- Myths with regards to dog behaviour problems
- you’re not exercising your dog enough
- dog has not learned place in pack – not being disciplined enough
- too much affection and feeling entitled to behave in that way
- dogs should toughen up
- Dominance theory became mainstream
- We hold them ‘morally’ accountable
- Flexible hierarchy
- One can dominate a situation, not an individual
- Dominance is not a personality straight – it depends on the value of the thing at the time – hungry dog more like to guard food
- Family groups/social groups not packs
- Dogs do not have ‘theory of mind’ – they can’t put themselves in the shoes of another to know how they feel
- Learn via consequences and associations
- Completely present – ideally consequence comes within 0.5s
- ‘Lady in the chair’ – neutral room, lady in a chair crying
- Effects on behaviour
- genetics
- behavioural history
- current conditions
- internal environment – how they feel, physically and emotionally
- external environment – everything in the environment – change the environment = change the behaviour
- what effects behaviour isn’t what causes behaviour
- Brains comically identical to ours
- Positive and negative stress produces the same chemicals – excitement, arousal, fear, stress, frustration
- Fiddle behaviours
- Fidget
- Comfort/calming behaviours
- Displacement – jumping up due to adrenaline hit
- Context must be applied – yawning when tired
- What effects learning
- Saying ‘no’ – as long as
- dog is not misbehaving due to emotions
- no for a dog is just an interrupter
- no must not cause fear pf physical harm
- if you’re having to repeat no, you’re just nagging.
- Traffic light system
- red – over threshold – panic, flight or flight, self preservation
- amber – arousal increasing – struggle to think
- yellow – elevated arousal due to curiosity – good state of mind for learning
- green – calm, happy relaxed – best state of mind for learning