[Raising dogs and cats in compliance with animal welfare using advice on behavior and behavior therapy]

Housing conditions of companion animals are often not adequate to animal welfare. This is caused by a generally negative attitude towards animals in the public, combined with a lack of knowledge about the normal behaviour and the animals demands towards their environment. In the interest of animal welfare, measures are needed which could help to improve the attitude towards animals by the general public. A further aim should be to provide a better knowledge about the needs of animals in the group of persons owning animals as well as persons planning to buy one in the future. Essential improvements in the housing conditions of dogs and cats can be expected by a more intense engagement of veterinarians in behaviour therapy. Individual points of this thematic will be discussed, suggestions as well as advice for the improvement of work will be introduced.