Veterinarians can usually help cure medical problems which cause pets to act in ways that owners often interpret as misbehavior. Behavior problems that are psychologically induced may be harder to solve. Jane Yeatman, who teaches an obedience class for puppies at MSU's College of Veterinary Medicine, said one way to ensure pets will not misbehave is to employ strong training plans when animals are young. Prevention of behavior problems starts with a good obedience class. But even pets that have been well trained can take on unusual behaviors in some situations, especially if their environment or schedule has changed.
Animals commonly develop bad habits after long periods of isolation.
Dogs especially need to be around their owners or other animals. Owners should make a point to play with their pets and make sure the animals get enough exercise on a daily basis. Yeatman said owners should be extra sensitive to a pet's needs when a change has taken place. When a pet's behavior changes, something has happened to trigger the change. Since a pet cannot communicate to the owner what the problem is, it's the owner's job to figure it out.