• dog behaviour is multifactorial
    • exploratory
      • locomotory
      • sensory
      • curious
    • social
      • territorial
      • neotenous
        • retain puppy like behaviours
          • play
            • reciprocal
            • role swapping
            • self handicapping
            • breed
            • learning
    • ingestive
      • scavengers
      • foragers
      • opportunistic
      • predatory
    • sexual
      • maturity 6-12 m
      • independent
      • roaming
      • promiscuous
      • humping (not necessarily sexual)
      • maternal
        • nesting
        • self care
        • solitude
        • attention seeking
        • care giving
        • responsive to care seeking
        • aggression (prolactin)
  • development stages
    • central nervous system and genetics determines cognitive, emotional and physical normality/functionality
      • early inc pre natal development and experience crucial
    • foetal period – conception > partirition
    • neonatal – birth – 10 days
    • transitional – ~10 – ~21 days
    • socialisation period – 3 > 12 (up to 16) weeks
      • primary socialisation (conspecifics (littermates)  – earlier)
      • secondary socialisation (other species (e.g. humans) – later)
      • encompassed habituation period
      • fear period ~8 – 10 weeks
    • juvenile period – ~3 > 5-14 months
      • rapid growth
      • excitability
      • activity
    • sexual maturity
    • adolescence
      • juvenile period > adulthood
      • increasing independence
    • adulthood
      • social maturity 2-3 years
    • senior
      • 7+ years
  • Epigenetics
    • how genes are expressed influenced by internal/external environment
    • behavioural traits manifest as result of learning, inc prenatally
    • early environmental influences can determine lifeline behaviours
      • and subsequent generations
    • may be advantageous for adaptability – may also be disadvatageous
    • careful consideration to which parents breed from
      • environment adapted to
      • temperament
    • nurture and nature always at play and intertwined
    • both parents, plus previous generations, health, behaviour, learning influence offspring
    • manage peri natal experiences to reduce physical or emotional distress
  • Breeds (MAPs previously FAPs)
    • predatory sequence: search > orient > eye-stalk > chase > grab bite > kill bite (> dissect > consume)
      • pointer: orient > eye-stalk > chase > grab bite > kill bite
      • retriever: orient > eye-stalk > chase > grab bite > kill bite
      • hound: orient > mark > chase > grab bite > kill bite
      • collie: orient > eye > stalk > chase > grab bite > kill bite
      • terrier: orient > eye-stalk > chase > grab bite > kill bite
  • Prevention
    • ideal world – pre pet selection counselling from trainer
      • right pet at right time for right people in right home from right source
    • sources pf pets
      • breeder
      • rescues
        • mean well but don’t always have knowledge
      • farms
        • welfare not always a concern
      • importa
      • wild caught
  • Owner education
    • pre birth prep
      • parents
        • health
          • behaviour
          • temprement
        • environment
          • nutrition
          • place
          • resources
          • space
          • social
    • pregnancy
      • stress
      • learning
      • health
      • nutrition
      • emotional comfort
      • choice/control
    • epigenetic
    • perinatal
    • species’ needs
  • Early learning – socialisation and habituation
    • sensitive period
      • 12-14 (up to 16) weeks
      • sights, sounds, smells
      • other animals
      • different types of people
      • importance of correct play
      • places
      • objects
      • modes of transport
      • no big deal training
    • brain is blank canvas
      • rapid learning
      • complex, enriched environment is vital
      • puppies learning all the time
      • teach, guide and support well
      • acheive
        • happy, relaxed, well rounded pets prepared for life
        • happy relaxed owner, bonded to pet for life
        • pets who are happy in all situations
        • optimists
      • avoid
        • frightened, under confident, overwhelmed pets
        • stressed owners
        • pets growing up with behaviour problems
          • more dogs die under 3 years from behavioural problems than illness or injury
    • rules
      • new stimuli should be introduced at a distance
      • give an escape route
        • are they using it repeatedly, or reluctant to come back?
        • are they coming back voluntarily?
      • no food to lure
      • keep it positive
      • use lots of treats/play/praise
      • 2-3 new experience a day
      • watch emotional state all the time
        • respond before there’s a problem
      • puppy parties
        • shouldn’t be a ‘party’
        • good puppy class
          • not traditional trainer
          • not one size fits all
        • good experience
        • knowledgeable professions
  • Training v behaviour
    • training
      • preventative
      • proactive
    • behaviour
      • remedial
      • reactive
      • emotional
    • SMART – see mark and reinforce training