Dog Behavior & Training Topics

If you’re having difficulties with housetraining your dog, excessive barking, digging, or other pet concerns, take a look at our behavior tips on this page. If you still need assistance after reading this information, please call the Sacramento SPCA’s behavior helpline at 916-383-7387, ext. 9148.

SACRAMENTO SPCA BEHAVIOR HANDOUTS

• Aggressive Behavior in Dogs
• Barking
• Canine Rivalry
• Chewing and Destructive Behavior
• Children and Dogs Together
• Cleaning Pet Stains and Odors
• Crate Training for Your Dog or Puppy
• Digging
• Dog Toys and How to Use Them
• Dog-to-Dog Introductions
• Educated Dog
• Escape Artists
• Fear of Thunder and Loud Noises
• Fearful Dogs
• Helping Kids Avoid Dog Bites
• House Training your Adult Dog or Puppy
• How to Get Your Dog to Behave
• Inside Dog or Outside Dog?
• Introducing Cats and Dogs
• Jumping
• Keeping Your Dog Out of or Off: of Aversives and Deterrents for Dogs
• Submissive and Excitement Urination
• When Your Dog Eats Weird Stuff
• Who’s a Good Dog?

RECOMMENDED READING

Puppies
The Chosen Puppy: How to Select and Raise a Great Puppy from an Animal Shelter, Carol Lea Benjamin
Before and After Getting Your Puppy: The Positive Approach to Raising a Happy, Healthy, and Well-Behaved Dog, Dr. Ian Dunbar
Puppy Primer, Patricia McConnell, Ph.D.
Raising Puppies and Kids Together, Pia Silvoni, CPDT and Lynn Eckhardt
Your Outta Control Puppy, Teoti Anderson

Choosing a Dog
The Other End of the Leash, Patricia McConnell, Ph.D.
Paws to Consider: Choosing the Right Dog for You and Your Family, Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson
Mutts: America’s Dogs, Brian Kilcommons and Michael Capuzzo
Second-Hand Dog: How to Turn Yours into a First-Rate Pet (Howell Reference Books), Carol Lea Benjamin

Training/Behavior Books
I’ll Be Home Soon, Patricia McConnell, Ph.D.
The Culture Clash, Jean Donaldson
Feeling Outnumbered? How to Manage and Enjoy Your Multi-Dog Household, Karen London and Patricia McConnell, Ph.D.
Don’t Shoot the Dog, Karen Pryor, Ph.D.
How to be Leader of the Pack, Patricia McConnell, Ph.D.
The Cautious Canine, Patricia McConnell, Ph.D.
Overcoming Dog Problems, Sylvia Hartmann-Kent
For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend, Patricia McConnell, Ph.D.
Feisty Fido (working with dogs that are reactive on leash), Patricia McConnell, Ph.D.
Help for Your Shy Dog, Deborah Wood
Help for Your Fearful Dog, Nicole Wilde
Parenting Your Dog, Trish King, CPDT, CDBC