Animal psychology, especially in the area of domestic animals, is an increasingly important (and for some, lucrative) area of study. There are some incredible results in improving animal behaviour when a psychologist's knowledge is applied to a problem.
I remember seeing a television programme once, where a dog's behaviour was instantly corrected when the behaviourist pointed out that the pet dog was sleeping physically higher above his owners. The behavourist said that in packs, the highest ranking dog has the highest sleeping place. This poor dog thought he was now head of the household and was snapping at the family to keep them in check. A lower sleeping area for him and suddenly he was back to his friendly self again.
It's these details of animal instinct that we often don't know about, that could often help us to understand out pets better. While there are specialists out there for problems that are causing stress to the animal owner, in most cases the pet and their owner get along just fine (most of the time). But a deeper knowledge of pet psychology would, I think, only serve to enhance our relationships with our pets.
Luckily if you want to find out more about this fascinating subject, there are literally hundreds of books available, from the more basic guides to some in-depth textbooks on the subject. However, if there is an issue that you feel is serious, the best thing is to consult a professional.
Friendly bullet from The Scheme - bit of a tearaway.
Very well said
Posted by: K9ERSJackPrice | 08/13/2010 at 10:58 PM