About Animal Behavior Wellness Center

What it is

Animal Behavior Wellness Center is a behavior specialty veterinary practice, not a training school. The site compares its work to psychiatry and behavioral therapy in humans, and describes its focus as the mental and emotional well-being of its patients. Its stated purpose is to screen companion animals for behavioral disorders, diagnose them, and develop treatment plans to assist in rehabilitation.

The process

The practice describes a holistic sequence. First it determines whether the animal is physically healthy. Then it gathers information about background, environment, relationships and responsiveness to intervention. Only then does it determine whether an underlying behavioral disorder is present.

What they treat

The site lists general anxiety, separation anxiety, aggression toward strangers, family members, children, other dogs and cats, wildlife and moving objects, destructive behaviors, mouthing and nipping, and self-mutilation among the conditions it handles.

Fear Free

The practice publishes a Fear Free certification and dedicates a page to explaining what that means for a visit.

Practical details

The Richmond campus is on Wilkinson Road, open Monday to Friday, with a second campus in Fairfax. The site runs separate scheduling paths for new and current patients, handles prescriptions and refills, publishes policies and guidelines, and offers classes and workshops. It also has a page for referring veterinarians.

Who it suits

This is the right door for a diagnosed or suspected behavioral disorder, and for cases where medication may form part of the plan. For ordinary obedience and manners, a training practice is the better fit.