This past week was vacation time! Following one of my niece’s weddings in Mexico City, we spent five days at a sleepy-beach destination just south of Puerto Vallarta. The home we rented had a smallish yet very pretty private beach. A long and semi-treacherous ten minute hike was in order to get to the ocean. As we made our way to the beach we were careful not to step on the red crabs as they dashed away from us after threatening us with their little arms. (I just learned they are called claws, not arms). At one point, John asked me: Do you think that the crab is “attacking” us because he is afraid or is he just being plain aggressive? Mmmm…I thought, it is always dangerous territory when we try and get into "someone” else's head – even if it is just a crustacean! The truth is that regardless of what some TV personalities want us to believe, we really do NOT know what another animal is thinking. Our best guess as to an animal’s motive for a behavior is by inference: We can observe what the animal is doing. In the case of the crab, opening and closing its claws as we come near. And from that observable fact we can assume what its emotional state or motivation might be.
My response to John was that I believe the crab’s attempts at pinching us shall we come any closer was an autonomic response: It is instinctual and in accordance with the crab’s genetic make-up for dealing with a potential threat. What I find most relevant for our discussion is the fact that fear - in all its manifestations - is an emotional response.
In the journal, Social Science Information (Vol 44 – no 4, 2001) article “Trends and developments: research on emotions” (Klaus R. Scherer defines emotions as…“an episode of interrelated, synchronized changes in the states of all or most of the five organismic subsystems in response to the evaluation of an external or internal stimulus event as relevant to major concerns of the organism…” Fiu! Now breaking the definition into small “installments” I will focus on: "to the evaluation of an external or internal stimulus event as relevant to major concerns of the organism…" so, fear has its roots in evolution (yet it is also subjective). Fear is evolutionarily advantageous in that it will keep the animal out of harm's way. This is also important because as an autonomic response; it is NOT under the animal’s control.
Now, back from vacation and on to the topic of our dogs. When a dog feels concern or very frighten it is CRUCIAL and compassionate that we do NOT push the dog to “deal” with the situation by forcing the animal to interact with the scary stimulus. Our own agenda as to how and when our dog must face its fears only accomplishes a lack of trust in our dog towards us (you could not keep me safe - kind of scenario) and a possible increase in fear or at least discomfort when in the presence of the given (scary) stimulus. Instead, in order to help our dogs become more confident so that they can better deal with what life sends their way we must go at their own pace when exposing them to what frightens them. Slow is always better when teaching any animal to learn to deal with an unknown - and from their perspective - dangerous situation.
If at all possible, break down the interaction with the stimulus into very small steps. For example: give your dog distance from the scary object, person etc. Pair the unpleasant experience with something fantastic for your pet (this is called classical conditioning – a topic that deserves its own entry). Learn about dog body language and how this expresses the dog’s internal state of discomfort and fear. Above all, rest assured that your dog is NOT being stubborn, dominant or silly when he decides not to get in the car, backs away from a reaching hand or … growls as someone he does not know who approaches in a threatening way. A fearful response, is in the best interest of the animal and it is not something that our pets can decide turn “off and on” on a whim.
Now, here is a question for you: can we make our pets even more afraid by consoling them when they are feeling unsure and afraid? The answer might surprise you… stay tuned!
My response to John was that I believe the crab’s attempts at pinching us shall we come any closer was an autonomic response: It is instinctual and in accordance with the crab’s genetic make-up for dealing with a potential threat. What I find most relevant for our discussion is the fact that fear - in all its manifestations - is an emotional response.
In the journal, Social Science Information (Vol 44 – no 4, 2001) article “Trends and developments: research on emotions” (Klaus R. Scherer defines emotions as…“an episode of interrelated, synchronized changes in the states of all or most of the five organismic subsystems in response to the evaluation of an external or internal stimulus event as relevant to major concerns of the organism…” Fiu! Now breaking the definition into small “installments” I will focus on: "to the evaluation of an external or internal stimulus event as relevant to major concerns of the organism…" so, fear has its roots in evolution (yet it is also subjective). Fear is evolutionarily advantageous in that it will keep the animal out of harm's way. This is also important because as an autonomic response; it is NOT under the animal’s control.
Now, back from vacation and on to the topic of our dogs. When a dog feels concern or very frighten it is CRUCIAL and compassionate that we do NOT push the dog to “deal” with the situation by forcing the animal to interact with the scary stimulus. Our own agenda as to how and when our dog must face its fears only accomplishes a lack of trust in our dog towards us (you could not keep me safe - kind of scenario) and a possible increase in fear or at least discomfort when in the presence of the given (scary) stimulus. Instead, in order to help our dogs become more confident so that they can better deal with what life sends their way we must go at their own pace when exposing them to what frightens them. Slow is always better when teaching any animal to learn to deal with an unknown - and from their perspective - dangerous situation.
If at all possible, break down the interaction with the stimulus into very small steps. For example: give your dog distance from the scary object, person etc. Pair the unpleasant experience with something fantastic for your pet (this is called classical conditioning – a topic that deserves its own entry). Learn about dog body language and how this expresses the dog’s internal state of discomfort and fear. Above all, rest assured that your dog is NOT being stubborn, dominant or silly when he decides not to get in the car, backs away from a reaching hand or … growls as someone he does not know who approaches in a threatening way. A fearful response, is in the best interest of the animal and it is not something that our pets can decide turn “off and on” on a whim.
Now, here is a question for you: can we make our pets even more afraid by consoling them when they are feeling unsure and afraid? The answer might surprise you… stay tuned!
Wow! Excelent post so clear, simple, yet deep in analysis. Thank you. MN
ReplyDeleteMN
ReplyDeletethanks for reading the post and your reply! Yes, life and behavior... simple yet full of twists and turns.
cheerios
Almudena (aka... b)