Many behavior problems in companion animals are related to miscommunication between pet and owner. Owner misconceptions lead to barriers that result in misbehavior and, if left uncorrected, negatively affect the human-animal bond. By understanding these misconceptions, pet owners can prevent behavior problems from occurring and, with the help of a pet trainer or behaviorist, successfully modify current ones.
Domestication
Companion animals were domesticated thousands of years ago. Cats protected food supplies and homes from disease carrying rodents and vermin, and dogs offered protection and companionship. While it isn’t certain when domestication occurred, what is certain is that it resulted in several attributes that pets still possess today. These attributes are part of a pet’s innate make-up and can be seen as behavior problems if the dog barks too much, or the cat kills the hamster.
Specific breeds
As pets were bred for specific purposes, their temperaments, learning abilities, and innate drives were changed to fit these purposes. Herding dogs will ‘herd’ groups of children or pets, sporting dogs have a lot of energy in order to hunt for long periods of time. If owners acquire pets without taking the breed into consideration, these normal behaviors can turn into behavior problems.
Anthropomorphism
When pet owners use human emotion and characteristics to nurture a human-animal relationship, they place communication barriers between themselves and the pet. A dog that urinates in the house isn’t doing it ‘out of spite’. The cat didn’t eliminate outside of the box because he ‘doesn’t know any better.’ Animals can not appreciate human logic or thinking.
Animals also use anthropomorphism when trying to interpret human voices and action. For example, when a person hovers over an animal to be friendly, the animal interprets it a dominant posture and therefore a threat.
Species-specific behavior
Many times normal behaviors turn into behavior problems if a pet isn’t provided with an appropriate outlet. Cat scratching for example, is seen as destructive. Cats scratch to remove the dead sheaths on their claws, to stretch their tendons and muscles, and to mark territory. Dogs that dig a lot are considered a nuisance. The digging could be the dog’s way of cooling itself, or the prey drive in some breeds such as terriers.
By recognizing these misconceptions and learning about their pet’s behavior, pet owners can prevent many behavior problems. Normal behaviors that are a nuisance for owners can be redirected in healthy ways, while misbehavior can be modified through owner compliance and proper communication.
Roberta Avila-Guevara - I have been an animal lover since I could walk. I attended the Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology to become a Certified Veterinary ...
