Puppy Wellness Guide
Learn about the recommended care for puppies. Questions? Call us at (415) 554-3030 Puppy Wellness Examinations • Should begin at 2 months of age • Frequency: Every 3–4 weeks • […]
Puppy Socialization
What is puppy socialization? Socialization is the process by which your puppy learns to be comfortable with all the things in their environment. If this sounds like a big project, […]
Poop Eating
Why Dogs Eat Poop Nobody knows for sure why dogs eat poop, but we do know it’s a common and natural behavior in dogs (and many other species). Scientists think […]
Quiet Command
Benefit Dogs bark for a number of reasons: people walking by, other dogs, boredom, frustration, and loneliness, for example. Some types of barking can be redirected and controlled with the […]
Are You Ready to Adopt a Dog?
Life with a dog comes with many benefits, but also involves many responsibilities. It’s important to carefully think through the decision to adopt, because owning a dog is a commitment […]
Repetitive Behavior
What It Is Repetitive behavior— or the clinical name “stereotypic behavior”—is a normal behavior performed in a repetitive and compulsive manner. We don’t know if dogs obsess the way humans […]
Successful Dog Park Outings
Off-leash exploration and play are generally great ways to enrich your dog’s life when done safely and responsibly. To ensure a good time for all involved, you will want to […]
Submissive and Excitement Urination
What Is Submissive Urination Submissive urination is a fear-related appeasement behavior that happens when a dog feels threatened—regardless of whether or not the threat is real or only exists in […]
Dog Training Philosophy
Reward-Based Training At the SF SPCA, we use reward-based training methods. A reward can be anything that motivates a dog. For example: Food, treats Playtime, getting a toy Attention Belly […]
Basket Muzzle
Benefit Sometimes it is beneficial for your dog to wear a basket muzzle. The muzzle will keep you and others safe. When your dog is properly introduced to the muzzle, […]
Touch Command
Benefit Teaching your dog the touch/target command means you can distract them from things you don’t want them to focus on and get their attention in situations that could be […]
Adoption Handbook – Cat
Thinking of adopting a cat? Download the SF SPCA adoption handbook to learn more. Learn how to meet the needs of your new four-legged friend to ensure everyone’s safety, health […]