So-Called "Dog Trainers" WTF???

     Yesterday, I worked with a  one and a half  year old female Thai Ridgeback/ (maybe) pit mix. The main complaint by the owner: the dog is terrific outdoors with people and other dogs. But when the same people enter the home, the dog goes ( what the owner described as) "ballistic" and  "vicious".She mentioned several other issues, but I decided to "triage" the behaviors and deal first with the most serious. I knew immediately we were dealing with fear aggression. Of course I asked if any previous training or behavior modification was attempted. Two previous attempts were made and what I heard next caused plenty of jaw dropping by my Student and myself. In the 1st instance, she hired a "Dog Trainer" who told her the dog is trying to dominate everyone and will be permanently aggressive and needs to be "controlled". His method included a shock collar and a prong collar to remain on the dog 24/7. My new Client was instructed by this clown to keep a lead (along with the prong collar) on the dog in the home and every time ( according to my Client) the dog "acts up, pull up sharply on the leash, and this will "settle the dog". I asked her what was the dog's response to all this. My client claims the dog would let out a  cry at each correction. This "trainer" also instructed her never let the dog sniff outside and keep her off the couch because this is a sign of dominance. This "trainer" actually took the dog home for more intensive "training". The next time the "trainer" came to her home( after returning the dog), according to my client, the dog became so "wild" , she actually tried to attack the trainer. The trainer's response, he hung the dog by the prong collar a spun her around. This is brutally insane method called the helicopter. If the dog had fear aggression before, the advice he gave my new Client REALLY set it in stone.   

      The next attempt at modifying the dog's behavior was actually on the surface a good idea;she hired who is (in our canine community) one of most quoted  (in animal behavior journals) Behaviorist there is. According to my Client, he arrived, sat on the couch, gave a lecture on the history of dog training, and hit the dog on the head with his folder. He then attempted to place a muzzle on the dog (which is a normal procedure). When that didn't work, he placed a head collar on the dog and as the other "trainer" instructed, pull up sharply on the collar when she get aggressive. According to my client, all that did was cause scrapes and other injuries to the dog. What was accomplished by these "experts"? NOTHING GOOD. the dog was worse than ever before. 

       In an effort to curtail my long-winded writing, I am only going to tell you what these gentlemen DID accomplish and not my treatment. What they accomplished was to teach the dog that people entering the home is going to cause her pain. the prong collar had been on the dog 24/7 for almost 6 months!!! Because of this, the dog was ALWAYS anticipating a painful moment. Can you imagine?  PLEASE, when you consider hiring a trainer make sure you explain the problem carefully and ask what methods they use to train. Make sure they include positive reinforcement. 

        

Causes and Treatments for Tail-Chasing and Other Compulsive Behavior

         In a study published in Plos One named “Environmental Effects on Compulsive Tail Chasing in Dogs” ( Tiira, et al., 2012) it is noted that Tail Chasing is a stereotypical behavior that seems to have a higher rate of occurrences in dogs that had experienced “lower quality care” and were separated earlier from their mothers compared to dogs with no tail chasing. The study revealed Dogs receiving vitamins and minerals (especially vitamin B6 and C) chased their tails less compared to the dogs not receiving these supplements. Another finding in this study is boredom is not a significant cause of tail chasing, although the presence of children and/or other dogs in the house served to reduce tail chasing. In an earlier study conducted by Dr Nicholas Dodman and his team, discovered a spot on canine chromosome 7 that contains the gene CDH2 (Cadherin 2). This gene was found to be varied in dogs with compulsive disorders. ( Dodman, et al., 2010). In an article in the NY Times Dr. Karen L. Overall, environmental causes might outweigh genetic factors in development of compulsive behaviors. She further states dogs confined in kennels, shelters, and dogs from puppy mills “seem prone” to developing compulsive disorders. (Derr, 2010) In the same article, Dr Edward Ginns (who worked on the study with Dr Dodman) states “Although antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and clomipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant, and behavior modification have proved effective at controlling compulsive behavior in dogs and people, they do not appear to correct underlying pathologies or causes” He believes (in many cases) there is an underlying genetic predisposition to compulsive disorders. It appears that the most effective method of treating compulsive disorders is a combination of drug and behavior modification therapies. The behavior modification should include teaching the dog to relax in different situations (environmental, social, etc.) and/or redirecting the dog to an activity as a substitute for the compulsive behavior.   Philip K Greis

Eight dogs seized from Krabloonik

http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/160485

Great "Pit Bull with Kids" Slideshow in the Huff

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/25/kids-pit-bulls-_n_4164240.html

Keep Up The Good Work!!!!

http://gothamist.com/2013/10/18/accused_puppy_mill_pet_shop_sues_pr_1.php

Canine Puberty

When the male puppy starts puberty (approx. 4-9months), his testosterone level will increase to 2-3 times what it will be when he becomes physically mature. Jean Petersen of Canine Consultants (Petersen, 1995) claims this high level of testosterone stimulates the physical development of his body's secondary sexual characteristics; broader head, thicker neck, broader shoulders, and heavier lip folds that make him look definitely masculine. It also increases aggressive behavior. He will start challenging the authority of the other members of the family he lives with trying to improves his status in the hierarchy (order of authority). If he is strongly dominant genetically, this challenging process can results in serious aggressive behavior towards people and mostly other intact males. If not properly supervised, the dog may wonder away from home as if in search of a mate. Although bitches (female dogs) go into estrous twice a year, a dog can mate all year long. Other secondary sexual characteristic behavior is leg-lifting during urination and “humping” (initiating the sex act) on other organisms and inanimate objects, and attention deficits and a lack of focus. According to Ian Dunbar (Dunbar, 1996), the intersex aggression (between males) can be attributed to the scent of testosterone of each dog. Over 90% of dog fights occur between intact males. Being destructive and disobedient are other behaviors present at this stage (puberty-adolescent). In an article for clickersolutions.com (Alexander, 2008), Melissa Alexander states “A puppy’s brain is going through incredible changes. The cerebral cortex becomes a leaner, meaner thinking machine. During the period where it does all this new myelination, however, it's not a very efficient thinking machine; especially during the early adolescence period”.  The testosterone peak is from 6 - 12 months of age. It will then level off at about 3 years of age. The aggressive behavior begins to subside. The dogs focus returns, but they will leg-lift to urinate and hump female dogs. 

According to Dr Dunbar, castration in most mammals will eliminate secondary sexual characteristics, but not in dogs. The masculine characteristics of dog behavior have nothing to do with adult hormone levels. “Whether or not a male dog will lift his leg when urinating, sniff and mount female dogs and be more aggressive than female has all been preprogrammed by fetal testosterone in utero (pre-birth in the womb).

Philip K Greis