Addressing Your Concerns about Pet Behavior

Behavior services at Beacon Veterinary Hospital are an integral part of the care that we offer for your pet. We focus on behavior wellness and problem prevention. In addition, we offer training and behavior modification for dogs and cats as well as puppy and kitten socialization classes. We provide a behavior wellness assessment as part of your pet’s annual exam. We work with you proactively to address concerns about your pet’s behavior. Behavior advisor Tristan Rehner can help you manage normal developmental behaviors (chewing, scratching, housetraining) or offer guidance for maintaining your pet’s behavioral health during times of stress or transition (new pet, new baby, move). She will consult with Dr. Ballas to develop a comprehensive modification plan for more severe behavior issues.

If you have adopted or acquired a new adult dog or cat, we can assist you in managing your pet’s successful transition into your home. Mature pets learn quickly with proper structure and guidance. Even senior pets can adapt well to a new environment when their behavioral needs are met.

If your new pet is a puppy or kitten, take advantage of our Puppy Preschool or Kitten Kindergarten. Both are important to a behavior wellness program just as puppy and kitten vaccinations are crucial to the physical health of your developing pets. Sadly, euthanasia for behavior problems is a leading cause of death for companion animals, so early socialization and training is critical to “vaccinate” puppies and kittens against becoming under-socialized, fearful, and possibly aggressive.

Animals learn throughout their lives, but there is a small window while they are young during which dogs and cats are most receptive to being introduced to new people, places and things. Puppy Preschool and Kitten Kindergarten provide a controlled environment in which to create positive early socialization experiences for your pet. Your pet is taught basic foundation behaviors with gentle, non-aversive methods and we can answer questions about normal puppy and kitten behavior during these sessions. Attending Puppy Preschool and Kitten Kindergarten at Beacon Veterinary Hospital has the added advantage of creating a positive association with your veterinarian’s office.

Puppy Preschool

For puppies 8-20 weeks

Minimum requirements: first DAPP vaccination at least 8 days prior to beginning class and veterinarian approval.

You and your puppy will receive a one-on-one consult with the Behavior Advisor along with your participation in the four-week session.

Classes will cover:

• Socialization to new people and dogs
• Acclimation to new environments
• Body handling and routine care
• Bite inhibition
• Acclimation to walking on leash
• Having puppy come when called
• Good play behavior
• Self-control cues including “leave it”, “drop it” and “wait”
• House training, chew training, crate training
• Fun

Kitten Kindergarten

Kitten Kindergarten may seem like a strange concept since cats don’t usually go to formal training classes. But that’s exactly why it’s so valuable to take advantage of this opportunity to expose your kitten to a novel environment during the socialization period when he or she is most flexible. A cat that has never left her familiar environment or been handled by a stranger may be so terrified of the veterinarian’s office that the fear actually interferes with getting an accurate physical exam. A singleton kitten may have excessive difficulty adapting to a companion cat if he has never met other cats. Indoor-only cats especially benefit from the additional exposure and confidence gained during Kitten Kindergarten.

For kittens 7-14 weeks

Minimum requirements: first FVRCP vaccination at least 8 days prior to beginning class, a negative Feline Leukemia/FIV Test, and veterinarian approval.

You and your kitten will receive a one-on-one consult with the Behavior Advisor along with your participation in the two-week session.

Classes will cover:

• Socialization to new people and cats
• Acclimation to new environments
• Play with other kittens
• Body handling and routine care
• Carrier training
• Target training
• Gentle play skills
• Litterbox training, scratching post training, appropriate play
• Fun

What about Disease?

A puppy and kitten vaccination series is crucial to your pet’s well being, as is avoiding high-risk environments until your pet is fully vaccinated. But it is also problematic to keep your pet completely isolated during the critical socialization period. Beacon Veterinary Hospital adheres to recognized best practices to ensure that your puppy or kitten can safely attend socialization classes. All puppies and kittens attending class must have their first vaccination (DAPP / FVRCP) and maintain a recommended vaccination schedule. Puppies or kittens showing any sign of internal or external parasites or respiratory infection cannot attend class. The clinic environment is thoroughly cleaned and sterilized between classes. We are committed to providing a safe and secure learning environment for people and pets.