Many dog owners are unsure of who they should contact in case of significant behavioral problems and because there is a difference in what individuals can offer, depending on their qualifications, knowledge and experience, it is important to know what that difference is. The following is just a brief explanation of who is what and how they can help you and your dog. These are not only trainers, although some are as well, and don’t put a band aid on symptoms of something that is an indicator of much bigger underlying problems.
BOARD CERTIFIED VETERINARY BEHAVIORISTS are specialist in behavior medicine. They have graduated from veterinary school (have a DVM degree or equivalent) and went through more years of specialized studies in residency programs, they are versed in neurology, neuropharmacology , ethology, the principle of learning and behavior, normal and abnormal behavior and so on. They have a medical background that can help your dog where your average dog trainer can't. These the people you also look for when your dog is displaying specific behaviors that are caused by flaws in the system such as chemical imbalances in the brain.
Once you contact a veterinary behaviorist there is a questionnaire to fill up, in which questions are carefully planned to get an overall idea of what is going on with the animal, including a medical history. The veterinary behaviorist looks it over and prepares other questions if he/she believes they are needed. After that there is the consultation in person, usually about 1 hour and half, and the dog is observed. The problem behavior is never elicited. If the dog has aggression issues at home the veterinary behaviorist will believe you, even if the behavior is not directly observed during the consultation. No point in creating situations in which problem behaviors are reinforced once again.
If you have videos make sure you offer them to the vet as they are valuable tools. If aggression is the problem don't put the dog in situations in which a behavior escalates, in order to take videos. It is not necessary, but if you happen to have videos prior contacting the veterinary behaviorist then let him/her know.
After the consultation a prognosis is made and the owner receives a behavior modification protocol to utilize, in writing. If medications are in order they are prescribed and the veterinary behaviorist will work with your regular vet by sending in a report of the consultation. Follow ups through the phone or e-mail are the next step and the dog should be seen again after the behavior modification program has been practiced for some time.
More info here:
ACVB
American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior - AVSAB - Home
Qualifications of our Animal Behaviorists : Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
CERTIFIED APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIORISTS have graduate degrees in the science of animal behavior, by an accredited college or university, they completed post-graduate education receiving a Master’s (2-year full time) or Ph.D.(4-year full time) degree in a behavioral science, or DVM or VMD degree with a behavioral residency, have passed rigorous oral and written examinations given by their faculty committees, published articles in scientific journals, supervised hands-on experience with animals and meet the course work and experience requirements for certification as set forth by the Animal Behavior Society. Often animal behaviorists are members of the IADBC (International Association of Dog Behavior Counselors), the ABMA (Animal Behavior Management Alliance), the ABS (Animal Behavior Society) or the ACABC (Association of Companion Animal Behavior Counselors). The owner fill up a questionnaire, there is a consultation in person and a behavior modification protocols is given. More info:
About the Program for Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists — Animal Behavior Society: Applied Animal Behavior
Animal Behavior Society Site has moved
If you visit a website while seeking help, or consult someone who claims to be a dog behaviorist, you want to check for credentials. Unfortunately there aren’t government licensing requirements for applied animal behavior professionals, which have allowed individuals to call themselves animal behaviorists, canine behaviorists, dog psychologists and and so forth. This results in many people having little knowledge of the use of the scientific method to modify behaviors and failure to apply appropriate methods. A few titles put on their own dogs does not entitle any person or trainer to claim they are dog behaviorists. Not even TV shows, but that is another can of worms.
DOG BEHAVIOR CONSULTANTS (I use a general term) specialize in dog behavior and they can be certified trough different associations. They can be members of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants or similar associations, in which they are required to follow certain ethic standards and apply scientific methods. Overall a consultant’s education can include accredited university coursework, diplomas and certifications from a reliable institute with internship programs (IAABC approved course providers, for example) , extensive reading, writing, working under a mentor, independent study and hands-on experience working with animals. These people are continuously keeping updated, though seminars and workshops, courses, text books and articles in animal behavior journals. A reliable behavior consultant does not make promises and guarantee results within a certain amount of time. If someone tells you that they can "fix" any behavioral problem in a month or 3 sessions, aggression in particular, find someone else who has realistic views of how much time it actually takes to modify behaviors.
These people come to your home, especially if that is the environment in which problems are more significant, and will explain what you need to know and do in order to see improvements. Techniques are shown, as well as management suggestions when this is lacking. Depending on how advanced the owner is the homework might target only one thing to work with at a time, and then move farther. A good behavior consultant will ask for the dog’s medical history and depending on what behaviors are observed or learned a thyroid panel or farther blood work and health related tests as well. He/she might also refer you to a veterinary behaviorist. This is not done to bother the owner and add more expenses. Often there is a health problem that is directly responsible for changes in the behavior or behavior patterns that have been there for a long time. My worse case of fear aggression improved dramatically once the owner finally agreed to travel to a very valuable vet and get a full thyroid panel done. While there have been improvements with behavior modification there was only so much to do when the dog needed medications for his health problem.
