Are you looking to better understand your animal?
You might think that you know your pet pretty well. After all, you live with them every day. You feed them, play with them, and take care of them.
But…
There’s a lot more to animal behavior than knowing when your dog is hungry or your cat wants attention.
Fortunately, the same courses that prepare aspiring students for animal-related careers can teach pet owners how to better understand their animal companions at home.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Why animal behavior knowledge is important
- The benefits of animal health degree courses
- Skills you can learn from animal care professionals
- How to apply what you learn to your own pet
Why Animal Behavior Knowledge is Important
Consider this…
According to Texas A&M research, 99.2% of dogs in America have the potential to develop behavior problems. Categories of concern included aggression, separation-related behavior, and fear-related behavior.
That’s almost every dog in the country.
But most owners don’t realize there’s a problem until it starts getting severe. According to The Hill’s Pet Nutrition State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report, 1 in 4 pet owners who surrendered their animal listed behavior problems as the reason for giving up their pet.
That’s why animal health and behavior degrees are so important.
Pet owners who take the time to learn about animal health can identify potential problems early on. They know how to read their pet’s behavior. And they can take action to mitigate problems before they get too severe.
Students who enroll in an animal behavior degree online learn how to evaluate behavioral issues in domestic animals. They also learn how to create treatment plans to modify problem behaviors.
Of course, you don’t need to become a veterinarian to care for your pet. However, many of the fundamentals taught in animal health degree programs can be applied to taking care of your animal friend at home.
There Are Benefits of Animal Health Degree Courses
Here’s another way to look at it…
Knowing how your animal behaves and why they’re behaving that way changes everything.
It’s not simply a matter of your cat being rude or your dog not listening to you. Their actions are communicating something to you.
Animal health and animal behavior courses teach students about things like:
- How to identify when animals are stressed or anxious
- How to practice environmental enrichment
- How nutrition impacts animal behavior
- How to properly read animal communication cues
These courses aren’t just for aspiring vets and animal trainers. There are plenty of lessons that pet owners can learn, too.
And with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting an 11% growth in job opportunities related to animal care and service positions from 2024-2034, you know people are starting to take notice.
Expecting animals to be pets requires a lot of work and knowledge. That’s why more people are going into animal care careers than ever. But this also means that expectations for pet owners are going to start increasing, too.
Skills You Can Learn From Animal Care Professionals
Animal behavior degrees cover countless topics that pet owners can benefit from. Here are just a few:
Learn How to Assess Behavior
There’s a difference between normal behavior and behavior that could indicate a problem. Dogs who are suddenly aggressive could be experiencing pain. Cats who avoid the litter box might be reacting to something in their environment.
By learning how to assess animal behavior, pet owners can begin to identify when something seems off with their animal.
Animal health and behavior courses teach students how to carefully observe animals. Take notes on how your animal acts normally, so you can identify when something is out of the ordinary.
Understand Positive Reinforcement
Training animals has come a long way from hitting them when they behave incorrectly. Research shows that positive reinforcement is the best way to train animals without harming your relationship with them.
Positive reinforcement rewards good behavior instead of punishing bad behavior. Once you understand how positive reinforcement works, you’ll be able to correct problem behaviors like jumping on people or excessive barking.
Know That Behavior and Health Go Hand-in-Hand
A lot of behavior issues can stem from health problems. Maybe your dog is licking their leg due to an itch they can’t relieve. Maybe your cat is acting aggressively because they have a painful bladder.
Animal care programs teach students about this connection. When you understand it too, you’ll be able to tell when it’s time to schedule a vet appointment.
Professional Training Translates to Your Home
Alright, enough of the theory. Let’s talk about how you can use what professionals learn about animals to better your own pet care at home.
Establish a Routine
Your pets like to know what to expect. Feed them at the same time each day. Take them for walks when you typically do. Schedule playtime regularly.
When your pet has a set schedule, they won’t get as anxious. Which can help eliminate behavior problems.
Trust us, sleeping at the same time every day isn’t boring for your pet. Your new routine will actually benefit their mental health.
Provide Mental Stimulation
Nothing is worse than an bored animal. They’ll pick their own entertainment if you let them. And chances are you won’t be happy with the results.
Use puzzle feeders, training, and change up their environment to keep their brain stimulated. Professional animal shelters and caretakers never leave their animals with nothing to do. You shouldn’t either.
Do Your Research
Cats and dogs are not the same. They have different needs, and what might help one might harm another. Make sure you’re providing the correct care for your animal by doing your research.
Practice Makes Perfect
Veterinarians, vet assistants, animal trainers, animal control workers… these are just a few professionals who interact with animals on a daily basis. They take notes on animal behavior all day long.
You can start doing this, too. Take mental notes on how your animal is eating, moving around the house, playing, etc. If you notice a sudden change in behavior, you’ll be able to hop into action sooner.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask for Help
This is probably the best thing you can learn from a professional animal trainer or animal caretaker. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you’re unable to handle a problem on your own.
If your animal is displaying serious behavior problems, it’s time to let a professional take over. By trusting your vet or a certified animal behaviorist, you can prevent your pet’s problem from getting worse.
Final Thoughts
There’s a huge knowledge gap between your average pet owner and those pursuing careers in animal welfare. And while you don’t have to go crawling back to school to understand your pet, simple observations can go a long way.
By better understanding how to assess your animal’s health and behavior, you can ensure they’re getting the very best you have to offer.
We already know that almost 94 million U.S. households own a pet. And as more humans adopt pets, we expect that number to grow.
Owning a pet is a big responsibility. Just like those running animal hospitals and animal shelters learn how to take care of animals; you can, too.
You love your animal, but do you really know them? Ask yourself that question again. Now realize love isn’t enough.
You can provide them with the best care by taking the time to learn about what they need. And who knows, you may even enjoy your newfound animal knowledge.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.
