Dog and Cat Behavior Counseling in Austin, Texas
Many behaviors that are natural or even instinctual for dogs and cats—digging, escaping, chewing, meowing, barking, or scratching—can be extremely challenging for pet parents. And although you can turn to Dr. Google, books, or even TV shows for advice these days, the best way to ensure you can nip these behaviors in the bud is by seeking professional help. The great thing is that this education on animal wellness and mental health will nearly always translate to a happier pet.
If your pet needs more assistance with their mental health, we offer specialized behavior services with a residency-trained doctor. Dr. Sirois uses a holistic approach to manage and treat emotional concerns of all kinds and in all pets.
Head on over to our FAQs to learn more about behavior and see if this is a good fit for your pet!
Some Animal Behaviors That Could Benefit from Veterinary Counseling
Does your dog sing the song of his people the entire time you aren’t home? Does your cat pee on your bed or other “creative” places? Does your puppy get far too wound up seeing other animals? Over time, these dog and cat behavior problems can cause us (and our neighbors!) stress, so it’s best to address them head-on.
Some common pet behaviors that can benefit from counseling are:
- Separation anxiety — If your well-trained dog is destructive when you leave your home, they may be anxious about being alone. Shelter dogs are more prone to this condition than dogs you have raised since puppyhood. Dogs with separation anxiety may chew, dig, pace, bark, howl, and urinate and/or defecate in the home. Your best approach is to take short, planned outings to get your pet used to you leaving and returning, offering them their favorite reward upon getting home. However, if the behavior and destruction continue, it could be time to seek behavior counseling.
- Litter box issues in cats — Things like a change in litter, not cleaning the box adequately, negative associations (cats with UTIs may have pain when urinating), and moving or other household stress can cause litter box troubles, so you may be dealing with how to keep a cat from spraying. Your veterinary behaviorist can help you narrow down what’s at the root of the issue so you can solve it.
- Canine aggression — Aggression in dogs is the most common and serious behavior problem. Many times, there’s a reason the dog is aggressive, such as thinking they are protecting you, their home, or their belongings. They might also be fearful, especially if they’ve been abused. Aggressive dogs may bare their teeth, snarl, growl, nip, bit, or become rigid. The real problem comes into play when a dog has decided they are higher on the food chain than human family members, so seeking professional help is a must.
Other pet behaviors we work with in counseling are:
- Chewing
- Scratching
- Excessive vocalization (whining, barking, howling, snarling)
- Stealing food and food aggression in dogs
- Resource guarding
- Spraying (urine)
- Chasing
- Self-mutilation
- Hyperactivity
- Jumping
- Control issues such as not coming when called
Benefits of Pet Behavior Counseling
As previously mentioned, turning to the internet or other resource on pet behavior issues could prolong the problem and/or worsen it. It’s best to turn to professionals to get your pet/pet-parent relationship back on track. Our team can help with cases of compulsive behaviors, fear-based issues, phobias, and severe separation anxiety.
Pet behavior counseling also helps to establish and build upon the human-animal bond. The ways in which pet behavior counseling helps the human-animal bond are:
- Increasing activity through things like walk and other forms of play
- Providing companionship
- Reducing pet boredom
- Improving mood – hopefully on both parts!
- Increase social interactions
How to Get Started with Pet Behavior Counseling
First and foremost, visit our FAQs page to learn more about pet behavior and whether you think your pet would be a good fit for this approach.
If you think your pet would benefit, we will set up a consultation with Dr. Sirois, a residency-trained doctor who uses a holistic approach to treat and manage emotional concerns of all kinds in pets. You’d partner with Dr. Sirois to discuss the behaviors you’re experiencing while getting an idea of what the pet’s home environment is like. Through a plan tailored to your pet based on behavior modifications, we can help pet owners turn negative pet behaviors around and create a more peaceful environment for all.
Testimonials
"Absolutely wonderful experience! My dog has a very difficult time around strangers, but Paz did exactly what he needed giving him space as we entered the building and ignoring him to allow him to settle in without feeling scared that someone would try to interact with him.
We had a great appointment with Dr. Sirois! It was a long appointment and he was very nervous at first, but he eventually got so comfortable that he started asking for treats from Dr. Sirois and he didn't have any reactions! Which is a vet visit first for us.
It was wonderful to be able to talk through his medical and behavioral history and I left the visit feeling very optimistic about the treatment plan we discussed and the options we have available to help him. Dr. Sirois listened to my concerns so empathetically and I can't even describe how wonderful it felt to talk to someone who so fully understands both his medical issues and his behavioral struggles.
I also really appreciated the detailed visit summary that was sent after the appointment. I can't wait to see what the future brings as we continue to work with Dr. Sirois."
— Mary Kidd
“We are so lucky to see Dr. Sirois at PAZ for our doggie! When we came to Krista, our dog was a shaking mess. Peeing inside and barking at every little thing. He would be so nervous all day that he’d whine and shake next to me. Dr. Sirois helped us find the right balance so he could relax and be a dog again. We are so thankful for her continued attention and grace. We’ve been seeing her for over a year and are on a great maintenance schedule now. Thank you Dr. Sirois and the staff at PAZ West!
— Rebecca Conner
“Dr. Sirois and Vicente have been an absolute godsend for Violet’s journey towards improved mental health. When I first welcomed Violet into my life, her emotional and behavioral struggles seemed insurmountable, especially after a traumatic incident at a tender age. Despite the challenges, I firmly believed that every dog deserves a chance at a fulfilling life.
Enter Dr. Sirois, and Vicente – a team that truly understood the power of compassion. Their unwavering dedication to getting Violet’s medications right, paired with innovative training techniques I learned from Austin’s best trainers made a remarkable transformation in Violet. She evolved from a fearful and defensive pup into a completely renewed spirit.
Working alongside Dr. Sirois and Vicente, we honed in on the perfect medication balance for Violet and considered both timing, and situations where Violet might need extra support. All of this enabled Violet to embrace ‘think-and-learn’ instead of instinctual fear responses. This breakthrough made training her a joyful and gratifying experience. Gradually, Violet blossomed into a sweet and affectionate girl, eagerly forming bonds with humans at doggie daycare and learning to make friends with guests in our home.
I cannot express enough gratitude to Dr. Sirois for being an invaluable part of Violet’s healing journey. It truly took a village of caring professionals from the Austin dog training and veterinary community to uplift and support Violet’s progress. Together, we have given her a chance at a beautiful life, and I will forever be indebted to these exceptional individuals for helping me help Violet achieve her full potential. Dr. Sirois was an important part of this community.”
— Jennifer Davis
Book your pet's appointment at Paz East today!