Many behaviors that are problems for owners are in actuality normal puppy behaviors. These behaviors include chewing, mouthing of the hands and clothing, early aggression, digging, jumping and excessive vocalization. Other issues to address include crate training, home control and early obedience training. It is speculated that in the United States, 60% of the animals that end up in humane shelters may be there because of behavioral problems, and many of those are dogs given up within the first year or two of ownership. Veterinarians need to integrate behavioral information into their puppy visits to try and prevent pet relinquishment to shelters. Not only would this offer a great service to our clients but would also be a service to ourselves by increasing pet retention.
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