Dog behaviourist
Encyclopedia
Dog behaviourist is a term that is used by professional academics, veterinarians and experienced trainers who may or not be formally certified.
In general, a dog behaviourist is a professional who either studies dog behaviour, or works towards modifying and managing the behaviour of particular dog
s, with emphasis on problems such as aggression
, separation anxiety
, fears, timidity, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive
behaviours.
Most dog behaviourists are experienced dog handlers who have developed their skills over many years and studied behaviour either formally or through personal research. Some have backgrounds in veterinary science, animal science, psychology
, zoology
, sociology
, biology
, or animal behaviour
, and have applied their experience and knowledge to the interaction between humans and dogs.
have been established, these may offer trainers and practising behaviourists a route to further their development. Different associations have different standards, goals, and requirements for membership.
These are a cross section of the more well known Associations.
There are currently not many legal requirements for any kind of certification or accreditation to call oneself a behaviourist. Board-certified veterinary behaviourists have to pass a credentialling application and exam to be recognized as "board-certified" in the view of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). However, most behaviourists work and study towards formal accreditation with one of the many colleges providing training. Some associations might require accreditation to join, others may require a declaration of intent for continuing personal development. For behaviourists who seek accreditation, there are many colleges and institutions that provide training.
Typically behaviourists work one-on-one with the dog
and its owner. This is often carried out in the home or the area where the dog is showing behavioural problems. Many dogs are cautious or nervous in neutral territory making it difficult to establish the root cause of some common behavioural problems. To this end office bound behaviourists may be disadvantaged when it comes to assessing behavioural modification. As the dog may act very differently when in strange territory
The methods and tools of the behaviourist will depend on several factors including the dog's temperament, the trainer's personal philosophy on training, the trainer's experience, and the behavioural problems being addressed. At one end of the spectrum some behaviourists attempt to train dogs without any aversive or coersive methods at all, relying solely on food treats or praise. Other behaviourists believe that the use of verbal corrections, headcollars, correction collars, electric collars etc., are necessary or useful when treating particular dogs or particular behavioural problems. However, the general philosophy in use is to avoid methods that could cause confusion, fear, pain and anything other than mild stressor
s. The use of electric collars (e-collars) is already banned in Wales, and the ban may be set to spread throughout the UK.
In general, a dog behaviourist is a professional who either studies dog behaviour, or works towards modifying and managing the behaviour of particular dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
s, with emphasis on problems such as aggression
Aggression
In psychology, as well as other social and behavioral sciences, aggression refers to behavior between members of the same species that is intended to cause humiliation, pain, or harm. Ferguson and Beaver defined aggressive behavior as "Behavior which is intended to increase the social dominance of...
, separation anxiety
Separation anxiety disorder
Separation anxiety disorder is a psychological condition in which an individual experiences excessive anxiety regarding separation from home or from people to whom the individual has a strong emotional attachment...
, fears, timidity, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive–compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry, by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated anxiety, or by a combination of such obsessions and compulsions...
behaviours.
Most dog behaviourists are experienced dog handlers who have developed their skills over many years and studied behaviour either formally or through personal research. Some have backgrounds in veterinary science, animal science, psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
, sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
, biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, or animal behaviour
Animal behaviour
Animal behaviour is the subject of:* The field of Ethology* Animal Behaviour, a scientific journal...
, and have applied their experience and knowledge to the interaction between humans and dogs.
Associations
To help establish and further this form of training, associations dedicated to the development of behavioural dog trainingDog training
Dog training is the process of teaching skills or behaviors to a dog. This can include teaching a dog to respond to certain commands, or helping the dog learn coping skills for stressful environments. Dog training often includes operant conditioning, classical conditioning, or non-associative...
have been established, these may offer trainers and practising behaviourists a route to further their development. Different associations have different standards, goals, and requirements for membership.
These are a cross section of the more well known Associations.
- Canine and Feline Behaviour Association (UK)
- American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
- Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists
- Professional Association of Applied Canine Trainers (UK)
- International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP)
- International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
- Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (UK)
There are currently not many legal requirements for any kind of certification or accreditation to call oneself a behaviourist. Board-certified veterinary behaviourists have to pass a credentialling application and exam to be recognized as "board-certified" in the view of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). However, most behaviourists work and study towards formal accreditation with one of the many colleges providing training. Some associations might require accreditation to join, others may require a declaration of intent for continuing personal development. For behaviourists who seek accreditation, there are many colleges and institutions that provide training.
Procedure
The theory or doctrine that human or animal psychology can be accurately studied only through the examination and analysis of objectively observable and quantifiable behavioural events, in contrast with subjective mental states. --- Dictionary.comTypically behaviourists work one-on-one with the dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
and its owner. This is often carried out in the home or the area where the dog is showing behavioural problems. Many dogs are cautious or nervous in neutral territory making it difficult to establish the root cause of some common behavioural problems. To this end office bound behaviourists may be disadvantaged when it comes to assessing behavioural modification. As the dog may act very differently when in strange territory
The methods and tools of the behaviourist will depend on several factors including the dog's temperament, the trainer's personal philosophy on training, the trainer's experience, and the behavioural problems being addressed. At one end of the spectrum some behaviourists attempt to train dogs without any aversive or coersive methods at all, relying solely on food treats or praise. Other behaviourists believe that the use of verbal corrections, headcollars, correction collars, electric collars etc., are necessary or useful when treating particular dogs or particular behavioural problems. However, the general philosophy in use is to avoid methods that could cause confusion, fear, pain and anything other than mild stressor
Stressor
Stressor is a chemical or biological agent, environmental condition, an external stimulus or an event that causes stress to an organism. An event that triggers the stress response may include for example:...
s. The use of electric collars (e-collars) is already banned in Wales, and the ban may be set to spread throughout the UK.
See also
- B.F. Skinner
- BehaviourismBehaviorismBehaviorism , also called the learning perspective , is a philosophy of psychology based on the proposition that all things that organisms do—including acting, thinking, and feeling—can and should be regarded as behaviors, and that psychological disorders are best treated by altering behavior...
- PavlovIvan PavlovIvan Petrovich Pavlov was a famous Russian physiologist. Although he made significant contributions to psychology, he was not in fact a psychologist himself but was a mathematician and actually had strong distaste for the field....
- John Broadus Watson
- Felix HoFelix HoFelix Ho is a canine behaviorist, animal trainer, writer, athlete, and international Schutzhund/IPO competitor. He is one of the most recognized dog sport competitors and behaviorists in the world, and one of the few dog trainers that has gained international popularity...
- Cesar MillanCesar MillanCesar Millan, is a Mexican-born American dog trainer. A self-taught expert, he is widely known for his television series The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, now in its seventh season and broadcast in more than eighty countries worldwide...
(The Dog WhispererDog WhispererDog Whisperer with Cesar Millan is a reality television series that features Cesar Millan's work with problem dogs. In the United States, the program airs exclusively on the Nat Geo WILD channel with season 8 expected to premiere in 2012....
) - EthologyEthologyEthology is the scientific study of animal behavior, and a sub-topic of zoology....