Behavior that deviates from normal or is specific to the dog's breed, age or sex is called behavioral problems. The causes of such problems may be genetic, organic or due to environmental influences. When the dog's guardian is unable to cope with the pet's complicated behavioral disorders on his own. They can use the help of a dog behaviorist who, by understanding the cause and function of problematic behaviors, helps alleviate or eliminate them.
Just a few decades ago, caring for four-legged friends came down to taking care of their basic physical needs. It rarely went beyond issues such as providing the dog with food, a roof over its head, a place to sleep or a minimum daily dose of exercise. Meanwhile, there are many other factors that go into caring for a pet.
In addition to proper diet, care and attention to physical health, every pet owner must take care of their pet's mental comfort. In particular, in terms of ensuring a sense of security, emotional peace, balanced mental development, satisfying the need to express natural dog behavior, as well as constant care for mutual relationships. Therefore, it is difficult to talk about proper care when the dog's emotional needs are neglected or problematic disorders in this area are ignored.
If your pet has a deep behavioral problem, the solution of which is beyond the owner's skills, it is worth contacting a dog behaviorist. He is a specialist who examines and analyzes behavioral disorders in dogs, in relation to specific factors, in order to understand and improve them.
Benefits of working with a dog behaviorist
A very important element of a dog behaviorist's work is owner education. It teaches him how to support the dog and act so that it gets rid of bad habits or emotional problems. In a sense, a dog behaviorist resembles a therapist, a specialist in dog psyche who serves as an experienced mediator between the dog and the owner. It helps the guardian better understand the behavior of his four-legged friend and provides tips for further work with the pet. In this perspective, the help of a dog behaviorist is extremely important to get the therapy process on the right track. It also has a significant impact on its effectiveness. Thanks to the huge number of behavioral techniques and methods developed, cooperation with a dog behaviorist is one of the most effective therapeutic solutions.
A dog behaviorist often tries to help the owner understand the dog's behavior. He also gives advice for further work.
How does a dog behaviorist work?
The work of a dog behaviorist requires extensive knowledge, experience and constant expansion of one's competences in order to provide help in troublesome situations in the best possible way. The therapeutic process begins with a behavioral consultation, preceded by an initial interview about the pet's history, health, nutrition, daily activity and reaction to strangers. During the first meeting, the behaviorist talks to the caregiver or household members about problematic behavior. He also tries to observe the dog in a difficult situation, usually at home or during a walk. The course of this meeting depends largely on the type of disorder. Many issues are discussed on an ongoing basis during consultations. The dog behaviorist tries to collect as much information as possible, based on which he creates a sketch of the therapy. The plan includes a detailed presentation of the problem with a discussion of its causes and proposals for work methods, usually supported by practical examples (demonstration).
Specialists rarely make recommendations during the first consultation. Typically, the behaviorist summarizes the problem and presents a treatment plan shortly after the meeting. The most important thing, however, is that the dog's guardian receives a ready-made work model, with clear instructions on how to proceed in specific situations. Moreover, cooperation with a dog behaviorist usually does not end with one meeting. In order to alleviate or eliminate the problem, it is necessary to break the therapy into small steps. Therefore, further consultations are necessary, during which the specialist assesses changes in the behavior of your four-legged friend and, if necessary, makes modifications to the therapy plan.
It should be emphasized that each dog behaviorist has a specific work pattern. Moreover, each case is different and one and the same approach cannot be used for a specific problem. Sometimes you only need to change one element to modify problematic behavior. Otherwise, many different factors and long-term actions should be used, which, in addition to reducing undesirable behaviors, will lead to generalization and maintenance of the changes created.
A dog behaviorist often tries to observe the dog in its everyday environment, most often on a walk or, for example, while playing at home.
Dog behaviorist and dog trainer – what's the difference?
While there are many similarities in the activities of a dog trainer and a dog behaviorist, there are also significant differences. The key task of a dog behaviorist is to solve the emotional problems of a four-legged friend, especially those that prevent him from functioning normally in his environment. This applies primarily to anxiety disorders, reactive and aggressive behavior, and socialization problems. Importantly, the behaviorist works individually with the dog. The primary role of a trainer is to train dogs, primarily in the field of obedience, basic behavior modification and specific (expected) skills. A dog trainer also trains sports dogs and is responsible for preparing them for exhibitions, competitions or performing specialized tasks.
How to choose a dog behaviorist?
A dog behaviorist is a person who should have the skills to diagnose behavioral problems, as well as alleviate or eliminate undesirable behavior in a dog. A good specialist in this field is invaluable help in solving dog behavioral problems, but before seeking help from a behaviorist, it is worth checking his competences. Unfortunately, formally, people who perform this profession do not need to have any special qualifications. The minimum requirements apply to secondary education in any field. Therefore, when looking for a good behaviorist, you should pay attention to his education, in particular check his professional title, type of course completed and certificates obtained. It should be noted that numerous training courses in this field are conducted using e-learning platforms, excluding practical classes with a pet.
The second important issue is the specialist's practical knowledge, so you should check the effects of his previous work. All this information is available on the Internet, online forums are helpful,
which contain opinions of other pet owners (in particular the specialist's approach to working with dogs and clients) or websites of dog behaviorists, where we can find information about education, practice, achievements, as well as contact details.
To sum up, working with a dog behaviorist brings many benefits. The most important issue is solving the problem, which improves the quality of life of both the pet and its loved ones. It is worth remembering that starting cooperation with a dog behaviorist is not a sign of weakness or clumsiness, on the contrary - it is a mature, wise decision. It is proof of the responsible, caring attitude of the owner, who cares not only about the physical but also the emotional health of his pet.
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