Just How Socialized Is Your Dog?

Socialize your dog with as many new
situations, environments, people,
objects and animals as possible.

There’s a lot of talk about having a ‘well socialized’ dog but just what does that mean? Ask a dozen different dog owners and you’ll probably get a dozen different answers.

I find a lot of people describing their dog’s level of socialization only in terms of having relationships with other dogs. Something along the lines of, “Oh my dog is great with other dogs – my sister has two dogs and they all get along fine.” or, “My dog loves going to the dog park – he has a blast!”

It’s also quite common to hear people talk about a dog’s socialization as if it was an ability or skill that, once learned, is the equivalent of having a lifetime membership in ‘Club Socialization’.

Sorry folks… that’s not it... and not by a long shot. So what’s the answer? Let’s start by checking out these definitions from three online resources:

• Word English Dictionary: Socialization (n) : “The modification from infancy of an individual's behaviour to conform with the demands of social life.”
   
• Medical Dictionary: “Socialization - The process of learning interpersonal and interactional skills that are in conformity with the values of one’s society.”
   
• Cultural Dictionary: “Socialization - Learning customs, attitudes and values of a social group, community or culture. Socialization is most strongly enforced by family, school and peer groups and continues throughout an individual’s lifetime.”

Now I grant you these definitions were worded in relation to humans, but they apply to the socialization needs of our canine companions equally well.

So, again, what is the answer?

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What Do You Think Of When I Say "Negative Punishment"?

Why would a dog trainer whose philosophies and methods promote humane and force-free training use "Negative Punishment"?. What kinds of nasty and unpleasant thoughts come to mind when you think about that phrase? Before you get too carried away with that, are you sure about its actual definition?

There are a lot of words and phrases that can mean different things to different people, and of course there are even different ways to put emphasis on words and phrases that can make a difference in how they are interpreted. The world of dog training and behaviour is certainly not exempt from this.

To properly work in the training and the behaviour modification of any species, one needs to have an understanding of the science of learning and the science of behaviour. In science, the definition of words is (for obvious reasons) much more exacting and rigid than in common speech, so this can cause confusion and concern when certain words are used 'scientifically' by one person but interpreted 'commonly' by another person.

From my experience, the most common example of this is with the definition of the four quadrants of Operant Conditioning. Very disappointingly I have also experienced no small number of 'trainers' who use these phrases incorrectly (which tells you about the state of the dog training industry):

> Positive Reinforcement
> Negative Reinforcement
> Positive Punishment
> Negative Punishment

The biggest misunderstanding is in the use of the words Positive and Negative. In common language we associate the word 'positive' as an equivalent to words such as 'good' and 'pleasant', and we associate the word 'negative' as an equivalent of words such 'bad' and 'unpleasant'. When used in Operant Conditioning however, these two words have a different meaning but one that we're still very familiar with because we've all used in in another science called Mathematics:

> Positive = To add, or introduce.
> Negative = To remove, or take away.

Now for the final two words:

> Reinforcement = To increase the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated.
> Punishment = To decrease the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated.

So now that we've got all the definitions laid out, let's have another look at "Negative Punishment" and see just how cruel and nasty it is. By definition, Negative Punishment means to 'take away' something in order 'to decrease the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated'. An example of this?

Let's say I've got a dog whose greeting behaviour is too boisterous for my liking. If I determine that the motivation for my dog's behaviour is to get attention, and then I do in fact provide my dog with the attention she seeks, I am applying Positive Reinforcement and actually rewarding my dog for the behaviour I don't like.

Instead, what I need to do is to show my dog that her boisterous greeting behaviour will not get her the attention she is seeking, so I will not give her any attention until she settles down to the extent where I can then reward her with my attention. I will remove (remove = negative) my attention to decrease the likelihood (punishment) of the behaviour being repeated.

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Video Shows Dominance-Based Dog Training Failure

I was recently made aware of a video showing the failure of a dog trainer evaluating a dog that shows resource-guarding behaviour.

Simply stated, resource-guarding occurs when a dog is fearful that someone/something will take a valued resource (in this case 'food'), so in an attempt to protect its resource the dog will become demonstrative in an effort to warn-off the intruder. Often thought of as an act of 'dominance' by the dog, it is actually a demonstration that most commonly comes from fear/anxiety.

All dogs (regardless of breed) can bite, and they can bite for a wide variety of reasons, but the majority of dog bite incidents have nothing to do with a predatory or aggressive inclination. Instead, they are more 'defensive' in nature due to fear, anxiety and/or stress.

I have to emphasize my philosophies on dog training, behaviour prevention and behaviour modification are opposed to the alpha/dominance methods that have traditionally been employed in the training world (as displayed in this video). One of my largest issues with dominance-based behavioural modification methods is that it puts the dog in a position to fail, and then punishes the dog for doing just that: Failing. This video is an unfortunate but excellent illustration of that very thing.

• To watch the video click here (you might have to watch the video more than once because things happen rather quickly and the dog's communication can be subtle).

> You will notice the trainer immediately setting a confrontational tone with his body language, hard stare and encroaching on the dog's food. The dog reacts to the encroachment on his resource defensively, is then struck by the trainer, and a 'stand-off' ensues.

> You will notice the trainer continues with confrontational body language and the hard stare, and as the video continues you will notice the dog scaling back its posture, repeatedly communicating avoidance and appeasement signals to the trainer by avoiding direct eye contact, turning its head away, and licking its lips.

> After a few moments of relative calm (note that the dog continues to avoid looking at the trainer) the trainer reaches his hand in towards the dogs head (perceived threat), to which the dog reacts defensively with a snap/snarl warning. When the dog warns with the snap/snarl, the trainer recoils upwards (and slightly away) from the crouch into a stand.

> And now here is where the trainer makes his biggest mistake (you might have to watch this a few times to catch it because it's quite subtle and happens very quickly): At about the same time the trainer vocalizes the "Sssshhhhttt" sound you will see that he begins to lower himself back down towards the dog (perceived threat) to which the dog responds with the bite.

This entire incident didn't need to happen - and shouldn't have happened - and the fact that the trainer gets bitten is completely the trainers fault.

Taking a confrontational approach with an animal that is in a fearful/anxious state will likely increase the animal's level of fear/anxiety to the point where it perceives it is under threat, which then may spur the dog to defend itself. There should be no surprise whatsoever that a bite may take place in this type of confrontational approach, and this is why so many professionals in the field of animal behaviour, training and welfare warn against dominance-based training/handling methods.

As demonstrated in this particular incident, the end result of this dominance-based approach is that the trainer justifies the dog's anxiety about people approaching it's food... the trainer is actually reinforcing the dog's guarding behaviour. Logic (not to mention behavioural science) suggests the best way to work with an animal (or anyone) who is in a fearful or anxious state is to create trust.

Desensitization and counter-conditioning are the appropriate behaviour modification programs for this type of behavour - not confrontation. Reduce the fear, reduce the anxiety, and positively reinforce appropriate behaviour around the resource that was being guarded.

It is very important to note that you should never put yourself in harms way or in a position to be bitten by your dog, so if you are having behavioural issues such as resource-guarding it is recommended that you contact a local professional who is experienced in dealing with those specific issues. For your dog's sake, ensure the 'professional' doesn't utilize the techniques that are shown in this video.

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Rethinking The Finicky Dog

Most dogs aren’t picky eaters – they are well known for big appetites and less than discerning ‘taste’ about what they will chow down on. But of course “most dogs” does not mean “all dogs”, so what do you do when you have a dog that is finicky about what it eats?

One of the things that get in the way of us understanding our dogs is that we impose our human rationale onto them. With humans, we rely far more on our sense of taste than we do on our sense of smell, so we tend to overlap our thoughts and feelings about food onto our canine companions.

I would think almost all dog owners know that their dog’s sense of ‘smell’ is far superior to that of humans, but what about their ability to ‘taste’ compared to ours?

Scientists have estimated that humans have approximately 9,000 taste buds, but did you know that dogs have considerably fewer? Would it surprise you to find out that they are believed to have approximately 80% fewer taste buds than humans?

Read The Entire Article Here

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Not All Dog Trainers Are Created Equal

It’s not very often that I’ll participate in the war-of-words that erupts between advocates of ‘Positive Reinforcement’ and ‘Traditional’ dog training methods, because it often ends up being nothing more than a shouting-match (and a rather juvenile one) that really shouldn’t warrant anyone’s time or energy.

Despite that, I recently felt the need to weigh-in and make a very specific point in defence of Positive Reinforcement philosophies and methods. My response was to a Traditional trainer who made an all too common jab that went something like this: “If Positive Reinforcement training works, then how come I have clients who went that route and got nowhere with it?”

I'm sorry, but I cannot abide a blanket statement that R+ doesn't work just because someone didn't have a success with it in their own situation. My response was this: “If a Positive Reinforcement trainer in Seattle, or in Vancouver, or in Toronto does not succeed with a dog’s training, should that lack of success be a reflection of Positive Reinforcement methods as a whole, or should it be a reflection of the particular trainer in question?” Not surprisingly, I didn't receive a response to that question.

It is quite clear that training, behaviour prevention and behaviour modification programs based on Positive Reinforcement can provide very effective, humane and reliable results but, just because someone embraces and uses R+ methods, it doesn’t mean that person has the experience or ability required to successfully handle every situation that presents itself.

I say this because I've seen lots of examples of Positive Reinforcement trainers and Traditional trainers alike who did not have the ability and/or experience to handle behavioural issues and, in some cases, even basic obedience training.

The problem with unqualified and/or inexperienced trainers affects the world of ‘Traditional’ training just as it affects the Positive Reinforcement trainers, and so, ironically, the two sides actually do have at least one thing in common.

I think it would be fair to say that the majority of dog owners have no idea that being a dog trainer requires no qualifications or experience whatsoever (at least that is the case in North America). There just seems to be an assumption by the general public that if you call yourself a dog trainer you are an experienced and capable professional, and that all trainers are 'created equal'. This is certainly not the case in reality.

This lack of standards and qualifications poses a huge problem for the credibility of the dog training industry and an even bigger problem for the welfare of the animals we are supposed to helping. Unfortunately there appears to be no solution in sight.

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Explaining Positive Reinforcement Dog Training

Positive Reinforcement is a motivational theory used in operant conditioning. It describes the introduction of an appetitive (ie: pleasant) stimulus for the purpose of reinforcing a particular behaviour in order to promote that particular behaviour being repeated.

Positive = To add or introduce.
Reinforcement = To strengthen or maintain.

A very simple example of this would be to introduce a pleasant stimulus (such as praise, a toy, a tasty treat, etc.) to your dog immediately after she correctly responds to a command. This is Positive Reinforcement because the introduction of the pleasant stimulus to reward the desired behaviour strengthens (or increases) the likelihood that the desired behaviour with be repeated.

► Effective and Humane

Positive Reinforcement training for dogs has found favour and has rapidly grown in popularity in the last decade because it provides a more effective, more humane and less risky alternative to dog training than 'traditional' methods that may employ force and intimidation to 'correct' the dog for failing to perform.

Positive Reinforcement has been substantiated by leading ethologists, behaviourists, veterinarians and master trainers worldwide because:

• It rewards the dog for success rather than confusing the dog about what it did wrong.
• By rewarding and praising appropriate behaviour, the dog is more likely to repeat it.
• Dogs learn more quickly when they are rewarded and praised for their successes.
• Being rewarded and praised builds the dog's confidence.
• It is humane.
• It is less risky for the handler than using forceful or intimidating training methods.
• It does not produce negative behavioural side-effects.
• Ongoing positive interactions enhance the relationship you have with your dog.

B.F. Skinner, the researcher who articulated the major theoretical constructs of reinforcement and behaviourism deemed positive reinforcement to be superior to 'punishment' in shaping or altering behaviour. Skinner maintained that, instead of punishment simply being the opposite of positive reinforcement, positive reinforcement results in lasting behavioural modification whereas punishment only temporarily changes behaviour while presenting detrimental side effects.

► Reward... Or Bribery?

There are certainly detractors of Positive Reinforcement dog training who dismiss it as mere bribery... the most commonly used criticism being that it only teaches the dog to work for a pay-off.

I look at it this way: Let's say your dog is lying on the couch and you want her to get off. To use a tasty treat as a lure to coax the dog off the couch is a bribe. To call the dog off the couch and then provide her with a treat because she obeyed your command is a reward.

[READ MORE]

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BSL - Breed Specific Legislation

Breed-Specific Legislation (commonly referred to simply as BSL) is a law or ordinance that is passed to impose regulations on specific dog breeds. Such regulations can also apply to mixed breeds and even dogs that visually appear to be, or resemble, a certain type of breed.

While many people equate BSL with the 'banning' of breeds, it can also be enacted to mandate limitations and precautions such as mandatory muzzling, not being off-leash in a public setting, liability insurance requirements for the owners, enclosure requirements, etc.

► What Is The Purpose of BSL?

Breed-specific legislation is a political reaction to public outcry following a well-publicized bite or attack incident by a dog of a particular breed. Acting on the belief that a breed of dog is inherently dangerous and therefore jeopardizes public safety, BSL is introduced to remove the threat to public safety by either banning the breed outright or placing strict limitations on the breed's ownership.

► Which Dog Breeds Are Targeted By BSL?

There is no limit on which breeds could potentially be targeted with Breed Specific Legislation - it is at the whim of officials in various levels of government. One commonly cited example of how extreme BSL can become is Italy where, at one point, over 90 different breeds of dogs were included in Breed Specific Legislation.

In North America, breeds (and breed mixes) that are commonly targeted by BSL include: Pit Bull type dogs (the commonly used name of "Pit Bull" is not actually a breed, it describes a 'type' of dog), American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, Akita, Rottweiler, Chow Chow, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, German Shepherds, Dobermans, and wolf-hybrids.

► The (Many) Problems With Breed Specific Legislation

"Panic policymaking is defined as the speedy creation of new laws and regulations or new duties for governmental and private institutions in a situation of sudden, unreasoning, and excessive fear and anger."

"The majority of breed-discriminatory laws stem from just such a situation: A dog bite or attack, usually with high media visibility. According to Cass Sunstein, "In the aftermath of a highly publicized event people are more fearful than they ought to be – the phenomenon of ‘availability bias.’ An available incident can lead to excessive fixation on worst-case scenarios."

Continue Reading This Breed Specific Legislation Article

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The Flawed Alpha Wolf Theory

I wonder who decided that, in order to have a successful human-to-dog relationship, we need to mimic the relationships demonstrated by wolves?

The reason I bring this up is because an entire belief system and methodology of dog training and behaviour was built on top of the "Alpha Wolf" theory whereby, much like in a wolf pack, the social order of our human family must be maintained through (often physically) demonstrating our 'alpha' status and dominance over our dogs in order to keep them subservient and in line.

For decades that was certainly the popular belief - but guess what?

Over fifteen years ago the alpha/dominance theory attached to natural wolf social hierarchies was proven to be flawed and invalid. Not only that, but the type of social framework demonstrated by wolves in their natural environment is very similar to the leader/follower order in human families.

If this is the case (and it is), then why do so many dog trainers and other professionals within the canine industry continue to promote and apply the alpha/dominance theory to dogs and canine behaviour in general? If the original theory is wrong, then how can the training methods based on those theories be right?

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Poisonous Foods For Dogs

In the world of dog training and dog behaviour, a lot of the problems that people experience with their dogs are due to anthropomorphism.

This means that they 'humanize' their dogs instead of treating them as a different species with unique psychology, means of communication, and fundamental needs than a human.

After reading an article about dog obesity problems in the UK it occurred to me that the dog obesity problem is due to more than just a lack of exercise - there is a nutritional component tied into it as well. In addition to how much dogs are being fed, a real problem with what dogs are being fed has developed because more and more human food is finding its way into our dog's diets.

So, in addition to humanizing dogs in emotional and psychological terms, people are now humanizing their dogs with increasing amounts of human diet - and I'm not talking about the occasional piece of raw carrot or remnant of cooked beef - I'm talking about things like processed foods and sweets.

Nutritional experts have discouraged the feeding of table scraps for many years because of the great potential for dogs to become obese and even poisoned. Once again it has to be pointed out that dogs are a different species and cannot tolerate certain human foods that we regularly eat.

While healthy and well-balanced diets can be prepared for dogs using human food it is absolutely vital that you know which foods are healthy for your dog - and which can be toxic.

Continue reading 'Poisonous Foods For Dogs' here.

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Dominance Theory In Dog Training Is Outdated

In the last twenty years the theories and methods used in dog training have changed a great deal. One such change is in 'dominance theory' which is considered to be outdated by most professionals involved in ethology, animal behaviour and many (but not all) dog trainers.

An excellent overview of modern thought on how dominance theory is outdated is provided by the The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviour in their 2008 "Position Statement on the Use of Dominance Theory in Behaviour Modification of Animals"

Key points of their Position Statement include:

• "Despite the fact that advances in behaviour research have modified our understanding of social hierarchies in wolves, many animal trainers continue to base their training methods on outdated perceptions of dominance theory."
   
• "Most undesirable behaviours in our pets are not related to priority access to resources; rather, they are due to accidental rewarding of the undesirable behaviour."
   
• "The AVSAB emphasizes that animal training, behaviour prevention strategies, and behaviour modification programs should follow the scientifically based guidelines of positive reinforcement, operant conditioning, classical conditioning, desensitization, and counter conditioning."
   
• "The AVSAB emphasizes that ... dominance theory should not be used as a general guide for behaviour modification."
   
• "The AVSAB clarifies that dominance and leadership are not synonymous."
   
• "The most common cause of aggression in dogs is fear. Pinning a dog down when he is scared will not address the root of his fear. Furthermore it can heighten the aggression."
   

Read additional exerpts from the Position Statement on dominance theory.

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