Behavior and Training Help
As a community resource, the League offers a variety of assistance for all pet owners. Regardless of how your companion animal entered your life (adopted, purchased or wandered…), League staff members are happy to help you understand pet behaviors and resolve potential pet-related challenges.
Pet Behavior Assistance
The League’s trained staff members have a wealth of experience handling just about every pet-related concern. Please call 703-746-5508 and ask to speak to a staff member about a pet behavior concern or email the League’s Behavior and Training Department at training@AlexandriaAnimals.org
League staff members are glad to discuss your concerns and potential ways to work with your pet to resolve them. The League commonly receives inquiries regarding:
- Unwanted cat behaviors: furniture scratching, marking, not using the litterbox and aggression toward other pets and/or people
- Unwanted dog behaviors: excessive barking, separation anxiety, housetraining problems, hyperactivity and aggression toward other pets and/or people.
- Questions regarding other pets: introducing new pets into the home, appropriate care and housing for small animals (such as rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and others) and providing environmental enrichment for less-common animal companions.
Helpful Handouts
The League has compiled information in response to the more common questions we hear. Please click below for more information on the following:
Cat Behavior
- Cat Introductions
- Cat Scratching
- Types of Scratching Posts (courtesy of Cornell University)
- Litterbox Information
- Upper Respiratory Infections
- Supplies for a New Cat
- Microchip Information
Dog Behavior
- House Training Your Dog
- Crate Training Your Dog
- Crating Concerns
- Dog Park Misconceptions
- Dog Park Alternatives
- Shy or Fearful Dogs
- Supplies for a New Dog
- Microchip Information
Charm School
The League offers Charm School for all dogs adopted from our shelter. Charm School gives dogs and their adopters four complimentary lessons of how to use positive reinforcement to reward wanted behaviors (such as sit, stay, down and loose leash walking). If you and your canine companion would like to join Charm School, please contact the Behavior and Training Department at training@AlexandriaAnimals.org or 703-746-5508.
View the May Charm School Calendar.
View the June Charm School Calendar.
Click here for Charm School FAQs and class descriptions.
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