Ethology (from the Greek “ηθος” ethos, custom and “λóγος” logos, reasoning, study and science) is the branch of biology and experimental psychology that studies the behavior of animals in their natural environments. In the case of clinical ethology, it is the study of the behavior of domestic animals, such as the most common dog and cat.

The ethologist is a professional with a degree or degree in Veterinary Medicine, Biology, Psychology, Pedagogy or Medicine, who has completed a master’s degree in Clinical Ethology.

It is the specialist that offers services for diagnosis, prevention, treatment and monitoring of behavioral problems in dogs and domestic cats.

The veterinarian ethologist can treat all levels of a behavioral problem with the involvement of organic (health) problems by being the only specialist who can prescribe drugs. Instead, the ethologist with another specialty, in these cases, must always go hand in hand with a veterinarian.

The behavioral problems that an ethologist can treat are:

– Aggression with people, dogs or animals
– Destructive behavior in dogs
– Improper scratching on cats
– Inadequate elimination of urine and manure
– Excessive barking
– Excessive cramps
– Phobias to storms, firecrackers, traffic, etc.
– Fear of people, dogs or animals
– Lack of control over the handling of the animal
– Excessive activity
– Stereotyped repetitive behaviors
–  Eating behavior alteration
– Sexual behavior alteration
– Sleep alteration

A canine educator is the professional who offers the service of modifying the behavior of a dog’s behavior problems, previously diagnosed by an ethologist. Its goal is, on the one hand, to be able to educate owners to better understand canine language and needs. On the other hand, educating the dog so that it has a better relationship with its environment and improves its link with people and other animals. There is also specialization in feline education, although not as common as canine education.

The behavioral problems that a canine educator can treat, previously diagnosed by an ethologist, are:

– Aggression with people, dogs or animals
– Destructive behavior in dogs
– Inadequate elimination of urine and manure
– Excessive barking
– Phobias to storms, firecrackers, traffic, etc.
– Fear of people, dogs or animals
– Lack of control over the handling of the animal
– Excessive activity
– Stereotyped repetitive behaviors
– Eating behavior alteration
– Sexual behavior alteration
– Sleep alteration

A canine trainer is the professional who offers the service of modifying the behavior of an animal without presenting behavioral problems. Its goal is to be able to teach specific skills based on exercises and mental challenges that stimulate and help meet the cognitive and physiological needs of the animal.

In this case, by not dealing with behavior problems, the trainer treats the following skills:

– Agility and other sports training
– Obedience training: sitting, lying down, getting up, answering the owner’s call, walking next to them, etc.
– Training for special functions: police dogs, odor tracking, guard and defense, etc.
– Training for assistance dogs

Trainers, educators, and ethologists can address different levels of an animal’s behavior.

The canine trainer improves cognitive and physiological skills that are not related to behavioral problems or emotional distress in the animal. Therefore, it does not affect the modification of the dog’s internal emotion or the improvement of a problem.

Instead, the canine educator can deal with the dog’s behavioral problems and emotional distress related to its environment and link with people and other animals. It can reach a higher level of involvement with the animal’s behavior.

Unlike the other specialists, the ethologist is the only professional who can diagnose a behavior problem and, therefore, can also treat consequent behavior modification. The same thing happens with the veterinary ethologist, being the only one who can also prescribe medication to accompany the ethological treatment with a pharmacological one if necessary. These professionals can mainly treat dogs and cats.

The origin of a behavior problem is usually multifactorial and complex. Therefore, it is essential to have specialized knowledge to be able to solve a case through effective treatment with lasting results.

The most important criterion for choosing the best professional for your dog or cat, in the first place, is that the professional works in positive education and, therefore, that he has as a priority the animal welfare when applying the treatment. The techniques applied with this method are the only ones that generate long-term learning without deteriorating the link you have with the animal.

Second, it will always depend on why you need a professional. If your pet has no behavior problems and you want to improve linking and obedience, the trainer is the one who can help you achieve these goals. On the other hand, if your pet does have a behavioral problem, the ethologist and educator, working together, are the main professionals who can address the needs of your dog or cat.

Positive education is the only work technique that respects animal welfare and has a scientifically proven effectiveness. This methodology is based on reinforcing the behaviors that we want to appear in our animal and that are maintained in the long term and ignoring those that we do not want and want to disappear. Working with positive education, the animal changes its behavior because learning has been created based on motivation, confidence, a positive change in perception, and a better animal-human link. This learning is solid and sustained over time.

Punishment, on the other hand, is a work technique that does not respect animal welfare. This methodology is based on physical punishment (puncture, electric, chain or choking collars, water pistols, blows to the nose or limbs of the animal and a long etc.) or the combination of a verbal punishment. prolonged along with corporal punishment. Working with punishment, the animal changes its behavior because a fear-based learning has been created. This learning is not solid and is not maintained over time, as it favors the onset of anxiety and distress disorders that often result in aggressive behaviors toward owners and other animals.