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Body Talk

Stress, anxiety and fear

When you learn their language you may realise that dogs never stop talking…

Signs that may indicate stress, anxiety or fear in dogs include a tucked tail, ears flat and back, licking the lips or nose, whale eye, looking away, raised paw, trembling, a low body posture, yawning, panting, grooming, sniffing, seeking out human comfort, hiding and a stiff or frozen posture. Some of these are also examples of displacement behaviour.

It is important not to focus on just one aspect of the body but rather one should observe the whole of the body whilst also considering the context and environment. An example could be a dog that lunges whilst on the lead. Is it because it is frustrated by the lead and may possibly otherwise be friendly off lead? Or perhaps it’s a genuine fear and the dog is exhibiting the behaviour in question to see off the other dog?

Clients are often unaware that their dog may be exhibiting signs of stress or fear. One study showed that about 30% of dogs in the veterinary waiting room displayed signs of stress which were not noticed by the owners and included panting, yawning and grooming.

Tails

A wagging tail does not always mean the dog is friendly as many people believe. If the dog is highly aroused, either positively or negatively, the tail often tends to be raised high. Tails tend to wag when a dog is emotionally aroused. Dogs may also use their tails as communicative signals which can include threatening displays or appeasement, play, nervousness, confusion, anxiety and fear.

Tense or loose body

A tense body can indicate uncertainty, apprehension or a feeling of being uncomfortable in the environment. When a dog freezes this could be a warning that the dog is preparing for a flight or fight response. If the warning is ignored, aggressive behaviour may happen. Conversely, a loose, soft and flexible body will indicate that the dog is relaxed and comfortable the environment.

Avoidance

Avoidance behaviour is characterised by a dog looking away or walking away and is an attempt to avoid conflict or confrontation. Cut off signals are generally used between two or more dogs and typically during play sessions or greetings. These are noticeable when a dog stops what it is doing and does something different such as yawning, lip licking, sniffing the ground or scratching. Dogs that have been well socialised will respond better to these signals than poorly socialised dogs. Those dogs less versed in this language may become confused and this may lead to aggression. Fearful avoidance is shown by a low head and tail with the body close to the floor as if trying to appear smaller.

Ears

Similar to the tail, what a dog does with its ears will give indications about the internal emotional state. Ears that are back and flat against the head may indicate a submissive feeling, especially in younger dogs. Ears that are back but not quite flat can be a sign of agitation. Perked up ears show the dog is alert and interested or perhaps to make the dog look bigger either to show aggression or as a response to aggression.

Mixed-breed dog, close-up on head and ears
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As romantic as it might sound, the multiple dogs in your care are not your pack and you are not their pack leader

Words

Words can be powerful and words can have an impact.

Do you cringe in the park when you hear someone describe their dog’s behaviour as ‘she is just showing them who the boss is’ or similarly ‘he thinks he is the alpha male’?

Do you look to the heavens at the notion of a ‘pack’ that runs beyond the scope of the collective noun?

Perhaps those that work in the professional field learn to override the emotional arousal at words and terms like ‘leadership’, ‘dominant’ or ‘nothing in life is free’ and accept that this is just part of dog park parlance and taking exception to this sort of language, while frustrating, is a waste of time.

However, dog professionals should know better and especially those that work within the realms of what has become known as ‘positive reinforcement’. Some might even say, if you know better, then you should do better.

Most trainers these days, when referring to a protocol of ‘nothing in life is free’ (NILF) do not intend to actually implement a boot camp style aversive training programme. Rather they probably intend to train a dog into the habit of taking direction from the guardian along the lines of the ‘Premack Principle’.

If this is the case, then why not use the term ‘Premack Principle’ instead of using words that may imply or suggest something punitive and competitive or some sort of adversarial relationship based on winners and losers?

For many dog trainers there exists an endless cycle of myth busting by continuously bringing forth the facts and evidence against a tsunami of old wives tales. Therefore, the job in hand is made more difficult when professionals (dog walkers, trainers, vets or behaviourists…) continue to use these toxic terms.

I am sure that many use these words simply out of habit but when you know a word is ambiguous of meaning, sits in a grey area or is controversial why not just stop using those words?

Words can have very strong associations and be extremely subjective and some words are so contaminated by inappropriate meaning that they can conjure up completely the wrong impression.

If, in our training of dogs, we are to take the ethical and moral high ground of the ‘Least Intrusive & Minimally Aversive’ then we should apply the same criteria to our language.

Making better choices with the words we use and therefore the consequences they have will create a better and kinder future for all dogs and for the people you influence.

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The Great Get Together Bankside (Barkside) Dog Show 2018 in Aid Of All Dogs Matter

https://alldogsmatter.co.uk

On Sunday 24th June, Bankside Open Spaces Trust organised one of the largest street parties in the country to celebrate all that we have in common, inspired by the late MP Jo Cox.

As part of this local event, we hosted our second annual dog-show – The Great Get Together Barkside. Despite competing with the heat-wave and England World Cup match, the event was a great success, and there were many a happy dog.

Our guest judge on the day, and for the second year running, was the delightful and charismatic Barking Blonde herself – Anna Webb from Radio London’s ‘The Barking Hour’.

The show was made possible by the incredibly generous donations from a range of wonderful sponsors including Burns Natural Food For Pets, Lily’s Kitchen, Hiro + Wolf, Kitty Forbes Illustrations, Pooch & Mutt, bybenji, Beco Pets, Dogrobes, and Beautiful Joes.

With the welfare of the dogs always in mind, we provided ample shade, water, lots of grass, and a plethora of treats. Within two hours we managed to raise £284 for the registered charity All Dogs Matter – a fantastic North London-based charity relentlessly working to re-home dogs in need – #adoptdontshop

Categories:

Lady of Southwark won by Zelda

Lord of Southwark won by Monty

Best Trick won by Buddy

Golden Oldie won by Yubi – kindly sponsored by ‘Kitty Forbes Illustrations’

Best Rescue won by Max – kindly sponsored by Hiro + Wolf

Best in Show (winner of al categories) won by Yubi

Thank you to all who attended, all our volunteers, and of course the wonderful Anna Webb.

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Street Dogs – Ronnie & Brigadier

https://www.dogsonthestreets.org

Street Dogs – Ronnie & Brigadier

Today I saw a post online from the super good dog charity ‘Dogs On The Streets’ (DOTS). I looked at the picture and then read the name and thought….’hang on a minute’.

I knew Omar and Brigadier about 4 or 5 years ago but lost touch when they suddenly moved on. One day they were just gone. Colin is still around.

We met Colin and Omar around 2014. It was a hot day and I was sitting in the sun outside the Gladstone Arms Pub and I saw these four walking down the street  towards me. Ronnie the Mastiff was a strong dog and liked to exercise that strength by pulling poor Colin everywhere. As they past I offered them water and some dog treats from the pub and we got chatting.

Ronnie the mastiff was a puller and got very excited at life and sometimes people were nervous around him. Brigadier was fine with everyone and everything but seemed to have a skin complaint around his neck. We started regular meet ups to chat and we addressed both issues as best we could in the circumstances and course I became very fond of them all.

One day they both said they wished they had some nice photographs of their dogs.

Thanks to photographer Clara Blomqvist who very kindly arranged this shoot and took these pictures.


October 2016

“Ronnie sadly died shortly after these pictures were taken. Omar has moved on somewhere and I often hope him and ‘Brigsy’ are OK.
Two beautiful people and two beautiful dogs, all four dealt a shit hand.
These pictures were taken by Clara Blomqvist upstairs at The Gladstone Arms SE1.”

Dogs On The Streets

Dogs on the Streets, a volunteer run, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the welfare of dogs belonging to the UK’s homeless community.

Donate here www.dogsonthestreets.org

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The Great Global Greyhound Walk

http://www.greatglobalgreyhoundwalk.co.uk

The Great Global Greyhound Walk is an annual dog-walking event that brings together greyhounds, lurchers, other sight-hounds and their owners to raise awareness of the breeds and show the public what wonderful pets they make.

Today we attended our local version of the Great Global Greyhound Walk which took place in Victoria Park, East London.

The event was organised by our dear friends, and sight-hound enthusiasts Kathy & Nick (and of course the star of the show Max the lurcher). The event was open to Greyhounds, sight hounds, Whippets, Saluki, Lurchers, and any combination of the above. There were a few companion dogs as well to keep their trusty dog best friends calm and happy. To be honest, any dog was welcome, as were some wonderful ‘non-owned humans’. A lovely couple (with no dog) came along to simply walk with the hounds and meet owners as they themselves were interested in re-homing a rescue sight hound.

It was initially expected that just a few friends would stroll around the park for fun so it was a pleasant surprise when about 30 sight hounds turned up at 10am. The weather was perfect, and as you can imagine, the procession stimulated a lot of interest from passers-by.

After circumventing the remains of the All Points East Festival we all took rest and refreshments in the sun. New friends were made, dog treats were shared, and smiles all round. Such a wonderful way to bring together the community and make new friends, both canine and human.

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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