flee – most common – evolutionary the most successful
freeze – e.g beagle
fool around – displacement behaviours – e.g. lab
fight = e.g. terrier (freeze wouldn’t be appropriate in a tunnel)
causes
medical
genetics – species, breed, parents
stress
development problems
fear aggression
territorial aggression
dominance aggression (known individuals of same species – relationship)
defensive aggression
resource guarding
frustration
redistricted aggression
play aggression
predatory aggression
learning
if a dog finds that a fearful experience cannot be predicted or controlled, generalised anxiety or phobia may develop
emotion
all behaviours driven by emotion
the degree depends of the trigger’s distance and intensity
4 choices
mate with it
eat it
play with it
flight it
not all reactions are conscious choices
Jerkes/Dodson/Hobbs law of arousal
arousal increases performed up to optimal level, then arousal decreases performance
need to know ‘go to move’ – CER
practical rehabilitation?
what is realistic for the dog?
what happens when management fails?
what’s safe for everyone?
2 weeks at least stress holiday
scent games
acceptance and trust
Early recognition of pain
Arthritis
Stats
80% dogs over 8
35% of all dogs = 3.15m dogs in UK
licking
chewing
chronic pain
behaviour change
willingness to interact
more clingy
uninterested and distant
can be confused with canine cognitive disfunction
noise sensitivity
capability and gait
not always a limp
irregular walking
loosing balance
laboured sit to stand
postural change
sit
sleeping posture
muscular changes
40%-80% of advice is forgotten immediately
Body condition score of 4/4.5 is ideal
Puppies removed from mother too early more likely to
bark
be fearful on walks
be reactive to noise
be destructive
resource guard
be attention seeking
Pandemic puppy boom
bad breeders
sold before 8 weeks
sold sick/with worms, giardiasis, fleas, diarrhoea
calling the dogs a different breed to inflate prices
taking deposits and then increasing price when pup is ready to leave
taking deposits, telling new owner puppy has died and selling to someone else at an increased price
sold as KC reg with no paperwork
puppies with behavioural issues
no health testing of the parents
stressed parents
no socialisation/habituation
puppy not weaned – pup doesn’t know how to eat or drink
pup doesn’t know how to play with toys
ask for 2 forms of ID from breeder
WhatsApp ask the breeder to drop a pin of their location
good breeders have waiting lists
ask to see live videos of the pup
does the breeder answer the phone
screenshot all correspondence
does breeder ask about you
Sleep
You can die as easily from sleep deprivation as lack of food or water.
Promotes physical, emotional, cognitive health
Lack of sleep effects immune system
Needed for growth
Repairing tissue
Recharging emotionally
Brains more active at night, particularly in REM, than in daytime
Puppies need 18-20 hours sleep
Adult dogs 12-14 hours sleep
Large breed nap more often that small breeds (depending on what the breed’s job was)
Deeper sleep between 21:00-06:00
Sleep 80% of the night
Polyphasic – more sleep cycles
Crepuscular – active at dawn and dusk
Cycles
Same as humans, but at different times, shorter and more of them
Always more alert
N1 > N2 > N3 > REM
N2 – linked to memory and learning consolidation
N3 – healing, repair, difficult to wake up from
REM – emotions
Humans 25% of cycle in REM, dogs only about 10%
Dream
Yes
In N and REM stages
Pons – paralyses big muscles to stop us acting out dreams
Sleep deprivation
Poor decisions
Protein builds in brain, linked to alzheimer’s
Grumpy
Poor health
Lack of growth
Effects sleep
Stress
Sight loss – effects internal clock
24hr body clock – different for different people – night owl/early bird – changes with age
Physical activity
Sleep disorders
Narcolepsy – most often in puppies
Sleep apnoea
Insomnia
Canine cognitive dysfunction
Epilepsy
Aggression if woken
REM behaviour disorder
Excessive startle response
Fear/anxiety
Memory trigger
Low blood sugar
Positions
Totally relaxed
Side rest – napping, relaxed
Under blankets – fearful? breed? cold?
Companionably – touching something living – like company – heat regulation
Sentry duty – high traffic area
Curled up – anxious? cold?
Heat conserving – covers nose
Need to hold something – puppy habit? breed? comfort?
Small spaces – heat? anxiety?
Tongue out – deep relaxation, cooling, aids breathing, hanging tongue syndrome
Beds
Need to be able to lie flat – start out curled up then like to lie flat
Memory foam?
Pillows
Material – static shock?
Placement –
Out of drafts
Quiet. traffic free, not isolated from family
Away from direct sunlight/radiators
Away from windows (distractions)
Dark
Choices
Safe
Puppies first night
Has breeder given pups short periods of stress from being away from mum and litter?
Probably during a fear period
Lost safety and security
Can’t regulate body temp
Forced time alone can cause SA
If wild, wouldn’t have left mum yet
Company – survival instinct
First few months important for bonding
By 3-4 months puppies should be able to sleep through the night
Bladder control
6-14 weeks – 8-10 times a day
14-20 weeks – 6-8 times daily
20-30 weeks – 4-6 times daily
30+ weeks – 3-4 times daily
Week out of sleeping with you after a few months
Alone training when you can return and monitor
Don’t rush
Adolescents – lack of sleep
Check mental and physical stimulation and times
Lack of company in the day?
Arousal
Elderly
More often and longer periods
May need different bedding
Might not be able to get upstairs
Bladder control
Health issues interrupt sleep
CCD
Check nothing is keeping them awake
What effects sleep
Health
Pain
Sleep disorders
CCD
Allergies
Food intolerances
Epilepsy
Hyperactivity
Environment
Cold
Light
Noise
Weather
Wildlife
Discomfort
Stress
Vocalising
Processing negative feelings from the day
SA
Us
Not enough human interaction during the day
Arousal/conflict with family member
Our insomnia
Neighbours’ noise
External noises – white noise machine?
Natural cycles
Puppies/elderly needing toilet
Crepuscular
Expecting food/exercise
Anticipation of set routine
Hungry – adolescent on low carb diet – slow release carbs late at night?
Things to help
Bed time routine
Check food and carbs
Change location
Get up to the dog
PJs if cold
Calming products
Music/white noise
Blings/curtains
Ttouch and body wraps
Mindset
Vagus nerve
mood regulator
breathing techniques – to restore calm and regain behavioural flexibility redirecting vagal activity, counteracts flight or fight
breath in 4 sec
exhale 8 sec
negative bias influences people’s motivation to complete a task
2 jars, positive and negative happenings, positive jar should fill up first
can’t change the negative thing that has already happened, prepare to allow for a better outcome next time
write an accomplishment journal
reinforce the owner
Diet
impacts reactivity
diet is individual to the dog
Exercise
Walk every day may not be the best thing – trigger stacking
72 hours for cortisol to return to basal levels
brain games eBook
Eustress – positive challenge = feelings of fulfilment
Distress – negative threat = not coping
Sympathetic nervous system = flight or fight
Parasympathetic nervous system = rest and digest (Dominant under non-stressful conditions.)
adrenaline dissipates within 15 mins
glucocorticoids can take 2-6 days to return to baseline
reactive dogs are living for most of the time in a state of distress
certain activities, such as constant ball or Frisbee chasing for more than 30 minutes, can cause over arousal for several days if the dog is not allowed a recovery period
