Living with and loving pets with behavioral issues
In treating dogs and cats with behavioral illnesses, we encounter many amazing families. In so many cases, these people make significant changes to their lifestyles to support their pets. Depending on the behavior of concern, this can include measures such as: limiting visitors to the home; waking up at the crack of dawn to have a lower-stress walk; hiring a pet sitter just to go out on a date (or foregoing social engagements entirely); even moving house to a quieter neighborhood with fewer stressors. The list is endless. Additionally, these families often expend significant resources, including time, money, and energy, in efforts to help their pet improve.
All too often, despite all of those efforts, they face misunderstanding and criticism from others about the pet's behavior—often by people who have no idea of the scope of the issue or efforts taken to address it. Phrases such as "there are no bad dogs, just bad owners" get tossed carelessly about. They're told they're not a strong enough leader, or need to be more "alpha". Family members and friends struggling to understand the bond may suggest "it's just an animal, get rid of it”. None of this helps either the pet or pet owner.
It's important to recognize that many people that live with and love pets with behavioral issues are struggling. They are struggling to find out where to go for help, what to do, and who to trust, and also reckoning with whether or not their home is the right place for their pet. Living with and loving a pet with behavioral issues comes with many unique challenges, and even when treatment is going well, it's still not easy. In an effort to better understand as well as describe these challenges, I conducted a research project with my dear friend and colleague Kristin Buller, MS, LCSW. The study was recently published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, and is available to read or download via open access. It's our hope that by talking about this issue and sharing this information, we can build empathy and support for those that live with and love pets with behavioral issues. We know many of you that live with or have lived with pets with behavioral issues will hear familiar stories, and we hope this helps you feel a little less alone. If you'd like to read or share the full text of the article, please use the link below:
Living with and loving a pet with behavioral problems: Pet owners’ experiences