Veterinary Behavior Specialists

01/27/2024

That shock collar or lead correction may stop your dog barking and lunging but is the dog cured? Can aversive training be that magical?

Well, externally these methods can look remarkable to the untrained eye but how could physically hurting your dog really cure a behaviour that is often driven by fear or anxiety?

Physically punishing a dog only stops the behaviour in the moment, it doesn't address the emotions that are driving the behaviour. If a dog is terrified of other dogs, does choking them magically make those feelings disappear? How could it? Stopping the behaviour doesn't equate to changing how the dog feels. In reality, this training approach is behaviour suppression, not behaviour modification.

To understand behaviour suppression, imagine you have someone coming over to your home. You really need to tidy up, so you have two choices. You can either put the time in and actually sort through the clutter, organise your stuff and clean, or you can grab everything in sight and shove it into cupboards and hope your guest doesn't notice the difference.

The result may appear the same to those that don't know what to look for, but the more you cram into each cupboard, the more pressure there is on the doors. Eventually those doors burst open and the house is more untidy than it was when you started. Now your guest can see that you didn't really clean.

This is exactly what happens with behaviour suppression. Using corrections and aversives is a quick fix that removes unwanted behaviour from the naked eye, whilst pushing the dogs emotions down beneath the surface. The more the emotions are suppressed, the closer the dog gets to breaking point and when they finally do break, the fallout is so much worse.

Therefore, we can't successfully and ethically change a dog's behaviour without addressing the emotions that are driving them. True behaviour modification takes time and patience, but what is the result?

Long term positive change to the dog's emotional responses, behaviour and welfare, which should always be the goal of dog training. - Holly Leake

Please feel free to like and share, but please don't copy and paste the writing or screenshot or edit the graphic in any way. Thank you. ©

01/20/2024

Selecting a competent dog trainer requires research. Your dog is worth the effort to find a qualified, competent trainer.

It's hard as a consumer to find a qualified, competent behavior consultant or trainer. It's buyer beware, because we are an unregulated industry so there's no real standards or even minimum qualifications to look for. My post this week gives some insight on what some of the credentials mean and what to look for, but here are some additional things to look for or do when you're vetting someone you're considering hiring.

More info on my post this week, in case you missed it!

https://rescuedbytraining.com/2024/01/15/dog-profession-titles/

01/15/2024

Why punishment “works” Thanks https://www.facebook.com/rplusdogsbehaviour/

12/19/2023

Be especially aware of dog:child interactions this holiday season.
There is so much chaos in the home with extra guests and activities that often dogs and children are at their maximum overload. Let's get through the holidays safely.

https://www.thinkdog.nz/post/10-tips-to-keep-children-safe-around-dogs?fbclid=IwAR0XUvzp_lo9e6VZPvEVg_Xcf1pyeZp6BBiPWPzvNKeymorv3CiUfreiYeY

No matter how well trained or 'good' you genuinely think your dog is, don't risk it. They are dogs. And dogs have their off days too.

11/18/2023

Exactly!

EMOTIONS MATTER!
Dog’s emotions really do matter, far more than we may realise.

Emotions matter because emotional states drive behaviour.

Think about how our emotions have a direct affect on our behaviour – we may lash out at others because of the emotions of fear, anger or frustration. Be irritable if we are tired or in pain. Struggle to focus or learn something new if we are stressed or anxious, shut down or over react if we feel insecure or unsafe ….

When a dog’s emotional needs and well-being are not supported and not addressed, behaviour problems are often seen.

Unwanted behaviour shouldn’t be looked at independently or as a specific problem that needs to be fixed.

When needs are met, when emotions are recognised, when body language is understood and listened to, a dog’s emotional state will change, which will in turn bring about positive changes in behaviour.

These are the foundations on which behaviour change is built.

11/08/2023

Dogs behave the way they do for many reasons. They do NOT do things deliberately to be stubborn or ‘naughty’, nor do they aim to assert control. Outdated mythologies and training methods have detrimental effects on well-being and strain the relationship between a dog and their caregiver.

🧬A dog's breed and genetic makeup can play a significant role in determining certain behavioural traits. Dogs have genetic predispositions and breed-specific tendencies that contribute to their behaviour.
Some breeds are predisposed to specific behaviours, such as herding, hunting, or guarding.

The environment in which a dog is raised and lives can profoundly impact their behaviour. Early socialisation, which involves exposing a puppy to a wide range of people, animals, and environments during their critical developmental period, is crucial for building confidence and shaping a dog's social behaviour to reduce fear or aggression.

Overstimulation can cause all kinds of unwanted behaviours as it overwhelms their senses and can lead to hyperactivity or erratic responses. For example, if a dog is exposed to loud noises, multiple people, and various stimuli all at once, or on a daily basis, they might exhibit excessive excitable behaviour, poor impulse control, become agitated and exhibit behaviours like jumping, barking, or pulling on the leash, as their senses are overwhelmed by the excessive input.

Previous experiences and learning consequences can influence a dog's behaviour. Traumatic experiences, in particular, can lead to fear, anxiety, or aggression.

How a dog is trained and educated by their caregiver or handler can significantly affect their behaviour. Consistent, positive reinforcement-based training can lead to desired behaviours, while harsh or inconsistent methods can result in confusion or fear.

A dog's health, including their physical and mental well-being, can influence their behaviour. Illness, pain, or discomfort can lead to changes in behaviour.

A dog's emotional state, including fear, anxiety, and excitement, can affect their behaviour. For example, a fearful dog may display unpredictable defensive reactive behaviours or might avoid any encounters and run away trying to hide. While a confident dog may exhibit playfulness and a relaxed demeanour.

A dog can become frustrated and destructive if their mental and physical needs are not met. This dog, full of pent-up energy and boredom, may become frustrated and exhibit poor impulse control. In their frustration, they might resort to destructive behaviours, such as chewing furniture, digging up the garden, or incessant barking. This destructive behaviour is often an expression of their frustration and an attempt to alleviate their built-up energy and mental stress.

The type of diet a dog receives can significantly influence their behaviour, with high-quality nutrition promoting better energy levels, mood, and overall well-being, while poor diet choices can lead to issues like irritability, hyperactivity, or digestive problems.

As dogs age, they may experience canine cognitive decline, which can manifest as changes in memory, learning, and behaviour. This condition can lead to increased confusion, disorientation, and altered social interactions in older dogs.

It is really important to understand that each dog is unique, and their behaviour can vary widely, even within the same breed. Dogs use body language, vocalizations, and other forms of communication to express their needs, emotions, and intentions. Understanding a dog's communication cues is essential for interpreting their behaviour.

10/01/2023

Very helpful videos

VIDEOS ON DEMAND Animal behavior and training is an exciting field with a depth of theory and behavioral science behind it. These on-demand videos provide a focused and practical look at different topics in animal behavior to give pet lovers more information in topics they are interested in. Watch t...

09/14/2023

07/21/2023

Dr. Valli Parthasarathy discusses how to identify normal vs. abnormal behaviors in dogs.
https://www.dvm360.com/view/distinguishing-normal-vs-abnormal-behaviors-in-dogs

04/19/2023

Great read about inherent risks in positive reinforcement training

https://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/punishing-yourself-with-positive-reinforcement?fbclid=IwAR2yAx0j2dncEXa51OBWBqA6aZp5ap_BSVvGQ-hc_v0T0t4nW_YByJyU_w4

Cookies! Praise! Belly Rubs! Using positive reinforcement feels so easy, and is such a great way to have a healthy and happy relationship with your dog. The research is overwhelming that training with R+ builds trust, reduces stress, and is effective at teaching new and desired behaviors. And. Yet.....

01/22/2023

Anything and everything may be filling your dog's bucket and your bucket. Think about it.

Credit for image: http://absolute-dogs.com/

Some of you may have heard me talk about the “stress bucket”. It’s an analogy I use a lot during behaviour consultations to help my clients understand what every day things might be contributing to the expression of unwanted behaviours in their pets.
It is also very relatable to people and many of us get it when we look at our own lives and behaviours and what might be filling our own buckets.

What fills your dog or cat’s bucket ?
What fills your bucket ?

Taking some time to reflect on this opens the doors for change.

01/17/2023

Manners, Cues, Management, and the Language of a Better Relationship with Dogs by Zazie Todd, PhD Click Here for original post Do you ever think about the different ways in which we talk about dogs and dog training—and the extent to which it reflects (or shapes) how we interact with dogs? Old-fash...

01/14/2023

Thanks to the generous support of volunteer translators from around the world, we are pleased to share that the behaviour modification plan for fearful cats used for a recent research project is now available in 12 languages! Please see here https://www.baileyheagan.com/resources to view and download the free behaviour modification poster in English, French, German, Japanese, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Thai, and Traditional and Simplified Chinese! If you would like to help translate this guide into your language, or have questions or suggestions, please contact Bailey.Eagan @ ubc.ca Bailey Hope EaganBailey Hope Eagan.

Thanks to Karen VH for the development of the behaviour modification plan for fearful cats. Thanks to generous translation support by Nattawipa Ampaiwan, Amin Azadian, Chloe Chambers, Helle Haugenes, Julia Miller, Sasha Protopopova, Marina Protopopova, Alexei Protopopov, Camila Cav, Antonio Hou, Becky Kenworthyand Kai von Rentzell. Thanks to Luck Dannan for creation of cat illustrations.

01/13/2023

Excellent explaination

I'd like to clarify some common misunderstandings out there about dog aggression.

I don't really believe in 'An Aggressive Dog'. It's not a personality trait or a guaranteed behaviour by that dog, nor does it tell us anything about how the dog is feeling or the motivation behind the behaviour.

Let's say it how it is.

Most aggression is a defensive response to a dog feeling under threat. The majority of dogs showing regular aggressive responses will also be experiencing pain, or another underlying medical condition such as thyroid or neurological abnormalities.

To delve a bit more into defensive aggression - many people see aggression as the dog threatening a person/dog. Hence they may feel angry and justified in punishing the dog. This is our OWN defensive response to feeling threatened, amongst other reasons. Understandable, yes; justified, no.

I often hear 'yes, but my dog needs to learn they can't growl/snap/bite'.

Aggression is merely communication and is almost always only utilised when the dog feels that other options are not available to them. The dog feels unsafe and will preferentially opt for flight/freeze options first as distance-seeking behaviours - i.e. they are asking the person/dog to give them space. If these are unsuccessful (i.e. the dog/person keeps on approaching) then the dog has no option but to opt for defensive behaviour to protect itself.

There are dogs that may seem to go straight for fight (defensive aggression) over flight/freeze. This is typically because a) we've missed the early flight/freeze signals; b) some breeds are predisposed to opt for defense first; c) they have learned that flight/freeze hasn't worked and only fight gives them the safety they need.

Even if you don't think your dog is justified in feeling threatened, we still need to respect that they do and respond accordingly to make them feel safe again.

If you punish or ignore the defensive behaviour and continue to keep the dog in that situation they are not coping with, you get dogs that go straight for the bite.

Your dog isn't 'bad' for showing aggression. They can't speak, remember - they're communicating in the only way they can, through their behaviour.

Finally, remember that dogs can read people extremely well, and can certainly read other dogs far, far better than we can. Aggression towards other dogs is commonly a reaction to what the other dog is giving off: distance-seeking signals, their own anxiety, underlying medical conditions, their neuter status .. all things we typically have no way of knowing when sat in a cafe, mixing with family dogs or out on a walk.

So, rather than stating 'my dog is aggressive', let's call it what it is. Let's reframe it to 'my dog is worried because that dog's too close/that person tried to touch him/that puppy continued to jump on him and ignored all his 'f**k off' signals'.

01/04/2023

🎉 January is National Train your Dog month! We couldn't think of a better reason to celebrate!

Stay tuned each week as we bring you new inspiration and insight every Tuesday this month.

✅ Tip # 1 Puppies need SLEEP!! 😴

Good quality sleep is essential to brain health. Insufficient sleep inhibits neurogenesis (the creation of new neurons), and disturbed sleep impairs communication between the brain areas needed for emotional regulation. Sleep plays a part in energy conservation, brain waste clearance, immune system modulation, cognition, performance, disease, and psychological state. Ensuring that puppies have access to a comfortable place to sleep supports brain health and behavior. 🧠

Puppies can sleep anywhere between 18-20 hours per day. And because puppies are quickly developing during their first year of life, sleep is vital. It's during sleep that puppies consolidate information, such as where to eliminate, what to chew, and what behavior you taught them. Puppies need a nap after playing, learning, if they have just been out for a walk, or have just eaten. The important thing is to observe your puppy and provide what they need; when your puppy chooses to sleep, let them be. It’s especially important to teach your kids to let sleeping dogs lie, as the old saying goes. 😉

There are periods during the day when you might experience a puppy that seems wilder and more excitable–like an overtired child who is more emotional and/or physically disruptive, a puppy can seem overwhelming, biting, barking, zooming around simply because they are overtired. This is a perfect opportunity to place your puppy in a puppy-proofed, quiet space for sleep. 🐶

12/20/2022

Truth!

Not sure where this fabulous infographic comes from, but the message is fantastic.

If this image belongs to you please let us know so that we can credit you

12/01/2022

A new program for socializing puppies in the nest brings big benefits, study shows.

11/09/2022

11/08/2022

Behavior IS happening all the time.

Your dogs did not start fighting "out of the blue". There were plenty of signs and set-ups the preceding days, weeks and sometimes months that led to the fight.

Recognizing animal behavior and communication between one another may not be as obvious to some. Behavior is always happening. You can familiarize yourself with animal behavior by observing what is happening, when it happens, and when it doesn't.

I observed this behavior happening last night. Snow, our deaf and blind border collie lying across the threshold from the dinning room to the kitchen. Over the years, I have allowed Snow to eat her dinner in the kitchen. I feed the other two dogs in separate areas in the dinning room. They all know their stations when eating. All three of my dogs could be labeled as resource guarders. All eight of my animals, only three are dogs, are resource guarders. I'm a resource guarder as well. Resource guarding is when an animal, humans included, guard objects, areas, or events of high value. It's a natural behavior that can come with behavior concerns if not addressed through training.

I was standing in the kitchen preparing the dogs' dinner. Cues for this time of day can come with the smell of the food, watching me go to certain areas of the house to get the food, the sound of the clanging of dog dishes, the setting of the sun, etc.
If Quincy, my Rottweiler were to step over top of Snow, my deaf and blind border collie lying on the ground, immediate behavior change would happen. In this particular situation, would an undesired altercation happen between the two, probably not one of injury concern but I don't want to wait for that to happen. As altercations, such as this, continue to happen, the altercations could escalate to the point one of the dogs gets hurt. This situation let me know I better start letting the dogs know what I want them to do vs what I don't want them to do. All dogs know their stations. They've been previously trained to station, which means to go to an area and wait until cued to do otherwise.

Quincy's station is her bed located behind her. Snow's station is to the left of the trash can. Levi, my deaf bulldog stays out of situations like this. His station is to the left of Quincy in the dinning room.

Before anything else could happen, I cued Snow and Quincy to their stations and asked them to wait. I continued to prepare their food and cued them all to their food dishes when all dishes were in the appropriate spots.
Behavior, whether desired or undesired, is happening at all times. Training communicates to the animal which behaviors will bring them their reinforcers.
Knowing and doing better through observing behavior and training.