10 Behaviour Myths in Dogs: # 8

Myth # 8: Dogs chase their tails or spin in circles because they are bored.

Repetitive behaviours such as pacing, spinning, tail chasing, and foot licking have many causes.  To infer they are caused by boredom oversimplifies a complicated problem.  These behaviours may be caused by frustration or conflict.  They may be secondary to certain medical problems that cause itching, pain, or discomfort in a body part.  Sometimes they are caused by seizures or other forms of brain dysfunction.

FACT: Repetitive behaviours are complex problems that require evaluation, diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Please let us know if you are concerned about any of these behaviours in our own pet.

10 Life-threatening Behaviour Myths in Dogs: #7

Myth # 7:  If you use treats to train a dog, you will always need them to get the dog to obey your commands.

The principles that govern the laws of learning have shown this to be completely untrue.  Treats are an excellent means of reinforcing a behavior. Clear and consistent reinforcement is necessary when you initially begin teaching any animal a new behavior.  For some animals, a vocal reward, toys, or petting may serve as good reinforcers, but food is for many animals the most salient reinforcement there is.

courtesy of Shutterstock

The rules of learning show that when first teaching a new behavior, reinforcing every single time the behavior is performed on cue will lead to the fastest rate of learning.  This is known as continuous reinforcement.  Once a behavior is learned, intermittent reinforcement is the best means of maintaining the behavior and making it most resistant to extinction.  This means you only need to use treats periodically once the behavior is learned,

People who believe that an animal is not responding because it knows there is no treat available have usually failed to use reinforcement appropriately or don’t realize that the pet has actually not learned the behavior.  It is common for pet owners to think that an animal has learned a command long before it actually has!

FACT:  When used correctly, positive reinforcement training with food rewards is far more likely to be effective and has less chance of doing harm than most other forms of training.

stay tuned....another myth coming soon

10 Life-threatening Behaviour Myths in Dogs: #6

Myth # 6: He must be angry with me.  He knows what he did wrong.

Many dogs show submissive behaviours when their owners arrive home.  These behaviours of tucking the tail, lowering the ears, avoiding eye contact, and slinking away do not mean “I am sorry” in dog language.  They mean “Stop acting angry at me.”  They mean that the dog has learned to associate the return of people to the home with the presence of feces, garbage, or other destroyed items on the floor. The dog is not angry – he is afraid because n the past when people arrived home and these things were on the floor he was yelled at or hit.  Even if the dog was not yelled at or hit, the angry body language of the human is clear to the dog and the dog still learns to feel fear when people arrive.  Punishment in these circumstances does not teach the dog anything (except to fear the arrival of people).  The dog is completely incapable of associating any punishment with the behavior he performed minutes or hours before.

FACT:  Dogs do not eliminate on the floor or destroy items out of spite.  The most likely cause of the behavior is anxiety or lack of appropriate exercise and stimulation (or incomplete house-training).  Rather than being angry at your dog, seek help from a professional.  Your dog is suffering.

                                                           STAY TUNED FOR ANOTHER MYTH....COMING SOON

10 Life-threatening Behaviour Myths in Dogs: #5

 Myth # 5: "Dogs that are aggressive are acting dominant."

While some dogs truly exhibit dominance aggression, they are much rarer than the popular media would have you believe.  The problem with outdated dominance theories is that they result in the recommendation of confrontational styles of training based on the erroneous belief that owners have to physically dominate their dogs.  Not only is this dangerous, but it is usually ineffective and has resulted in damage to the human - animal bond far more often than it has led to success.

FACT: Most dogs with aggression problems are anxious or afraid and are more likely to respond to reward-based training under the supervision of a qualified animal or veterinary behaviorist.

            Stay tuned for another myth....coming soon   

10 Life-threatening Behaviour Myths in Dogs: #4

Myth # 4: I want that new medication I heard about to treat my pet’s {insert behaviour problem here}

Medications alone rarely solve a behaviour problem.  Behaviour modification and environmental modification are usually necessary to achieve long-term, lasting improvement.  Some medications have been shown to increase the speed with which the behavior modification takes effect and can be considered another useful tool in treating behavior problems, but they are not the sole remedy.

FACT:  Medication can play an important role in the treatment of a behaviour problem but only if used appropriately as a part of a complete treatment plan.   

                                                                                                                                                Stay tuned for another myth....coming soon

10 Life-threatening Behaviour Myths in Dogs: #3

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Myth # 3: My dog is aggressive/fearful/shy because he/she was abused as a puppy.

While this may be a possibility in the case of some re-homed dogs whose exact histories are unknown, the most common cause of fearful behaviour in dogs is inadequate or inappropriate early socialization. Fearful behavior is also heritable, so some dogs are born with a predisposition to shyness or fearfulness.  Proper socialization is even more critical in these animals.

FACT:  No matter the cause, dogs that exhibit fearful or anxious behaviour may be suffering and should be evaluated by us.  These pets can be helped in many different ways. Ask your veterinarian for advice and a good Dog Trainer in your area that may be able to help. 

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images from Dr SophiaYin can be found at her website

Stay tuned for another myth....coming soon

10 Life-threatening Behaviour Myths in Dogs: #2

Puppies Socializing

Myth # 2:  "Puppies shouldn’t go to puppy classes until they have had all of their vaccinations or they will get sick"

The critical period for socialization in dogs lasts from the fourth to the fourteenth week of life.  During this time, puppies learn about their environment, other dogs, and people. Poorly socialized dogs are more likely to exhibit behaviours that make them unsuitable as a pet and result in relinquishment to an animal shelter or euthanasia. Therefore, the likelihood of death due to poor socialization is greater than the likelihood of illness or death due to contagious diseases.  Of course, this is only true if the puppy class is managed properly.  All puppy classes should:

·        Only mix puppies of similar age

·        Require that all puppies have their first vaccination several days before the beginning of classes

·        Be held on an indoor surface that can be sanitized

·        Clean all puppy waste immediately and disinfect the soiled area

·        Not allow any puppies into the class that show signs of illness

FACT: Proper early socialization can save a dog’s life and is the best way to ensure that you end up with a pet that is well adjusted and a joy to live with for many years.

http://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/puppy-socialization-stop-fear-before-it-starts

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STAY TUNED FOR ANOTHER MYTH....COMING SOON

10 Life-threatening Behaviour Myths in Dogs

Starting today we will be running a series of short articles addressing some of the common myths about dog behaviour.  Please check back frequently!

Myth # 1:  

"I’m embarrassed to talk to my veterinarian about my dog’s behaviour.  I’m afraid that I am the cause of the problem!"

Many factors play a role in the development of behaviour problems, including genetics, early experiences and environment.  While you can worsen a pet’s behavior with inappropriate training methods, it is highly unlikely that you caused your pet’s behaviour problem.  Some medical conditions and medications can also contribute to behaviour changes, so please consult us when you pet exhibits worrisome behaviours,

FACT: Don’t hesitate to ask us about any problem that may affect your pet’s well being and his relationship with you and your family. Most behaviour problems are at least manageable – if not curable.  The sooner you seek advice, the higher the likelihood we can successfully treat the problem.

stay tuned for another myth...coming soon

Dog Breed Profiles

We know you are excited about getting a dog, but before you do there are a lot of things to consider. At Royal City Animal Hospital, we believe knowledge is power. An informed pet owner is a great pet owner!

Some of the Many Breeds of dogs

We will be posting selected breed profiles from time-to-time in order to share what you need to know about that particular breed before you (or your friends) purchase the dog. We want you to be aware of temperament, exercise requirements, breed predisposition to diseases or medical problems, grooming requirements, and much more.

Teya- Dr Drewry's Purebred Golden Retriever

Our goal is to make sure that you are getting a dog that is right for you and your family. Far too often we see people who get dogs that they are unable to care for or deal with because they did not take these factors into consideration.

Cooper  - Greg's perfect match came through the GHS

Come back often and check out the breeds we will be profiling. We will start with common breeds and then work in a few less common ones. Don’t forget: there are many wonderful mixed breed dogs that are at the Guelph Humane Society all the time. Who knows, you may find your perfect dog match there.
Please come and talk to your veterinary team at Royal City Animal Hospital BEFORE you get your dog or puppy, to get more information on what is involved in owning this type of dog - costs, medical requirements, breed specific issues, and much more. We are always happy to help. Call 519 763-4992 to set up an appointment with Lisa or Greg, our Veterinary Technicians.  We hope this information will be useful to you and your family.

Sit....Stay....Wait

Are you looking for a Dog Trainer in the Guelph area?

At Royal City Animal Hospital, we always emphasize the importance of professional dog training to our clients.
There are several very qualified and reputable dog trainers within the city of Guelph and surrounding areas, but today we are spotlighting Jason Shute.

His biography as copied directly from his website: 

Jason is a certified master dog trainer and dog behaviorist based in Guelph, Ontario and has trained dogs internationally including a recent contract in Cebu, Philippines. He has attended dog psychology seminars with Cesar Millan and Stanley Coren, apprenticed with master dog trainer Dave McMahon in Niagara Falls and is a registered trainer with the International Association of Canine Professionals, and theCanadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers. He has also attended k9 detection seminars with ATS K9 services, Search and Rescue Ontario, and FireK9, and arson detection unit based in California. Jason won the gold award for "Best Dog Trainer" by Guelph Tribune's Readers Choice Awards 2011.

Check out this video of Jason showing off a dog that knows how to do an out of sight "Down-Stay".
More videos can be seen on his YouTube channel.