Behavioral Services in Prescott, AZ

Behavioral services address the wide range of dog and cat behaviors that affect quality of life for your pet and your family: separation anxiety, noise phobias, fear and aggression, house-soiling, compulsive behaviors, and the acute behavior changes that sometimes signal underlying medical disease. Behavior is one of Dr. Siens' clinical interests, and we treat it as a medical issue rather than a training problem.

Issues we address

• Generalized anxiety and fearful behavior
• Separation anxiety and isolation distress
• Noise phobias (thunderstorms, monsoon weather, fireworks, gunshots)
• Fear and aggression toward people, dogs, or specific triggers
• Resource guarding
• House-soiling and inappropriate elimination in cats and dogs
• Inter-pet aggression in multi-pet homes
• Compulsive behaviors (lick granulomas, spinning, tail chasing, over-grooming)
• Cognitive dysfunction in senior pets ("doggy dementia")
• Acute behavior changes that might be medical (sudden aggression, anxiety, or withdrawal)

Behavior is medicine first, training second

Many behavior problems start with a medical cause. A previously well-housetrained dog who starts having accidents may have a urinary tract infection, kidney disease, diabetes, or arthritis preventing them from getting outside. A formerly social cat who is suddenly hiding may be in pain. A senior dog showing nighttime restlessness and disorientation may have cognitive dysfunction syndrome. The first step in any behavior workup is ruling out the medical contributors so we are treating the right thing.

What to expect at a behavior consult

A behavior visit is longer than a standard appointment, usually 45 to 60 minutes. We start with a detailed history (when the behavior started, what triggers it, what makes it better or worse, what you have already tried) and a physical exam. Depending on the situation we may run targeted bloodwork, a urinalysis, or thyroid testing. Then we build a treatment plan together. That plan is almost always a combination of:

• Environmental management (changing what the pet is exposed to)
• A behavior modification protocol the family can implement at home
• Pheromone or supplement support where appropriate (Adaptil, Feliway, Zylkene, calming chews)
• Medication when indicated, ranging from short-acting situational use (storm phobia, vet visits, travel) to long-term daily medications for generalized anxiety
• A schedule for follow-up and adjustment

Working with trainers

Most behavior cases benefit from a partnership between us and a qualified force-free trainer or behaviorist. We coordinate with local trainers who use modern, evidence-based methods. We strongly discourage aversive tools (shock collars, prong collars, alpha rolls) for fear, anxiety, or aggression cases. The current veterinary behavior literature is consistent: aversive training increases stress and worsens outcomes for these conditions.

When we refer to a veterinary behaviorist

For complex cases (severe aggression, refractory anxiety, or behaviors with public safety implications) we refer to a board-certified veterinary behaviorist (DACVB). The closest behaviorists serve the Phoenix area and offer in-person and telemedicine consults. We coordinate the referral and stay involved in long-term follow-up.

Frequently asked questions

My dog has terrible monsoon-season anxiety. What can I do?

Northern Arizona's monsoon storms (July through September) trigger severe anxiety in many dogs. We have several options that work well together: situational anti-anxiety medication used in advance of storms, anxiety wraps and calming pheromones, a safe quiet space the dog has access to, and longer-term desensitization. The key is to act before the storm starts. Once the dog is in panic, medications work less well.

Will my pet need to be on medication forever?

Not always. Some pets do best on long-term daily medication, but many can taper down or off after a successful behavior modification course. Other pets only need situational medication for specific triggers (storms, vet visits, fireworks, travel). The plan is built to your pet's individual case and revisited regularly.

My cat is peeing outside the litter box. Is this a behavior problem?

Maybe. The first step is ruling out medical causes: urinary tract infection, bladder stones, FLUTD, kidney disease, diabetes, or arthritis affecting access to the box. If medical causes are ruled out, we work through the behavioral and environmental pieces: number of boxes (one per cat plus one), litter type and depth, box location, cleaning frequency, and stress factors in the household.

My senior dog seems confused at night. Is that dementia?

Possibly. Cognitive dysfunction syndrome is the canine equivalent of dementia. Common signs are nighttime restlessness, getting stuck in corners, decreased recognition of family members, loss of housetraining, and reversed sleep cycles. We have effective treatments including a prescription diet, an FDA-approved medication (selegiline), and supplements that can meaningfully improve quality of life.

My dog is becoming aggressive. Is it safe to wait?

No. Aggression rarely resolves on its own and often worsens without intervention. Sudden aggression in a previously friendly dog can also be a sign of pain or medical illness. Please call us at (928) 771-1340 to schedule a behavior consult sooner rather than later.

Do you use shock collars or prong collars?

No. The current veterinary behavior evidence shows aversive tools worsen outcomes for fear, anxiety, and aggression cases, and we do not recommend them. We work with local force-free trainers and use modern reward-based methods.

Related services: Preventative Care, Internal Medicine & Diagnostics, Pain Management.

Reviewed by Dr. Katherine Siens, DVM. Last reviewed May 1, 2026.