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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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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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.

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Are you reinforcing bad behaviours in your dog?

Dogs have a completely different language from people, which can contribute to misunderstandings and accidentally reinforce bad behaviour. If you are in a situation where your dog is acting extremely anxious, the instinct is to touch the dog gently and soothingly say "It's all right". This would be completely appropriate with a person. What a dog hears: this situation is not all right, and you are completelycorrect to be anxious." 
Dogs look to us for social cues. So, for instance, if you are at the vet, and your dog is whining and staring at you, the best reaction is no eye contact, no words and certainly no touch until they demonstrate calmer behaviour.



We recommend all dog owners attend classes with professional trainers in order to better learn how to communicate with your dog and teach them good manners using positive reinforcement techniques.