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You can learn a lot in eight weeks

Most people normally interact with a puppy when it is somewhere between eight and 12 weeks old, but what happens before then, and even before birth, can affect a dog for the rest of its life.

It is generally accepted that in terms of social development, early, infantile experiences are more important in terms of their effect on adult behaviour than those occurring at other stages of life.

This blog outlines the key stages of development that occur between the pup being born through to three months.

Neonatal Period: birth to two weeks

During this period puppies spend most of their time sleeping. They are deaf, blind and are particularly susceptible to the cold because they have low body fat and have not yet developed the ‘shivering’ reflex. As such, they instinctively orient themselves towards a heat source. At this age, puppies have not yet developed a sense of touch, taste or smell. Their eyelids only open around 10 to 14 days.

During this period puppies should be handled carefully for 30 seconds a day, gradually building up to a few minutes by day 14. To help reduce stress, touch sensitivity, and reactivity to being held, gently feeling a pups ears, mouth, feet and tail should be encouraged.

Transitional Period: two to four weeks

During this period, the pups ears open and will begin to respond to loud noises. At this point it is helpful to expose them to common domestic sounds such as children, washing machines, and vacuum cleaners.

The eyes also become more responsive to light and movement. As such, pups begin to recognise and bond with littermates, other pets and humans.

At around 21 days, pups begin to walk, play, and explore their environment. It is useful to increasingly, yet systematically, make their environment more challenging during this period.

Socialisation period: four to twelve weeks

During the ‘socialisation period’, pups can see, hear, and move around freely. They intensively interact with their environment and fellow litter-mates and begin to bond with other animals and humans by learning body language and social signals. This is a golden opportunity to help the pup adapt to domestic life by providing positive experiences.

It’s not uncommon for pups to be fearful of unfamiliar people, particularly males. To help overcome this fear, pups should experience multiple new surroundings and frequent handling from varied and unfamiliar people, including children. Exposure to novel objects, a plethora of sounds, and grooming equipment should be carefully introduced, being mindful of not ‘over-stimulating’ the pup, increasing its fear response.

What puppies learn during the ‘socialisation period’ will greatly depend on the interactions and experiences they have during this time, and can be key to forging an adult dog’s personality.

Importantly, pups that practice undesirable behaviour during this period are more likely to express that behaviour as an adult. Ensuring positive experiences around other dogs will help buffer the pups if and when an adult dog reprimands them appropriately. This can help them learn to give other dogs personal space and exhibit balanced interactions without becoming fearful.

Twelve weeks and beyond

After 12 weeks, but before sexual maturity, dogs are commonly referred to as ‘juveniles’. The age at which a dog reaches sexual maturity will depend on the type of dog, with smaller dogs generally reaching maturity at an earlier age relative to larger dogs.

This short blog was based on a technical report submitted to “Think Dog Advanced – early learning in dogs”. The full technical report, with references, can be accessed by emailing the author at dannydecourtelle@rocketmail.com

 

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A fish out of water: why breed characteristics are important in dogs

A brief history of breeding domestic dogs

Historically the breeding of domestic dogs has centred on the selection of certain behavioural characteristics in order for dogs to carry out certain roles such as hunting, herding, controlling vermin, or companionship. Typically, two dogs with similar characteristics, such as hunting, have been bred, and then the offspring with the strongest hunting characteristics are selected for further breeding, ultimately breeding a line of dogs with very strong behavioural traits. These have come to be known as ‘breed characteristics’. It is generally recognised among behavioural professionals that when a dog is deprived of the ability to perform the characteristics for which it has been bred, it can feel frustrated, and this is often a key cause of behavioural problems.

Breed characteristics

Breed characteristics refer to the various traits associated with different breeds of dog. These behavioural traits can include being good at herding livestock, hunting and guarding, chasing, or simply being a companion dog. While breed characteristics are general approximations of what behaviours a breed of dog may display, it is important to recognise that not all dogs of the same breed will display the characteristics of the breed profile, and dogs of the same breed can display big differences in behaviour. Importantly, breed characteristics can be influenced by training (or lack of) and the wider environment.

Why are breed characteristics important?

Understanding breed characteristics is very important when choosing a new dog. Owners should take into account the needs of the dog and their ability to accommodate these needs. For example, toy breeds are often not appropriate choices for families with young children, and working breeds, such as a German Pointer or a Border Collie may be better suited to rural environments. Some breeds, such as Staffordshire Bull Terriers, are good ‘city’ dogs, as are a number of ‘companion’ dogs.

Understanding breed characteristics is also important when rescuing, fostering, or re-homing a dog. A dog that has not lived with other dogs or cats before may be better suited to households where they are the only pet. Equally, dogs that have not been brought up around young children may be better homed in an all-adult household. Some rescue dogs may have greater needs than others and may therefore be better suited for adoption by ‘experienced’ dog owners.

Finally, understanding breed characteristics can help you understand how your dog may respond best to training. If your dog has a strong ‘chase drive’, your dog may find chasing balls highly rewarding. If your dog is driven by companionship and a close physical bond, rewarding them with touch and petting is highly appropriate. For most dogs, food and treats are strong reinforcers and can be used to great effect in changing unwanted behaviour.

While it is important to consider breed characteristics when choosing, re-homing, or training dogs, it should be borne in mind that these are general rules of thumb. For example, a dog that has not lived with children before can be taught to live happily in a family environment, and a dog that has been the only pet in the household can learn to happily co-exist with other pets. Well thought-out programmes of behaviour change, informed by a professional, can help to increase the chances of accommodating your dog’s needs, leading to a happy relationship between you and your dog.

This short blog was based on a technical report submitted to “Think Dog Advanced – breed characteristics”. The full technical report, with references, can be accessed by emailing the author at dannydecourtelle@rocketmail.com

 

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Sniffing out ‘dominance theory’ in dogs

Where did ‘dominance theory’ come from?

The common approach to canine social behaviour known as ‘dominance theory’ was built on research evidence which observed wolves, and showed that wolves live in hierarchical packs with the ‘alpha wolf’ at the top. Given that dogs evolved from wolves, researchers claimed that dogs also adhered to a hierarchical pack, with humans considered to be part of the pack. Dominance theory assumed that most unwanted behaviour, such as aggression, is due to the dog trying to be ‘dominant’ or wanting to be ‘the alpha dog in the pack’. As such, dominance theory suggests that the way to solve behavioural problems in dogs is to establish dominance as pack leader over the dog.

The idea that owners must dominate their dogs gained huge popularity in the 1960s with the publication of: The Wolf: Ecology and Behaviour of an Endangered Species published by David Mech. But these research findings have since been shown to have been inappropriately applied to the domestic dog. In 1999, David Mech published an updated work: Alpha Status, Dominance and Division of Labour in Wolf Packs, where he corrected his earlier mistaken ideas pointing out that dogs do not have the same social structures as adult wolves.

Among behavioural specialists, it is now widely recognised that dogs that use aggression towards humans or other dogs are not trying to be ‘dominant’, rather dogs may use aggression as a means to control situations where they feel frustrated, fearful or anxious. Sometimes, dogs who have used aggression repeatedly have learned that ‘it works’ and are therefore more likely to use aggression to control similar situations in the future.

What is wrong with ‘dominance theory’?

Among the field of canine behaviour, many professionals are concerned that the ‘dominance’ theory continues to survive even though more-and-more evidence shows that, at best the theory is unhelpful, at worst highly detrimental. Using this theory prevents many owners from understanding their dogs, can cause unhappiness, and can harm the human-animal bond. By definition the ‘dominance’ method relies on the social exclusion of the dog which in turn can lead to depression, anxiety and learned helplessness.

The ‘dominance’ theory for dog behaviour poses questions regarding dog welfare. Dominance-based approaches often use aversive training techniques such as ‘alpha rolls’ (forcing the dog down on its back and holding it there), staring the dog down (intimidation), or other confrontational methods and punishment which can cause fear, pain and distress to the dog. Aversive methods can also increase the dog’s underlying fear, frustration or anxiety, which can actually make the unwanted behaviour worse.

What should I use instead of ‘dominance theory’?

Ultimately, methods based on the theory of ‘dominance’ are flawed and should be avoided in favour of a more efficient, effective and evidence-based approach to canine behavioural change. Alternative, ethical approaches include ‘reward-based training’, ‘positive reinforcement’, and ‘counter-conditioning and desensitisation’, to name just a few.

Dogs should be trained using programmes that are designed to facilitate the development and maintenance of wanted behaviour, using positive reinforcement and other ethical techniques. This position is supported by the Royal Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), as well as many respected academics in the field of canine behaviour.

When trying to change your dog’s behaviour, reward the behaviour you like. This might include acting calmly when the doorbell goes, instead of barking and jumping on guests. This approach centres on positive reinforcement, in other words, rewarding outcomes you want. Rewards can be food, toys, verbal praise, physical contact etc.

Alternative approaches to overcome unwanted canine behaviour will be addressed in more detail in other blogs.

This short blog was based on a technical report submitted to “Think Dog Advanced – Rank Structure ”. The full technical report, with references, can be accessed by emailing the author at dannydecourtelle@rocketmail.com