Complex behavioral problems in dogs benefit from specialist input from veterinary behaviorists and certified applied animal behaviorists.
Dogs with serious behavioral disorders suffer from anxiety, fear, and the consequences of behavior that creates conflict with owners. Aggression problems often result in euthanasia that could be prevented with appropriate specialist intervention. Anxiety disorders including separation anxiety and noise phobias cause genuine suffering during every triggering event. Many owners attempt to address serious problems with trainers who lack the qualifications to recognize medical components or prescribe appropriate medication. Delayed referral allows behavioral problems to become more entrenched and reduces treatment success rates. Early specialist involvement saves both the human-animal relationship and, in serious cases, the dog's life.