal shelter, veterinary clinic or other pet professional to find a training consultant in your area. Or, check out the resources here:

• Animal Behavior Society
• Association of Pet Dog Trainers
• International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
• American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
• American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior