An Ounce of Prevention…
It is very rare that an unwanted behavior will develop overnight. With the exception of some medical issues being a cause of behavior, most unwanted behaviors develop over time, sometimes slowly. What happens too often is that the hints of an unwanted behavior start to manifest but the pet parent figures, “it’s not that bad, I can deal with it.” Unfortunately, many of these behaviors do not stay the way they are. Often they get worse. Sometimes, much worse. That is when we get called in to help. However, by then the behaviors are typically severe and well practiced. This means it will take longer and be more challenging to change, requiring more time and more effort. Furthermore, what could have been corrected in a single session or perhaps just a few sessions at first, now will require many in-depth, focused sessions to turn around. This can be somewhat expensive and emotionally exhausting. While most problems are not the fault of the pet parents, it can feel that way. We have support groups just for people dealing with “special needs” pets as this can be taxing on the humans.
…is truly worth a pound of cure
One way to prevent all of this is to reach out for help at the first signs of a problem and get our professional help early. We would much rather help you prevent a behavior from becoming severe than to see you go through the difficulty of dealing with a canine companion that is experiencing severe discomfort, fear, or anxiety. Just as in medicine, detecting and addressing a medical issue early greatly improves the prognosis and likelihood of a cure. Detecting and correcting a behavioral issue early, greatly improves the outcomes. Your canine companion will thank you for it with everlasting love.
An ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure.