• 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
    • 3Ds
  • 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