Forums
Guidance, support and wisdom to benefit and maximize the life and longevity of animals.
×
Member Registration
×
Member Login
new to VETVINE?
Register now
×
Forgot Password
×
Reset Your Password
with a password reset link.
Be sure to check your SPAM folder if it's not in your inbox
Can't find it?
Need Help? Contact Us
×
Contact Us
×
VetVine Client Care
The Dominance Theory
Behavior
This question was submitted during a past webinar titled "Disorders of Anxiety, Fear, and Panic" ...
Question:
How do we get veterinarians to stop preaching dominance theory?
Answer by E'Lise Christensen, DVM, DACVB:
HA! Once we do that, I can quit working!!! OK. Well after I win the lottery and that happens I can quit working.
I know this is frustrating for behavior-minded vets, trainers, the public, everyone "sciencey"...
We just have to keep getting good information out there. GET MEDIA TRAINING and say YES to reporters (but only after you have had media training).
AND complain to the vet school in your area as much as you possibly can. Behavior is the music department of veterinary schools for the most part. Of course, that's ridiculous given that basically all illness are diagnosed first with a change in the animal's behavior and because behavior problems kill animals. Not to mention huge amounts of lost revenue to veterinarians.
Everyone has their own style of communication when dealing with different opinions. I try to take the informational route. Some things that come along with "dominance theory" can be useful. Some have serious potential to be harmful. Remember- animal behavior has many zealots with belief systems that aren't amenable to facts. You are especially likely to get nowhere if you start by slamming someone's dearly held belief. Instead, I ignore the philosophy and just deal with what we have for facts as we know them at this time.
In addition, you can research the American Veterinary Society for Animal Behavior's position statements on dominance, punishment, socialization, etc. and print them. Staple your card to them and give them to the veterinary clinic. Now that I mention that, I should do those. I helped write the darn things for heaven's sake!
Hope that helps!