Pets communicate in their own way,
and we all need help decoding it sometimes!
Here, we have assembled resources and references to help you with training, integrating pets into your family, responding to behavioral changes, and more. If you can't find your answer in our Resources below, you can Ask the Expert: our Animal Behaviorist, Breanne.
Ask an Expert Column
We often discuss animal behavior in our semi-annual magazine, Paw Prints. Usually, answering questions from you! Here is an PDF archive of recent "Ask an Expert" columns from the magazine. Each volume will include only the relevant sections of the magazine as a download, and volumes are only included if they contained behavior or training content. Check it out to learn more about some common concerns and curiosities from pet owners in our community.
We also have a form below for you to submit your own questions to our staff and volunteers. We will respond with some resources or information to help decode what your pet might need. If it's a question and answer we want to share with others, a version of your question may appear (anonymously!) in future issues of Paw Prints.
Volume 40 | Fall 2020
- What is the most common question you hear? What is the answer?
- What is something that has surprised you most about dog behavior?
- What do you wish everyone knew about pet behavior?
- How has the pandemic impacted you?
vol 40 Fall 2020
Volume 42 | Summer 2022
- Summer Safety Tips
- New Campus Spotlight: The new training center in progress
- I adopted my cat recently and he’s hiding under the bed and not eating. What can I do to make him more comfortable?
- My new kitten just runs around attacking my feet and it’s starting to hurt. How can I get her to stop biting me?
- Daily Dose of Enrichment: Cats and Dogs
vol 42 Summer 2022
Volume 44 | Summer 2023
- Summer Enrichment Ideas for Dogs
- Myths vs. Facts: "A wagging tail means the dog is happy"
vol 44 Summer 2023
Volume 47 | Spring 2025
- An overview of the new Training Center and why we focus on dog training at CCHS.
- My dog keeps marking the side of the sofa. Why does he do this, and how can I get him to stop?
- Why does my dog like to sniff other dogs’ butts so much?
- Why does my dog go nuts when another dog walks by the fenced yard? Is there anything I can do to help her? It’s so embarrassing whenever people walk by!
- My husband lets the dog lick his face all the time. Is he really giving kisses or is it something else? Is it OK to let dogs lick your face?
- Why do cats like to be scratched at the base of their tails so much?
vol 47 Spring 2025
Volume 41 | Winter 2022
- Interview with a new dog owner, touching on:
- Overcoming leash pulling behaviors
- Managing overstimulation/over-arousal in dogs
- Distraction techniques
vol 41 Winter 2022
Volume 43 | Winter 2023
- Bringing a new puppy into your home: from the personal experience of our Animal Behaviorist, Breanne Tabbert.
- Adoption Adjustment Periods: The 3-3-3 Rule
vol 43 Winter 2023
Volume 45 | Spring 2024
An interview with Dog Behavior Consultant, Natalie Piper:
- Can you provide some guidance on when a dog owner should seek a "behavior consultant" rather than enroll their dog in a training class?
- What's the most common problem you're seeing right now in your behavior consulting practice?
- Why do you think that is?
- How can owners and trainers address that kind of problem?
- If you could give all adopters the two or three most important tips for getting off on the right foot at home, what would they be?
vol 45 Spring 2024
Volume 48 | Fall 2025
- What should I know before adopting a rabbit - especially if I have never had one?
- Where can I learn more about rabbits? What is the best resource?
- Do rabbits prefer to live in pairs?
- Can I clicker train my critter?
- How can I provide a great quality of life for my small animal?
vol 48 Fall 2025
Adoption Packet Resources
When you first bring an adopted animal home, CCHS might have provided you with a folder of resources on Animal Behavior and Health, to help you and your new pet adjust to the change. You can download each collection of resources as a .zip file, below!
Even if you didn't adopt through CCHS, you'll find these tips and articles helpful:
Cat Resources
📁 Behavior Resources for Cats.zip
- Alternatives to Declawing
- General Cat Care
- Welcoming a New Cat
- Introducing a New Cat to the Home
- Trimming a Cat's Claws
- Basics of Cat Body Language
- Stressed Cat Body Language
- Basics of Clicker Training
- Tips for Training Your Cat
- Addressing Litter Box Problems
- Guidelines for Cat Play and Toys
- Feline Enrichment
- Keeping Cats Indoors
- Keeping Cats Off Countertops
Dog Resources
📁 Behavior Resources for Dogs.zip
- General Dog Care
- Bringing a Dog into the Home
- Basics of Clicker Training
- Dr. Sophia Yin's Top 10 Training Tips
- "Learn to Earn" Home Training Program Outline
- Tools for Resource Guarding
- Tools for Addressing Jumping
- Tools for Pulling
- Canine Enrichment
- Basics of Dog Body Language
- Supervising Dogs and Kids
- Stressed Cat Body Language
- Information about Resource Guarding
- Desensitization/Exposure Training
Petszel Resources
CCHS is offering a new partnership to help adopters stay connected to our experts and informed on their pet's behavior! If you adopted your pet on or after Monday, September 29, 2025, you would have received a post-adoption survey that included a link to your Petszel profile. This new, free, online resource includes an electronic copy of your adoption packet, and a pre-loaded profile with your pet's important information like medical records and microchip number (something every adopter should always keep handy!).
In the app, you'll also see a growing library of articles and videos that explore many aspects of animal behavior for your cat or dog. Petszel is an ongoing resource available to pet adopters at CCHS, so whenever you have a question, you can check for an expert's advice. Petszel can also help you stay in touch with the shelter and bring us your concerns if they arise. You'll receive check-in surveys, where you can share anything about your pet's behavior or health condition. Someone from CCHS will reach out to offer support, and share other resources, to help you navigate your concern. Of course, we are also available to you directly, in our Ask the Expert form, below!
Please note: The service only creates pet profiles for animals adopted after we enrolled, so, Petszel is only available to pets adopted on or after Monday, September 29, 2025. We are sorry we cannot offer access to all of the adopters who have given pets homes over the years. Our team is here to help you with our other resources and expertise, as well as personally when you Ask the Expert.
Dog Training Lessons
CCHS offers Puppy Socialization and Basic Manners training classes here on our campus. Classes and lessons are an excellent way to engage with your pets and help correct behavioral issues. Let our instructors be a resource to you! Learn more about training classes at CCHS, or check the event calendar for upcoming class dates. You do not need to be one of our adopters to take classes at CCHS, but we do offer an enrollment discount to any dogs adopted through us, or all other shelters or rescues.
If you want additional behavioral support, we've compiled a resource with more local classes and private instructors. Any instructor we work with or recommend aligns with the CCHS training philosophy. We hope one of them meets your needs.