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Why is Animal Behaviour Training Important to Developing Good Habits Among Pets?

Writer: Eva Dudzic
Eva Dudzic
Sep 25
3 min read

Pet owners usually end up finding themselves lost and puzzled at the sudden appearance of the unwanted behaviour in their pets. It may include aggressive, anxious, destructive, fearful or even disobedient behaviour. But still, such behaviour doesn’t necessarily indicate that the pets are being deliberately naughty. Behaviour might signify a physical, emotional, medical, psychological, or environmental problem of the pet in question. In other words, behaviour is just the surface level of things, and understanding the underlying cause of the problem will facilitate the process of pet training for the owner. At Kindheart Veterinary Behaviour Services, we focus on helping our clients by providing services such as animal behaviour training.



Why Do Behaviours Change in Pets?


The way pets communicate includes body language and behaviour. The growl, hide, bark, scratch, bite, making too many noises, or fear of people could all indicate fear, discomfort, anxiety, frustration, or stress in a pet. Sometimes an owner may believe that the behaviour of a pet is bad, even though the pet is just being itself, but at the wrong time. Illnesses and medical issues may also affect pets' behaviours. Being in pain, being sick, having skin issues, having digestive issues, or other medical problems may cause irritability in a pet.


Why Punishment is Not an Option


Aversive corrections might prevent the problem from happening again in the short term, but they are likely to raise anxiety and might affect the bond between the animal and the guardian. We don't use or suggest any aversive training.


The emphasis is on humane and evidence-based interventions that facilitate learning without compromising the animal’s safety. Techniques such as positive reinforcement, environmental management, and others can be used for each particular animal.


How Professional Behaviour Support Can Help


Not all animals share the same background, personality, environment, and stimuli. It helps to have a professional evaluation done in order to determine if the behaviour has something to do with fear, aggression, illness, or some other environmental problem.


We provide customized treatment plans designed around the pet and family. Examples of behavioural help can be educational help provided by the owner, management help, training help and veterinary help if needed. A combination of such tools will prove especially helpful in the process of solving difficult problems associated with aggression, anxiety, cognitive impairment in older pets, and socialization in puppies.


Enhancing Bond Between You and Your Pet


Improving behaviour needs time and persistence. The owner’s contribution is necessary through noticing the triggers, keeping proper schedules, making a safe environment, and implementing the advised management program. Minor changes may become a great step forward if the caregivers know what the pet needs.


It would be wrong to make only an effort to stop negative behaviour. The aim must be to make the animal feel more secure and express itself in a better way.


When Should You Look For Professional Help?


In case your pet shows continuous behaviour, the behaviour changes suddenly, becomes risky, or interferes with your everyday activities, professional help will provide you with some good suggestions. In this way, you will find out what the cause of the behaviour might be and prevent any problems from happening in the future.


Those who would like to get empathic and individualized help for their pets will turn to Kindheart veterinary behaviour services which offer a combination of veterinary medicine, behavioural science, the emotional side of the issue, and some suggestions for solving problems of both the pet and its owners. Selecting the right pet behaviour clinic could be an important choice.


 
 
 

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Call 250-598-4595 to schedule either an in person or virtual appointment


Dr. Dudzic graduated from WCVM in 1996.   She is originally from Edmonton, AB and is pursuing a residency in veterinary psychiatry, from the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, the only accredited college for animal behaviour training for veterinarians.  Veterinarians with this degree specialize in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of all types of animal behaviour concerns ranging from feline elimination problems to dog aggression.  She has rehabilitated dozens of animals succuessfully in her care over the decades, and continues to provide general practice needs to her patients as well.  She is passionate about animal quality of life, the importance of preserving and caring for the human-animal bond, in her practice.   She combines her extensive experience from general practice, her undergraduate psychology training, her extensive continuing education in the area of animal behaviour and training to resolve, manage and provide counselling to hundreds of animals.  She welcomes new patients and looks forward to dedicate her services in helping regain balance, trust and ensure health is addressed, in households that are struggling understanding their pets.  The 'vet whisperer' who translates what animals are trying to tell us......please call us today

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