Sorry, we couldn't find any results matching
Please:
Sorry, we couldn't find any results matching
Please:
Behavioral issues can cause a lot of stress — whether you just brought a dog or cat home, or the furry family member you’ve had for years is struggling. You’re upset, they’re upset. It can be a vicious cycle, but behavioral training could help.
If your pet needs behavioral training, MetLife Pet could help you cover some of the costs so you can get them the treatment they need. Learn more about behavior training and how a pet insurance policy might come in handy.
MetLife Pet can typically help provide coverage for behavioral training through our optional Preventive Care add-on plan. This means you could be reimbursed for some of the associated costs — whether it’s according to your reimbursement rate (up to your plan’s annual limit), or according to the benefit limit listed in your plan for behavior training costs.1,2
Depending on the plan you choose, you may need a vet’s recommendation for behavioral training as a treatment for anxiety or aggression. Check out our coverage and exclusions page for more details.
Behavioral training isn’t the same as obedience training, which refers to teaching pets things like how to gently take treats, walk on a leash without pulling, and listen to basic commands — like sit, stay, and speak.
With behavioral training, potentially problematic behaviors are addressed. Some of these behaviors can look like excessive barking or licking, aggression toward people or other animals, and destructive behavior — like chewing, scratching, or urinating/marking.3
The type of professionals who offer behavior training can include trainers, certified professional dog trainers (CPDTs), applied animal behaviorists, certified applied animal behaviorists (CAABs), and associate certified applied animal behaviorists (ACAABs). The level of education and training varies among these titles, but all share a goal of helping pet owners identify, understand, and treat behavioral conditions.3
Pet behavior training can include a variety of approaches, including:4
The trainer or veterinary behaviorist you work with may even combine techniques, depending on your pet’s needs.
Pet insurance may not cover standard obedience training. But some pet insurance policies provide coverage for training when it can help treat certain behavioral issues. Depending on your exact plan, MetLife Pet could help you cover behavioral training costs — and possibly those for obedience training — through the Preventive Care add-on plan.
Standard pet training alone likely won’t help resolve all behavioral problems. In that case, a dog insurance policy or cat insurance policy might be a good idea to help you offset the costs of specialized behavioral treatment.
Let’s go over some common behavioral issues in dogs that could be helped by behavioral training.
Aggression in dogs may look like something as harmless as a change in posture or growling, but it can escalate to biting — which is why controlling aggression in dogs is important. A dog might become aggressive if they’re being defensive of their food, perceive a threat, or are being protective.5
MetLife Pet may be able to cover some of the costs for dog training that helps with aggressive behaviors.
Many pets miss their owners when they leave, but separation anxiety is when your pet exhibits extreme reactions when left alone. This could include destructive behavior, constant whining or howling, and trying to escape. A dog may also seem depressed or anxious if they can tell you’re about to leave.6
Coverage through MetLife Pet might help offset costs associated with training that helps with anxious behaviors.
Dogs can suffer from fears and phobias — just like humans — that stem from environmental triggers, like fireworks, or traumatic experiences. Dogs may also feel fearful in large crowds, or other types of loud environments, and show this fear by pacing or whining.7
Costs for behavior training that helps address fear-based issues might be partially covered with MetLife Pet.
While it may be easy to think of dog behavior challenges, cats can also experience them. Let’s look at some cat behavioral issues that you might be able to help address with behavioral training.
Cats may become aggressive if they’re feeling territorial, stressed, or afraid. If your cat is feeling afraid or aggressive, you may notice changes to their pupil size and ear placement. They may also hiss, scratch, or bite. These behaviors can be more prevalent as cats approach maturity, so spaying or neutering them early on could help reduce the likelihood of them happening.8
Coverage through MetLife Pet might help offset costs associated with cat training aimed at treating aggression.
If your cat is going beyond normal grooming habits and excessively licking, biting, scratching, or chewing themselves throughout the day, it could be a sign of stress or even a medical condition. Also called overgrooming, this can cause cats to lose their fur, which can have other negative consequences if left unaddressed.9
MetLife Pet might be able to cover some of the costs for cat training that helps treat behaviors resulting from stress or health conditions.
It may not be pleasant for pet parents, but some urine marking or spraying is actually normal in cats. However, if your cat is continuously urine marking or spraying outside of their litter box, it could be a sign of frustration, lack of enrichment, or even health conditions and behavioral illnesses.10
Costs for behavior training that helps address marking or inappropriate urination issues might be partially covered with MetLife Pet.
At MetLife Pet, we know how important your pet’s health is. We also know you don’t just want your dog or cat to be physically healthy, you also want them to be happy and stress-free. Addressing any concerns affecting their mental and emotional health is just as important, and that’s why we’re here to help.
If your pet is exhibiting signs of a behavioral issue, MetLife Pet could help you pay for exam fees, behavioral training, and prescribed medications to help treat the issue. That way, your focus can be on your pet’s mental and physical health, not vet bills. Enroll your pet today, starting with a free quote.
