Behaviorists

Dog behaviorists deal with problems such as owner-directed aggression, fear aggression, food guarding, separation anxiety, storm phobia and noise phobia, canine compulsive behaviors, self-mutilation, urine marking, and inappropriate urination or defecation.

 

There are two types of behaviorists: non-veterinary (often with a master’s degree or PhD) and veterinary behaviorists. The former group rely on psychological principles to modify behavior but do not address medical causes of problem behaviors or prescribe drugs. They are the equivalent of human clinical psychologists. Veterinary behaviorists, on the other hand, have an eye to medical causes of behavior problems and are at liberty to prescribe behavior modifying medications. They are the veterinary equivalent of psychiatrists.

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While veterinary behaviorists utilize some dog training in their work, they typically resort to implementing specific behavior modification programs, which they oversee and monitor.

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We have provided links to the various behavior professionals that may be required to address your dog’s problem.