Living with and loving a pet with behavioral problems: Pet owners’ experiences

Many studies have investigated the effects of behavioral problems on companion animal welfare, but few have investigated how these problems affect pet owners. The objectives of this qualitative study were to determine pet owners' experience living with and providing care for a companion animal with behavioral problems and to identify areas of further research. Thirty-nine pet owners completed an internet survey. Responses were analyzed using thematic analysis. Thirty-seven owned dogs, one owned a cat, and one owned both a dog and a cat with behavioral problems. The experiences of pet owners participating in this survey can be described using 4 major themes: caretaking, emotions experienced, coping strategies, and lack of understanding and support. Pet owners in this study reported several consequences in their lives due to their pet's behavioral condition(s). Consequences related to caretaking included the extra time required for management and training, difficulty exercising their pet, and limitations on where they could go and who could visit their home. Study participants reported how their pet's behavior directly or indirectly affected household relationships and those with family and friends. Most reported a strong human-animal bond while also reporting a range of negative emotional responses to their pet's behavioral problem. While not measured directly, the experiences shared by our participants encompass both the subjective and objective elements of pet caregiver burden, and these results highlight that caring for pets with behavioral problems can affect owners in significant ways. While animal health professionals can serve as a source of support during treatment of animal behavioral problems, best practices need to be developed, and additional resources for the owner may be needed, which could include individual or group counseling with a qualified therapist or social worker. Collaborative relationships between animal health and behavior professionals and human mental health professionals could ensure that both the pet's and the owner's needs are met when managing a pet's behavioral problem.