​Halloween can be a nightmare for pets that are frightened and uncomfortable with people, and children with masks and frightening costumes.
Keep away from trick-or-treaters. Keep your pet in a room with their toys close the door and turn on some calming music, so they can relax. Don't take your dog
for a walk during truck-or-treating hours. Bring your outdoor pets inside on Halloween night especially if you have a black cat you want to avoid malicious tricksters 
who may want to frighten or harm your pets.

Be sure your pet is wearing a tag with current contact information in case the pet escapes from the house. Keep candies and chocolate away from your pets
can be deadly if ingested. Give your pets their tre

​Cats need to scratch, they have a natural instinct to claw at things. Cats scratch for decompression, to clean dead skin from their nail beds, to mark their territory, and to communicate. Not a issue behavioral. Cats don't learn from physical punishment but will learn through strategic behavior redirection. The way cats announce themselves or leave messages when cats walk into a room is by scratching on surfaces along the way. This allows them to leave messages. If your cat is scratching your stuff because they don't have enough scratch pads available to them. Try a few different kinds of scratchers like cardboard, sisal, wood, and cork around your home. Domestic cats need variety in texture. Cats can get bored with the same things. Try to rewrap the post with fresh rope and sprinkle on some silvervine.

Cats are very intelligent your cat will be able to recognize the hand holding the bottle as a source of discomfort. This will create fear between you and your cat, it will not teach your cat anything. Do not shout or use a spray bottle as a punishment remember scratching is very natural to cats.
Homemade vertical scratcher post wrapped in a carpet.
Homemade scratching post
Large cardboard box
Duct or masking tape 
Box cutter and straight-edge
Cut the cardboard box into 4” strips. Roll a strip. Roll a strip of cardboard up very tightly. When you get to the end of it duct tape it to another strip of cardboard. Continue doing this, rolling and taping until your scratching pad measures at least 16” across. Sprinkle the top of the pad with dried catnip. When the cardboard wears out, flip it over for a whole new scratching pad.

It is a tube that is held open with circular rings. When those rings break down and can no longer hold the windpipe open, it will collapse the trachea. It does not show up until the dog is middle age, it is genetic, and it is more common in toy breeds, like Yorkies, Poodles, Pomeranians, Maltese, Pugs, Lhasa Apsos, Shih Tzus, and Chihuahuas. It can show up in any breed at any age.

​Signs and symptoms to look for are honking coughs which appear to be trying to cough something up, but there is no object, the irritation to the throat lining causes inflammation that produces that sensation. Unfortunately, pets often become anxious and scared which causes them to breathe more rapidly. The best thing for your pet is to hold and calm the pet until the breathing quiets and the dog begins to relax. The pet owner should seek help from the veterinarian. There could be other medical issues that are complicating the problems. Oftentimes collapsing trachea in a dog will not show any symptoms until another medical problem exacerbates the issue. Simple changes like using a harness, avoiding vigorous activities, taking walks at times of day that are less hot and humid, and avoiding exposure to smoke and other irritants can make a significant difference.

​Heartworm is a very serious condition in cats. The first sign is when the cat suffers a sudden and fatal collapse. Just one adult heartworm can be deadly if a cat experiences an allergic reaction. Indoor cats can be affected by the heartworm disease. Usually, cats survive the heartworm disease. Symptoms can range from a slight cough, vomiting, sluggishness, or difficulty breathing, to sudden death. Unfortunately, that is a problem with living in southwest Florida. You can prevent this potentially deadly disease by talking to your cat to the veterinarian and placing your cat on a heart-worm preventative once a month for 12 months.

​When you bring a new puppy home and he or she starts jumping to get your attention do not pick him or her up. If you pick up the puppy he or she has learned that to get your attention, all he or she needs to do is jump. This bad behavior is your fault for not teaching your dog to sit.
The same holds true for the kitten that jumps up on things. It is critical that you prevent and correct such problems.

It is best to take the puppy at a young age to dog school.

Young pets are most impressionable from 8 weeks to 18 weeks of age. Responding NO with firmness will prevent the pet from repeating the behavior. If you are consistent in your behavior and actions, your pet will learn quickly. Consistently reward good behavior with a treat and affection.
Sometimes behavior problems can be caused by medical issues, lack of training, or both. 
If you suspect a medical issue see a veterinarian.
The pet can be very irritable if it has poor hearing, vision, dental, or arthritis problems.