Behavioral Counseling and Therapy

Treating Behavior Problems

• a team to treat this problem may include the owner, family, veterinary staff, trainer, behavior consultant, and a veterinary behaviorist

• Techs are the first to assess the situation

• Behavior problems can be considered as medical issues, behavioral disorders, or preventable behaviors.

• Medical conditions can cause or worsen a behavior problem (ex. uti can cause a cat to pee outside its litter box)

• How techs assess animal behavior:

-Use non-threatening body language and treats.

-Assess the pet’s trainability and interest in rewards.

-Assess the pet’s ability to reliably follow cues.

-Introduce the use of training tools to the client and the pet.

-Communicate with the veterinarian about the pet’s responsiveness to training.

-Document progress in the pet’s medical and behavior record.

Behavior Modification Techniques For Dogs and Cats

Cue-Response-Reward - giving a reward after the animal performs desired task Punishment should not be used with this technique

Extinction - removing the reinforcement for the behavior

Aversion Therapy - creating unpleasant stimulus for unwanted behavior

Habituation - surrounding the animal with the stimulus causing the problem until the animal becomes acclimated to the stimulus not swag dont do

Punishment - can go wrong fast if not careful not recommaned

Counterconditioning -

Desensitization -

Environmental Modification -