We your Pets

We are proud of our exceptional service and care that we provide to both you and your pet. We are all animal owners and understand that special care is required for each individual pet, no matter what type of pet.

Dandenong Ranges Veterinary Centre

Behaviour & Socialization


Behaviour & Socialization

Behaviour problems? We can help!

Here at DRVC we offer:

  • Puppy School
  • Behaviour Consultations
  • Specialist Referral
Puppy School

Held on Monday evenings, a five-week intensive course for you and your puppy during their critical socialisation period. See Puppy School.

Dog Training

We strongly recommend that you seek out a qualified trainer or reputable training school using positive reward based methods as soon as you graduate from our Puppy School.

Spending the first twelve months of your puppy’s life in regular training school is a great investment for a lifetime of good behaviour from your best friend! Dogs that receive basic training show more acceptable behaviour – more often.

Dogs that are trained can run off lead in designated areas, go on holidays with you, can be taken to watch kids weekly sporting events, will be accepted outdoors at cafes and won’t be a nuisance when visitors come to your home for events.

What’s a training problem?

Training problems are different to behaviour problems. Training problems generally stem from less than acceptable early puppy behaviours that have been learned and practised, but not addressed and redirected.

The good news is that with some basic understanding of canine learning theory and expert help – these problems can often be fixed.

At DRVC, our nurses are knowledgeable on all things training related. We are happy to discuss any training problems you may be experiencing with your dog and we can provide training and product advice, hand-outs, website/video recommendations and environmental enrichment strategies for dogs to keep active minds busy during the day.

We welcome communication via phone, email or in person at the clinic.

Common behaviour problems can include:

  • Digging in the garden
  • Jumping up on people
  • Excitable behaviour where your dog can’t respond to simple commands
  • Kitchen bench surfing and stealing food
  • Excessive barking
  • Chewing furniture and household items
  • Inappropriate toileting i.e. inside the house
  • Unfriendly greeting routines when meeting people or unfamiliar dogs i.e. rushing, barking, hackles raised, standing over other dogs.
Training Schools

Teachers Pets Dog Training

Croydon Obedience

Berwick Obedience

Alpha Dog Training

K9 Kinship - Private Lessons

What’s a behaviour problem?

Behaviour problems are different to training problems. They are not a product of a ‘bad dog’ or a ‘naughty cat’ or a lack of training. Behaviour problems are a dog or cat’s emotional reaction to what is happening in their environment at that point in time. This lack of resilience can often be traced back to a lack of exposure to good experiences, or having scary experiences during critical socialisation periods from 6 weeks to 15 months of age.

Behaviour problems are often more serious than training problems and can severely affect the relationship between your family - your pet - and everyone’s well-being. Behaviour issues almost always have an anxiety base and should be treated accordingly by a Veterinarian or Veterinary Behaviour Specialist.

At DRVC, all of our Veterinarians are well-versed in a myriad of behaviour problems that our dogs and cats can show.

We offer extended consultations for behaviour problems so that you have plenty of time to discuss these during your visit. Providing videos of these behaviours can be quite helpful but you should never place yourself, family members or other pets at risk to gain footage.

Our Vets can formulate a behaviour training plan for you and your pet, and provide advice, product suggestions, medication recommendations and further information on managing behaviour problems.

Common behaviour problems can include:

  • Excessive barking/whining/howling when left alone
  • Separation Anxiety
  • Destroying house fixtures when left alone
  • Escaping the home or yard when left alone
  • Aggression toward strangers or children of any age
  • Aggression in multi-dog and multi-cat households
  • Excessive inappropriate urination in cats
What If I Need More Help?

For complex behaviour problems and extreme behaviour problems, our Vets may suggest a referral to a Veterinary Behaviour Specialist. Veterinary Behaviour Specialists have post-degree qualifications in animal behaviour and can consult with you on long-standing or dangerous behaviour problems in dogs, cats and birds. We can help you decide if this is right for you and your pet.

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