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"Dr. Schwartz and her Saluki boy Ezra
You have arrived at the ultimate source for solutions to Pet Behavior Problems! Whether your misbehaving pet is a dog or cat, ferret or pig, bird or rabbit (and just about anything else!) you will find answers to your questions as well as comfort in the discovery that you are not alone.
Dr. Stefanie Schwartz (also known as Dr. Cookie®) is a board-certified Veterinary Behaviorist. This makes her a true Pet Behavior Specialist. A veterinarian and veterinary behavior consultant since 1984, Dr. Stefanie Schwartz offers guidance and support to bewildered, frustrated & outraged pet owners.
Like human medicine, veterinary medicine is becoming increasingly specialized. Veterinary behavior is the parallel to psychiatry; it goes far beyond basic dog obedience training. Medical problems almost always have behavioral consequences, for example, but not every behavior change is due to a medical illness. Think of Dr. Schwartz as a “Pet Shrink” or even a dog or cat psychiatrist, but please DO think of her if you are dealing with any kind of pet behavior problem!
Virtually every pet owner has, at one time or another, been confronted with a pet who has behaved less than desirably in some way. Most pet owners have experienced frustration with a dog or cat who is not reliably housetrained, the sense of rejection due to a destructive pet, or to the anxiety caused by an aggressive pet. Dr. Schwartz knows it is crucial to resolve pet behavior problems before an owners’ tolerance and love are lost.
Pet behavior problems are the most important reasons for the abandonment and euthanasia of otherwise healthy animals at shelters across North America. Tragically, the great majority of these problems could have been either corrected or avoided with appropriate information and timely intervention. By informing pet owners of how to prevent or resolve behavior problems in pets, Dr. Schwartz hopes to save the lives and improve the quality of life for many lovable and loving creatures.
All pets require and deserve to have their basic needs met. Pet owners are also responsible to provide clear and consistent direction toward desirable behavior. Happy and healthy pets enrich the existence of their caregivers, offering companionship, entertainment, and a more profound perspective of what we are all here for – to love .