In the long run, if we are going to see continuous progress with these pups its going to be because owners got their head around the reality that they need to find ways to keep their dog feeling safe, to stop putting them into situations that scare them, worry them, upset them and possibly confuse them. There will be habits to change in their own routines. There may be some letting go of expectations of what a dog is suppose to do, or want to do. The concepts of desensitization and counterconditioning should be understood. If these dogs are going to have a decent life it will be because they are motivated by appetitive reinforcement, not avoidance or escape. Change what scary things predict for them. Break out the bacon, the cheese, sausage, frisbees and squeaky toys. They will be able to cope with situations because they have skills. They will have been taught what they need to do when faced with triggers or worrisome events. They will have learned these skills by someone using positive reinforcement in training. These dogs provide us with the opportunity to combine the best that we are. We humans have big brains that have studied and learned about animal behavior and learning. That information is available to us to take advantage of. We have huge hearts that feel the suffering of our pets as though its our own. This should steer us toward doing the most humane and effective things to help them. Start thinking. Come up with plans for managing so they feel safe. Work for the wag.
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 12:00:00 +0000
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