- Email: [email protected]
Owners' perceptions of behavior problems and behavior therapists in Italy: A preliminary study
Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2008) 3, 52-58
RESEARCH
Owners’ perceptions of behavior problems and behavior therapists in Italy: A preliminary study Lorella Notari, DVM, MSca, Barbara Gallicchio, DVMb a b
From the Private Behavioral Referral Clinic, Varese, Italy; and the Private Behavioral Referral Clinic, Milano, Italy. KEYWORDS: behavior; cat; dog; owner; perception
Abstract This study was conducted to investigate dog and cat owners’ perceptions about behavior problems, behavior therapy, and behaviorists. Qualitative measures in social sciences are considered extremely useful in providing initial insight that can lead to more careful formulation of hypotheses. Seventeen pet owners, selected randomly from lists of dog and cat owners using the Windows Excel random function, were recruited via telephone using screening questionnaires. Inclusion criteria included owning a pet with behavior problems and having direct involvement in the pet’s care. The respondents were divided into a dog owner (n 5 9) and a cat owner (n 5 8) discussion group. A discussion guide and informative materials were used by an independent moderator to focus group discussion around the effect of behavior problems on everyday life and to investigate the owners’ attitudes toward potential treatment for behavior problems. A relevant difference in perception emerged between the 2 groups as to the possibility of treating behavior problems. Cat owners perceived the possibility of modifying cat behavior as difficult or impractical. Both groups were unaware of the existence of veterinary behaviorists but, when informed about the academic and professional background of such professionals, all the respondents considered the veterinary behaviorist as the most reliable and qualified helper. Qualitative measures were chosen to analyze owner attitudes and behavioral patterns in depth, but further research should follow to validate this study’s findings through quantitative measures. Ó 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Introduction Companion animal behavior is a multidisciplinary field and, until a few years ago in Italy and other European countries, academic courses for companion animal behaviorists were not widespread. As a direct consequence, the educational background of behavioral therapists could not be defined formally. It might be possible to state that this
Address reprint requests and correspondence: Lorella Notari, DVM, MSc, Via Donatello, 6 21100 Varese, Italy. E-mail: [email protected]
1558-7878/$ -see front matter Ó 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2007.08.005
remains the case because in Italy and in other European countries there are no officially recognized rules for professionals who treat pets with behavior problems, (Notari et al., 2007, Whikens, 2007). This relatively new field seems the be expanding in western society both in the number of relevant research studies and in what we might define as ‘‘market demand.’’ More and more owners are aware that behavior problems can be addressed by behavior therapists but, considering the novelty of the field and the absence of generally recognized standards for pet behavior therapists’ academic background and credentials, the title ‘‘pet behaviorist’’ is used by many people with or without relevant education.
Notari and Gallicchio
Behavior problems and behavior therapists in Italy
53
The role of pets in modern western society is complex (Veevers, 1985), and the owner–pet relationship can have a huge effect on people’s lives (Ritvo, 1988; Serpell, 1996). Dog bites constitute a public safety issue; professionals who deal with dog and cat behavior problems have a huge responsibility not just as far as animal health and welfare are concerned but also in terms of human welfare and public safety. In light of these factors it was decided to investigate owner attitudes toward their pet’s behavior problems and their thoughts about the possibility of addressing these problems. The complexity of both the questions and of conducting research in this field led to the use of qualitative research methods to explore owners’ opinions and feelings rather than attempting to quantify their responses using questionnaires. Qualitative measures are considered, in social sciences, extremely useful in providing initial insight that can lead to more careful formulation of hypotheses (Woolgar, 1966). This method was used to investigate the perceptions that dog and cat owners have about behavior problems, behavior therapy, and veterinary behaviorists. Furthermore, one of the goals of this study was to prompt owners to openly discuss how they imagine the ‘‘ideal’’ behaviorist in terms of his or her personality, way of conducting pet evaluations and any other features they might propose. It was then decided to recruit dog and cat owners and let them discuss these issues in two interactive groups, one composed of cat owners and the other composed of dog owners.
The second set of cards showed the names of the different behavioral helpers. The third set of cards showed the academic and professional backgrounds of these helpers. The fourth set of cards showed very brief descriptions of some therapeutic options. An independent moderator (the same for both dog and cat owner groups) organized the group discussion by asking the guide questions, prompting responses and stirring interest in the provided materials and intra-group discussion topics. The authors briefed the moderator before the group discussions, going through the questions in the guide and explaining the purpose of the stimulus material. The group discussion was generally divided into 3 parts:
Material and methods
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
A qualitative study was carried out through group discussions. Seventeen pet owners were recruited via the telephone using screening questionnaires. The respondents were selected randomly using the Windows Excel random function from lists of dog and cat owners managed by a recruitment agency. Quotas were set with the following criteria: all the respondents had to be dog or cat owners, had direct involvement in their pet’s care and had pets that had behavior problems in the past or at the time of recruitment. A balanced distribution of owners’ gender and age was required and the respondents were selected within the 20–70 year age range. The respondents were divided into a dog owner group (n 5 9) and a cat owner group (n 5 8). The group sessions lasted 2 h each and were held in Milan. The group discussions took place in a quiet room and were videotaped and observed through a one-way mirror. An informative guide and some materials to stimulate discussion were provided by the authors to focus the group answers and discussions. The guide contained a list of questions about owners’ perception of behavior problems, behavior therapists and behavior therapies. The material was composed of 4 sets of cards for each group. The first set of cards showed brief descriptions of some common behavior problems, in the form of simple case histories.
Part 1 In the first portion of the group discussions respondents were asked to speak about their own experiences with their pet, the kind of problems they had had and if they had ever considered asking for help. After having gathered all the answers, a series of cards with a brief and very simple description of some common behavior problems were shown to respondents. They were asked their opinion about the effect the problems listed on the cards had on people’s normal lives. They also were asked if they had experienced any of the problems discussed, and if they had ever thought about seeking professional help. The behavior problems investigated in the dog owner group were: separation problems; aggression toward family members; aggression toward strangers; intra-specific aggression; self- mutilation; and obedience problems (pulling on a lead, not coming when called, jumping on people).
The behavior problems investigated in the cat owner group were: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
house soiling problems; inter-cat aggression; aggression toward people; scratching at furniture; self-mutilation; and other (inappropriate play behavior or nighttime activity).
Part 2 After initial questions about current behavior problems and attitudes, the owners were presented with a series of cards with the names of the various animal professionals to test their reactions to them. Some of the names were those of existing, legally recognized post-graduate degree and specialization holders. A sampling of names of
54
Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Vol 3, No 2, March/April 2008
companion animal behaviorists found on the Internet was also shown. In addition to the cards with the already existing professionals, a card with the term ‘‘veterinary behaviorist’’ was added. A second series of cards explaining the educational background for the terms listed were shown, to test the owners’ reactions. These cards were prepared using background information about behavior counselors, therapists, and trainers on the Internet and the professional qualifications of the academic degree holders. Each professional was paired with several therapeutic possibilities. The respondents were asked which professional ‘‘type’’ and profile they preferred in terms of their personal feelings about the reliability of each helper described. Table 1 lists the names of professional titles presented to the owners, along with the descriptions of their backgrounds and the therapeutic options that could be provided by each professional.
Part 3 In the last portion of the group discussions, the owners were asked about the therapies they might be willing or
Table 1
prepared to carry out with their pets, based on their own feelings, attitudes, and experience. The therapeutic interventions proposed to dog owners were: 1. advice about environmental modification, exercise, and rules of interaction with their dog to be applied at home; 2. advice about changes in the owner’s behavior and the pet–owner relationship; 3. training courses for the dogs and owners; 4. use of natural remedies (herbal, Bach Flowers, homeopathy); and 5. prescriptions of psychoactive drugs. The therapeutic interventions proposed to cat owners were: 1. advice about environmental modification, exercise, and rules of interaction with their cat to be applied at home; 2. advice about changes in the owner’s behavior and the pet–owner relationship; 3. use of natural remedies (herbal, Bach Flowers, homeopathy); and 4. prescriptions of psychoactive drugs.
Existing animal behavior professionals in Italy
Behavioral helper
Definitions and backgrounds
Range of therapeutic options
Animal behaviorist
Expert in animal behavior, can have a degree in a field related to ethology or psychological sciences Expert in animal behavior, can have a degree in psychology Veterinary surgeon with a post-graduate, legally recognized certification in pet behavior therapy
Behavior modification and modification of the human–animal relationship
Animal psychologist Veterinary surgeon with postgraduate master in behavioral medicine/master in behavioral clinic Specialist in applied ethology and animal welfare
Veterinary surgeon or graduate with a related degree with a post-graduate, legally recognized certification in applied ethology and welfare
Applied behavioral science consultant
Expert in animal behavior, no legally recognized certifications Expert in animal behavior, no legally recognized certification Expert in animal behavior, no legally recognized certifications Veterinary surgeon with a post-graduate legally recognized certification in pet behavior therapy or a particular expertise in behavioral science Professional dog trainer with particular expertise in early training or dealing with problem dogs; can have officially recognized certifications Professional dog trainer; can have officially recognized certifications
Behavioral therapist Specialist in animal behavior Veterinary behaviorist
Dog instructor
Dog trainer
Behavior modification, modification of the human–animal relationship Behavior modification, modification of the human–animal relationship Drug therapy (conventional and nonconventional) Behavior modification, modification of the human–animal relationship Veterinary surgeons: drug therapy (conventional and non-conventional) Behavior modification, modification of human–animal relationship Behavior modification, modification of human–animal relationship Behavior modification, modification of human–animal relationship Behavior modification, modification of human–animal relationship Drug therapy (conventional and non-conventional) Training courses for dogs and owners
Training courses for dogs and owners
the the the the
Notari and Gallicchio
Behavior problems and behavior therapists in Italy
Finally, they were asked to reach a consensus about what the ‘‘ideal’’ helper should be in terms of professional title, types of services, and type of practice. For this last question owners were not guided in the discussion and were allowed to reach a general consensus on their own: the respondents had to propose their own ideas and the moderator then summarized them for the entire group. Consensus was only reached when this summary was universally accepted.
55
5 that sought help nor the others, had direct experience with or knowledge of veterinary behaviorists. Cat owners were not aware of the existence of professional helpers. One (11.1%) cat owner mentioned the possibility of seeking help in books. All dog owners and 5 (55.6%) cat owners reported that they initially asked general advice from their veterinarians.
Part 2
Results Part 1 After reading the materials describing the most common behavior problems and discussing them within each group, both groups of dog and cat owners agreed that behavior problems can have a very large effect on people’s everyday lives. Dog owners described the main effects to be: 1. constant worries about their dog’s behavior in public areas; and 2. disruption of their social life because of fear of aggression toward guests or of disturbance to neighbors. Cat owners described the main effects to be: 1. feeling sorry for the cat; and 2. a deterioration in the quality of life at home. When asked about their own experience, 5 (55.6%) dog owners reported that they had consulted a trainer or a behaviorist. The academic background or certification of the behaviorists consulted was not known. Two of the dog owners who consulted a trainer were referred to this trainer by their veterinarians. None of the dog owners, neither the
When presented with the names and the professional profiles of different people that could offer assistance with animal behavior problems, the most familiar word known to dog owners was the term ‘‘trainer.’’ Some dog owners were aware of the existence of behaviorists but not of their backgrounds. Table 2 lists the degree of awareness of pet behavior professionals, the perception of the professional titles and their respective educational profiles. There was general agreement that a veterinarian with particular expertise in behavior would be the most reliable source of help. All the dog owners (n 5 9) agreed that a trainer would be particularly suited to help solve problems related to dog management. Five (55.6%) dog owners also felt that dog trainers were the right choice for help with guard dog aggression problems. Non-veterinary behaviorists were considered less qualified, less credible and less reliable than veterinary behaviorists in both the dog and cat owner groups (n 5 17).
Part 3 Most dog owners considered the use of psychoactive drugs acceptable as a last resort along with behavior
Table 2 Awareness and direct knowledge of owners about animal behavior professionals available currently and perception of names and professional profiles Awareness or direct knowledge (%)
Positive perception of the name (%)
Positive perception of professional profile (%)
Animal behavior professional
D.O.
C.O.
D.O.
C.O.
D.O.
C.O.
Animal behaviorist Animal psychologist Veterinary surgeon with postgraduate diploma in behavioral medicine Specialist in applied ethology and animal welfare Applied behavioral science consultant Behavioural therapist Specialist in animal behavior Veterinary behaviorist Dog instructor Dog trainer
5 (55.6) 4 (44.4) 0
0 0 0
5 (55.6) 0 0
4 (50) 0 0
5 (55.6) 2 (22.2) 9 (100)
3 (37.5) 3 (37.5) 8 (100)
0
0
0
0
9 (100)
8 (100)
0 0 0 0
0 4 4 9 9 9
0 2 (25) 2 (25) 9 (100)
4 4 4 9 9 9
4 (50) 3 (37.5) 0 8 (100)
0 2 2 0 8 9
(22.2) (22.2) (88.9) (100)
C.O., cat owners; D.O., dog owners; %, percentage of owners.
(44.4) (44.4) (100) (100) (100)
(50) (44.4) (44.4) (100) (100) (100)
56 Table 3
Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Vol 3, No 2, March/April 2008 Level of acceptability of therapies within each group
Type of therapy Advice about environmental modification, exercises, and rules to apply at home Advice about modification of owner behavior and the pet-owner relationship Training courses for dogs and owners Use of natural remedies (herbal, Bach Flowers, homeopathy) Prescription of psychoactive drugs
modification (n 5 8; 88.9%). The dog owners group agreed about a preferred order for behavior treatment options: starting with rules of interactions between owners and pets; followed by behavioral modification; then use of ‘‘natural’’ remedies such as homeopathic or herbal drugs; and finally, as a last resort, use of psychoactive drugs. Cat owners had a different attitude toward the management of behavior problems: cats were considered much more difficult to deal with and their behavior much less amenable to modification. All cat owners rejected the idea of using psychoactive drugs (n 5 8; 100%). The level of acceptability of therapies within each group of owners is summarized in Table 3. Dog owners agreed that the ‘‘ideal’’ behavior professional should be a veterinary behaviorist, and that he or she should use positive, gentle methods and should work in a private practice. In this group it was also stated that the trainer might be more suited for large guard dogs. Dog owners did not spontaneously mention any therapeutic option that might be offered by behavioral professionals and, when prompted by the moderator, they just mentioned advice about how to control and manage the dog. Table 4 summarizes the features and the ideal work settings for veterinary behaviorists and trainers. Cat owners also agreed that the ‘‘ideal’’ behavior medicine professional should be a veterinary behaviorist described as follows: a woman, in her thirties, who is a very good listener, has good communication skills, and who is reliable and performs house calls (i.e., evaluates the cat at home.). Cat owners did not spontaneously mention any therapeutic option that might be offered by behavioral professionals and, when prompted by the moderator, they were not able to mention any kind of behavioral or environmental modification.
Table 4
Dog owners’ acceptance
Cat owners’ acceptance
Very acceptable
Acceptable
Acceptable Very acceptable Acceptable Acceptable as a last resort
Not very acceptable Not applicable Acceptable Not acceptable
Discussion and conclusion As mentioned in the introduction, qualitative measures were used to investigate owner perceptions of dog and cat behavior problems and of behaviorists: an important goal was to see how ideas were developed by 2 small sample groups as a potential predictor of the target population’s responses (Goodyear, 2004). Another reason to obtain qualitative measures from the group discussions was to observe directly (through the one-way mirror) the brainstorming process as directed by the moderator and information materials. The findings will be used to generate test hypotheses to be validated in future quantitative studies. In the first part of the group discussion, owner attitudes toward pet behavior problems were explored. The respondents were stimulated with questions about how their daily life was or might be affected by pet behavior problems after considering their own problems and the ones described in the information materials supplied. The assessment of owners’ attitudes is important when facing behavioral problems, and there are several published studies that have collected data through questionnaires or direct interviews and that have explored this aspect from different perspectives (Berryman, 1985; Jagroe and Serpell, 1996; O’Farrel, 1997). In this study a group discussion is described in which different people share their opinions. The authors were able to gain insight into the perceptions of a small slice of the Italian pet-owning population. A very evident difference emerged between the 2 groups of cat and dog owners: dog owners expressed the negative effects of dog behavior problems as being more of a ‘‘social’’ problem, something they were responsible for: a problem they had to face because the dog barks, attacks, or disturbs other people in general. The distress caused by the behavior problems related more to external feedback and
Dog owners’ general description of trainer and veterinary behaviorist personalities and work settings
Features
Trainer
Vet behaviorist
Age Gender Personality Work setting
An experienced person above his thirties Male Strong character, patient but not weak Open field
An experienced person above his/her thirties – not recently qualified Male or female Very patient and gentle A comfortable room, with comfortable furniture
Notari and Gallicchio
Behavior problems and behavior therapists in Italy
feelings of guilt (O’Farrel, 1997). Cat owners perceived the effects of behavior problems as more of a ‘‘private’’ problem, a type of distress whose effect was limited to household life. Feelings of guilt for their cat problems were far more limited. These different attitudes might be connected to the stereotyped images of the 2 species. Whereas dogs are considered to be ‘‘owner-centered’’ and it is common to state that ‘‘there are no bad dogs but just bad owners,’’ as the title of a famous popular book says (Woodhouse, 1984), the cat is ‘‘The animal that walks by itself’’ (Clutton-Brock, 1993). The first is dependent and should be educated and controlled, the second is independent and should be accepted the way it is. It is not surprising, then, that dog owners had a higher awareness of the professionals who can help deal with dog behavior problems, compared with cat owners, who did not consider this possibility. This different attitude toward the care of dogs compared with cats was also reported in a recent Italian study presented at the National Association of Italian Veterinary surgeons (A.N.M.V.I., 2007). Cat owners perceived the possibility of modifying cat behavior as difficult or impractical, whereas dog owners in general blamed themselves because they were not able to find the time to educate their animals either through formal training or by themselves. One interesting finding was that in both dog and cat groups many respondents sought their veterinarians’ advice first when seeking help for their pet behavior problems. No veterinarian referred (or proposed to refer) the pet owner to a veterinary behaviorist. Training courses, non-veterinary behaviorists, and general advice were the suggested solutions. It would be interesting to investigate the attitude of veterinarians toward behavioral problems to test if these results are due to the very small sample size or whether they indicate a lack of awareness about veterinary behaviorists among general practitioners or a negative attitude toward referral. It is the opinion of the authors that general practitioners might not yet be used to referring behavior problems for several reasons. On the one hand, qualified veterinary behaviorists are quite recently established professional figures. The lack of personal contact with them and the subsequent lack of experience about behavioral case follow up might be preventing referral. On the other hand, companion animal ethology and behavior subject matters are not covered in university curricula. Veterinarians might, therefore, be unable to recognize behavior problems and to correctly evaluate the importance of treating them. In the second part of the group discussions names and descriptions of behavior medicine professionals available in Italy were presented to obtain the owners’ reactions. This central part of the study was dedicated to presenting the pet owners with a series of cards that reported, separately, the names, backgrounds, professional profiles, and therapeutic options available when seeking help for pet behavior problems, including trainers. It was decided to add the name ‘‘veterinary behaviorist,’’ a not yet
57
officially recognized denomination, to test the reactions to it. When presented with names without their definitions and backgrounds, the respondents did not have a precise idea of the background of the non-veterinary behaviorists (Table 1) or of the post-graduate, officially recognized qualifications because they looked, as owners said, ‘‘too complicated and difficult to interpret.’’ They liked and seemed to understand the ‘‘veterinary behaviorist’’ term because it was considered clear and simple in terms of gaining an idea of the professional background. Dog trainer (Addestratore cinofilo) and dog instructor (educatore cinofilo) were also quite well known terms. The trainer was perceived as a different type of professional from the dog instructor: the former more suited for large breed dogs and guard dogs, the latter for every kind of dog and more likely to use gentle and more positive training methods. In both groups, the veterinary behaviorist professional profile was considered to indicate the most reliable and qualified helper, because of the completeness of its background, but all respondents stated that names other than ‘‘veterinary behaviorist’’ could be confusing. It is interesting to note that, at the time of this study, veterinary surgeons with post-graduate specialization, including completion of a Master in Behavior, are not allowed to advertise themselves under the veterinary behaviorist name in Italy. The third and last part of this study investigated what owners would expect or would have been prepared to do with their problem animals. The descriptions of the therapeutic options were deliberately kept very simple so that, if respondents had no idea about what a certain therapy was about, the moderator could provide a simple explanation. The term ‘‘behavioral modification’’ was not included in the list of therapeutic options because it was considered too technical. Codes such as ‘‘modifications in the environment,’’ ‘‘exercise,’’ ‘‘rules,’’ ‘‘advice about changes in the owner’s behavior and the pet-owner relationship’’ seemed to be, in fact, well understood by respondents. Changing the domestic arrangement (sleeping place, eating place, building fences, and so on), obedience training, changes in the daily routine, being more consistent with the animal and stopping punishments were some of the simple explanations provided by the moderator. In this part as well, cat and dog owners responded differently. The most interesting finding was that cat owners rejected the idea of using psychoactive drugs, whereas there was general agreement in the dog group as regards to the possibility of using this kind of therapy as a last resort. The use of psychoactive drugs was included as an option, and was presented in the same way as all other options, rather than as an exclusive or peculiar solution. Both groups mentioned that every intervention with an animal should be gradual and that ‘‘natural treatments’’ such as Bach flower or homeopathy should be tried first. This opinion probably reflects owners’ feelings that psychoactive drugs are potentially dangerous to the animals’ health or the owners’ discomfort with the idea of
58 sedating their pet. It would be interesting to investigate this aspect and to generate more reliable data about what owners are prepared to do in terms of therapeutic options, because this is very likely to influence owner compliance, a very important element in behavioral therapy. Finally, owners were asked to describe the ‘‘ideal’’ behavior medicine professional and, again, some differences between dog and cat owners emerged. In the dog owner group, respondents outlined the difference between behavior problems and the difficulty of managing certain breeds. These 2 distinct aspects led to the definition of 2 different professionals: the behaviorist, who deals with behavioral problems, and the trainer, typically perceived as a strong man who can dominate strong dogs and teach owners how to do the same. The first should be able to modify the dog’s behavior, the latter must control it. Again, these results are not surprising but it would be useful to investigate different attitudes not just toward different behavior problems, but also toward the behavior of different breeds. Another interesting pursuit would be to discover more about the apparently still widespread myth that strong-arm techniques and domination are necessary to teach dogs what we want them to learn. The preference that cat owners had for a gentle female listener who undertakes home visits for cats seemed, to the authors, a relatively artificial idea, because none in the group had any sort of experience with animal behavior professionals. They said that a home visit would be more appropriate because cats live indoors, so a more accurate assessment might be obtained by observing the cat at home. This potentially significant comment was not based on any direct experience openly expressed during the discussions. Overall, cat owners were unaware of the effects of environmental stress on cats and of the need to analyze the home environment and its available resources. Greater information about cat behavior problems and what a veterinary behaviorist can do to solve them might be useful to educate owners about the veterinary behaviorist’s unique qualifications for the task. From this study, many hypotheses surfaced that deserve attention and these may need to be validated through quantitative studies. It would be interesting to study, with a larger sample of owners, the levels of awareness about behaviorists, their backgrounds and the therapeutic options they can offer. As far as dog owners are concerned, the different attitudes toward the behavior problems of different breeds and how to deal with them also deserve attention. Furthermore, cat owners’ ‘‘passive’’ attitude toward their
Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Vol 3, No 2, March/April 2008 pet’s behaviors problems and the tendency to refuse to use psychoactive drugs should also be studied. The tendency of veterinary general practitioners not to refer to colleagues specialized in behavioral medicine should also be better analyzed because veterinary surgeons are probably the most important source of information for owners. In conclusion, veterinary behaviorists and their professional qualifications are far from being familiar to Italian owners, and it seems that what is mainly needed is not only better education directed at owners, but also a better understanding of their attitudes and needs.
References A.N.M.V.I., Associazione Nazionale Medici Veterinari Italiani, 2007. I Pet Owner in Italia, approccio alla salute e al benessere animale. Available at: http://www.anmvi.it/PDF/ricerca%20anmvi%202007.pdf. Accessed 14 June 2007. Berryman, J.C., Howells, K., Lloyd-Evans, M., 1985. Pet owner attitudes to pets and people: a psychological study. Vet. Rec. 117, 659-661. Clutton-Brock, J., 1993. The Animal That Walks By Itself. In: 1994 Yearbook of Science and the Future. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc, Chicago, IL, pp. 156-177. Goodyear, M.J., 2004. Qualitative Technique. In: Birn, R.J. (Ed.), The International Handbook of Market Research Techniques. Kogan Page, London, pp. 262-281. Jagroe, A., Serpell, J.A., 1996. Owner characteristics and interactions and the prevalence of canine behavior problems. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 47, 31-42. Notari, L., Gallicchio, B., Gazzano, A., 2007. Le Competenze Professionali in Terapia Comportamentale degli Animali da Affezione: una questione di tutela del Benessere Animale. Bollettino AIVPA, n.3 2007. O’Farrel, V., 1997. Owner attitudes and dog behavior problems. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 52, 205-213. Ritvo, H., 1988. The Emergence of Modern Pet-Keeping. In: Rowan, N.A. (Ed.), Animals and People Sharing the World. University Press of New England, Hanover, NH, pp. 13-31. Serpell, J.A., 1996. Evidence for an association between pet behavior and owner attachment levels. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 47, 49-60. Veevers, J.E., 1985. The Social Meanings of Pets: Alternative Roles for Companion Animals. In: Pets and the Family. Haworth Press, Inc., New York, NY, pp. 11-30. Wickens, S.M., 2007. An overview of developments in the regulation of those treating behavioral disorders in animals in the United Kingdom. J. Vet. Behav. 2, 29-34. Woodhouse, B., 1984. No Bad Dogs. The Woodhouse Way. Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group. New York, NY. Woolgar, S., 1996. Psychology, qualitative methods and the ideas of science. In: Richardson, J.T.E. (Ed.), Handbook of qualitative research methods for psychology and the social science. Blackwell Science, Oxford, UK, pp. 11-24.
RESEARCH
Owners’ perceptions of behavior problems and behavior therapists in Italy: A preliminary study Lorella Notari, DVM, MSca, Barbara Gallicchio, DVMb a b
From the Private Behavioral Referral Clinic, Varese, Italy; and the Private Behavioral Referral Clinic, Milano, Italy. KEYWORDS: behavior; cat; dog; owner; perception
Abstract This study was conducted to investigate dog and cat owners’ perceptions about behavior problems, behavior therapy, and behaviorists. Qualitative measures in social sciences are considered extremely useful in providing initial insight that can lead to more careful formulation of hypotheses. Seventeen pet owners, selected randomly from lists of dog and cat owners using the Windows Excel random function, were recruited via telephone using screening questionnaires. Inclusion criteria included owning a pet with behavior problems and having direct involvement in the pet’s care. The respondents were divided into a dog owner (n 5 9) and a cat owner (n 5 8) discussion group. A discussion guide and informative materials were used by an independent moderator to focus group discussion around the effect of behavior problems on everyday life and to investigate the owners’ attitudes toward potential treatment for behavior problems. A relevant difference in perception emerged between the 2 groups as to the possibility of treating behavior problems. Cat owners perceived the possibility of modifying cat behavior as difficult or impractical. Both groups were unaware of the existence of veterinary behaviorists but, when informed about the academic and professional background of such professionals, all the respondents considered the veterinary behaviorist as the most reliable and qualified helper. Qualitative measures were chosen to analyze owner attitudes and behavioral patterns in depth, but further research should follow to validate this study’s findings through quantitative measures. Ó 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Introduction Companion animal behavior is a multidisciplinary field and, until a few years ago in Italy and other European countries, academic courses for companion animal behaviorists were not widespread. As a direct consequence, the educational background of behavioral therapists could not be defined formally. It might be possible to state that this
Address reprint requests and correspondence: Lorella Notari, DVM, MSc, Via Donatello, 6 21100 Varese, Italy. E-mail: [email protected]
1558-7878/$ -see front matter Ó 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2007.08.005
remains the case because in Italy and in other European countries there are no officially recognized rules for professionals who treat pets with behavior problems, (Notari et al., 2007, Whikens, 2007). This relatively new field seems the be expanding in western society both in the number of relevant research studies and in what we might define as ‘‘market demand.’’ More and more owners are aware that behavior problems can be addressed by behavior therapists but, considering the novelty of the field and the absence of generally recognized standards for pet behavior therapists’ academic background and credentials, the title ‘‘pet behaviorist’’ is used by many people with or without relevant education.
Notari and Gallicchio
Behavior problems and behavior therapists in Italy
53
The role of pets in modern western society is complex (Veevers, 1985), and the owner–pet relationship can have a huge effect on people’s lives (Ritvo, 1988; Serpell, 1996). Dog bites constitute a public safety issue; professionals who deal with dog and cat behavior problems have a huge responsibility not just as far as animal health and welfare are concerned but also in terms of human welfare and public safety. In light of these factors it was decided to investigate owner attitudes toward their pet’s behavior problems and their thoughts about the possibility of addressing these problems. The complexity of both the questions and of conducting research in this field led to the use of qualitative research methods to explore owners’ opinions and feelings rather than attempting to quantify their responses using questionnaires. Qualitative measures are considered, in social sciences, extremely useful in providing initial insight that can lead to more careful formulation of hypotheses (Woolgar, 1966). This method was used to investigate the perceptions that dog and cat owners have about behavior problems, behavior therapy, and veterinary behaviorists. Furthermore, one of the goals of this study was to prompt owners to openly discuss how they imagine the ‘‘ideal’’ behaviorist in terms of his or her personality, way of conducting pet evaluations and any other features they might propose. It was then decided to recruit dog and cat owners and let them discuss these issues in two interactive groups, one composed of cat owners and the other composed of dog owners.
The second set of cards showed the names of the different behavioral helpers. The third set of cards showed the academic and professional backgrounds of these helpers. The fourth set of cards showed very brief descriptions of some therapeutic options. An independent moderator (the same for both dog and cat owner groups) organized the group discussion by asking the guide questions, prompting responses and stirring interest in the provided materials and intra-group discussion topics. The authors briefed the moderator before the group discussions, going through the questions in the guide and explaining the purpose of the stimulus material. The group discussion was generally divided into 3 parts:
Material and methods
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
A qualitative study was carried out through group discussions. Seventeen pet owners were recruited via the telephone using screening questionnaires. The respondents were selected randomly using the Windows Excel random function from lists of dog and cat owners managed by a recruitment agency. Quotas were set with the following criteria: all the respondents had to be dog or cat owners, had direct involvement in their pet’s care and had pets that had behavior problems in the past or at the time of recruitment. A balanced distribution of owners’ gender and age was required and the respondents were selected within the 20–70 year age range. The respondents were divided into a dog owner group (n 5 9) and a cat owner group (n 5 8). The group sessions lasted 2 h each and were held in Milan. The group discussions took place in a quiet room and were videotaped and observed through a one-way mirror. An informative guide and some materials to stimulate discussion were provided by the authors to focus the group answers and discussions. The guide contained a list of questions about owners’ perception of behavior problems, behavior therapists and behavior therapies. The material was composed of 4 sets of cards for each group. The first set of cards showed brief descriptions of some common behavior problems, in the form of simple case histories.
Part 1 In the first portion of the group discussions respondents were asked to speak about their own experiences with their pet, the kind of problems they had had and if they had ever considered asking for help. After having gathered all the answers, a series of cards with a brief and very simple description of some common behavior problems were shown to respondents. They were asked their opinion about the effect the problems listed on the cards had on people’s normal lives. They also were asked if they had experienced any of the problems discussed, and if they had ever thought about seeking professional help. The behavior problems investigated in the dog owner group were: separation problems; aggression toward family members; aggression toward strangers; intra-specific aggression; self- mutilation; and obedience problems (pulling on a lead, not coming when called, jumping on people).
The behavior problems investigated in the cat owner group were: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
house soiling problems; inter-cat aggression; aggression toward people; scratching at furniture; self-mutilation; and other (inappropriate play behavior or nighttime activity).
Part 2 After initial questions about current behavior problems and attitudes, the owners were presented with a series of cards with the names of the various animal professionals to test their reactions to them. Some of the names were those of existing, legally recognized post-graduate degree and specialization holders. A sampling of names of
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Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Vol 3, No 2, March/April 2008
companion animal behaviorists found on the Internet was also shown. In addition to the cards with the already existing professionals, a card with the term ‘‘veterinary behaviorist’’ was added. A second series of cards explaining the educational background for the terms listed were shown, to test the owners’ reactions. These cards were prepared using background information about behavior counselors, therapists, and trainers on the Internet and the professional qualifications of the academic degree holders. Each professional was paired with several therapeutic possibilities. The respondents were asked which professional ‘‘type’’ and profile they preferred in terms of their personal feelings about the reliability of each helper described. Table 1 lists the names of professional titles presented to the owners, along with the descriptions of their backgrounds and the therapeutic options that could be provided by each professional.
Part 3 In the last portion of the group discussions, the owners were asked about the therapies they might be willing or
Table 1
prepared to carry out with their pets, based on their own feelings, attitudes, and experience. The therapeutic interventions proposed to dog owners were: 1. advice about environmental modification, exercise, and rules of interaction with their dog to be applied at home; 2. advice about changes in the owner’s behavior and the pet–owner relationship; 3. training courses for the dogs and owners; 4. use of natural remedies (herbal, Bach Flowers, homeopathy); and 5. prescriptions of psychoactive drugs. The therapeutic interventions proposed to cat owners were: 1. advice about environmental modification, exercise, and rules of interaction with their cat to be applied at home; 2. advice about changes in the owner’s behavior and the pet–owner relationship; 3. use of natural remedies (herbal, Bach Flowers, homeopathy); and 4. prescriptions of psychoactive drugs.
Existing animal behavior professionals in Italy
Behavioral helper
Definitions and backgrounds
Range of therapeutic options
Animal behaviorist
Expert in animal behavior, can have a degree in a field related to ethology or psychological sciences Expert in animal behavior, can have a degree in psychology Veterinary surgeon with a post-graduate, legally recognized certification in pet behavior therapy
Behavior modification and modification of the human–animal relationship
Animal psychologist Veterinary surgeon with postgraduate master in behavioral medicine/master in behavioral clinic Specialist in applied ethology and animal welfare
Veterinary surgeon or graduate with a related degree with a post-graduate, legally recognized certification in applied ethology and welfare
Applied behavioral science consultant
Expert in animal behavior, no legally recognized certifications Expert in animal behavior, no legally recognized certification Expert in animal behavior, no legally recognized certifications Veterinary surgeon with a post-graduate legally recognized certification in pet behavior therapy or a particular expertise in behavioral science Professional dog trainer with particular expertise in early training or dealing with problem dogs; can have officially recognized certifications Professional dog trainer; can have officially recognized certifications
Behavioral therapist Specialist in animal behavior Veterinary behaviorist
Dog instructor
Dog trainer
Behavior modification, modification of the human–animal relationship Behavior modification, modification of the human–animal relationship Drug therapy (conventional and nonconventional) Behavior modification, modification of the human–animal relationship Veterinary surgeons: drug therapy (conventional and non-conventional) Behavior modification, modification of human–animal relationship Behavior modification, modification of human–animal relationship Behavior modification, modification of human–animal relationship Behavior modification, modification of human–animal relationship Drug therapy (conventional and non-conventional) Training courses for dogs and owners
Training courses for dogs and owners
the the the the
Notari and Gallicchio
Behavior problems and behavior therapists in Italy
Finally, they were asked to reach a consensus about what the ‘‘ideal’’ helper should be in terms of professional title, types of services, and type of practice. For this last question owners were not guided in the discussion and were allowed to reach a general consensus on their own: the respondents had to propose their own ideas and the moderator then summarized them for the entire group. Consensus was only reached when this summary was universally accepted.
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5 that sought help nor the others, had direct experience with or knowledge of veterinary behaviorists. Cat owners were not aware of the existence of professional helpers. One (11.1%) cat owner mentioned the possibility of seeking help in books. All dog owners and 5 (55.6%) cat owners reported that they initially asked general advice from their veterinarians.
Part 2
Results Part 1 After reading the materials describing the most common behavior problems and discussing them within each group, both groups of dog and cat owners agreed that behavior problems can have a very large effect on people’s everyday lives. Dog owners described the main effects to be: 1. constant worries about their dog’s behavior in public areas; and 2. disruption of their social life because of fear of aggression toward guests or of disturbance to neighbors. Cat owners described the main effects to be: 1. feeling sorry for the cat; and 2. a deterioration in the quality of life at home. When asked about their own experience, 5 (55.6%) dog owners reported that they had consulted a trainer or a behaviorist. The academic background or certification of the behaviorists consulted was not known. Two of the dog owners who consulted a trainer were referred to this trainer by their veterinarians. None of the dog owners, neither the
When presented with the names and the professional profiles of different people that could offer assistance with animal behavior problems, the most familiar word known to dog owners was the term ‘‘trainer.’’ Some dog owners were aware of the existence of behaviorists but not of their backgrounds. Table 2 lists the degree of awareness of pet behavior professionals, the perception of the professional titles and their respective educational profiles. There was general agreement that a veterinarian with particular expertise in behavior would be the most reliable source of help. All the dog owners (n 5 9) agreed that a trainer would be particularly suited to help solve problems related to dog management. Five (55.6%) dog owners also felt that dog trainers were the right choice for help with guard dog aggression problems. Non-veterinary behaviorists were considered less qualified, less credible and less reliable than veterinary behaviorists in both the dog and cat owner groups (n 5 17).
Part 3 Most dog owners considered the use of psychoactive drugs acceptable as a last resort along with behavior
Table 2 Awareness and direct knowledge of owners about animal behavior professionals available currently and perception of names and professional profiles Awareness or direct knowledge (%)
Positive perception of the name (%)
Positive perception of professional profile (%)
Animal behavior professional
D.O.
C.O.
D.O.
C.O.
D.O.
C.O.
Animal behaviorist Animal psychologist Veterinary surgeon with postgraduate diploma in behavioral medicine Specialist in applied ethology and animal welfare Applied behavioral science consultant Behavioural therapist Specialist in animal behavior Veterinary behaviorist Dog instructor Dog trainer
5 (55.6) 4 (44.4) 0
0 0 0
5 (55.6) 0 0
4 (50) 0 0
5 (55.6) 2 (22.2) 9 (100)
3 (37.5) 3 (37.5) 8 (100)
0
0
0
0
9 (100)
8 (100)
0 0 0 0
0 4 4 9 9 9
0 2 (25) 2 (25) 9 (100)
4 4 4 9 9 9
4 (50) 3 (37.5) 0 8 (100)
0 2 2 0 8 9
(22.2) (22.2) (88.9) (100)
C.O., cat owners; D.O., dog owners; %, percentage of owners.
(44.4) (44.4) (100) (100) (100)
(50) (44.4) (44.4) (100) (100) (100)
56 Table 3
Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Vol 3, No 2, March/April 2008 Level of acceptability of therapies within each group
Type of therapy Advice about environmental modification, exercises, and rules to apply at home Advice about modification of owner behavior and the pet-owner relationship Training courses for dogs and owners Use of natural remedies (herbal, Bach Flowers, homeopathy) Prescription of psychoactive drugs
modification (n 5 8; 88.9%). The dog owners group agreed about a preferred order for behavior treatment options: starting with rules of interactions between owners and pets; followed by behavioral modification; then use of ‘‘natural’’ remedies such as homeopathic or herbal drugs; and finally, as a last resort, use of psychoactive drugs. Cat owners had a different attitude toward the management of behavior problems: cats were considered much more difficult to deal with and their behavior much less amenable to modification. All cat owners rejected the idea of using psychoactive drugs (n 5 8; 100%). The level of acceptability of therapies within each group of owners is summarized in Table 3. Dog owners agreed that the ‘‘ideal’’ behavior professional should be a veterinary behaviorist, and that he or she should use positive, gentle methods and should work in a private practice. In this group it was also stated that the trainer might be more suited for large guard dogs. Dog owners did not spontaneously mention any therapeutic option that might be offered by behavioral professionals and, when prompted by the moderator, they just mentioned advice about how to control and manage the dog. Table 4 summarizes the features and the ideal work settings for veterinary behaviorists and trainers. Cat owners also agreed that the ‘‘ideal’’ behavior medicine professional should be a veterinary behaviorist described as follows: a woman, in her thirties, who is a very good listener, has good communication skills, and who is reliable and performs house calls (i.e., evaluates the cat at home.). Cat owners did not spontaneously mention any therapeutic option that might be offered by behavioral professionals and, when prompted by the moderator, they were not able to mention any kind of behavioral or environmental modification.
Table 4
Dog owners’ acceptance
Cat owners’ acceptance
Very acceptable
Acceptable
Acceptable Very acceptable Acceptable Acceptable as a last resort
Not very acceptable Not applicable Acceptable Not acceptable
Discussion and conclusion As mentioned in the introduction, qualitative measures were used to investigate owner perceptions of dog and cat behavior problems and of behaviorists: an important goal was to see how ideas were developed by 2 small sample groups as a potential predictor of the target population’s responses (Goodyear, 2004). Another reason to obtain qualitative measures from the group discussions was to observe directly (through the one-way mirror) the brainstorming process as directed by the moderator and information materials. The findings will be used to generate test hypotheses to be validated in future quantitative studies. In the first part of the group discussion, owner attitudes toward pet behavior problems were explored. The respondents were stimulated with questions about how their daily life was or might be affected by pet behavior problems after considering their own problems and the ones described in the information materials supplied. The assessment of owners’ attitudes is important when facing behavioral problems, and there are several published studies that have collected data through questionnaires or direct interviews and that have explored this aspect from different perspectives (Berryman, 1985; Jagroe and Serpell, 1996; O’Farrel, 1997). In this study a group discussion is described in which different people share their opinions. The authors were able to gain insight into the perceptions of a small slice of the Italian pet-owning population. A very evident difference emerged between the 2 groups of cat and dog owners: dog owners expressed the negative effects of dog behavior problems as being more of a ‘‘social’’ problem, something they were responsible for: a problem they had to face because the dog barks, attacks, or disturbs other people in general. The distress caused by the behavior problems related more to external feedback and
Dog owners’ general description of trainer and veterinary behaviorist personalities and work settings
Features
Trainer
Vet behaviorist
Age Gender Personality Work setting
An experienced person above his thirties Male Strong character, patient but not weak Open field
An experienced person above his/her thirties – not recently qualified Male or female Very patient and gentle A comfortable room, with comfortable furniture
Notari and Gallicchio
Behavior problems and behavior therapists in Italy
feelings of guilt (O’Farrel, 1997). Cat owners perceived the effects of behavior problems as more of a ‘‘private’’ problem, a type of distress whose effect was limited to household life. Feelings of guilt for their cat problems were far more limited. These different attitudes might be connected to the stereotyped images of the 2 species. Whereas dogs are considered to be ‘‘owner-centered’’ and it is common to state that ‘‘there are no bad dogs but just bad owners,’’ as the title of a famous popular book says (Woodhouse, 1984), the cat is ‘‘The animal that walks by itself’’ (Clutton-Brock, 1993). The first is dependent and should be educated and controlled, the second is independent and should be accepted the way it is. It is not surprising, then, that dog owners had a higher awareness of the professionals who can help deal with dog behavior problems, compared with cat owners, who did not consider this possibility. This different attitude toward the care of dogs compared with cats was also reported in a recent Italian study presented at the National Association of Italian Veterinary surgeons (A.N.M.V.I., 2007). Cat owners perceived the possibility of modifying cat behavior as difficult or impractical, whereas dog owners in general blamed themselves because they were not able to find the time to educate their animals either through formal training or by themselves. One interesting finding was that in both dog and cat groups many respondents sought their veterinarians’ advice first when seeking help for their pet behavior problems. No veterinarian referred (or proposed to refer) the pet owner to a veterinary behaviorist. Training courses, non-veterinary behaviorists, and general advice were the suggested solutions. It would be interesting to investigate the attitude of veterinarians toward behavioral problems to test if these results are due to the very small sample size or whether they indicate a lack of awareness about veterinary behaviorists among general practitioners or a negative attitude toward referral. It is the opinion of the authors that general practitioners might not yet be used to referring behavior problems for several reasons. On the one hand, qualified veterinary behaviorists are quite recently established professional figures. The lack of personal contact with them and the subsequent lack of experience about behavioral case follow up might be preventing referral. On the other hand, companion animal ethology and behavior subject matters are not covered in university curricula. Veterinarians might, therefore, be unable to recognize behavior problems and to correctly evaluate the importance of treating them. In the second part of the group discussions names and descriptions of behavior medicine professionals available in Italy were presented to obtain the owners’ reactions. This central part of the study was dedicated to presenting the pet owners with a series of cards that reported, separately, the names, backgrounds, professional profiles, and therapeutic options available when seeking help for pet behavior problems, including trainers. It was decided to add the name ‘‘veterinary behaviorist,’’ a not yet
57
officially recognized denomination, to test the reactions to it. When presented with names without their definitions and backgrounds, the respondents did not have a precise idea of the background of the non-veterinary behaviorists (Table 1) or of the post-graduate, officially recognized qualifications because they looked, as owners said, ‘‘too complicated and difficult to interpret.’’ They liked and seemed to understand the ‘‘veterinary behaviorist’’ term because it was considered clear and simple in terms of gaining an idea of the professional background. Dog trainer (Addestratore cinofilo) and dog instructor (educatore cinofilo) were also quite well known terms. The trainer was perceived as a different type of professional from the dog instructor: the former more suited for large breed dogs and guard dogs, the latter for every kind of dog and more likely to use gentle and more positive training methods. In both groups, the veterinary behaviorist professional profile was considered to indicate the most reliable and qualified helper, because of the completeness of its background, but all respondents stated that names other than ‘‘veterinary behaviorist’’ could be confusing. It is interesting to note that, at the time of this study, veterinary surgeons with post-graduate specialization, including completion of a Master in Behavior, are not allowed to advertise themselves under the veterinary behaviorist name in Italy. The third and last part of this study investigated what owners would expect or would have been prepared to do with their problem animals. The descriptions of the therapeutic options were deliberately kept very simple so that, if respondents had no idea about what a certain therapy was about, the moderator could provide a simple explanation. The term ‘‘behavioral modification’’ was not included in the list of therapeutic options because it was considered too technical. Codes such as ‘‘modifications in the environment,’’ ‘‘exercise,’’ ‘‘rules,’’ ‘‘advice about changes in the owner’s behavior and the pet-owner relationship’’ seemed to be, in fact, well understood by respondents. Changing the domestic arrangement (sleeping place, eating place, building fences, and so on), obedience training, changes in the daily routine, being more consistent with the animal and stopping punishments were some of the simple explanations provided by the moderator. In this part as well, cat and dog owners responded differently. The most interesting finding was that cat owners rejected the idea of using psychoactive drugs, whereas there was general agreement in the dog group as regards to the possibility of using this kind of therapy as a last resort. The use of psychoactive drugs was included as an option, and was presented in the same way as all other options, rather than as an exclusive or peculiar solution. Both groups mentioned that every intervention with an animal should be gradual and that ‘‘natural treatments’’ such as Bach flower or homeopathy should be tried first. This opinion probably reflects owners’ feelings that psychoactive drugs are potentially dangerous to the animals’ health or the owners’ discomfort with the idea of
58 sedating their pet. It would be interesting to investigate this aspect and to generate more reliable data about what owners are prepared to do in terms of therapeutic options, because this is very likely to influence owner compliance, a very important element in behavioral therapy. Finally, owners were asked to describe the ‘‘ideal’’ behavior medicine professional and, again, some differences between dog and cat owners emerged. In the dog owner group, respondents outlined the difference between behavior problems and the difficulty of managing certain breeds. These 2 distinct aspects led to the definition of 2 different professionals: the behaviorist, who deals with behavioral problems, and the trainer, typically perceived as a strong man who can dominate strong dogs and teach owners how to do the same. The first should be able to modify the dog’s behavior, the latter must control it. Again, these results are not surprising but it would be useful to investigate different attitudes not just toward different behavior problems, but also toward the behavior of different breeds. Another interesting pursuit would be to discover more about the apparently still widespread myth that strong-arm techniques and domination are necessary to teach dogs what we want them to learn. The preference that cat owners had for a gentle female listener who undertakes home visits for cats seemed, to the authors, a relatively artificial idea, because none in the group had any sort of experience with animal behavior professionals. They said that a home visit would be more appropriate because cats live indoors, so a more accurate assessment might be obtained by observing the cat at home. This potentially significant comment was not based on any direct experience openly expressed during the discussions. Overall, cat owners were unaware of the effects of environmental stress on cats and of the need to analyze the home environment and its available resources. Greater information about cat behavior problems and what a veterinary behaviorist can do to solve them might be useful to educate owners about the veterinary behaviorist’s unique qualifications for the task. From this study, many hypotheses surfaced that deserve attention and these may need to be validated through quantitative studies. It would be interesting to study, with a larger sample of owners, the levels of awareness about behaviorists, their backgrounds and the therapeutic options they can offer. As far as dog owners are concerned, the different attitudes toward the behavior problems of different breeds and how to deal with them also deserve attention. Furthermore, cat owners’ ‘‘passive’’ attitude toward their
Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Vol 3, No 2, March/April 2008 pet’s behaviors problems and the tendency to refuse to use psychoactive drugs should also be studied. The tendency of veterinary general practitioners not to refer to colleagues specialized in behavioral medicine should also be better analyzed because veterinary surgeons are probably the most important source of information for owners. In conclusion, veterinary behaviorists and their professional qualifications are far from being familiar to Italian owners, and it seems that what is mainly needed is not only better education directed at owners, but also a better understanding of their attitudes and needs.
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