Pet Resource Center

Behavior Help Line

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If you attempt to schedule a Behavior Helpline appointment and find that you require more urgent behavior support, please reach out to us at 303.751.5772 and ask for an Emergency Behavior Helpline appointment.

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Other Resources

Find classes, private lessons or certified trainers:

The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers®

International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants

Resource Library

Shape Up

by Brent Winston, equine trainer As we are being teased with warmer weather, many of us are anxious to get out and enjoy our horses with some trail-ride therapy. Maybe we haven’t had time to ride during the winter because it’s too dark by the time we get home or…

Separation anxiety

Dogs with separation anxiety exhibit behavior problems when they’re left alone. Typically, they’ll have a dramatic anxiety response within a short time (20-45 minutes) after their owners leave them. The most common of these behaviors are: Why do dogs suffer from separation anxiety? We don’t fully understand exactly why some…

Resource guarding

Resource guarding means your dog may have frozen up, growled, or even bite in an attempt to “protect” their food, water, toys, or other resources in the home. While there is no guarantee that your dog will never guard again, there are ways you can help your dog and…

Remember the Release Point

As a trainer, I often get the question, “How do I get my horse to do this?” or the statement, “My horse won’t do that.” Many times, as I’m offering advice about what I would do in a given situation, people tell me, “I tried that, and it didn’t work.”…

Dog behavior management

It’s often important to manage situations while you’re working towards a final solution. In dog ownership, this means setting up your home and life in a way that prevents or discourages your dog from doing unwanted things. Management does not teach your dog what not to do. It simply prevents…

Dealing with normal puppy behavior: nipping and rough play

When puppies play with each other, they use their mouths. Therefore, puppies usually want to bite or “mouth” hands during play or when being petted. This behavior is rarely aggressive and, therefore, not intended to cause harm. Because puppies are highly motivated to exhibit this type of behavior, attempts to…

Preparing your pet for baby’s arrival

The arrival of your new family member will bring changes for everyone. Handling your pet’s curiosity, anxiety, and increased insistence for attention may seem like an overwhelming task. In addition to preparing yourself and your household for the baby’s arrival, but you can help your pet adjust to the big…

Positive reinforcement for cats

Positive reinforcement is the presentation of something pleasant or rewarding immediately following a behavior. This training method is a powerful tool for shaping or changing your cat’s behavior, encouraging positive connections, and building your bond with your cat. Correct timing is essential when using positive reinforcement. The reward must…

Polishing off the winter rust

by Brent Winston, equine trainer Wow, what a start to the year! With the unseasonably warm weather and longer days, many of us are getting the urge to take our horses out and ride through the beautiful Colorado landscape. However, many of our horses have been not doing much all…

Cat enrichment: Play with your cat

While pet owners would never consider withholding food or water from their cats, many forget to provide adequate exercise and stimulation. Yes, cats do sleep a lot, but play is an important component of any pet’s health and well-being. The release of energy triggered by regular daily interactive play sessions…

Plan Your Ride, Ride Your Plan

by Brent Winston, head trainer People often ask me about a training issue they’re having with their horse or wonder how to get their horse to perform a certain task. Without being able to see the horse or coach the rider through the task, it can be difficult to answer.

Cat overstimulation: What to know

Cat owners sometimes have difficulty understanding why their cats, who seem to be friendly and content one minute, may suddenly bite and scratch them the next. While overstimulation isn’t aggression, the response may appear aggressive. Cat owners however can find some relief, knowing that this behavior is normal and is…

Neck reining the right way

by Brent Winston, equine trainer With summer officially behind us, I hope everyone enjoyed the nice weather and long days with their horses as much as I did. Just because we have entered a different time of year doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy our horses. We might just need…

Dog marking behaviors

Urine-marking occurs when there is either instability in a dog’s relationships or when a dog is feeling anxious. It is not a house soiling problem. To resolve the problem, you need to address the underlying reason for your dog’s need to mark. House soiling or urine marking? How to tell…

Cat marking behavior: What to know

Cats are territorial animals, selecting areas of territory for survival. They let other people and animals know about their territory by marking it with a variety of methods and at many levels of intensity. For example, a cat may mark a valued object by rubbing it with her face. However…

Aggressive play in young cats: what to know and how to manage it

Play-motivated aggressive behaviors are common in young, active cats less than two years of age, and in cats that live in one-cat households who don’t have enough mental and physical stimulation. When cats play, they incorporate a variety of behaviors into their play, such as exploratory, investigative, and predatory behaviors.