Behavior: A Behaviorist Mission

Mission: To enhance the human-animal bond through humane, positive based training and treatment. To increase the communication, education and understanding between a pet & its guardian. (Positive based training is defined as using no fear, physical force or pain in the teaching and treatment of an animal; to do no harm to an animal, either emotionally or physically.)

The Behavior Department Recommends:	The Behavior Department does NOT advise, use or counsel:
Head collars (Gentle Leaders) Martingale or sight hound collars Flat buckle collars	Pinch collars Choke collars Electronic shock collars
Crate training House training Tie down training Making the pet part of the family by residing indoors	Chaining/tethering a dog outdoors Keeping an animal solely outdoors without access to the guardian's living space
Investigating medical problems first Understanding that proper nutrition can affect behavior (encouraging pet owners to feed a human grade holistic food)
Use of food to train & reward behaviors; Using operant conditioning (positive reinforcement and negative punishment); Utilizing clicker training
Proper training to use a scratch post Soft nail caps Keeping the claws trimmed short	Declawing Tendonectomy
Investigate the cause and treat appropriately using management and humane training Citronella collar only as a last resort after every other solution has been exhausted	Debarking Bark (shock) collars
Hands are meant for petting, grooming and health care, never for physical punishment. Proper management of pet through crate training, exercise pens, tie downs, attending a professional humane training course Spaying/Neutering	Pushing, Shoving, Pulling, Yelling, Kicking, etc.Choking Lifting by collar or leash (choking) Helicoptering (swinging dog around by leash) Swinging by hind legs or front legs Scruff shaking Alpha rolling Scolding Shaker can (typically a soda can w/ pennies/stones inside) Ear or lip pinching Throw chains or cans Throwing any objects at an animal (other than treats!) Hitting w/ hands Rubbing nose Forcing head under water, etc.