Donald McCaig Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 Dear Doggers, On another thread a poster quoted a "behaviorist" saying pretty silly things about castrating males. Since I didn't want to hijack the thread . . . . Disclosure: I think the philosophical/scientific? foundations of canine behaviorism are wickedly flawed. That said: I have known/spent time with five dog trainers who would call themselves "behaviorists". Of them, three (each at one time or another had trialed sheepdogs) I would unhesitatingly recommend to pet owners. The other two were so blissfully dog-ignorant I wouldn't have trusted them to walk my dogs around the block I often hear doggers recommend a "behaviorist" for pet problems and wonder if the name is thought to guarantee quality? Donald McCaig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdawgs Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 Anyone call call themself anything including a "behaviorist" or a sheep dog trainer. I used a boarded veterinary behaviorist--a DVM with post graduate training in behavior--this is equivalent to an MD who performed a residency in psychiatry and passed the board exams-- for a rescue dog with clinical anxiety. This person was NOT a dog trainer and the advantage to using her was her knowledge of psychoactive drugs in combination with counter conditioning and desensitization. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam Wolf Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 Board Certified behavioursts who are also veterinarians should be consulted for some behavior problems as drug intervention can save dog's lives. Dog trainers run a wide range of talents (like writers), knowledge and abilities to solve certain problems. Far too often the pet owner wants the 'quick fix' and when dealing with severe behavior problems there are no 'quick fixes' regardless of who is consulted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mum24dog Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 No guarantee at all in many cases. Any recommendation should be qualified with the caveat that the animal behaviour / training world is, for the most part unregulated and research into the claims and experience of anyone calling themselves a behaviourist is essential before engaging them. Once having read a book, watched a TV programme, been issued with an impressive looking but worthless bit of paper for completing some short and dubious course are no justification for panelling oneself a "behaviourist". The world is full of BS. The same applies to anyone giving advice on the basis of being involved with dogs for many years. Incompetence and outdated, even dangerous notions are far from uncommon in those circles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentleLake Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 AFAIK, in the US there are only a few classes of people who are supposed to be able to bill themselves as behaviorists. One is a board certified veterinary behaviorist, which, as Blackdawgs pointed out is a medical specialty akin to psychiatry in human medicine. The Academy of Veterinary Behavior Technicians (AVBT) certifies specially trained veterinary technicians as Veterinary Technician Specialists (VTS) in behavior. The Animal Behavior Society certifies trained behaviorists as Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists (CAAB) or Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists (ACAAB). AFAIK, these are the only people who are supposed to be calling themselves behaviorists in the US, though many others do with varying degrees of real qualification. Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) Certification of Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) are professional organizations that recognize dog trainers, but who don't guarantee any particular degree of capability. There are many excellent trainers who belong to these organizations, and many of them know a lot about behavior and behavior modification, but they are not, strictly speaking, behaviorists. Some will incorrectly promote themselves that way, however. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Root Beer Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 I often hear doggers recommend a "behaviorist" for pet problems and wonder if the name is thought to guarantee quality? As with any population, there are excellent behaviorists, pretty good behaviorists, mediocre behaviorists, and absolutely deplorable behaviorists that I would never allow within 10 feet of any dog of mine. The same goes for trainers in any and all dog related disciplines. So, no, I don't automatically equate "behaviorist" with quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urge to herd Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 Why would a single word guarantee quality in any field? Just because someone hangs out a mechanic's sign, or bakery sign, or daycare sign is no indication of any standard. Except maybe that they've got a business license. As in all things, do research, understand what it is you need, ask for referrals, check references. I have done all that to hire a housekeeper, a plumber, a seamstress. It's a normal way to approach doing business with any one in any profession. Ruth and SuperGibbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highway61 Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 Dear Doggers, On another thread a poster quoted a "behaviorist" saying pretty silly things about castrating males. Since I didn't want to hijack the thread . . . . Disclosure: I think the philosophical/scientific? foundations of canine behaviorism are wickedly flawed. That said: I have known/spent time with five dog trainers who would call themselves "behaviorists". Of them, three (each at one time or another had trialed sheepdogs) I would unhesitatingly recommend to pet owners. The other two were so blissfully dog-ignorant I wouldn't have trusted them to walk my dogs around the block I often hear doggers recommend a "behaviorist" for pet problems and wonder if the name is thought to guarantee quality? Donald McCaig As the poster who used the term "behaviorist" in that other thread, I probably did so in error. The person I was referring to is a CPDT. I haven't seen where she claims to be a "behaviorist" so again, my bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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