2015 AAHA Canine and Feline Behavior Management Guidelines

Your Cat’s Not a Jerk, He’s Trying to Tell You Something: Keeping Pets and Families Together with Behavior Management

The guidelines cover these key points in managing behavioral issues:

The guidelines offer a comprehensive overview of behavior management for both canines and felines, covering various aspects of their behavior and wellbeing.

• Evidence-Based Practices: The guidelines emphasize evidence-directed methods for managing and modifying pet behavior.
• Understanding Behavior Issues: They help pet owners and professionals understand common behavior issues such as aggression, anxiety, and compulsive behaviors, offering insights into their causes and potential solutions.
• Preventive Measures: The guidelines highlight the importance of preventive measures in behavior management, including early socialization, positive reinforcement training, and environmental enrichment.
• Health Considerations: Addressing the link between behavior and health, the guidelines stress the significance of veterinary evaluations to rule out any underlying medical conditions contributing to behavioral problems.
• Collaborative Approach: They advocate for a collaborative approach involving pet owners, veterinarians, trainers, and behaviorists to develop tailored behavior modification plans for individual pets.
• Positive Reinforcement: Encouraging the use of positive reinforcement techniques, the guidelines promote rewards-based training methods to reinforce desired behaviors and discourage unwanted ones.
• Continual Assessment: The guidelines emphasize the importance of continual assessment and modification of behavior management plans as pets progress or encounter new challenges.
• Resource for Professionals: Serving as a valuable resource for veterinary professionals, the guidelines offer practical recommendations and tools to enhance their ability to address behavior issues effectively.