If you visit a website while seeking help, or consult someone who claims to be a dog behaviorist, you want to check for credentials. Unfortunately there aren’t government licensing requirements for applied animal behavior professionals, which have allowed individuals to call themselves animal behaviorists, canine behaviorists, dog psychologists and and so forth. This results in many people having little knowledge of the use of the scientific method to modify behaviors and failure to apply appropriate methods. A few titles put on their own dogs does not entitle any person or trainer to claim they are dog behaviorists. Not even TV shows, but that is another can of worms. DOG BEHAVIOR CONSULTANTS (I use a general term) specialize in dog behavior and they can be certified trough different associations. They can be members of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, Association of Behavior Professional, Pet Professional Guild or similar associations, in which they are required to follow certain ethic standards and apply scientific methods. Overall, a consultant’s education can include accredited university coursework, diplomas and certifications from a reliable institute with internship programs (IAABC , CASI, KPA approved course providers, for example) , extensive reading, writing, working under a mentor, independent study and hands-on experience working with animals. These people are continuously keeping updated, though seminars and workshops, courses, text books and articles in animal behavior journals. A reliable behavior consultant does not make promises and guarantee results within a certain amount of time. If someone tells you that they can fix any behavioral problem in a month or 3 sessions, aggression in particular, find someone else who has realistic views of how much time it actually takes to modify behaviors. These people come to your home, especially if that is the environment in which problems are more significant, and will explain what you need to know and do in order to see improvements. Techniques are shown, as well as management suggestions when this is lacking. Depending on how advanced the owner is the homework might target only one thing to work with at a time, and then move farther. A good behavior consultant will ask for the dog’s medical history and depending on what behaviors are observed or learned a thyroid panel or farther blood work and health related tests as well. He/she might also refer you to a veterinary behaviorist. This is not done to bother the owner and add more expenses. Often there is a health problem that is directly responsible for changes in the behavior or behavior patterns that have been there for a long time. My worse case of fear aggression improved dramatically once the owner finally agreed to travel to a recommended vet and get a full thyroid panel done. While there have been improvements with behavior modification, there was only so much to do when the dog needed medications for his health problem. PET DOG TRAINERs should also provide certifications (CDPT-KAS, CAP, just to name a couple) and have a good understanding of canine behavior. They should follow ethic guideline and be updated with scientific methods. Please be wary of Cesar Millan balanced trainer, who have learned from him or follow his methods, as well as abusive trainers who rely only on force to train your dog.More advice on how to chose a trainer on the link below: Valentina Foster Dip.ADT Companion Animal Science Institute Association of Animal Behavior Professionals (#337) The Pet Professional Guild (ID 7052152) Behavior Education Network AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator (#29019), ADBA Safe Dog Program level I & II tester More about pet dog trainers: 4pawsu/trainers.htm
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 18:30:25 +0000
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