What’s with dog owners? Why do they think manners don’t apply? Is it the communities fault? Dog professionals?
Darwin Fountain Island Park Sarasota Earth Day April 2009
November 22, 2009
Joyce Kesling, CDBC
Living in Sarasota Florida seems challenging at times. For the most part the community is artsy, its yearly and semi-yearly inhabitants think of it as rather cultural, and it definitely is a tourist Mecca. Sarasota has some of the loveliest beaches; Siesta Key has been rated in the top 10 beaches in the United States for many years. The sand is so fine making it unusual and special. In addition, there’s St. Armand’s Key, a circular drive of some of the most upscale shopping and dining on the west coast. Lido Beach, Long Boat Key, and Bird Key adjoin St. Armand’s where some of the most expensive real estate lies on the west coast!
Mote Marine, known worldwide among scientists, researchers and visited by thousands of tourists is located between St. Armand’s and Long Boat Key. The famous Ringling Museum houses a huge art collection, the Ringling Mansion, and Selby Gardens are here and known around the world. In addition, both host art collections on tour and special events.
The famous Ringling School of Art near downtown Sarasota, partly taking up residence at the old Sarasota High School that is architecturally appealing. We have New College and an extension of University of South Florida. Sarasota has an opera house and other small live theaters; we entertain a film festival every winter. Hollywood celebrities attend, some have homes here, and a year round resident rock star from AC/DC lives here! So do you have any idea where this is going yet? I didn’t think so. It surely isn’t meant to market visiting Sarasota!
It’s about dog and human manners! However, it may be too much to expect individuals to have manners, respect other’s boundaries, be courteous, even in a town with overwhelming heaps of well to doers and supposed cultural and educational center. The notion that we should respect each other, be courteous, and possess manners is losing ground, not just here; it has become a cultural problem in the United States. I imagine one encounters these ill-mannered types in all environments and all kinds of contexts. However, being in the dog business has endowed upon me an entirely new perspective on this issue, since encountering rudeness and general lack of respect wasn’t noticeable during previous occupations, including self-employment.
I suspect it has much to do with the fact many dog owners seem to take being responsible for their dog’s behavior rather lightly. For example, dogs and their owners have no business being in public if they cannot control their dogs. This is not uncommon; I encountered owners i.e. with a GSD that was very aggressive, and its behavior unpredictable in responding to stimuli, even to his owners. Having dogs like this in public, especially given the stimuli they are encountering and associated with fear is just wrong, it’s just going to make the dog worse and it’s risky! This is one of the worst examples encountered. Lucky me, today I actually captured one on film (well sort of) providing this opportunity to discuss and bring the issue to those unaware. Stuff like this makes for fodder to blog about and perhaps educate some of these idiots at the same time! If you’re one of these idiots, please don’t take offense, rather get help and/or don’t subject your dog to places she/he isn’t prepared for and you’re unable to meet their challenges.
Given the fact, I have heard many accounts from clients visiting places like Aspen, Beverly Hills, and Europe where this kind of behavior was not noticed. Instead, what was reported was how remarkably well behaved dogs were, unlike what is encountered in this community and perhaps others, perhaps it’s a problem in every town and city. Perhaps the problem is a community one perhaps its tourists visiting and don’t know any better, perhaps it’s a combination, unfortunately, I don’t get histories when encountering them! However, perhaps one should ask more questions if they are in the dog business, especially if they specialize in behavior and/or a professional dog trainer. Why, you ask. Because if dog owners in communities are not being educated properly it’s a poor reflection on our profession and can affect the welfare of dogs. Unsuccessfully integrating dogs into our homes and environments contributes to many of these dogs ending up in shelters.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t encounter these problems routinely, however, I do get the impression many dog owners are not aware there is a proper meet and greet protocol. This is something dog professionals should be educating their clients about. I continually find myself explaining why it’s inappropriate and why I’m training my dog to wait for permission.
First, it’s considered rude when dogs run up into the face of a strange dog. Second, it’s not unusual for a dog to take offense and act aggressively to correct this unwanted intrusion. You might at this point blame the aggressor, when in fact; your dog is the aggressor, and unknowingly condoning his behavior.
This is the appropriate time to ask anyone who might be reading this; would you allow or raise your children to think it’s OK to run up to strangers on the street? If you are a good parent, the answer should be no. So why do so many dog owners not ask permission before allowing their dog, in some instances, dragging them by their retractable lead up to strange dogs without asking permission and/or if their dog is friendly? What is it about dog ownership and those who seemingly escape possessing any basic manners?
I could go into more depth and explanation why these behaviors occur, but that is not my point. I’m not going to explain why your dog does what she/he does, when and where, it’s your responsibility to find the right help or leave your dog at home and/or limit your walks to your immediate property and/or area where you do have control.
It’s unpleasant and can affect dogs future behavior when subjected to idiots void of any clue about dog behavior and their responsibility to their own dog.
Before you view the video, I am going to brag about my dog’s behavior. He could not have been more perfect during our time in Island Park. We left the park side by side, Darwin (that’s his name) dragged a long-line (used for safety purposes), we passed numerous people, including children, a man and his son rode by on their bicycles as we walked on the sidewalk adjacent to the art exhibit, smiling as they passed. The day was perfect; he continues to learn what it means to take his cues from me, setting him up to make the right choice. Obviously, we need to work on idiots who don’t have a clue; can one really expect a dog to be 100% reliable? Knowledge of dogs says no.
Would using a shock collar have prevented him from getting up in case he needed to defend himself? I can’t answer this question because knowledge makes me skeptical; I believe the training method might make him more defensive.
I admit to some panic, however, I got to his long line just in time to pull him away from an aggressive encounter with the intruder, the fearful part was having him run toward the road, what would normally panic any parent. Following the negative encounter, the owner said they used “all kinds of trainers.” I am sorry, I did not get more personal asking who and where. It would have been interesting to know what type of trainers they tried, what methodologies they used, what was their level of expertise in understanding dog behavior. One can only speculate because we don’t know, therefore we can’t conclude why the person continues to subject their dog to an environment they are uncomfortable in, perhaps it doesn’t matter to the dog’s owners.
Now here is where I have to ask, as humans, would it not have been more respectful and courteous to wait until we were finished rather than intruding upon us? To me, it was quite obvious what I was doing, the fact, I repeated my stay command well within their hearing range, I heard them, neither had any problem hearing when we briefly spoke about their dogs behavior, all I can assume is they are completely clueless, lack basic manners and don’t care about their dog!
If any doubt remains about Darwin’s behavior, check out my earlier Art Exhibit 2009 video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGrsDECN-NY) taken two days earlier this week. Oh my, it was a busy day too.
Here’s the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cntm6iE-pzg from todays example.
And for Dog’s sake, would you let your small dog run up to a strange Doberman? Sometimes the plus having a Doberman is most people respect the breed!
Responsible Dog and Cat
Training and Behavior Solutions
Combining Art and Science Training Animals
Joyce D. Kesling, CDBC
P.O. Box 15992
Sarasota, Florida 34277
941-966-1188
http://responsibledog.wordpress.com/
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi 1869 – 1948
Copyright Responsible Dog & Cat 2009
Dog Training Off Lead Preliminary Work – NO SHOCK COLLAR NECESSARY!
This demonstration will show how easy it is to train a dog to do all kinds of things without using a shock collar, including recalls and off lead transition.
By using a head collar (if necessary) and long lines and/or traffic leads as I’m using here, you move from using leads and tools to off lead control.
When beginning with puppies, we train them off lead first, then train to leads.
Unfortunately, rescue and shelter dogs often were not given the chance to learn correctly as puppies. In these instances, trainers use and teach owners how to effectively use non-aversive tools to aid in training, avoiding using punishment, especially during the early stages, what we call the acquisition phase.
We use what is referred to as LIMA, least intrusive minimally aversive and widely accepted in the dog training community.
Don’t jeopardize your relationship with your companion dog using aversive training methods and tools, the use of shock collars has been researched and studied, the effective use of these devices is limited, per their manufacturer’s representative, see Why consider the use of Shock Collars (E-Stimulus Devices) carefully .
There are additional articles on this blog that may be useful in educating yourself concerning this issue.
Campaign to ban Cesar Millan’s The Dog Whisperer from Italian TV
Campaign to ban Cesar Millan’s The Dog Whisperer from Italian TV
Members of the APBC have provided information and resources to concerned pet behaviour counsellors in Italy following the broadcast of The Dog Whisperer featuring Cesar Millan on Italian TV.
Copyright 2009 APBC
No Shock Collar Coalition ~ Join for Dogs Sake!
- Little Sunny…now big Sunny!
No Shock Collar Coalition ~ Join for Dogs Sake!
The following is from an organization of supporters, received as a member and supporter and being passed on in its entirety to help get the word out. Please take the time to evaluate the efficacy and harmful effects determined by scientific studies and observation and sign up to show and express your support for dogs who can’t speak up for themselves. If you’re not familiar with this information then please ask those who are already members and/or you are welcome to contact me…I have sufficient information for using these devices. Let’s raise happy dogs, not dogs trained using fearful aversive training methods and tools. The dogs will thank you and not out of fear of you!
No Shock Collar Coalition
Getting Started
You are receiving this message because you have previously signed up with the No Shock Collar Coalition.
This silent movement began in 2006, as those who love our canine companions and respect them as our brethren objected to the use of electric shock devices being used in the training and containment of dogs. In 2006 we were concerned by the proliferation of these devices, and now, three years later, there appears to be continued focus on shock collars as acceptable tools, not only in the dog trainers’ toolbox, but in the hands of the general public.
Since this problem has not abated, we believe it is time to stand up and be counted and make our position on this matter known to those who promote these devices and profit from them. In addition, raising awareness among those well-meaning trainers and owners who use them out of ignorance is also on our agenda!
To this end, we’re asking those of you who have previously signed up for the NSCC to consider your commitment to this cause; if you are no longer interested in supporting us, please use the ‘opt out’ instructions in this email to have your email address removed from our list.
If you have continued commitment to the No Shock Collar movement, please help us by encouraging your like-minded friends, relatives, clients and others to sign up with us and lend their support to our campaign. New members can sign up by visiting http://www.baddogsinc.com/noshockcollars.html.
Over the coming months, we’ll be collecting articles and other information about the use of shock collars to help educate users and distributors alike. In addition, we’ll be looking for ways to make our position known to those who profit from these devices, either knowingly or unknowingly.
Thank you in advance for your support. Remember that a handful of committed people can make a huge difference for good!
With gratitude to those who honor and respect our canine brethren, I remain
Sincerely,
Barbara Davis
BADDogsInc
Family Dog Training & Behavior
Corona, CA
Thanks
Joyce Kesling, CDBC
Responsible Dog
www.responsibledog.net
Dog Training Island Park Sarasota FL
Typical training and socialization for Darwin…what a beautiful day compared to what is usually non-stop hot and sunny Florida!
Dog Park Visit Bradenton 110809
Darwin and Boudicca’s first visit to this dog park, I usually do not take my dogs to dog parks…we have visited Venice Dog Beach. Darwin was so excited hearing the sound, I had to turn the sound off.
In House Dog Play and Agility Exercise
How easy is this and just look at the time, but don’t kid yourself, JRT’s are NOT dogs for everyone, they can be tenacious and if you don’t know anything about training and don’t have time to learn, then get yourself a stuffed dog instead!
Dog Training Multiple Dogs
This is adlibbed training, I often only have a vague idea before hand, I adjust according to what I see with the dog/s I’m working with and/or supervising. I don’t expect dogs to present behaviors using the same responses, each dog has their own personality and off days.
Does simply being around dogs or owning dogs indicate knowledge of dog behavior? (follow up)
- NOT REALLY VERY FUNNY
November 4, 2009
Joyce Kesling, CDBC
I’m beginning to read Alexandra Horowitz’s new book “Inside Of A Dog…” including her “prelude” and “prefatory note…” and couldn’t help but be reminded of an earlier blog when I suggested dog owners marginalize dogs, their behavior, and those who study dogs (Does simply being around dogs or owning dogs indicate knowledge of dog behavior?). Most specifically those most equipped to help in problem solving. According to Horowitz, the “prevailing view of behavioral scientists” suggested there was no data to be obtained from the study of dogs. Primates remained the species of choice studying animal cognition. She says further “dog owners seemed to have already covered the territory of theorizing about the dog mind…theories generated from anecdotes and misapplied anthropomorphisms.”
Why do we ignore our part when a problem occurs within the human-dog relationship? Why do dog owners continue to ignore how influential a dog behaviorist is, not only preventing problems but also resolving problems without creating more conflict?
I suggested in “Does simply being around dogs or owning dogs indicate knowledge of dog behavior?” the following could be contributing to the continued neglect and importance placed on resolving dog behavior problems.
Some of the most easily identified, as cause and effect are the following examples.
- Too much self-help on the internet – recipes to train and problem solve
- Dog training and problem solving made easy by TV dog trainers while sitting on one’s couch
- Shelters, rescues, humane societies offering free telephone call in support
- Shelters, rescues, humane societies offering free downloaded “recipes” for problem solving
- Myths and anecdotal information and experience incorrectly interpreted
- Lack of knowledge and understanding about normal dog behavior
- Misunderstanding of dog-human relationships
- Unskilled dog trainers lacking sufficient knowledge in behavior
- Publics general awareness and importance using credentialed professionals at both levels, dog trainers and behaviorists
- Misunderstanding dogs in general
Several of these causes suggest a general lack of seriousness taken by owners, shelters, rescues and some instances the veterinary community. We think so little of our part in the equation; we further fail when we do not acknowledge both physiological and mental health is closely linked.
We further marginalize the process offering solutions to “fix the dog” in the worst way via internet and/or TV dog training programs. In most instances, owners need counseling, offering training solutions, in many instances, choosing painful punishment i.e. e-stimulus (shock collars) collars without first getting a behavior evaluation and history. To do otherwise suggest dogs and cats are automatons and applying fixed general rules and/or training are applicable to all situations, environments, families and owners. It is simply not that easy. If our current system is working, why do we continue to see millions of dogs and cats euthanized because of behavior problems?
Responsible Dog and Cat
Training and Behavior Solutions
Combining Art and Science for Training Animals
Joyce D. Kesling, CDBC
P.O. Box 15992
Sarasota, Florida 34277
941-966-1188
http://responsibledog.wordpress.com/
http://www.youtube.com/joycekesling
http://vodpod.com/responsibledog
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi 1869 – 1948
Copyright Responsible Dog & Cat 2009
Dog Training, Tug of War, Responsible Dog, Joyce Kesling
before breakfast, game of tug of war! warning, not recommended for known aggressive dogs 8-)
Dog Aggression – Is it predictable? How do humans’ contribute to dog aggression? Are we responsible? Part One
- These teeth are dogs defensive weapons…they use them to prevent aggressive human behavior!
October 23, 2009
Joyce Kesling, CDBC
Dog Aggression – Is it predictable? How do humans’ contribute to dog aggression? Are we responsible? Part One
Fighting between dogs is common and often normal dog behavior; however, we should be concerned how successfully we socialize our dogs, as well as consider the contextual environment and quality of where and how social interactions take place. I previously discussed, if using dominance as a construct was useful in intraspecific (dog-dog) and interspecific (dog-human) relationships see Dominance – is it appropriate to explain social relationships between dogs and humans?
The focus was how dogs learn to communicate with each other, the importance of contextual cues available to them in the environment, the physiological and mental states of each individual participant and their earlier social experience. These elements set the tone for each individual dog’s future communicative abilities, their confidence, and adaptability in changing environments and social situations.
Applying this same associative learning principle to developing dog-human relationships, this paper discusses how owners contribute to their dog’s behavior and how predictable an individual dogs’ future behavior develops based on our decisions and behavior.
Introduction
“It is every behaviorist’s hope to see a dog that they would like to own or have as a neighbor – a dog that can socialize with other dogs, cope with the stresses of modern living, behave in a way that is acceptable to the wider community – and an owner that is fully informed about responsible dog ownership” (Judson 1995).
The preceding quote underscores the importance for being an educated responsible dog owner. Dog owners’ benefit by having a satisfying dog-human relationship and bond, when they fail, in most instances, the dog pays the greatest price! This is no laughing matter, “behavior problems are one of the major reasons behind dog abandonment, disposal, and euthanasia” (Arkow & Dow, 1984; Scarlett et al., 2002; Landsberg, 1991; Overall, 1997).
It begins first with breed selection
Breed choice made by owners in many instances determines success or failure. Some breeds need more skill and handling for an average dog owner, do not set yourself and dog up to fail because you have selected a dog above your training ability. Guarding dogs and large breeds in general can be more difficult to handle than small dogs, however, all dogs need training. The differences between large and small dogs is size, weight, genetics, breed function, and your ability to give enough training to manage large dogs, otherwise large dogs present more risks and liability issues when unexpected things go wrong.
The first thing owners should consider is their experience with dogs. Second is one’s familiarity with specific breeds and or size dogs. Third how much time do you have for training, what is your skill level and how much do you know about dog behavior. The fourth consideration is picking a dog that fits your lifestyle not a choice based on magazine pictures, TV shows, movies, last winning dog at Westminster, and immediately available at local pet shops that you should be steering clear of in the first place!
Mismatched owners and dogs!
According to research, “mismatched” owners cause serious problems for dogs. So serious they suggest owners’ inability to respond appropriately to dogs, the quality and timing delivering cues and how well their dog understands what’s being communicated not only affects training new behaviors but also maintaining trained behavior!
The researchers (Yamamoto et al., 2009) speculated three factors decreased future performance, 1.) delayed reward/punishment 2.) delayed presentation of commands, delivery quality, and poor attention 3.) leaves the dog confused. The authors suggest a “negative psychological effect” of feeling awkward, already demonstrated in humans, and possible that dog’s experience this same “negative psychological effect” leading to the confused state. An animal can’t sufficiently learn and support trained behaviors in a state of confusion. This emphasizes clear, consistent communication from both ends of the leash, this means respecting what your dog is communicating to you!
Professional dog trainers already know how important delivery of commands affects performance and training. We recognize dogs’ attention is important when delivering cues, verbal and visual, and how timing of reinforcement and/or punishment effects successful training.
The purpose for this research was to look at how owner responses and delayed timing affected their dogs overall performance. Their results suggest an overall importance of timing when training new behaviors as well as maintaining already trained behaviors in everyday life.
The consequences of your choice and “mismatch” and ignoring these factors causes “stress, frustration, and anxiety in dogs” emphasizing the importance that owners need to understand how their action’s influence their dog’s behavior (Yamamoto et al., 2009).
Owner knowledge and ability
An owner’s relationship and ability to manage and train their dog is critical to dogs succeeding in adapting to differing human environments. According to a study (Kass 1998), there are differences between people who relinquish pets to shelters and those who do not. There were occasions when loss of job, change in income, and/or changes in family was given as a reason; however, the majority was young, poor, and less educated. Many had a poor understanding what it means to own pets, vaccination schedules, neutering, basic training, and knowledge of animal behavior.
Dog-owner bond, it’s important to avoid creating conflicts
Because a dog’s behavior affects its relationship and attachment with its owners, its later behavior has profound effects on their perception of the dog. This is why behavior problems and/or preventive measure need addressed during the socialization and juvenile period. This means training and socialization begins the day owners bring the new puppy home and throughout the rest of their lives! Developmental phases vary according to breed, individual dog and generally, toy breeds mature faster.
It’s recommended owners understand normal canine behavior, their developmental periods, what is expected behaviorally, how to effectively use reinforcement and/or appropriate punishment, and recognize how to change problem behavior before it gets worse. Seek professional help early and not later if necessary, behavior problems have a better chance for successful resolution when owners are proactive.
According to Pageat (1999), what puppies learn during the socialization period will affect their behavior for the rest of their life. He suggests behaviors necessary for successful adaptation should include learning self-control, intra and interspecific communication (dog and human), rules and social hierarchies, detachment, confidence in exploring their environment and socialization skills with humans.
Success means, you need the right help
Professional dog trainers help you; we develop the skill and art through education and hands-on-learning. Like any skill, it takes time to learn, we don’t expect owners to have this skill. However, owners benefit when they choose good trainers. We help you prevent behavior problems preserving quality of life for your dog. Trainers with a background in dog behavior would be one’s wisest choice.
Certified members of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants need to meet 5 Core Areas of Expertise. They require completion of 30 CEU’s (continuing education units) every two years. You should qualify dog trainers and dog behaviorists. Ask to see their resume, where they obtained their certifications and credentials.
Your purpose is deciding between dog trainers educated in current scientifically sound training practices from those that do not. Your choice should be dog trainers and/or behavior consultants that use positive reinforcement, understand dog communication and use correction only if necessary using the least amount of force, sometimes called LIMA least intrusive minimally aversive.
According to research (Gazzano et al., 2008) it is common belief that information provided by skilled professionals has a positive effect on the bond between dogs and humans, how dogs interact with others, and how well they adapt to living with us. The authors suggest aside from medical problems, owners contribute to behavior problems in three ways 1.) lack of knowledge about a dogs biological and socio-psychological needs, 2.) incorrect expectations either projected on dogs from owners at the species’ level and/or at the individual level, 3.) and improper interactive behavior with one’s pet!
For more information on research mentioned in the preceding paragraph see “The prevention of undesirable behaviors in dogs: effectiveness of veterinary behaviorists’ advice given to puppy owners” Journal Veterinary Behavior (2008), Vol. 3, No. 3 May/June.
If you have a serious behavior problem you may want to consult with a board certified veterinary behaviorist (ACVB or AVSAB) or certified applied behaviorist (ABS). However, there are limited numbers of these professionals. The purpose of IAABC provides access to professionally trained dog behavior specialists. Many members not only train dogs, but also give preventative behavioral advice, puppy selection help, referrals to qualified breeders, qualified shelters/rescues, and specialized classes for specific problems e.g. “feisty fido.”
Understanding punishment and its effect on training and future behavior
“The aggressor always had a purpose behind his attack; he wanted something to be done, some object to be surrendered by the defender.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
First, let us define aggression so we understand how inappropriate harsh punishment and forceful training sets dogs up as victims often using aggression to protect themselves, leaving us wondering what happened; given the myth dogs love us unconditionally. In current veterinary literature, many definitions as well as categories for aggression are proposed. According to Reisner (1998), “aggression is a harmful stimulus directed toward a subject, with evidence of intent and arousal, and toward which the target responds aversively.” Others conclude dogs are predators, thus it is necessary to include agonistic behavior in their entire repertoire. According to scientists, canine aggression is a normal behavior and according to Beaver (1999), “…represents a normal expression of distance-increasing vocal and postural communication.” E.O. Wilson says (1975, 2000), aggression is a “physical act or threat of action by one individual that reduces the freedom or genetic fitness of another.”
I’m in full agreement with Beaver’s definition, when we define aggression and accept it as normal canine behavior, our responsibility should be to understand, appreciate and respect dogs and what they are communicating to us. Wilson’s definition suggests aggression can affect the genetic fitness of another individual, one could use captive wolves as an example. See Dominance – is it appropriate to explain social relationships between dogs and humans?
Reisner’s definition, states, “…aggression is a harmful stimulus,” the “target” of aggression can be expected to respond “aversively.” Dogs are predators, according to leading canine researchers and veterinarians, agonistic (aggression) behavior is acceptable as part of their signaling repertoire and considered normal. Humans are technically classified as predators, both species have recognized aggressive behavior, as well as appeasement (submissive) therefore, when humans forcefully interact with dogs, we can and should not be surprised when they retaliate using aggressive responses. We set our dogs up to fail when we choose aversive methods of training and correcting unwanted canine behavior.
Influence or indifference of television trainers!
The influence coming from television related training has created a paradox for dog professionals. One popular dog training program promotes a person who admittedly has no education in professional dog training and definitely, no formal education in normal dog behavior described in scientific literature and taught at universities. On the other hand, this “dog whisperer” has brought to the public’s attention dog behavior problems are resolvable, but that is as far as credit will go.
What is often observed on the “dog whisperer” could and is described as manhandling and often includes physical punishment and provoking the dog. According to Lindsay (2005), canine dominance aggression (CDA) is handled as a “damage-limiting option” and not a “routine aspect of the behavior-therapy process.” He further emphasizes working with already established aggressors that punishment should be limited but ONLY after “basic control” is established using reward-based training! This is in direct conflict with what can be observed on the National Geographic program.
Manhandling dogs was commonly recommended for controlling aggression, but this was over 50 years ago, we’ve come a long way culturally and professionally and this type of dog training is highly questionable and poses many risks. Even someone like the “dog whisperer” who often manhandles dogs successfully e.g. lifting them off their front feet, forcing them to the ground, choking them to the point of submission, does not generalize the dog’s behavior toward others. Rather it will cause very risky situations for family members, especially children, visitors, and strangers that come in contact with that dog.
The types of punishment often viewed and condemned is at best only suppressing threat displays with no change in emotional response to the conflicts occurring between owner and dog. The dog often subjected to these methods is often the dog described as biting without warning and supposed provocation!
According to Lindsay (2005), manhandling causes the following dangerous situations.
- Inexperienced owners are at significant and unnecessary risk of being bitten
- Manhandling does little to change the causes of domestic aggression and it may actually increase the dog’s aggression
- Manhandling may suppress early warning signs of aggression thus making it less predictable and more dangerous
Professional dog trainers are expected as part of their professional obligation to help owners with aggressive dogs; however, this help should be carried out using appropriate restraint while avoiding provoking circumstances that necessitate methods of intimidation for self-defense. Unavoidable mistakes may occur, professional dog trainers should be prepared to handle these kinds of situations using a variety of restraint methods; however, these emergency procedures should never be confused with training!
With all the educational programs given the professional dog training industry, there is no excuse for mistreatment and manhandling dogs, especially when used as examples of training! Instead, dog trainers and owners should look to “more thoughtful, creative, experimental, playful, friendly” ways to train ultimately forming a trusting bond essential for the control and avoidance of canine domestic aggression (Lindsay, 2005).
Dogs are individuals
The problems between owners and dogs often begin when dogs aren’t recognized as individuals with individual needs. This is one reason it is problematic to buy and/or adopt siblings. It would be unfair and incorrect to assume that both dogs in spite of being siblings, growing up in the same environment convey they both have the same needs. Each dog needs individual attention, training, and socialization. This is time intensive for an average dog owner who only wants a companion dog. In addition, raising siblings is ill-advised because often one puppy succeeds while the other fails to achieve its full potential. San Rafael, a Guide Dog organization identified two key problems, raising siblings in the same home was one but did not occur when two puppies from different litters were raised together (Lindsay 2000). One could suggest raising two siblings together raises quality of life issues for one of the dogs!
Socialization and aggression
Another problem occurs when dogs do not stay with the mother long enough to receive enough discipline. Dogs lacking this experience were found over-aggressive with some becoming aggressive when over-socialized with other dogs. Dogs learn easily from other dogs, this includes bad behavior.
Milani (2009) suggests we should not assume because we want to take part in an activity our dogs would naturally enjoy the same activity. For some dogs’ long walks, dog daycare, dog parks, canine sports, and canine competition might be unwelcome, causing anxiety and stress more than enjoyment. Additionally, too much exercise can actually make dog behavior worse. Forcing your dog to take part in activities they do not enjoy causes stress and the activity is associated with the owner. One could suggest unless you recognize your dog enjoys any/all activities you choose to engage, you are jeopardizing your relationship, trust, and the bond between you and your dog. No one likes being forced to do something they do not like or want to do.
These are a few examples of developmentally related problems and failure to recognize individualism, but none the less three examples leading to unwanted behavior; one is related to early developmental considerations, the second highlights mistakes owners make not recognizing dogs as individuals and the third is not recognizing your dog’s temperament and developing personality.
This underscores understanding dog behavior academically is important, dog trainers not sufficiently educated to recognize these kinds of problems are unable to counsel clients sufficiently. Instead, they focus on fixing the dog sometimes using aversive training methods, they are ill-equipped to educate the owner, concerning the dog’s motivation for the problem behavior. Owners need to recognize developmentally related problems as well as treat them. It is a welfare and quality of life issue.
Dominance overused and incorrect labeling leads to aggression!
Dominance widely used in academic and popular literature is used to describe dog behavior and certain types of aggression labeled “dominance aggression.” Dominance used correctly describes relationships between individuals and “erroneously used to describe a supposed trait of individual dogs,” with little evidence, this trait exists (Bradshaw, et al. 2009).
The use of dominance to explain a dog’s undesirable behavior and used in dog training is still being used today in spite of research scientists suggesting this is incorrect. Today, most “zoologists agree the wolf pack should be regarded as an extended family” consisting of a breeding pair and offspring. The original confusion came from differences between scientists studying natural wolf packs and their behavior from those studying captive wolves and their behavior. The difference between captive wolf behavior and natural wolf behavior discussed in more detail in Dominance – is it appropriate to explain social relationships between dogs and humans?
Researchers (Mech, 1999, Packard, 2003, Gadbois, 2002) suggested natural wolf packs more closely model a human family, with parents being dominant to offspring. The breeding pair uses both agonistic and affiliative behavior that serves to promote a cooperative family unit. Natural wolf packs form when two young unrelated male and female wolves form a relationship, breed, and produce offspring. The older wolves “share the leadership role” and have the greatest rights in decision-making. The roles of the adults may change depending on the goals of the family, such as, the female wolf may exercise a leading role in parental care, while males take up the role of foraging and protecting territory perimeters.
Packard (2003) argued strongly against the linear hierarchal structure advanced before, suggesting the hierarchy was more flexible, and inter-individual relationships included both agonistic and affiliative behavior that serve to support a peaceful social structure. In addition, Packard (2003) says, dominant behavior toward offspring could be viewed as parental aggression when exercising control over offspring, and exploratory behavior from youngsters viewed as testing the limits of parental indulgence (Miklosi, 2007).
According to Miklosi, (2007), the “family concept does not exclude hierarchical/dominant relationships” older adults simply outrank offspring by physical strength and experience, and by default are leaders. Depending on the size of the pack, lower ranking wolves may provide leadership roles however, this only occurs shortly before their dispersal.
Our spin on canine dominance aggression
The spin on canine aggression is most often viewed from our perspective, which only makes sense, given we humans have a difficult time imagining other animals have different perspectives and behaviors that enable them to adapt to their environment based on their own physiology and mental capacities. We have a bad habit of viewing humans as being superior to other animals, credit most often attributed to language, humans being the only species have what we’ve defined as language, but this doesn’t mean other species lack communicative ability or quality of life issues equal to ours.
Lindsay (2007) suggests there may be a different spin, another hypothesis explaining why dogs bite humans and most often their owners! He says, “…the social dominance hypothesis does not seem to have much value for understanding and treating most intrafamilial and extrafamilial aggression problems.” According to Lindsay, canine dominance aggression conflicts with this hypothesis because these dogs generally lack competence suggesting it is equal to “tossing a pig in the air and claiming pigs can fly.”
When “dominance aggression” is used to describe and/or label a dog’s behavior, we rarely if ever suggest any responsibility on the owner’s part in creating the conflict. Instead, we “demonize” the aggressive dog, assuming only their guilt to justify in some instances using aversive training methods to resolve the dog’s aggressive problem! Most dog owners do not realize confident animals do not waste time and energy; instead, dogs commonly labeled as dominant aggressive appear socially incompetent, insecure, and over-reactive around people.
References
Gazzano et al. (2008). The prevention of undesirable behaviors in dogs: effectiveness of veterinary behaviorists’
advice given puppy owners. J. Vet. Behav. 3, 125-133.
Lindsay, Steven R. (2000). Handbook of applied dog behavior and training. 3 Vols.
Iowa: Blackwell.
Lindsay, Steven R. (2005). Handbook of applied dog behavior and training. 3 Vols.
Iowa: Blackwell.
Miklosi, Adam. (2007). Dog Behaviour, Evolution, and Cognition. Oxford University Press. Oxford, NY
Milani, Myrna. (2009). Companion Animal Ethology: Practical insights into behavior, physiology, and the human-animal bond for animal-care professionals.
Yamamoto et al. (2009). Influence of delayed timing of owners’ actions on the behaviors of their dogs, Canis familiaris.
J. Vet. Behav. 4, 11-18.
Dominance – is it appropriate to explain social relationships between dogs and humans?
Responsible Dog and Cat
Training and Behavior Solutions
Combining Art and Science for Training Animals
Joyce D. Kesling, CDBC
P.O. Box 15992
Sarasota, Florida 34277
941-966-1188
http://responsibledog.wordpress.com/
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi 1869 – 1948
Copyright Responsible Dog & Cat 2009
Children, Dogs, and Aggression
This dog is not happy being hugged!
Children, Dogs, and Aggression
September 28, 2009
Joyce Kesling, CDBC
“How To Behave So Your Dog Behaves” by Sophia Yin D.V.M. is one of my personal favorites. The title describes the most effective way to communicate with our dogs. How to act both emotionally as well as physically and my personal way for describing this behavior is being Cool, Calm and Collected, the three C’s!
I’m going to begin by first exploring some statistical numbers related to dog bites. First, according to literature and studies it would seem the incidence of dog bites is a growing problem. The problem is many of these studies have flawed results. The contributing factors include the specific populations studied (urban vs. rural), guarding type dogs who are socialized to be aggressive, tend to be favored in urban environments as opposed to rural and the number of social contacts is directly influenced by the environment is which the dog resides. In addition, the number of favorable social contacts with dogs compared to the number of fatal dog attacks would indicate this is a rather rare occurrence. Also, according to statistics “…the average child is at a far greater risk of being seriously hurt or killed by a parent or relative than by the family dog” (Lindsay, 2001).
| Even the number of dog bites reported annually in the United States is widely disputed by the reporting agencies. Contributing factors include errors in “population estimates…inconsistent definitions of what constitutes a dog bite…tallying dog-bite incidents…widespread underreporting” (Lindsay, 2001). The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) suggests “standardized forms be produced for collecting information” including information on the age of the victim, circumstances, extent of injury, and specific information related to the dog involved. This “task force” would like to see better-defined “legal requirements for reporting” and developing a better source of “collecting and keeping dog-bite statistics” (Lindsay, 2001). Lindsay also suggests, this task force failed by not including a “professional dog trainer” saying “…most owners with dog-aggression problems turn to such people for advice and guidance” (Lindsay, 2001). |  |
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In 1997 the AVMA estimated “52.9 million” dogs lived in the United States and the Pet Food Institute estimated there were “57.6 million” dogs averaging at least one dog to every U.S. household at that time. According to Lindsay, the number of dog bites ranged from “2 to 5 million” annually, with many by family dogs going unreported. The estimate for children bitten is “1.5 times” more likely than adults and “over 3 times” more likely needing medical attention. Estimates in 1999 compiled from the Insurance Information Institute, estimated dog bites costing the American public approximately “1 billion dollars in losses” with claims totaling “$250 million” and according to State Farm the average payout is $12.000 per bite (Lindsay, 2001).
Vital statistics regarding dog bites and children
- Children more commonly associated with dogs in homes
- Majority of dog bites are directed toward children ranging in age between 5 and 14 years
- Boys are bitten nearly twice as often as girls (Harris et al., 1974)
- Boys receive the majority of severe bites (60 – 78%) (Wright, 1991)
- The most significant difference between sexual differentiation involved boys between the age of 1-4 y.o. with 64.2% (Sacks and coworkers 1989) with the possible explanation that boys spend more time with family dogs than girls
- A large statistical study done in 1928 (Lehman) revealed boys spent more time with the family dog, but the amount of time steadily declined as they matured
- Another suggested cause is boy’s tend to engage in more risk taking behavior than girls (Ginsburg and Miller, 1982)
- Most bites occur during summer months and on weekends…most frequently occurring between 1:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m….peaking around 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
- Statistics show more dog bites occurred during the months of March and May…between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
- Fatal attacks occurred more often during winter months…stray dog attacks occurred more often in the fall…least often during the summer
- Majority of dog bites are directed toward the face and head…children under 4 years being bitten 63% in the face, neck and head
- Children between the ages of 5-9 are more likely bitten on the extremities or torso 84% and face and neck 18.5%
- 87.5% of the dogs involved in dog bite reports are owned…and 10.5% directed toward family members…these numbers are probably not representative of the actual numbers
Emotional trauma
According to studies, one’s experience being bitten by a dog at an early age cannot be corroborated with the development of “cynophobia or fear of dogs” (Lindsay, 2001). The amount of previous contact with dogs may be one of the most compelling factors determining one’s susceptibility to acquiring this fear response. Researchers suggest “…prior ‘noneventful’ exposure to dogs may impede the development of phobic reactions in response to dog bites and other sources of fear” suggesting that “information transmission may be more important in engendering fear of dogs than studies of adults” indicate (Lindsay, 2001).
Fatal attack statistics – Children and Elderly
- The majority of fatal dog attacks are directed to older children…especially boys and are rare in comparison to toddlers and infants
- According to Voith (1984)…majority of fatal or serious attacks are instigated by “aberrant predatory motivations” and not sibling rivalry or other commonly cited motivations (i.e. jealousy)
- Most attacks are delivered by dogs known to the victims family or neighbor
- Most of the dogs lacked any prior history of aggressive behavior and known provocation by the victim (Pinckney and Kennedy, 1982)
- Fatal dog attacks on infants are rare and should be emphasized
- Children at greatest risk are between the ages of 1-4 year old
- The elderly represent another group at high risk, with 18% of fatal dogs attacks directed toward adults over 70 years of age
- 77% of fatal attacks occur on the dogs owner’s property…18% restrained…59% unrestrained
- The death rate has remained relatively constant over the past 16 years and approximately 15-18 fatal attacks in the U.S. each year
In 1999 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reported “1196 children were killed in the United States” because of maltreatment during 1997…another government, report estimating the number closer to 2000 children (Lindsay, 2001). Using these numbers 75% of the abusers were parents and 10% relatives of the children. Additionally, over 1 million children sustain abuse and neglect yearly and according to the USDHHS, children 3 years and under “…accounted for 77% of the reported fatalities” (Lindsay, 2001).
Statistical comparisons
- Sacks and Colleagues (1996b) during the 5 years between 1989 and 1994…reported 45 children (0-4 years of age) were killed by dogs
- 4605 children (3 years and under) were killed during a similar period by humans
- Approximately 9 children each year using the same statistics are fatally attacked by dogs
- Based on these numbers it would take dogs “over 100 years to kill as many children” as parents, relatives and guardians annually
According to Lindsay, the media can be blamed for exploiting serious dog bites and fatalities, which in turn has lead to demands for breed bans and other associated legislation. I tend to agree and think the answer lies in better education of the public concerning the seriousness of dog bites and impose legislation requiring stiffer penalties for owners who are complicit in respect to their dog’s aggressive behavior, including lack of proper management and control necessary to protect the public and their own family members. Additionally, owners should be educated about the importance of socialization, selecting appropriate breeders looking out for the public’s interest, early training, and using behavior intervention when undesirable behavior first appears. In addition, parents should be more concerned about teaching children the proper way to interact with dogs and be vigilant in how to control their children around dogs.
Child Abuse and Neglect
This subject may surface during the course of one’s behavior consulting and training career and deserves mentioning. According to Lindsay, “[c]hildren exhibiting abusive behavior toward the family dog should be referred to a child psychologist for evaluation (Ascione et al., 2000). Such activity may presage the development of more serious sadistic and violent behavior later in life. Many violent offenders abused animals as children. In addition, animal-abusive children may themselves be the victims of similar abuse in the home. There are reports (Ascione et al., 2000) of findings by others indicating that pet abuse and neglect frequently present together. In one study mentioned, children exposed to sexual abuse were significantly more likely to abuse animals (27-35%) than nonabused counterparts (5%). Unfortunately, research is still lacking, but anecdotal reports and psychological case studies point to a significant relationship between child abuse and animal abuse” (Lindsay, 2001).
Preventing problems between children and dogs
I have demonstrated the majority of dog bites are directed toward children; now I intend on focusing on how to prevent children from becoming a victim of their family dog.
Children need to learn how to interact, play and handle the family dog. One should not expect this to come naturally; therefore, parents should take an active role in demonstrating appropriate and inappropriate care and handling of the family dog. Supervision should be mandatory with all children under the age of 6 to 7. There may be exceptions depending on the maturity of an individual child and an owner’s willingness to supervise and compliance from the child.
The willingness to engage in playful interaction may be dependent on the dog as well as child, parents should act appropriately to their dogs communication attempts and understand what canine social signals may mean. This effective strategy will prevent miscommunication that often leads to inappropriate escalation of unacceptable behavior. It is the duty of all parents to set appropriate examples in handling, playing and training the family dog.
Training is as an important aspect for teaching your family dog social skills they will need for the remainder of their lives. Children can be an important part of this process. The basic social boundaries according to Lindsay, are “…no jump, bite, chase, bolt, or pull” and once these boundaries are established young children can reinforce the family dog’s cooperative behavior using games, treats and affection. Training the family dog provides foundation skills which lead to “enhanced communication, cooperation, compliance, and compromise” according to Lindsay. Children themselves can benefit from taking an active role in the family dogs training (Lindsay, 2001).
According to Lindsay, Levinson (1980) says, “many subtle psychological benefits may be obtained by allowing children to participate in training activities” which contribute to becoming a “self directing human being.”
- Acquiring autonomy by taking over control of one’s behavior
- Developing self-disciplining and impulse control
- Developing delayed gratification
- Patience
- Assists in developing responsibility
- Recognizing and deferring to others needs
- Acquires the ability to transfer these skills to the family dog, in turn the dog learns these same skills
- Reinforces self control if he’s successful in training attempts
- Through trial and error the child learns to control frustration when success is slow
- Through bitter experience the child learns scolding and punishment only impedes the pets ability to learn
- Child may become more tolerant and more understanding of his own limitations
Having a family dog may even provide a “living being” giving the child an opportunity to “explore and test” his affectionate and caring treatment (Lindsay, 2001). An important consideration means understanding dogs do not necessarily enjoy hugging and may consider this behavior threatening. Here an understanding of canine social acceptances is paramount. Caution exercised with children when dogs are engaged in activities such as feeding or during resting periods will be helpful in preventing bites. Screaming and running should be avoided and owners should provide a safe resting place for the family dog to escape those hectic household moments one may not be able to avoid.
Parents should discourage children and dogs from engaging in “…provocative play like roughhousing, chase-and-evade…and inappropriate tug-of-war games” (Lindsay, 2001). Improper play activities consisting of “excessive teasing” and agitated play may increase “…the development of adjustment problems…competitive excesses and hyperactivity” in the family dog (Lindsay, 2001). Parents should discourage allowing children to constantly tease, scream and run wildly around the house. These activities may be unsettling to even the calmest dog, this type of behavior can negatively lower a dogs “…threshold for aggression” (Lindsay, 2001). Parents should take the time to teach children how this type of behavior can adversely affect the family dog and how in turn it may affect them. Teaching children appropriate and acceptable games, handling and proper care will go along way in protecting them and the family dog.
References
Lindsay, Steven R. Handbook of applied dog behavior and training. 2 Vols.
Iowa: Iowa SP. 2000. Vol. 1.
Wright, JC. Canine Aggression: Dog Bites To People
Reading in Companion Animal Behavior
Responsible Dog & Cat
Training and Behavior Solutions
Joyce D. Kesling, CDBC
Sarasota, Florida 34277
http://responsibledog.wordpress.com/
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi 1869 – 1948
Copyright Responsible Dog & Cat 2005 – 2009
Defining a dog behavior problem
Rescue Dog - Digby
Typically, there are several ways to approach and define a problem dog behavior. First, a behavior consultant should have a clear understanding of what normal behavior patterns are for any particular species and that normal behavior may be expressed inappropriately depending on the environment. Second, the behavior consultant should consider a clients “…cultural and personal preferences and normative judgments” since they may impact the client’s “attitudes and expectations, scientific understanding, societal mores [customs] about animal behavior, and costs…associated with the dog’s behavior” (Lindsay, 2001).
What is the purpose of the dog ethogram?
An ethogram provides a compilation of a species normal functional systems and behavior patterns. The dog ethogram compiled by Lindsay (2001) provides “…an abbreviated catalog of significant functional systems and species-typical behavior patterns” and can be useful to the canine behavior consultant when assessing a dogs behavior problem. Additionally, one should consider the cause of the behavior (etiology), the descriptive features of the behavior and function the behavior may serve the animal. Understanding the precipitating stimuli (antecedents) and significance (consequence) the behavior may serve the animal may all be necessary in determining a plan for intervention.
How does the behavior consultant define a dog behavior problem?
The behavior consultant should consider any behavior in opposition to client’s expectations as a problem behavior. However, this conclusion is subjective, what an individual client may consider objectionable or even abnormal may in fact be quite normal for dogs.
The knowledgeable behavior consultant will be able to sort out the many behavior problems that may be as insignificant as nuisance behavior i.e. barking, jumping, chewing and digging along with more serious behavior problems such as aggression and compulsive disorders.
Often the behavior problem is solved simply by educating the client concerning normal dog behavior that seems to conflict with their own personal misconception. Occasionally there are clients who may defend inappropriate behavior; this requires the behavior consultant to instruct through education so an effective understanding can be reached along with taking into consideration how the behavior may influence the human-dog relationship specifically in cases of aggression.
The purpose of the behavior consultant is to educate clients concerning normal dog behavior, therefore changing any unfounded expectations to be more in line with normal dog behavior, along with providing any training that may be helpful to resolving the conflict. This type of approach ensures both client and dog that both parties are being considered enabling the human-dog bond to remain in tact.
A word about labeling…
“To label me is to negate me” (Kierkegaard). Lindsay (2001) uses this phrase to highlight what may create more problem than will be resolved when trying to help dog owners’ deal with problem behavior. Not only might the label be incorrect in identifying the problem behavior leading to ineffective treatment, but also labeling carries with it “stigma[s] or connotations” that may be counter-productive to any training plan.
Additionally, Lindsay (2001) cautions “naming and classifying behavior problems as diagnostic entities” may give undue credit to our understanding and ability to accurately diagnose problem behavior, because “…many behavior problems remain to be elucidated [and]…most of the behavioral protocols commonly used to treat them have not been scientifically tested or validated.”
There could be included many underlying reasons for the development of a behavior problem including, biological and physiological factors, dysfunctional social and environmental influences, deprivation and trauma, inappropriate play and inadvertent reinforcement.
The family’s role
“A dog’s role” according to Levinson (1969/1997) ‘will depend upon the family’s structure, its emotional undercurrents, the emotional and physical strengths and weaknesses of each of its members, and the family’s social climate’ (Lindsay, 2001).
In most instances, dogs are given adequate care and attention but in cases of serious behavior problems conflicts may compete overshadowing the positive aspects of dog ownership (Lindsay, 2001).
There are many family situations that may affect the welfare of the family dog, often in dysfunctional families the dog may serve as a scapegoat a way for members to shame one another and in some cases the behavior problem may bring “stability and cooperation” to what may otherwise be a dysfunctional environment. However, most cases involve well functioning families that generally take interest in solving problems.
The effect of relationship and bond
The relationship and bond created between owner and dog offers the behavior consultant important information in resolving behavior conflicts. According to Serpell (1996), “the owner’s degree of attachment for a dog has a direct bearing on how satisfied or dissatisfied the person will be with the dog’s behavior.” The family that has established “strong attachment and affection” toward the dog will be more “tolerant” of its behavior (Lindsay, 2001).
How do owners contribute to the dog’s behavior?
Most often behavior problems occur from improper application of rewards and punishments having negative effects on how the dog learns. There may also be cases of substance abuse that creates inconsistent interaction resulting in disorganized influences on resultant behavior. Similar to the effects of attachment an owner’s attitude and mental state may equally influence the dog’s emotional state. Lindsay (2001) reports a psychiatrist (Speck, 1965) as having observed a “direct relationship between severe mental illness and a contagion effect on animals living in the same household.”
Lindsay (2001) concedes, these “presumably strong social influences” are not widely confirmed by dog behavior consultants or other practitioners. However, he notes, “most counselors and trainers” agree that owner attitude and mental state would exert some influence over dogs’ behavior. How much is unknown but according to O’Farrell (1985), “anecdotal evidence” demonstrates a connection between owner personality and dog behavior and empirical evidence suggests a basis for speculation does exist between owner attitudes, personality, and dog behavior and this association can create a “causal” relationship. In addition, O’Farrell (1995) says, “owners suffering from mental disturbances tend to project undesirable qualities and traits onto their dogs more frequently” and “neurotic individuals” seem to report more behavior problems. Even though these conclusions were not supported by a subsequent study (Beaver, 1982) “owner anxiety levels do appear to affect how troubling or disturbing” fearful behavior may be viewed by owners (Lindsay, 2001 & Serpell, 1995).
A study by Dodman (1996) concluded “effects of owner personality traits” in relation to the expression of dominance aggression did not confirm any “personality-type differences” but did reveal “thinking-type owners” versus “feeling type owners” stood a 50% or better chance at improvement when implementing a non-confrontational treatment program (Lindsay, 2001).
Triangular Effects
According to Papero (1990), “…triangular relations develop in situations where a third party is incorporated into a dyad relationship to deflect intense emotional states and to secure stability” (Lindsay, 2001).
In situations of triangulation, the dog may serve an alternative for affection, anxiety and anger and often mediating relationships between family members. In some instances, the dog may serve as “peacemaker, tension-breaker, or scapegoat [providing]…enhanced attachment and affiliation” for some members of the family and at the same time acting to reduce “measures of affiliation” for others.
Owner attitudes and resolute styles
The influential effects derived from differing owner styles for problem solving can influence how they view potential successes versus failures when faced with dog behavior problems. Confident owners who perceive control over significant events will undoubtedly be more receptive in accepting responsibility in changing perceived dog behavior problems. Where as less confident owners may feel resolving the problem is out of their reach or influence and quickly resign themselves to a defeatist position.
It should also be noted the “extent and duration” of the behavior problem coupled with this sense of helplessness or frustration can be correlated with these owner attitudes and resolute styles.
Negative or pessimistic owner attitudes
The fallout from these negative and pessimistic outlooks can have inadvertent effects on a dog’s behavior. These owners could be described as enablers or facilitators, with enablers being the most difficult to counsel. Enablers are usually “unconscious or unaware” the role they play in their dogs behavior and are usually permissive lacking any “healthy assertive skills” and quite often “defensive” about their dogs behavior feeling it may reflect some “personal shortcoming or failing.” The most remarkable attributes might include “denial, victimization, and helplessness” (Lindsay, 2001).
Owner sabotage
Many times behavior consultants are called in when it seems to be the last hope for saving the relationship between dog and owner and in many of these cases, the owner may appear quite “frustrated” for not attending to the behavior problem sooner. However, in other instances, the problem behavior may actually serve a “dysfunctional purpose” such as in triangulations, substance abuse and mental illness. However, in most cases according to Lindsay (2001) the problem is related to “enabling and denial” and may include convoluted views of dogs and their relationship and rather than give up this misguided view these owners often “give up the dog.”
Procrastination (futurizing)
Procrastination is normal for many of us, especially in situations that provide little reinforcement. However, this kind of attitude can have averse effects on the human-dog relationship especially in cases where early training is negated either because owners think the dog will be fine without training or that puppies will grow out of the normal puppy mischief that so many of us experience. This type of attitude may not only create more problems but also make the initial problem worse coupled with creating deleterious affects on the human-dog relationship.
Psychiatric and substance abuse
One of the more sensitive areas of client classification might be associated with psychiatric concerns or substance abuse and Lindsay (2001) suggests in these cases the most appropriate course of action is to “consult with professionals familiar with such matters.”
How can the behavior consultant help?
In matters of behavior, dog owners should seek out only those consultants qualified through appropriate education and training. Animal behavior problems can be complicated along with recognizing the unique characteristics of each individual animal and family.
The skilled behavior consultant will embrace not only scientific knowledge but will have sufficient education in dog behavior consulting as exemplified by cynopraxic modalities. The cynopraxic trainer-consultant will not only acknowledge the necessity of play, esthetic appreciation, emotional empathy, compassion and ethical restraint but will characterize qualities that mediate connectedness, facilitate the bonding process, support behavioral healing, composure, sincerity of purpose, presence and a certain amount of playfulness (Lindsay, 2001).
In conclusion, “the ability to train dogs is an art that depends on a trainer’s ability to play and a dog’s ability to play in turn…where there is no play, there is no relationship or meaning.” Play facilitates “portals of affection and trust” and “humane dog training is playing with a purpose” and as “Heine Hediger (1955/1968) said, ‘Good training is disciplined play’ Lindsay (2001).
References
Lindsay, Steven R. Handbook of applied dog behavior and training. 2 Vols.
Iowa: Iowa SP. 2001. Vol. 2.
Serpell, James, ed. The domestic dog: its evolution, behavior, and interaction with people.
Cambridge: Cambridge UP. 1995.
Responsible Dog and Cat
Training and Behavior Solutions
Combining Art and Science for Training Animals
Joyce D. Kesling, CDBC
P.O. Box 15992
Sarasota, Florida 34277
http://responsibledog.wordpress.com/
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi 1869 – 1948
Copyright Responsible Dog & Cat 2009
Dog Training Demonstration by Joyce Kesling, CDBC
Responsible Dog Training and Behaviorist
Dog Training by Certified Dog Behaviorist Joyce Kesling, CDBC
Using internal drives and motivation when training dogs
The following two youtube videos demonstrate dog training using toys as rewards. When training dogs, I like to think about what dogs do naturally, some more than others. Dogs expressing parts of the prey drive not intended would be considered faults. Border collies for example don’t naturally express “eye” they need the right environment to express that characteristic. Without it, they probably wouldn’t make a good working and/or herding dog.
In the first video, Boudicca is demonstrating learned behavior take and give (release). Training this behavior should be included in all puppy training. Rules are essential to maintain training new behavior during the acquisition phase, but also for maintaining already trained behaviors. Note, how I emphasize my cues, hand signals and body language. When we lack this type of consistency we can expect inconsistent behavior from our dogs.
However, this is not the same quality of precision one attempts to achieve in show obedience trials, however providing clear cues for behavior is essential, otherwise even pet/companion dogs may become anxious and frustrated. Make sure you watch for my mistakes, if I make any ;-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik_9vaeq-MY
In this second video, Boudicca is demonstrating how we can train dogs using parts of their natural prey drive using an internal reinforcer, rather than external. This would be especially helpful for some dogs who might naturally express that behavior given the right environment.
In the previous video, I used a variety of objects to generalize the behavior. In this second video I get her started with my goal behavior, catch. I then add the distraction, dropping a ball at my side, she should stay focused on me not the other object. I pre-selected a soft bone shaped toy to use as the throwing object, this helps her catch a large object and express the kill bite part of the prey drive.
The purpose for training this type of behavior not only teaches bite inhibition further but includes impulse control and cooperation. When dogs willingly trust us to release objects, from their jaws and teeth and willingly retrieve objects to us, demonstrates very desirable manners and skills every owner should want for their dog.
Note, how I continually use toys as rewards rather than food treats. I use food treats to get a desirable behavior but move away from them to life rewards, especially play behaviors sooner than later! When you consider internal and external motivation and drives, I’ve found incorporating rewards in training that stimulate internal motivations rather than relying on external motivators might be necessary for some breeds. Teaching dogs to rely on food treats for good behavior can be compared to how we sometimes use food to satisfy unmet needs that could lead to eating disorders.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RAQqSv_VWU
Responsible Dog and Cat
Training and Behavior Solutions
Combining Art and Science for Training Animals
Joyce D. Kesling, CDBC
P.O. Box 15992
Sarasota, Florida 34277
941-966-1188
http://responsibledog.wordpress.com/
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi 1869 – 1948
Responsible Dog & Cat 2009
Vaccinations, dog boarding, and pet sitting, what’s wrong with this picture?
Dogs having fun!
Joyce Kesling, CDBC
September 15, 2009
Vaccinations, dog boarding, and pet sitting, what’s wrong with this picture?
http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/2009/09/over-vaccination-is-bad-medicine.html
The above blog is worth reading, especially if you are concerned and/or need additional information concerning vaccination requirements for your pet. In many instances, boarding facilities arbitrarily require yearly vaccinations; however, this may be contrary to the real needs of your pet.
Unfortunately, this is a very sensitive subject, and not just for pet owners aware of the issue; many of us may qualify our veterinarians based on this awareness. However, many pet owners aren’t aware of the issue and perhaps blindly without question continue to vaccinate their dogs on a yearly schedule and/or do this out of need for boarding/kenneling mandates.
I discuss this issue http://www.responsibledog.net/choose_a_kennel.html and recommend based on evaluating several key pieces of literature that suggest this requirement should be made on an individual basis, not arbitrarily and routinely, as has been the past. When issues of boarding mandate your dog require specific vaccinations, you should consult with your veterinarian for advice. However, at the same time, you should be armed with knowledge that enables you to discuss the matter openly so that you and your veterinarian make the best decision for your individual pet/s.
Additional concerns might include when boarding includes socialization/play time. You should want qualified staff actually educated in dog training and/or behavior overseeing the facility; in addition, you want to know how well supervision is provided. Another issue of importance often ignored is cleaning up pet waste and why, this is covered in my paper referenced above. Finally, one should evaluate the mental and physical needs of one’s dog. This means understanding stress and exercise constraints. Stress in dogs has been studied and analyzed and applies to boarding situations, here is an excerpt from the paper cited earlier.
Is stress a consideration during boarding?
“Stress occurs when any demand is placed upon a dog that requires the dog to change or adjust” (Lindsay, 2000). For stress to occur events or situations do not have to be unpleasant, but rather any biological or psychological demand placed on an animal is capable of producing stress. There are certain amounts of healthy stress all animals are capable of adapting to, however chronic stress may lead to stress-related conditions. This is an important consideration when making your decision on how, where and under what conditions you will board your animals.
Stress-related hormonal changes occur during separation in a number of species. Tuber and colleagues (1996) studied dogs and found a “differential glucocorticoid (cortisol and corticosterone) response” occurs during five conditions of separation.
1. Alone in a novel environment
2. With a conspecific (another dog) in a novel environment
3. Alone in a familiar environment
4. With a human in a novel environment
5. With a conspecific (another dog) in a familiar environment.
The results of their study showed dogs left alone in novel environments had the highest level of cortisol output with the lowest level occurring in home kennels with a familiar conspecific. However, dogs tested in novel environments with a human companion had significantly lower cortisol levels when compared to dogs kept in the novel environment with a conspecific. These results lend support when considering your decision concerning your dog’s welfare when kenneling and in-home boarding versus pet sitting.
What exactly does my dog prefer?
According to these studies, dogs prefer the company of humans even in novel (unfamiliar) environments when compared to dogs left at home even with a familiar dog! What this means, is you may need to consider your dogs stress levels when using a pet sitter who only drops by on occasion compared to a kennel alternative that not only meets your dogs need for dog socialization but also benefits from more human contact.
I recently wrote Pet Sitting Personal Attention or Madame Running Prostitution Business! after hearing a terrible story about a dog left in the care of a pet sitter. I had no idea dog owners were actually leaving dogs alone at home for 24-hour periods while paying a per visit charge, usually only 30 minutes. It was always my understanding pet sitting provided working owners a service by providing walks for midday exercise and/or opportunities to potty and especially for owners raising new puppies. It was my further understanding that pet sitting actually meant the pet sitter was actually staying at the owners home, what I require if it’s necessary for me to be out of town. It seems the business has morphed into what it is today, a drive by business coupled with employees, supposedly screened and in most instances little to no education in dog training and/or behavior.
This can create a serious welfare issue for dogs, leaving dogs locked up in kennels all day and night (to prevent destructive behavior) and/or leaving them loose seems neglectful considering individual dog needs (Tuber et al, 2006). Returning to the issue of vaccinations, if this is one of the reasons for deciding on this type of service, one might want to rethink that decision, there are those of us that fully recognize your needs, your pets, and concerns regarding vaccinations and still provide a safe environment for your pet.
Responsible Dog and Cat
Training and Behavior Solutions
Combining Art and Science for Training Animals
Joyce D. Kesling, CDBC
P.O. Box 15992
Sarasota, Florida 34277
941-966-1188
http://responsibledog.wordpress.com/
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi 1869 – 1948
Copyright Responsible Dog & Cat 2009
Does simply being around dogs or owning dogs indicate knowledge of dog behavior?
- Dogs!
September 4, 2009
Joyce Kesling, CDBC
What is it about owning dogs that qualifies so many individuals to think that understanding dogs and normal dog behavior means nothing more than dog ownership? The reason for the question and concern is owners seeking “advice” often contact me but they often are not receptive to going through a professional process or is it they aren’t willing to pay. In every instance, it’s necessary to determine if they need dog training or behavior advice. This indicates a lack of understanding problem solving from training dogs.
I often find many of these calls amusing; the dog owner is calling me for “advice,” but at the same time informing me they have “been around dogs all their life.” This often gives me the impression they already understand dogs well enough based on their personal experience. This often leaves one questioning why they are calling.
A call of this nature came in earlier this week; the person said she was calling for “advice.” Briefly, I asked what the problem was and allowed her to describe the problem, I asked a few critical questions to qualify the risk, and then asked if she was enrolled in a puppy class or getting any professional help with the problem. This was the first time she said, she had “been around dogs all her life.” Her tone clearly indicated she wasn’t prepared to pay for professional help. So I asked if she was calling to get free advice. She never admitted this was her intention. Instead, she repeated that she had “been around dogs all her life.” As a last resort, I suggested, “owning dogs all one’s life” doesn’t necessarily indicate understanding how to problem solve. I started to explain using my own experience, because I had thought the same thing until I began studying dogs and training…she hung up on me!
There could be a myriad of reasons to explain why dog owners seem to have this uncanny ability or perhaps they think it’s an innate quality because they’ve had successful prior experiences with pets and perhaps even other dogs. But this should be concerning to those of us who have taken the time and often at great expense to actually study dog behavior and/or learning theory as an aid to training and behavior modification.
The fact is, behavior is complex if really understood, but this general kind of misunderstanding affects companion pet welfare and quality of life issues are at stake.
In the example given here, this dog owner expected me to help her over the phone for free…not only did she expect free advice but the problem/conflict she described could be a serious problem, if not immediately, left to someone with little real knowledge it could become downright dangerous for the other pet in the home.
I feel like this is yet another example of the professional business of dog behavior being marginalized. Perhaps some of the most easily identified as cause and effect might be related to some of the following examples.
- Too much self help on the internet – recipes to train and problem solve
- Dog training and problem solving made easy by TV dog trainers while sitting on one’s couch
- Shelters, rescues, humane societies offering free telephone call in support
- Shelters, rescues, humane societies offering free downloaded “recipes” for problem solving
- Myths and anecdotal information and experience incorrectly interpreted
- Lack of knowledge and understanding about normal dog behavior
- Misunderstanding of dog-human relationships
- Unskilled dog trainers lacking sufficient knowledge in behavior
- Publics general unawareness for the importance of credentialed professionals at both levels, dog trainers and behaviorists
- Misunderstanding dogs in general
Several of the causes suggest a general lack of seriousness by owners. We think so little of the actual problem and our part in the equation, we actually marginalize the process by offering solutions to “fix the dog” via the internet and TV. In many instances, owners need counseling, offering training solutions, especially those related to the use of e-stimulation (shock collars) without a behavior consultation, including taking a history, gathering all the data and observing the pets, is equivalent to suggesting dogs and cats are simply automatons that can be fixed using general rules applicable to all situations and environments. It’s simply not that easy. If this system is working, why do we continue to see so many dogs and cats relinquished because of behavior problems?
Responsible Dog and Cat
Training and Behavior Solutions
Combining Art and Science for Training Animals
Joyce D. Kesling, CDBC
P.O. Box 15992
Sarasota, Florida 34277
941-966-1188
http://responsibledog.wordpress.com/
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi 1869 – 1948
Copyright Responsible Dog & Cat 2009
The company of dogs versus people, sometimes it’s a quandary!
- Boudicca & Russ
August 30, 2009
Joyce Kesling, CDBC
Today was an unusual Sunday, while sipping coffee daydreaming about life, a client called interrupting my thoughts; I finish, get the dogs out, fed, check email, and decide to attend a brunch with humans with little time to spare. The always-unfortunate decision, which dog would accompany me; Darwin has maintained that privilege since deciding we needed more one-on-one time training and bonding. There was little doubt this was necessary and it has paid off, but today the choice was Boudicca. Honestly, she’s more fun! Until we added Darwin, Boudicca went everywhere.
Darwin is so easy, almost too easy at times, I’d like to see him a tad bit more revved up, that’s something we’re working on. He’s not into playing, he acts like he’s just going through the motions, it’s boring and it’s not that I don’t try. So that’s why Boudicca made the call, she’s a player and I like mixing training with play. Getting her into prey drive is like a duck taking to water; using the kill bite phase to get her jacked always works. In distracting environments like Island Park where there are so many dog and other competing smells there are times when keeping her on task is challenging. But once she gets into it, she’s pretty good at concentrating.
- Boudicca kill bite to her ducky
So Darwin stayed home, he got a big phat Kong stuffed with kibble and topped off with peanut butter, nice and cool, right out of the freezer. He can’t get in a kennel fast enough.
Before making our way down to Island Park, brunch with the human friend was first on the agenda. It’s amazing but this person actually does a really good job of keeping dogs out of the conversation. We talked about the Kennedy funeral, did not watch a minute of, but it seemed we both read an article on his wife whom he married in 1992. That article provided a glimpse into their relationship crediting her for changing his life, that bit of information provided a slightly better spin on him. I was not a big Kennedy fan and I certainly have not forgotten Mary Jo Kopechne, and 1969 was an impressionable year and being a woman, not something easy to forget. But so it seems people make mistakes, sometimes very serious ones and we being a rather forgiving species like to forgive and forget…sometimes! Unfortunately, the idea of forgiving and forgetting is a very selective decision.
The current healthcare debate was our other big topic with little disagreement on some key issues, I won’t bore you with the details, I’m confident eventually our congress will make the right choice, I just hope I’m included!
As we were parting ways, I practically had to drag him over to meet Boudicca who patiently waited in her luxurious car seat in the shade, he didn’t even show any interest in petting her, he’s really not into dogs! Hard to imagine. We said good-bye and we were finally off to Island Park for fun and training.
We biked in, but skipped doing laps, it’s so freakin hot and humid, I didn’t want to completely wear her down, that is possible with a Jack Russell especially if you’ve worked on teaching impulse control and calmer behavior as opposed to being jacked up continually.
- Boudicca & Sabrina
We practiced heeling dragging a long line for safety reasons, and walked toward the fountain. It’s a beautiful fountain, with dolphin sculptures, but we like to use it for practicing vertical jumps. This time Boudicca showed some interest in the next ledge and up and into the fountain she went, seeing her surprise and little panic when she realized she was in a body of water! Luckily, I was able to gently pull the line until she got her feet up on the ledge. She recovered quickly and cooled off. I checked later to see if I could get up on the fountain ledge, I easily can, so we may be visiting the fountain more often for a swim, perhaps until someone reports us and/or the bicycle cops show up and give us a “warning.” Actually, I’ve always gotten along well with them, like any responsible person, it’s an appreciable effort seeing dogs with great owners who actually train their dogs.
This was truly a funny event, during the week; I had lunch at Marina Jacks with another human friend and was able to visually see from the restaurant over to that section of the park. I had no idea how clearly one can be seen! That day, a frequent visitor was there with his porti, he was cuing his dog up onto the fountain, and his dog was doing laps in the fountain. I was jealous, it was too funny.
After cooling off in the fountain, it was back to training, then Frisbee! I keep telling everyone, Boudicca’s developing Frisbee talent is only as good as my throw, sometimes it’s like a golf swing, pulling it to the right or pushing it off to the left, sometimes it flies high, sometimes low. We use football terminology to communicate various catching techniques, sometimes I think she’s trapped it, but without “instant replay” who can be sure, she’s not going to tell me. Then there are those times when she breaks the huddle and takes off before the Frisbee is snapped, of course she has no idea in what direction my throw is going, hell I don’t. Football players are guilty of this too; they get their signals mixed up. The receiver is supposed to go down and out to the left; instead, he heads across the middle, sometimes if your defense in on the field the receiver gets “jacked” by a big linebacker and the crowd goes wild. Sometimes she misses it because she’s not maintaining concentration, this happens when a receiver looks off the ball rather than keeping it in his sights. Sometimes blamed on hearing a defensive player coming up on them, I regress; after all, it is football season. But, this is how I see Frisbee, the throwing part reminds me of a golf swing, and the receiving part reminds me of a football receiver going out for a pass. I guess the only way to find out for sure is talk to a professional Frisbee trainer, but that’s not likely, I don’t know any and think we’re doing just fine. Boudicca becoming a national Frisbee dog is not part of my agenda, it’s fun and Boudicca seems to love it.
- Boudicca killing her ducky
So all in all, the brunch was good, the human communication consisted of topics different from dogs, but for some reason, I don’t meet (any) people around here that seem to have the same understanding or interest in dogs, making it difficult to really discuss serious training and behavior issues in person, except on very superficial levels. That seems unsatisfying to me, I’d like nothing better than being surrounded by some seriously intelligent dog people who might actually be able to teach me something. Don’t get me wrong, I have a wonderful veterinarian specializing in dog behavior to communicate with, but it’s not the same as one-on-one communication and training, just as I alluded to earlier suggesting as necessary working with Darwin.
We experience many dog days and anecdotal experiences that one could easily write about dogs, but these experiences are vividly stored inside my brain to draw from when needed, often-used helping clients. It takes more time to write some essays, but if they help change one person and help one dog because a factual piece of information was imparted rather than some myth handed down about dogs or standard recipe served up to fix behavior and/or training problems, then I will be a very happy person.
Responsible Dog and Cat
Training and Behavior Solutions
Combining Art and Science for Training Animals
Joyce D. Kesling, CDBC
P.O. Box 15992
Sarasota, Florida 34277
941-966-1188
http://responsibledog.wordpress.com/
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi 1869 – 1948
Copyright Responsible Dog & Cat 2009
Housetraining ~ Do Dogs Learn to Wait? Wait for What?
- Boudicca
August 25, 2009
Joyce Kesling, CDBC
This post is actually a sequel of sorts to Housetraining, using a signal to indicate need to eliminate. The main point is dogs have the cognitive ability using simple associative learning to learn to “hold it” given the opportunity to learn housetraining correctly. Keep in mind, since dogs, owners and environments where they live are not all the same, it may be necessary to adapt these basic ideas, to fit your personal lifestyle, rather than relying on some sort of standard procedure.
The responsibilities for housetraining a dog can be overwhelming…especially when the dog’s owner is clueless or just plain LAZY. In this case, seriously, thinking about owning a dog should be considered, it is a long-term commitment, and the responsibilities of pet ownership should be given the same consideration as having and raising children.
Considerations for owning and raising a new puppy
Occasionally calls to board recently purchased puppies are received. The new owners failed to consider upcoming vacation plans, when they need to be home housetraining! It does not happen often, but it does, and caught off guard, I forget to quote double what I charge for boarding a housetrained dog. Why, I’m going to need to devote twice as much time and energy into taking care of an untrained puppy.
This is just one of many considerations potential pet owners should consider before purchasing puppies. Consider what you and/or your families’ schedules and demands are for the next few weeks or months, before rushing into a decision that you will live with for 10-15 years; that is if the dog is provided patience and training preventing them from ending up in a shelter/rescue because you failed to train them properly!
The housetraining process has many variables, sometimes determined by breed, size, and temperament. However, your success depends on your understanding the correct process, your dogs physiological development, cognitive abilities (learning), reasoning for confinement and close supervision, but most of all, how you contribute in teaching your dog to wait for you to provide them opportunities to eliminate in the right location.
Breeders Responsibility – Before you bring your puppy home!
Puppies around 8-12 weeks, generally the time we bring them into our lives are at a critical stage in their development, both physiologically and mentally. Some of your puppies housetraining actually begins at the breeding location. This is why we encourage potential puppy purchasers to look carefully at whom and where they purchase their puppy.
Selling puppies before the age of 8 weeks is questionable; some breeders and dog experts suggest 12 weeks might be a more appropriate age to sell puppies. This could present problems because the socialization period would overlap with ongoing breeder care and responsibility; so you want to make sure the breeder you select has done some if not all of the following no matter what age your puppy is at time of purchase. This will help in housetraining, when you bring your new puppy home.
- Individual puppies should spend time in a puppy pen with an open crate. This allows the puppy to begin learning where they sleep and where they eliminate.
- Each puppy should get one-on-one time with as many humans as possible
- Puppies should be isolated in a kennel for short periods of time (nap time), to prepare them for separation
- Breeders should begin introducing puppies to desirable substrates for elimination i.e. grass, crushed shell, sand, dirt, clay, concrete, anything but what is found inside a home!
- Puppies should be fed in individual bowls eliminating competition and possibility for developing food aggression later.
The time between 6-12 weeks is essential in developing a stable emotional temperament and affective tone. This is the period most responsible for the development of social and emotional deficits. This is why it is ill advised to remove puppies from their mother and littermates prematurely and why breeder selection is more important.
We have now reached that point, you have done your homework, you have qualified and purchased your new puppy from a good breeder, you have selected the right puppy and breed for your lifestyle, and they have now entered your world. It is completely up to you and/or your family to successfully finish the job of housetraining, teaching your puppy to “learn to wait” for you to provide his/her elimination opportunities!
Physiological Considerations
A little about your dog’s physiology
According to Lindsay (2001), “numerous conditioned and unconditioned digestive reflexes are triggered as soon as a bite of food is taken into the mouth.” He says, the “internal alimentary reflexes function under the influence of classical conditioning” and external physiological conditions are controlled voluntarily through instrumental conditioning. He further suggests, through proper training and conditioning the ability to control the external muscles associated with elimination are regulated by “cortical inhibition” and “for urination to occur, the external sphincter must be voluntarily relaxed” which can be “strongly influenced by instrumental learning” and why using appropriate training methods are necessary for achieving successful house training.
The following sections demonstrate “learning to wait” is simply not a stimulus response based on a learned location and/or substrate. It is not the location and/or substrate the dog should ultimately associate with elimination.
Certainly preferred locations and substrates are part of the overall association. However, for the dog to learn effectively and reliably based on a real “need to go” versus an “adventure outside” is the association and connection with you and established cue!
If you have not read Housetraining, using a signal to indicate need to eliminate you may not fully understand the explanation and its importance to successful housetraining a new puppy and/or adult dog not reliably housetrained in the first place!
Shortly after writing that article, I read another article on housetraining that prompted me to initiate a dialogue with the author. The author suggested, the “[s]impliest [simplest] explanation is that they [dogs] are developing surface and location preferences for elimination and as dogs develop better muscle and nervous control over bladder and bowels they can choose when and where to relieve themselves.”
This next section should provide a better explanation for how dogs learn the housetraining process, based on simple associations, but include more than simply “surface and location” stimuli to cause elimination to occur.
Elimination Communication (EC)
In Housetraining, using a signal to indicate need to eliminate, I suggested housetraining dogs required the same kind of attention parents would give to potty training a child. After my dialogue with the other author, I did some research on potty training children, to my surprise, my Google search turned up articles on a fairly new child potty training concept called “natural infant hygiene” or “elimination communication.” The concept was inspired by “traditional practices of diaperless baby care” commonly used in third world countries and some natural based cultures.
The author of a recent blog posted The Evolution of Potty Training that uses his recent experience training a new puppy with his current experience using elimination communication training his child.
Elimination communication has four components, timing, signaling and body language, intuition and cueing. All four components can be applied to housetraining dogs, but given some human work requirements and schedules, time allotted away from work for puppy owners versus stay at home parenting and parental leaves certainly raising a puppy will require some adjustments.
Let’s address timing first and similarities
In potty training human babies, mothers learn when their babies need to eliminate based on feeding schedules and activity. Proper housetraining puppies require the same considerations. We learn through observation when puppies are more likely to need opportunities to eliminate. For puppies, elimination is usually necessary first thing in the morning with the last opportunity before kenneling at night. Other frequent times occur after eating and drinking, during playful activities and after napping during the day. Initially new puppies may need to go out during the night, but this subsides as the puppy’s biological clock adjusts according to their physiological development.
Puppies’ development for this process occurs more rapidly than their human counterpart that may take as long as 2-4 years depending on the individual and method used. So consider yourself lucky if your only responsibility is training a new puppy!
Signaling and body language
An interesting association made concerning human parenting and using elimination communication is those who use this process suggest they become more attune to the needs and associated signals communicated from infants, suggesting this enhances the bonding process between mother and child. To facilitate this type of training mothers must carry their infants around making these associations easier to recognize thus respond.
Training puppies requires we keep constant attention and supervision as well and watching for any signals of elimination behavior. For dogs, this often includes sniffing, circling, whining, odd facial expressions and in some instances heading toward locations where the dog eliminated in the wrong location. This should not occur if you are managing your puppy correctly!
Contrasting, child elimination communication, we suggest puppy parents use short-term confinement using kennels, exercise pens that may include an open door kennel, naps (down time) scheduled throughout the day (used for impulse control), tethering via a lead to us and/or anchoring your puppy to a heavy object but remaining in close proximity to your location. This allows us like humans parenting children to keep a watchful eye on our puppies and getting them outside before they have a chance to eliminate in the wrong location, setting them up to succeed.
Intuition
Mothers using the elimination communication suggest the “close nurturing relationship” helps them know when it is necessary to get the child to the potty location. This is simply an unconscious knowing through observation and establishing the bond between mother and child that allows mothers to notice subtle behavioral change that may indicate specific needs.
This is not at all unlike dog owners who have established close attachments and secure bonds with their dogs. However, this does mean we have to be in touch with our dogs and since dogs live in the moment, we need to learn to be equally observant of their behavior.
Cueing
Communication elimination or natural infant hygiene used around the world requires a two-way communication between mother and infant. The communication is formed using classical conditioning. Human mothers having learned to recognize signals from the infant their need to eliminate is then paired using a verbal sound or cue, generally in human culture “shhh” or “sss” is used, some parents may use different signals for urination and defecation. Other cues may also be associated with the elimination process such as holding the child in specific positions and locations. In some instances, the child may eventually learn to signal the parent using the verbal cue.
There are some key differences however between teaching communication elimination between human children and dogs. One of the most distinct differences is that dogs often learn through improper housetraining procedures and unwitting owners to use cues simply to get outside to play! I doubt human parents experience this behavior, but it happens often enough with dogs, so dog parents need to be savvy enough to out think their dogs behavior. This is where rewards, consequences, and confinement help establish successful housetraining for dog owners.
Finally, the ability to “hold it”
Just like human children, dogs also go through stages of physical development that increases one’s ability to control their bodily functions. This development occurs much faster in dogs and explained previously in “physiological considerations.” The same occurs with human children who learn the “ability to retain” but at a human infant’s developmental pace and growing consequence of their awareness.
Dogs possess the cognitive ability to associate and learn to control their sphincter muscles through similar conditioning as human children learning when/where access for elimination is available and by conditioning an associative cue to the process.
Potential problems and why I don’t recommend using doggie doors!
Housetraining issues are common and second common reason dogs end up in shelters aggressive behavior is number one! Often the client is using doggie doors! Do you really think after all this discussion, puppies still know to take themselves outside to eliminate, and that only outdoors is the acceptable potty location, without your help and guidance in the beginning?
Do you understand now how parents successfully use the same strategy to train infant children? Dogs need your help just as much as human children require parents to be there, observing their signals, body language, and teaching cues associated with elimination, how is your puppy going to learn if you’re sitting on the couch learning how to train your puppy from the “dog whisperer” while assuming they understand what a doggie door means!
A couple of facts
- Female dogs are just as capable of marking as males; an earlier issue of Journal Veterinary Behavior suggested this behavior does exist. Thus, owners must be aware of their dog’s elimination habits through close observation; this means YOU need to be present!
- When owners use doggie doors before their puppies elimination behavior is reliably trained, dogs may run in/out for all kinds of reasons, responding to noises, playing, perhaps even following you out there, but this doesn’t mean your dog understands without your guidance what she/he is supposed to do there! Lack of supervision and being present when your dog eliminates can explain why so many owners using doggie doors end up with dogs that never reliably learned where the proper potty areas are located.
My experience
Being a professional dog trainer, certified in dog behavior, I can reliably say that in all the years before becoming a professional in this industry, I never relied on dog doors to provide access for elimination purposes. My dogs were always taken out on lead. I think it is important dogs are supervised and their elimination behavior observed. The only other option provided for my dogs is a securely fenced yard and still under my supervision.
Sources:
http://www.responsibledog.net/house_training.html
Housetraining, using a signal to indicate need to eliminate
http://scienceblogs.com/primatediaries/2009/08/the_evolution_of_potty_trainin.php
http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/5-diap/42-natural-infant-hygiene.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/11/opinion/11small.html
http://www.parentingscience.com/infant-toilet-training.html
http://www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Elimination-communication
Responsible Dog & Cat
Training and Behavior Solutions
Combining Art and Science for Training Animals
Joyce D. Kesling, CDBC
P.O. Box 15992
Sarasota, Florida 34277
941-966-1188
http://responsibledog.wordpress.com/
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi 1869 – 1948
Copyright Responsible Dog & Cat 2009
ASPCA Responds to Michael Vick Interview on 60 Minutes
ASPCA Responds to Michael Vick Interview on 60 Minutes
NEW YORK, Aug. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Ed Sayres, President and CEO of The ASPCA(R) (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(R)) issued the following statement regarding Michael Vick’s interview with 60 Minutes:
After careful consideration, we have decided to speak out now about Michael Vick because of the special circumstances involving the ASPCA. Several months ago, Mr. Vick’s PR representatives approached the ASPCA to help educate America about the heinous act of dog fighting following his release from prison. We were the first animal welfare organization given the opportunity to work with Mr. Vick but immediately turned him down due to the unique knowledge we had of his indescribable and barbaric acts of animal cruelty where he and his associates savagely electrocuted and beat dogs to death after they lost their brutal fights.
The ASPCA’s general consultation and our specific role in processing the forensic evidence in this case were key elements that resulted in Mr. Vick and the three other defendants all pleading guilty to felony crimes. As such, this organization and I personally have seen the acts of cruelty committed by Mr. Vick first hand — acts so heinous that the public has never laid witness to them. And now that Mr. Vick has spoken out for the first time since his release from prison, the ASPCA wants to make clear why this organization chose not to partner with him in his supposed rehabilitation efforts. We are simply not convinced that Mr. Vick has demonstrated compassion toward animals as living beings or the necessary remorse for his criminal actions against them.
60 Minutes provided a convicted criminal a national platform to selfishly focus on his own recovery when, in fact, the animals, the victims who cannot speak for themselves, should have received the attention. CBS did a grave disservice to the animal welfare community by failing to show the ugly truth of Mr. Vick’s actions and the horrors of dog fighting and animal cruelty in this country. The continued attention paid to Mr. Vick is only reinforcing that criminal behavior does not destroy fame and fortune.
The ASPCA works every day to prevent animal cruelty, in the absence of tougher, more consistent laws and lack of education and awareness. We serve as the animals’ voice, as millions of animals suffer alone and in silence because they cannot speak out against their perpetrators. When a crime against animals is committed, the ASPCA’s priorities are to build a sound case that results in successful prosecution of the perpetrators, as well as the rehabilitation of the victims. Our direct involvement in the Vick case yielded success in both areas, and in fact, we work every day to ensure perpetrators like him are behind bars.
Although Mr. Vick has served his time and is now entitled to employment, the ASPCA was strongly against him being able to immediately re-join the NFL, to play alongside highly paid elite athletes who are looked upon as our heroes and role models. Today, it is difficult to see him in the uniform of a Philadelphia Eagle because of the startling lack of judgment and moral character he has demonstrated over the past several years. It is questionable whether he will have any credibility as an educator on the dog fighting issue. The ASPCA welcomes a national conversation on animal cruelty and especially dog fighting, but questions Mr. Vick’s ability to lead it. The ASPCA will heighten its efforts to bring this national travesty to the surface through meaningful education and discussion that brings the hard, cold sickening reality of a fight into stark relief for those who might wonder why all the fuss about a dog fight. A true national discussion would focus not on one man and his crimes, but on a nation that allows dog fighting to happen every day without a national outcry. This is where the ASPCA will focus its energies in the coming months.
Mr. Vick has indeed been given another chance to play football with the Philadelphia Eagles. It is important to state that the ASPCA is extremely disappointed that owner Jeff Lurie hired him for his team before it was clear that Mr. Vick has truly developed a sense of compassion for his victims, the animals whose lives were taken by him. The ASPCA believes in second chances — in redemption — but that second chance has to be earned through contrition, conversion to the cause of animal welfare and finally, through hard work. Mr. Vick has only now begun his journey toward a second chance. It will be a long and hard road for him, and while we wish him well, we also want to remind the nation that the work of ridding the nation of dog fighting is as compelling a story as one man’s path to redemption. Let’s not forget to focus on the animals, the crimes that are still being committed every day in the United States. What are we, as a nation, going to do about that? How are we going to express our outrage long past the first time Mr. Vick takes the field in Philadelphia?
Compassion for animals is the hallmark of the ASPCA and the ultimate message that we hope is gleaned from this horrific story. While this case has garnered the national spotlight because of Mr. Vick’s notoriety, it is the end result that will matter most. Will Mr. Vick have learned something — and taken the opportunity he has been granted to impart to his legion of fans the importance of compassion toward animals? Certainly, only time will offer us an answer — but we will be watching.
About the ASPCA(R)
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA(R) (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(R)) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animal welfare. One million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501 [c] [3] not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org.
SOURCE ASPCA
http://www.aspca.org
Meeting Dog Style!
Boudicca meeting Otis & Tess
This is a sequence of digital photos taken in March 2007 during a first meeting between three dog players, Otis the Golden Doodle adult male, Tess, the female adult Vizsla AND my newest addition Boudicca! I could tell within a day or two watching her with other dogs she had no manners and potential bully!
Boudicca is barely visible, but she there!
In this next image, you can just barely see Boudicca between Otis and Tess, she’s got a good hold on his ear!
Launching herself at Otis!
Now the little bitch has really gone too far!
Tess making a move!
Otis and Tess try double teaming her!
Tess taking a closer inspection, Otis looking over!
Otis getting a sniff!
Taking her down again!
Tess looks like she's punishing her!
Boudicca appears to be giving Tess a submissive lick
Submissive grin, JRT Style!
Full anogenital display, and there's that sniffing!
Tess & Otis standing over Boudicca!
Otis appears satisfied!
They're off for another run around the yard! Maybe another tease from Boudicca!
Otis attempting a bite at Boudicca hind quarter!
Otis and Boudicca playing tug! The ultimate reward after learning lessons!
Responsible Dog & Cat
Training and Behavior Solutions
Combining Art and Science for Training Animals
Joyce D. Kesling, CDBC
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant
P.O. Box 15992
Sarasota, Florida 34277
941-966-1188 ~ 941-587-2049
http://responsibledog.wordpress.com/
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi 1869 – 1948
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Responsible Dog ~ It’s All About Dogs
Joyce Kesling, CDBC, Author
It’s all about Dogs!
It’s all about dogs is for moments when I have a fresh thought or idea about dogs, dog behavior, dog training or other thoughts concerning dogs welfare, and quality of life. I hope to pass these thoughts on to everyone who loves and keeps dogs but most of all to those who want to understand them better.
Understanding dogs from their perspective has potential for providing a much more interesting view of your relationship and bond with them.
I’ll be posting thoughts concerning dogs, sometimes using studies, sometimes using my own perspective, observation and views.
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Responsible Dog and Cat
Training and Behavior Solutions
Combining Art and Science for Training Animals
Joyce D. Kesling, CDBC
Certified Dog Behaviorist
Professional Dog Trainer
P.O. Box 15992
Sarasota, Florida 34277
941-966-1188
http://responsibledog.wordpress.com/
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