Commentary
David Burger’s article reviews an apparent increase in fractious pets that increase injury risks for veterinary teams and pet owners alike. While “do more training” is advocated, it is clear that beyond veterinary teams adjusting their approach with problem pets, getting modern pet owners to establish basic behavior boundaries is difficult. Similarly, groomers indicate an increase in behavior issues <Link>.
Burger says experts recommend owners take behavior issues seriously and that veterinary teams proactively educate clients on handling and training resources. Where this fits in client onboarding is unclear, yet proactively communicating about specific resources via social media, newsletters and webcasts may help some pet owners get it.
The assertion from Katherine A. Houpt, VMD, PhD, to “make muzzles your friend” as routine at-home preparation may take a minute to comprehend but one cannot argue the safety value for staff members, owners and pets.
Sources: AVMA, July 2, 2026. Link. More than 99 percent of U.S. dogs have a behavior problem according to data from a study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior <Link>. Data gathered by the Dog Aging Project showed behaviors that are potentially problematic, with the top categories being aggression (55.6 percent), separation and attachment behaviors (85.9 percent), and fear and anxiety behaviors (49.9 percent).
Behavior is a crucial element of dog ownership and should be considered carefully by both dog owners and veterinarians so that mild problems do not escalate into severe ones.” – Bonnie V. Beaver, BS, DVM, MS
Image: AI generated
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