Recently (March 2015) the prestigious American weekly “Time” has published an interesting investigation into Psychological and psychosomatic disorders who also afflict ours petsin particular by focusing on dogs.
In fact, it seems that they can suffer from the same inconvenience as human beings, such as anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, depression etc., manifesting them with similar symptoms, so much so that they must resort to the help of real specialists.
More and more often, not only in the United States but also in our country, dogs are brought by their masters “to cure” following psychological therapies.
In Milan, for example, and also in other large Italian cities, specific clinics have recently been open, both private and within the public veterinary services of the ASL.
It is natural to ask whether the dog psychologist really serves or, especially in times of crisis such as current ones, is not an exaggeration.
In reality, experts confirm that animals living in our homes can “get sick” and suffer from a psychological point of view in all respects, so the problem exists.
The study of the canine psychology He has been born in England for decades and then developed in the USA, to take hold lately also in Italy, perhaps (in a way) not as spectacularized as in well -known overseas TV broadcasts, very followed but also subjected to criticism for the educational/curative methods implemented by the conductor, not universally shared.
Certainly deepen the knowledge not only of human behavior, but also of the canine one, serves to mediate between the needs of the two species, in order to improve the mutual coexistence and facilitate a well -being relationship.
Let’s see, in practice, what this therapist takes care of, analyzing what his activities and reasons are required.
Consulting can be useful to various figures: owners of the animal (help to choose a puppy, understand his language, stimulate the right type of attachment, identify and modify his dysfunctional behaviors and/or treat real ailments); breeders (help to understand the specific character of the puppies, identify any problems early, combine the most suitable animal for any future owner, taking into account the customer’s needs, his type of life and the dog breed); veterinarians (cooperation necessary to facilitate the exchange between the figure of the doctor and that of the master, prescription and administration of psychotropic drugs, emotional support in the event of intervention/euthanasia/death of the animal, help from relationship problems between man/dog).
It must be said that often, they are precisely the veterinary doctors themselves that specialize further to obtain the qualification of expert in canine psychology, in order to be able to operate directly both in the pharmacological and behavioral fields, also considering that there is a close link between physical health, the emotional-cognitive scope of the animal and its behavior (which, however, is also valid for the human being).
The most interesting and innovative sector of intervention certainly concerns the Treatment of behavioral disorders; Often these problems derive from trauma such as mistreatment, neglect and/or violence, abandonment, early removal from the mother etc., lived above all in the first period of life, the most delicate.
On the other hand, precisely these same ailments, when consolidated, are in turn the first cause of refusal of the dog by the owner, with suppression or transfer to the kennel, as it is not able to manage it.
All this could be avoided thanks to a correct one animal educationsince the puppy, and of the person who takes care of it.
It is good to specify that for behavioral disorders we mean both unwanted behaviors (for example, the dog that makes one’s needs in inappropriate places, and chewing/eats objects at home, etc.), both those behaviors that are, in reality, symptoms and manifestations of real pathologies.
The reasons to turn to a therapist can therefore be varied: aggression towards their fellows and/or towards man; separation anxiety When it is left alone (discomfort expressed with prolonged bark, howls, destruction of the surrounding environment, etc.); Fears and phobias (for strong and sudden noises, foreign people, visits from the veterinarian, etc.); hyperactivity; Stereotyped and obsessive behaviors (such as chaseing your tail, licks and/or biting some parts of the body until we cause injuries and sores, tear the hair, etc.).
In almost all cases these problems are never suddenly occurred, except in the presence of rare neurological pathologies (however well recognizable by veterinarians), therefore it is appropriate that the owners pay extremely attention to all those attitudes that can represent alarm bells of something that does not go into the dog.
The first signs of disturbed behaviors can be the bite without reason, the growl, the general ungovernability, the instinct for hunting out of context, etc. We absolutely must not overlook certain signs, because before we intervene with a adequate treatmentthe more successful you will be successful and the same “work” of recovery will be easier.
Behavioral therapy, as the name itself says, aims to modify those dysfunctional behaviors of the animal, using scientifically founded methods, which partly refer to the theories of the behavioral address psychotherapy typical for man.
To be able to identify the most suitable therapeutic strategy, it is necessary to first formulate a correct diagnosis, collecting anamnestic information as detailed and accurate possible not only on the dog (current state of health, past diseases, behavioral patterns, daily habits, life history, any trauma, etc.), but also on the environment in which it lives and on the owners (family, rules, policy, with the animal, etc.). In addition, the animal is subjected to observation, both in the clinic and in a natural context.
After a first meeting, or at most a couple, lasting about two hours each, the specialist is able to express his opinion on the case and set up a therapeutic path.
Depending on the situations, the times vary: a single “visit” can be sufficient to solve small inconvenience, while in the face of more complex problems it is necessary to program a protocol protocol, with specific methods, exercises, etc.
Generally, a few months is essential to overcome anxious states, phobias, obsessive-compulsive behaviors; However, thanks to the behavioral modification techniques (systematic desensitization, counter -control, etc.), improvements are certainly obtained in a short time.
In the most serious cases, it is useful to integrate the behavioral therapy with the prescription of drugs by the vet; As for humans, even the animal are administered psychotropic drugs (but in different doses and combinations), according to its state of health and the diagnosis made. Of course, the drug alone cannot be decisive, but as mentioned above it must be associated with a correct management of the subject.
The relationship with the owner is very important, which must be aware of the times and ways of drug therapy, of any side effects and, moreover, it must be reassured that the same will not last throughout the life of the animal, but it will be temporary, depending on the response obtained.
After the first evaluation meeting, the trend of therapy is monitored through contacts/interviews with the owners and control visits with the dog. As already mentioned, it is essential that the established procedures are followed with constancy and that there is a tight collaboration between master and therapistto work together with the same goal.
An important part of the interview is also dedicated to the explanation of the behavior of our dogs (attributable to the concept of psychoeducation in human psychotherapy sessions): understanding the real motivation of a behavior is already a great step towards the resolution of the problem.
Being different species, in fact, we interpret the world and approach it with other eyes; The communication is also different, given that the dog does not have the floor, but “dialogue” with his fellow men and with the human being through the use of parts of his body (as the ears and head, the expressions of the muzzle, the various positions he takes in space) accompanied by vocalizations.
A common mistake of the owners, derived from the incomprehension of animal language, is that of “Humanize” their dog too muchtreating him as a child and/or attributing too complex feelings: for example, if the dog ruins us the furniture in our absence, we believe that he did it to take revenge as jealous, in reality he was simply getting bored not knowing how to spend time alone, and that was his way of expressing the discomfort.
Then, it will be the most necessary, by the psychologist, a support work of the/with the human subject, however useful also in other circumstances that can occur, such as support in case of mourning (death of the dog, decision for euthanasia), long disease, needs in specific situations (example, elderly dog).
