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Introducing a New Cat to a Resident Cat
Introducing a new cat to a household of existing cats can be a little tricky. With a bit of preparation and some time and patience you can ensure a smooth introduction and pave the way for peaceful inter-kitty relationships. When …
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Introducing a New Cat to a Resident Dog
When bringing a new cat into a home with an existing dog, taking a few precautionary measures and a bit of preparation can mean the difference between a future of peaceful inter-species cohabitation and years of strife. Plopping the two …
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Food and Resource Guarding (From People)
Food or resource guarding is when a dog displays behavior meant to keep someone from taking away something very important to them. This is perfectly normal and natural behavior for a dog — like digging or barking.
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Fostering a Dog with Heartworm
Heartworms are worms that live in the heart and lungs of infected animals. Heartworm larvae are spread via mosquito bites, and heartworm disease can lead to…
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Living and Learning with a Fearful Dog
Living with a fearful dog can be an entirely new experience for even long term dog owners. There are many degrees of fearful dogs and your dog may slide up and down the spectrum depending upon their skills and the …
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Kitten Socialization
Below, you will find a list of things kittens would benefit from being exposed to. For any foster animal that is 16 weeks or younger, we encourage you to keep this list saved for easy access. Make an effort to …
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Foster Quick Contact Reference Guide
Mondays Tuesdays Wednesdays Thursdays Fridays Saturdays Sundays Holidays Foster Medical Questions or Concerns If you have medical questions regarding your foster animals, please email [email protected] or call (925) 296-3125 – Option 1 from the main menu, and Option 1 to …
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Crate Training for Foster Families
Make the crate a fun and happy place to be. Allow your foster to be able to access the crate whenever they want by keeping the crate in the space where your foster will be spending a lot of time. …
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What Happens After Foster Animals Return to the Shelter?
Clinic Department Before going up for adoption, the shelter guest needs to be spayed/neutered, have any other surgery that may be necessary to do in a shelter setting, be microchipped (if not already done), ears checked, clip their nails, and …
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Separation Anxiety and How to Prevent It
Keep departures and arrivals low-key. During the 10-15 minutes before you leave the house, strive for a calm, neutral atmosphere. Avoid grand gestures of hugging, kissing, or petting with your dog. If your dog has previously shown any signs of …
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What is Positive Reinforcement?
“The way positive reinforcement is carried out is more important than the amount.” – B.F. Skinner Here at ARF, the method of training we use (for both dogs and cats) is called “positive reinforcement.” Positive reinforcement works by using praise …
