Behavioural Counselling for Pets

If your dog or cat’s behaviour is disrupting your daily routine or putting themselves and others in danger, it could be time to consider behavioural counselling. Behavioral counseling encompasses a range of strategies we'll use to not only determine the root cause of your dog or cat's behaviors but also address problematic behavior.

What are signs my dog or cat could benefit from counselling?

Your dog or cat’s behaviour could be attributed to an underlying health issue, aggression or anxiety. Misbehaviour is often a dog or cat’s way of communicating with us since they don’t have the words to express themselves. If they have an underlying health issue, their behaviour could be a way of expressing pain or discomfort. Aggression could be triggered by fear, pain or a need to protect themselves or others. They could be experiencing separation anxiety if they're not used to being left at home alone for a long period of time or if they're in a new environment, such as with a sitter or at doggy daycare. Some signs your dog or cat could benefit from behavioural counselling include: 

• Growling 
• Snarling 
• Chewing or destroying things around the home 
• Whining 
• Excessive barking 

How can counselling address behavioural issues?

First, we’ll work with you to identify if your dog or cat’s behaviour can be attributed to an underlying health condition. We’ll treat the underlying health condition to support us in addressing the problematic behaviours. Once we’ve ruled out any health issues, we’ll create a behavioural plan that will include strategies and in some cases, therapeutic practices to help your dog or cat cope. After you’ve had time to implement the new plan, we’ll follow up to determine if changes are necessary or if you require more support. To book a behavioural counselling consultation, please contact us at 613-748-9820.