Do you need a trainer? a veterinarian? a canine behaviorist? (and what's a behaviorist, anyway?)
We all want the best for our furry, four-legged kids, but do not always know who to call. Personally, I investigate as much as I can to ensure that I am making the most informed decision possible when it comes to my kids. Below are brief descriptions of some situations that different canine professionals specialize in. Hopefully, this will help you in your situation. I look forward to assisting you in any way possible.
Canine Behaviorist
You've heard the titles:
Dog Whisperer, Dog Listener,
Canine Coach...all fun and catchy names for a Canine Behaviorist.
But don't be fooled, these professionals specialize with some very serious issues. They are capable of preventing, reducing and eliminating any kind of behavioral issues that our canine kids present, such as:
- Aggression
- Barking
- Biting
- Chewing
- Digging
- Hyperactivity
- Jumping
- Separation Anxiety
- Sumissive Urination
- and more
Because of the deep analysis that is involved in understanding a dog's surroundings and the causes behind his or her behavior, most of the time animal behaivorists will work closely with a veterinarian to ensure that the dog's health and nutrition are not interfering with your canine kid's behavior.
A behaviorist should always work in a one-on-one basis with pet guardians to determine the influence of the complete surroundings and the dog's unique behavioral issues. Also the behaviorist will work directly with pet parents to teach them how to properly interact with their pets to produce desired results.
The techniques used by animal behaviorists include behavior modification, gentle response techniques, hand signals, verbal commands, pharmacologial interventions (in the case of veterinary behaviorists), alternative medicine, nutrition and lots of educating of the parents.
It is not uncommon for behaviorists to have innate abilities to understand and communicate with canines in a way that they understand. However, in addition to this natural ability, behaviorists also have backgrounds and degrees in animal sciences, veterinary, pscyhology, sociology, applied behavioral sciences, or animal behavior and apply their experience and knowledge to the interaction between the human and the pup.
Dog Trainers
Dog training professionals offer invaluable skills for you and your canine kid. They traditionally work in class settings (excellent for socialization), teaching basic obedience. Others offer agility and trick training.
Dog trainers typically obtain their canine knowledge from their lifetime experiences with dogs as well as from various educational opportunities.
When working with a dog trainer, always be sure you examine their techniques. As dog training has evolved, research has proven that negative reinforcement is a technique of the past. It is essential to avoid a program that promotes negative methods such as punishment, shock collars, pinch collars, or choke chains.
Veterinarians
We usually only think of going to our vet for vaccinations, but they offer much more. Canine behaviorists and veterinarians often work as a team to resolve client problems. Some of your dog's behavior could be related to either medical conditions such as pain or illness.
Be sure to see your veterinarian, at a minimum, once a year for check-ups (especially as they get older). Many problems can be avoided through prevention and good health maintenance.
