07/06/2025
The problem with "Triggers" & "Reactivity"
When we observe a dog barking and pulling forwards, and the dog does it mainly when we "see" runners, we perceive the trigger to be the runner the dog is reacting to.
"Aha!" We claim, "plan & apply conditioning methods to desensitize or counter condition to runner". Problem easily explained away. Solving it: hard work.
But what if the dog barks and pulls forwards when nothing immediate is there we the observer can diagnose as the "trigger", the "cause" for the dogs "reaction"?
We look around and "see" far in the distance some movement; "aha! A bird!" we claim, "the dog is barking because of the bird!"
In either case, we apply our perception onto the dogs behaviour to explain away him barking and pulling. We then apply training methods that inhibit some movement but encourage other movement, examine conditioned behaviour in different instances and claim that to evidence why the dog originally barked and pulled, and isn't now.
Well, IMAGINE, that the brains main function is to ANTICIPATE the effects and consequences of all physical actions & movements from its past (genetic, prepared for and learned), to provide for the needs of the body before those needs arise to efficiently engage with the niche the organism was prepared for.....
Now, ponder....
Why does my dog bark & pull?!
You likely won't like the answer.
Because it's prepared to do that!
To understand behaviour, we must understand first what niche, the animal we are observing, was prepared for. Not just the environment that animal moves in, but it's own intrinsic physical niche; that dynamic system, which ultimately gives rise to all of the animals actions, its affective being, it's "selfhood".
If we apply that, we are suddenly surprised that it may not simply be the runner, the bird or the movements we correlate their behaviour to, to be the "trigger", the "cause"; but the animals subconscious predictions of the most efficient actions in an instant situation, to test the anticipated effects & consequences from all its actions to its system, in the niche it interacts with. Either for benefitial metabollic impacts on the system, for purpose of procreation and protecting those offspring until mating age, or to protect that system from harm.
We now have a different point of view. That of a predictive & dynamic systems perspective.
We don't just learn a different view of our pet but of ourselfs- how we observe our present world around us through our past and how different experiences benefit our system to be more efficient; or deplete, depress and fail.
If you made it to this part now comes the gist of this whole "blabla" article.
We can spend a whole lot of energy, time and money to make an animal prepared for its niche to inhibit its actions and gain some new moves while you are there controlling each instant with operants, (very costly but hey live and let live, right?!)...
or
We can invest efficiently to understand what the animal is prepared for and interact in ways that suits the animal while we learn more about each other to build a tighter bond in form of predictability & understanding.
To me, why Archie (fawn dog in video) barks is rather interesting, because right here I'm part of observing his system's live calibrations of all his actions, interacting with the environment to examine his actions in this instance, and construct an experience.
He doesn't need me to help to explore, he is acting out his hypothesis, to be efficient and gain a new experience to reconsolidate memory with parts of this new experience, for efficient use next time.
I love how Atomic & Nairobi actively investigate whether our passive actions have the right effects while Archie barks.
This is live adaptation at work.
How does this help you, getting past your frustration being pulled along behind a barking, lounging dog?
Well, even if you choose plan a, to be the controller of your dogs instances with operants, you still have to understand what your dog is prepared for.
Walking or running nicely next to you on a short line isn't what he was prepared for. He can do it but he wasn't prepared for it.
You can put that head halter on him so you can follow your goals of having that nicely walking dog, and he will, because doing so is relieving all negative pressures of pulling forward from wearing such tools, but it will also create other negative changes in his musculoskeletal system, ready to arise in other behaviours you may not like or end up spending money on to address physical discomfort and or pain.
We have to understand, as much as dogs are bonding with us humans in ways other animals don't, they are not little humans, with little human brains. They are their own species, prepared to interact in their specific niche which, yes, is rich with human life.
They adapt behaviour to us that suits them well- if it doesn't suit they will behave in ways that is uncomfortable to us. Not because they are naughty or bad, but because "WE" don't understand who they are at that moment.
Give him some agency. Change some of your walks or runs to exploritary walks, in spaces which allow him zigzagging and tracking movements (includes scent). Take him to a place where he can safely run, or track with you, find a family member hiding for you, or herd some family members, or where he can blissfully jump into water or roll in sand or soft cooling grass etc.
Soon you will notice changes, not just in your dog but yourself.
Ultimately, understanding your dog "from the inside out" is the gist of Neuropark.
It's not about Enrichment, sensory integration, free work!
It's about letting the dog examine his subconscious anticipated effects and outcomes of his actions, influenced by his past to gain new experiences which reconsolidate into amended memories (amended past events) for the benefit of system efficiency (allostasis).
That is why Neuroparks' can work wonders.
Written by Bono f Beeler BCCSDip.Can.Bhv.Prac. for CCanine Neuropark®©
