Premium
Behavioural husbandry: the way to a client's heart
Author(s) -
Shepherd Kendal
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
in practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.211
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 2042-7689
pISSN - 0263-841X
DOI - 10.1136/inpract.29.9.540
Subject(s) - welfare , animal welfare , psychology , animal husbandry , field (mathematics) , social psychology , medicine , law , ecology , political science , mathematics , pure mathematics , biology , agriculture
THE field of behaviour is frequently presented as complicated and labour intensive, involving copious letter‐writing and inordinate amounts of time spent in the presence of one particular client. But, says Kendal Shepherd, the same ground rules apply to creating and maintaining appropriate behaviour as a lifestyle for both human and dog as to treating behaviour problems once they have already arisen. Advice regarding these rules should be given in a generic fashion in the same way as advice regarding vaccination, worming, grooming and diet. Managing a client's relationship with their pet in the most fruitful and welfare‐oriented way will hugely enhance a client's relationship with the veterinary practice. She suggests that by demonstrating a practical knowledge of learning theory and its impact on emotional and behavioural welfare, practitioners should aim to instruct not merely ‘do as I say’ but ‘do as I do’.