Windgate Animal Rescue (WAR)
Misc. Information & Links
We are constantly coming across articles and web sites that we find interesting, shocking, informative, laughable or traumatic. Therefore, we thought that we would share a few of them with you.
Just click on the logo of the site you wish to view, BUT please come back!
View videos at your own discretion.
Videos are graphic and may not be suitable for young viewers!!!
|
Animal Behaviorists Can Help Deal with Dog
Aggression March 2006
|
|
|
Dogs will be dogs.
Sometimes behavior that makes perfect sense in the dog world
doesn’t work in the human world. Dog aggression is one of the
main problems animal behaviorists deal with. Fortunately, with
careful desensitization and counter-conditioning, aggressive
behavior can often be reversed. “Many times dogs are punished for appropriate dog communication because we force them to live in our world,” says Jacqui Neilson, D.V.M., DACVB, of the Animal Behavior Clinic in Portland, Ore. “For example, a dog that growls at another dog for taking too long a sniff might be considered aggressive, yet the growling response is an appropriate form of communication from the dog’s perspective. “An owner is likely to tell the dog ‘no’ or inhibit the dogs’ ability to communicate effectively in some other way,” Neilson says. “This becomes a problem if the dog escalates the response, perhaps by biting.” In Neilson’s practice, dog aggression is the No. 1 behavior problem in which clients seek her help. “Some dogs are truly aggressive, but most of the time dogs are behaving in ways that are perfectly natural to them, but don’t work well living with people,” Neilson says. “I see the whole gamut of aggression problems, with owner-directed aggression being the most common.” Identifying Dog Aggression Dog aggression can be broken down into several categories. A thorough history that includes identifying the targets of aggression, the context of the aggression, and the severity of the aggression is the first step in helping to correct problems. A qualified veterinarian or animal behaviorist can then develop a diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan. Dog owner Laura Steffen of Portland, Ore., knows firsthand how difficult it can be to live with an aggressive dog. “’Maisy’ had been in several homes before I adopted her from the local humane society,” she says. “I wanted her to be a companion for my other dog ‘Hugo,’ but they never really bonded because of her escalating aggression issues.” Maisy, a sweet looking tan-and-white Pit Bull, exhibited aggressive behavior with Hugo, also a Pit Bull, and other dogs unknown to her. “Almost anything, such as a toy, food or even me, could trigger her,” Steffen says. There were rarely any real injuries, but the fights were still frightening for Steffen. Breeder Awareness “There are two big things breeders can do to help prevent aggression problems,” Neilson says. “The first is to breed for temperament. You can have the most beautiful dog, but if she’s fearful or aggressive, don’t breed her.” Neilson points to studies by Scott and Fuller in Bar Harbor, Maine, completed during the 1950s and 1960s that showed poor breeding choices could exacerbate nervousness and fearful behavior. In the studies, a group of Pointer dogs were separated into two groups, based on whether they had nervous and unstable behavior or stable and normal behavior. The nervous dogs were bred to each other, as were the normal dogs. All of the dogs were handled and raised similarly. After just a few generations, the puppies from the nervous group were behaving differently than the other puppies. They were less exploratory, less likely to greet people, and more likely to freeze when hearing loud noises. Even when stable bitches fostered the nervous puppies, there was no difference in the puppies’ unstable behavior. The exact way that genetics influence behavior is not known, which is why Neilson recommends not breeding animals that exhibit behavioral problems such as fearfulness or aggression. The other area in which breeders can have an impact on behavior is through puppy socialization. “You should make sure puppies have lots of good experiences, which is pretty easy with puppies,” Neilson says. “Early socialization helps create a confident dog that is more likely to respond appropriately in different situations.” “Super Dog” Socialization Socialization can start when puppies are quite young. Cocker Spaniel breeder Susan Roman of Austell, Ga., uses a method developed by Carmen Battaglia, Ph.D., based on the U.S. military’s “Super Dog” program, that shows early neurological stimulation has important and lasting effects on puppies. Battaglia, a director of the American Kennel Club, is the author of several books on dog breeding and helped the AKC develop its DNA program. The Super Dog program, which starts when pups are 3 days old and continues until they are 16 days old, involves stimulating puppies with five exercises that are practiced from three to five seconds a day. Exercises include tactile stimulation, head held erect stimulation, head pointed down stimulation, supine position stimulation, and thermal stimulation. Roman says the puppies she has raised using the Super Dog method are more confident, bold and aware, compared to previous litters that weren’t raised using the protocol. Cockers she has bred and raised using this program are successfully participating in conformation, obedience, agility and field events, and haven’t displayed any behavioral problems. Battaglia cautions that “a certain amount of stress for one dog may be too intense for another, and that too much stress can retard development. The results show that early stimulation exercises can have positive results but must be used with caution. In other words, too much stress can cause pathological adversities rather than physical or psychological superiority.” A Variety of Experiences In addition to this kind of stimulation, it helps to expose puppies to a variety of experiences. Roman, who doesn’t have children, wants her puppies to grow up comfortable around them. “Every time I have a litter, my friends with children come over so they can play with the puppies,” she says, adding that she also works diligently to familiarize her litters with common household sounds and activity. “Breeders need to remember that not all of their puppies will live in the same type of environment where they were born,” Neilson says. She recommends that over time puppies be exposed to a variety of people of different ethnicities and dress styles, as well as urban and suburban settings, particularly if they are born in rural areas. She suggests giving praise and treats to puppies while they are experiencing new things. It makes the process of socialization more fun for the puppy, and helps in the long run by creating good associations with the new experiences. Just one bad experience can cause a lifetime of problems. When Problems Crop Up Dogs often start to show signs of future behavioral problems early, but they’re often brushed away or discounted by owners. A dog may start with fearful behaviors, such as feeling uncomfortable or shrinking away. “Fear and anxiety underlie a lot of the problems I see,” Neilson says. “A fearful dog often will respond with flight or, more dangerously, fight.” She recounts the case of one dog she recently saw for aggression problems. “The owners reported that at his puppy class, when they were walking in a circle, he was noticeably suspicious of the dog behind him,” Neilson says. “Perhaps had his issues been identified and addressed at that time, his behavior wouldn’t have escalated to the level of aggression that his owners were facing.” Neilson creates a custom plan for each dog she sees, although they all have the same goal: to help the dog feel comfortable and relaxed when the trigger or stimulus that causes the problem occurs. The process Neilson follows to achieve this is called desensitization and counter-conditioning. The idea is to change the dog’s association with the trigger or stimulus. For instance if a dog has been snapping at people or other dogs while eating, the process is to remove the fear or anxiety response and teach the dog that good things happen while people and other dogs are around when he’s eating. In this example, the owner may feed the dog in the usual way, but then stay far enough away so that he or she doesn’t trigger the growling or snapping in the dog. From that point, the owner can toss a succulent treat, such as a piece of hot dog or bacon, to the dog. If the dog responds appropriately, then the person may take a step closer. It’s important to go slowly and set up the exercise in such a way that the dog is successful. “Avoid the aggressive triggers,” says Neilson. “If the dog continues to be exposed to and consequently reacts negatively to the trigger, it continues to reinforce the unwanted behavior. Management to prevent the unwanted behavior is key to success.” Steffen incorporated management and training with her dog Maisie. “Maisie and Hugo had to be separated in certain situations to prevent problems, but training with treats helped her with some of her less difficult situations,” she says. High Success Rate Of the 300 to 400 behavioral cases, mostly dogs, that Neilson sees annually, the majority are serious and longstanding problems. Many owners tell her she is their last hope. Fortunately, her success rate is high: About 90 percent of the animals stay in their homes. Problems would be remedied easier if owners would come to her sooner. “Once the behavior pattern is established, it is more difficult to change,” Neilson says. “If you notice any behavioral issues with your dog, you should talk to your veterinarian about it. Your veterinarian can help you to address the problem early, or make an appropriate referral.”  |
|
Source:
Animal Behaviorists Can Help Deal with Dog Aggression, Pro Club News, http://www.purinaproclub.com/, retrieved June 15, 2008.