Many people want a new, cute, cuddly puppy, but often after the cuteness

wears off, owners do not know how to train the pets. This leads to many

pets being euthanized because of problem behaviors.

A new study at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine

that started this summer and will continue into the fall semester will help

determine which factors lead to abandonment and mental disorders. The study

is being conducted by John C. New Jr., DVM, MPH. It will look at the

personalities of dogs and cats in relation to their pet owners. It will

also look at where the pets were acquired and how this affects pet

abandonment.

“We are trying to help new owners by offering focused behavior counseling,”

New said.

He said that pets have four types of behavior problems: house training,

chewing, crying at night and aggression. New owners sometimes don’t know

how to solve these pet problems.

Participants of this study are offered this focused animal counseling, but

some private veterinarians and animal shelters are also offering such

counseling.

The study is also trying to link the places owners get their pets to how

much effort will be put into solving behavior problems. Owners who invest

more money in the purchase of a pet may be more willing to spend more time

training it and have fewer problems later on.

“People who do not put much value on their pet, if they got them for free

or from a shelter, might be more likely to abandon them later on for

behavior reasons,” New said.

The College of Veterinary Medicine will be conducting into the fall. New

is especially looking for people who got the puppies for free. If you have

acquired a puppy 4 months of age or younger in the last 30 days and would

like to participate in the study call 974-5649.