Confidence Building - Part 2

Rio and Deuce have finished eating dinner and as we do every night, I proceed to the laundry room just after having said out loud: “Does anyone here want a bone?” Immediately I hear hurried paw steps towards the laundry room in anticipation of “dessert”.

I have been trained well by these two and I proceed to give Deuce his pig’s ear followed by giving the patient Rio hers. Once again hurried paw steps are heard going away from the laundry room and into their customary chewing-spots. It does not fail. I can guarantee with 100 % certainty – and how often can we really say this? Where each dog will go to enjoy his or her chewy “in privacy”.

When I pay attention, I see routine behaviors or habits from the dogs. How they lay down for example: Deuce always resting his butt down first and then stretching his long legs in front of him by sliding them on the floor. I also see patterns in how they run after a ball, what they will do when someone knocks at the door, etc.

Dogs, just like us humans, do things that make them comfortable, feel safe and that works for them. These behaviors become patterns of comfort, safety and predictability.

If we choose to be mindful and help our dogs in becoming more self-confident we can make use of these patterns to bring a sense of consistency into their lives. Think about it, if they choose to engage in a given behavior over and over again is because there is something about that behavior that works for them. When we are able to link predictability where there is chaos – or potential chaos, the dog can begin to relax.

Now, what happens when a habit is one we just can’t condone? One that might put our dog at risk or someone else? Or simply a habit that drives us crazzzzyyyyy? Think here a Border Collie with ball obsessions where either: a.) he carries his ball everywhere or, b.) he expects you to throw the ball for him at all times all day long no matter that you have work to do, eat, sleep, or to watch TV in peace!

The way to deal with customary behaviors as above is first to try and identify the motivation behind the behavior. In other words: why is the dog doing “x” thing? Sometimes it is very straightforward and obvious, but most times it is not. Besides, there can be many reasons for a given behavior. Either way, we make the effort.

The point here is to customize a different plan of approach that the dog can learn which prevents him or her from engaging in the behavior we don’t want and substitutes for something we can live with, will keep the dog safe and boost his quality of life and confidence. Or at the very least, not undermine his welfare.

Here is an example: Rio is comfortable with people once she has had the opportunity to sniff them at close range. However, she is conflicted often when meeting someone new. Yes, she wants the social interaction, but she also appears to be overwhelmed by it. How do I know this? I don’t with 100% certainty but I can infer this by her overall attitude and body language. As such, we have now a plan in place that we follow whenever someone new comes by.

Our goal is to have Rio and the visitor as well, feel comfortable with the interaction. To accomplish this, we prevent Rio from dashing out the front door in full speed and barking in order to smell the person. No one likes to be greeted by a dashing & barking unknown dog! Besides, I want Rio to learn and literally exercise impulse control and learn muscle memory of calm approaches. So she comes out on a leash and we take time walking towards the person on a loose leash (most of the time) :) while she is getting treats for walking nicely and quietly.

Once she has had a chance to sniff the person she can turn into a Velcro dog…but that is another habit altogether.

Observing our dogs and learning their preferences not only beats reading the ultimate detective novel, but it gives us a leg up in making them feel safe and thrive as well as replacing unwanted or dangerous habits for better ones. And if you ask me, it is at the center of any intimate relationship.

Building Confidence

Rio is one of those dogs that really never misses a meal or any opportunity for some extra tidbits, but a couple of days ago something strange happened. It is breakfast time and I call both dogs in my customary way. Rio, instead of coming and lying on her bed, is cruising the living room and basically not minding me. I encourage her to come and I receive the same response.

I normally don’t worry if my dogs choose to miss a meal. Normal for animals that are scavengers – the “strange thing” actually is for them to get fed daily!

Whenever my dogs miss a meal I observe more closely their overall behavior. If everything else looks “normal for them” I don’t worry. Soon enough they begin to eat.

But this thing with Rio is gone past that. She is not even interested in playing our run after kibble game that we play some mornings in the long hallway. Instead of running after the kibble that I flick for each dog in opposite directions, Rio’s body language appears defeated: Head low, curved back and low hind-area. She is also clearly averting her gaze from Deuce.

As I sit on the ground perplexed I can't stop but asking: Did I miss anything here? What is going on???????

I have not noticed anything unusual between Deuce and Rio and besides she is just her normal self except surrounding meals or games that have to do with meals.

John also reports to me that he has noticed Rio not going into the laundry room to begin eating as fast as she always does. Don’t worry, I tell him, but let’s do watch her for any other clues.

I decide then to give this poor girl some needed help. I deliver her food bowl as I do daily but instead this time I coax her a little to come get her chow while Deuce is already on his spot eating his. It does not take long for her to realize that eating is something she really enjoys.

Once at her bowl, I stick around in the laundry room and as an added “bonus” I am blocking Deuce from Rio’s view. I pretend to be doing chores as I do not want to focus too much on her but instead keeping things light and up-beat.

Once she begins to eat she seems relaxed. I praise her as she is finishing her meal.

Okay, that did it, I think. But the next morning as I set things up for the run after kibble game Rio goes back to her low-confidence posture.

I get smart and I begin to flick for her not the usual boring kibble, which Deuce is running after full throttle on his side of the corridor. Instead, I send flying high-value treats for Rio to find. Initially she is waal-k-iin-g to them. Argh! Come on girl! But as I continue to toss them as far as I can, she kind of gets into the groove and now she is running to get every treat I send her way.

A couple of days have passed, and she is not 100% back to her normal self surrounding meals; but at least I know I am on the right track.

There are times when just one awful experience - from the dog’s perspective - can really change how your dog feels about something. This is indeed the power of classical conditioning - where it is all about associations. Sometimes we know exactly what happened because you were there, but many times you don't. Either way, the approach for the solution is the same… Plan to give your dog a bunch of positive experiences in relation to the bad experience so that at least the dog remains neutral to the stimulus and at best is back to enjoying doing what she previously did.

Strategies

On this particular morning I am busy with feeding the dogs. I give Deuce his pin-toy filled with kibble while Rio is following me around waiting to see what will happen with her this AM.

Deuce is an awesome happy-go-lucky dog, but he ain’t sharing his food-dispensing toys with Rio so I have to make sure that when I use this, Deuce and Rio are separated.

Sure, I can teach him to “share” with Rio but this is one occasion in which management works great.

Rio and I are now doing a mini-training session in the LR. I am teaching her to get behind me when I say: go hide. This is a really cool behavior to teach any dog. You can have your dog go behind you in the event that a dog is approaching you from the front. Your dog being behind you will really lower the chances of an altercation.

With Rio, I want her to have this behavior down pat because sometimes she feels concerned (I think she feels this based on my observation of her body language) when meeting new people.

After a few reps, I bring with me the rest of her morning kibble and I ask her to follow me out back. She is excited, as she has learned this routine… I toss her kibble far and wide and tell her to go “find it”. In other words: Entertain yourself and use your beagle nose Rio and find every morsel of food!

Now this is the cool thing I noticed this morning as I am ready to launch her food: Rio and I are standing on the deck above the back area where her food is going to land.

Your “average” dog would begin running down the steps in order to begin eating but not Rio! Okay, okay, I know, I sound like the typical “mom” thinking that her “child” is “gifted”. But you decide… instead of making a blind-dash, Rio is looking at my hand just before launching the kibble and waits to see where the food lands before she runs down the steps to eat!!! Talk about being strategic AND brilliant :O)

I have seen her using this same strategy when we are playing “whippet”. She focuses on the movement of the hand holding the whippet toy so that she can anticipate where the whippet will move & land… If the first anecdote above did not convince you of her “brilliance” perhaps the whippet one will - ha!

So, what might be behind Rio’s decision to first look at the movement of the hand in both of these cases? The truth is I don’t know, but I am going to take a stab at it.

1. Dogs are brilliant at flow-charts: when “A” takes place “B” follows under these and these circumstances… so she has learned that when I have the measuring cup with kibble and I am standing with it on the back porch most likely I will be launching the food followed by the “find it” cue. And she has figured it out that if she pays attention and she sees first where the food lands the easier it will be for her to find it.
2. Dogs are keen on movement: In both of these examples, it is the particular movement of my wrist that precedes the launching of the food and the whippet toy. So again, if she observes the movement of my hand as I hold the toy she can best determine where the toy will land which will allow her to catch it.

I am terribly amused when I discover things like this be it in my own dogs or my client’s. Besides the amusement part, I love these kinds of “revelations” because they shed some light onto how their brains “work”. Ahh, our dogs… perpetual learners of our habits even when we are so clueless about them.

 

Ever So Subtle

I am coming in the front door with Deuce in tow. Rio was home and had just finished a play date with a pal of hers. Deuce also used to play with Dash prior to Dash exhibiting a full-blown case of testosterone. For now, Deuce does not join in on these play sessions until Dash is altered since Deuce was beginning to target him as many unuttered males are by neutered ones. In essence, it's as if the unaltered dog is wearing a target on his back that reads: Hit me! Hit me!

In any event, as I walk through the door with Deuce, a bouncy Rio comes to greet us. I am watching her say “hi” to Deuce and I noticed Rio licking Deuce’s muzzle with Deuce reciprocating as well. All kissing out of the way we are now in the kitchen, which is adjacent to our living room. Rio body blocks Deuce by swiftly and comically moving in front of him while she nudges him on the face - this time with more determination thus preventing him  from continuing to move forward directly to one of their beds located in a corner of our kitchen area.

Dogs are masters at managing each other via use of space. Their signals and body language are oh so subtle for the untrained eye that if you do not know what you are looking for, you will miss it all together.

I am amused by Rio’s reaction to Deuce. I realized now that it makes sense that she is once again trying to manage his whereabouts since we are in the kitchen – a quasi “sacred” area for Rio - all things food captivate her! Come to think of it, the fact that John and now I were also in the kitchen makes it even more probable that goods are going to be dispersed, but only if they are lying on their beds.

So here is a fun challenge (or called it a game) that you can play with your dog:

• Stand in front of your dog.
• Make eye contact and gently move ever so slightly to one side.
• Watch your dog closely and see if he mirrors in any way your sway motion. Perhaps he will rotate his eyes or an ear, move his hips in the same direction (opposite since he is facing you but same direction you moved).
• Try swaying to the other side. What now?
• See if you can observe the tiny movements your dog makes in response to your own movements.
• You can step it up a notch and lean (feet remain on the ground) towards your dog, again very slightly. Observe your dog's response.
• Try the same, but leaning backwards…

Now you are both good dance partners!

Just like how Rio controlled Deuce’s movements by taking up his “personal” space, we can learn to do the same with our dogs when we need them to move in a certain direction. Think, for example, of using your own body to block the front door from your dog as he makes a beeline to the great outdoors. Or moving your dog away from where you prepare food in the kitchen and back to their beds.

Not only is this way of managing our dogs and their whereabouts more humane than the ubiquitous grabbing of the collar or the scruff (ouch, who would like being moved that way) but also your dog will get it!

We humans are also sensitive to our personal space and we would most likely respond as our dogs do when someone (especially someone we do not want close) moves too close to us. I think the difference is that dog’s have a much more subtle body language.

Now back to our dogs. I am not much of a proponent of exercising “control” over our dogs. I try to not use this phrase much because it has a negative connotation for me.

Animals as sentient begins and individuals need to also have their needs met and controlling them does not support this.

This is one more reason why I encourage people to move their dogs when needed in a manner that the dog can understand. Your dog might be just so impressed by your good manners that he will comply oh so readily!

I am working with a client who has mobility issues and a very exuberant strong dog. One of the exercises we have been working on is teaching his dog to back up when my client needs to walk without having the dog jump on him or block his path. On our session yesterday, the dog was responding nicely to me when I asked him to back up after I had taught the dog what that meant. Now it was my client’s turn to work with his dog as I watched.

Initially the dog would either look at me for a reinforcer (treat in this case) instead of moving back as requested. After a little troubleshooting my client was able to successfully use his body to request his dog to move back giving him ample space to move safely. I too got my reinforcement when I saw my client’s expression of success as I heard loud and clear his cheerful good boy!! directed at his dog.