Posts in Category: Training & Behavior

If you’re a proud cat parent—particularly in a multi-cat household—you might occasionally witness a feeding frenzy that includes snarling, shoving, and swatting. Why? Because some cats get quite possessive of their kibble. A rare instance of this behavior is probably nothing to worry about, but if your cat’s mealtimes are routinely punctuated by hissing, growling, or full-on attacks on other pets and people, you could be dealing with food aggression, and it’s time to put the kibosh on it. 

Walking on a leash with some manners is an essential skill for any well-groomed pup, from a tiny shih tzu to a gargantuan great Dane. How to get a puppy to walk on a leash like a civilized being isn’t always apparent, though. Based on our years of experience, your friends at Dupont Veterinary Clinic have the tips you need on how to leash train a puppy successfully. Read on to learn our secrets.

Puppies exhibit certain (and harmless) behaviors like biting and growling that allow them to discover how to fit in with the family. We teach our pups manners, and they grow to become happy members of the household. Unless they don’t. 

Dogs that become increasingly aggressive as they mature out of their puppy years can lead to a lot of problems, especially if they display aggression towards humans or other animals. If your dog is becoming more and more aggressive, the team at Dupont Veterinary Clinic can help.

Since dogs explore the world around them through their nose and mouth, it makes sense that they try to taste as much as they can. Socks, table food, feces, and more round out the canine palette. Some of their choices are, well, less than “choice,” but as long as they aren’t harmed by their explorations, it’s usually okay (provided you can get beyond the gross factor). At the top of the list of brow-raising antics is eating plant matter. Dogs eat grass (and other green things) for many reasons, but does that mean it’s safe?

Proper training is a key component of a happy, relaxed dog who can enjoy the company of humans and other animals. When it comes to training methods, there are plenty of options out there, but most boil down to one of two things: positive or negative reinforcement. 

The team at Dupont Veterinary Clinic is here to take a look at the difference between negative and positive reinforcement training to help you decide what’s right for your pet.

When you bring a new puppy into your home, you can count on a few accidents… to say the least. This is just one aspect of the joys of being a new puppy owner. But house training a puppy doesn’t have to be difficult, or take forever. There are several effective and positive ways to get you and your pup successfully through the process. 

Remember that whatever method you choose, stick with it and be consistent. Keep reading for some tips from the Dupont Veterinary Clinic.

Fort Wayne is a pretty great place to live, thanks in no small part to the residents. At Dupont Veterinary Clinic we are extremely fortunate to get to know so many incredible local families and their pets, such as Anne and Chris Bohlman and their dogs, Bessie, Dana, and MiniMoo. 

The Bohlmans, along with their three trained therapy dogs, have been volunteering their time and energy in our community for the past 14 years. We’re thrilled to share the Bohlman’s story with our readers, and to highlight the ways in which therapy dogs enrich human lives and bring communities together.

Pets are curious by nature, and their obvious delight in investigating new or interesting objects is part of what makes them so lovable. The trouble begins when Fido or Fluffy go from innocently sniffing that sock left on the floor, to swallowing it whole. Some small items may pass through your pet’s GI tract, but it doesn’t take much for a foreign body to become lodged somewhere along the way, creating a dangerous and life-threatening situation for a pet.

The ingestion of foreign bodies in pets is rarely ever without consequence. Learning to recognize the signs of a GI obstruction, along with lots of supervision and a thorough pet-proofing, are the keys to keeping your furry loved one safe and healthy. Continue…

It’s no secret that cats and dogs, horses and birds, and all other pets give us joy and unconditional love every day. The human-animal bond is powerful, and that link goes beyond companionship. We see this bond on display often in our veterinary hospital, and feel fortunate to celebrate the human-animal bond each and every day with our patients and clients.

But, what exactly is it? Why is it so good for us? Dupont Veterinary Clinic decided to find out more about the human-animal bond, and we’re sharing our findings here, with you.

Continue…