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Behavior training at Animal Friends

Animal Friends' Behavior Program works with shelter animals, owned pets, and people. Our goal is to provide pets and families with the tools they need to develop lifelong relationships. From enrichment programs for our homeless residents to a wide variety of specialized training classes for the public, we aim to place and keep pets in loving homes—and to enhance our community with the unconditional love of pets!

At Animal Friends, all training is accomplished through kind, effective positive reinforcement techniques.

Canine Behavior Classes

Class enrollment is currently open! Our new course catalog can be found by clicking here.

We offer a variety of canine manners classes which are tailor-made to correct bad behavior, polish up existing good manners, explore new skills, or turn a great family pet into a trained therapy animal.

Animal Friends offers classes for all levels of experience, from the first-time adopter to the well-seasoned handler. We believe in training through positive reinforcement and leadership, and our trained instructors have experience with hard-to-handle animals. All dogs are welcome.

Puppy Playschool

Organized playtime for pups ages 12-20 weeks provides much-needed mental and physical exercises and offers effective ways to teach basic commands like “come,” “sit,” “drop it,” and “leave it.” Early identification helps to problem-solve puppy issues like housetraining, chewing and mouthing. Click here to see upcoming sessions!

Small Dog Socials

Indoor pets need room to romp! Our socials were designed to offer mental and physical exercise for our canine companions. If you have a small dog that weighs 25 pounds or less, we hope you’ll join our Small Dog Social hour. Here your small one can run and socialize with canines his size, and expend all that energy! Click here to see upcoming sessions!

Animal Friends' Dog Behavior Team Recommends

Click here to learn more about the Sense-ible front-connection harness. It prevents choking, stress, and injuries; helps solve pulling, lunging, jumping, and other on-leash problems; is good for shy, nervous, and fearful dogs; helps train your dog (sit, stay, stop, slow, heel, and more); and greatly increases communications between you and your dog.

Please call our training staff at 412.847.7071 to make an appointment to have your dog fitted for one soon!

Train your dog for agility!

Cats Can

Cats CAN! Cat Classes

Cats CAN participate in training and play...and many times, these activities are the key to forming successful relationships with your feisty feline. If you consider the natural curiosity of a cat and its natural love of climbing, jumping, crawling under things, and chasing, you'll see that such activities as cat agility and other forms of training are meant to be. Animal Friends has developed programs for both homeless and owned cats and their people.

Click here to see which classes are now in session!

Contact Our Behavior Program

412.847.7071
behavior@ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org

Do You and Your Pet Need Help?

Visit our new Online Behavior Center for links to articles about houstraining, marking, barking, and more. Many behavior problems can be solved by simply reading and following these simple steps. Click on the link above to visit our list of topics.

Behavior Helpline

At Animal Friends, we're pleased to serve as a resource to pet owners who need pet behavior training and guidance. We operate a free Behavior Helpline that has served thousands of pet owners across the country. This hotline is available free to all members of the public, and can be reached by calling 412.847.7070, or by clicking here to fill out a form.

Many times, a behavior challenge can't be solved with good advice alone. We will often advise you to partner with a trainer in your area. Other times, we may point you to an excellent article or a class at Animal Friends University.

For example, did you know that Animal Friends offers a class that deals with our #1, most frequently asked question? Cat owners who have reached their wits end with litterbox challenges can now enroll in AF 606 Litter Box Problems: How to Prevent and Treat. Click here to view our course catalog and the next litterbox class!

Animal Friends Online Behavior Tips
The majority of these tips and sheets are for Canine behavior issues. For Feline concerns, please click here to visit our Cat Behavior Section.

Basic commands
Working with your dog to obey commands can help your dog become a model canine citizen. A dog that understands what is expected of him is happier and has a more enjoyable relationship with his people. Here are some basic commands ways to teach your dog what you expect.

Positive Reinforcement
Teach Your Dog to "Go To Mat"
Benevolent Leadership
Time Outs
Dominance vs. Leadership is Dog Traning: How to be your dog's leader
Clicker Training Can Help Your Pet
General Behavior Sheets (This comprehensive sheet includes details on how to teach your dog a variety of commands, including Come, Down, Drop it, Leave It, Sit, Stand, Stay, Stop, Wait, Walk on a Loose Leash, and Attention).

Finding your new companion
Pets bring joy, compassion and fun to our lives! It is important, however, to think about
which pet will best fit into your lifestyle. Choosing a new companion shouldn’t be a spur of the moment decision. Here are some tools to assist you in finding that perfect friend.

Containment
It is important to ensure your pet's safety at all times. Outside of your home, there are local laws that require that pets to be appropriately restrained. Crate It is also important for your pet (and sometimes for your belongings) that he be contained within your house and your property. Here are some ideas on how to keep your pet safe.

Crates
Crate Training: How a crate could help your dog
Choosing a Leash

Puppy
Your dog’s puppyhood can be really fun and really challenging. Puppy behavior It is important that you introduce him to different people and animals and teach him what behavior you expect. Here are some tips to help your pup grow into a model canine citizen!

General Puppy Information (These sheets cover such topics as Appropriate puppy play, Puppy socialization, Typical puppy behavior, Bite inhibition and Puppy Biting, and The Stages of Puppy Development)
So You Want a New Puppy

Housetraining
HouseT One of the most frustrating things for a human is to wake up and step in a yellow puddle (or worse). Here are some tips to help you teach your companion where to go!

Exercise
Exercise behavior Dogs need exercise and stimulation to help them be both physically and mentally healthy. Here are some ideas for safe and fun exercise for your dog.

Common Issues
Most dog owners share similar problems with their pets, especially when they are new to a home. Here are some ideas of how to work on common behavior issues. [object Object]

Is that aggression?
The general belief is that if a dog growls and barks, he is angry. Aggression Behavior While this can be true, it's often a sign of some other behavior. Here are some guidelines to look at in determining why your dog is acting in an aggressive way.

Multiple animal households
Having multiple pets is a lot of fun and a great way for your animals to socialize. However, it can be exhausting and difficult as well. There are different issues and needs that dogs have when they are around other pets. Here are some ideas on how to introduce your pet to new friends in a safe way.

Bringing your new dog into your home
Introducing Your New Dog to Your Dog
Adopting Two Dogs is Twice and Nice: An article about the benefits of duo dog adoptions
Dog Body Language
Introducing your cat and dog
Managing Multiple Pitties
How Many Dogs? Using Positive Reinforcement Training to Manage a Multiple Dog Household

Tips for new or expectant parents
If you have questions about introducing your pet to your new baby, register for the next session of Baby-Ready Pets at Animal Friends University (click here). You may also want to check out these free webinars.