Is your pet acting aggressive, destroying household items, or otherwise causing problems? At Oaks North Animal Hospital in San Antonio, TX, we offer a full line of behavioral counseling for cats and dogs. Here’s what you need to know about the process and what behaviors it can help eliminate.
What is Pet Behavior Counseling?
Essentially, behavior counseling for animals is a training tool designed to help eliminate bad habits and give the owner more control in certain settings. Some pets are more receptive to behavioral counseling than others, and the time it takes to modify your pet’s unwanted behavior can vary due to numerous factors. It just depends on the issue and the reason behind the pet’s behavior.
For example, one element for dogs is off-leash training which involves both verbal and non-verbal cues. In the instance of a feline, the process might include considering various issues involving aggression, urinating or defecating outside the litter box, or any other unpleasant action.
How Can It Help a Cat or Dog?
Animal behavior counseling is really about getting to know what makes an animal act a certain way or do the things that they do. By working with a professional veterinarian who specializes in this type of care, you can get to the root of why training isn’t working and modify training accordingly. In most cases, it isn’t necessarily anything the pet is doing, but an owner’s reaction to the event. Most pet behaviorists will tell you that the process takes two sides to be successful: the animal itself and the willingness of the owners to make changes.
Common Issues That Might Require Intervention
If you feel like you’re at your maximum for dealing with certain behaviors from your pet, it might be time to get in touch with us. A few of the most common issues that might need intervention include:
- Aggressiveness towards other people
- Excessive barking
- Anxiety
- Excessive chewing
- Fear of certain objects or people
- Refusal to follow simple training commands
- Excessive licking of the fur or skin
- Separation issues
- Urinating and defecating outside normal areas
Of course, there are many more pet behavioral issues that counseling can help with. And some of these problems might have a basis of an underlying health issue, which is why it is crucial to have this discussion with a trained veterinarian.
Animal Hospital in San Antonio, TX
If you are looking for a “vet near me” in San Antonio, TX, the veterinary professionals at Oaks North Animal Hospital are ready to assist you. For more information on pet behavior counseling or to schedule a session, call us at (210) 697-9585.