A behaviorally healthy cat should be friendly toward, or
at least tolerant of people. She should not consistently hide from family
members, although some cats never do become very friendly toward unfamiliar
people. She should be able to tolerate being touched and picked up, although
many cats do not enjoy or tolerate extensive physical contact. It is the
owner’s responsibility to adequately socialize the cat.
A behaviorally healthy cat should not be consistently destructive, although
scratching household items, and using any moveable object as a toy, is
to be expected from time to time from any cat. It is also the owner’s responsibility
to provide adequate objects for scratching that meet the cat’s behavioral
needs, and provide exercise and time for play, including social play with
people.
A behaviorally healthy cat should eliminate only in desired areas, usually
a litterbox, depending on the owner’s living arrangements. Again, it is
the owner’s responsibility to provide a sufficient number of litterboxes
with characteristics that meet the cat’s needs.
A behaviorally healthy cat is not a nuisance or danger to the community.
He does not eliminate on property other than his owner’s, nor damage others’
property. A cat living in an enriched indoor environment does not need
to be given unsupervised access to the outdoors to be behaviorally healthy.
A behaviorally healthy dog should be friendly toward, or
at least be tolerant of both people and other animals. She should not
bite or snap in response to harmless, everyday stimuli (e.g. taking a toy
away, walking past her food bowl, wiping her feet, looking at her, reaching
to pet or touch her collar). It is the owner’s responsibility to adequately
socialize the dog and to use training techniques that avoid physical punishment
that can result in aggressive behavior.
A behaviorally healthy dog should be able to be left alone for reasonable
time periods in the house or yard without becoming anxious or panicked.
He should not consistently be destructive, although chewing, digging and
tearing things up from time to time is to be expected from any dog. It
is also the owner’s responsibility to provide adequate exercise and opportunities
for play, including social play with people.
A behaviorally healthy dog should be trained to eliminate only in desired
areas, either a yard, or on leash walks, depending on the owner’s living
arrangements. Again, it is the owner’s responsibility to provide sufficient
opportunities and appropriate locations for elimination.
A behaviorally healthy dog readily relinquishes control of food, toys
and other objects. It is the owner’s responsibility to teach the dog that
giving up control of these items is a good thing to do because a reward
will follow.
A behaviorally healthy dog is relaxed during normal, everyday handling
and interactions such as having feet wiped, being petted, being looked
at or having her collar touched. It is also the owner’s responsibility
to gradually accustom the dog to these procedures from a young age, using
gentle techniques and positive reinforcement.
A behaviorally healthy dog calms down quickly after being startled or
excited. An owner can help the dog learn to do so through socialization
and humane training.
A behaviorally healthy dog is not overly fearful of normal, everyday events.
It is the owner’s responsibility to adequately socialize the dog, beginning
in puppy hood, to help prevent fear-related problems.
A behaviorally healthy dog is able to adapt to change with minimal problems.
It is the owner’s responsibility to do as much as possible through training
and socialization to help the dog be resilient in times of change.
A behaviorally healthy dog does not bark or vocalize excessively. Barking
and other vocalizations are normal communication behaviors for dogs. However,
the dog should not be vocalizing so often that his own welfare is compromised,
or that he becomes a nuisance to reasonable people.
A behaviorally healthy dog is not a danger to herself or the community.
She does not spend time running loose and unsupervised, nor threaten harmless
people visiting the home or approaching the yard. It is also the owner’s
responsibility to train and socialize the dog, to adequately manage the
dog’s environment and to make the dog an integral part of the family.
Handout information from: Suzanne Hetts, PhD, Certified Applied Animal
Behaviorist
Animal Behavior Associates, Inc.
