Veterinarian María José Ubilla explains that a series of needs must be met – from biological to cognitive – to avoid problems in the dog’s relationship with its human family and with other animals.
“The prevention of behavioral disorders in dogs is essential,” says Dr. María José Ubilla, ethologist and deputy director of the School of Agri-Food, Animal and Environmental Sciences (ECA3) at the University of O’Higgins (UOH). It also details that behavioral problems create an alteration in human or animal coexistence, “and can also generate abandonment and even the request for euthanasia by a guardian, along with directly affecting the patient’s well-being. (dog)”.
But what is a behavioral problem in our dog? María José Ubilla explains that experts define it as “the pattern of behavior of a domestic animal that can cause injury or illness in the individual who manifests it or in others, or that is dangerous or simply annoying for the dog’s owner/ to”.
Origins and prevention
The reasons why behavioral problems arise – the veterinary doctor details – include individual factors of the pet and genetic and physiological factors. And these behavioral problems are varied and can be classified into various types of aggression, separation anxiety, inadequate elimination (of feces and urine), fears and phobias, as well as compulsive disorders, among others.
The expert explains that animal well-being is made up of five domains: nutrition, health, environment, behavior and mental state. Added to these are human-animal interactions, influencing the general health of animals. Therefore, it is essential to prevent these behavioral disorders in dogs and generate a harmonious coexistence, “considering that they need – yes or yes – to exercise daily, whether through play or walks. They require that we enrich the environments with different types of toys or objects that the dog occupies and also, with adequate physical spaces where they can rest or take refuge, they do require it. “Social contact is another point, as well as the training and stimulation of their senses, since all of them, together, encompass environmental enrichment.”
To this, Dr. Ubilla adds, are added tutor tasks such as “learning to desensitize dogs to certain handling, since they are not used to having their paws, ears touched, or their mouth checked; So, from the time they are puppies we can generate these types of habituations, which will generate less stress for them when we take them to the vet and they examine them.”
Consider your needs
And of course, the physical needs of “food, veterinary and mental care are not absent in the different stages of a dog’s development, understanding that in each one different development processes must be attended to. The behavioral needs of a neonate or newborn, a puppy, a juvenile individual and a (older) geront are not the same,” says the deputy director ECA3.
The gentle guide for the well-being of dogs and the modification of their behaviors, explains María José Ubilla, involves considering everything from biological needs to cognitive needs, including emotional, social and gentle training needs. But what does each imply, or how do they materialize?
The biological ones correspond to providing adequate nutrition, drinking water, sufficient exercise and rest. In addition to shelter, protection, adequate environmental temperature and respectful veterinary care. The emotional ones correspond to feeling safe and confident. While social needs involve an emotional bond with people and dogs, in addition to enjoying play and recreational activities. Kind training needs involve non-harmful management and learning, with training strategies and positive reinforcement. For their part, cognitive needs address novel entertainment options and mental challenges.
Dr. Ubilla highlights that the prevention of behavioral problems in our dogs is essential for their animal well-being and for a harmonious coexistence for a lifetime. It also indicates that the first step of a healthy coexistence is to “adopt a dog as a member of the family, with prior agreement with all the members of the family, to acquire a lifelong commitment, which implies taking care of an animal while respecting and satisfying their physical, behavioral and mental needs according to each stage of development.”
