Fresh Start Pet Coaching

As I was wandering around the internet today, reading various animal related sites, I suddenly came to the realization that many people do not know what an animal behaviorist does, particularly an applied animal behaviorist such as myself. The general consensus seemed to be that I had a couch in my office where I had dogs and cats lie down and tell me about their problems – a doggie/kitty shrink so to speak.

I’m really not sure why I found this so shocking. I was honestly at first very annoyed at the ignorance of these comments. Then, I remembered that I until I happened to stumble upon a university with an animal behavior program, I didn’t know what an animal behaviorist did either. So, I decided to enlighten the world by explaining the role of an applied an animal behaviorist.

An animal behaviorist who works with pet problems is someone who:

• Has studied extensively the science of what animals do (the science of animal behavior).
• Stays on top of current research relating to the behavior of the animals they work with.
• Uses a scientific approach to manage and correct behavior problems in pets.

Animal behaviorists can come from a variety of backgrounds, including, but not limited to, biology, psychology, zoology, ethology, animal science, etc. There are animal behaviorists who study animals in the wild or in the laboratory, working in zoos, and working with just about any animal that you can find.

You might need an animal behaviorist for your pet if:

• Your pet is misbehaving and you just can’t take any more
• Your pet is acting aggressively toward other animals or people
• Your veterinarian has ruled out any physical cause for the behavior problem
• You are bringing home a new pet and you want to prevent behavior problems from developing in the future.
• You need help deciding which pet is right for you.

An animal behaviorist can be a variety of things and work with a variety of different animals. The important thing is that if you are having a problem with your pet you talk with your veterinarian and seek the help that you need.

Do you think you might need the services of an animal behaviorist for your dog or cat? Find out by scheduling a 15 minute complimentary consultation today.