Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists Your veterinarian is the first person you should contact when your pet exhibits problem behavior or your pet's behavior changes. Changes in behavior or behavior problems can reflect underlying medical conditions, which must be evaluated by your veterinarian. Many underlying medical problems, including pain, can alter your pet's behavior in ways that are difficult for pet owners to identify. Please call your veterinarian if you note any change, however mild, in your pet's behavior.
Once medical conditions have been ruled out, we, like you, want the best behavioral care possible for your pet. It is important for you to understand the qualifications of people who use titles that indicate they are behavior professionals. This is difficult since, unlike the titles veterinarian, psychologist and psychiatrist, which are state licensed, the title "animal behaviorist", or similar titles can be used by anyone, regardless of their background.
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Do you have a behavior problem with your dog, cat or other pet? Confused about what to do because you've received conflicting information? Your veterinarian should be your first resource. After your pet has been examined by your veterinarian, we are here to help you find the BEST solution for you and your dog, cat, or other species of pet. How can a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) help you?Whether your pet's behavior has recently become a concern or you are dealing with long-standing behavior problems, CAABs are uniquely qualified to work with you and your family to find the best solution. How CAABs differ from trainers and other "behaviorists".CAABs have supervised graduate training in animal behavior, biology, zoology and learning theory at accredited universities. We publish data based papers in peer-reviewed journals. Some CAABs are veterinarians who have completed a residency in animal behavior. CAABs are full time professionally educated animal behaviorists.
Working with your veterinarian.After your veterinarian determines that your pet does not have a medical problem that is the cause of the behavior symptoms, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists will continue to work closely with your veterinarian to provide the best behavior care for your pets. Because most CAABs work through veterinary referral, we know the importance of keeping your veterinarian informed of our findings. Because of our training, we know how to provide a useful case summary to veterinarians. We are the only non-veterinary certified behaviorists with both graduate training in animal behavior and supervised hands-on experience with a wide variety of species.
The information CAABs provide is based not just on personal experience and opinion but on scientific principles of animal behavior. CAABs also know how to find the most in-depth, up to date information available in the scientific literature. |
CAABs include individuals with these additional skills:
Behavior wellness counseling |