Study Chiang Mai, Thailand, December 24, 2025 – A comprehensive veterinary handbook brings together prevention, diagnosis, and treatment methods for addressing behavioral issues in dogs and cats.
The Handbook of Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat, authored by Landsberg, Hunthausen, and Ackerman, serves as one of the most extensive resources available for veterinary professionals and behavior consultants. The book covers the full spectrum of canine and feline behavior problems, integrating developmental science, clinical assessment, and evidence-based treatment strategies. Designed for clinical application, it emphasizes practical guidance for preventing, diagnosing, and addressing behavior challenges encountered in companion animals.
Early chapters outline developmental trajectories in puppies and kittens and underscore the importance of prevention as a foundational element of behavioral health. The text provides structured methods for behavior counseling and diagnostics, including how to collect behavioral histories, perform assessments, and differentiate between medical and behavioral etiologies. Treatment sections detail behavior-modification techniques, pharmacologic interventions, and complementary and alternative therapies, allowing practitioners to tailor interventions to individual animals.
The handbook explores a wide range of behavior problems, such as fears and phobias, aggression in both dogs and cats, house-soiling, destructive behaviors, and stereotypic or compulsive disorders. Additional chapters address the role of feeding practices, the impact of pain and sedation on behavior, and the specialized needs of senior pets experiencing cognitive or physical decline. Practical appendices offer dosage tables, client handouts, and resource lists, supporting implementation in everyday practice.
This handbook remains a critical reference for veterinary behaviorists, practitioners, trainers, and students seeking an integrated, clinically grounded approach to companion-animal behavior. By presenting prevention, diagnostics, and targeted intervention in a unified framework, it advances the standard of care for addressing behavioral health across the lifespan of dogs and cats.
Source:
Landsberg, G., Hunthausen, W., & Ackerman, L. (2003). Handbook of Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat.
