My Pet Has Issues Animal Behavior Consulting

04/22/2022

I would like to thank you for your trust and support over the years as I take a break from behavior consulting and I will update this page as my status evolves. I hope you all remember to practice patience with yourselves and with your pets.

08/17/2021

Black Cat Appreciation Day! This handsome boy was overlooked at a shelter for nearly a year. I spotted him at an adoption event hanging like a monkey inside a crate. One paw holding from the top of the crate while the other paw swatted at passers-by. It was love at first swipe! 11 years of laughter and shenanigans mark this day as Coal Appreciation Day at our house. No matter your cats color, make today a great day!

08/03/2021

Helping a formerly only dog blend into an established family of Four was a joy. Allowing Angelica to learn, establishing some management tools to help her feel safe and working on some manners has made this transition a little easier. All five were sitting nicely, but one little sweetie decided to check on Dad 🙂. Lucky me for getting snuggles before I had to leave ❤

07/09/2021

Young pups love to learn and this 6 month old beauty is no exception! Oh my, that face!!! ❤

07/06/2021

I received this update from a client and I wanted to share this because I am so incredibly proud of this family. They asked for help, they listened to the advice and they followed through with the plan. They put in the work to help their dog learn to look to them for guidance. Consistency, patience and perseverance paid off and they now have a dog that is calm and respectful of his kitty siblings. Thank you for absolutely making my day!

Dear Barbara,

It has been just over a year since you were here to consult with us about Oden and his cat obsession/agression. We are so thankful to you for your help and guidance with him. It took some work but he and his kitty (and former kitty, Chloe, who passed away) are buddies!
We could not have done it without you. We are deeply grateful!

I have attached some pictures that I'm sure will warm your heart!

Much love, respect, and gratitude!

Beth Hall and family

07/01/2021

Romeo's newly adopted mom wanted to make sure she had a plan in place to help him adjust to his new home. He has some kitty sisters that he needs to learn to share lap time with, but overall they are doing a great job! This smile warms my heart and assures us all that he is right where he needs to be!

06/17/2021

Anatolian/Belgian Malinois working dog without a job can make for a very interesting walk, but this sweet boy was ready for a change. He was really good at "protecting" his owner from all types of stimuli...cars, people, dogs. After working with him a few short days, his owner reports that walks are fun again! He is learning to look to her for guidance and is working on calm behaviors. This little (BIG) fellow is a gem and I am excited to watch his progress!

06/09/2021

This week I have met some amazing clients and their dogs. From newly adopted to new to the area, these pups are fun, loving and excited to learn some new behaviors. ❤

05/29/2021

My office assistant insists we are done for the day. The only thing on Boo's agenda is some serious play time with the luring stick! Enjoy some quality time with your furry friend and stay safe this holiday weekend!

05/02/2021

My weekend started with a recent rescue. The new adopters wanted to make sure they were doing everything they could to help this sweet girl transition to her new home, and I was lucky enough to help them! Reactivity to people, dogs, cars and bikes was making the walk more stressful for everyone. After teaching them ways to redirect Rosie using positive reinforcement, discussing the importance of timing and practice, this family is well on their way to more enjoyable adventures together!

04/13/2021

When you are small but mighty and like to react to every dog you see, it's a good thing you're cute! Patience, consistency and a lot of redirecting made for a busy week and it's only Monday! Thankfully I have some incredible clients that put in the work to affect the changes their dogs need...I cant wait to see what the rest of the week brings!

04/06/2021

A new house, new neighborhood, new sounds can all increase a dog's anxiety. Putting behavior strategies into action to help her overcome triggers in real time was a joy. With her committed family to guide her, I cant wait to see her progress.

03/26/2021

Separation anxiety, PICA, fearfulness can be hard on both the pet and the family. Working with your veterinarian and having a behavior plan to follow can help. This sweet pup is fortunate to have a patient family willing to build her support group and help her gain the confidence she will need to work through her issues.

02/20/2021

Behavior visits are not all about the dog. Most involve the whole family and educating them on how their actions influence their dogs behavior. This sweet boy is a gem and so is his family. I loved the opportunity to engage with them in some fun "games" to enhance their positive experiences!

02/12/2021

This little cutie loves his family and trusted friends but takes a little time to warm up to new people. Allowing him the time and space he needs to feel safe and comfortable is all he needs. It wasn't long before he came up to me asking for attention (and I was more than happy to oblige!). His family is committed to teaching him and their visitors what is expected, giving Percy the time he needs to make new friends ❤

02/04/2021

Winter produces challenges when exercising your dog. Get off the beaten path and let your dog explore nature. Strap on a pair of snowshoes and take your dog out to a local park or right out your backyard! Charging through snow, sniffing animal tracks and exploring new locations is a great way to tire your dog out and shake off those winter blues. Now get out there!

01/30/2021

Anxiety and fearfulness can present like aggression. For this cutie, a display of barking and behaving badly got him the results he wanted...keeping strangers and other dogs away. His owner is committed to being the kind, benevolent leader that can guide him and help him feel safe in all situations. Fortunately, he also has the perfect, little Beagle sister by his side who can help model good behavior 😍

01/26/2021

What could be better than one Sharpei? Two! Loving, sweet and so willing to learn! The bonus of helping a young pup learn good manners is getting snuffles and kisses when you leave 😍

01/24/2021

Helping a young dog and her family learn how to manage her energy, set expectations for good manners and clearly defining their leadership roles was time well spent! I love working with a dog and family willing to put in the work to make learning fun. (And those EARS! ❤)

01/12/2021

I spent all morning yesterday helping a client with a young, reactive pup. Reactive because she gets so excited to see and play with everyone and every dog she meets. Many thanks to a former client, now friend, that brought her two dogs over to help. Watching this young dog and owner learn how to navigate a walk with several distractions was very rewarding. Using the right tools, learning what technique works best for owner and dog and practice, practice, practice makes for a very good day!

12/30/2020

Probably one of the most enjoyable parts of my job is helping families with a new puppy. This sweet little smushy face was all kisses! At 12 weeks old she was able to show her new Mom and Dad just how much fun learning can be. Treats and kibble are great motivators, but praise, pets and toys work just fine for this smart and willing pup. I can't wait to see how she progresses!

09/07/2020

Teaching a puppy good manners and giving them positive life experiences set a puppy up for success. This sweet 15 week old Great Pyrenees pup landed with a great family and I cant wait to see her progress!

08/08/2020

Celebrate your favorite feline today (and every day!), Happy International Cat day!

07/31/2020

These happy faces rounded out my week. Helping owners understand how behaviors can be changed, modified or managed is a rewarding part of my job, but seeing it in action is just the best!

07/29/2020

Helping a family teach their young pup to relinquish items and practice good manners was a joy when you get to work outside with these two sweeties!

(Covid 19 guidelines in place; masks, social distancing and working outside when we can)

07/02/2020

Pets that are afraid of loud noises can be severely affected by fireworks causing them to get lost or harmed.

• Make sure all your pets are MICROCHIPPED and have collars with tags so that if they do escape and get lost they will be quickly reunited with you.
• Keep your pet inside while festivities occur. Choose the most sound-proof room and if possible farthest from the noise. Keep the room dark and close all windows and curtains to reduce the sound.
• It helps to add some calming background sound such as a fan, air conditioner, radio, TV, etc. This help to block out the fireworks sound.
• Provide your dog some entertainment as a distraction - a stuffed Kong treat works well or play games with them.
• Make sure your dog, cat, rabbit or any other type of pet has a place to hide. They need to feel they are in a safe place.
• Always walk your dog early in the evening before the fireworks are likely to begin.
• Use pheromone products like Adaptil for dogs and Feliway for cats. For more severe cases there are medications that can help them cope during fireworks. Check with your veterinarian for more information.

06/30/2020

Working with a fearful dog can be so incredibly rewarding. Newly adopted, he was fearful of anyone coming into the house or yard. His first reaction was to bite and run away. I worked with his owner on proper ways for guests to behave when visiting. That's right, the guests. Because, up until now, Rocky has not had a leader that respected his needs, he has had to learn to keep people away on his own terms. Fortunately for him, he has landed in the perfect home to learn he is safe and loved.

06/27/2020

06/23/2020

Noise phobias can make enjoying life more difficult for you and your dog. Random fireworks, kids in a pool, skate boards and bicycles add challenges to a walk around the block. Encouraging your dog to gain confidence and using calming techniques to work through situations will help make a walk in your neighborhood much more enjoyable for you both.