BARKS from the Guild July 2018

© Can Stock Photo/tobkatrina

BARKS from the Guild Issue 31 / July 2018

BARKSmagazine.com

AVIAN Fine Tuning Training Skills

CANINE Raising a Blind or Deaf Puppy

FELINE Cattery or Cat Sitter?

EQUINE Expressing Natural Behavior

CANINE The Benefits of Hydrotherapy

TRAINING How +R Affects Dogs’ Brains

PLUS A FULL REPORT FROM PPG’S 2018 TRAINING & BEHAVIOR WORKSHOP IN KANAB, UTAH

Setting a Course to Confidence:

A Suggested Seven-Day Curriculum for Trainers and Instructors on Building Confidence in Fearful Dogs TM

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BARKS from the Guild

Published by the Pet Professional Guild 9122 Kenton Road, Wesley Chapel, Florida 33545, USA Tel: +1-844-462-6473 petprofessionalguild.com petprofessionalguild.com/BARKSfromtheGuild facebook.com/BARKSfromtheGuild Editor-in-Chief Susan Nilson barkseditor@petprofessionalguild.com

Images © Can Stock Photo: canstockphoto.com (unless otherwise credited; uncredited images belong to Pet Professional Guild)

Pet Professional Guild Steering Committee Kelly Fahey, Paula Garber, Kelly Lee, Michelle Martiya, Debra Millikan, Susan Nilson, Louise Stapleton-Frappell, Angelica Steinker, Niki Tudge

BARKS from the Guild Published bi-monthly, BARKS from the Guild presents a collection of valuable business and technical articles as well as reviews and news stories pertinent to our industry. BARKS is the official publication of the Pet Professional Guild.

Submissions BARKS encourages the submission of original written materials.

Please contact the Editor-in-Chief for contributor guidelines prior to sending manuscripts or see: petprofessionalguild.com/forcefreeindustrypublication Please submit all contributions via our submission form at: petprofessionalguild.com/bftgcontent

Letters to the Editor To comment on an author’s work, or to let PPG know what topics you would like to see more of, contact the Editor-in-Chief via email putting BARKS in the subject line of your email. BARKS reserves the right to edit for length, grammar and clarity.

Subscriptions and Distribution BARKS is a digital publication. Print copies are available by monthly subscription. Register at petprofessionalguild.com/subscribe-here. Please contact Rebekah King at membership@petprofessionalguild.com for all subscription and distribution-related enquiries.

Advertising Please contact Niki Tudge at admin@petprofessionalguild.com to obtain a copy of rates, ad specifications, format requirements and deadlines.

Advertising information is also available at petprofessionalguild.com/advertisinginBARKS

Pet Professional Guild does not endorse or guarantee any products, services or vendors mentioned in BARKS, nor can it be responsible for problems with vendors or their products and services. Pet Professional Guild reserves the right to reject, at its discretion, any advertising.

To be in any way affiliated with the Pet Professional Guild, all members must adhere to a strict code of conduct. Pet Professional Guild members understand force-free to mean that no shock, no pain, no choke, no fear, no physical force, no compulsion based methods are employed to train or care for a pet.

© All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the Pet Professional Guild, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, please email: barkseditor@petprofessionalguild.com.

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from the editor

epending on when you are reading this, it is already at least a couple of months since PPG’s inaugural Training and Behavior Workshop at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah took place – and what an event it was! Pet professionals from all over North America and as far afield as Australia and Europe traveled to attend the groundbreaking event, which once again featured PPG’s trademark high standard of education combined with a fun, friendly, force-free atmosphere. I am sure many will agree that the hands-on workshops with some of the 1,600 resident rescue animals at Best Friends were one of the week’s many highlights. Attendees had the opportunity to work with puppies, dogs, cats, parrots, chickens, pigs, rabbits and tortoises on a range of skills, including crate training, targeting, imitation, and stationing, as well as learn first-hand from the experts more about species-specific behavior and body language. We have recorded the event with a full pictorial report in this issue and hope it will bring back happy memories for those who were in Kanab, and inspire all of us to polish our skills working with different species, wherever the possibility may present itself.

Meanwhile, our Cover feature this month focuses on building confidence in fearful dogs. We present a suggested course curriculum sample for trainers and instructors, specifically looking at the various emotional states – such as stress, fear and anxiety – behind resulting behaviors – such as reactivity and aggression – and how to address these via learning, mental and environmental stimulation, and all-round good management. Stripped down to basics, the goal is for new information to create new neural pathways that suppress old, fearful memories. And, talking of the canine brain, our Training section this issue explores the world of positive reinforcement, how it affects our dogs’ brains, and how to choose the different types of rewards we use. Elsewhere, in our extended Canine section, we look into how and why empowerment, confidence and protection are key in raising a blind or deaf puppy; the importance of dog breeders and behavior consultants working together to avoid future behavior problems; and the benefits of hydrotherapy for pets suffering from a medical condition or recovering from surgery, as well as how to qualify professionally as an animal hydrotherapist.

In our Pet Care section, we focus once again on recommended standards for day care and boarding facilities, this time exploring vaccination and health requirements to ensure dogs remain healthy during their stay. On a related theme, our Feline section deliberates over the pros and cons of cat sitters vs. a stay in a cattery when you head out on business or vacation, while our Equine section looks into nutritional considerations in the domestic horse, as well as the importance of context and providing horses with the ability to express natural behavior. We also have a thought provoking report in our Avian section, which talks fine tuning our training skills with parrots based on the popular Parrot Garden workshops in Kanab.

At the back end of the issue, our Consulting section looks at both the lighter and more challenging sides of being a pet professional. Starting with a comparison between animal behavior consulting and the world of dating, we then move to a first-hand account of how one member overcame autism and dyslexia to become a professional dog and parrot behavior consultant and trainer, and onto an investigation into bestiality, its possible links to violent crime, and the very real need, in our author’s opinion, to protect both animals and humans via legislation. Finally, our Business section offers some good advice on branding and whether a name change would be good for your own small business, while, ending as we began, with education, our Comment section asks the experts for their views on why continuing education is important for professional development.

BARKS is always looking for new contributors. If you have an idea for an article, do get in touch! Email: barkseditor@petprofessionalguild.com.

BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

n Susan Nilso 3

contents 6 10 18 26 30 33 36 38 40 43 46 50 52 54 58 60 62

4

N EWS

An update of all the latest developments at PPG, plus upcoming podcasts, webinars and workshops

E VENTS : W ELCOME

TO THE I MPOSSIBLE

S ETTING

TO

Susan Nilson reports from PPG’s inaugural Training and Behavior Workshop held at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah in April A

C OURSE

CONFIDENCE

Diane Garrod discusses ways of building confidence in fearful dogs and presents a suggested course curriculum sample for trainers and instructors

T HE P OWER

OF

P OSITIVE

Anna Bradley explores the world of positive reinforcement, how it affects our dogs’ brains

POSITIVE ASSOCIATIONS

Debbie Bauer discusses the key roles of empowerment and confidence in raising a blind or deaf puppy

G ENERATION N EXT

18

© Can Stock Photo/tobkatrina

10

30

Sam Redmond highlights the importance of breeders and behavior consultants working together

T HE P OWER

OF

WATER

Charlotte Pimm of Woozelbears Hydrotherapy details the benefits of hydrotherapy for pets and how to qualify as an animal hydrotherapist

T HE N EED

FOR

PROTECTION

Lauri Bowen-Vaccare looks into vaccination and health requirements for boarding and day care facilities

C ATTERY

OR CAT SITTER ?

Photo © Susan Nilson

Lisa Sinnott considers what is the most ideal option for your feline’s wellbeing when you are away from home

Photo © Debbie Bauer

K NOW BETTER , D O BETTER

38

Lara Joseph talks fine tuning training skills with parrots, based on her workshops at PPG’s April Training and Behavior Workshop in Kanab

E VOLUTION

AND

A DAPTABILIT Y

Kathie Gregory explores nutritional considerations in the domestic horse, and the importance of providing horses the ability to express natural behavior

PARALLEL U NIVERSE

Angelica Steinker explores the analogy that pet behavior consulting is rather a lot like dating

P ERFECT

AT

36

B EING I MPERFECT

Photo © Woozelbears

43

Kathy Berner details how she overcame her struggles with autism and dyslexia to become a professional dog and parrot behavior consultant and trainer

L IVING

IN

F EAR

Daniel Antolec explores the dark world of bestiality and its possible links to violent crime and antisocial personality disorder in adults

A SK

THE

© Can Stock Photo/raywoo

E XPERTS : A NEW LOOK

Veronica Boutelle of dog*biz responds to business and marketing questions

P ROFILE : SEEING DOGS SUCCEED

Featuring Cindy VanFrankfoort of Team Fido Dog Training in Lakefield, Ontario

C OMMENT : BECAUSE, SCIENCE

40

© Can Stock Photo/Vapi

Photo © Susan Nilson

54

46

Susan Nilson and Louise Stapleton-Frappell ask a group of renowned canine training and behavior specialists why continuing education is important for pet professionals

BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

© Can Stock Photo/DragoNika

© Can Stock Photo/RuslanKphoto

news

Shock-Free Coalition Update

I

n consultation with a public relations agency, PPG has launched a new platform for its Shock-Free initiatives, spearheaded by the Shock-Free Coalition advocacy campaign (shockfree.org). The platform provides membership options for pet owners and businesses to help support the Coalition’s goals and is a regionally-driven site, so each location can more effectively develop and manage local advocacy efforts in terms of legal and statutory strategies. To grow the network, PPG will appoint Shock-Free Coalition coordinators (shockfree.org/Coordinator) in each region to help develop and grow local coalition chapters. Coordinators will be trained in Shock-Free Coalition brand standards, social media protocols, meeting criteria and local responsibilities, objectives and branding. Full support will be given from PPG leadership. If you are interested in helping us by becoming a coordinator, then please complete the application form (shockfree.org/Coordinator/Apply). These positions will work directly with PPG president, Niki Tudge in coordination with PPG’s legal and public relations partners to begin working on legislation across the globe. You will help build these roles from the grassroots level.

This is a watershed moment for PPG and the lives of our pets!

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PPG Appoints New Board Member

PG has appointed a PPGBI membership manager Louise StapletonFrappell as a board member with a view to greater expansion and to support ongoing international growth. Based in Estepona, Spain, Stapleton-Frappell is also a PPG and PPGBI steering committee member.

“It is an honor and a privilege to join PPG’s board of directors and I would like to thank my fellow board members for the confidence they have placed in me,” said Stapleton-Frappell. “I look forward to continuing to work for the benefit of this organization and our membership.”

“In terms of PPG’s future development goals, it is important that we have localized board level leadership to help and support our international brand assimilate positively within local markets and cultures,” added PPG founder and president, Niki Tudge.

Photo © Arran Staines Photography

Louise Stapleton-Frappell, pictured with her dogs Jambo (left) and Tessa, has joined the PPG board of directors

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

PPG Opens Registration for Portland 2019 Educational Seminar

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PG and co-host Doggone Safe (doggonesafe.com) have announced the speaker line-up and opened registration for their Canine Aggression Safety and Education Seminar (petprofessionalguild.com/2019Portland) taking place at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Portland, Oregon on April 26-28, 2019.

Attendees will have access to all-day general sessions supported by an afternoon feline specialty track. Session topics are to include the neuroscience of aggression, functionally assessing aggression, resource guarding, aggression modification protocols and techniques, and managing clients with aggressive pets. Presenters include Dr. Lisa Radosta, Dr. Nathan Hall, Dr. Ilana Reisner, Pat Miller, Chirag Patel, Niki Tudge, Judy Luther, Janis Bradley and David Pearsall, with Paula Garber, Francine Miller, Beth Adelman and Tabitha Kucera of the PPG cat committee heading up the feline track. The event will also include one of PPG’s trademark Chat Chuckle and Learn private dinners hosted by Niki Tudge with guest speaker Dr. Lisa Radosta, and a gala dinner event featuring a presentation by Dr. Ilana Reisner.

PPG and Doggone Safe are both offering their respective members special rates for the event. Public rates are also available and include the Early Bird special if registration is completed prior to July 18, 2018.

The popular Great Dane package is once again available and includes the seminar entrance ticket, seminar T-shirt, hotel accommodation, breakfast and lunch each day, and both evening events. This package may be paid for in installments over the next 10 months.

“Aggression and bite safety is a very important topic for pet professionals, pet owners, home service workers and community representatives,” said PPG president Niki Tudge. “It is often misunderstood, leaving pet owners without much needed help and support. We hope this is the first of many educational initiatives to help keep our canines and families safe through education, community programs and a much better allround understanding of these crucial topics. Doggone Safe works year-round to help support dog bite safety educators, Be A Tree presenters and pet owners, while PPG represents professionals working in the field who benefit from our education programs and resources to support their effectiveness. Hosting this seminar together is the perfect fit and a great opportunity to bring like-minded, supportive individuals together.” (For more details, see ad on back cover).

Kanab Session Recordings Available

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he audio recordings from PPG’s Training and Behavior Workshop held in Kanab, Utah in April are now available to order (petprofessionalguild .com/event-2852844).

Catch up on four fabulous days of lectures held in the Kanab Library and Crescent Moon Theater.

Janis Bradley of the National Canine Research Council talks confirmation bias on April 23, 2018

PPG to Host Fun Day of Education in Florida

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PG is to hold a day of free education and fun for Florida-based PPG members and DogSmiths on Sunday, September 16, 2018 at its headquarters in Tampa (petprofessionalguild.com/event-2858895). The schedule includes presentations by PPG president, Niki Tudge, local veterinarian, Dr. Lynn Honeckman, and Tampa-based dog trainer and behavior consultant, Angelica Steinker. If you bring your dog, you can take part in a group training session to prepare for an afternoon of fun competitions, including a “just-4-fun” agility competition. If you don’t have your dog, then you are welcome to help coordinate and judge the event. There will even be an award ceremony for the winners. Limited spots available!

news

Discount for PPG Members at Best Friends National Conference

T

he 2018 Best Friends National Conference (bestfriends.org /events/best-friends-national-conference) is offering a $25 discount for PPG members. The event is taking place on July 19-21, 2018 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites in Los Angeles, California. Find your discount code in the member area of the PPG website (petprofessionalguild.com/PPGMemberArea).

PPG to Host Showring Workshop

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PG is to host the Successfully Train and Compete in the Show Ring – Learn the Knowledge and Skills You Need to Compete or Teach a Professional Curriculum workshop at its Tampa, Florida HQ on September 22-23, 2018, presented by Vicki Ronchette and supported by Niki Tudge (petprofessionalguild.com/Show-Dogs-&-Confirmation). The event is suitable for pet owners interested in learning about show dogs, current competitors who want to up their game, and dog trainers who want to develop the skills and knowledge to launch their own show dog classes and support their clients in achieving their goals. (See also ad on p. 48).

Two Events - One Location

PPG members are eligible for a $25 discount off the price of this month’s Best Friends National Conference

P

PG is hosting back-to-back workshops at its HQ in Tampa, Florida later this year. Let's Coach Scent Work! is a two-day event taking place on October 20-21, 2018, hosted by Robert Hewings, head of learning and development for the United Kingdom College of Scent Detection (petprofessionalguild.com/event-2822576). It will be Hewings’ first-ever appearance in the United States. Both working and auditor spots are available. The second event is the Walk this Way two-day instructor certification workshop with Louise Stapleton-Frappell and Niki Tudge on October 22-23, 2018 (dognosticscareercenter.com/event-2827090). Again, both working auditor spots are available. If you register for both workshops, you will receive a 10 percent discount on an auditor spot or a 20 percent discount on a working spot. Contact Rebekah King (membership@petprofessionalguild.com) for your registration code. (See also ads on p. 48).

Standing Invitation to Join Facebook Groups - All about Cats, Horses

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PG members are invited to join the PPG All about Cats (facebook.com/groups/512499695617190) and PPG All about Horses (facebook.com/groups/1079968692107997) Facebook groups to learn more about feline and equine behavior and ask questions on anything related to cats or horses.

© Can Stock Photo/DragoNika

© Can Stock Photo/Virgonira

BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

7

news

Chirag Patel and Robert Hewings Join Pet Professional Guild British Isles Special Counsel

T

he Pet Professional Guild British Isles (PPGBI) has announced the appointment of leading animal training and behavior specialists Robert Hewings and Chirag Patel to its Special Counsel with immediate effect.

PPGBI’s Special Counsel comprises an elite group of leading pet industry specialists who both endorse and support PPGBI and its Guiding Principles (ppgbi.com/PPGs-Guiding-Principles), and have the expertise to contribute to the education and engagement of force-free pet care and training methods. Hewings and Patel join existing PPGBI Special Counsel members Victoria Stilwell, Helen Phillips, Karen Wild and Kamal Fernandez.

Hewings is a highly experienced canine trainer who, in 2016, retired from the British Metropolitan Police after 30 years. During that time, he spent 25 years as a police dog handler and nine years as a full-time trainer with the Metropolitan Police Dog Training Establishment, where he headed the training for SWAT dogs and was active in the instruction and development of all aspects of police dog and handler training. Hewings said he is “immensely proud to be part of an organization that has championed education, care and science-based force-free training within the pet industry.” He is set to make his US debut later this year, when he will host the Let's Coach Scent Work! practical workshop at PPG’s Tampa, Florida headquarters on October 20-21, 2018.

Patel, meanwhile, holds a Bachelor’s in veterinary sciences from the Royal Veterinary College, London and a post-graduate certificate in clinical animal behavior from the University of Lincoln under veterinary behaviorists Prof. Daniel Mills and Helen Zulch. He previously worked at the university as head trainer, where he clicker trained rats and degus for odor discrimination and indication. He is currently working on a Master’s in applied behavior analysis at Queens University, Belfast and is a long-term supporter of PPG, having presented at past educational events in Tampa, Florida and Kanab, Utah in the United States. He will also hold sessions at PPG’s upcoming inaugural Australia summit in Sydney on July 27-29, 2018, and the recently-announced PPG Canine Aggression Safety and Education seminar in Portland, Oregon, USA on April 26-28, 2019.

"Working with Chirag Patel and Robert Hewings is an enormous honor,”

Robert Hewings (above, left) and Chirag Patel (above, right) have joined PPGBI’s Special Counsel

said Niki Tudge, president of PPGBI’s parent organization, Pet Professional Guild (PPG). “When we collaborate with professionals as a team, we are so much more effective at reaching our audience and having a positive impact on the lives of pets." Added PPGBI membership manager Louise StapletonFrappell: “Both Chirag Patel and Robert Hewings are highly respected in the field of force-free training and behavior and we have been fortunate to have cemented an excellent working relationship with them both since the launch of PPGBI. We look forward to continuing to share their knowledge, experience and support."

PPGBI’s Guiding Principles state that no shock, pain, choke, prong, fear, physical force, or compulsion-based methods are ever employed in the training of or caring for a pet. Its ongoing goal is to address the needs of the petowning community and force-free pet professionals in the region, and to educate pet professionals and owners alike that forceful and aversive methods are outdated, scientifically unsound and, ultimately, ineffectual. Established in 2015, the organization has gone from strength-to-strength, reporting continuous growth in membership numbers, and hosting a number of successful educational events for members in the region.

PPG Names March, April Project Trade Ambassadors

C

ongratulations to Daniel Antolec of Happy Buddha Dog Training (happybuddhadogtraining.com) in Wisconsin, USA who traded four shock collars in March and is PPG’s Project Trade Ambassador for that month. Congratulations, too, to Brandi Schoenthaler of Cornerstone Dog Training (cornerstonedogtraining.org) in Colorado, USA, who traded one prong collar and is Project Trade Ambassador for April 2018. Congratulations, again, to Antolec, who traded one shock collar that month.

PPG Advocacy Committee chairman Daniel Antolec swapped four shock collars for service discounts (above, left) and is Project Trade’s ambassador for March 2018; Brandi Schoenthaler traded one prong collar (above, right) and is Project Trade Ambassador for April 2018

Project Trade (projecttrade.org) is an opt-in program for PPG members that has been designed to create incentives for pet owners to seek professionals who will exchange aversive training and pet care equipment for alternative, more appropriate tools, training, and educational support.

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BARKS BARKS fromfrom the the Guild/January Guild/July 2018 2018

PPG Podcast Schedule

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he PPG Radio Show (petprofessionalguild.com/PPG-Broadcast) takes place at least once every month, always features an incredible lineup of guests and is educational and fun. Here is the current schedule (note: schedule is correct at time of going to press but is subject to change):

Tuesday, July 10, 2018 - 3 p.m. EST Guest: Dr. Lynn Bahr.

Topic: The impact of chronic pain on feline behavior, and the long-term physical and behavioral effects of declawing.

Register to listen live: register.gotowebinar.com/register/7093939460213370369

Wednesday, August 3, 2018 - 3 p.m. EST Guest: David Shade.

Topic: A United States military veteran and his journey from being an aversive trainer to a force-free trainer.

Register to listen live: attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3857216921616767490

news Recent Podcasts

Angelica Steinker and Daniel Antolec: The dark side of the pet training and behavior industry, and zoophilia, a hidden horror for animals, from May 1, 2018: vimeo.com/267473657.

Special #ShockFreeCoalition Podcasts

Project Trade - a strategic way to apply a discounted service policy in exchange for aversive training equipment from September 26, 2017: bit.ly/2xIoXql. Drayton Michaels and Niki Tudge - An uncensored chat about training with shock! from September 28, 2017: bit.ly/2xLILKZ.

Dr. Marc Bekoff - Do pet parents understand when their dog is feeling stressed or feeling happy? from October 1, 2017: bit.ly/2x9AL7Q.

Tuesday, October 2, 2018 - 3 p.m. EST Guest: Jane Bowers.

Topic: Assessing and Interpreting Dog Behaviour, a course for law enforcement personnel and others who meet unfamiliar dogs in the course of their duties.

Register to listen live: attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1140693125320611075

Earn Your CEUs via PPG’s Webinars, Workshops and Educational Summits!

Webinars

Separation Distress - Presented by Alexandra Santos Monday, July 09, 2018 - 1 p.m. (EDT)

Managing the Canine Arthritic - Those Free of Charge Additions That Really Count! - Presented by Hannah Capon Wednesday, July 18, 2018 - Noon (EDT) Interactive Play - Presented by Craig Ogilvie Wednesday, August 08, 2018 - 2 p.m. (EDT)

Is Loose Lead Walking a Self-Control Behavior? - Presented by Sian Ryan Tuesday, November 13, 2018 - 1 p.m. (EST)

Educational Summits

PPG Australia Summit 2018 (Sydney, New South Wales) (see also ad on page 57) Friday, July 27, 2018 - Time TBC Sunday, July 29, 2018 - Time TBC

PPG Canine Aggression and Safety Education Seminar 2019 (Portland, Oregon) (see also ad on back cover) Friday, April 26, 2019 - Time TBC Sunday, April 28, 2019 - Time TBC

Residential Workshops

PPG Florida Members - A Full Day of Networking, Sessions and Competitions with Niki Tudge, Angelica Steinker and Dr. Lynn Honeckman (Tampa, Florida) Sunday, September 16, 2018 - 9 a.m. (EDT)

Successfully Train and Compete in The Show Ring - Learn The Knowledge and Skills You Need to Compete or Teach a Professional Curriculum with Vicki Ronchette, supported by Niki Tudge (Tampa, Florida) Saturday, September 22, 2018 - 9 a.m. (EDT) Sunday, September 23, 2018 - 4 p.m. (EDT)

Let's Coach Scent Work! with Robert Hewings (Tampa, Florida) Saturday, October 20, 2018 - 9 a.m. (EDT) Sunday, October 21, 2018 - 4 p.m. (EDT)

The Walk This Way Instructor Certification Workshop with Louise Stapleton-Frappell and Niki Tudge (Tampa, Florida) Monday, October 22, 2018 - 9 a.m. (EDT) Tuesday, October 23, 2018 - 4 p.m. (EDT) • Details of all upcoming workshops: petprofessionalguild.com/Workshops.

• Details of all upcoming summits: petprofessionalguild.com/Educational-Summits

Note: All dates and times are correct at time of going to press but are subject to change. Please check website for an updated list of all upcoming webinars and events: petprofessionalguild.com/educational-resources BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

9

events

Welcome to the Impossible

Susan Nilson reports on PPG’s first ever Training and Behavior Workshop, which took place

at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah in April

P

Best Friends Animal Society co-founder Faith Maloney explains why Hurricane Katrina marked a turning point in the sanctuary’s history

PG hosted its inaugural Training and Behavior Workshop at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (BFAS) in Kanab, Utah on April 22-26, 2018, an event that comprised a mix of educational presentations in lecture format, a number of hands-on labs, and daily workshops at BFAS where attendees had the opportunity to work with cats, dogs, pigs, tortoises, chickens, parrots and rabbits.

PPG founder and president Niki Tudge opened the event with her customary dispensing of “free stuff” (i.e. an assortment of PPG and Shock-Free Coalition collateral) while delivering a brief introduction of PPG, how the organization started, and the direction it plans to follow in the future.

“If we are going to be ambassadors for our force-free message, we have to not judge others,” Tudge said. “Rather, we have to individually ask ourselves, how can I have some kind of impact? We need to plant the seeds to convince people so gradually they change their minds about the training methods they are using and their approach to pet training in general.”

Tudge presented a quote by St. Francis of Assisi to support her statement: “Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” “Best Friends did this and my hope is that PPG will do the same. We started by doing what is possible, by creating a platform to engage and educate others, and now other organizations are jumping on board to help.”

Tudge also discussed the latest developments with the Shock-Free Coalition, PPG’s international advocacy campaign to eliminate electric shock collars from the supply and demand chain (see page 6 for further details). "PPG has partnered with a team of lawyers working pro bono behind the scenes to create legislation in each individual state towards a ban on shock collars," she announced, pointing out event attendee and retired senior partner and lawyer James Houpt, who is PPG’s legal contact for the initiative, in the audience.

Tudge went on to introduce Faith Maloney, co-founder of Best Friends Animal Society, who delivered a brief history of the sanctuary 10

BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

PPG president Niki Tudge: planting the seeds to have an impact on the pet training methods people use

and its philosophy (see box, below). Looking back, Maloney, with charming understatement, described tongue-in-cheek how a degree in fine art “equipped” her to help set up BFAS and that, up until 2005 she and her co-founders were simply “chugging along” until Hurricane Katrina happened.

“Katrina was seminal for all of us,” Maloney said. “It completely altered the direction we went in with Best Friends from then on. Around 6,000 animals went through our hands in New Orleans.”

From its inception in 1984, BFAS now occupies just over 3,700 acres in a beautiful, red rock, Utah canyon and is home to 1,600 animals, including cats, dogs, pigs, sheep, goats, horses, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, and a variety of wild animals that are either rehabilitated or, if this is not possible, remain at the sanctuary to participate in education programs. n

About Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

“Thirty-four years ago, a group of people made a leap of faith to realize a vision that they had long shared — to create a sanctuary for abandoned and abused animals. This was the logical extension of the rescue and advocacy work they had been doing for years. Little did they appreciate that their endeavor would catapult them to the forefront of a fledgling movement to end the killing of 17 million dogs and cats who were dying in our nation’s shelters annually at that time.

With little money, no master plan, few construction skills and countless lives hanging in the balance, they set out to address a local aspect of a much larger problem. What they created instead was the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the world and a national movement to end the killing of companion animals.

“Looking back now, it was a watershed moment for animal welfare. Yet to the founders of Best Friends Animal Society, it wasn’t about carving a place or moment in history, it was simply about doing the right thing for creatures who could not speak or act on their own behalf.” - Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (2018)

Snapshots from Kanab

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is located on over 3,700 acres of land in Angel Canyon, Utah

Virtual vendor Best Dog on the Block donated one of their snuffle mats as a prize for a raffle drawn on the final day of the workshop. The lucky winner was Shelley Breadner of Sidney, British Columbia, who sent us this picture of her pup Gincee enjoying her prize

PPG staff make their first reconnaissance visit: (back row, left to right) Sharon Nettles, Niki Tudge, Kelly Fahey, Rebekah King, Paula Garber; (front row, left to right) Sue Winter, Susan Nilson, Louise Stapleton-Frappell

Photo © Lara Joseph

Photo © Shelley Breadner

Best Friends resident dog Lazarus and his owner were in a car accident which, sadly, the owner did not survive.

Lazarus is very nervous of men so staff have been working with him to help him feel more confident

events

Aussie contingent Vicki Cleaver (left, Hobart) and Kate Denman (Adelaide) traveled the furthest distance to attend the PPG Workshop in Kanab and were awarded Shock-Free Coalition caps for their efforts

BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

PPG staff member Sam Wike (back, left) was on hand to transport some of the presenters from Las Vegas to Kanab (counter clockwise from front left): Lara Joseph, Vicki Ronchette, Janis Bradley, Emily Cassell Jacqueline Munera, Chirag Patel

(Left to right) Francine Morin, Evelinn Linden and Nat Miguel were the first attendees to register in Kanab

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Lecture Notes: What They Said

Susan Nilson presents a brief selection of the many sound bites delivered during the Kanab

Training and Behavior Workshop presentations "Training is no longer something we do to animals but something we do with animals. It is a conversation. We want participation rather than compliance. Let dogs choose the behaviors they are most comfortable with rather than tell them what to do." - Chirag Patel on rethinking dog training.

"A lot of dogs are resilient to accepting aversives but birds are not so forgiving. A lot of parrots are set up for failure because they are imprinted on humans and don’t actually know how to be a parrot.

This can lead to behavior issues, including separation anxiety, and feather plucking behavior." - Lara Joseph on the evolution of aviculture.

"The first study at Best Friends found that the dogs’ cortisol levels significantly dropped with just one overnight foster stay.

Once the dogs were returned to the shelter, the dogs’ cortisol levels increased similar to what they were before they left but did not increase. While the sleepover was beneficial, the reduction in stress did not sustain long upon return...Sleepovers may act much like weekends to our work week. They don’t make all our stress go away, but allow us to rest and recharge, before facing the next week." - Sherry Woodard discusses Best Friends Animal Society’s Sleepover Study and additional external studies.

“If you go onto Google and search for images of ‘dogs and kids,’ I challenge you to find a photo that shows an appropriate interaction between a dog and a child." - Niki Tudge on improving dog bite safety in the community.

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"People overgeneralizing wolf behavior to dog behavior causes all kinds of problems. It is the differences between dogs and wolves that make it possible for us to live with them. Dogs come out of the womb ready to learn and with a prepared inclination to bond with humans and other species." - Janis Bradley talks confirmation bias.

"Rabbits are intelligent and active and will get bored sitting in an empty cage, so enrichment is essential. In the wild, they will spend up to six hours a day foraging. Prey animals don’t get to control anything in their environment so if you empower them in training by giving them choices (e.g. give them a safe place to retreat) it can be very powerful." - Emily Cassell on helping rabbits adjust to their new home.

“Dogs are the only species in the world with a strong disposition to bond with their own species and another species (i.e. humans). Evidence now suggests that the dog-human social bond has surpassed that of the dog-dog social bond. Canine social pain seems to be the worst kind of pain in the animal kingdom because no other species has undergone bonding to another species like the dog has.” - Dr. Franklin McMillan on social pain in dogs.

“If we teach something when the learner is stressed or frustrated, that emotion gets built into the behavior. Giving the animal choice leads to a more relaxed/confident animal, more cooperation, and empowers the animal." - Louise StapletonFrappell discusses bridging stimuli and clicker training for success.

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“Adopters who stop in front of a kennel to look at a dog decide whether or not to move on within 20-70 seconds. Once out of the kennel, adopters give dogs an average of eight minutes. Aside from physical attributes, the most important thing to adopters was dog engagement and interaction. Simple enrichment techniques, including training some easy behaviors, can increase a dog’s desirability to adopters.” - Sherry Woodard on what adopters look for.

“Stop focusing on labels and focus on behavior. You can use a happy voice as an antecedent to drive behavior, but there is no science behind this. Dogs will learn based on consequences.

We give time-outs when it’s not the dog’s fault and, in reality, it is because the human hasn’t set up the environment properly.” Chirag Patel (right, with PPG president, Niki Tudge) questions common ideas in dog training.

“Research in animals has demonstrated that a single exposure to a severe stressor may alter synaptic transmission in the fear pathway, resulting in long-lasting neurohormonal changes and increases in anxiety-like behavior, increased startle responses, and alteration in the excitability of the fear circuit.

These neurohormonal alterations appear to explain long-term behavioral changes long after removal of the threat.” - Dr. Franklin McMillan discusses psychological trauma and post traumatic stress in dogs.

“Done right, you can help your business while helping dogs. Use your time wisely. Re: training people vs. training dogs—training people can create a broader impact than working with dogs.” - Tia Guest explains how to help your business by helping shelter dogs.

“The learner determines the reinforcement. The size/amount of the positive reinforcement needs to be worth working for and needs to accommodate the behavior being trained. Be aware of the acquisition phase vs. the maintenance phase and constantly reevaluate.

Ask yourself, ‘What does the CAT want to do?’ - Jacqueline Mason Munera explains the importance of giving feral or fearful cats

“Forcing a fearful dog to meet and be touched by a stranger can increase fear and feelings of conflict.

Sometimes it is difficult to spot subtle signs of fear and anxiety, but the animal disengaging is a very clear sign.” - Louise StapletonFrappell talks rescue dog ‘fun’damentals and teaching tricks for husbandry and nice manners.

“Language can affect people’s attitudes and perceptions of common canine behaviors, and animal professionals should be mindful of this. The lay population is most bothered by homerelated issues such as house soiling and destruction of furniture, and attitudes towards these issues are most susceptible to be influenced by language. The lay population does recognize ‘aggression’ but is ‘less bothered’ by it than professionals.” Janis Bradley talks smiling vs. snarling in dogs, and owners’ perceptions of behavior vs. those of pet professionals.

When a learner is exposed to an aversive (unpleasant) stimulus at varying intensities, threshold is the point at which the stimulus elicits orientation but not sensitization or potentiation. When a dog is over threshold, he does not respond to handler cues and is uninterested in food. This transitions to lunging, growling, barking and even ‘shut down,’ where he becomes unresponsive and withdrawn.” - Glenn Pierce explains more about working near or at threshold for results in shelter dogs.

"When working with wild animals, we can't always perceive what they perceive. They have excellent peripheral vision but poor depth perception. They are often afraid of new things and respond very differently to stimuli than cats and dogs because they are prey animals.

Rabbits live in large groups and are social animals. They can be just as interactive as cats and dogs; in a good home they can live up to 12 years of age and more." - Emily Cassell explains the world from a bunny’s perspective.

© Pet Professional Guild Training and Behavior Workshop 2018

The audio recordings from the Kanab Workshop are now available to order. Catch up on four fabulous days of lectures (321⁄2 hours) held in the Kanab Library and Crescent Moon Theater. See petprofessionalguild.com/event-2852844 for further details.

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Dogs, Puppies.................................

The workshop component of the Kanab event was a big hit with attendees who had the

opportunity to work with a variety of different species, including dogs (and puppies), cats,

pigs, rabbits, chickens, parrots and tortoises. Susan Nilson presents the highlights in pictures

Chirag Patel (photo, left) presented a lecture/lab on using touch and movement to build calm and confidence; here he works on a game to help dogs, who get stressed when their owner leaves them, feel more relaxed

Photo © Marilee Cole

Photo © Wendy Dahl

Photo © Donna Ruskin

Janis Bradley, director of communications at the National Canine Research Council (photo, center), presented two workshops, one on working with fearful dogs, and one on puppies learning via imitation

Louise Stapleton-Frappell (photo, second left, crouching) presented working labs on using positive interrupters to help increase desirable behaviors and tricks for husbandry and nice manners, including a hand touch, default sit and a chin rest

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Cats..................... Pigs.....................

Jacqueline Mason Munera taught workshop attendees how to put cats in charge when getting them into and out of their carriers; attendees also learned about feline body language and practiced target training

Protected contact crate training Willow the pig by breaking down criteria to make it easier for her to learn, followed by target training with Moe. “Behavior goes where reinforcement flows,” said workshop leader Chirag Patel (photo, right, crouching), while posing the question: “How do I make the behavior I want easier and the behavior I don’t want harder?”

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Chickens............ Parrots...............

Chickens can recognize up to 200 human faces according to most recent studies. Here, Chirag Patel (left) talks through a training plan for three chickens which resulted in each chicken eating from a different bowl within a 90 minute session: “The number of reinforcers builds confidence. Allow the animal to use their behavior to change the environment and get out of escape/avoid behavior. If they feel safe, then they will want to learn. Make your feeding contingent on behavior so their behavior gets an outcome. This is more empowering.”

Photo © Nancy Abplanalp

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Lara Joseph and her parrot workshop attendees learned how to train a bird to step up without bumping his tail (an aversive) (see photo, right, of Joseph and Frankie the African grey) and practiced targeting and stationing with bonded macaw pair Laquita (below, left) and Kaimi and a group of cockatiels (third from top)

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Rabbits.............. and Tortoises Working on target training with rabbits, and getting them used to the presence of people under the watchful eye of workshop leader, Emily Cassell (left): “Rabbits don’t like being held or cuddled so get on their level and let them come to you,” she said. “The only time in nature that they are picked up is when it is done by a predator. Mother rabbits do not pick up their kits.”

Charging the clicker, building duration and teaching tortoises to target and station, even those who had been thought to be less food motivated.

High value food like dandelions, cilantro and grapes were used, as well as touch.

“All animals are somewhat motivated by food or they would be dead,” said workshop leader, Vicki Ronchette. “Sometimes it takes a bit of work.”

Photo © Monica Callahan

Photo © Vicki Ronchette

Photo © Vicki Ronchette

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Setting a Course to Confidence Diane Garrod discusses ways of building confidence in fearful dogs and presents a

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suggested course curriculum sample for trainers and instructors

Photo © Diane Garrod, Canine Transformations

Duncan was fearful at the beginning of his confidence course: Fear in dogs can be debilitating, stressful, and cause them to act out, react and even aggress

bichon leaping and snarling at the end of a leash every time another dog appears; a corgi/border collie rescue who bites several times before a professional is called to help; a Vizsla who fears men; a Labrador/pit bull mix who escapes to a room lunging and snarling to keep people away; a pointer mix who was kicked so severely a rib was broken and depression the result; a rescue golden retriever who has trouble going through doorways and walking on floors… The list goes on. A lack of confidence is seen internationally in dogs by professionals on a daily basis.

Can confidence be built in dogs? If so, how and what does a confident dog look like versus one that isn’t confident? Confidence building requires helping a dog to feel safe, to trust again, and to change habits, while guardians may be changing attitudes, tweaking their home environments and also changing life-long habits.

A dog who is not confident portrays this in a way that looks very much like fear. Fear in dogs can be debilitating, stressful, and cause them to act out, react and even aggress. All of this expends energy and builds stress allowing reactions to get stronger if nothing is done.

A confident dog, on the other hand, is curious, happy, interactive, attentive, responsive and eager. A confident dog can handle a leash walk with distractions, interact civilly with other dogs and people, and communicate with his guardians because he has built up a trust account with them. A confident dog feels safe, trusts and habituates confident 18

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behaviors causing him to make good decisions.

Let’s try an analogy. Let’s compare the emotion of fear to walking down a large pathway you have shoveled during a terrible blizzard. It becomes your only means of movement. You just keep going down this path again and again. The snow is too heavy to make more than one pathway. In the same way, a dog that is not confident simply continues going down the same pathway of fear again and again. Eventually the snow starts to melt a bit. You can clear new pathways and start to take different routes, leaving the old pathway behind. The familiar path is no longer the only one available. There are now other options too, and new decisions to make. The main pathway might still be there to take again if needed, but more efficient movements through the snow are visible and even better choices. This is what we want to do with fear: create new choices and new memories to replace the old pathway, which builds confidence.

Pulling back the layers of fear takes patience, and if we look to another analogy, the one of the onion and its many layers, the journey can also mean tears flow. Seeing the results often doesn’t leave a dry eye in the room, as it is a step-by-step emotional roller coaster.

A Story and Observation

A client’s comment after an in-home confidence course presented by instructor Patricia Calderone of Clicker Canines in Homer Glen-

Lockport, Illinois says it all. But first, a little background: Calderone did a lot of canine confidence building on her first in-home visit with this particular client because there was a disconnect with the two dogs in the household and their guardian, Andrea Verbeek of New Lenox, Illinois. Both dogs had lost confidence and were starting to become reactive to each other from a previous aversive training experience, which had given the guardians the false impression that they would gain more confidence using shock as the training tool in handling their dogs.

“Andrea Verbeek of New Lenox, Illinois hired me because her male, Ollie, was lashing out at Bonsai, the female,” said Calderone. “During my course, I went over canine body language and everything that I taught in my previous Canine Confidence classes. Today, both Bonsai and Ollie are different dogs. They can walk through the house together with no problems. Both can sit side-by-side and take turns getting treats and overall neither of them are hiding under the table as was observed during my first visit.

“The mental activity games opened Andrea’s eyes to a whole new understanding of how smart her dogs are. Andrea worked hard on Ollie’s emotional state by keeping him safe. She bought a crate that he absolutely loves to go into on his own and by using counterconditioning to help change his emotional state when Bonsai appeared.”

Confidence Game

“The dogs loved the flying chicken game, a game of practicing patience while the other dog gets tossed chicken from a distance,” continued Calderone. “The dog looks at the chicken flying, but they can’t chase or grab any. This game built up positive associations to Bonsai, which naturally [made] Ollie want to be next to Bonsai more and more. As of today, both dogs can be next to each other on the couch which was a huge breakthrough for Andrea because that is what she always wanted.”

Added Verbeek: “I really liked how Patricia showed my kids (and me) how to read a dog’s body language first thing. It was very helpful. Even after just four sessions, my dogs are getting along better. I’m more confident in training them. The thing I like most is how Patricia came to our house and taught me how to work with two dogs in their own environment. Two young dogs were tough and now I’m confident I can handle both. The dogs are happier, friendlier and more relaxed. I could see Bonsai’s confidence build throughout the weeks.

Normally, timid by nature she would retreat

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as soon as Ollie came in. Now she will check where he is but stay put. ” Confidence building courses can be offered in various formats, from in-home to class structure to by invitation only.

They can also be used as a part of puppy classes, or stress release programs, or as part of a dog sports course.

From Fearful to Confident

Photo © Patricia Calderone, Clicker Canines

Photo © Patricia Calderone, Clicker Canines

Fear manifests itself in the amygdala and is always present as a survival mechanism. LeDoux, neuroscientist and author, studies fear in dogs with the aim of understanding how the brain learns and stores information about danger: “In line with contemporary learning theory, emotional processing theory holds that new information does not replace old information in the fear structure but instead creates a competing memory that suppresses the old memory.” (LeDoux, 2016, p. 75).

Creating new neural pathways to suppress the old, fearful memory is the goal of a confidence course and resulting curriculum for dogs and their guardians. Canine Transformations in Langley, Washington has held confident transformations courses since 2013 and, as a result, shared curriculum with a few interested trainers, such as Calderone.

The course helps work through the complex emotion of fear. Calderone recently put the concept and course to the test: “Recently, I started to offer group classes at Stone City Kennel Club in New Lenox, Illinois.” She said. “I was asked, what classes did I want to teach, and after much thought, I wanted to bring a variety of different classes that weren’t currently being taught…I felt pet guardians in the community would like a class that would help their dogs to become more confident. It could be from a puppy that is starting off in life, or an adolescent learning to gain awareness with self-control and being conscious of their muscle movements. It allows dogs the ability to focus through movements. I wanted those dogs to come to class and help their owners achieve this goal.”

Advantages

Photo © Patricia Calderone, Clicker Canines

Confidence building mental activities, including (top to bottom) puzzle toy, learning to be next to each other confidently and civilly, and platform training

While a lot of factors need to be considered, such as health, environment, genetics, and behavior assessment, planning a confidence building course for dogs is a win-win. It is an extra class revenue source for the trainer, or facility. It is fun for guardians and they can see results right away. It is therapeutic and fun for the dogs and creates a team (dog and guardian) bond that will last for years to come.

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Can confidence be built in dogs? If so, how and what does a confident dog look like versus one that isn’t confident? Confidence building requires helping a dog to feel safe, to trust again, and to change habits, while guardians may be changing attitudes, tweaking their home environments and also changing life-long habits.

The color recognition game is popular with guardians, who are often surprised as how well the dogs can differentiate red from yellow

How long a class runs depends on many factors, including what behavior problems are being addressed in the class and if preliminary work was required. A good example would be seven weeks, with the first week being orientation and introduction. Each class can be onehour, 11⁄2 hours, or 2 hours in length again depending on how the class is structured for the individuals in attendance. Longer classes with lots of breaks and enrichment allow dogs to relax, to play and guardians to socialize and take a break. Often lifelong friendships are developed, simply because people see they are not alone with their fearful dogs.

Props and Equipment Photo © Patricia Calderone, Clicker Canines

Calderone said her first class was full and received “really well” by the community and club, and that she has been asked to offer a Canine Confidence II course. “They loved the games that tested their dog’s intelligence,” she said. “It was a wonderful experience to see. The guardian and their dog experienced games together that they both felt they couldn’t do. With more guidance and understanding, it was a winwin for all of them at the end of the class.”

Class Pre-Requisites

In the confident transformation classes held by Canine Transformations, dogs are required to have an intake form (the client’s viewpoint), then a functional assessment (the trainer’s viewpoint) and at least three private sessions, and possibly a stress release protocol completed. Prerequisites such as these simply provide information as to how to pair the dogs in class for successful results. The confidence course is by invitation only. If a teacher dog has been used, then all the better, as this dog will be a buffer in the classroom environment and an example (a teacher) to dogs in the class. In some cases, trainers have held classes as a structured course without preliminaries, such as a class offering in a club or in-home setting.

In my opinion, here are 10 elements necessary for successful confidence building: 1 – Individual knowledge and what behavior needs to be worked on.

2 – Knowledge about a dog’s body language.

3 – A manageable environment.

4 – Proper equipment, from obstacles to mentally tiring activities to appropriately prepared safe zones.

5 – Projector and sound equipment to play video and music/sound recordings.

6 – Water for dogs, refreshment for owners to keep environment stress free.

7 – Camera/phone to take video/digitals.

8 – Extra reinforcements (food, toys) – just in case.

9 – An outdoor area – a separate area for potty versus outdoor learning and if feasible, play (if available ideal to give dogs a break from indoor activity).

10 – Class handouts – so confidence building can continue at home.

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Equipment needs can be tailored to the behavior problems of the dogs in class. There are some good game books for varying ideas (see Resources on page 25), but here is a basic list of items:

Must Haves

A pile of enrichment items for discovery. This is set off to the side and increases in size each week by more enrichment and objects being added. You can be creative with what is put there and it can even be theme-oriented, such as motion items, scary items, household items, animated items, toys, intelligence games, etc.

Optional

• Sound DVDs, music to sensory noises (barking, city sounds, sirens, etc.).

• Carpet swatches or rugs for dogs who are worried about sliding on floors.

• FitPAWS equipment.

• Obstacles like cavalettis, tires, ladders, swivel boards, agility equipment, tunnels, ball pools, water pools, sand pools.

• Problem-solving game pieces, such as colored cups or Easter eggs.

Stair climbing as a confidence builder

Photo © Diane Garrod, Canine Transformations

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tools, techniques, equipment (pass out cups; clickers; target sticks; and other tools as needed).

• Treat exercise - Kong stuffing; making dehydrated bits; making sure treats are always on you - what does your dog love?

• Owner learning - body language DVD or video.

• Tellington TTouchTM (optional) - bodywork, leading exercises, and obstacle coursework defined.

The first class will leave people wanting a second class in my experience. Calderone’s experience was the same: “In the first class we worked on Photo © Diane Garrod, Canine Transformations nose and foot target,” she said. “The Kody, Logan, and Duncan investigate their environment as part of a confidence building exercise guardians practiced their timing and treat delivery, plus we got to see • Boxes for nose work. which dogs felt comfortable enough to offer nose and paw to the tarStudents also receive a student handbook (see Resources on page gets. It was a challenging task for some because their treat delivery tim25). In terms of what guardians should bring to class, here is a preparaing was slow, or some didn’t reinforce their dogs often enough. This can tion list from the handbook for the first class: be a hard concept for the guardians to understand, which is the piece • Please come 10 or 15 minutes early and set up your dog's safe they needed to understand for their dog’s confidence to come alive. The zone. dog gained confidence in their guardians because they became more • Bring lots of treats, water, their bed, a crate or exercise pen (if predictable. I saw that the dogs started to take a noticeable turn in the you have one and if they will go into it). third class. Each class was structured as to how much physical moveo NOTE there will be an exercise pen and crate availments were practiced, and to include mental activity and emotions such able on site as well. as understanding the concept of counterconditioning.”

• Bring a comfortable chair and a blanket for you to sit on.

Safe Zone: In class, students and dogs start to understand the im• Bring chew toys, tennis balls, tug toys - any favorite toys to portance of safe zones. Dogs are brought in one at a time to become aceach class. quainted with their safe zone, which is a cozy cottage (i.e. the crate • Bring your printed-out curriculum and weekly handouts. If you always means good things are happening); cozy rest areas (exercise don't have a printer, I will print this out for you. If you don't have a note- pens, a mat) and barriers. book to put it in, I will have a notebook available. This will be mandatory First Exercise: This can be a ‘go to mat’ or safe zone of choice when to bring to each and every class. You will have handouts weekly to incued. The goal is to get an automatic behavior, so the dog can feel safe sert. there on his own when he has had enough, is tired, or just wants to get • Bring a pad, a pen or pencil. We will need these to take notes away from things. Dogs are never pressured to do anything or particiand to do fun exercises. pate until they show interest. A good exercise to practice in a capture capacity is a stay. Say the cue, do a brief walk away from the safe zone, and eventually out of a door and back. Each dog learns it is okay to stay The Course in their safe zone. They learn a cue from a captured moment, and they The basic elements of a seven-week confidence course (providing perprogress as individuals at their own pace. Trainers can use a demo dog sonal touches is advised) are as follows: Week One In the first class, hold an orientation without dogs for the first 20-30 minutes of class time. Go over handouts, use some type of presentation software, go over clicker concepts and management, hold a student timing session, go over treats, view a body language video or DVD and any stress release protocols you might use, such as animal massage, Tellington TTouchTM, handling tips.

Handout recommendations are: • How dogs learn.

• Why does your dog do what they do?

• Owner learning - clicker concepts - managing clicker, treats,

Guardians sometimes become so fixed on what they want to say to their dog that they forget to listen to what the dog has to say to them.

Photo © Diane Garrod, Canine Transformations

Logan braves the object/discover pile during a canine confidence building class

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A dog who is not confident portrays this in a way that looks very much like fear. Fear in dogs can be debilitating, stressful, and cause them to act out, react and even aggress. All of this expends energy and builds stress allowing reactions to get stronger if nothing is done. to create a familiar presence and to help the dogs work through insecurities, even separation anxiety.

Play: Release tension in the room by following with a play period of environmental enrichment. Teach guardians to be that benevolent leader who helps fears go away. Teach them to be the bearer of all good things (food, car rides, outdoor access, chew toys, throwing of tennis balls, use of tug toys, scratching, petting and more).

Game: Charades is a great game to play with guardians. Here is a good one from Suzanne Clothier’s The Seven Cs: A Guide to Training and Relationships: Suppose for a moment that you were unable to talk or use your hands to express yourself.

• How would you express pleasure?

• How could you communicate fear?

• How would you express boredom or confusion?

• How could you tell someone that you disliked being touched in certain areas?

• How would you use your body to stop someone from hurting or scaring you?

• What if they didn't understand? (Clothier, 1996).

Individual Exercises: Follow with individual exercises. Each dog works on this from where he is in his learning process. This may include one-on-one socialization, such as meet the teacher dog. Eventually dogs will meet each other, so this starter exercise allows dogs to assess from a teacher dog that the other dogs in the room might be approachable.

Next, do a sensory exercise with handouts for guardians. Focus on

Photo © Diane Garrod, Canine Transformations

Charades is a good game to play with guardians to help them think about canine communication and body language

audio, motion, nose, visual or touch to a city sounds recording, such as those provided by Through a Dog’s Ear. Break Time: Dogs process information better when they have a release time following a workout. As the dogs relax, have a 10-minute guardian learning session with a theme. Suggestions are a talk about generalization, familiarization, confidence building and use teacher dog in demonstration.

Skills Segment: These segments are to help transition dogs to real life experiences. First might be loose leash walking, performed just by standing still working up to one minute and reinforcing with food. Then do a mentally tiring exercise such as going to the discovery pile, providing an intelligence toy for each station, or setting up problem-solving stations.

To End: End class with a discussion about communication and how important it is in guardians teaching their dogs. Provide a handout and use this as the last piece guardians think about. Guardians sometimes become so fixed on what they want to say to their dog that they forget to listen to what the dog has to say to them. In this class, the learning includes how to listen as well as how to ask, so dogs are constantly building their confidence account and learning to trust again.

By now you can see how each class would take shape, following many of the same elements in expansion and advancement. In this results-oriented process of building confidence, each individual dog should have milestones to reach for in achieving end results. The course should also be about building confidence in the guardians to be able to work with their dog and to keep dogs in their forever homes.

Working Sessions Two through Seven

Photo © Diane Garrod, Canine Transformations

Duncan (front) takes a break, engaging in mat work and a safe zone stay

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Provide themes: These themes are up to you and dependent on what the class is working on, but here are some ideas: • Body language pullouts. How to see clearly what your dog is trying to convey and teaching guardians how to use their hands, body position, voice to communicate clearly to their dogs.

• Teaching plus enrichment. Allow students to not just take direction from you, the instructor, but to learn to be creative in teaching their dogs. Teach them how important enrichment is for their dogs.

• Confident transformation. By session four changes will start to be seen in all the dogs. The theme can be confidence building on a continuing scale. Get guardians thinking about how they are using their dog’s new-found confidence in real life situations and at home.

• More on communication. Expand on human body language.

What is being asked of the dog? Is the dog understanding the guardian’s communication to them? Is the guardian understanding dog’s communication to them?

• Building confidence doesn’t come by accident. By session five, guardians are catching on as to how important confidence is to their dog and to them in their confident transformations class and in real life.

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• Committed consistency. By session six you want to make sure guardians are being consistent and committed to the process. Is their dog getting enough exercise, mentally tiring enrichment, sleep?

• Graduation day.

Basic 7-Week Curriculum

Be prepared each week and yet be flexible taking each dog strategically to his end results toward confidence building. This means knowing the dogs and adjusting the class as required. It means listening to the guardians and going backwards instead of forward with individuals depending on their progress. It means having fun, being informative, using props successfully to build confidence and having rest periods and guardian learning sessions. Below is a basic class format with the top 15 items for curriculum development (these are all short bursts of learning and can be in any order): 1.

Review homework materials.

2.

Provide a sensory outlet.

3.

Do a problem-solving activity.

4.

Proof skills learned week before.

5.

Provide class handouts such as “How to Identify a Dog’s Triggers.”

6.

Provide regular break periods depending on how long the class is, but every 15 minutes is suggested.

7.

Provide a guardian learning segment of 10 minutes during break periods and provide a 5-minute break for taking dog potty or taking care of guardian needs.

8.

Provide play periods and play training individually to explore discovery pile, to run outside (with others only if approved).

9.

Provide individual socialization exercises.

10. Provide real life segments.

Photo © Diane Garrod, Canine Transformations

An obstacle course is a useful addition to a canine confidence building class

11. Provide obstacle workouts – think canine conditioning, or agility obstacles or a Tellington TTouchTM Confidence Course and any fun activity introduction, such as to Treibball, or scent work.

12. Foundational skill building exercises.

13. Provide outdoor enrichment in the form of a short walk, a run in outdoor yards if available, sitting outside and relaxing.

14. Provide guardian enrichment – videos, DVDs, learning talks, handouts, and behavior laboratories.

15. Provide a memorable graduation.

Graduation

Photo © Diane Garrod, Canine Transformations

Problem-solving toys are a good way to provide a mentally tiring enrichment exercise

or ng f g ? i k o Lo ethin Som

Focusing on how far the dogs have come from week one to week seven is one of the key points of graduation and providing that knowledge in a fun, memorable way. Here are five ideas: 1.

Review: Provide a 15-minute review of progress in a video or slide show format. Let guardians’ memories and emotions flow. Have guardians write a 25-word paragraph on what they learned in the seven weeks.

2.

Guardian Fun: “Fill in the Blanks” fun exercise. A group of four guardians would each have a flag in a different color. A question is asked, and the dog’s team have 10 seconds to discuss it and come up with their answer. The first to raise their flag gets to answer. Right equals the team gets one point. Wrong equals the team loses two points and the team to the left gets a chance to answer. If they get it right, they earn two points. The winning team receives a prize. The questions are in a series of 10 fill-in-the-blanks format from class handouts. Graduation exercises like this provide fun, learning and review.

3.

Dog Fun: Use the dogs’ new-found confidence as an individual to allow them to show off, such as a trick showcase, or a real-life skills showcase.

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cover

Photo © Diane Garrod, Canine Transformations

Dogs work on indoor socialization as a man walks across the room

4.

Skills: Provide a socialization and familiarization segment, and/or foundation skills team show-off time.

5.

Extras: Provide food for both human and dogs, special surprises such as an illustration of each dog, a special photo book or mug and a graduation cake. Take lots of photos.

The most important thing is to teach guardians to accept their dogs where they are now, to have fun, and set their dogs up for success. The graduation is not a competition, and the confidence course is not a competition; it is a show of individual progress. Each piece fits into a progressive puzzle that can be built upon.

“What my students liked most was the FitPAWS equipment and how their dogs could step up onto something that was unstable,” Calderone said. “Most of all they loved the color recognition game once their dogs were indicating the color yellow. They couldn’t believe a dog could see

Photo © Patricia Calderone, Clicker Canines

color because most thought dogs are color blind. [(See Resources on page 25)]. My one student had a yellow Lab that pulled a lot, and she mostly enjoyed the zigzag labyrinth. [(See Resources on page 25)]. Once the dog was in the chute, his movements became more fluid and he was focused. It was awesome to see this transformation, plus the guardian understood it because she rides horses. After a few classes, he was able to walk with no leash on [but] still walking very nicely next to her.

“What I liked most was educating and letting the dog’s guardians be more mindful of the three layers that we worked on in class each week.

As the classes continued, we worked on mental, physical and emotional clarity. Each of the six dogs in the class were all at various stages. This confidence class is different from agility as most people are led to believe that agility builds confidence, which it does, but in the canine confidence class we take everything at a low level and focus on mental, physical and emotional clarity, and ask how does your dog perceive this exercise? We make adjustments according to each dog’s needs.

“One dog in class, a lagotto Romagnolo, was very fearful and would shy away from everything. The guardian needed help in understanding her fearful dog’s emotional state and by the end of the 4-week class saw much more confidence and fluid movement. The dog’s tail wasn’t tucked anymore, and she could stand in class and wanted to participate.

Now I am on my third confidence class and just a few weeks after the first course was over, one of my students with her poodle stopped me and said, ‘We tried to find the yellow Easter egg and she did it!’ It was nice to hear that a student took it upon themselves to continue to practice at home with their dog.” n

A confident dog is curious, happy, interactive, attentive, responsive and eager. A confident dog can handle a leash walk with distractions, interact civilly with other dogs and people, and communicate with his guardians because he has built up a trust account with them. A confident dog feels safe, trusts and habituates confident behaviors causing him to make good decisions.

Photo © Patricia Calderone, Clicker Canines

Creating new neural pathways via a mental workout to suppress old, fearful memories is the goal of a confidence course and resulting curriculum for dogs and their guardians

24

BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

“...planning a confidence building course for dogs is a win-win.”

cover

References

Clothier, S. (1996). The Seven Cs: A Guide to Training and Relationships. St. Johnsville, NY: Flying Dog Press LeDoux, J. (2016). Anxious: Using the Brain to Understand and Treat Fear and Anxiety. London, UK: Penguin Publishing

Resources

Game and Problem-Solving Books and DVDs: Arrowsmith, Claire: Brain Games Birmelin, Immanuel: How a Dog Thinks (contains the color recognition exercise and has a daily mental exercise pull-out at end of book that will easily give ideas on how to add problem-solving activities to the class) Canine Transformations: Confidence Course 101 and 102 (full curriculum)/Confident Transformations Student Curriculum, and/or Instructor’s Guide, and/or student Handbook email info@caninetlc.com.

(Put “Confidence Course” in subject line) Clothier, Suzanne & Leonard, Heather: The RCT Training Games Kit Relationship Centered Training PDF Laurence, Kay: Cavaletti McDevitt, Leslie: Pattern Games - Clicking for Confidence and Connection DVD Ryan, Terry: Gamify Your Dog Training Whitehead, Sarah: Mind Games for Dogs Websites: Clicker Canines: clickercanines.com FitPAWS: fitpawsusa.com Tellington TTouchTM Playground for Higher Learning: ttouch.com/horsePlayground.shtml Through a Dog’s Ear: icalmpet.com/for-dogs/cds

Photo © Patricia Calderone, Clicker Canines

A zigzag labyrinth helps dogs to focus, another exercise in mental enrichment

Diane Garrod PCT-A CA1 BSc is a certified American Treibball Association instructor, and a judge, charter member and marketing chair for the National Association of Treibball Enthusiasts. She is also the owner of Canine Transformations (caninetlc.com) based in Langley, Washington, where she conducts Treibball workshops, classes and private consults.

training

The Power of Positive

Anna Bradley explores the world of positive reinforcement, how it affects dogs’ brains, and how to choose the different types of rewards we use

© Can Stock Photo/zerbor

I

© Can Stock Photo/Lopolo

Individual dogs will work for different rewards, and rewards may increase or decrease in value depending on a variety of factors

n essence, as we all know, positive reinforcement refers to the addition of something to a dog’s world which the dog finds super amazing, enjoyable and wonderful which in turn makes a specific behavior more likely to be repeated. Of course, dogs being the incredibly clever beings that they are (and we being mere humans), are quick to learn that some behaviors we deem inappropriate can be positively reinforced too – think of the attention people often give to dogs who leap up at them – so the trick is to accurately mark the behaviors we want.

It’s Not All Fluffiness

People often say things along the lines of positive reinforcement methods being ‘soft,’ ‘fluffy,’ or ‘not hard enough.’ I could go on. This used to irritate me before I realized that such thoughts are simply born from a lack of understanding. Later in the article I will explore the alternatives to positive reinforcement and share a case study based on one of them, something I have never forgotten.

Put simply, when you implement positive reinforcement, dogs experience a big dopamine release in their brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which is released when good things happen. It helps the dog feel good, and helps her focus, learn better and remember what you are teaching her. There are those who still think that training with food or toys means simply bribing the dog to accomplish a task, when in fact you are creating an incredibly enjoyable and enriching learning experience.

Choosing Rewards

I always advise clients to look first at the dog they have. Is she a gundog, terrier, hound, working breed, etc.? What natural inbuilt instincts does she have? Once established, we start by working with those. I see a lot 26

BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

© Can Stock Photo/damedeeso

Dopamine (see inset) helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centers and is released when a dog feels good, improving focus, learning and motivation in training

of clients who say their dogs are “not motivated by anything” and, consequently, they have been locked into a cycle of physical corrections. I love these clients because they are a challenge and I know that there is always something, somewhere that we can use to motivate their dogs and begin their journey on the positive pathway. Some are as simple as increasing rewards to a higher value, smellier type of food reward, but in low volume in combination with reducing environmental distraction.

With others, I might preference test a dog with a variety of scents and then use an impregnated swab stick as a reward. In my experience, this works well for gundog breeds. Terriers, border collies, and hounds often work well for natural fur lures, while the so-called bully breeds will often work well for flirt poles.

Of course, having said all that, there is great variation within different breed types and, as trainers, we often have to be quite inventive.

Also, we need to be aware of overarousal. If this happens, calm periods can be promoted just as positively as the initial behavior. The flipside of overarousal is satiation, when a dog becomes bored with the same reward, or the reward is no longer appealing for some reason (e.g. the dog is tired, or no longer hungry) so provide variety. (See also The Hierarchy of Rewards, BARKS from the Guild, May 2018.)

Using +R

We can use positive reinforcement in a variety of ways based upon our dog’s behavior. Here are just a few examples.

Set It up and Mark It

As I mentioned above, dogs can use positive reinforcement to their own advantage, so timing is everything. You might use your desired reward (e.g. food, toy, praise etc.) to model or lure your dog into the behavior you want. The moment you achieve the response you desire, mark it

training

Some of the issues reported to occur with the use of positive punishment in dog training include an increase in fear, aggression and stress. According to Herron, Shofer & Reisner (2009), punishment (for example shouting, physical abuse and the use of a choke or prong collar) increases aggressive responses.

Punishment is also identified as a risk factor in cases of aggression particularly towards family members. (Blackwell, Bolster, Richards, Loftus & Casey, 2010).

The fallout from positive punishment in training has been shown to include fear, aggression, stress and overarousal

quickly with your desired (i.e. desired by the dog) reward (e.g. food, toy, praise etc.).

Wait for It

Dogs can learn very effectively if we simply wait for them to perform a behavior that we want and as soon as they achieve it, we reinforce it.

Break It up

Sometimes, if we are teaching a dog a behavior and it’s not happening, the dog may give up. However, we must set our dogs up to succeed and positive reinforcement is a great way to achieve this. Using shaping, we can break the behavior down into chunks and reward each step progressively towards the end goal. For example, teaching a dog to lie down might start with the dog putting his nose further and further towards the floor, one leg forward, the other leg forward, body down, etc., until finally he is flat on the ground and we can drop in our cue word, ‘lie down.’

You Can Do That…..If You Do This

Sometimes life is a balance and the same is true of living with our dogs.

An effective means of dog behavior change is based on the Premack Principle, i.e. rewarding a lower probability behavior with a higher probability behavior. I use this principle quite frequently. Say we have a highly aroused dog. If he can achieve a lovely calm, settled sit, then he gets to go and meet and greet other dogs. Or, with dogs who are not so good at walking on the leash, let’s do a little bit of relaxed walking, then go play.

Reward the Other

I have already mentioned the issue of dogs using positive reinforcement for their own gain. A highly successful means of behavior change in such scenarios is to promote behaviors which are incompatible with the behavior we don’t want. As humans, we are good at inadvertently rewarding the wrong behavior – people do it all the time. Now, if we don’t give the dog feedback when she responds in a way we deem to be inappropriate, but we give lots of positive feedback when she responds in the way we want her to behave, she will start to repeat that behavior.

Turn It Around

© Can Stock Photo/adogslifephoto

Building on the previous idea, say your dog is performing a behavior you don’t especially like. Rather than chastise her, teach her an alternative response which will overlay the old and then reward this new behavior instead. Before you know it, she will perform the new behavior again and again because it is more rewarding. For example, I like to teach nose touch as a substitute for jumping.

Harmful Effects

For me, affecting behavior change via positive methods is the only method. It is rewarding not only for the dog but incredibly so for the owner too. Often, it is not realized that punishment constitutes anything from a mild verbal chastisement to physical force, body molding and use of harsh equipment and abuse. There is also great individual difference with regard to tolerance. Some dogs are incredibly sensitive to the effects of punishment, while others appear to be less so.

Some of the issues reported to occur with the use of positive punishment in dog training include an increase in fear, aggression and stress. According to Herron, Shofer & Reisner (2009), punishment (for example shouting, physical abuse and the use of a choke or prong collar) increases aggressive responses. Punishment is also identified as a risk factor in cases of aggression particularly towards family members.

(Blackwell, Bolster, Richards, Loftus & Casey, 2010). Excitable or overaroused responses are also likely to be exacerbated (Arhant, Bubna-Littitz, Bartels, Futschik & Troxler, 2010) and, overall, in assessments of behavior cases, individuals who implemented positive punishment have been identified to be most likely to report problem behaviors in their dogs (Hiby, Rooney & Bradshaw, 2004).

I mentioned earlier that I had never forgotten a particular case

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training

...this dog, unfortunately, was a clinical example of the fallout from the use of punitive methods.

He was completely mentally shutdown, slunk into a corner of my consult room and would not come out. He cowered whenever his new owner went anywhere near and shivered at the slightest touch. If he walked, he would slink on his haunches and fall to the floor if you looked at him. I treated this dog for the equivalent of post-traumatic stress disorder.

study of mine. This was a young dog trained to be a working gundog. I know that there are some gundog trainers who use positive methods but this dog, unfortunately, was a clinical example of the fallout from the use of punitive methods. He was completely mentally shutdown, slunk into a corner of my consult room and would not come out. He cowered whenever his new owner went anywhere near and shivered at the slightest touch. If he walked, he would slink on his haunches and fall to the floor if you looked at him. I treated this dog for the equivalent of post-traumatic stress disorder upon evaluating his history and previous training methods that included harsh corrections such as scuffing, hitting, checking, and shouting. Sadly, despite an initial partial recovery the dog passed away.

For me, then, positive is the only method. Nothing can beat watching your dog perform the action you want with a happy, grinning smile and lashing tail, because she wants to and because it’s fun. I could not imagine achieving the same end with a subdued, unhappy dog. Sometimes you have the ask the dog’s owner – do you want a happy dog who wants to learn (which may take a little longer) or do you want instant results achieved by bullying, power tools and force? n

32

BARKS from the Guild/May 2018

References

Arhant, C., Bubna-Littitz, H., Bartels, A., Futschik, A., & Troxler, J. (2010, March). Behaviour of smaller and larger dogs: effects of training methods, inconsistency of owner behavior and level of engagement in activities with the dog. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 123 (3) 131-142. Available at: bit.ly/2qtX7L7 Blackwell, E. J., Bolster, C., Richards, G., Loftus, B.A., & Casey, R.A. (2012, June). The use of electronic collars for training domestic dogs: estimated prevalence, reasons and risk factors for use, and owner perceived success as compared to other training methods. BMC Veterinary Research 8 (1) 93. Available at: bit.ly/2EI2ueT Herron, M.E., Shofer, F.S., & Reisner, I.R. (2009, February). Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing undesired behaviors.

Applied Animal Behaviour Science 117 (1) 47-54. Available at: bit.ly/2GYIgzm Hiby, E.F., Rooney, N.J., & Bradshaw, J.W.S. (2004, February). Dog training methods: their use, effectiveness and interaction with behavior and welfare. Animal Welfare 13 (1) 63-7. Available at: bit.ly/2GZbRg3

Resources

Stapleton-Frappell, L. (2018, May). The Hierarchy of Rewards. BARKS from the Guild (30) 14-21. Available at: bit.ly/2EIG10Y Anna Francesca Bradley MSc BSc (Hons) is a United Kingdomebased provisional clinical, certified IAABC animal behavior consultant and ABTC accredited behavior consultant. She owns Perfect Pawz! Training and Behavior Practice (perfectpawz.co.uk) in Hexham, Northumberland), where the aim is always to create and restore happy relationships between dog and owner in a relaxed way, using methods based on sound scientific principles, which are both force-free and fun.

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canine

Positive Associations

Debbie Bauer discusses the key roles of empowerment, confidence and protection in raising

a blind or deaf puppy

T

Photo © Debbie Bauer

Blind and deaf puppies need to create positive associations to build up their confidence, just like other puppies

here they were – two of the fluffiest, most adorable, white collie puppies that I had ever seen. They were barking and wrestling with each other on the summer grass. I sat on the ground with my camera trying to capture their innocence, and laughing out loud at their antics. To all the world, they looked like all the other playful puppies. But truth be told, they were very fortunate puppies.

They were double merles, and both had been born with significant sight and hearing impairments. One puppy was completely blind and deaf, while the other was blind with a hearing impairment. Many puppies born like these two would not have been allowed to live, or would have ended up in less than ideal situations.

I knew how important these early weeks and months would be to the rest of their lives and to whomever their new families would be and a lot was resting on what I could teach them in the next weeks and months in my home.

Empowerment vs. Protection

When teaching blind and deaf puppies, it is always a fine line between empowering them and building their confidence, while also protecting them from getting hurt. Just like any other puppy, one less than ideal experience can imprint on them and affect how they will feel about and respond to that experience in the future.

This required that I take extra steps to protect them. I had to think ahead in every circumstance and set them up for absolute safety in their exploration. Even giving them freedom to run in a safe area required some planning – were there trees they could run into? Bushes with low branches that could poke their eyes? Holes or drop-offs they might fall into?

Of course, safety considerations are important with puppies that can 30

BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

Photo © Debbie Bauer

Although one might need to slightly adapt training techniques for deaf and blind puppies, the concepts remain the same

see, also. However, blind puppies cannot see the things that other puppies are aware of and can avoid. Thus, when they run into an obstacle, it can cause injury and pain, and also cause fear that can be detrimental to their confidence to explore new places. They may withdraw within themselves and be afraid to run and play or venture very far from a particular spot.

Protection is key, without going overboard. They still need to explore and be puppies. If I had babied my foster pups and not let them have the same experiences as other puppies, their world would remain much smaller and perhaps scarier. Setting them up for success raised their confidence in themselves and their trust in me and their environment.

I set up many learning experiences in my home where I could provide a safe environment while also introducing new socialization opportunities. The puppies used surfaces and textures to give them information about their environment. It was important for me to show them that different surfaces were safe while they were still young.

Obstacle courses allowed me to put down surfaces that were slippery, squishy, rough, carpeted, and even surfaces that moved when they stepped on them. They were never coerced in any way – the choice was always theirs to explore. Sometimes they stepped on a surface that they didn’t especially like and they moved off of it right away.

That was fine with me. I allowed them to experiment and learn. Had I pressured them with treats and trying to lure them closer, they may have gotten more stressed about the surface. I let them decide as they were ready about each one. And they would always come back to revisit the ones they weren’t sure about. It was fascinating to watch them gathering information in the way that made the most sense to them. They also gained confidence from each other in some situations.

When I first brought the puppies home, they were very reactive to

being touched. Any touch at all, and they launched into biting and wrestling mode. To them, having lived with their many brothers and sisters, when they got bumped it must have meant a wild playtime was imminent. And as with any puppy, those razor-sharp teeth were not at all comfortable on my skin!

Much of our early interactions were based around the pups learning to be gentle with their mouths. This was perhaps the most challenging thing for me to teach them. I was very intentional in creating rules for interacting with people. I did not allow anyone to play silly games with the puppies using their hands. For the puppies, hands would always be gentle and trusted to be gentle; for the people, puppy mouths would always be gentle with skin and clothing. This was the Holy Grail during my first months with the puppies.

As a side note, I think that managing the behavior of other humans was much more challenging than managing puppy behavior. Why do humans often try to play with puppies by wiggling their hands and fingers near those puppy faces? And then they wonder why puppies bite their fingers? This became my full-time job: ensuring that everyone who interacted with the puppies followed certain rules, such as only playing with the puppies using toys. I wanted them to learn that toys were for playing, hands were for gentleness.

I carried a toy everywhere with me. With blind and deaf puppies, it is helpful to have toys that are long and skinny. This allows your hand to be on one end and lets the puppies grab the other end – far away from your hand. They cannot see where your hand is, so this keeps your hand safe while the puppy is learning how to use his mouth appropriately.

Anytime (which was often) the puppies grabbed my clothes, hands or a leash, out came the toy. I always substituted at this stage and gave them something appropriate to bite on. It seemed to me that if puppies were biting at something, they must feel a need to bite something. I was not likely to be successful in stopping them biting if the need to bite was still there, so instead, I gave them something appropriate to bite. This way they could learn appropriate behavior habits and fill that need to bite at the same time.

We played lots of touch games. One brief touch equaled one tasty treat. In the beginning, when I touched the puppies, they reacted by

Photo © Debbie Bauer

When caring for deaf and/or blind puppies, protecting them is key to taking them safe, but without going overboard so it affects their confidence

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canine

When teaching blind and deaf puppies, it is always a fine line between empowering them and building their confidence, while also protecting them from getting hurt. Just like any other puppy, one less than ideal experience can imprint on them and affect how they will feel about and respond to that experience in the future. swinging their heads towards me, mouth open in full bite and wrestle mode, only to meet with a tasty and smelly treat. Wow, imagine their luck!

To give us all early success, I held the treat in the hand I touched them with, so when they turned, the treat was right there for them to smell. I began to see their reactions change. They started to swing their heads around toward the touch but with their noses twitching as they searched for that treat. And the turn towards my hand was not as reactive in a startled way, but more anticipatory.

There was still a fast reaction to the touch, which I wanted to diminish. I wanted them to learn to have a calm reaction to my touch, not one in which they whipped their heads around toward my hand. The next step was to touch them with one hand and then, once they were sniffing for the treat, to lure their heads back forward with my other hand to feed them.

When I work with blind deaf dogs, I try to feed treats as much as possible in front of the dog’s face. The dog learns where the treat will be coming from, so he’s not frantically sniffing all over the air to find it. The puppies learned to investigate my touch briefly, and then turn their heads back forward for the treat. With time, their responses became calmer and calmer, and they didn’t even always turn to investigate the touch. They would notice but continue facing forward waiting for their treat.

Let Sleeping Pups Lie

Another rule was that no one was to wake up a sleeping puppy. Both pup-

Photo © Debbie Bauer

BARKS BARKS from the Guild blog

Different toys and surfaces give blind puppies the opportunity to experiment and learn from their environment

Email: barkseditor@petprofessionalguild.com

BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

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canine

pies came to the office with me every day, and it was very difficult to keep dog-lovers away from collie puppies! The rule was, when the puppies were sleeping, no one could touch them or wake them up. I was being very intentional whenever I woke up the puppies that it was a pleasant experience for them. Because I could only control the experience they had when I woke them up and not when others did, I wanted to ensure all their experiences were positive. Thus, if no one else woke them up, all their experiences could be positive.

Some people think that blind deaf dogs are more aggressive than other dogs, because some can be very reactive when they are startled or woken up suddenly. Of course, any dog can react this way. It is just not as easy to sneak up on and startle a dog that can hear you or see you coming. These are lessons I teach all dogs, but I knew that dealing with blind and deaf dogs, these were critical lessons they needed to learn immediately. I wanted them to learn to wake up gently and happily. These are lessons that would stay with them for their lifetime and are not all that different from the lessons we want every puppy to learn.

Blind and deaf puppies need to create positive associations, to explore and build confidence, and to learn the manners they will need as they grow up in a human world, just like other puppies. The techniques I used and the way I communicated with these puppies was a bit different, but the concepts were the same. n Debbie Bauer HTACP is the owner of Your Inner Dog (yourinnerdog.com) in Effingham, Illinois and has over 25 years of experience teaching and consulting with dogs and their people. She is known worldwide for her expertise in working with dogs that are blind and/or deaf. She is also the author of several books and keeps an informative and fun blog, The White Dog Blog (your-innerdog.blogspot.com) about life with her blind and deaf dogs. She has also trained dogs in a variety of fields, including therapy work, flyball, herding, obedience, agility, musical freestyle, conformation, lure coursing, tricks and scent work.

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Generation Next

canine

Sam Redmond highlights the importance of breeders and behavior consultants

I

working together to avoid future behavior problems n my experience, those of us involved in the dog world are increasingly seeing dogs with behavior issues and the number of dogs with reactivity towards people and other dogs seems to be growing at an alarming rate. Again, in my experience, many dogs do not have good social skills with other dogs and many simply do not seem to be able to cope with the pressures of the world they are living in or what is being asked of them.

Of course, we can come up with many reasons for this. For example, we could put our finger on puppy mills, over socialization, high owner expectations, early neutering and much more, but I also believe that in order to rectify the issue, to some extent at least, it would be helpful for more trainers and behavior consultants to develop professional partnerships with breeders. Over recent years, a number of professional organizations have provided breeders with guidelines on raising puppies, but it needs more than that. We, as qualified professionals, could do well to consider becoming actively involved with puppy rearing programs and ongoing owner support, and support those breeders we may choose to work with. Bearing in mind that all breeds are different, we would also need to understand the specifics of any chosen breed so we can develop an in-depth strategy tailored to that individual breed.

Working with Breeders

Photo © Sam Redmond

In Northern Inuit puppies, hazard avoidance kicks in around the age of 5 weeks old: behavior consultants can work with breeders to ensure that novel stimuli are not introduced at this stage of development

For the last six years, I have been working closely with a small group of breeders. Our chosen breed began with the Northern Inuit (wolf lookalikes) and more recently working with wolfdogs. In those six years roughly 65 dogs were bred by my colleagues and we worked closely together on puppy rearing and owner support. Out of those 65 or so dogs, only one dog was rehomed and that was due to a change of circumstance. He was the only dog out of those 65 that had a separation problem. Through his breeder and I working together, we rectified the issue and he was rehomed successfully. We firmly believe this success was due to a carefully planned strategy from the minute the pups were born until they were through the adolescent period.

The average age for the end of the second hormonal phase for males and the second season for females is 11 - 14 months, depending on breed. Generally, the smaller breeds get through it quicker, with giant breeds such as Irish wolfhounds finishing later. Adolescence in general is considered to be at an end after two years of age, although there are still neurological and physiological development stages after this.

The key to making this work is having a good professional relationship with the breeders but also identifying where we need to get involved. For example, we don’t need to be with the pups every day. We

can leave the breeder to raise their pups with our involvement being an advisory role when needed, or during the key developmental periods identified in our chosen breed.

Hazard Avoidance

In the Northern Inuit, hazard avoidance or the fear system kicks in around 5 weeks and the run-up to this is a good time for a trainer/behavior consultant visit. By this point ideally, we should have developed a relationship with the pups so we are familiar and they are not startled by our arrival. Our role during this period is to facilitate the pup’s ability to get through hazard avoidance by ensuring breeders know that they should not try to introduce new things or to overcome any adverse response to novel stimuli by the pups, but instead distract and refocus their mind so they do not dwell on the experience.

Hazard avoidance occurs at different times in different breeds so make sure you are aware of it in your breed(s). In some working breeds, it occurs early at 5 weeks and in other more “easy going” breeds it can be around 9 weeks onwards. The average age is 7-8 weeks but in some breeds, such as the livestock guarding breeds, it can be much later.

It is also important to know when hazard avoidance ends. This is not something we often talk about. With wolf lookalike dogs, the return to BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

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being receptive to new things happens at the 8-9-week mark, which led us to believe that this could be an end point for hazard avoidance in that type of dog.

Working Relationship

A good way to approach breeders is to join a breed club or society. Get to know people, identify the breeders that are ethical, like-minded or progressive and get to know them. As the relationship evolves and they get to know you, they may begin to ask your advice or you may feel comfortable to give your input on something. Once they see the results in their dogs, word will get out and things will progress.

Your relationship with your breeder needs to be one where you can make suggestions and together develop a plan that addresses all the things necessary for giving puppies the best start in life. Thus, work out what are the most important things to teach the pups at an early age.

You can encourage the breeder to find out as much as possible about the homes the dogs will be going to and what the owners want from them. For example, if they hope to do agility or use dog walkers, the dogs may need to be crate trained. The breeder could get this started by introducing a crate to the pups before hazard avoidance so that it is not a novel item to a newly homed pup. Making it part of their sleeping area and encouraging them to sleep in it will go a long way to helping owners settle their new pups.

The breeder can also start basic training and teach the pups to cope with frustration and isolation (especially if the breed is one known to struggle with separation). The idea here is to teach what is sensible and important depending on the breed of dog and the type of home the puppies are going to. As professionals with a wealth of knowledge, we can oversee this in order to make sure there is no distress caused and it is a gradual and positive experience. Remember, if you are assessing development you need an open mind on what has actually happened rather than relying on an interpretation of what happened. What may happen is that your breeder will tell you the pups are a bit reactive at 5 weeks old. You may realize from your observations that this is not the case, and that the pups are exhibiting normal startle response for that age.

Photo © Sam Redmond

Once dogs are in their new homes, trainers and behavior consultants can organize events such as training days for adolescent dogs and their owners

Leaving Home

Spend time listening to your breeder’s experience of previous litters and how they have gotten on and together plan a strategy of when is the best time to let the pups go. Sending them out when they are wary of new things and still in the hazard avoidance stage can be problematic, so it is really important to get this right. Currently, the thinking is that all dogs of all breeds are able to leave their mothers at around the age of 8 weeks, but if we have an awareness of hazard avoidance we will know that each breed has a different optimum time to leave.

With our wolf lookalikes, the ones who left their mother at the beginning of the 8-week period did not cope well, whereas the ones who left nearer to 9 weeks did a lot better. As a result, the strategy was adopted that puppies would leave home only after they had reached 9 weeks of age. In fact, the small number who left at 10-12 weeks turned out to be the most “reliable” of them all. I believe this is because they had the benefit of an extra few weeks after hazard avoidance and more time on the training program.

New Owner

Photo © Sam Redmond

Group sessions for newly homed puppies can be an ideal way for owners, breeders, professional trainers and behavior consultants to stay in touch and support each other

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

When the pups are homed, it is time for us to make contact with the new owners. Let them know you are there, how to contact you and what services are planned. Providing handouts to go out in your puppy packs to include information on house training, crate training, basic training, adolescence, planned events and anything else you want to include is a good way of letting owners know about you. It also lets them know that there is a professional relationship between you and the breeder so they understand there is a properly structured support system in place that they can take advantage of. This will make them more likely to keep in touch.

You may be able to organize a group session for those who are local to you or invite them to your puppy class. Offering them a special discount for your services will also keep the new owners on your radar.

A “family” Facebook page is a great way for owner, breeder

Sending [puppies] out when they are wary of new things and still in the hazard avoidance stage can be problematic, so it is really important to get this right. Currently, the thinking is that all dogs of all breeds are able to leave their mothers at around the age of 8 weeks, but if we have an awareness of hazard avoidance we will know that each breed has a different optimum time to leave. and professional to be involved and support each other. Regular group walks (if everyone is close enough) are also ideal as it enables both breeder and trainer to keep an eye on individuals and chat with owners informally. If geography is an issue, look at other ways you can organize events.

As the pups approach adolescence, organizing a training day is a great way to support the owners at a really crucial stage in development. This could be run once a year and the format can be dependent on the issues and concerns that are being fed through via your networking options. The day may consist of a theory session such as “understanding the adolescent dog,” which is tailored, of course, to your breed. You may run a class situation, or if you know the dogs well enough you could select a couple that you know get on and have good social skills to demonstrate “healthy and appropriate play.” This could also involve teaching owners how to teach their dog to read other dogs’ signals and behave accordingly. If there is large range of ages, then it may be worth splitting the dogs into age appropriate groups as those approaching the end of this phase will have different needs to those

canine

who are in the thick of it. If you are fortunate enough to have experienced helpers, this is a valuable option to enable everyone to get what they need from the sessions.

Looking Ahead

I personally would like to start seeing a generation of emotionally stable and resilient dogs who demonstrate good coping strategies for all the world will throw at them. This can be hugely facilitated if we, as professionals, acknowledge the responsibility we have to share our experience with the people who are there right at the beginning of this process.

These relationships will ultimately benefit the animals, the owners and the industry. By working together, we can vastly improve the chances of achieving a new generation of stable animals and therefore reduce the volume of unwanted pets, reduce the pressure on shelters, reduce emotional suffering and maybe, just maybe, influence changes in the law. n Sam Redmond DipCAPBT NOCN studied with the Centre of Applied Pet Ethology in the United Kingdom and has been in practice over 10 years. After a number of years in dog clubs and building puppy programs, she moved into private work. After getting a Northern Inuit dog, she began to work with breeders on puppy rearing programs where it became clear that the gene pool for the breed was small and problems were emerging. She and her associates thus moved into the wolfdog realm. She now works closely with some wolfdog breeders and runs regular training days for new puppy owners providing behavior and training support. She is also an approved trainer for Dog Assistance in Disability, and runs a busy practice, Sam Redmond Dog Training and Animal Behaviour (dogtrainingnantwich.co.uk), providing animal behavior consultations and one-to-one training.

If you enjoy teaching your dog tricks and novel behaviors If you strive for precision in obedience skills If you want to use progressive, modern training techniques If you are looking for an enjoyable and supportive competitor experience If you want to strengthen the working relationship between you and your dog

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www.rallyfree.com BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

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canine

The Power of Water

Charlotte Pimm, who works in collaboration with PPG corporate partner Animal Jobs Direct,

details the benefits of hydrotherapy for pets suffering from a medical condition or recovering

from surgery, as well as how to become an animal hydrotherapist

A

Photo © Woozelbears

Dogs are gradually acclimatized to the treadmill without water; when water is added staff ensure the level remains low enough for the patient to be comfortable

nimal hydrotherapy is a treatment that uses the properties of water to rehabilitate and improve an animal’s function in a heated, sanitized pool. Dogs that are suffering from a medical condition or have had surgery benefit greatly from hydrotherapy.

The hydrotherapy pool allows an animal to exercise in a nonweightbearing environment which relieves pressure on joints, reducing pain and encouraging movement. In the aquatic treadmill, the water height can be adjusted to precisely control the amount of weight bearing as the animal strengthens or recovers whilst re-educating the gait. It is difficult to move quickly within water and it has a cushioning or protective quality reducing the risk of injury. This same quality means that the dog has to work hard to move forward and in turn this helps to increase muscle mass and strength. Within water, animals are also subject to hy-

While treating a variety of breeds and temperaments, it is extremely important to introduce every patient to the water correctly. If dogs are fearful of swimming out of their depth, then they are usually going to find the clinical environment of the hydrotherapy pool stressful to start with.

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

Photo © Woozelbears

The nonweight-bearing environment enables the dog to move freely, increasing circulation and reducing pain and stiffness, as well as leading to muscle relaxation

drostatic pressure and this can help to reduce swelling and pain, especially in the lower limbs.

In conjunction with veterinary treatment, hydrotherapy can improve the quality and rate of healing following surgery and traumatic injury while also helping with the treatment of medical conditions by reducing pain and swelling, and creating an anti-inflammatory effect due to hydrostatic pressure, which leads to an increased range of movement in water.

A nonweight-bearing environment can also help reduce pain and swelling following surgery or injury. It enables the dog to move freely in the water increasing the circulation and reducing stiffness. As the warm water increases the circulation of the blood to the muscles, it increases the supply of oxygen and nutrients and flushes away waste products.

This leads to muscle relaxation and a reduction in pain and stiffness. Improved circulation reduces swelling around the injured area and enhances healing.

Starting Out

While treating a variety of breeds and temperaments, it is extremely important to introduce every patient to the water correctly. If dogs are fearful of swimming out of their depth, then they are usually going to find the clinical environment of the hydrotherapy pool stressful to start with. As the patient does not go out of their depth in the hydrotherapy

canine

What is Animal Hydrotherapy?

Animal hydrotherapists use hydrotherapy techniques to help animals with rehabilitation needs to recover from injury or as part of pain management or even as a type of exercise for animals with mobility issues. An animal hydrotherapy session is commonly required as a form of rehabilitation following injury, or major surgery. Vets will refer animals to a registered animal hydrotherapist who will review their case before creating a suitable course of treatment. Hydrotherapy is an excellent way to gradually improve the strength and conditioning following surgery, or an injury, as it is low impact. It can also be used to help animals that need to lose weight. Because of the fact that it is a low impact form of exercise, there is a lower risk of injury. It is also the ideal stress-busting activity, which can help improve overall circulation and reduce joint and muscle pain.

In conjunction with veterinary treatment, hydrotherapy can improve the quality and rate of healing following surgery and traumatic injury while also helping with the treatment of medical conditions by reducing pain and swelling.

How to Qualify

To work as a registered animal hydrotherapist, you must successfully complete the ABC Awards level 3 diploma course in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals (bit.ly/2rDIBSC). When you have completed one of these regulated qualifications, you can seek employment as an animal hydrotherapist – register with the Animal Jobs Direct Job Board (animaljobsdirect.com) for the latest vacancies, or contact animal hydrotherapy centers near where you live. Alternatively, set up your own animal hydrotherapy business! See ad (below right) for more details.

treadmill, hydrophobic patients often prefer this method of treatment.

However, if they are suffering from a condition for which we cannot use the treadmill, then we would introduce the pool very slowly, incorporating very short periods of swimming and acclimatizing them to the ramp of the pool as a safe place. Quite often, dogs will surprise you and will quickly want to interact with their owners and toys from the poolside.

Our sessions are purely based on positive reinforcement and taking the session at the pace of the patient. We mainly find we have the other extreme of dogs, i.e. those who thoroughly enjoy their pool sessions and the hydrotherapist has to manage their excitement rather than any fear or stress responses.

If we are using the hydrotherapy treadmill, we acclimatize the animal by walking them through it with both doors open, allowing them to start with a good sniff and a positive experience. When they are settled we close the doors but have a hydrotherapist in the treadmill with them so they can distract them with toys, treats and praise. The water comes through the floor and gradually fills the tank, so we make sure that the water remains low enough for the patient to be comfortable initially and then sneak more in when they are settled. On the rare occasion that a dog finds this too stressful, then we do not introduce the moving belt. Rather, we can work on building their confidence with this phase, completing beneficial massage and static physiotherapy exercises in the water.

When introducing the moving belt we use rewards such as praise, toys or treats to encourage the patient to move forward whilst gradually increasing the speed of the belt. The majority of patients take to it very well and, when it comes to their next session, try and get in the tank before they are harnessed and bathed. In 10 years, I have only come across a handful of patients that never took to the water. If stress levels remain high then it can hinder tissue repair, so for these few we continued treatment with our physical therapist for land-based therapy only. n Charlotte Pimm, director of Woozelbears Hydrotherapy (woozelbears .com), studied veterinary health studies before going on to work as a veterinary technician. In 2010, she graduated as a canine hydrotherapist and established Woozelbears first hydrotherapy center. She has since qualified as a veterinary physical therapist and won several business awards. Woozelbears works in collaboration with Animal Jobs Direct (animaljobsdirect.com) to provide the practical elements of the ABC Awards level 3 and 4 diplomas in small animal hydrotherapy, which are available to study worldwide.

Photo © Woozelbears

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pet care

The Need for Protection

In the first of a two-part article, Lauri Bowen-Vaccare looks into health requirements for

K

boarding and day care facilities to ensure dogs remain healthy during their stay eeping dogs safe and healthy during any boarding or day care situation is an essential part of the service provided to pets and their owners, and vaccination protocols are a large part of this. As such, before dropping off their dogs at boarding or day care facilities, owners and their vets should discuss appropriate vaccination protocols based on the dog’s lifestyle, as boarding facility staff are not qualified to do so. That said, boarding and day care facility owners should also be up-to-date on veterinary recommendations regarding vaccination protocols, the safest and most effective forms of specific vaccinations, and regionally-specific recommendations. Facility owners should not only regularly network with area veterinarians but should stay further informed through other veterinary resources like the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Animal Hospital Association, PetMD.com, and internationally respected vaccination immunology experts like Dr. Ronald Schultz and Dr. Jean Dodds.

While boarding facilities can require any vaccination they want, and/or any form of vaccination, veterinarians and vaccination and immunology experts are the only parties who are qualified to determine a dog’s protection needs, and maintain the most up-to-date information regarding the various forms of vaccinations available and their safety and efficacy.

Vaccination Requirements

• If a boarding facility requires a vaccination, or a specific form of vaccination, against which the dog’s veterinarian has advised, or is otherwise medically and/or regionally unnecessary, the owner may want to consider seeking boarding/day care accommodations elsewhere. o While boarding facilities can require any vaccination they want, and/or any form of vaccination, veterinarians and vaccination and immunology experts are the only parties who are qualified to determine a dog’s protection needs, and maintain the most up-to-date information regarding the various forms of vaccinations available and their safety and efficacy. o Depending on the specific vaccination, the facility may allow the dog’s vet to provide a medical waiver, allowing the dog to stay, especially if the dog is a senior. o Facilities can and usually should refuse service to a dog whose owner does not provide proof of their required vaccinations or protection. o Bordetella will, most often, not be waived.

• If a facility waives the Bordetella vaccination for a particular dog, the dog’s owners should sign a waiver releasing the facility of responsibility should the dog acquire kennel cough.

• If the facility waives the Bordetella vaccination for a particular dog, the facility should consider calling the owners of the other dogs who will be boarding and/or attending day care during and around the 38

BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

© Can Stock Photo/raywoo

To keep all dogs safe and healthy, day care and boarding facilities will often require proof of vaccinations and that dogs have adequate protection against pesticides and parasites

same time of the unprotected dog to inform them of the situation. The facility can and often should refuse service to the unprotected dog should the other clients express their concern, as the dog may present a health risk to them.

• It is ideal, although not always feasible, for guests to receive the required vaccinations (or provide proof of adequate titers) at least two weeks before visiting the facility.

• Dogs who do not regularly spend time with or around other dogs are not typically advised to receive the Bordetella vaccination, and they will be required to be vaccinated before visiting the facility.

• Many facilities now accept adequate titer results in lieu of regular boosters. o According to Messonnier (2015): “Vaccine titer tests are simple blood tests that measure your animal’s antibodies to certain diseases. In most practices, these diseases include distemper, parvo and hepatitis virus for dogs. The titer is a number derived from testing your animal’s blood for antibodies against these diseases. A positive titer means your dog or cat has antibodies against a specific disease (the titer usually results from prior vaccination to the disease, or exposure to the disease). It indicates he is protected from the illness caused by that particular virus. For example, a positive titer to distemper virus indicates your dog is protected from distemper.” o If a facility does not accept adequate titer results, the current veterinary vaccination recommendation for core vaccinations is every three years. Core vaccinations consist of rabies, distemper, adenovirus (hepatitis) and parvo. o Boarding and day care facilities also usually require parainfluenza, which is often included in three-year canine core vaccination schedules.

tella.

o

Boarding and day care facilities also require Borde-

o Owners should discuss their dog’s lifestyle to design a safe and appropriate vaccination protocol for their dog.

• Owners are responsible for providing proof of adequate protection to the facility. o Some facilities send reminder notices to owners a few days before their dog is to be dropped off, but this will vary from facility to facility. It is the dog owner’s responsibility to make sure the facility receives this information. o The facility can and usually should refuse services to a dog whose owners have not provided proof of adequate protection.

Other Health-Related and Preventative Requirements

• Proof that the dog is receiving adequate protection against pesticides and parasites. o Flea and tick. o Heartworm. o Miscellaneous parasites like ringworm, roundworm, etc.

• Proof of negative fecal exam. o Some facilities require annual proof, while others require semi-annual. o Owners are responsible for supplying proof of a negative fecal exam.

• Proof of healthy wellness exam. o Many facilities require proof that the dog has received a wellness exam within the last year before allowing a dog to stay. o If the dog is new to the facility, staff may require that the exam has been performed within the last six months. o Animal care facilities have the right to turn away dogs whose health they feel will be at risk.

• Risks include, but are not limited to, contagious diseases, illness which cannot be proven to be communicable or non-communicable, pain-induced aggression, general senior pet-related ailments, aggression, moderate to severe fear or anxiety, isolation or separation anxiety symptoms, etc. o Animal care facilities have the right to turn away dogs whose health they feel will be a risk to other guests and/or the staff.

• Risks include, but are not limited to, contagious diseases, illness which cannot be proven to be communicable or non-communica-

pet care

ble, pain-induced aggression, general senior pet-related ailments, aggression, moderate to extreme fear or anxiety, isolation or separation anxiety symptoms, etc.

• Proof of good health for dogs new to the home. o In addition to proof of a healthy wellness exam, many facilities require that dogs have been in the home for at least two weeks before being allowed to stay.

• Dated paperwork from the breeder, shelter, rescue, etc. can be presented as proof.

• This may be required, in particular, for dogs who were acquired via a shelter, rescue, pet store, puppy mill, etc. o Some facilities require that dogs who have been in the home for less than two to six months are seen by their personal vet before boarding, even if the dog was recently seen by a vet while under the care of the breeder, shelter, rescue, former owner, etc. o If the dog was found as a stray, received as a gift, taken in from a friend or family member, etc., owners may be asked to provide proof of a healthy wellness exam dated within the last two weeks to six months.

In the second part of this article, I will outline the specific vaccinations that are usually required for a dog to attend a day care or boarding facility, as well as some of those that are region-dependent and are not usually required. n

References

Messonnier, S. (2015). Animal titer testing FAQs. Available at: animalwellnessmagazine.com/animal-titer-testing-faqs

Resources

American Veterinary Medical Association: avma.org/Pages/home.aspx American Animal Hospital Association: aaha.org/default.aspx Dr. Jean Dodds: hemopet.org/education/jean-doddsveterinarian.html Dr. Ronald Schultz: vetmed.wisc.edu/vaccination-guidelines-2016 PetMD: petmd.com

Lauri Bowen-Vaccare ABCDT is the owner of Warren, Kentuckybased Believe In Dog, LLC (believeindog.weebly.com) and is an honors graduate of Animal Behavior College, with a specialty in training shelter dogs. Her focus is on the dog-human team, and she specializes in reactivity, resource guarding, fearful and timid dogs, bringing outside dogs in, and outside pet dogs. She also advises and assists trainers who want to cross over to force-free training.

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Cattery or Cat Sitter?

Lisa Sinnott considers the pros and cons of boarding versus a pet sitter for a cat’s optimum

wellbeing when his guardians are away from home

I

© Can Stock Photo/Vapi

In a cattery environment, the sight and sound of other felines may cause stress and anxiety

n this article, I will seek to determine whether boarding at a cattery or in-home visits from a pet sitter are the most preferable option for a cat’s wellbeing while his guardians are away.

Starting with a cattery stay, the first thing to note is that traveling to and from the facility in the car will be disruptive and most likely stressful for the average cat. From a safety aspect, placing the cat carrier in a section of the car that is enclosed, such as a secured crate or somewhere it can be strapped in if no one is there to hold it, is sensible in case an accident occurs. Bear in mind, too, that many cats dart behind the sofa and refuse to come out at the appearance of the cat carrier, so it is good practice to keep it out at all times. This will help convince the cat that it is a cozy extra bed for him to relax in and will, hopefully, help to habituate him to the carrier (Ellis & Bradshaw, 2016).

Conversely, leaving your cat at home and having a pet sitting company come in to take care of him avoids all this travel and potential stress. At home, your cat is more likely to be comfortable and is certainly knowledgeable about his environment. He will have familiar hiding places to retreat to, such as under the bed or behind the sofa. In catteries, hiding places can be adapted by having an igloo bed, a cardboard box, or using a blanket to cover an area. Providing you don’t restrict your cat to certain areas of the home while you are away, his litter box, food and water will be in a familiar location while the bowls, litter tray and litter choice will be the same.

In a cattery, you could take these same, familiar items along to 40

BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

Photo: Lisa Sinnott

Habituating cats to their carrier so they have a positive association with it removes one potential stressor when it comes to traveling

help reduce the cat’s stress while not in his home environment. If the cattery uses their own bowls, Halls (2010) recommends they are wide enough so the cat’s whiskers don’t knock the side and also that they are placed in an area where the cat can see 360 degrees around so he feels safer about his resource not being invaded.

It is recommended that the cat’s litter box is in a quiet area away from the food and water to avoid contamination. This can be slightly more difficult in a cattery as there is often one small area that the cat stays in. Litter trays and food bowls should be washed in separate areas to avoid cross contamination too. There should be a few water outlets to encourage cats to drink; tuna juice can help a cat who tends not to drink much to consume more water.

Pet drinking fountains can also be helpful in this respect. Elevated places are ideal for cats and can help them feel safer as they can observe their territory from a height.

Stressful Environment

A lot of catteries have specific opening and closing times, meaning that if your flight home was delayed for any reason, then potentially your cat may have to spend another night away from home in the cattery. In this sense, it is important to check how many cats are in the cattery at one time to ensure there is a procedure in place and room for your cat if this occurred. Aside from the extra cost involved, it would mean another night away from your pet if you were a few hours late.

The volume of traffic of people coming in and out of the cattery would potentially be a lot higher than the one person who would be visiting the cat in his home. This could be an unpleasant and unfamiliar social experience for the cat as there would be different visuals, smells and noises. Humans are fomites too, which can be a potential hazard in terms of hygiene in that it is possible for us to transfer infection organisms between cats. In addition, there is the sound, scent, and sight of other cats in the cattery as well as those coming into the cattery. Note that unaltered males may not be accepted into a cattery. According to Bradshaw (2010, p.182-193), an unaltered male’s main goal is to “compete for the attention of as many females as possible” and to do this they “spray urine as high up as they can.” This is a powerful odor that aims to signal to as many cats as possible that he is a potential mate, which is obviously not ideal in a cattery environment.

Still in the cattery, the sight of other felines may cause stress and anxiety, especially when a cat is eliminating, when he may feel exposed and vulnerable. To avoid this (applies also to the home environment), windows can be blocked out so other cats cannot be seen in the adjacent pen (or in the garden) (Bradshaw, 2014). If pens are opposite each other in a cattery environment, this could, however, be more difficult – or even impossible – as the cattery staff need to be able to see inside the pens.

Cats have scent glands under their chins, one at each corner of the mouth and one beneath the area of the fur between the eyes and ears. Cats are often seen rubbing their cheeks up against corners of tables (known as bunting). If a cat is at home then his scent will obviously already be present and provide familiarity which will not immediately be present in a cattery. Note: Feliway is a synthetic pheromone product that has been shown in some cases to have a positive effect in reducing the stress of anxious cats (Bradshaw, 2014), so using this in a cattery environment may be useful.

Health and Hygiene

In terms of a cat’s sense of smell, Bradshaw (2014, p.119) states that cats have “several hundred kinds of olfactory receptors and information arises depending which one has been triggered by the odour from the nose” and that they are “probably capable of distinguishing between thousands of smells.” In a cattery, other cats will have occupied the pen previously, and new cats will take a lot of notice of any urine smells and scent mark smells left on the furniture (Bradshaw, 2014, p.126).

Obviously, hygiene is of paramount importance in a cattery environment but, wherever possible, heavy duty citrus scented cleaning products should be avoided as, for many cats, the smell is unpleasant and often aversive. Plastic rather than wood is an ideal material in a cattery as wood can become soaked in urine or other liquids or germs, making it extremely difficult – if not impossible – to clean. According to Cats Protection (2018), “Parvo virus can survive on equipment and in the environment for up to 12 months. This is a massive risk to kittens as their immune system is just developing.” Note that diarrhea can arise from stress, so check the cattery’s procedure for cats who experience this. They should have somewhere to hide and be housed away from other cats if possible. (Cats Protection, 2017).

feline

In a cattery, you could take…familiar items along to help reduce the cat’s stress while not in his home environment. If the cattery uses their own bowls, Halls (2010) recommends they are wide enough so the cat’s whiskers don’t knock the side and also that they are placed in an area where the cat can see 360 degrees around so he feels safer about his resource not being invaded.

For cats staying in catteries, it is imperative that feline infectious enteritis (FIE) and cat flu vaccinations have been completed and that proof is provided to the cattery staff to be checked. Vaccinations need to be started around six weeks prior to the cat’s visit.

Sadly, FIE has a high mortality rate and, on occasion, outbreaks are still seen in multi-cat situations. Furthermore, flea and worming treatment will need to have been completed to ensure that cats do not transfer fleas to one another or contract feline infectious anemia or tapeworms. (Cats Protection, 2017).

One of the benefits of one of the catteries I researched for this article was an onsite vet during operating hours. Note that some pet care companies offer overnight stays so you can avoid your cat being left for prolonged periods if he has any medical issues or simply doesn’t cope well with being alone.

Another advantage of a home stay as opposed to a cattery is that, if the resident cat is allowed to go outdoors, he can continue to do so if he has a cat flap and the guardian feels comfortable with this while they are away. In this type of situation, a cat flap with microchip recognition is ideal, otherwise other cats in the neighborhood may come into the home and spray or steal food.

This could also lead to behavioral issues such as anxiety, stress, fear or aggression which may manifest in urine spraying to deter the other cats if the resident cat feels that his territory is being invaded (Bradshaw, 2014).

If you do have a cat that goes outside and elect to use a pet sitter, it is ideal if the person meets your cat beforehand and also has a photo of him in the event that he goes missing so they can distribute lost cat posters and post details on social media. This can obviously be avoided if the cat only has indoor access. This can also be helpful for the cat sitter to know that they are looking after the right cat. I had a single experience where I let the brother of the cat I was looking after into the home. He lived in the neighborhood and I fed him thinking he was the original cat! Luckily, I realized that some of the markings were different. To avoid this happening again, I purchased a microchip scanner so I can always check I am looking after the right cat.

Cats are often seen rubbing their scent on people, doorways and furniture, thereby coating the environment with their own familiar scent

BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

© Can Stock Photo/EEI_Tony

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Natural Behaviors

In a cattery, a cat will be confined in a pen, perhaps with access to an enclosed outdoor run so this will, hopefully, not be an issue. In this same scenario, it is important that cats still have the ability to perform natural behaviors such as hunting and playing. An interactive toy such as Da Bird is ideal for this as it comprises real feathers.

In rescue care, cats can experience a lot of stress and, arguably, the same may be said of a cattery, e.g. leaving a familiar environment, adapting to new sights, sounds and smells, and being handled by unfamiliar people. Studies have shown that cats in rescue facilities are more likely to experience weight loss and are five times more likely to experience cat flu (Cats Protection, 2017). The inability to perform natural behaviors can cause stress, and stress can cause an increased risk of disease, including “cystitis, skin diseases such as over grooming and infection, and diarrhea.” (Cats Protection, 2017). It is thus important that, whichever option is selected, both cattery staff and cat sitters engage in play with the cats in their charge. The Cats Protection Behaviour Guide (2017) explains that even 10 minutes twice a day is shown to have a positive effect on a cat’s wellbeing. A scratch post is also highly recommended, ideally one with vertical scratching surfaces made of corrugated cardboard, that is placed next to sleeping or resting areas – as cats like to scratch after waking (Horowitz & Mills, 2012). Scratch posts also keep the cat’s claws in good condition and help them distribute their scent (cats have scent glands between the pads of their paws).

In my opinion, most cats would be happier in their home environment, surrounded by familiar objects, sights, sounds and

smells, when their guardians are away. Another advantage of this is that, although in terms of their facial expression cats are adept at hiding their emotions (especially compared to dogs), a regular cat sitter will learn to recognize any unusual behavior that may suggest the cat is unhappy or not feeling well. Having said that, there may be some situations where pet sitting is not viable and where a cattery stay is more beneficial to the cat’s welfare, such as ongoing construction work in the home or the inability to find a trustworthy, reliable, force-free pet sitter. (See the PPG directory: petprofessionalguild.com/Find-Your-Feline-Professional). n References

Bradshaw, J., & Ellis, S. (2016). The Trainable Cat: A Practical Guide to Making Life Happier for You and Your Cat. New York, NY: Basic Books Bradshaw, J. (2014). Cat Sense. London, UK: Penguin Books Cats Protection (2017). The Behaviour Guide. Available at: bit.ly/2IjNyWW Halls, V. (2010). The Secret Life of your Cat. London, UK: Hamlyn Horowitz, D.F., & Mills, D S. (2012). BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Behavioural Medicine (2nd Edn.).Gloucester, UK: British Small Animal Veterinary Association

Resources

Feline Infectious Enteritis: cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/feline-infectious-enteritis

Lisa Sinnott is the founder of Albany Pet Services in St. Albans, U.K. (albanypetservices.co.uk), a pet care business that provides solo dog walks and pet sitting services. She is currently completing a professional dog walking diploma course with Compass Education and also volunteers for the Blue Cross animal charity presenting talks about pet care and dog body language.

Redstone Media Group, in partnership with the Pet Professional Guild (PPG), is delighted to announce that all PPG members are now eligible for 50% OFF ($12 for six issues) a oneyear subscription to Animal Wellness or Equine Wellness magazines.

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

Know Better, Do Better

avian

Lara Joseph talks fine tuning our training skills with parrots, based on her workshops at PPG’s

Training and Behavior Workshop at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah in April

W

Photo © Lara Joseph

Part of the workshop involved teaching attendees how to pick up a bird (in this case, Frankie the African grey) without hitting their tail and knocking them off balance

hat an honor it was to be asked to present and give the parrot workshops at PPG’s Training and Behavior Workshop at Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah in April. I wasn't sure what to expect as I had never been to Best Friends before and I wondered what a group of dog trainers was going to think about training parrots. I certainly didn't expect each of my workshops to be full, but, to my surprise, they were.

I began by meeting Jacqueline Johnson and Stacie Cornbleth who are the caretakers of the 115 parrots currently residing at the Best Friends Parrot Garden. I never give credit where credit isn't due, and I cannot voice my appreciation enough for the quality of care and dedication these two individuals invest in the wellbeing of these fabulous creatures and their future placement into homes. They helped me pick out the best candidates to work with in the workshops and we decided on Frankie, the African grey [who has since been homed - Ed.], Kaimi and Laquita, a bonded pair of macaws, and a flock of cockatiels in the aviary.

Let me explain why each of these birds was a great candidate to train and learn from and the work we did with each of them, starting with Frankie. Of all of the species of parrots I work with, the African grey is the hardest for me to read. Their behaviors are the most subtle, in my opinion. I explained this to the workshop attendees and pointed out what I was looking for, and each instance I found areas of concern in

Parrots are social creatures, often flocking in hundreds or thousands in the wild. In our homes, however, we usually keep them in separate cages and amongst a mixture of species.

Photo © Susan Nilson

Lara Joseph works with macaws Laquita (male, left) and Kaimi (female, right) reinforcing Laquita for stationing as Kaimi is asked to step onto her arm

my next approach. Macaws Kaimi and Laquita, meanwhile, are a bonded pair. In the wild, many species of parrots form strong relationships and either do not go out of each other's sight or retain contact by staying within calling distance to one another. In this instance, their relationship made for the exceptional teaching opportunity of showing the steps we would need to take in requesting them to step away from each other and onto us.

Sometimes people unfamiliar with birds are afraid of them and many of the workshop attendees let me know this before we began our contact training, so I first shaped their comfort levels. Cockatiels are smaller parrots, and most people are comfortable with smaller parrots because their beaks are not as big. Having said that, the real reason for their comfort is often that they do not understand the behaviors they are seeing. We began, then, our sessions outdoors in the gazebo with the bigger birds, where I explained the behaviors we were seeing and what behaviors looked like when the parrots were not comfortable with what we were asking. By the time we moved to the cockatiel aviary, I did not hear or see one person hesitate or express concern about entering the enclosure.

Before the attendees began working with the parrots, I started by explaining more about body language, aversives to avoid, common behavior concerns that are unknowingly shaped that cause the birds to lose their homes, and the practical use and identification of positive reinforcers.

Balance

Most parrots do not like being knocked off balance. Having their back to the wind blows their feathers forward and can knock them off balance.

If you watch parrots in aviaries or wild birds, you will see them turn BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

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A Ray of Sunshine

“I also have to mention a very emotional part of the workshop. It was on the second day that Best Friends parrot caretaker, Jacqueline Johnson mentioned Sunshine, the sulfur crested cockatoo, to me. She said she was afraid he was unadoptable and had been at Best Friends for the whole nine years she had worked there. She said he would bite every hand that approaches. One of her biggest wishes was to find him a home, but she said she believed behavior modification was not an option for him. I told her that I have a "Sunshine" as well and that he has become such a loving parrot through consistency in training (see Starting from Scratch, Again, BARKS from the Guild, May 2018, pp. 42-44). And so the protective-contact training began.

“I showed Johnson how to approach and feed Sunshine through the cage bars without being bitten, i.e. hold the treat in such a position that the horizontal bar of the cage came between the top part and bottom part of his beak (see photo, right). She started working on the training straight away. I then suggested teaching Sunshine a station and fading out the lure. By the end of our four days, neither Johnson nor I had been bitten, and Sunshine had learned to station on the perch furthest from the door to allow the staff to service his cage safely. On the last day, Johnson’s fellow parrot caretaker, Stacie Cornbleth told me: "You have given us hope with Sunshine." Tears were shed, and it was a moving moment for all.” - Lara Joseph their faces to the wind. Thus, pairing our requests with these aversives can set us up for failure and result in a bite. I demonstrated examples of behaviors we could request so the parrots did not have to turn their backs to the wind to complete the action, such as stepping up onto my hand on cue.

Parrots, as well as other birds, find it aversive to have their tails and wings touched while in flight. I gave clear examples, without interacting with the birds, of common pitfalls made while asking a bird to fly to someone or to step up on cue. While requesting a parrot to step up, often the tail is not taken into consideration. People will ask a bird to step up and begin moving him forward. When doing so, the perch he is stepping up from will hit his tail, knocking him off balance. This association is a common reason why a bird will put one foot on your hand and then bite. In other words, pairing the step-up cue with an aversive can punish the behavior of stepping up and/or causes the bird to bite. I

Cockatiels learn to station during target training

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Photo © Susan Nilson

BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

Photo © Susan Nilson

often hear people say exactly this: "When I ask the bird to step-up, he bites me for no reason." Likewise, when people ask a parrot to fly to their hand within his enclosure, if the parrot's wings hit enrichment, perches, or cage bars, the request is paired with an aversive, thereby punishing the future behavior of the bird flying to a hand on cue.

Parrots are social creatures, often flocking in hundreds or thousands in the wild. In our homes, however, we usually keep them in separate cages and amongst a mixture of species. I do this as well, and I do it for their safety due to most of them being taken in because they have lost their homes. Keeping them housed separately causes them to rely on us, their caregivers, for attention and physical interaction and this is where the misuse of attention for behaviors such as screaming can cause the reinforcement of the undesired behavior. I explained that using differential reinforcement reliably works in modifying the screaming. This means picking an acceptable vocalization the bird already knows and reinforcing it while extinguishing the scream. I showed this with Frankie, the African grey. When she would say “More!” I turned and reinforced with attention or a food reinforcer. Frankie caused a lot of laughter for all of us during our training sessions with her.

In fact, each day of the workshop, our training began with Frankie, who prefers to be picked up with a stick as opposed to human hands. I explained that it is always the parrot that determines the reinforcers and punishers, never the trainer. It is then up to us in how we choose to use them or not. Working with birds was unfamiliar to most of the attendees, so this off-contact training was a great way to introduce them to it at their comfort level. If they didn't feel comfortable handing Frankie the food reinforcer, I did it for them and then slowly transi-

Most parrots do not like being knocked off balance. Having their back to the wind blows their feathers forward and can knock them off balance. If you watch parrots in aviaries or wild birds, you will see them turn their faces to the wind. Thus, pairing our requests with these aversives can set us up for failure and result in a bite.

While requesting a parrot to step up, often the tail is not taken into consideration. People will ask a bird to step up and begin moving him forward. When doing so, the perch he is stepping up from will hit his tail, knocking him off balance. This association is a common reason why a bird will put one foot on your hand and then bite. tioned the food delivery to them. We focused on requesting a step-up and a step-off, paying close attention to Frankie’s tail – making sure she was able to keep her balance – and the pace in which we moved, which also could be a reinforcer of undesired behavior.

For attendees who wanted to go further outside their comfort zone, we worked with Kaimi and Laquita. I taught one of the birds to station at a particular spot of the tree stand, while an attendee requested a stepup from the other bird. Rates of reinforcement, schedules of reinforcement, and close attention to the tails and body language were all important points for us to focus on. I reminded attendees to reinforce calm behavior while not forgetting to pay close attention and reinforce the behavior of the other bird. By the beginning of the final workshop (we ran four workshops over consecutive days), as I began my approach to the tree stand, one bird would move to their station in anticipation of the behaviors likely to be requested. This had already become a strong cue trained through consistency and contingency.

I ended each workshop in the cockatiel aviary where everyone had the opportunity to train the birds and work on target training, recall, and stationing. A couple of the cockatiels wanted to train together with

avian

one trainer, but if the rates of reinforcement were not high enough, one of them would beak the other. I suggested teaching them both to station first before working on target training and the communication between the birds and the trainer immediately became evident.

After the workshops, some of the comments I heard most from the attendees were along the lines of: "The approach was the same, but yet so different," "I want to start training parrots," and "Every dog training certification program should require parrot training." My most valued positive reinforcer from this workshop was seeing the smiles on all the faces of the attendees. My goal was to open their eyes to the wonderful world of parrots and what fabulous, intricate creatures and educators they are. When we know better, we do better. n

Resources

Joseph, L. (2018, May). Starting from Scratch, Again. BARKS from the Guild (30) 42-44. Available at: bit.ly/2rRtHY0 Lara Joseph is the owner of Sylvania, Ohio-based The Animal Behavior Center LLC (theanimalbehaviorcenter.com), an international educational center that focuses on teaching people how to work with animals using positive reinforcement and approaches in applied behavior analysis. She travels internationally giving workshops, lectures, and provides online, live-streaming memberships on animal behavior, training and enrichment. She also sits on the advisory board for All Species Consulting, The Indonesian Parrot Project, and is director of animal training for Nature’s Nursery, a wildlife rehabilitation center in Whitehouse, Ohio. She is a published author, writes regularly for several periodicals, and will also be a guest lecturer in the upcoming college course Zoo Biology, Animal Nutrition, Behavior and Diagnostics taught by Dr. Jason Crean at St. Xavier University, Chicago, Illinois.

BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

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equine

Evolution and Adaptability

Kathie Gregory explores nutritional considerations in the domestic horse, as well as the

E

importance of context and providing horses with the ability to express natural behaviors arly equids were small mammals, weighing around 12lbs. They were browsers, eating a diet of good nutritional value such as soft leaves and young shoots of trees, woody plants, fruits and some nuts. At that point in history, the world was populated with a rich variety of flora, tropical, sub-tropical and deciduous forests, the polar areas were also covered in forest. Some 56 million years ago, the earth was subject to a significant climate change called the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), and global temperature increased by between 9-16O Fahrenheit (Weather Underground, 2018). This had an effect on the flora, and the composition of the plant life changed; nitrogen and protein levels reduced, and fiber and cellulose levels increased. As a result, plants became less nutritious and harder to digest, meaning that while there was an abundance of food available, the changed composition meant that species had to compete for the smaller amounts of easily digestible, higher nutritional value plants. Rather than compete with other species for food, some Equus species responded by adapting, deriving adequate nutrition from lower nutritional value plants, high in fiber and cellulose.

Further along the timeline of history, forests dwindled and massive areas became open plains with rivers and streams running through. This led to further adaptations of these species which saw the change from being browsers to becoming grazers, and the evolutionary journey towards modern horse began.

The equine species has evolved to live on open grasslands. They are active for much of the time, wandering as they graze, and engaging in locomotory activities (Ransom & Cade, 2009). Evolutionary changes to the mouth, teeth and digestive system have resulted in modern horses; a species of herbivorous grazers. Their digestive system has evolved to sustain a foraging diet of complex plant materials high in fiber and rich in cellulose requiring extensive fermentation. Their large bowel has evolved to work best when there is an almost constant supply of food making its way through the digestive system. The entire process from ingestion to defecation takes around 48 hours.

Horses’ ability to adapt to changes in circumstances was without doubt part of the reason they survived as a species when many others became extinct. It was also a factor in their suitability for, and has contributed to, their successful domestication by man. This adaptability has led to the horse being kept and managed in many different ways and being used for a wide variety of different activities. However, we must not mistake adaptability for evolutionary change. The horses' basic physiology and psychology remain the same. Take the example of many generations of domestic horses being born into the same managed environment where they are stabled for long periods. Their adaptability enables them to cope with their circumstances, which is not the same as an evolution-

We are much more aware of the horse’s needs these days and there is plenty of information available on management solutions that are not totally unnatural to the horse. Having said that, some of this is based on how far one can push things under the guise of basic needs being addressed.

46

BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

Photo © Kathie Gregory

Horses have a biological need to graze; their digestive systems require an almost constant trickle of high fiber and high cellulose forage for optimum health and performance

ary change. The innate need to roam remains. It is an intrinsic part of the horse.

Similarly, there are many generations of horses fed a diet not necessarily natural to the species. In the same way, their digestive system has not changed; its design still requires an almost constant trickle of high fiber and high cellulose forage for optimum health and performance. The ability of the horse’s digestive system to cope with a diet consisting of mostly concentrated feed delivered many hours apart, is again testament to the ability to adapt to ensure continued survival. This does not, however, guarantee that horses are physically and emotionally healthy. Indeed, behavioral issues may well be, either directly or at least in part, due to the stabling and feeding solutions employed. If horses faired less well and lacked such adaptability, there would be less scope to employ a management strategy convenient to humans. This would, in turn, result in horses being kept in a way more along the lines of a natural lifestyle, compared to many horses being kept the opposite to what is natural.

Solutions vs. Issues

Stabling and feeding strategies go hand-in-hand and the management solution to one usually influences the other. We are much more aware of the horse’s needs these days and there is plenty of information available on management solutions that are not totally unnatural to the horse. Having said that, some of this is based on how far one can push things under the guise of basic needs being addressed. For example, in the past, a common assertion was that horses should not go without food for more than eight hours a day. More recently this has been set at six hours. Knowing, however, that the horse should have an almost constant trickle of food going through the digestive system, it is easy to see that there are going to be problems with this strategy. The same goes for turnout time. There

are various thoughts as to how long this should be, but the most common scenario is that it is much less in winter and much more in spring and summer. The horse's need to move does not diminish when the weather gets cold; he still has an innate desire to roam and the lack of opportunity to do this may result in a variety of issues.

Another issue with stabling, feeding, and turnout strategies is that horses are designed to graze, and will do so for the majority of the time they are out. This can result in an uneven feeding schedule. Limited outside time in the winter results in more time in the stable, more concentrated feed and less foraging. Increased time outside when it gets warm means less stable time, resulting in fewer concentrates being fed and more foraging by the horse. This gives quite an abrupt seasonal change in dietary intake, which can cause issues. There is also a seasonal change in how much time the horse spends roaming, which again, can cause issues.

It is worth noting the significance of how and when foals are weaned.

Foals weaned at between four and six months of age are more likely to develop psychological and behavioral issues than those weaned later.

Abrupt weaning can increase the detrimental effects, and box or barn weaned foals are at a greater risk of developing issues than pasture weaned foals (Waters, Nicol & French, 2002). It may not be in our best interests to try to separate which issues are a direct result of which situation, as everything that has happened in each individual horse’s life has an influence and effect on his current perspective. It is more helpful to consider how stabling and turnout strategies differ from a natural environment, and how the physiological and psychological systems of the horse are affected. From there we can assess how this influences the individual horse's perspective and understand his unique responses. The conclusion of this approach is to effect changes in how horses are managed to improve welfare and ensure both basic and enrichment needs are met.

Horses spend a fair amount of time chewing their food in order to grind it up into smaller particles. This is the first part of the digestion process. Grinding the food before it is swallowed does two things: 1.

It creates saliva in the mouth. Unlike humans, horses only produce saliva when they chew, and the quantity produced is dependent on chewing time. Saliva is mostly made up of bicarbonate and is swallowed with food, this acts as a very necessary buffer to stomach acid. It also contains a high level of mucin, lubricating the esophagus to aid swallowing.

2. The smaller particles are more easily digested by the processes that occur when they reach the stomach.

Problems may result when nutrition is not provided in a form natural to the species. Concentrates are generally highly nutritious and easily digestible. Digestible in this instance means that they are already in groundup form. This reduces chewing time, which in turn reduces the amount of saliva produced. Less saliva means less mucin to aid swallowing and less

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equine

© Can Stock Photo/DragoNika

Horses are not naturally stationary for much of the time and lack of movement, as may be enforced during shorter turnout times in colder weather, can have an impact on homeostasis

bicarbonate to buffer stomach acid. This can result in an increased risk of gastric ulcers. The horse naturally grazes for most of his time, but this activity is vastly reduced when he does not need to chew to grind the food into small particles and is fed hours apart. An inability to adequately engage in an innate activity may cause psychological issues. Reduced chewing also means food is consumed more quickly, resulting in increased quantities of food entering the stomach at once rather than at a slow trickle. This situation can result in the food not being properly digested as it passes through the system, which can cause other physiological issues.

Concentrated feeds can be high in energy and low in fiber. They may also contain high amounts of fat. This composition is not the ideal type of nutrition for the horse and can impair digestive function. A horse’s natural diet is very low in fat and is digested in the small intestine. Excess fat not broken down spills over into the large intestine, which can then suppress the bacteria present, and fiber is not digested in sufficient quantity. High energy feeds may also increase energy levels, which in turn can have an effect on arousal levels. This can leave a stabled horse with lots of “oomph,” but no means of dispelling this excess energy.

Homeostasis

Horses are not naturally stationary for much of the time and lack of movement can have an impact on homeostasis. The horse has a biological need to graze. When he does not have this option, again, a number of signifi-

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best of Bringing the stry to u d in the pet and share chat, chuckle PPG World Service is the official international e-radio webcasting arm of PPG, showcasing global news and views on force-free pet care. Join hosts Niki Tudge and Louise Stapleton- and their special guests every month!

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equine

The equine species has evolved to live on open grasslands. They are active for much of the time, wandering as they graze, and engaging in locomotory activities (Ransom & Cade, 2009).

Evolutionary changes to the mouth, teeth and digestive system have resulted in modern horses; a species of herbivorous grazers. cant psychological and behavioral issues may emerge. For example, the lack of a continual trickle of food in the digestive system can lead to a range of chronic and acute digestive problems (Murray & Eichorn, 1996).

Even horses fed adequate amounts of forage in the stable may develop significant physical, postural and pain issues if hay nets are tied high, as this may require them to maintain an unnatural posture for long periods of time. Stabling and nutritional solutions that do not meet the horse’s essential, species-specific needs can result in a number of psychological issues linked to the one or more of the many physiological issues that may present. It can be impossible to separate some of these issues, as both the physiological and psychological state can contribute to them. Wind sucking, crib biting, weaving, box walking, over arousal, quick to act, irritation, and an inability to listen, think, or learn effectively are some of the more common issues seen (Cooper & Albentosa, 2005).

Providing adequate nutritional needs in the wrong context does not address the basic needs of the horse or provide him the ability to express natural behavior in his movements or the way he eats. The base of the diet for every class of horse should be pasture, hay or “chop”/chaff.

Horses should be provided with a properly balanced diet that meets their nutritional needs and access to forage should always be available, along with regular browsing opportunities.

Determining a horse's nutritional requirements has three aspects: 1. Scientific laboratory analysis of the current diet.

2. Nutritional requirements of the individual horse are measured by a qualified equine nutritionist or veterinarian based on current National Re-

search Council Guidelines.

3. Specific supplements to reach those nutritional requirements and a balanced diet are calculated by a qualified equine nutritionist or veterinarian. n

References

Cooper, J. J., & Albentosa, M. J. (2005). Behavioural adaptation in the domestic horse: potential role of apparently abnormal responses including stereotypic behavior. Livestock Production Science 92 177- 182.

Available at: bit.ly/2L00Iu2 Murray, M.J., & Eichorn, E. S. (1996, December). Effects of intermittent feed deprivation, intermittent feed deprivation with ranitidine administration, and stall confinement with ad libitum access to hay on gastric ulceration in horses. American Journal of Veterinary Research 57 (11) 1599-603. Available at: bit.ly/2KkgHBO Ransom, J. I., & Cade, B. S. (2009). Quantifying Equid Behavior—A Research Ethogram for Free-Roaming Feral Horses. Publications of the US Geological Survey 26. Available at: on.doi.gov/2IEO4lu Waters, A. J., Nicol, C. J., & French, N. P. (2002, October). Factors influencing the development of stereotypic and redirected behaviours in young horses: findings of a four year prospective epidemiological study. Equine Veterinary Journal 34 (6) 572-579. Available at: bit.ly/2rI9svI Weather Underground. (2018). PETM: Global Warming, Naturally.

Available at: wunderground.com/climate/PETM.asp Kathie Gregory is a qualified animal behavior consultant, presenter and author who specializes in advanced cognition and emotional intelligence. Passionate about raising standards and awareness in how we teach and work with animals, she has developed Freewill TeachingTM (freewillteaching.com), a concept that provides the framework for animals to enjoy life without compromising their own free will.

Her time is divided between working with clients, mentoring, and writing. Her first book, A Tale of Two Horses: a passion for free-will teaching, was published in 2015, and she is currently writing her second book about bringing up a puppy using freewill teaching.

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consulting

Parallel Universe

Angelica Steinker explores the somewhat unusual analogy that pet behavior consulting is

T

rather a lot like dating

his may seem strange but, in my opinion at least, dating and dog behavior consulting actually have quite a lot of things in common. The first half dozen times I noted the parallels, I thought maybe I was engaging in some sort of overgeneralization syndrome, where you start to see behavior consulting in everything because it occupies virtually your entire life. Nevertheless, it became clearer and clearer to me that behavior consulting and dating do indeed share similar patterns and concepts.

Let’s begin with the concept of a parallel universe. When I first started online dating, the men I met looked nothing like their pictures. Over and over again I would walk right by my date, expecting a person who looked like their picture, only to have some completely different looking person recognize me. This led me to a theory: online dating is like a parallel universe. Online dating empowers people who are in “committed” relationships to post pictures of their cousin so they can date without being “caught.” In one of my parallel universe experiences I asked my date why he did not look like his picture. He responded that he didn’t want his life to “blow up in [his] face.” I am still not entirely sure what he meant by that but I certainly have my suspicions.

In behavior consulting, there is a similar parallel universe: the real version of the dog and the “love is blind” version of the dog. Just like in online dating, a guardian’s description of their dog and the actual dog may not entirely match. The guardian may describe their dog as a rescue that is affectionate but reserved with strangers, while the reality is that none of their friends or family come to visit, ever, since they are afraid of “Cujo,” who is an intimidating Chihuahua tipping the scales at 4 pounds.

Cujo looks nothing like his “picture.” Although admittedly the guardian’s denial – motivated by love – is much more charming than the dating version.

Another parallel universe dynamic is that guardians sometimes state that they have diligently practiced the training games I have given them as homework. However, when I evaluate the dog for fluency and minimal latency, I am told a different story – by the dog himself. He tells me he has had maybe one session of practice, whereas his guardian has clearly stated he has undergone daily sessions.

Again, this is just like dating because people will state they have a Master’s in psychology and yet be unable to discuss Pavlov. Now I don’t have a Master’s in psychology, but I am pretty sure that anyone who does would know who Pavlov was. In both cases, people are attempting to portray themselves in a more positive light. And in both cases the facts tell a different story.

In Angelica Steinker’s view, dog behavior consulting and dating share a number of similar patterns and concepts

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

Clearly, dating and dog behavior consulting are exactly the same!

The Lure

This leads me to the next parallel: the hope slinger. In dating, these are the individuals who are recently divorced or still in love with their ex. This enables the person to present themselves with a “dangling carrot” type of strategy: Here I am, I could be really great for you, but you can’t have me.

In the dating world, this strategy seems to work really well, and some women seem particularly vulnerable to this kind of approach. Hope slinging centers around selling the woman on the hope of a relationship and then never delivering. In dog training, meanwhile, we call this building drive.

In dog behavior consulting, the hope slingers are the “ethically creative” trainers who over promise and under deliver: “Of course we can **guarantee** that your dog, who has bitten 43 strangers, can be a pet therapy dog,” or “Our proven methods will cure the dog of his ‘dominance’ and turn him into an exact duplicate who will suddenly love all people. Just pay us $5,000 and we will make it happen.” This kind of approach leverages the guardian’s hopes to their advantage, and when the “training” fails, the owner is blamed for not being “alpha.” These trainers sling hope to the client and then never deliver – or create a whole new set of problems.

In the dating world, dominance is also a huge factor. Some men use dating site pictures that include poses with a camera angle that is angled upward so they look very large and powerful. I personally find this puzzling because I am looking for a partner in life, not someone who can throw around furniture. In their verbal description, it is common for men to describe themselves as typical “alpha male.” Reading these words always confuses me. Is the man saying he will be in charge of all resources?

Um, why would that be attractive? Is he saying he is going to protect me?

I have been single more years than married and yet have managed to survive without the protection of a man and suspect this may be true of other females too. Frankly, I wonder if the people seeking to dominate their partners in a relationship should simply state they are looking for a person whom they can completely and entirely control. I suspect though that this would not attract a lot of attention.

In the dog training world, “trainers” tout being able to give

© Can Stock Photo/damedeeso

owners complete and total control of their dogs. Over time, I have found the ideal dog that actually fits this description: A stuffed toy.

Crumb slinging is another pattern that occurs in both dog behavior consulting and dating. Crumb slinging daters will toss you a glance or momentary attention and then try to hook you by promising more. A typical crumb sling pattern is something like this: I am super busy and can’t possibly see you, but when I do see you I expect to get everything that I want.

Crumb slingers target people who have recently had a dry spell. Deprivation primes the targets so the crumb slingers can elicit a high degree of motivation.

In dog behavior consulting, the dynamic looks like this: “I will fix all of your dog’s problems – every time we have an appointment I am going to give you lots of hope but not actually deliver any actual helpful advice, training technique or teach you any skills and I will charge you an outrageous amount of money for this ‘service.’ Because I am charging so much money I must be really awesome at what I do.” In both realms, the hope slingers are charming, funny – and stingy.

Catfish is a term used in dating when a person portrays themselves as a completely different person. This is completely possible through the miracle of the internet. When meeting someone virtually it becomes easy to portray yourself as someone you are not. An 18-year-old creates an online persona of 38-year-old highly successful traveling business man. Or a 38-year-old creates an online persona of an 18-year-old athlete and model. Catfish come in all varieties, but they share one trait: they are not who they say they are, yet they excel at building trust. They create false connections with their targets who want to believe every word.

In dog behavior, the catfish are the “professionals” that state they can fix any issue with any dog, when in reality they may not even be able to train a dog to sit on a verbal cue. However, they know how to talk and get people to believe what they are saying. They are slick, and the person scammed is sure they are who they say they are. It simply can’t be true

consulting

Regardless of whether you are dating or looking to get your dog’s behavior changed, use this tip for success: Only date/hire individuals whose identity you have verified… identify the individual’s network and then verify their identity and their skills within that network. that it is all a lie.

Regardless of whether you are dating or looking to get your dog’s behavior changed, use this tip for success: Only date/hire individuals whose identity you have verified. In dating, you can use a website like TruthFinder (truthfinder.com), which will tell you everything you need to know about your date, including their criminal record, financial and educational backgrounds. In addition, identify the individual’s network and then verify their identity and their skills within that network. For dog behavior consultants, this would be a quick check to see they are listed in the PPG member directory (petprofessionalguild.com/Zip-Code-Search) and/or checking their professional websites for details of their methods and credentials. Perhaps check too with other members/colleagues to make sure that the trainer actually has the certifications they claim to have. After all, it is possible to separate fact from fiction in both dating and behavior consulting. n Angelica Steinker PCBC-A owns and operates Courteous Canine, Inc. DogSmith of Tampa (courteouscanine .com/Florida), a full service pet business and dog school specializing in aggression and dog sports. She is the national director of training for DogSmith Services (dogsmith.com), and co-founder of DogNostics Career College (dognosticselearning.com).

BARKS from the Guild/May 2018

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consulting

Perfect at Being Imperfect

Kathy Berner details how she overcame her struggles with autism and dyslexia to become

G

a professional dog and parrot behavior consultant and trainer oing through life battling with autism and dyslexia has presented me with many challenges, but I am enormously proud of the fact that I am different and, if I say so myself, have a unique sense of humor. In addition, people tend to find me likable as I truly have no hidden agendas and bear no malice towards others. Simply stated, I am happy when others are happy.

I grew up with parrots and rescue dogs which led me to get into dog training and behavior as a career choice. As a child, I found that I could read both dogs and parrots quite easily because, to me, they are so blatant with their facial and body expression, and do not lie. People, on the other hand, for me at least, are far too subtle. As my understanding grew, I became more interested in how animals problem solve and how their emotions affect their thought processes and behavior, so I started out helping at local dog training classes. From there, I started working in a veterinary clinic as a veterinary nursing assistant. During this time, I would talk about my interest in behavior and training in great depth. In fact, I was so into the subject, even as a child, that people started to ask me why I didn’t become an animal behavior consultant. Why not indeed, I thought, and so I began my studies. Although I struggled with the academic side, I was not deterred as I very badly wanted to achieve my goal and become qualified in this field to help dogs and parrots, and their owners too. As such, I studied hard and gained an advanced diploma in canine behavior management and a diploma in parrot behavior.

There were some barriers of course. I had an issue with reading human body language and facial expression, and I also had an issue with spoken communication. Some people said I would not get anywhere because my written communication is poor. People can be cruel, but you must follow what you love to do. Luckily, I had a lot of support from family to help me work on and improve my spoken communication. Some might say that you can’t stop me from talking now. I think I am just making up for lost time.

These days I conduct one-to-one training sessions in people’s homes. I

Photo © Kathy Berner

Aside from private consults, Kathy Berner (with her own dog, Sean, right) offers voluntary behavioral support to her local greyhound rescue center, which has helped her build up her client base

also offer my behavioral support on a voluntary basis to a local dog rescue center and I enjoy every moment of it. My work in behavior with dogs and parrots creates a bridge for me whereby I can build up rapport and friendships with people. It is very important to me to help educate people on an animal’s emotional wellbeing, as well as teaching them how to train their dog.

I do love my work but it can be busy and stressful. It can also be a lonely job at times, especially if you have a difficult case. I was not perfect at school and I am not perfect now. I admit that my timing is off at times. I also take a long time to write things down and may need people to repeat things as I can’t always process what they have said. Nevertheless, I always strive to do my best and make sure I reevaluate myself every time.

Keeping It Real

© Can Stock Photo / mikdam

Kathy Berner grew up with dogs and parrots, and finds both species much easier to read than people; here, she works on conditioning a parrot to the weighing scales

52

BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

The title of this article, Perfect at Being Imperfect, is not intended to be a negative. I am referring to the fact that I see so many people trying to show how perfect they are at dog training and to have dogs who are perfect too. While this can create a lot of pressure, I think more and more trainers and behavior consultants are happy to share the fact that their dogs are far from perfect and that their own training can be off some days too.

For me, I am pleased that my dogs are not always “well behaved.”

They are dogs after all and have minds of their own. I like them to be full of character. This is what I love to see. I love to see professionals having fun with both their clients and their own dogs. I have a great sense of humor when I am training and, like anyone else, have to change the plan if something does not work. I am always learning and that is one of the

These days, I regard my autism more as a blessing than a curse. When I was growing up, autism and dyslexia were both highly misunderstood and people were quick to judge and label me as stupid, but now I am happy to prove them wrong. reasons I love this job. If you keep it real and enjoy what you do, I think being perfect at being imperfect is cause for celebration. If the clients and dogs are learning and having fun and you are keeping it simple for them, you can’t do any more than that.

I look at my somewhat imperfect life at times and am grateful for my family and friends who have been there for me. I am thankful for what I have achieved. I am moved by the owners I inspire and how I can have an impact on their lives, no matter how small. It really makes this profession amazing and unique for all of us.

I try to look at life in an insightful way. I don't look at the bad details, the drama. Rather, I try to get inside an issue and then look out to see what I can do. I enjoy working with people as much as I love working with dogs and parrots and am very interested in getting people together in my community, including encouraging trainers to network with each other and cross refer. I believe that if we distance ourselves from each other, we are doing dogs and their owners a disservice. For example, say a client calls a trainer and the trainer’s class is full or the trainer is sick. In the time that the client has to wait, the dog could be given to a rescue or put to sleep. But if the trainer said, “I am really sorry, I'm full at the moment but I know a few other trainers in the area who may have a space,” and gave the client their details, then the dog and his family have the chance to get support as soon as possible.

On the back of this, let’s say different trainers have different special-

consulting

ties, such as puppy classes, adolescent dogs, agility, or gundog training. I do not do agility or puppy classes but there are other force-free trainers in my area who do and I will happily refer clients looking for these services to my training friends in the local area.

This type of togetherness reduces the anxiety and fear I sometimes feel about being in business on my own. As a result, I have gained clients through established force-free trainers and behavior consultants in my area, as well as the local greyhound rescue center. All have been invaluable to me for building up my client base. Mental health is important too, and we must have access to friends and colleagues who understand the challenges of our work. Facebook support groups are a useful support tool too.

These days, I regard my autism more as a blessing than a curse. When I was growing up, autism and dyslexia were both highly misunderstood and people were quick to judge and label me as stupid, but now I am happy to prove them wrong every single day. n

I have a great sense of humor when I am training and, like anyone else, have to change the plan if something does not work... If you keep it real and enjoy what you do, I think being perfect at being imperfect is cause for celebration.

Kathy Berner is based in Norwich, England where her runs her own pet training and behavior consulting business, Training with T.D. and Sean (trainingwithtdandsean.com). She has an advanced diploma in canine behavior management and a diploma in parrot behavior, as well as a certificate in canine nutrition and a national vocational qualification in animal care from Moulton College, England.

advocacy

Living in Fear

Daniel Antolec explores the dark world of bestiality and its possible links to violent crime

and antisocial personality disorder in adults, and details how and why he is advocating

for legislation to protect both animals and humans

D

*Caution: The subject matter in this article is disturbing. The author has refrained from detailed graphical descriptions or photographs, but describes in some fashion sexual crimes perpetrated against animals in order for the reader to be able to better understand the issue. isturbing though it most certainly is, sexual abuse of animals is more common than you may think. Before I go into further detail, however, I must first define a number of terms so we have a common understanding.

1.

Paraphilia: “A paraphilia is a condition in which a person’s sexual arousal and gratification depend on fantasizing about and engaging in sexual behavior that is atypical and extreme,” including children, animals or objects. (Psychology Today, 2018).

2.

Zoophilia: “A human being who is sexually aroused or inspired by an animal” but does not necessarily engage in sexual acts with animals.” (Bekoff, 2018).

3.

Bestiality: “The act of a human having sex with a non-human animal. The sexual activities may or may not involve penetration, but they are sexual behaviors done for gratification.” (Bekoff, 2018).

Having made that clear, it seems to me that others do not necessarily make such clear distinctions. I will focus on the human behavior of “sexual abuse of animals” which is the term used by The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). This behavior often results in emotional and physical trauma, or even death. In most jurisdictions when a person has sexual contact with a human who has not consented, it is a criminal offense. Children, and those who are incapacitated, cannot consent.

Neither can animals. Animal abuse is linked to child abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, serial killers and mass shooters. This is based on decades of study and the consequences profoundly affect society on many levels (Pierce, 2016).

During my 30-year law enforcement career, I knew only of the link between animal abuse and child abuse, and never investigated a single animal abuse case. The idea of sexual abuse of animals was so absurd it seemed an uncommon and bizarre behavior, like a scene from the movie Deliverance.

My enlightenment occurred January 25, 2018 when I volunteered with HSUS, which estimates there are hundreds of thousands of animal cruelty cases in the United States each year, and attended a hearing on public safety before the Wisconsin Assembly. The committee was considering a bill to strengthen the existing animal abuse law. Among other things, the bill, titled A.B. 666, made sexual abuse of animals a felony.

Making sexual assault of animals a felony would require law enforcement to take it seriously, and provide prosecutors with appropriate remedies.

It would also mark offenders with a felony conviction, placing them under Probation and Parole supervision, likely preventing them from getting jobs in a child day care, dog day care, veterinary clinic or animal shelter.

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

© Can Stock Photo/RuslanKphoto

The Humane Society of the United States estimates there are hundreds of thousands of animal cruelty cases in the United States each year

The two hours of testimony was heartrending and I heard myself gasping aloud in the crowded assembly. Considering how hardened I had become to human cruelty during my police career, I was shocked by what I heard and my sleep was disturbed for several nights. The infamous case that had prompted A.B. 666 detailed a man who spent 35 years sexually assaulting horses. He did so with his arm, rather than his sex organ. That made it a misdemeanor in the eyes of the law. After an assault, one farmer had to sell three draft horses because they were no longer safe when he used them to pull equipment as human activity behind them triggered the horses’ hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and dangerous flight responses. Another family could no longer use their $40,000 mare for breeding due to sexual abuse. Yet another lost their horse after it was so badly injured it had to be euthanized. The habitual offender who caused this harm was convicted, paid a $205 fine and was released on two years of probation. In all probability he will continue offending. Neighbors who lived in fear for 35 years may resume sleeping in their barns with shotguns, as was testified at the hearing, never knowing when he will return.

Nationwide

The problem extends far beyond farms and livestock. It affects animals of all kinds.

Melissa Tedrowe, director of HSUS (Wisconsin) testified: “Thousands of people, nationwide, including right here in Wisconsin, solicit or

offer animals for sex every year.” She cited ads on Craigslist and “roll calls” on bestiality websites as evidence. In her most recent Wisconsin “roll call” there were 117 replies about solicitation of animals for sex, and more than 7,500 views.

Making sexual assault of animals a felony would require law enforcement to take it seriously, and provide prosecutors with appropriate remedies. It would also mark offenders with a felony conviction, placing them under Probation and Parole supervision, likely preventing them from getting jobs in a child day care, dog day care, veterinary clinic or animal shelter.

The committee voted with unanimous bipartisan support and it went to the full Assembly. There, it passed again in a unanimous vote.

Next, it would go to the Senate committee on public safety. In the interim, I researched the subject in earnest to prepare for my next testimony.

In 1979, the Farm Animal Welfare Council in Great Britain enacted Brambell’s Five Freedoms, including freedom from pain, injury or disease and freedom from fear and distress (Brambell, 1979). Sexual assault violates those freedoms. Neuroscientist Jaak Panskepp (2010) identified seven core emotions which dogs and humans share. They include fear, panic/grief and rage. In my police work with survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, I found those same responses among human victims.

According to Arehart-Treichel (2002), animal cruelty is “currently used as evidence for the presence of conduct disorder, and evidence of conduct disorder is in turn a prerequisite for diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder in adults.” Indeed, the Federal Bureau of Investigation takes animal abuse so seriously it began tracking the crime in 2014 and uses the data to help identify serial killers. Seeds of violent crimes are often planted early in life.

M. Jenny Edwards, a recognized criminalist and authority on sexual abuse of animals, writes: “A serial murderer, for example, often starts out by being cruel to animals. Sexual sadists may progress from torturing animals to torturing human victims, even using the same methods of cutting or strangulation.” Edwards reports the average offender begins at age 13 while the average age of arrest is 43. “Arrests for bestiality have risen by more than 300 percent since 2000 and bestiality is linked to other criminal behavior.” (Edwards, 2016).

Gail F. Melson, a professor of child development and family studies at Purdue University, wrote in 2013, “Do mass killers start out by harming pets? Troubled children are much more likely to mistreat animals,” and while 5 percent of U.S. children have intentionally hurt an animal, up to 25 percent of children at mental health clinics have done so. Ascione, Friedrich, Heath and Hayashi (2015) found “in an assessment of 1,433 (abused) children ages 6 to 12, 60 percent had abused animals.”

“When counselors at several federal penitentiaries evaluated inmates for levels of aggression, 70 percent of the most violent prisoners had serious and repeated animal abuse in their childhood histories, as compared to 6 percent of nonaggressive prisoners in the same facilities.”

(Melson, 2013).

Milwaukee, Wisconsin native Jeffrey Dahmer spent his teen years tormenting and killing animals and at age 18 began raping, killing and consuming the first of his 17 human victims. Too many school shooters

advocacy

After an assault, one farmer had to sell three draft horses because they were no longer safe when he used them to pull equipment as human activity behind them triggered the horses’ hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and dangerous flight responses. Another family could no longer use their $40,000 mare for breeding due to sexual abuse. Yet another lost their horse after it was so badly injured it had to be euthanized. also began with cruelty to animals, such as the two Columbine High School murderers who first mutilated animals and spoke to classmates about it, long before slaughtering 13 of them.

In the Press

The Wisconsin Senate hearing convened on March 14, 2018 and I joined Tedrowe in testimony. Several Senators considered A.B. 666 and companion Senate Bill 802. It passed with enthusiastic and unanimous bipartisan support. All that remained was for the majority party leader, Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, to put S.B. 802 on the Senate schedule for a vote.

The last day of the legislative session was March 20. He chose to kill the bill.

Tedrowe appealed to him that day and asked why he would not let the full Senate vote. After all, who would object to regulation against violent abuse of animals and human beings? According to Tedrowe, who explicitly permitted me to quote her, Fitzgerald “did not want the press talking about sex with animals on the last day of the legislative session.”

That same day Waukesha, Wisconsin police reported the arrest of an 18 year old high school student in possession of nearly 100 photos of child pornography and animal sexual abuse. Police were informed by two female students (Journal Sentinel, 2018). They may have prevented the next Columbine massacre. And the “press” continued talking about sex with animals. On March 21, CBS affiliate WISC-TV broadcast three stories on this subject, and WHBY radio broadcast an interview with a Wisconsin political insider and retired Senator who discussed the political reasons why this bill was killed (Channel 3000, 2018).

On April 2, the Green Bay Press Gazette declared: “After Senate fails to act, Wisconsin remains a safe haven for animal molesters.” The story was covered by USA Today Network (Green Bay Press Gazette, 2018).

The Wisconsin Capitol Times published my own letter to the editor on April 2, and I also wrote a column for The Oregon Observer. In contrast, the state of Louisiana passed a law April 8 making sexual abuse of animals a felony. That leaves Wisconsin among four of the United States without felony designation.

The nation of Denmark wisely sought to avoid such undesirable distinction when a survey of veterinarians discovered 17 percent of them suspected their animal clients had been sexually abused. They promptly strengthened their animal abuse law to prevent Denmark from “becoming a magnet” for deviates in Europe (New York Times, 2015).

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

55

advocacy

It appears the struggle to protect animals from sexual abuse must resume in January 2019 when the next Wisconsin legislative session begins. As an animal advocate I am preparing to continue the struggle for rational and effective legislation to protect animals and humans alike.

You can do the same, in your own locale. Here is how: 1.

Educate yourself about this issue so you may approach local legislators with hard facts.

2.

Appeal to them on the merits of animal and human welfare and safety.

3.

Build a broad coalition of stakeholders to pressure lawmakers to take action.

4.

Engage a wide variety of local news media and use social media to inform the public.

5.

Press lawmakers to act for the welfare of those who put them in office, and remove them from office if they decline to serve the public good.

This is a force-free approach to changing public policy which we can all live with. n Daniel H. Antolec CPT-A CPDT-KA is the owner of Happy Buddha Dog Training, www.happybuddhadogtraining.com, in Brooklyn, Wisconsin. He also chairs the Pet Professional Guild Advocacy Committee, www.petprofessionalguild.com /Advocacy-Resources.

References

Arehart-Treichel, J. (2002, September 20). Researchers Explore Link Between Animal Cruelty, Personality Disorders. Psychiatric News.

Available at: bit.ly/2IvslcM Ascione, F.R., Friedrich, W.N., Heath, J., & Hayashi, K. (2015, April 28).

Cruelty to animals in normative, sexually abused, and outpatient psychiatric samples of 6- to 12-year-old children: Relations to maltreatment and exposure to domestic violence. Anthrozoรถs 16 (3) 194-212.

Available at: bit.ly/2IrFCGY Bekoff, M. (2018, February 14) Bestiality: Hidden Facts about the Sexual Abuse of Nonhumans. Psychology Today. Available at: bit.ly/2IpTT7l Brambell, R. (1979). Five Freedoms. Farm Animal Welfare Council.

Available at: bit.ly/2rOfZWK Edwards, M. J. (2018). Common Questions about Zoophilia or Bestiality. Animal Sexual Abuse Information & Resources. Available at: bit.ly/2KsFhR5 Edwards, M. J. (2018). Animal Sexual Abuse Information & Resources.

Available at: bit.ly/2Is3uX3 Enriquez, D. (2018, March 20). Waukesha West student caught skipping school to smoke. Police then find child porn and animal sex images on his iPad. Journal Sentinel. Available at: bit.ly/2wMu5wF Melson, G. F. (2013, February 20). Do Mass Killers Start Out by Harming Pets? Animal abuse may be an early warning sign. Psychology Today. Available at: bit.ly/2rOMO5G Panksepp J. (2010). Affective neuroscience of the emotional BrainMind: evolutionary perspectives and implications for understanding depression. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience 12 (4) 533-545. Available at: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181986 Paraphilias [Def]. (2018). In Psychology Today. Available at: psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/paraphilias Pierce, J. (2016). Run, Spot, Run, pp. 125-127. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press Reuters. (2015, April 21). Denmark: Bestiality is Banned Amid Concerns of Sex Tourism. New York Times. Available at: nyti.ms/2rKkfFQ Silberberg, C. (2018, January 4) What Is the Difference Between Bestiality and Zoophilia? Live About. Available at: bit.ly/2k1Ue1o Schmidt, R. (2018, March 21). Animal rights groups upset sexual abuse bill not scheduled. Channel 3000 WISC TV. Available at: bit.ly/2IpWz4T Sruhas, P. (2018, March 22). After Senate fails to act, Wisconsin remains a safe haven for animal molesters. Green Bay Press Gazette.

Available at: gbpg.net/2Io7QT9 56

BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

business

Ask the Experts: A New Look Veronica Boutelle of dog*biz responds to pet professionals’ questions on all things

business and marketing

Q: I’ve been thinking about changing my business name and logo for a while, and after I saw your ad in last month’s BARKS (see BARKS from the Guild, May 2018, p. 63) about dogtec getting a makeover, I thought I’d ask about that.

I started out dog walking and now I’m training and my name just doesn’t feel like it fits anymore. I’m worried about changing it, though, because I’m pretty well known in my area. Would I be making a mistake? Or is it better to just get it done? It feels like it’ll be harder to do the longer I wait. I’m driving myself crazy trying to decide.

- Sasha T.

A: Well, funny you should ask that question, Sasha. If you’ve seen our ad on page 5 of this issue, you’ll see that we just changed our name as part of our 15th birthday makeover.

Having just made this decision ourselves, we definitely understand your pain. We’ve long felt our name was a funky match for what we do—helping trainers build successful businesses. dogtec sounds more like a dog-related tech company, which we aren’t. And many years ago when I had dogtec vanity plates people used to think I was a veterinarian, which I’m definitely not. Like you, we had a good reason for the name we chose, but it hasn’t fit for a long time. (The “tec” in dogtec was originally an acronym that lost its relevance early on—points to early clients who can remember what it was!)

And like you, we’ve fretted about making a change now that we’re well established under our original name. Were we crazy to consider it?

Were we making a bunch of work for ourselves that we’d regret? Was this going to be a Coca-Cola branding disaster moment? (Well, admittedly, that might be a bit overblown there!)

In the end, we decided there was no time like the present. Because you’re right; it only gets harder to do the longer you wait, and the reality is that being well-known can actually make the process easier. The more people you know, the easier it is to get the word out. And when people appreciate the work you do, they’ll be happy to help spread the word, and to share in your excitement about your makeover.

We’ve helped quite a few dogtec (oops, dogbiz!) clients change their names and logos over the years, both small businesses and a few larger

We’ve helped quite a few dogtec (oops, dogbiz!) clients change their names and logos over the years, both small businesses and a few larger ones you’d recognize. We’ve never seen anyone regret it. In fact, the process usually precipitates a period of growth, partly because it’s energizing and partly because it’s a great opportunity to renew your commitment to marketing.

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© Can Stock Photo/natsuk

Renaming your company can be used as an opportunity to redefine your brand and renew your commitment to marketing

BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

ones you’d recognize. We’ve never seen anyone regret it. In fact, the process usually precipitates a period of growth, partly because it’s energizing and partly because it’s a great opportunity to renew your commitment to marketing. For one thing, reaching out to referral partners to share your news can be a great chance to deepen those relationships, or to reconnect with those you’ve let lapse.

So I say go for it, Sasha. You’ve already reinvented yourself from dog walker to dog trainer. Now it’s time to reimagine your brand to match.

Hire a great designer to put your best new foot forward with your new logo. Ask them to look for opportunities to incorporate your current brand to help people who already know you make the visual connection to your new brand. For example, keeping your current colors or a distinctive shape in your logo. (Because our name change was simple, we were able to keep our logo essentially the same, with the blue asterisk in the middle and only the “tec” changed to “biz.”)

While your designer is busy working for you, plan out your marketing strategy for sharing the news of your makeover—and your strategy for ongoing marketing from there to build your business and keep it strong. Do that, and you should be good to go!

All our best to you and your business, Sasha, and be sure to email us your new logo—we’d love to see it and celebrate your makeover! n

Do you have a question for the business experts at dog*biz?

Submit your question for consideration to: barkseditor@petprofessionalguild.com Learn how

can help your business:

www.dogbizsuccess.com

Veronica Boutelle MA Ed CTC is founder and co-president of dog*biz (dogbizsuccess.com), and author of How to Run Your Dog Business and co-author of Minding Your Dog Business. dog*biz offers professionally-designed positive reinforcement dog training class curricula, including Open-Enrollment Puppy, Open-Enrollment Basic Manners, and short Topics classes built for retention.

SEARCHABLE SEARCHABLE D DATABASE ATABASE BY

BY NATIONAL NATIONAL CANINE CANINE RRESEARCH ESEARCH CCOUNCIL OUNCIL THE NATIONAL CANINE RESEARCH COUNCIL RESEARCH LIBR RA ARY houses, in one searchable database, scholarly materials in our areeas of interest and expertise. Our goal is to make available descriptions of studies fro om the peerreviewed literature in order to inform discourse and enable ongoing research through accurate repreesentations of sources. We hope that the Researcch Library will also be useful to journalists, persons engaged in canine-related occupations, grant makers, and any interested researcchers or reeaders.

The Researcch Library contains comprehensive literature reeviews, summaries and analyses of individual peer-reviewed studies, and policy papers.

Topics include Visual Breed Identification, Dog Bites, Canine Behavior Evaluations, and moree. w www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/browse/research_library/ ww.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/browse/research_library/

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profile

Seeing Dogs Succeed

In our ongoing series of PPG member profiles, this month BARKS features Cindy

VanFrankfoort of Team Fido Dog Training in Lakefield, Ontario

C

Left to right: Cindy VanFrankfoort’s dogs Beau, Pixie, Ripple, Astro and Jazzy J. relax in the yard after a play session

indy VanFrankfoort is a certified dog trainer and authorized mentor trainer who has “loved animals forever.”

Q: Can you tell us a bit more about yourself, how you first got into animal behavior and training and what you are doing now?

A: I have worked in a veterinary hospital for 25 years, with a special interest in helping clients with nutrition and behavior. Starting about 11 years ago I got involved with flyball, both competing and teaching. From there, I decided I would like to start training dogs professionally. I took the online dog trainer program at Animal Behavior College then started taking every seminar, webinar and continuing education class I could find to learn more! I am currently enrolled in the canine behavior program at the International School for Canine Psychology and Behavior. I started my business, Team Fido Dog Training, four years ago. I teach fun classes, conduct group walks, and have a lot of private training clients and specialize in canine behavior issues. I also teach and compete in flyball.

Q: Tell us a little bit about your own pets.

A: I have five dogs: Pixie the old English sheepdog, Ripple the whippet, 60

BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

Photo © Cindy VanFrankfoort

Beau the cattledog cross, Jazzy J. the Jack Russell-beagle cross and Astro the little Pomeranian-Chihuahua-Yorkie mix. Ripple and Jazzy J. both compete in flyball. We have also dabbled in agility, barn hunt and Rally O just for fun.

Q: Why did you become a dog trainer or pet care provider?

A: I became a dog trainer because I wanted to work with dogs, to help humans to understand them, and to bring out the best in them.

Q: Are you a crossover trainer or have you always been a force-free trainer?

A: I have always been a force-free trainer.

Q: What awards or competition placements have you and your dog(s) achieved using force-free methods?

A: Three of my dogs have a number of flyball titles between them: Beau, 9-year-old cattledog cross (rescue dog): FD, FDX, FDCH, FDCH-S, FDCH-G, MBD, MBDX; Jazzy J., 7-year-old Jack Russell-beagle cross (rescue dog): FD, FDX, FDCH, FDCH-S, FDCH-G, FM, FMX, FMCH, Intermediate Trick Dog Title; and Ripple, 4-year-old whippet: FD, FDX, FDCH,

FDCH-S, FDCH-G, FM, FMX, FMCH, MBD, MBDX, MBDCH, MBDCH-S, MBDCH-G.

Q: What drives you to be a force-free professional and why is it important to you?

A: Dogs never need fear, pain or intimidation in training. I believe in always being your dog’s advocate. I want to teach both dogs and their humans to learn new things and to understand kindness. No one should ever be a bully to others or to dogs.

Q: What are some of your favorite positive reinforcement techniques for the most commonly encountered client-dog problems?

A: Teaching alternative behaviors to some of the most challenging problems, like jumping up or leaving things alone. For jumping up, I teach a sit with a hand touch instead. To teach leave, I have a fun shaping game that has the dog performing the behavior in minutes.

Q: Who has most influenced your career and how?

A: The dogs I work with have influenced my career the most. With each new case and new challenge I become a better trainer – and a better person. Some force me to think outside of my "toolbox." Each time I learn valuable lessons about how we need to keep things simple and rewarding.

Q: What is your favorite part of your job?

A: I love seeing dogs succeed. Whether it's teaching a puppy a sit, or a reactive dog to relax and be calm....that is my favorite thing.

Q: What reward do you get out of a day's training?

A: When I am teaching a private session or a class, nothing else in the world matters. I feel so fulfilled, and my joy is seeing a handler really understand how their dog learns, and seeing the dog "get it." It's a great feeling.

profile

“Dogs never need fear, pain or intimidation in training. I believe in always being your dog’s advocate. I want to teach both dogs and their humans to learn new things and to understand kindness. No one should ever be a bully to others or to dogs.” - Cindy VanFrankfoort

Q: What do you consider to be your area of expertise?

A: Flyball training and canine behavior issues.

Q: What is the funniest or craziest situation you have been in with a pet and their owner?

A: Working on a hot day in the park, one owner was letting her dog cool down in the water when her dog suddenly bolted after a flock of seagulls. The dog ran up and down the beach chasing after the birds, who were flying all over the place. Finally the dog came back, soaking wet and covered in sand, as was her harness and leash. We decided that we would work on her recall a bit more!

Q: What advice would you give to a new trainer starting out?

A: Don't stop learning. Take as many courses and classes as you can in body language, behavior...anything that keeps you up-to-date with current science behind how dogs learn is important.

Q: How has PPG helped you to become a more complete trainer?

A: The webinars that PPG offers are excellent, covering a wide variety of topics and issues. We are not just trainers, we are bookkeepers and accountants too. n

Team Fido Dog Training (teamfidodogtraining.ca) is located in Lakefield, Ontario To be featured in the BARKS Profile section, please complete this form: bit.ly/2y9plS1

SUPPORT SYSTEMS TO HELP ON YOUR PATHWAY TO ACCREDITATION If you are an applicant in the system and on the road to accreditation, PPAB is here to help you be successful!

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF TOOLS AT YOUR DISPOSAL: s The Examination Study Guide: www.credentialingboard.com/Study-Guide s The Case Study Template: www.credentialingboard.com/Case-Study-Information s The Facebook Applicant Support Group - To join, email: Niki@credentialingboard.com s ABA Dictionary: www.credentialingboard.com/ABA-terms BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

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comment

Because, Science

Susan Nilson and Louise Stapleton-Frappell asked a group of renowned canine training and

behavior experts why continuing education is important for pet professionals. Here are their

responses:

Debbie Revell, owner and manager, Pets Behave Dog Training and Behavior Consulting: I think the key word there is “professional.” If we want to be professional, of course we are going to continue our education. We want to keep our skills up-to-date, be aware of new things and research so that we can better work with our clients and the pets we are working with.

In any profession, would you really want to go and see a doctor that got out of medical school when he was 30 years old and now he’s 50 and he’s never learned anything or read an article again? Hmm, maybe not!

So I think it’s important for any professional to continue with what’s going on and keep their knowledge and their skills up-to-date.

Janis Bradley, director of communications and publications, National Canine Research Council: This is a very timely question in that at this particular moment in time, because dog training went through a sea change of education about 20 years ago in the effective application of learning theory and operant and classical conditioning. I think we are on the cusp of the next revolution based on major discoveries in ethology with regard to behavior of domestic dogs, and dog trainers must become aware of this research in order to be the ones who can figure out the applications for this flowering of new knowledge about how dogs think and feel and relate.

Malena DeMartini, canine separation anxiety disorder expert: Like any science-based industry or industry of constantly progressing learning and moving forward, as a skilled practitioner, so should your education. You should be understanding the new ways and the further possibilities on motivating training, modifying behavior. It is an imperative component of this industry.

Dr. Soraya Juarbe-Diaz, veterinary behaviorist: There’s nothing fixed in medicine which is where I am coming from. We say that about every two to five years that 50 percent of what you know is old information and you are no longer on top of things, and if you are trying to offer your patients the best care that you can, you are going to be trying to have the latest knowledge. These things are changing so rapidly now that we can image brains on awake dogs. The last thing, from a business perspective, is that it’s going to set you aside from everyone else. You can say this is the latest data backed information on how cats learn, how dogs learn, and how horses learn. You will be doing the best job possible.

Ken Ramirez, executive vice president and chief training officer, Karen Pryor Clicker Training: Part of the fun of any endeavor is learning new things and expanding the capabilities that you have, and one of the things I think is important is expanding your education so that it exposes you to new colleagues, it exposes you to new ideas, it keeps you current on the science. To me, I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t want to continue your education. It’s one of the best ways of staying relevant, one of the best ways of staying good, and it’s one of the best ways of being able to critique yourself and realize where you still lack certain knowledge, or where you lack certain skills, and it’s a good way to be a part of a bigger community. That’s just going to make you a stronger trainer and a stronger animal care training professional.

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2018

“Science, knowledge and understanding are always advancing, and what we know today may not be the best information out there tomorrow.” - Irith Bloom Maureen Backman, owner, Mutt About Town: In every profession, continuing education is a requirement, a necessity and also a mark of a professional’s competence and so, particularly as we are working with sentient beings, the dog training industry should be no different.

Irith Bloom, certified dog behavior consultant, Victoria Stilwell Positively dog trainer, and Karen Pryor Academy certified training partner: Science, knowledge and understanding are always advancing, and what we know today may not be the best information out there tomorrow.

Dr. Lynn Honeckman, founder, Veterinary Behavior Solutions: Training and behavior are based in science and science is constantly evolving. Therefore, it is imperative that any pet professional continue to learn and grow throughout their career.

Emily Larlham, owner and founder, Dogmantics: I believe that if you think you are done learning, then you should be really worried. Even the most advanced trainers and professionals consider that they are still a student.

Veronica Boutelle, founder, dog*tec: You know, at this moment we are the only profession that doesn’t require that, but we are a budding profession, a budding industry and part of the definition of being professional is that we have the obligation to keep ourselves educated. Imagine if doctors were doing that, if lawyers were doing that, if your CPA wasn’t staying on top of tax laws. We owe it to ourselves, our clients and especially the dog to know that we are operating from the very best science available.

Dr. Robert King, assistant professor of marketing, West Texas A&M University: Not only industry professional, but everybody in general should always try to continue to keep educated. If you try to keep the knowledge you had at a very young age, you can see how that would be very detrimental to your future. So whether you are a 12-year-old trying to learn a new type of science or you are a 50-year-old trying to learn a new way to teach a dog how to do a new trick, all these things need to continue your education and make sure you’re continuing to stay up-to-date and continue to grow yourself as a person and as an intellectual.

Judy Luther, founder of Dog Stars, LLC and co-creator of Bond-Based Choice Teaching: Education is very important throughout your career as a dog professional. We are getting more and more information coming through every single day. Science is evolving, research is evolving and the more we learn, the better we can relate to our clients as well as the dogs we work with. n

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