BARKS from the Guild July 2020

BARKS from the Guild Issue 43 / July 2020

BARKSfromtheGuild.com

PUPPIES Avoiding Potential Pitfalls RESCUE Tales of Inspiration CANINE Examining Anxiety TRAINING Rethinking Relationships BUSINESS Adapting to the Pandemic

© Can Stock Photo/rMarcinSl1987

FELINE Social Isolation and the 3 Rs EQUINE Developing Food Manners

Harassment in the Workplace: Providing a Framework for Pet Professionals to Take Action

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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 barksfromtheguild.com 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 Daniel Antolec, Kelly Fahey, Paula Garber, Don Hanson, Kelly Lee, Judy Luther, Debra Millikan, Susan Nilson, Mary Richards, Louise StapletonFrappell, 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 see: barksfromtheguild.com/article-and-content-submission-policy-procedures for detailed guidelines prior to sending manuscripts. Please submit all contributions to the Editor: barkseditor@petprofessionalguild.com.

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 available to all subscribers free of charge. Print copies are available by special order. Visit barksfromtheguild.com/subscribe for further details. Please contact PPG membership manager Rebekah King at membership@petprofessionalguild.com for all subscription and distribution-related enquiries.

Advertising Please contact Kelly Fahey at kelly@petprofessionalguild.com to obtain a copy of rates, ad specifications, format requirements and deadlines. These are also available at barksfromtheguild.com/advertise.

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 pain, force or fear and no shock, choke or prong are ever 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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s we continue to work our way through the unique challenges pre­ sented by COVID­19 and find ourselves growing more accustomed to their longer term impact, it is perhaps unsurprising that BARKS has taken on something of a business theme this month. As has already been widely — and well — documented elsewhere, since the pandemic first started gaining traction just a few months ago, many pet profes­ sionals and small business owners have found themselves in the posi­ tion of suddenly having to try to adapt to the ever changing circumstances to keep their businesses afloat. This, for many, has meant delving more deeply into the world of technology and its associated equipment, as well as adjusting their marketing message to convince clients that virtual behavior consults and training sessions are just as ef­ fective as they are in person. These are issues that have been on our contributors’ minds too, and they have been gracious enough to share their experiences with us here, offering words of wisdom, support and advice based on their own personal experiences.

How it all shakes out remains to be seen, but in the eyes of our reg­ ular writer Gail Radtke, we may see virtual training become “a perma­ nent fixture in the dog training industry.” Radtke highlights the “enormous benefits for reactive dogs, for dogs who find group classes challenging, and for people who prefer a more private setting or whose lives do not allow for attending in person training for a variety of rea­ sons.” Check out our extended business section on pages 20­27 to read all about it.

Back in May, our main cover feature examined harassment in the working environment and this month we feature part two, which exam­ ines what action individuals can take when they have no official work­ place or structured corporate accountability to protect them. There is always, unfortunately, the possibility that individuals operating solo may find themselves potentially at risk of sexual harassment or sexual as­ sault via nonwork­specific locations. This applies particularly to the thousands of pet professionals who work for themselves and, thus, do not have immediate recourse to structured corporate deterrent policies, workplace education and progressive disciplinary procedures. Our fea­ ture offers up some startling statistics, while providing the framework to help individuals establish safe, respectful and empowering relationships and boundaries as counterbalance.

On a brighter note, I always enjoy reading the entries submitted to our PPG Writers’ Competitions, and our recent contest inviting you to share your experiences of animal shelter and rescue were, of course, no exception. What inspiring tales you told of what both animals and hu­ mans can overcome and achieve, even under the most challenging of circumstances! I am delighted to feature the competition’s winning and runner­up entries in this issue and was so impressed with the tips and stories you shared that we will be featuring more entries in our next issue and on the BARKS Blog in the coming months.

Elsewhere this month we examine the impact of social isolation on our cats and horses and how we can better enrich their lives, set out recommendations for training horses to develop manners around food delivery, and review a recent study on the prevalence, comorbidity, and breed differences in canine anxiety in Finnish pet dogs. We also feature some basic training tips on how we can make our dog walks less stress­ ful and how to safely transport pets in a vehicle, as well as how to set up our puppies to give them a solid start in life. We also examine ways of rethinking our relationships with our dogs, specifically in the sense of how we can best balance training technique with emotional involve­ ment in terms of connection, communication and commitment. It’s a fascinating read.

Finally, a reminder that BARKS is now a subscription­only publica­ tion. You can still read the digital edition free of charge by subscribing at barksfromtheguild.com/subscribe to gain immediate access. We have recently added all the back issues and introduced a print­on­demand option for individual issues. So you can read, download a PDF or print any edition dating all the way back to 2014. Head over to the BARKS Members’ Area (barksfromtheguild.com/members) and explore!

n Susan Nilso

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

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N EWS PPG Summits 2020 and 2021, new advisory committee and Code of Ethical Conduct, UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter, PPG Writers’ Competition winners, new corporate partner, new cat behavior Call-In Lounges, BARKS Podcasts, PPG webinars and more

PPG P UBLISHES CODE

OF

E THICAL CONDUCT

PPG has reviewed and revised its position on professional ethical conduct with a new code designed to supplement its Guiding Principles

H ARASSMENT ? O R A SSAULT ?

In the second part of her feature discussing harassment in the workplace, Niki Tudge examines what action individuals should take when there is no official workplace or structured corporate accountability

S URVIVING

THE

S TORM

Gail Radtke details her experiences with adapting to the conditions imposed by COVID-19 from the perspective of a dog trainer and small business owner

L ESSONS

FROM THE

COVID-19 C RISIS

Drawing on her experience of working with dog training professionals and small business owners through the current pandemic, Veronica Boutelle pens an open love letter

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B USINESS C ONTINGENCY P LANNING – N EED H ELP ?

Niki Tudge sets out some sound business advice to help small business owners during these challenging times

M OOKIE ’ S TALE

Kim Geisert relates the tale of a traumatized pit bull and his journey to socialization and, ultimately, a therapy dog

W HERE H OPE L IVES

Heddie Leger explains how she came upon an abandoned deaf and blind dog, who is now a spokesdog for force-free training

S TARTING S TRAW

FOR

D OGS

Métis Riley introduces the nonprofit she initiated to help pets kept outdoors live more comfortably

T ECHNIQUE B ALANCE

VS .

E MOTIONAL I NVOLVEMENT : F INDING

THE

Suzanne Clothier explains the concept of Relationship Centered Training™ and why it is a new way of thinking

R AISING

P UPPY

A

Sally Bradbury provides tips to help new puppy guardians set up their pup for success and avoid potential pitfalls

E XAMINING A NXIETY T RAITS

AND

B REED S PECIFICS

Dr. Sheryl L. Walker reviews a recent paper on the prevalence, comorbidity and breed differences in canine anxiety

D OG G UARDIAN E TIQUETTE

Anna Bradley examines ways in which dog guardians can make dog walking a less stressful time for all

P ETS

AND

R OAD S AFETY

Louise Stapleton-Frappell presents tips on the safest ways to transport pets both large and small in a private vehicle

R ESPECT, R OUTINES

AND

R EDIRECTION

Andrea Carne explains how ‘The Three Rs’ can prevent a cat-astrophe during home isolation

T HE R IGHT

TO

F REEDOM

Kathie Gregory considers the social restrictions applied by COVID-19, finding similarities with the experiences of some domesticated horses

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D EVELOPING F OOD M ANNERS

Michelle Martiya sets out recommendations for working with horses to develop manners around food delivery

B OOK R EVIEW : U NDERSTANDING S CIENCE

Gail Radtke reviews Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy by Dr. Zazie Todd

P ROFILE : T HE E THICAL C HOICE

Featuring Janet Velenovsky of Kaizen Pet Training & Behavior in Montpelier, Virginia

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

56

Your Goals.

Our Knowledge.

Shared Solutions.

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However, 昀nding, reading, and interpreting current journal articles can be overwhelming and frustrating. Research Bites presents current research in the 昀eld of dog training and behavior in a bite-sized, manageable package.

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n e w s PPG Postpones Phoenix Summit to 2021; Announces 2020 Virtual Summit

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iven the current situation with COVID­19 and our industry, PPG, after much deliberation and based on feedback from its members and the industry community, has decided the following: 1. We are 100% committed to our Summit 2020 format and all it en­ compasses with the Arizona Humane Society. So, rather than cancel the event, we are moving the program to next year. Registration will take place on September 17, 2021 with the four­day program to follow on September 18­21, 2021. Further details will be released in due course.

(See petprofessionalguild.com/PPG‐2021‐Summit‐&‐Workshops and also ad on p.63).

2. To replace our in­person Summit this year, PPG will host a special event on November 11­15, 2020, titled Geek Week: For the Love of Sci­ ence (petprofessionalguild.com/Geek­Week­November­2020). Geek Week will be a unique, fun and educational virtual experience to include fun­filled activities, competitions and prize­winning opportunities plus three days of virtual ‘Science & Skill’ sessions presented by industry leaders. A 50% discount will be available for members! (See also ad on

opposite page).

If you had planned to attend PPG Summit 2020, then you should have already received a personal email communication detailing the great alternatives available to you. We are happy to discuss these fur­ ther if you have any questions, so please do not hesitate to reach out to the PPG admin peeps, Rebekah King and Sharon Nettles. You can find their contact information here: petprofessionalguild.com/contactPPG.

Pet Professional Guild Joins Six Leading Organizations to Support UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter

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PG has signed up to be one of seven found­ ing organizations to support the UK Dog Be­ haviour and Training Charter (ukdogcharter.org) launched on June 8. The initiative aims to pro­ vide clarity regarding the future direction of dog behavior and training throughout the UK in relation to professional standards, tools and methodologies, with canine welfare at the heart of its mandate.

The Charter evolved of a recognition by the founding industry bodies (comprising PPG, the COAPE Association of Pet Behaviourists and Trainers, International Canine Behaviourists (ICB), the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT), the Association of INTODogs, the UK College of Scent Dogs, and the Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training and Behaviour) of the need for a collaborative approach to the challenges that lie ahead for the industry, including regulation, canine welfare, and support of in­ dividual practitioners.

By setting out common values of welfare and professional conduct, the Charter aims to provide assurance to the public, other professional bodies, and government agencies that signatory organizations are com­ mitted to transparent complaints and grievance procedures that can be supported by independent arbitration if needed. As such, signatory or­ ganizations have agreed on a set of minimum standards of animal wel­ fare and professional conduct to ensure practitioners use the most up­to­date and humane methodologies and tools. These include pub­ licly pledging "not to endorse correction­based remote training devices or aversive stimuli that work through eliciting a withdraw reflex/re­ sponse and/or an alarm reaction, and/or that cause pain and/or fear" (including shock collars, citronella collars, anti­bark collars, choke chains and prong collars). These stipulations must be referenced in the organi­ zation's code of practice with clear guidance to members. To help pro­ vide assurance and accountability to the public and other bodies, members of Charter organizations will be able to display the Charter symbol to show they have been checked, and are monitored and sup­ ported by a reputable organization, and have aligned themselves to the ethical, welfare and conduct obligations stated in the Charter.

Since its inception in 2012, PPG has attracted and retained mem­

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

bers who are committed to the pet's welfare and consider this to be their top priority at all times. PPG members pledge to focus on the im­ plementation and practice of a holistic, "force­ free" approach to pet training and care by attending to the physical, emotional and envi­ ronmental well­being of every animal in their care, founded specifically on the principle of doing no harm given that there are perfectly humane and positive alternatives that are not packaged with problematic emotional conse­ quences such as fear, anxiety and pain. An es­ sential part of this force­free philosophy is to avoid any training methods or equipment that are aversive and/or punitive and that work by inflicting pain, force or fear. PPG members un­ derstand this to mean that any equipment and/or methods involving the use of shock, pain, choke, force or fear are never employed to train or care for any pet under their charge.

"PPG's key goal is to drive and bring about change in the pet serv­ ices industry, specifically the fields of training, behavior consulting and pet care," said PPG president Niki Tudge. "This sought­after change pro­ motes scientific, humane and positive reinforcement­based methods and skill application in order to reach training, behavior modification, and pet care goals for both pets and their owners.

"To enact, promote and manage this scope of change, PPG needs to be at the forefront of shaping the industry. This means, as an organiza­ tion, it must help guide, manage and, when necessary, reinforce small approximations of cultural shifts, behavior change or attitude adjust­ ments towards the end goal when organizations, associations and indi­ viduals who are operating within the industry present them. By aligning with like­minded professional bodies under the UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter, PPG has great confidence that both pets and their guardians can now look forward to greater transparency from the pro­ fessionals they elect to work with while remaining assured that their pet's welfare will always be the top priority. The strong and visionary foundation brought about by this unified approach is sure to be a posi­ tive force in the United Kingdom as the pet industry evolves, and one which may, in time, inspire other countries to follow."

Read full press release: bit.ly/2XSHM8J.

November

11

15

Get your “Geek On” at PPG’s Geek Week Virtual Summit. 24hrs/day for 5 days of more than 100 presentations, fun activities and prize-winning opportunities.

Co-hosted and sponsored by: U.K .C . S.D

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n e w s PPG Creates Advisory Group to Move Industry Forward in More Fully Inclusive Manner

O

n June 4, 2020, PPG released a statement affirming its commitment to Stand in Solidarity against Racism in support of #BlackLivesMat­ ter. It was important to our organization not just to make this statement, but to commit to action both in the short­ and long­term. And, as prom­ ised, we have already been working with our membership “to develop an advisory group that can identify and develop tangible, actionable pro­ grams to help us move our industry forward in a more fully inclusive manner.” (Pet Professional Guild, 2020). As such, we are pleased to an­ nounce that we have appointed Connecticut­based dog trainer Christina Horne and Virginia­based dog trainer Laurie C. Williams (pictured, right) to help us formulate, establish and oversee this advisory team to support our goals in this endeavor. Christina and Laurie will report directly to PPG president Niki Tudge. Together, they will ensure we establish enduring practices that hold us accountable to the commitment we have made and that both PPG and the pet services industry at large represent the di­ versity of our population.

“I am delighted that Christina and Laurie have accepted our invita­ tion to steer us forward in this important role and guide our organization as we work towards our goals,” said PPG president Niki Tudge. “I have worked with Christina over the last 12 years on multiple projects in the field of shelter and rescue and also in private dog training. I have inter­ acted with Laurie on social media for years and, more recently, had the pleasure of spending some time getting to know her better. I look for­ ward to working together with them both to bring about change and de­ liver tangible results in the areas where we can be the most effective.”

“As the daughter of a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, I grew up observ­ ing the different ways my father was able to directly and positively im­ pact each community he led,” said Christina Horne. “I am excited to now be in a position where I will be able to effect positive changes in our training community. It's a legacy I'm eager to continue.”

"As members of PPG, we are committed to the humane, fair and compas­ sionate training and treat­ ment of animals, therefore it only makes sense that we should extend these same principles to the treatment of our fellow human beings and fervently stand up against racism, discrimina­ tion and bigotry, both in our industry and the world around us,” added Laurie C. Williams.

As a first step in this new initiative, PPG will form the advisory group commit­ Laurie C. Williams will head up PPG’s new advisory committee with Christina Horne tee and facilitate dialogue and report directly to PPG president Niki Tudge so we may listen and learn as to what we need to do and how we can best move forward to support the BIPOC training com­ munity. To our membership and our community, we see you, we will lis­ ten to you and hear you, and we are with you. We must do better, and we will.

PPG Summit Writers’ Competition Winner and Runners-Up Announced

Cat Committee Launches Call-In Lounge

© Can Stock Photo/damedeeso

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ongratulations to Kim Geisert of Dynamite Dog Training (dynamite­ dogtraining.com) in Deerfield Beach, Florida, who is the winner of our PPG Blog Competition, and has been awarded a free entry ticket to PPG Summit 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona on September 17­21, 2021. Con­ gratulations too to Heddie Leger of Hero's Hope Pet Assist (facebook.com/HeroToTheRescue) in Waverly, Tennessee and Métis Riley of Positive Effects Training (positiveeffectstraining.com) in Fritz Creek, Alaska who are the runners­up and have both won a free record­ ing of PPG’s April 2020 Virtual Summit. All three articles have also been published on the BARKS Blog. There were so many more great entries and we will soon be featuring some of our favorites on the BARKS Blog and in the September issue of BARKS. A big thank you to everyone who entered and for sharing their inspiring stories about their work and ex­ periences with shelter and rescue pets.

Read the winning and runner‐up entries on pp.28‐34.

Note: You can still register for your April 2020 Virtual Summit recordings, featuring eight exceptional educational experiences with 12 hours of recordings + Q&A sessions: petprofessionalguild.com/2020‐Virtual‐ Summit 8

BARKS BARKS from from thethe Guild/January Guild/July 2020 2018

Read full statement: petprofessionalguild.com/As‐An‐Industry‐We‐Must‐ Do‐Better Volunteer to be on the advisory team: emailmeform.com/builder/form/G08wUidHfcS5q2T3Y

T

he PPG Cat Committee has launched its PPG Cat Group Call­In Lounges, with great success. The Lounges are currently taking place on a bimonthly basis and discussion topics so far have included working with veterinarians, and DS/CC from the cat's perspective and the client's. The Lounges are open to all PPG members. To register, simply message PPG Cat Committee member Beth Adelman on Facebook with your name and email. The events start with a 30­minute discussion among a smaller group of people ("the fishbowl") and everyone else on mute. During that time, those on mute can make comments and ask written questions via the Chat function, then it will be opened up for 30 minutes of wider discussion among the whole group. The Lounges are held on an online platform, which can be used on smartphones, iPads, and desktop/laptop computers. Participants will be sent an invitation and instructions on how to join. Please check the PPG All About Cats Facebook group (facebook.com/groups/512499695617190) for further details of dates and discussion topics.

Business Contingency Planning

P

PG is still offering a range of services to support members and their businesses during the current pandemic. These include free member webinars, Facebook Live sessions offering business and marketing advice in the PPG members’ Facebook group, virtual PPG Social events, educa­ tional blogs, deferral of membership renewal fees, waiving of Pet Profes­ sional Accreditation Board application and transfer fees and more.

Watch out for the regular member email updates and see also the new Business Contingency Planning section in the members’ area of the PPG website: petprofessionalguild.com/Business­Contingency­Planning.

n e w s PPG Names March, May Project Trade Ambassadors

Canine Arthritis Management Signs On as New Corporate Partner

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ongratulations to Daniel Antolec of Happy Buddha Dog Training (happybuddhadogtraining.com) in Wisconsin, USA for trading two prong collars and who has been named Project Trade Ambassador for March 2020. Congratulations, too, to Holly Tedor of Howling Peaks Dog Training, LLC (howlingpeaks.com) in Alaska, USA for trading three prong collars and who has been named Project Trade Ambassador for May 2020.

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Find out more about how Project Trade can help your business in ‘Helping Dogs, Helping Families,’ BARKS from the Guild, March 2017, pp.20‐25 (bit.ly/HelpingDogs).

Project Trade (projecttrade.org) is an international opt‐in advocacy program for PPG members that promotes the use of force‐free training equipment by asking pet guardians to swap choke, prong and shock collars (and any other devices that are designed to change behavior or care for pets through pain or fear) for service discounts. Join today!

PG is delighted to welcome Canine Arthritis Management (CAM) (ca­ ninearthritis.co.uk) as a new corporate partner. CAM was developed

by Dr. Hannah Capon, a veterinary surgeon with wide­ranging experi­ ence of working with arthritic dogs, their guardians and fellow profes­ sionals to create effective long­term management plans. CAM is committed to promoting better care of our aging canine friends and be­ lieves that, through education, the disease can be better tackled to give our dogs longer, healthier lives free from pain. CAM aims to challenge arthritis as the major cause of elective euthanasia in the UK. Osteoarthritis, a leading cause of premature elective euthanasia, is a complex and common disease that is often overlooked as simply aging or slowing down. It frequently underlies unwanted behaviors and re­ sults in a poor quality of life for dog and guardian. CAM believes that education is key to changing this and has made a special discount avail­ able to PPG members to get 10% off all its shop products.

Find the discount code in your PPG member area (petprofessionalguild.com/PPGMemberArea) under vendor discount programs.

Now Available on Anchor Platform

PPG Launches Sponsored Membership Program

Daniel Antolec (left) and Holly Tedor (right) exchanged these prong collars for service discounts and were named Project Trade Ambassadors for March and May 2020 respectively

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ARKS Podcasts are now available on the Anchor platform (anchor.fm/pet­professional­guild), from where you can select your preferred app to listen any time or download. Make sure you follow BARKS Podcasts on whichever app you choose so you can stay updated with new releases. In the most recent podcasts, join PPG president Niki Tudge as she chats to: June 12, 2020: Dr. Karolina Westlund of Illis Animal Behavior Consulting talks punishment, the ethics construct as a side model to science and the humane hierarchy: bit.ly/2C9zRM2 June 5, 2020: Dr. Kristina Spaulding of Smart Dog Training and Behavior discusses how stress impacts our four­legged family members: bit.ly/2YsPMwf May 21, 2020: Gina Phairas and Veronica Boutelle of dog*biz talk about the FREE six­week group coaching program, Survive & Thrive, they launched in April 2020 to help R+ dog trainers and small pet­related business owners navigate through the COVID­19 crisis: bit.ly/2XWLpug May 8, 2020: Coleen Ellis of Coleen Rocks discussing how to get your business “Future Ready.”: bit.ly/2YHEoNt April 28, 2020: Dr. Zazie Todd of Companion Animal Psychology dis­ cussing her new book, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy: bit.ly/3gcG6yb April 27, 2020: Dr. Hannah Capon of Canine Arthritis Management dis­ cussing canine arthritis, a disease that can affect four out of five older dogs: bit.ly/3d2VHh7 April 22, 2020: Dr. Kristina Spaulding of Smart Dog Training and Behav­ ior discussing science and its role in informing practitioners: bit.ly/2XW1qAX April 6, 2020: Joan Hunter Mayer of Transpaw Gear discussing training methods and gear: bit.ly/3d2W5fz March 25, 2020: Veronica Sanchez of Cooperative Paws Service Dog Coach™ discussing the role of service dogs, service dog training and in­ structor certification programs: bit.ly/2UCWmhT

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PG has announced a new initiative designed to support and reward 10 of its long­standing, loyal members with a 12­month sponsored PPG membership. In addition, PPG will invite 10 representative organi­ zations from the worldwide shelter and rescue community to apply for a sponsored PPG membership, again for a 12­month period.

Known as the PPG Sponsored Membership Program, the initiative was born of the generosity and kindness of longtime professional mem­ ber, Frances Dauster of Sunpaws Pet Services (sunpaws.com) in Mobile, Alabama, who recently reached out to PPG and presented the idea of sponsoring a number of memberships for the next 12­month period.

PPG then matched her offer with 10 free memberships for the shelter and rescue community.

"I have benefited so much as an individual from the force­free com­ munity that I felt passionate about giving back to it, and now seemed a better time than any," said Dauster. "When I chatted to Niki [Tudge, PPG founder and president] and offered to sponsor 10 Individual profes­ sional memberships, she was immediately enthusiastic and offered to match my donation."

The criteria for the 10 sponsored individual professional member­ ships state simply that the candidate must have been a professional PPG member of PPG for three years or longer. For the initial 12­month pe­ riod, starting immediately, names have been selected randomly from memberships that were currently up for renewal across different states in the U.S. and/or different regions in the British Isles. For the 10 spon­ sored shelter and rescue community memberships, eligibility criteria re­ quire that the organization is philosophically aligned with PPG in terms of its Guiding Principles. Read full press release: bit.ly/30tRFLX

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

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n e w s PPG Postpones 2020 Workshops

Free Member Webinar Series

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ue to the current health and financial crisis, PPG has postponed the following workshops (see also box below): Reactive to Relaxed: Next Steps in Control Unleashed with Leslie McDevitt (petprofessionalguild.com/Reactive­to­Relaxed­Next­Steps­in­ Control­Unleashed). New dates: Saturday, February 13 – Sunday, Febru­ ary 14, 2021. (See also ad on p.60).

Your PORTL to Shaping with Mary Hunter (petprofessionalguild.com /event­3799309). New dates: Saturday, March 20, 2021 ­ Sunday, March 21, 2021. (See also ad on p.51).

Play is a Powerful Reinforcer with Craig Ogilvie (petprofessional­ guild.com/October­2021­Play­Instructor­Workshop). New dates: Satur­ day, October 9 – Sunday, October 10, 2021.

Advanced Agility Workshop with Marita Davies (petprofessional­ guild.com/event­3800248). New dates: Saturday, October 16 – Sunday, October 17, 2021.

Introduction to the Neuroscience of Dog Training and Behavior with Dr. Kathy Murphy. New dates to be confirmed.

Please contact membership manager Rebekah King (membership@petprofessionalguild.com) for further clarification.

uring the pandemic, PPG is offering a series of free webinars for its members. At the time of publication, recordings of the following webinars were available: • Taking Your Services Virtual with Niki Tudge and Kate LaSala: petprofessionalguild.com/event­3804957.

• Marketing in Times of Difficulty with Niki Tudge and Dr. Robert King: petprofessionalguild.com/event­3812622.

• Take Your Local Dog Training Classes and Clients Online with Mychelle Blake: petprofessionalguild.com/event­3830384 • Puppy Socialization During a Pandemic with Jessica Ring: petprofessionalguild.com/event­3817509 • The COVID‐19 Lockdown and Your Dog: Tips to help you get ahead of separation anxiety issues before they start with Tracy Krulik: petprofessionalguild.com/event­3823599 • Business Contingency Planning – Need Help? with Niki Tudge, Veronica Boutelle and Gina Phairas: petprofessionalguild.com/event­3794382 • Setting Up to Survive & Thrive with dog*biz: petprofessional­ guild.com/event­3817418

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

Educational Summits PPG Geek Week 2020 (Virtual) (see also ad on p.7) Wednesday, November 11 ­ Sunday, November 15, 2020 petprofessionalguild.com/Geek­Week­November­2020

Webinars Schedules of Reinforcement and Animal Behavior ­ Presented by Eduardo Fernandez PhD Wednesday, July 1, 2020 ­ 1 p.m. (EDT) petprofessionalguild.com/event­3780970 To Spay or Not to Spay – That is the Question ­ Presented by Dr. Jessica Hekman Friday, August 7, 2020 ­ 1 p.m. (EDT) petprofessionalguild.com/event­3702927

PPG Summit 2021 (Phoenix, Arizona) (see also ad on p.63) Friday, September 17 ­ Tuesday, September 21, 2021 petprofessionalguild.com/PPG­2021­Summit­&­Workshops

Residential Workshops (Tampa, Florida)

Reactive to Relaxed: Next Steps in Control Unleashed with Leslie McDevitt (see also ad on p.60) Saturday, February 13, 2021 ­ Can Dogs Have ADHD? A Look at Recent Research on Impulsivity, Hy­ Sunday, February 14, 2021 peractivity, and Inattention in Dogs ­ Presented by Dr. Kristina petprofessionalguild.com/event­3597687 Spaulding Tuesday, August 18, 2020 ­ 10 a.m. (EDT) Your PORTL to Shaping with Mary Hunter petprofessionalguild.com/event­3815663 (see also ad on p.51) Saturday, March 20, 2021 ­ Stressed Out: Dogs, Hormones, and Stress ­ Presented by Dr. Jessica Sunday, March 21, 2021 petprofessionalguild.com/event­3799309 Hekman Friday, October 2, 2020 ­ 1 p.m. (EDT) petprofessionalguild.com/event­3702930 The Role of Habit in Behavior ­ Presented by Dr. Kristina Spaulding, Monday, October 12, 2020 ­ 2 p.m. (EDT) petprofessionalguild.com/event­3846686 For a full, up‐to‐date list of webinar listings, see: petprofessionalguild.com/Webinars

PPG Webinars On Demand Listen any time!: petprofessionalguild.com/Recorded­Webinars

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

Interactive Play Skills Instructor Course with Craig Ogilvie Saturday, October 9, 2021 ­ Sunday, October 10, 2021 petprofessionalguild.com/event­3772315 Advanced Agility Workshop with Marita Davies Saturday, October 16, 2021 ­ Sunday, October 17, 2021 petprofessionalguild.com/event­3800248 For a full, up‐to‐date list of all upcoming summits and workshops, see: petprofessionalguild.com/Educational‐Summits

e t h i c s

PPG Publishes Code of Ethical Conduct The Pet Professional Guild, to meet current challenges faced by the pet services industry, has reviewed and revised its position on professional ethical conduct. This new Ethical Code of Conduct is a supplement to the organization’s robust and forward thinking Guiding Principles which are specific and measurable, and provide a clear way forward for the industry and its membership while supporting professional autonomy and without sacrificing unambiguous ethical guidelines regarding tools, equipment, philosophy and approach.

Preamble The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) recognizes the need for a level of oversight in the pet training and services industry, specifically regarding business prac­ tices, transparency, and marketing.

The professional growth and improvement of the pet industry depends upon a recognition that the varied sectors found within the industry must be based first and foremost on a respect for the animals in our care, the people we serve, and our colleagues. We must seek to establish the highest ethical standards by adhering to PPG’s Guiding Principles and satisfying the needs of our clients in a professional, proficient and ethical way. Acceptance of and adherence to this Code of Ethical Conduct is an eligibility requirement for PPG members.

Application of the Code The Code of Ethical Conduct applies to all member levels of PPG and com­ mits all members to comply fully with the standards, codes, rules and proce­ dures of the organization.

Please note that a lack of knowledge about or misunderstanding of this code is not in itself a defense against a breach of ethical conduct.

Personal Code of Conduct 1. Members consider the emotional, physical and environmental well‐ being of each client, i.e. both the pet and the guardian/ owner/care‐ taker of the pet, in all actions.

2. Members do not condone or endorse any treatment by a pet’s guardian that in any way compromises the pet’s physical or mental well‐being. PPG members will not be party to any such acts. ➢ If a guardian insists on any treatment that in any way compromises the pet’s physical or mental well­being, it is the member’s duty and re­ sponsibility, after discussion with the guardian, to terminate the rela­ tionship if agreement cannot be reached. ➢ Members must opt out of a consulting agreement rather than at­ tempt to manage an unethical course of action.

3. Members consult within the boundaries of their own competence. ➢ Members will refer to like­minded professionals whose knowledge and/or skill level is appropriate to the needs of the individual training or behavior case.

➢ To this end, it is the member’s duty and responsibility to pursue on­ going education and to remain fully knowledgeable of current best prac­ tices and research.

6. Members recognize that guardians are responsible for their pets and therefore have the right to make decisions about the professional treatment of their pets. ➢ Members are bound to honor the guardian’s wishes or may choose to withdraw from the consultation should opinions conflict.

7. Members ensure that all communications are professional and based on fact. ➢ Members ensure that all communications are clear to the client by using plain language or by ensuring adequate explanation of terms used. ➢ Members also ensure that all communications are considered confi­ dential unless required by law to be shared with appropriate authori­ ties. s Members seek clients’ written permission if information, includ­ ing but not limited to photos, videos, persons associated with clients and/or their pets, is to be shared with other professionals.

Client anonymity is essential if client case studies are to be used for educational purposes. s Confidentiality may only be breached in such cases where animal cruelty or welfare laws are contravened and the client cannot be dissuaded from using their current approach with immediate ef­ fect.

8. Members discuss, disagree with, or recommend industry practices and trends based on best practice and current scientific literature. ➢ Members may disagree with other members’ methods and/or their practices, but they must refrain from ad hominem attacks. ➢ Members ensure communication with colleagues and clients re­ mains informed, objective, and civil.

Business Practices 4. Members do not attempt or speak to or diagnose any illness or make any references to a diagnosis or medical treatment. ➢ The member will always recommend to the pet’s guardian that any problem related to illness or the possible need for diagnosis will be referred to an appropriate veterinary professional.

5. Members use procedures, protocols and training tools that are empiri‐ cally based and have a proven track record.

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

9. Members agree to adhere to PPG’s Guiding Principles and the non‐ne‐ gotiables stated therein. Members also agree to the Best Practices laid out in the definitions of “force” and “force‐free.”

10. Members ensure that consent from a guardian to work with their pet is informed by clear explanations of the nature and purpose of the methods and/or equipment they intend to use. Similarly, members en‐ sure that they offer explanations and answer questions as to why they will not use or recommend certain methods and/or equipment.

e t h i c s The professional growth and improvement of the pet industry depends upon a recognition that the varied sectors found within the industry must be based first and foremost on a respect for the animals in our care, the people we serve, and our colleagues. ➢ Making clear the proposed frequency, expected duration and poten­ tial financial commitment for the work to be carried out by the member for the client. ➢ Fully explaining the training philosophy that will be used when work­ ing with the pet. ➢ Answering questions from pet guardians with regards to the specific training plan and any other training approaches as raised by the client.

status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression; marital, civil union or domestic partnership status; past or present military service; family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status; or any other status protected by law. Any reported vi‐ olations of this policy will be vigorously investigated under PPG’s ethics complaint process.

15. Members will work with their clients to develop realistic, measur‐ able, achievable outcome and behavior change goals for both the pet and the guardian regarding the training program and its planned and intended results.

16. Members recognize and accept that their marketing and business prac‐ tices implemented may significantly impact guardians and their pets – emotionally, environmentally, physically, and psychologically. As such, members agree that it is imperative they operate to a high standard of moral code in terms of business transparency and consumer protec‐ tion. Members agree to be honest and transparent in their business marketing. This includes but is not limited to:

➢ Holding transparent and professional discussion with the client on any and all risks or dangers related to any potential training approaches, tools, techniques, and/or applications as well as any consequent or sub­ sequent physical or emotional fallout that may occur.

➢ Making accurate statements in a clear and transparent manner and not misleading the public regarding their service philosophy and training methods.

➢ Informing the guardian of their right to refuse certain equipment, methods or techniques and their ability to offer informed consent.

➢ Openly stating their professional philosophy, methods, and choice of operational equipment used and recommended to the client.

➢ Informing the client that, based on developments or progress, the training plan and/or outcome goals may need to be modified.

➢ Displaying all up­to­date and valid credentials and industry affili­ ations in an obvious and transparent manner.

➢ Informing the guardian that no guarantees can be offered regarding the outcome of the training or behavior program due to the nature of applied animal behavior and limiting factors around the pet guardian such as time commitment, family circumstances, management practices and other environmental factors.

17. Members will deal fairly with each other in the dissemination of pro‐ fessional information and advice at all times, including but not limited to:

➢ Informing the guardian that any change in methods or equipment will not be undertaken before discussion with and approval by them.

18. Members will ensure that, for each credential level displayed in their PPG membership listing and in their own marketing material, they are up to date on the requisite continuing education units (CEU), when re‐ quired, for each specific credential.

➢ Informing the guardian of his/her right to terminate the contract at any time.

11. Members must not lay claim, directly or indirectly, to qualifications, competencies, or affiliations they do not possess. ➢ Only current approved members in good standing may use the PPG name, logos, membership badges or lay claim to PPG membership.

12. Members agree to carry professional liability insurance and ‘Care, Cus‐ tody and Control’ coverage where available and mandated by local re‐ quirements.

13. Members act legally, ethically and morally in all personal and business standings; including abiding by local, state and federal laws regarding animal cruelty and all business practices, including personal conduct both within their business operations and with the general public at large. Members will obey the law of the land in which they operate.

14. PPG prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind and is committed to the principle of equal opportunity for all em‐ ployees, members, volunteers and contractors and commits to provide a business and work environment free of discrimination and harass‐ ment. All business decisions at PPG are based on the business needs, mission, guiding principles, job requirements and individual qualifica‐ tions, without regard to race, color, religion or belief; national, social or ethnic origin; gender, sex (including pregnancy, gender reassign‐ ment and maternity), age, physical, mental or sensory disability; HIV

➢ Emails; Social media; Blog posts; Podcasts; Interviews.

19. Members agree to rely on up‐to‐date science, within the permits of PPG’s Guiding Principles and rather than hearsay, myth, misconcep‐ tion, and misinformation, to lead the charge on how they will be per‐ forming their services.

20. By joining PPG, members agree to PPG’s standards, codes of practice, education and training philosophies. Failure to abide by the Guiding Principles and this Code of Ethical Conduct may result in sanctions up to and including the termination of the member’s membership. n © 2019 Tudge, Nilson, Millikan & Stapleton­Frappell. This Code of Ethical Conduct was developed and first published in the book Pet Training and Be‐ havior Consulting: A Model for Raising the Bar to Protect Professionals, Pets and Their People (DogNostics Career Center Publishing). It has been amended to suit the needs of PPG. Read it online: petprofessionalguild.com/Code‐Of‐Ethical‐Conduct

Ethics Review Process The ethical review process for PPG members can be found at: petprofessionalguild.com/ThePPGEthicsCommittee

Resources Australian Psychological Society. (2007). Code of Ethics. Melbourne, Vic: Author. Available at: bit.ly/2M57tw1 European Society of Veterinary Clinical Ethology. (2017). ESVCE Code of Ethics and Conduct. Available at: bit.ly/2B39ua1 Pet Professional Guild. (2018). Guiding Principles. Available at: petprofessionalguild.com/PPGs­Guiding­ Principles

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

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c o v e r

Harassment?

Or Assault?

In the second part of this two-part feature on harassment in the workplace, Niki Tudge examines what action individuals should take when there is no official workplace or structured corporate accountability

S

exual harassment in the workplace continues to be experienced by both men and women in a variety of organizational venues. In this second part of our feature on harassment, I will first detail what constitutes sexual harassment and when any indi­ vidual behavior is no longer considered to be harassment, but assault. Secondly, I will ex­ amine whether individuals more likely to sexually harass others have a particular psychological profile, so potential victims can identify indications of harassing behavior and, therefore, seek to prevent it escalating.

1. What is Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault?

Citing from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), United Nations (2020) defines sexual harassment as follows: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: • Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or con­ dition of an individual's employment, or • Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as a basis for employment decisions affecting such individual, or • Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an indi­ vidual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.

Pet professionals who work for themselves and do not have the immediate protection of an employer may find themselves on the receiving end of harassment and be unsure of where to turn for support and advice © Can Stock Photo/andreaobzerova

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

c o v e r Again, according to United Nations (2020), citing BNA Communica­ tions, sexual harassment includes many activities across three key cate­ gories of behavior: physical, verbal and nonverbal (see Fig. 1 on p.16).

Now in my 20 years of corporate experience developing and implement­ ing corporate workplace policies – specifically zero tolerance policies that incorporate harassment and sexual harassment – the key behavior categories differed slightly in that the category of nonverbal was labeled “visual.” This title often appears in corporate workplace policies.

“PPG prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind and is committed to the principle of equal opportunity for all employees, members, volunteers and contractors and commits to provide a business and work environment free of discrimination and harassment.”bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb

Legal Terminology Sexual harassment is a legal term, created for the purpose of ending ha­ rassment and discrimination against victims in the workplace. Its most basic definition can be sourced back to the EEOC (2020), as previously mentioned (see 1. What is Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault? on opposite page). The term and definition have been continually rede­ fined and updated through legislation and court decisions.

In individual countries and, in fact, individual states, the legal defini­ tions can vary. In Florida, where I am based, statutes categorize sexual harassment as a form of discrimination and, as per the EEOC, also de­ fine it as “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature from any person di­ rected towards or in the presence of an employee or applicant when: • Submission to such conduct is either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment.

• Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such in­ dividual; or • Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably inter­ fering with an individual’s work performance or creating an in­ timidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.” (State of Florida, n.d.).

In Florida, then, there is a legal statute to prevent sexual harass­ ment in the workplace and at work sponsored events and to protect in­ dividuals from one of two situations: • Quid Pro Quo Harassment: An individual uses their personal or positional power and authority over another to seek sexual favors for job conditions such as hiring, firing, benefits, pay in­ creases or workplace benefits.

• Creating a Hostile Work Environment: An individual harasses somebody else in the workplace and their behavior interferes with said individual’s work performance and/or creates an in­ timidating or offensive work environment (State of Florida, n.d.; HR­Guide, 2015).

Pet Professionals It is well documented, and a typical standard corporate workplace pol­ icy, that it is the responsibility of the victim to report harassment to their relevant supervisor(s). In return, it is the responsibility of the or­ ganization to ensure employees and management are trained on work­ place policies and that any infractions of these policies are handled confidentiality, expeditiously and in line with organization and legal guidelines. Yet this still leaves an important and key question unan­ swered. Where does this leave the thousands of pet professionals who work for themselves and do not have the immediate protection of an employer and who may find themselves on the receiving end of harass­ ment? How do they report harassment with no human resources de­ partment or corporate infrastructure to lean on?

In the first part of this article (see Harassment in the Workplace, BARKS from the Guild, May 2020, pp.22‐28), I presented a reporting procedure for sexual harassment. This was not a linear procedure but rather several suggested courses of action that could be taken by a vic­ tim if they had suffered harassment. These procedures rely heavily on professional associations and company leadership. They also include

other suggested actions. But at what point should individuals report un­ welcome and uninvited behavior towards them to law enforcement and when is harassment considered assault?

According to the United States Marine Corps (n.d.), there are both similarities and differences between sexual harassment and sexual as­ sault. They are both illegal, are considered uninvited and unwanted sex­ ual advances, and are personal violations that can result in harm to the victim. Both harassment and assault can occur as a single episode, can be gender neutral and will likely involve somebody the victim knows.

However, because, as stated earlier, sexual harassment is considered a legal term, created for the purpose of ending harassment and discrimi­ nation against individuals in the workplace, they do differ in regard to where the behavior occurs. Sexual assault can occur at any location and involves direct physical contact whereas sexual harassment is consid­ ered specifically to have happened if the behavior occurs on workplace premises. Sexual harassment also includes other behaviors, both non­ verbal and verbal, and is not restricted to physical contact.

Across the literature (Marine Corps, n.d.; Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, 2020) sexual assault is defined to include the use of force, rape, attempted rape, forcible sodomy (oral or anal sex), fondling or unwanted sexual touching and other unwanted sexual contact that is aggravated, abusive, or wrongful. This also includes unwanted and inap­ propriate sexual contact or attempts to commit these acts. Importantly verbiage describing a victim who does not or cannot consent is in­ cluded. Note too that in some locations, such as Florida, sexual assault is labeled sexual battery.

The legal definition of assault is “an assault is carried out by a threat of bodily harm coupled with an apparent, present ability to cause the harm.” (The Free Dictionary, 2020). Assault is considered both criminal and tortious so crimes may result in either criminal or civil liability.

Georgia Legal Aid (2020) describes a tort as a “wrongful act that injures or interferes with another person or property” whereas “a crime is a wrongful act that a state or federal government has identified as a crime.”

For the purpose of clarity, here are definitions on some of the im­ portant terms used to define sexual assault.

• Force: This does not always apply to just actual physical pres­ sure but also covers emotional coercion, psychological force, or manipulation to coerce a victim (RAINN, 2020).

• Rape: This generally refers to nonconsensual sexual inter­ course that is committed by physical force, threat of injury, or other duress (Find Law, 2020). Rape as defined by Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) is a form of sex­ ual assault, but not all sexual assault is rape. The term rape when used as a legal definition specifically includes sexual penetration without consent (RAINN, 2020).

• Unwelcome Behavior: Unwelcome does not mean "involun­ tary.” A victim may consent or agree to certain conduct and actively participate in it even though it is offensive and objec­ tionable. Therefore, sexual conduct is unwelcome whenever the person subjected to it considers it unwelcome (United Na­ tions, 2020).

Sexual assault is considered a criminal offense and can also be a

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

15

c o v e r Where does this leave the thousands of pet professionals who work for themselves and do not have the immediate protection of an employer and who may find themselves on the receiving end of harassment? How do they report harassment with no human resources department or corporate infrastructure to lean on? tort. But what about sexual harassment? Criminal Defense Lawyer (2020) states that it is “illegal in the sense that it violates federal and state civil laws” and asks, “…is it ever also criminal?” Yes, is the answer.

Not all infractions of a workplace sexual harassment policy are criminal.

For example, it is not a crime to tease somebody or look them up and down in a seductive manner or to display photographs of a sexual na­ ture at one’s desk. These actions would be deemed an infraction of a workplace sexual harassment policy and these kinds of behaviors would – or should – trigger workplace training, counseling or even disciplinary action leading up to and including employment termination. However, because sexual harassment encompasses many different types of be­ haviors, some would appropriately be handled by a company human re­ sources specialist. Other behaviors, however, that are physical in nature may be determined not only to be sexual harassment but also a crime.

2. Who is Most Likely to Commit Sexual Assault and How Often?

Now that we have a more comprehensive understanding of what sexual harassment is and the key differences between harassment and assault, both in behavioral and legal terms, we can look into the types of person and/or profile of those most likely to perpetrate sexual assault. I am fo­ cusing my attention here on sexual assault because most victims in the pet industry will not be employed by large corporations who offer pro­ tections from harassment via corporate deterrent policies, workplace

Physical • Giving a massage around the neck or shoulders • Touching the person’s clothing, hair, or body • Hugging, kissing, patting, or stroking • Touching or rubbing oneself sexually around another person • Standing close or brushing up against another person

16

education and progressive disciplinary procedures. The majority of pet trainers, behavior consultants and pet industry service providers are self­employed or independent contractors and are most at risk from sex­ ual harassment or sexual assault via nonwork­specific locations, such as public training areas, clients’ homes, conference locations or work­ shops.

The criminal justice crime statistics on rape and assault as reported

by RAINN (2020) show that only 230 out of every 1,000 sexual assaults are reported to police. This means about three out of four assaults go unreported and out of every 1,000 sexual assaults, 995 of the perpetra­ tors walk free. So, not only do very few perpetrators of sexual assault go to prison, in fact, only 41 out of 1,000 cases result in a felony conviction and only 31 of those cases actually result in served time. In so many in­ stances of sexual assault the overwhelming majority are not even re­ ported to police.

A report by the Department of Justice titled National Crime Victim­ ization Survey, 2010­2016 and summarized by RAINN (2020) gives the following reasons identified by victims as to why they chose not to re­ port the sexual crime: 20% feared retaliation, 13% believed the police would not do anything to help, 13% believed it was a personal matter, 8% reported to a different official, 8% believed it was not important enough to report, 7% did not want to get the perpetrator in trouble, 2% believed the police could not do anything to help and 30% gave another reason, or did not cite one reason.

Given how few of these crimes are convicted and how few perpetra­ tors actually serve time, it makes sense that 20% of victims fear retalia­ tion and 15% believe that the police could not or should not do anything to help, thus creating this dangerous cycle of unreported crimes and those reported not resulting in a conviction. Of more con­ cern is the 30% of victims who gave another reason or did not cite a rea­ son, thus further polluting the data available that is so desperately needed to motivate or lead a charge on an overhaul of this current crime reporting and prosecuting system that fails the victims time and again.

Verbal • Referring to an adult as a girl, hunk, doll, babe, or honey • Whistling at someone, cat calls • Making sexual comments about a person’s body • Making sexual comments or innuendos • Turning work discussions to sexual topics • Telling sexual jokes or stories • Asking about sexual fantasies, preferences, or history • Asking personal questions about social or sexual life • Making kissing sounds, howling, and smacking lips • Making sexual comments about a person’s clothing, anatomy, or looks • Repeatedly asking out a person who is not interested • Telling lies or spreading rumors about a person’s personal sex life

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

Nonverbal • Looking a person up and down (“elevator eyes”) • Staring at someone • Blocking a person’s path • Following the person • Giving personal gifts • Displaying sexually suggestive visuals • Making sexual gestures with hands or through body movements • Making facial expressions such as winking, throwing kisses, or licking lips

Fig. 1: Three Categories of Sexual Harassment and Typical Indicative Behaviors or Activities

c o v e r Prevalence Sexual assault is such a large problem in the United States with one report noting that 54% of women on university cam­ puses have experi­ enced assault during their student tenure.

Because sexual as­ sault is most common in late adolescence and early adulthood, researchers dating all the way back to 1957 have examined the prevalence of sexual © Can Stock Photo/gajdamak assault in college stu­ Pet industry professionals are often self­employed or independent contractors and work in isolation in locations such as public dents (see Kirkpatrick training areas, clients’ homes, conference locations or workshops, putting them at risk of sexual harassment or assault & Kanin, 1957; Koss & Gidycz, 1985; Koss et al., 1987 in Resources). In addition, Zawacki et al. (2003) noted that 58% marais, Verberb [sic] & Wood, 2000). Other individual characteristics that have been linked to sexual aggression include the attitudes and be­ of men reported that they had committed some form of sexual assault, ranging from forced sexual contact to completed rape, with 14% indicat­ liefs of the perpetrator. For example, acceptance of rape myths, adver­ sarial sexual beliefs, hostility toward women, and traditional gender role ing completed rape. beliefs have all been associated with a greater likelihood to sexually In 2010, Voller and Long completed a thesis titled The Role of The aggress (Koss, Leonard, Beezley & Oros, 1985; Lonsway & Fitzgerald, Big Five Personality Traits in The Sexual Assault Perpetration by College 1994; Malamuth, Linz, Heavey, Barnes & Acker, 1995; Rando, Rogers & Males. They discussed an ecological model which has been proposed to Brittan­Powell, 1998).” account for the many factors involved in the occurrence of sexual vio­ lence. This model looks at four levels: Summary • Individual: Considers developmental experiences, attitudes, and aspects of one’s personality. These are used to explain a Sexual assault is a distressing problem that can leave long lasting de­ person’s propensity to sexually aggress. structive emotional effects on survivors. “While a substantial amount of • Microsystem: Looks at the immediate context in which the vi­ research has been conducted on victims, fewer studies have examined olence takes place. In behavioral terms, we would consider perpetrators of sexual violence” (Voller et al., 2010, p.9). Abbey, a lead­ this the setting events. ing researcher into sexual assault, asserts that “the most important les­ • Exosystem: Refers to the specific social structures where the son learned about interpersonal violence in the past 20 years is how person can be found and any associations they may have with frequently it is perpetrated by apparently normal individuals.” (Abbey, delinquent peers.

2005, p.39). Multiple research has been conducted on the personality • Macrosystem: Represents the values, attitudes, and beliefs of characteristics and attitudes of individuals to try to understand how a the culture that impact the other three levels. This would take perpetrator can be made more visible to potential victims. However, as into consideration the persons cultural attitudes towards Abbey (2005) points out: “It is still the case that most perpetrators women, male dominance, and victim blame. blend into society and cannot be easily pigeonholed.”

State Voller and Long (2010): “The ecological model proposes that Over the last 20 years, much of the work done to prevent sexual ha­ individual behavior can only be understood if the other levels are con­ rassment and assault has focused on the victims in terms of education sidered; in terms of sexual violence, factors at each of the four levels in­ on victim risk reduction programs. These programs cover topics such as teract to predict an individual’s likelihood to sexually aggress.” As the education about the prevalence of sexual assault, the difference be­ ecological model suggests, there is no single cause of sexual violence. tween assault and harassment, the myths and facts about rape and how Researchers have found a number of situational variables associated to identify risky situations. They also cover topics such as techniques with sexual aggression including location, misperception of sexual cues, victims can use if they find themselves in a risky situation. Abbey (2005, and alcohol consumption (Van Wie et al., 1995). p.41) states that much of the focus needs to be moved onto the perpe­ Specific data from RAINN (2020) does indicate that eight out of 10 trators. However, this is difficult as assault is so widespread and there is rapes are committed by somebody who was known to the victim, 39% are committed by an acquaintance and 33% are committed by a current, The majority of pet trainers, behavior former spouse or girlfriend or boyfriend. Half of perpetrators are over consultants and pet industry service providers the age of 30 and 57% of perpetrators are white. Voller and Long (2010) are self-employed or independent contractors present that “researchers have explored how these microsystem vari­ and are most at risk from sexual harassment or ables work synergistically with individual characteristics of perpetrators. sexual assault via nonwork-specific locations, Results have revealed a number of perpetrator variables related to sex­ such as public training areas, clients’ homes, ual aggression, including life experiences such as childhood sexual conference locations or workshops. abuse, delinquency, and early sexual behavior (Abbey & McAuslan, 2004; Abbey, Zawacki, Buck, Clinton & McAuslan, 2004; Senn, Des­

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

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c o v e r Sexual assault can occur at any location and involves direct physical contact whereas sexual harassment is considered specifically to have happened if the behavior occurs on workplace premises. Sexual harassment also includes other behaviors, both nonverbal and verbal, and is not restricted to physical contact.

remove yourself from the area.

Report any unwelcome and unwanted behavior to somebody in the vicinity; dial the police if you feel threatened. d) Don’t be manipulated by somebody because there is a famil­ iarity. If there are red flags then watch them and exit the situa­ tion and/or the relationship. e) Never be alone with an individual you are wary of until you know far more about him/her and no longer feel wary. f) Build up a strong reinforcement history with an individual be­ fore you put yourself into an intimate or solitary situation. This means: • How well do you know them?

• Have you seen them interact with friends, groups of indi­ viduals, family?

• What is their job, where do they work?

• How do they function, how do they treat others?

• Finding out about them if you have no mutual friends. g) Remember that a high percentage of assaults (eight out of 10) take place with victims who know their perpetrator. Take into consideration what potential perpetrators have reported and what research indicates and act accordingly to keep yourself safe and be cognizant that: • Over half of men reported that if a woman went home with them on a first date, “she implies she is willing to have sex with them.” (Burt, 1980).

• The use of alcohol may increase a man’s likelihood of mis­ interpreting a women’s intent about sex. Koss & Dinero (1988) report that 74% of men who had raped were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

• Half of all victims reported they were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the assault (Harrington & Leiten­ burg, 1984).

• Mohler­Kuo et al. (2004) found that 72% of rapes oc­ curred when the women were so intoxicated they were not able to give consent.

• Parks and Miller (1997) found that women drinking in bars or at parties were at greater risk of assault. h) Get out of a relationship if it begins to look like harassment or assault. Irrespective of who the individual is, whether they are a peer, a mentor, a friend, or a family member/relation. If any of the behavior becomes unwelcome or unwanted, hostile, threatening, harassing, or manipulating in any way, then get out quickly and let somebody else know what is happening, when it happened and who was the perpetrator. If the individ­ ual does not respect the boundaries you put in place, then let the police know, put it on record to protect yourself and any future legal scenarios that may play out.

At first glance, these suggestions may perhaps seem a little naïve, given that we live in a society with double standards about sexual be­ havior and where victims risk being blamed, ridiculed and not believed – particularly as the word of the perpetrator is often taken over that of the victim if “they knew the woman or if she had been drinking.” Abbey, 2005). c)

© Can Stock Photo/focalpoint

Sexual harassment in the workplace continues to be experienced by both men and women in a variety of organizational venues

not a “single set of characteristics that identify perpetrators.” A review of numerous studies conducted in 2004 found that “men who have committed sexual assault are more likely than other men to feel hostile toward women, endorse rape myths and adversarial beliefs about rela­ tionships between women and men, have peers who accept violence to­ ward women, be low in empathy, drink heavily, have casual attitudes about sex, engage in frequent casual sexual relationships, and have been a victim of abuse as a child.” (Abbey et al., 2004).

For those of us operating solo in the pet services industry, who may find ourselves, as individuals, at risk of being sexually harassed or as­ saulted, we must take into consideration some of these identified traits and behavioral settings. Our personal safety must take into consideration that individuals who commit assault can often blend easily into society.

Their behavior can be triggered by context, location and/or setting and when under the influence of alcohol. Although individually or collectively none of the identified personality traits can reliably identify somebody as a potential perpetrator, as potentially vulnerable parties we must con­ sider these factors together. There are many personality traits that, when known and grouped together, may indicate that an individual is more likely to commit sexual assault and is therefore a higher risk.

Staying Safe My personal recommendations to anyone are as follows: a) Don’t put yourself in a situation with an individual you do not know very well, and by very well, I mean very well, without there being protective cover in terms of public environment, persons present and safe location. b) Be very aware of the individual behaviors listed in Fig. 1, phys­ ical, verbal and nonverbal. If you feel uncomfortable in any manner, then make this obvious with direct verbiage to the of­ fending individual. If they do not stop, then immediately

18

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

c o v e r Personally, I find it bewildering that these sexual crimes are often not reported and those that are reported rarely result in perpetrators being prosecuted or serving jail time. I think it is critically important that we, individuals who have the potential to become victims, understand what harassment is versus assault, what the red flag behaviors are, and what course of action can we take. If, during our social encounters with another person, we feel in any way unsure or witness or experience in­ dividual behaviors that we deem unwelcome or unwanted, we must take personal decisive action. This action may be a simple verbal “no,” followed by exiting the situation, or may result in us seeking help or support from a third party and, in some cases, from law enforcement.

We must do so with confidence and knowing that we are not at fault, that we are not to blame and that, as a community, we will support each other. In the pet services industry, we must feel sure that if we re­ port inappropriate behavior, harassment or otherwise, to a membership body or corporation, that their internal ethics code is set up to handle these types of situations in a swift and confidential manner.

The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) Code of Ethical Conduct states: “PPG prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind and is committed to the principle of equal opportunity for all employees, members, volunteers and contractors and commits to pro­ vide a business and work environment free of discrimination and ha­ rassment. All business decisions at PPG are based on the business needs, mission, guiding principles, job requirements and individual qual­ ifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief; national, so­

References Abbey, A. (2005). Lessons learned and unanswered questions about sexual assault perpetration. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 20(1): 3942. Available at: bit.ly/3fY0nGC Abbey, A., Zawacki, T., Buck, P. O., Clinton, A. M., & McAuslan, P. (2004). Sexual assault and alcohol consumption: What do we know about their relationship and what types of research are still needed?

Aggression and Violent Behavior: A Review Journal 9(3): 271-303. Available at: bit.ly/3dDXhGw Assault [Def]. (2020). In The Free Dictionary. Available at: bit.ly/2A2McAZ Burt, M.R. (1980). Cultural myths and supports for rape. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 38(2): 217-230. Available at: bit.ly/2BBCLsz Criminal Defense Lawyer. (2020). Is Sexual Harassment in the Workplace a Crime? Available at: bit.ly/31gDrhG Department of Justice. (2017). Office of Justice Programs: Bureau of Justice Statistics. National Crime Victimization Survey 2010-2016.

Available at: bit.ly/2BBD5Yj Find Law. (2020). Rape Crimes Defined, Common Defenses and Rape Penalties. Available at: bit.ly/37XpqqL Georgia Legal Aid. (2020). The Difference between Torts and Crimes.

Available at: bit.ly/3i1324l Harrington, N.T., & Leitenberg, H. (1994). Relationship between alcohol consumption and victim behaviors immediately preceding sexual aggression by an acquaintance. Violence and Victims 9(4): 315-324.

Available at: bit.ly/3fXFCuR HR-Guide. (2015). Legal Definitions of Sexual Harassment. Available at: bit.ly/2Z5FAu9 Koss, M.P., & Dinero, T.E. (1988). Predictors of sexual aggression among a national sample of male college students. Annals of New York Academy of Sciences 528(1): 133-147. Available at: bit.ly/2ZbmNxx Mohler-Kuo, M., Dowdall, G.W., Koss, M.P., & Wechsler, H. (2004). Correlates of rape while intoxicated in a national sample of college women. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 65(1): 37-45. Available at: bit.ly/2BGGwwJ Parks, K. A., & Miller, B. A. (1997). Bar Victimization of Women.

Niki Tudge PCBC-A AABP-CDBT AAPB – CDT is founder and president of the Pet Professional Guild (petprofessionalguild.com), The DogSmith (dogsmith.com), a national dog training and pet care license, and DogNostics Career Center (dognosticseducation.com), and president of Doggone Safe (doggonesafe.com). She has business degrees from Oxford Brookes University, UK and has achieved her DipABT and DipCBST. Recently, she has published People Training Skills for Pet Professionals – Your essential guide to engaging, educating and empowering your human clients, Training Big for Small Businesses, and A Kid’s Comprehensive Guide to Speaking Dog, and co-authored Pet Training and Behavior Consulting: A Model for Raising the Bar to Protect Professionals, Pets and Their People. cial or ethnic origin; gender, sex (including pregnancy, gender reassign­ ment and maternity), age, physical, mental or sensory disability; HIV status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression; marital, civil union or domestic partnership status; past or present military serv­ ice; family medical history or genetic information, family or parental sta­ tus; or any other status protected by law. Any reported violations of this policy will be vigorously investigated under PPG’s ethics complaint process.” (See pp.12‐13 for the full PPG Code of Ethical Conduct).

As pet professionals, I implore you to always take the road of safety; there will be plenty of other opportunities to build safe, respectful and empowering relationships. Trust your instincts, react decisively, and re­ port infractions immediately so they can be investigated. n Psychology of Women Quarterly 21 (4) 509–525. Available at: bit.ly/31eKZSc Pet Professional Guild. (2020). Code of Ethical Conduct. Available at: petprofessionalguild.com/Code-Of-Ethical-Conduct Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. (2020). Sexual Assault.

Available at: rainn.org/articles/sexual-assault State of Florida. (n.d.). Sexual Harassment Awareness Training. Available at: bit.ly/2VchhJR United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (2020).

Sexual Harassment. Available at: bit.ly/2YuH0iH United States Marine Corps. (n.d.). Sexual Assault Vs. Sexual Harassment. Available at: bit.ly/3fY6fjf Van Wie, V.E., Gross, A.M., & Marx, B.P. (1995). Females' Perception of Date Rape: An Examination of Two Contextual Variables. Violence Against Women (1)4: 351-365. Available at: bit.ly/3exPXxh Voller, E. K., & Long, P. J. (2010). Sexual Assault and Rape Perpetration

by College Men: The Role of the Big Five Personality Traits. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 25(3): 457–480. Available at: bit.ly/3dysMBq Zawacki, T., Abbey, A., Buck, P.O., McAuslan, P., & Clinton-Sherrod, A.M. (2003). Perpetrators of alcohol-involved sexual assaults: How do they differ from other sexual assault perpetrators and nonperpetrators. Aggressive Behavior 29(4): 366-380. Available at: bit.ly/2ZbnLKb

Resources BNA Communications, Inc. (1992). Preventing Sexual Harassment [Video File]. Rockville, MD: BNA Communications, Inc. Kirkpatrick, C., & Kanin, E. (1957). Male Sex Aggression on a University Campus. American Sociological Review (22)1: 52-58. Available at: bit.ly/2YuHC7Z Koss, M.P., & Gidycz, C.A. (1985). Sexual experiences survey: Reliability and validity. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 53(3): 422-423. Available at: bit.ly/2BFAv3q Koss, M.P., Gidycz, C.A., & Wisniewski, N. (1987). The Scope of Rape: Incidence and Prevalence of Sexual Aggression and Victimization in a National Sample of Higher Education Students. Journal of Consulting Clinical Psychology 55(2):162-70. Available at: bit.ly/3eyYVdI Tudge, N. (2020, May). Harassment in the Workplace. BARKS from the Guild (42) 22-28. Available at: bit.ly/2ZbokUj

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

19

business

Surviving the Storm Gail Radtke details her experiences with adapting to the conditions imposed

by COVID-19 from the perspective of a dog trainer and small business owner

© Philip Chan

When the coronavirus pandemic first hit, author Gail Radtke (top left) closed her physical training facility and quickly moved her classes online, with great success

L

ooking back to March­April time, it seems like the entire dog train­ ing business as we know it pretty much crashed overnight. As COVID­19 started to take hold, decisions had to be made fast – es­ pecially for those of us who run a business at a physical location, that is under a lease, who realized we were not going to earn any income at that venue for the foreseeable future. Of course, we had all heard about the coronavirus and what was happening overseas but had no idea that the entire world was about to be affected in a way that our generation – or any before us – had never experienced.

I have since learned that coronaviruses are a large family of viruses and that human coronaviruses are common and typically associated with mild illnesses, similar to the common cold (Government of Canada, 2020). However, as we all know, COVID­19 has turned out to be so much

While virtual meetings have been common in the business world for some time, virtual training has now taken the dog training industry by storm.

20

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

more. I am in no way mathematically inclined, but the term “exponen­ tial growth” has been forever etched in my mind and I now fully under­ stand that a pandemic is quite different to an epidemic. Just to be clear, “[a]n epidemic is the rapid spreading of disease in a certain population or region; a pandemic is an epidemic that has spread worldwide.” (Asso­ ciated Press, 2020). As we all know by now, “[o]n March 11, the World Health Organization declared the COVID­19 outbreak a pandemic.” (As­ sociated Press, 2020).

In British Columbia, Canada, where I live and have my training facil­ ity, our provincial government imposed mandates as to what was con­ sidered an “Essential Service.” Other, “nonessential” businesses, facilities, schools, and many other public places were abruptly closed.

We learned very quickly that, in an effort to slow or even contain the spread of COVID­19, we would need to take measures to socially dis­ tance ourselves from all persons, again, as mandated by our local au­ thorities. This meant not having direct contact with anyone other than persons living in our immediate households. It was if the world had sud­ denly just stopped and everything was standing still. For me personally, not only did I take immediate action and close my physical training loca­

business I think we will see virtual training become a permanent fixture in the dog training industry.

There are enormous benefits for reactive dogs, for dogs who find group classes challenging, and for people who prefer a more private setting or whose lives do not allow for in-person training for a variety of reasons.

tion, I also moved out of the premises completely. In tandem, I started delivering training services to my clients in a format I would never have previously imagined. Welcome to virtual training, aka Zoom, a name that everyone became familiar with almost overnight. Zoom is a cloud­ based video conferencing platform you can use to virtually meet with others, either by video or audio only, or both. It’s all live and is interac­ tive in that everyone is able to live chat and see each other. Plus, it lets you record your sessions to view later.

Virtual Training Undeterred, I gathered my client email list and sent out my first meeting invites. I included an explanation of exactly what we would be setting out to do. While virtual meetings have been common in the business world for some time, virtual training has now taken the dog training in­ dustry by storm. Admittedly, in addition to watching the tutorials, it took me a few sessions to get a handle on how to use this new platform to deliver a training session and also how to manage a group of people, live, via the use of technology. As I have now experienced, and I am sure many of you reading this will also have experienced, Zoom provides sev­ eral options for assigning hosts and co­hosts. Trainer Laura McKay, who had been working with me at my facility, and I thus figured out how to move back and forth so that, while one of us was demonstrating the training exercises, the other would jump in to be the host and manage the virtual room.

As I have mentioned, Zoom gives you the option to record your training sessions and I have found this to be helpful for sending out to clients who were not able to attend the live meetings or if someone wants to view the session again for practice. I’ve really been enjoying the sessions and I think, through this stressful and often isolating experi­ ence, they have become more than just dog training sessions in that they have provided a social outlet for the many of us who have been mostly confined at home.

I am fortunate to have a large garage so that is where I have been doing my online training. With my training facility closing, all of my equipment is conveniently right there. I also have my three dogs waiting anxiously to see who will be asked first to go into the garage to partici­ pate. I’ve been working quite a bit with my red heeler, Gertrude Mae, who doesn’t often get to attend training with me due to her reactivity to new dogs and people, so it is lovely to be able to share her talents with the virtual groups, as well as her funny quirks. We joke in our train­ ing group about how long it will take Gertie to be removed from the garage due to her demand barking. Meanwhile Gertie, being the smart little cattle dog she is, has made the connection between her barking and having to leave the garage, so has recognized that her behavior drives the outcome.

Whenever Gertie attends first, towards the end of the session I in­ vite my other dogs, Lanie and Trixie Mae, to come and say hello and for­ age on the ground for any treats Gertie might have missed. The group then has an informal chat and we get check in on how everyone is doing and see all the dogs! That’s one thing virtual training will never be able to replace, seeing all the pups and enjoying hanging out with them!

Nevertheless, I can see myself continuing some form of virtual training in the future even when things get back to what we think of as normal.

Online Learning During this pandemic, social media has become abuzz with trainers of­ fering virtual training for just about everything and, in my opinion, it has now become a cornerstone for the survival of our industry. In addition, many professional organizations (including PPG, see p.6 ­ Ed.) have had to reschedule their conferences to a virtual platform, which I actually think could boost attendance due to people who did not have either the time or the funds to travel now being able to attend. In the meantime, I spend my days looking for the rainbows that keep appearing during this storm that has yet to end. As an industry, I believe we adapted quickly and embraced the change. Personally, now I have a bit more time on my hands, I have also been able to join some virtual classes. As an example, I have always wanted to learn Rally, so have signed up with Jeanne Shaw of Love 2 Play Dog Training in the Kootenays, British Columbia. Jeanne is a well­known trainer in the area who has started a virtual group. I would have never thought of signing up for virtual training prior to COVID­19 and due to the logistics of where we both live, have never had the op­ portunity to train with Jeanne. I asked Jeanne about how she set up her virtual training and discovered she has been offering virtual services for a while due to the challenging winter weather conditions where she lives, so she was ready to go when the time came to change everything over. I have to say I am loving the virtual training and being able to reach out and make connections I previously would not have had so much time for, another rainbow during this storm.

Overall, I think we will see virtual training become a permanent fix­ ture in the dog training industry. There are enormous benefits for reac­ tive dogs, for dogs who find group classes challenging, and for people who prefer a more private setting or whose lives do not allow for in­per­ son training for a variety of reasons.

Challenges Some of the challenges we do face with virtual training are puppy play groups for socialization skills (although plenty of trainers have come up with alternatives tailored specifically to the pandemic) and dogs who need positive exposures to other dogs in a controlled environment.

From a business point of view, we are now competing with dog trainers from all over the country, or, indeed, the world, whereas prior to COVID­ 19 we were concerned mainly with trainers from our local area. The lat­ ter, of course, provides us with the opportunity to collaborate with and refer to each other depending on which specialized skills are required for any one client or case. I realized this when I was on my community Facebook group and saw a dog trainer advertising virtual training classes. When I inquired about where they were physically located, it Author Gail Radtke enlisted the assistance of a friend and his dog Arrow to provide technical support during her Zoom sessions

© Philip Chan

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

21

business was on the other side of the country. It was quite the wake­up call. Peo­ ple who would normally look for dog training classes close to home can now attend virtual classes with a trainer who is located anywhere. I am not sure what the impact of this will be on trying to maintain our busi­ nesses now that we have a larger number of competitors. Hopefully, there will be enough work to go around but only time will tell.

What, then, does the future look like for dog training? I think it’s too early to say as, at the time of writing, we don’t quite know how long the social restrictions will be in place and what the new normal is going to look like. The economic impact of the pandemic has yet to unfold but I am sure we will be experiencing it for a while. This may, in turn, impact a trainer’s decision about opening a physical location and taking on the financial responsibility in such uncertain times.

For now, keep counting the rainbows! The dog training industry adapted quickly and is finding new and novel ways to keep people en­ gaging with their dogs, enabling trainers to maintain their livelihoods.

Somehow, so far, we are riding the wave and surviving the storm. n

References

Associated Press. (2020). Coronavirus Topical Guide: Available at: bit.ly/36urqG0 Government of Canada. (2020). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Available at: bit.ly/3gq6DYY

Resources

Dictionary.com. (2020). “Epidemic” vs. “Pandemic”: What Do These Terms Mean? Available at: bit.ly/2X36J15 Wikipedia. (2020). Exponential growth. Available at: bit.ly/2X2KkAP Zoom Video Conferencing: zoom.us/about Gail Radtke owns and operates Cedar Valley K9 (cedarvalleyk9.ca) in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia. She is a certified Fear Free animal trainer and certified professional dog trainer and holds a diploma in canine behavior and science technology. She is also a DogSafe canine first aid authorized instructor, FitPAWS master trainer and certified canine fitness trainer.

Dog Trainers: Still Here to Help – Virtually!

Anna Bradley examines some of the benefits of online services for clients Convenience: This is the first and probably most obvious advantage.

Time is a precious resource. If we have to drive to classes, private ses­ sions etc., it involves a considerable amount of scheduling that we have to account for within our day. We also have to build in there and back drive time, traffic delays, finding the location, gas consumption and how we can fit the time slot into our schedule. This can mean de­ lays in booking a training slot because professional trainers and be­ havior consultants often have waiting times for new clients. With online consults, we’re simply ready and available within our homes.

For clients, just find a quiet (ish!) room and off you go. Chances are that you will be able to book your slot much more quickly too and thus get help quickly before any behavior issues get worse.

Shorter Sessions: You might think, okay, I get a longer session of, say, one hour with a face­to­face session and maybe only 30 minutes via an online consult, but are you and your dog really able to concen­ trate fully ‘on point’ for a whole hour? Shorter sessions may be better because you can have a more condensed, concentrated conver­ sation, a back and forth of ideas, exchange of how things are going, feedback etc. and keep on track.

It’s Recorded: Yes, you will most likely receive a written handout of what’s covered during your face­to­face sessions, but, often, receiving a recording of the entire interaction can be very useful. Recordings ensure that absolutely every­ thing covered from the session is included.

Observations: Dogs can be observed in their home setting which can have advantages over seeing them in clinic or other environment. Virtu­ ally, we can actually observe them with you and your family and see exactly how you all interact.

This is extremely useful when helping with behavior issues. If we are observing dogs at home, we ob­ serve them at baseline level, a level which can some­ times be incredibly difficult to find with dogs who have high levels of arousal when a stranger or visitor is present.

No Bias: If we’re not there, your dog behaves like himself! Sometimes, for instance, if your dog is very nervous and we’re trying to help him with anxiety related issues, the presence of the trainer or behavior consultant can be the first

22

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

problem to overcome. If we’re not there, we can immediately start at base one and work upwards. Similarly, if you’ve got a very excited dog, he may become extremely wound up by the presence of the trainer when you’re trying to work through techniques they’re show­ ing you which are designed to overcome overexuberance. Physically removing the trainer and working through the techniques remotely can help avoid these types of situations.

No Distractions: For dogs that initially struggle with distractions dur­ ing training, you can begin working with no distractions at all, i.e. no unfamiliar person present and no unfamiliar environment.

Pre‐Vaccination: Anyone with a very young puppy can get assis­ tance really early.

Feedback: Online training methods allow for a much easier transfer­ ence of feedback, especially between sessions. It’s great to receive an email or maybe a detailed analysis at the next face­to­face session about how the week’s gone, but if you can send a video mid­ week, then feedback can be given on that prior to next week’s session and things can move forward in a more productive way.

Goals and Homework: Online methods also allow goals, objectives and homework to be set much more easily. Building on the above, if the client can send updates mid­week, assignments can be ad­ justed where necessary, thus allowing a tailored program for the dog and structured success.

Support: We all need it! Sometimes, if you’re not seeing a trainer for a week or two if your scheduling doesn’t allow for it, that’s a big gap, especially if things haven’t been going so well. Training and behavior issues can be demoralizing and confidence sapping. The ability to quickly check in for a little reassurance is often enor­ mously helpful for trainers, guardians and pets.

Online training sessions offer a number of benefits for dog guardians

And don’t forget……you can always sit on the other side of the screen in your pajamas if you want!

Adapted from an article that first appeared on the BARKS Blog: bit.ly/2zuH6wU

© Can Stock Photo / Nalaphotos

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business

Lessons from the COVID-19 Crisis Drawing on her experience of working with dog training professionals and small business owners through the current pandemic, Veronica Boutelle of PPG corporate partner dogbiz pens an open love letter to the pet industry

I

have loved and served this industry for 20 years, but I have never been prouder to be part of it than I am in this moment. I’m writing this from my home office in late April while sheltered in place. You’re probably reading it sometime in July. I’ve no way of knowing, as I write now, what things will be looking like when you read my words. I feel fairly certain, though, that whatever the specific circumstances, we’ll still be dealing individually, as a nation, and as a world, with the COVID­ 19 crisis. We’ll be dealing with it as dog trainers, business owners, and as an industry, too. And so, I thought I might share some thoughts about that.

Here at dogbiz, we’re currently halfway through our Survive & Thrive group coaching program. We offered this program free of charge to +R dog trainers with the aim of helping us all make it successfully through this unprecedented time and into a stronger position once we get to the other side of it. Currently just three weeks in, we’ve already learned a lot. We’ve talked about marketing and pricing during a crisis, about creating online training services, about the available technology, and more. But it’s the big picture things we’re learning together that have really captured our attention at dogbiz. Here are our three biggest takeaways from this crazy moment:

1. We Are Stronger Together: I’m sure by July this concept will be sounding stale. (Is there any company that’s not using it in their market­ ing these days?) But I don’t mean it as a marketing jingle. I mean it as an honest observation.

It has been amazing watching industry organizations fly into action to offer free content and support when the virus hit, and how many joined forces to do so. PPG, for example, started a free webinar series and invited people from all over the industry to participate. I wasn’t sur­ prised by any of this, but it was still lovely to see and be part of.

Even more inspiring is watching individual trainers come together in a tighter, more supportive way than I’ve ever seen. This has been one of the most rewarding aspects of our Survive & Thrive program. Trainers are actively sharing their best ideas, their vulnerable moments of fear and doubt and exhaustion, supporting each other through the hard days, and enthusiastically cheerleading each other’s successes. As histo­ rian Jon Meacham (2018) puts it, we’ve “reached for our better angels,” i.e. our best selves. And already this is working. As a collective brain trust we’re developing better ideas and learning faster what works and doesn’t. Trainers in the group are feeling less isolated and bolder, find­

I am hoping we will carry this new way of being together well past this challenging moment. Just imagine what we could accomplish individually and as an industry if this were our everyday way of working.

24

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

© Can Stock Photo / damedeeso

Author Veronica Boutelle has seen the COVID­19 crisis bring pet professionals together, giving them the collective power to innovate on a “faster, smarter, grander scale”

ing the courage to try new things with the support of their colleagues behind them, and they’re succeeding.

I am hoping we will carry this new way of being together well past this challenging moment. Just imagine what we could accomplish indi­ vidually and as an industry if this were our everyday way of working.

2. Innovation Is Our New Friend—Let’s Keep Her: Speaking of try­ ing new things, one of the themes we carried into Survive & Thrive was the need to step outside of the box in these times of social distancing and lockdown, to begin imagining other ways of serving dogs and their people with our professional knowledge and skills.

As an industry, I would say we tend to be a bit conservative, getting stuck in business ruts and, when we do adopt new ideas or approaches, we may do so without deliberate strategy and clear goals. It’s under­ standable in many ways. Change can be uncomfortable and running a small business—especially one you rely on for your food and home—can be stressful and nerve­wracking enough without throwing curve balls.

But wow. It’s been amazing to watch trainers lean into this moment, even in the midst of fear, anxiety, exhaustion, and COVID­19 brain fog.

The ideas generated and shared and built upon in Survive & Thrive have been inspiring. I’ve never witnessed such an open willingness to think so boldly outside the box in this industry. I predict the ideas we’re creating

business As a collective brain trust we’re developing better ideas and learning faster what works and doesn’t. Trainers in the group are feeling less isolated and bolder, finding the courage to try new things with the support of their colleagues behind them, and they’re succeeding.

together will push individual trainers, businesses, and the industry as a whole to new heights.

Necessity breeds invention, of course, but I do hope this explosion of creativity and innovation lasts well beyond the virus.

3. Perfection Is Our Enemy—Let’s Dump Her: This has been a pro­ gram theme, too. Perfection and its close cousins—anxiety, lack of con­ fidence, fear—have long stood in the way of many talented, creative trainers pursuing their wonderful ideas. For many of us perfection is a personality trait. For others, a belief of sorts. Our industry culture has reinforced it, too. We’ve been quick to criticize each other, to pick at small mistakes and faults.

This isn’t to say that getting something right or doing a thorough, professional job isn’t something to strive for. But innovation requires a willingness to learn as you go. The pressure of this moment has pushed many trainers to take faster action than normal, to jump in with a new service idea before they had all the details worked out, and trust that they’d land. We’ve realized what we can accomplish (and how quickly) if we take a deep breath and just start. If we land awkwardly, we’ll brush ourselves off and adjust. But in the meantime, we’re making progress and helping people and dogs.

Or think of it this way: If you begin a painting and it’s not quite right, you can paint right over it. The only mistake is to do nothing, to not pick

up the brush and start creating. I hope as a result of this moment that our industry will come to embrace and even enjoy the creative process, seeing failures and mistakes for what they are: steps toward success.

Taking These Lessons to Heart Sure, the moment demanded action. But we could have rolled into a fetal position. That was always a choice. Instead we’ve risen to the occa­ sion individually and as an industry because the crisis brought us to­ gether, because we let our guard down and let each other in. That gave us the collective power to innovate on a faster, smarter, grander scale, and the courage to set our perfectionism and fear aside to take action on our great ideas, big and small.

I am hopeful that we will take these lessons to heart, carrying them with us into the post­pandemic world when we finally get there. I can’t wait to see what all we accomplish. n

Reference Meacham, J. (2018). The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels. London, UK: Random House Veronica Boutelle MA Ed CTC is founder of dog*biz and author of How To Run A Dog Business, Putting Your Career Where Your Heart Is, among other Dogwise titles. Learn what dogbiz is currently doing to support +R dog trainers, and to put the lessons learned from the pandemic into practice, at dogbizsuccess.com.

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

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

can help your business:

Learn how

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business

Business Contingency Planning – Need Help?

Niki Tudge sets out some sound business advice to help small business owners take appropriate action to ensure they ride out the storm during these challenging times Batten down the hatches. If the business environment gets even more tough and you find yourself fraught with cancellations, you will have to look at how you fiscally conduct business. It is never a bad time to review all your expenditures and look at how you can tighten your expenses.

When income levels drop, controlling and maintaining expenses can be the difference in the survival or failure of a business. © Can Stock Photo / damedeeso

During the pandemic, some small business owners, though, may find themselves having to rethink how they do business for a few weeks, or longer

B

y now, we are all well aware of the impact of the coronavirus.

Things have been changing rapidly. First off, let’s not panic! But let’s also recognize that it may get a little rough and rocky for a while. No one knows for how long, but in the meantime, stay informed, review facts, verify information and then take action accordingly.

Depending on where you live and your operating business environ­ ment, you may not be impacted at all, or you may only experience some small inconveniences. Some small business owners, though, may find themselves having to rethink how they do business for a few weeks, or longer. As I said, no one knows.

Below, I have listed a few points for you to consider to help you plan for all contingencies: 1.

Stay in tune with your local authorities regarding the risk fac­ tors based on where you live and also on your personal situa­ tion in terms of health, vulnerability, etc.

2.

Gather information from your local, State and Federal govern­ ments so you can make the most informed and safe decisions.

3.

Follow recommended protocols for contact with other people.

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Pre­ vention (CDC) has published the document, Coronavirus Dis­ ease 2019 (COVID­19): Get Your Home Ready, which gives up­ to­date recommendations on how to prepare and stay safe (see Resources).

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

4.

Consider your business model and how you deliver services, so get remote­ or virtual­ friendly wherever possible. In other words, make use of technology to sustain your business serv­ ices during these uncertain times. Here are some options: • If you run group classes and work in a small enclosed area, consider taking classes on the road where you can manage your exposure and proximity to people.

• Consider conducting virtual lessons via webcam so you can continue to coach and provide feedback to clients. Coach­ ing can be done on a one­to­one basis or in small groups.

Software such as GoToMeeting, Skype, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Hangouts Meet, and even Facebook Messenger can be used. These all give you the ability to work remotely while interacting both audibly and visibly with clients (see also Surviving the Storm on pp.20‐22).

• If you are entering clients’ homes, prepare in advance how you intend to do this. Communicate your expectations to clients beforehand on how you plan to conduct your ar­ rival, departure and interactions with them.

• Communicate with your clients as to how the current situ­ ation will impact your business and your services. Thank them for their patience and ask for their support. Over­ communicate if necessary so you maintain contact with

business ...let’s not panic! But let’s also recognize that it may get a little rough and rocky for a while. No one knows for how long, but in the meantime, stay informed, review facts, verify information and then take action accordingly.

iv) v)

Will special leave for emergencies be paid or unpaid? What is your policy?

You are eligible to apply for subsidies or finan­ cial support from national authorities if there is a business shutdown due to the virus, or a re­ duction in capacity due to sickness. n

This article first appeared on the BARKS Blog: bit.ly/3ee7B8L

5.

your clients, in particular those who may have prepaid.

• Consider revising your refund policy if you have to post­ pone or cancel sessions.

Batten down the hatches. If the business environment gets even more tough and you find yourself fraught with cancella­ tions, you will have to look at how you fiscally conduct busi­ ness. It is never a bad time to review all your expenditures and look at how you can tighten your expenses. When income levels drop, controlling and maintaining expenses can be the difference in the survival or failure of a business. Consider the following: • Be prepared to understand and take advantage of any stimulus package elements implemented by the govern­ ment. Stay well informed and know what you can access, and how.

• Review all your current expenses and be honest about what you are spending and why.

• Stop purchasing or defer expenses if they are just not nec­ essary.

• Make monthly payments on larger expenses so your cash flow remains intact.

• Review your employees’ and contractors’ roles. Meet with them and generate ideas on how you can sustain the busi­ ness model during this challenging time. Be honest with them, solicit their feedback and input so they are part of the decision­making process and are committed to sup­ porting you and the business until the situation improves. a) Understand what your fixed expenses are vs. your variable expenses: i) Fixed expenses are those that you have to pay irrespective of whether you have one client or 100. Items such as a mortgage, insurance etc. are considered fixed. ii) Keep variable expenses in check. Buy smaller amounts and keep less stock on the shelf. You can even go to a “just in time” system where you only buy when you need it. iii) Don’t purchase luxuries, e.g. new uniforms or branded apparel. iv) Don’t stop marketing. Your marketing seeds sown today will bloom in several weeks and months. If you stop your marketing now your leads months down the line will dry up. But do look at how you market and what you are mar­ keting. If you have more time but less income, then engage in marketing activities that require time and not money. b) Consider wider legal issues, such as whether: i) You have a right to require staff to work from home. ii) Employees can be required to use annual leave for relevant absences. iii) You will allow requests for time off if an em­ ployee has a family member who has con­ tracted the coronavirus or is self­isolating.

Register for the Business Contingency Planning webinar that accompa‐ nies this article, as well as other webinars in the series (free for PPG members): petprofessionalguild.com/Business‐Contingency‐Planning.

Resource Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Coronavirus Dis­ ease 2019 (COVID­19): Get Your Home Ready. Available at: bit.ly/2ARnKCv Niki Tudge PCBC-A AABP-CDBT AAPB – CDT is founder and president of the Pet Professional Guild (petprofessionalguild.com), The DogSmith (dogsmith.com), a national dog training and pet care license, and DogNostics Career Center (dognosticseducation.com), and president of Doggone Safe (doggonesafe.com). She has business degrees from Oxford Brookes University, UK and has achieved her DipABT and DipCBST. Recently, she has published People Training Skills for Pet Professionals – Your essential guide to engaging, educating and empowering your human clients, Training Big for Small Businesses, and A Kid’s Comprehensive Guide to Speaking Dog, and co-authored Pet Training and Behavior Consulting: A Model for Raising the Bar to Protect Professionals, Pets and their People.

There Is No Excuse

FOR ABUSE

It’s time to ban shock collars I would say that, as with any helping professional, your first and primary obligation is to do no harm, and we have compelling evidence that applying shock, either systematically or randomly, to domestic dogs increases their general level of stress and discomfort. So given that knowledge, there simply is no ethical rationale for using it.

Janis Bradley,

Director of Communications and Publications, National Canine Research Council

If there’s a tool which causes pain or discomfort, it has the potential of creating other problems. As animal care professionals, I feel that if we...can’t find kinder, gentler ways of doing something, then maybe we are in the wrong profession.

Ken Ramirez, Executive VP and CTO, Karen Pryor Clicker Training

“Until these devices are illegal, consumers must protect themselves and their dogs by looking beyond the marketing messages of those who profit from their sale and use. It is not necessary to use electric shock to change behavior.

It is not necessary in humans, in zoo species, in marine mammals or in dogs.”

Jean Donaldson, Author, Train Your Dog Like a Pro

ShockFree.org

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

27

r e s c u e

Mookie’s Tale Kim Geisert relates the tale of a traumatized pit bull and his journey to socialization and, ultimately, a therapy dog This article was first posted on the BARKS Blog (bit.ly/2zZZnlI) and is the Winner in our PPG Writers’ Competition which invited entrants to submit an article on the topic of animal shelter and rescue.

T

he gray and white male pit bull was covered in blood. It was flow­ ing down his face, running from the punctures in his forelegs and neck, and streaming from where the tip of his ear had been sev­ ered. He limped toward me, but was otherwise unexpectedly calm, con­ sidering the obvious trauma he had just experienced. We were at the neighborhood park, on one of the hottest July days on record, and both of our lives were about to change forever.

At the time, I had been involved with dogs for about 20 years. I started out walking and sitting dogs while working a “real” job, then be­ came an inventory manager for a pet store, while studying everything I could about modern dog training. I worked my way up from assistant trainer to trainer. By this hot summer day, I was employed by a small business with a training facility, teaching private lessons, group classes, and day training sessions.

Throughout those two decades, my husband and I managed to “col­ lect” 15 rescue dogs, mostly “rejects” found running loose in my neigh­ borhood. There was the pit bull mix who had been tied to a sign in a supermarket parking lot; although we tried, we never learned anything else about Jake’s past. Another time at the 7­Eleven, we encountered a Deadhead who was following the Grateful Dead around the country (this was in the mid­90s), and he begged us to take his little collie mix.

We had her for almost 15 years. A few came from the local shelters. My boxer­pit mix was waiting on the porch one day; my chow­shepherd was ignored and neglected by the neighbors behind me before they gladly gave her to me; we found a dog on the shoulder by the interstate and named him Freeway.

Traumatized Dog On that July day, I had been with my current company for about six months. I was absolutely loving the challenges of my chosen career but was a bit lonely because my husband had passed a year previously due to cancer. When the gray pittie was spotted at the park down the street, I received an alert from the Nextdoor app. The person who posted about him was watching him but couldn’t keep him and was going to call animal control if no one claimed him by that night.

I was not prepared for the sight of the damage done to this poor dog, clearly the result of another dog or dogs. The Good Samaritan had closed the gate to the park with the dog inside, telling me she was un­ sure (given his wounds) whether he was fear aggressive or perhaps even vicious. I approached cautiously, tossing high value treats through the fence and coaxing him to approach me. In turns, he showed behavior that was fearful, supplicating, nervous, eager for attention, insecure, friendly, wanting interaction, pleading for help… all in the first three minutes.

I decided to throw caution to the wind. Almost half of the dogs I have had would fall under the “pit bull” umbrella, and having volun­ teered in the local shelters, I knew that over 90% of dogs in our county shelter are in that category, with dismal chances of being successfully adopted. I trusted my instincts and experience with the breed, and this dog was more than speaking to me, he was shouting for help.

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

© Kim Geisert

Mookie’s physical and emotional rehabilitation have been challenging, but he is helping other dogs who have been attacked by other dogs and/or have reactivity issues and on his way to becoming a therapy dog

Rehabilitation Mookie’s physical and emotional rehabilitation were challenging, but in an exciting, all­consuming way that fills me with joy today to reflect on how far he has come. That first day it was nearly impossible to coax his 60­pound body into my car. It was apparent that he had rarely, if ever, been in a vehicle. Today, we can’t pass the car in the driveway without him stopping and pleading to go for a ride. In the first three days, he pooped and peed all over the house, including on the sofa and bed, but he hasn’t done it since. I have come to believe he was never allowed in a house before. He completely destroyed two wire crates in those first few months, further injuring himself, but we both have learned from our experiences and now he will willingly go into his higher security re­ inforced crate on cue. But his biggest success is in his socialization.

At our day training program, people drop their dogs off at our facil­ ity for basic obedience, socialization, and “fun time” such as agility, nose work, and canine cognitive games. I was initially hesitant to bring Mookie once his wounds had healed. He got along well with my female dogs but had a “jealousy”/guarding dynamic with my other male, and his past was a huge question mark, but I knew that day training was the key to his rehabilitation. On Mookie’s first day, I practically had to drag him into the facility, and introductions to other dogs went slowly and carefully. Throughout this time, I continued basic training at home and to expose him to as many positive experiences as possible. He was very quick to pick up new skills and took such joy in playing with the other dogs.

r e s c u e I was not prepared for the sight of the damage done to this poor dog, clearly the result of another dog or dogs. The Good Samaritan had closed the gate to the park with the dog inside, telling me she was unsure (given his wounds) whether he was fear aggressive or perhaps even vicious. I approached cautiously, tossing high value treats through the fence and coaxing him to approach me. In turns, he showed behavior that was fearful, supplicating, nervous, eager for attention, insecure, friendly, wanting interaction, pleading for help…all in the first three minutes.

Mookie’s pivotal test came six months later. The center got a new client dog, Ralphie, who had been attacked by another dog, then was trained (briefly) using an e­collar by another trainer to address his reac­ tivity. Ralphie barked and lunged at everything, but especially other dogs. Over several weeks, we introduced the boys outside at a distance for brief periods, BAT­style [Behavior Adjustment Training], then moved closer with more duration, and eventually, had them together off­leash indoors. Of course, they wound up being the best of friends, and I cher­ ish a video I have of them looking calmly out the plate glass window at a dog walking past, then Mookie turning away and Ralphie following him, to run off and play. Since then Mookie has helped several dogs who have been attacked by other dogs and/or have reactivity issues, always going slowly and carefully with at least two professional trainers pres­ ent. He recently received his AKC­CGC certification, and my future goal is to use him as a therapy dog, working with abused women and chil­ dren. My career interests have sharpened to focus on abused, rescue, therapy, and service dogs. We will soon celebrate Mookie’s second “gotcha” anniversary and, truly, no one can say who rescued whom. n Kim Geisert has been working with dogs for over 20 years, having started out by walking and sitting dogs part-time. She started training professionally five years ago, working for two large corporate pet stores, and currently runs Benevolent Sun Dog Training in South Florida (petmasters.com/listing/benevolent-sun-dog-training), conducting private lessons, group classes, and day training sessions.

She is an AKC-CGC certified evaluator, and prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, was scheduled to take her CPDT-KA exam.

© Kim Geisert

In the early days, Mookie eliminated all over the house, including on the sofa and bed, and completely destroyed two wire crates

There’s Nothing Shocking About Why Shock Devices Can Be Harmful to Pets

Sign the Pledge!

Studies show that shock devices are unnecessary and have the potential to be very dangerous.

Shock Devices: Suppress behaviors instead of addressing underlying causes Can create behavioral problems Can malfunction causing serious injury Jeopardize your pet’s health, welfare, and the bond you share with your pet

Sign Our Pledge to Eliminate Electric Shock in the Training, Care and Management of Pets Learn More At: ShockFree.org

r e s c u e

Where Hope Lives Heddie Leger relates the tale of abandoned deaf and blind dog Hope, who is now working as an educational program dog and as a spokesdog for shock-free and force-free training

© Heddie Leger

© Heddie Leger

© Heddie Leger

Abandoned deaf and blind dog Hope is now working as an educational program dog and as a spokesdog for shock­free and force­free training

This article was first posted on the BARKS Blog (bit.ly/36mL071) and is a Runner‐Up in our PPG Writers’ Competition which invited entrants to submit an article on the topic of animal shelter and rescue.

H

ope comes in many ways, shapes and forms. Indeed, we are often encouraged in life to never give up hope. It was a rainy stormy day. A medium sized, white dog was spotted wandering the school yard going from door to door. Every once in while she could be seen sitting by a certain door. She did not appear frightened or scared and most folks thought she had just wandered from her home and was looking for a child in her family.

After several hours passed, a kind woman went towards the dog and called out to her but the dog did not respond. She sat by the door of the school unresponsive, yet attentive to the smells on the other side of the door.

The woman took mercy on the dog, fearing she would be hit by a vehicle as they came and went during a busy school day, and finally de­ cided to put her in her car. The dog went willingly and in a friendly man­ ner, putting up no resistance. She seemed relieved to be out of the rain and in a place with a human. The woman waited to see if anyone came to find the dog. She drove around the neighborhood to see if anyone was looking for a dog. She went back into the school to find out if any­ one had reported a lost dog. She went to the local authorities to see if anyone had called in regarding a lost dog. All the while, the dog lay on the floorboard of her vehicle never moving, sound asleep. Seemingly unaware of where she was or what was happening.

As a last resort, after a day of searching, the woman took the dog to

the county shelter. The shelter was full, however. The animal control of­ ficer called a local veterinarian’s office to see if they could help. One kind veterinarian agreed to let the woman bring the dog to the office on a temporary hold until the shelter had an opening. The woman that found her was greatly relieved; as a busy mom with a household full of children and animals, she could not take on any more in her life. She took the dog to the veterinary office and shared her story as to how the dog was found.

The next day the veterinarian had a few moments to give the dog a wellness check, look for a microchip and treat her for any needs she might have. She determined the dog to be about seven months, not spayed, healthy and heartworm negative. She also found the dog to be both blind and deaf. It was a miracle that she had even survived being on the streets without being hit by a vehicle.

Potential The veterinarian immediately called me as she knew of my background and experience with shelter dogs and working with dogs in general. She asked me if I had ever worked with a blind and deaf dog. It was her medical background that caused her to consider whether the dog should be humanely euthanized as it did not look as though a blind and deaf dog would readily be adopted, not to mention that she would need a very special home that could keep her safe and manage her accord­

The woman waited to see if anyone came to find the dog. She drove around the neighborhood to see if anyone was looking for a dog. She went back into the school to find out if anyone had reported a lost dog. She went to the local authorities to see if anyone had called in regarding a lost dog. All the while, the dog lay on the floorboard of her vehicle never moving, sound asleep. Seemingly unaware of where she was or what was happening.

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

r e s c u e ingly. Nevertheless, I encouraged the veterinarian not to take any action until the dog could be evaluated.

I immediately went to conduct the evaluation and determine if we could work with her as I did happen to have experience working with blind or deaf dogs – but not those that were both blind and deaf. They had not yet named the pup at the clinic. Meanwhile, I did a thorough evaluation, as I would with any shelter dog. I found her to be very bal­ anced, very friendly and very trainable. In fact, she was one of the loveliest dogs I had ever seen or laid hands on in my life. She yielded and looked for direction in every aspect. She showed no reservation in greeting or bonding with either humans, dogs, any age of person and was even horse and cat friendly. It was a mystery as to how she had be­ come homeless.

I recommended the veterinarian not euthanize her and promised to work with her. I saw great potential in this little dog and wanted to give her an opportunity for a wonderful life. The veterinarian reluctantly agreed. The staff was fully behind me and we put together a plan for the pup.

To start with, the dog was experiencing some stress from being kept in a small veterinary kennel all day long, so I suggested some scent relief for her, DAP, calming music (even if she could not hear the music, she would be able to feel the vibrations of sound and so it could be benefi­ cial), and for the staff to put a towel or shirt with their scents on them in the dryer and then in the kennel with the dog. Gradually, her stress began to diminish as she became more comfortable with the scents and the routine of the office. This strategy worked. It did not take long for the staff to get really attached to this lovely dog and they decided to name her Hope. She now had a name and an identity. She was taken off the euthanasia list.

Perfect Pup Since I had promised to work with Hope, I took her out on a regular basis to experience the world. I found her absolutely perfect in every way. I felt as though God had given me a formless lump of clay to mold into a beau­ tiful life, the name they had given her was perfect. With each interaction, she gave me Hope. Not knowing her background, it was challenging to know how she would adapt. We went to stores, gas stations, the park, long rides, and visited with groups of children which she loved. She walked nicely with me, was friendly, and adapted nicely to each and every situation. After seeing how well she did, we decided we would work with her to be a program dog. The veterinarian had become con­ vinced she would be a good addition to the team, so she was spayed.

The name Hope is very fitting for this dog. She has now become a member of the veterinary clinic to help with socializing other dogs and keeping nervous dogs calm. She also calms the staff and makes them

BARKS from the Guild

laugh during stressful times with her funny little quirky personality. She is doing well with her obedience skills which she is learning via force­ free methods.

Recently, everyone panicked as they could not find Hope! They called for her and then, of course, realized she could not hear them, so they searched everywhere and were afraid she had slipped out the door. They then thought to look at the clinic cameras and saw the video of her walking from door to door, quietly sitting by the back door wait­ ing for someone to let her out to go to the potty. She had learned her way around and was able to navigate the entire clinic and find the exact door they use to let the dogs out to relieve themselves. Once again, the staff had a good chuckle at Hope’s intelligence and ability to learn and reason. She looked up at them with that quirky little tip of her head, like she was saying, “Can I go out now? I’ve been waiting for you.” She gave them all a good laugh, which is often needed in veterinary clinics.

We can now say that Hope lives in the hearts of all that saved her and interact with her on a daily basis. Her new role will be as an educa­ tional program dog, working with me and the staff to bring responsible ownership information to schools and the community at large. She will also be a spokesdog for shock­free and force­free training. She is well on her way to a wonderful life inspiring other dogs that live with disabilities (as well as their guardians) and teaching people they too can learn new things and live amazing, productive lives. The moral of this story is, Never Give Up Hope. n Heddie Leger of Hero to the Rescue (facebook.com /HeroToTheRescue) started out by providing pet sitting and shelter dog services, which led her to her gaining her education to become a professional trainer. She has attained her CCPDT, CDBC and CCFT, is a Be A Tree Presenter, Bite Prevention Educator, Certified Humane Educator, and Trust Centered Trainer. From private to group classes, 4H, HAI, AAI, SAR, prison dog programs and behavior rehabilitation services, her journey has taken many twists and turns. Her therapy dog, Hero, became the first demo dog in prison dog programs in Missouri. In addition, the statewide corrections Missouri Puppies for Parole program asked her to be the lead trainer and consultant for the state and she traveled across the state with Hero to teach staff and residents on the benefits of positive, force-free nonpunitive methods of training and rehabilitating dogs. To date, the program has saved and placed over 6,000 dogs. She also designed a stringent apprenticeship program for the state regarding animal handling so that, on release, people rejoining society would have a useful viable skill with which to attain a job. Her love and specialty is working with dogs with disabilities.

BARKS from the Guild is the 64-page bi-monthly pet industry trade magazine published by the Pet Professional Guild, available internationally to Pet Professional Guild members, supporters and the general public via a free lifetime digital subscription.

Widely read by pet industry professionals and pet guardians alike, BARKS covers a vast range of topics encompassing animal behavior, pet care, training, education, industry trends, business AND MUCH MORE! If you would like to reach your target audience, BARKS is the perfect vehicle to achieve that goal.

To contribute an article, please contact the editor, Susan Nilson: barkseditor@petprofessionalguild.com

barksfromtheguild.com

To advertise, please contact Kelly Fahey: Kelly@petprofessionalguild.com

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

31

r e s c u e

Starting Straw for Dogs Métis Riley introduces Straw For Dogs, a nonprofit she initiated to help pets kept outdoors live more comfortably, and relates the tale of Cookie, a spirited chow mix that she took care of from afar for two years before Cookie’s guardian finally asked her to take her for good

© Métis Riley

Before she was fostered, orange chow mix Cookie lived in her guardians’ front yard and would charge the fence and bark furiously when people walked by

© Métis Riley

After she was rescued, Cookie adapted easily to living indoors but also liked to patrol her territory and sunbathe on the porch

This article was first posted on the BARKS Blog (bit.ly/3bSICpZ) and is a Runner Up in our PPG Writers’ Competition which invited entrants to submit an article on the topic of animal shelter and rescue.

E

ven as a child, I always noticed dogs outdoors… especially during our long, dark Alaskan winters. Dogs living in yards, chained to an old car, trying to stay warm by burrowing under the deck. I was fa­ miliar with the buzz of a sled dog yard, maybe a hundred dogs bouncing and barking, but these dogs outdoors alone stuck out to me as extra sad. One night, one of our neighbor’s dogs couldn’t survive a cold night outdoors. I remember my grandmother marching over and taking their other dog off the chain and bringing him to her house. She then called up the neighbor and informed them that he was going to be living in­ doors and that they could visit him if they wanted to.

That experience in my formative years was the seedling for Straw

Even as a child, I always noticed dogs outdoors… especially during our long, dark Alaskan winters.

Dogs living in yards, chained to an old car, trying to stay warm by burrowing under the deck. I was familiar with the buzz of a sled dog yard, maybe a hundred dogs bouncing and barking, but these dogs outdoors alone stuck out to me as extra sad.

32

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For Dogs. In 2009, I had been volunteering for various shelters and res­ cues. I had started a dog walking business the year before and would notice certain dogs in yards when I was visiting clients. Some of these dogs were always outdoors, no matter the weather or time of day. The idea came to me to offer help for these dogs by way of a doghouse or straw for the shelter they had. With the help of my husband, Orion, we started picking up free doghouses on Craigslist, refurbishing them, and knocking on doors. People were receptive, and soon we were putting ads on Craigslist offering free doghouses for dogs in need. We learned that many dogs outdoors were also going hungry so we started offering free dog food, collecting donations from friends and family to distribute.

Some of the dogs were unwanted, which led us to fostering and adopt­ ing them to new homes after being vetted and rehabilitated. Our little grassroots group grew quickly and by 2012, we applied and received 501 c3 nonprofit status. At the time, owner support was a new concept for animal welfare and we were considered a bit crazy even by the shel­ ter and rescue folks.

Outside Dog One of the first dogs I had noticed on my dog walking route was a fluffy orange chow mix. She would charge the fence and bark furiously when we walked by, so much so that I stopped taking my client’s dog by her

r e s c u e house. Just to see if she did live outdoors full time, I would drive by as I arrived and left. She was always out in the yard, lying in the snow or pacing the perimeter. There was a black wire crate with a tarp half thrown over it, a shelter of sorts, that looked unused. One day there was a woman in the yard and I pulled over to talk with her, offering a doghouse. She quickly accepted and took my phone number. I told her we would come by in the next couple days and she gave us permission to set up the doghouse in the yard. Later in the week we did so, stuffing a dry, wooden shelter with straw for extra insulation and tossing the chow dog a chew to work on.

I was confused when the same woman called to ask when we were going to set up the doghouse. She had been walking by it for days by that time on her way to her own front door. She had been walking by the dog as well… I tried to hide my shock and asked her if I could walk the chow dog, since I was “already in the neighborhood walking dogs 5 days a week.” I explained that I had an orange chow mix that I loved dearly, named Monkey, who had passed away at 14 years old that same year. I don’t know why I thought it would be a good idea, I certainly had never heard of anyone doing something like that. However, she agreed and so started two years of hard, life lessons in love, patience, and hope.

The first time I walked “Chewy” she dragged me down the street, so eager to explore outside of the fence. The next time I was better pre­ pared with running shoes on! She was terribly overweight, so I wanted to gradually increase her exercise. But after being bored and yard bound, Chewy would bound, hop, and jog down the street and wooded park path, wading in the creek. She was kept in a front yard, so it was easy for me to open the gate and get her leashed up. I rarely saw the family, and when I did, it took months for them to talk to me. Chewy grew to expect me, wagging her huge fan of a tail, stomping her feet, and huffing with excitement. After our walks I would fill up her almost always dry bowl with water I brought. I would fluff up her straw and toss her a chew. I would try to keep it together until I got to my car, smiling back at her while she settled in with her bone. Then I would often sob, so sad to leave her out in the elements, alone and ignored. She never seemed to feel bad, even when her coat was crusted in ice or she was especially hungry or thirsty. She would greet me, dancing and prancing on her cute little paws, and say goodbye with the same gusto.

For two years I walked her with this arrangement. Chewy learned some leash manners and I loved spending time with her. I had carefully offered to find her a home, but the family was resistant to that and said she was their guard dog. Summer came, and then the leaves fell again. I brought her toys and chews to help with the boredom of waiting in a yard. Straw For Dogs was becoming a full­on nonprofit organization. We started building our own doghouses to keep up with distribution. Mean­ while, we had dogs in foster homes and had adopted out a few to in­ door homes.

The first time I walked “Chewy” she dragged me down the street, so eager to explore outside of the fence. The next time I was better prepared with running shoes on! She was terribly overweight, so I wanted to gradually increase her exercise. But after being bored and yard bound, Chewy would bound, hop, and jog down the street and wooded park path, wading in the creek.

© Métis Riley

Cookie lived out her life in Straw For Dogs refuge program that involved volunteers providing lifelong foster homes for dogs and daily care while Straw For Dogs provided vet care and help with supplies

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Got something to share? We are always on the lookout for interesting features, member profiles, case studies and training tips to feature in BARKS from the Guild and on the BARKS Blog.

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r e s c u e Rehoming One day, near Christmas, the man of the house where Chewy lived called me. Previously, he had grunted suspiciously at me in passing, but never much more. To my surprise, he asked if I would take Chewy. He said she couldn’t live indoors because she had growled at the grandkids, went after a small dog in the home, and she was ruining the yard. As much as I wanted to, I knew I couldn’t keep her as I had my own house­ ful of dog­reactive dogs. I had to be honest and tell him that we would find her a home, just not with me. He didn’t like that and hung up the phone. I burst into tears, wondering if I’d missed my chance to rescue her from a life of neglect and isolation. When I went to see her the next time, I brought extra toys and treats in case they would decide that I couldn’t visit anymore.

A few weeks went by, and the grandfather called again. He told me that she was about 11 years old and he had tried to rehome her twice.

He was a pilot and had given Chewy to a family in a rural Alaskan village, only to return the following year and find her chained with such a short tether that she could barely lie down. Disturbed by the conditions, he had the family relinquish her back to him. Then he had left her with his family in Fairbanks but found out she had been taken to the animal shel­ ter. Once again, he went to rescue Chewy and had kept her since. He worried that she might suffer similar fates in our adoption program. I was honored to hear his story and assured him that we would make sure she had an amazing home. I asked if I could pick her up right then, afraid he might change his mind. He said the next morning would be better, and I had a long, sleepless night.

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When we went to get her the next day, Chewy’s food and supplies we had brought were already on the porch. She did a jig, didn’t look back, and jumped in my car like she knew this was going to happen all along. This time, I cried with relief into her soft, fluffy coat.

Somehow, my dog­loving mom didn’t have a dog at the time, so Chewy went to my parents’ house to be fostered. We renamed her Cookie, as she really didn’t respond to Chewy anyway. She adapted eas­ ily to living indoors but also liked to patrol their 5 lakefront acres and sunbathe on the porch. With her age and dog reactivity, she was never formally adopted but she had a forever foster home with my parents.

My dad, always the reluctant participant with our pets, fell especially hard for Cookie, marveling at her great house manners. He liked to say she was the best dog they ever had. She lived with them until she passed at 14 years old. n Métis Riley CPDT-KA is a certified professional dog trainer and animal advocate based in Fritz Creek, Alaska. In 2008, she started her dog walking business, Downtown Dogwalker (positiveeffectstraining.com), in Anchorage, Alaska. She has mentored under numerous trainers and taught a variety of group dog training classes as well as provided private instruction. She has also fostered and volunteered with numerous shelters and rescues since 2007, and in 2010, she co-founded a nonprofit that helps pets outdoors, Straw For Dogs (strawfordogs.org). Currently, she offers in person sessions and group classes in Homer, Alaska as well as online learning.

training

Technique vs. Emotional Involvement: Finding the Balance Suzanne Clothier explains the concept of Relationship Centered Training™ and why it is a new way of thinking about our relationships with our dogs

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et me start by saying that Relationship Centered Training (RCT™) is not a specific training methodology. It is more of an overarching philosophy that keeps the relationship between human and dog central. All methods, techniques, equipment, and concepts are screened through this lens: How will this affect the relationship?

Konrad Lorenz (2002) perhaps said it best: “The fidelity of a dog is a precious gift demanding no less binding moral responsibilities than the friendship of a human being.” RCT recognizes that the dog/human rela­ tionship is naturally different from our relationships with other people.

But there are many similarities as well. Social beings, dogs can success­ fully live with us because social relationships innately matter to them. In trying to understand any dog, you cannot help assessing him within the context of relationship; even a dog alone is a dog “in the absence of re­ lationship.” (Scott & Fuller, 1965).

The core concepts of RCT – Connection, Communication and Commitment – provide a structure that guides an accurate assessment of the dog/handler team. This means that rather than looking to see what label(s) or “diagnosis” might fit the team, I end up with a clear picture of what is happening (or not happening) as well as important clues on how best to adjust, build, improve, re­ pair. Let’s look at each concept in a bit more detail.

In a tight feedback loop, dog and guardian alter their own behavior according to what the other has to say; both have an interest in avoiding conflict, staying connected, and being in balance with the other

Connection Heartfelt: When a relationship is heartfelt, there is a connection both mind­to­mind and heart­to­heart. Both parties in the relationship want to be with the other. There is joy and love in the connection. While I cannot teach a dog or a human how to love each other, I can create situ­ ations where they experience conflict­free, pleasurable interactions.

From those experiences, a heartfelt connection can begin to blossom.

Awareness: Awareness means consciously including the other in all you do. When awareness is present, both maintain a heightened aware­ ness of the other, being sensitive to any shifts in mood, body language or actions. This awareness is maintained despite distractions. Aware­ ness may come easily to some people or dogs but can be difficult for others. This is a skill that can be taught, with an appreciation for the challenges that may be present for handler, dog or both.

Respect: Respect means having reverence and regard for the other’s needs, abilities, limits and perspective. Respect does not equal skill, un­ derstanding, or agreement.

Respect hinges on the appreciation of your dog’s understanding and perception of the world. What’s important to you may not be important to the dog, and vice versa. What’s obvious to your dog may not even register with your human senses. Respecting the differences is key to a healthy relationship.

Respect is earned, not forced or assumed. Dogs tend to give pre­ cisely the respect you have earned, adjusting it according to your behav­ ior, just as you can earn (or lose!) respect in your relationships with people.

Communication Communication is a crucial aspect of any relationship. RCT views life with dogs as an ongoing conversation, with information, feedback and consequences going between you and your dog. Sometimes, the con­ versation is rather casual, and sometimes much more formal. But it is an ongoing conversation that takes place anytime you are with the dog.

Communication relies heavily on some technical skills, which can be taught.

Information: Information is the building block of communication. Use­ ful information is timely, meaningful, and clear. When working with a dog, we need to be using deliberate signals to communicate effectively.

Good timing and a thoughtful, deliberate and congruent use of your body language, facial expressions and tone of voice are important.

The dog, of course, is always giving us signals, whether we under­ stand them or not! Understanding your dog means that you need to learn to “read” dogs so that his signals (body language, vocalizations, ex­ © Can Stock Photo / Quasarphoto

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training pressions) are clearly understood by you. Dog is a particularly subtle language, so nuances matter.

What constitutes meaningful, effective information is highly individ­ ual. Only the dog can say what is useful information for him. Handlers can be coached to be effective with that specific dog, with respect for their own natural style and tendencies.

Feedback: Information alone is not enough. For communication to have value, information leads to a feedback loop. You respond to your dog, your dog responds to you, you respond to your dog responding to you and your dog responds to you responding to him responding to you, and so on.

In a tight feedback loop, each responds with clear and prompt re­ sponses, altering their own behavior according to what the other has to say. There is interest in avoiding conflict, staying connected, and being in balance with each other. Making small adjustments constantly keeps the relationship harmonious and strong, just as you make small adjust­ ments when driving to stay on the road, at the right speed, in the right direction.

Consequences: Simply put, consequences can either encourage or dis­ courage – or have no effect. If we like what a dog has done, the conse­ quences can encourage him to do it again. Praise, food rewards, play – all help encourage the dog. We can discourage by not offering praise or food rewards, or withholding attention or play. RCT emphasizes strongly encouraging the dog, and using discouragement very sparingly. What­ ever the consequence, it must be appropriate and fair and cause no harm to the dog or the relationship. Consequences also need to be ef­ fective, so timeliness, clarity and meaningfulness count.

This is not a one­way street. Dogs also provide us with conse­ quences, as they are also interested in encouraging our behavior or dis­ couraging some of our actions. Look for ways that your dog is encouraging or discouraging you!

© Can Stock Photo / lufimorgan

Trainers should be using deliberate signals to communicate effectively with the dogs in their charge; good timing and a thoughtful, deliberate and congruent use of body language, facial expressions and tone of voice are all important

Commitment Healthy relationships require ongoing commitment, with both the han­ dler and dog involved. The level of commitment will help define the suc­ cess of the relationship. But Commitment alone will not resolve challenges and problems. Sometimes, technical skills are needed to sup­ port Commitment. Conversely, great Communication skills only go so far if you are lacking Commitment or Connection.

Attention: With attention to each other, you and the dog can remain

Respect hinges on the appreciation of your dog’s understanding and perception of the world.

What’s important to you may not be important to the dog, and vice versa. What’s obvious to your dog may not even register with your human senses. Respecting the differences is key to a healthy relationship.

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

open to information, whenever it comes, in almost any circumstance (unsafe situations and emergencies are exceptions). Both you and the dog remain receptive to the other’s actions and directions.

You cannot put the dog on hold or give scattered attention or accept disconnection at times, and then at other times decide you want com­ plete connection. Attention at the quality and level you desire or need must be practiced continually. This does not mean unflagging eye con­ tact – dogs are quite capable of being attentive in many ways, just as we are. It does mean being able to prioritize attention to the other regard­ less of what else is going on, providing safety is not being threatened.

Responsibility: RCT expects that both human and dog will take respon­ sibility in the relationship. I refer to this as social responsibility, learning to handle social interactions in appropriate ways – without constant re­ minders or simply being managed.

Just as we expect children to learn and remember what polite behav­ ior means, we can teach dogs to be responsible for their own behavior.

Other dogs do expect the dog to be socially responsible; conflict­free rela­ tionships rely on this. As the dog matures, there are greater expectations.

Many times, handlers take full responsibility for the dog’s behavior, never asking him to be responsible. The dog is capable of it, and this can be taught to any dog if the handler understands the concept and what it looks like in practice.

Trust: Trust means having confidence in the other’s ability and willing­ ness to react appropriately. We have an obligation to help dogs under­ stand what is right and what is wrong; only then can we trust their responses.

Trust also means that we are unafraid of the other and the other’s

training For handlers, trust also means trusting that the dog is doing his best, or that if he cannot do his best, he has good reason. This is very difficult for many handlers. intentions even when we – or they – are confused or fearful. Handlers have an obligation to be trustworthy for their dogs. A handler who is calm and affectionate at times but who becomes anxious or discon­ nected in some situations can lead a dog to distrust them.

For handlers, trust also means trusting that the dog is doing his best, or that if he cannot do his best, he has good reason. This is very difficult for many handlers. In any given situation, the dog’s behavior tells you what his best guess is as to how to handle the situation.

Dual Approach For many, RCT is a new way of thinking about our relationships with dogs, even when R+ and force­free techniques are already familiar.

Technical proficiency can help smooth the way for the kind of relation­ ship you want. RCT helps us avoid drowning in technical know­how while forgetting the heart and soul of the relationship.

Emotional involvement can lead us to sacrifice good training tech­ nique. Loving kindness alone is not training. Our focus on training the dog or dealing with behavior can lead us to overlook the handler’s con­ tribution to the relationship. RCT provides a balance that can be hard to find, and that provides a satisfying approach that embraces both han­ dler and dog. n

References

Lorenz, K., & Wilson, M. K. (2002). Man meets dog. London, UK: Routledge Scott, J.P., & Fuller, J.L. (1965). Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press

Suzanne Clothier (suzanneclothier.com) has been working with animals professionally since 1977. Currently based in St. Johnsville, New York, she is well respected internationally for her holistic Relationship Centered Training™ approach to dogs and the people that love them. Her background includes training, instruction, behavior modification, kennel management, temperament assessment, physical assessment and conditioning, early puppy development, class curriculum development, obedience, agility, Search and Rescue, conformation, breeding and more. Since 1991, she has taught workshops and seminars on a broad range of topics throughout the United States and internationally for a wide variety of groups. An award-winning author of multiple books and DVDs, her book, Bones Would Rain from the Sky: Deepening Our Relationships With Dogs (2002) has received widespread praise from every corner of the dog world. She has served on the American Humane Association’s Task Force for Humane Training, the AKC Agility Advisory board, and is currently a consultant for Frankie & Andy’s Place, a senior dog sanctuary in Georgia. She has also developed multiple assessment tools such as CARAT™ and RAT™ (Relationship Assessment Tool), as well as puppy and adult dog tests. These tools have been used by guide and service dog organizations, therapy dog groups, AAIA organizations, shelters and rescue groups, and trainers. In her work as a consultant to guide dog schools, her Enriched Puppy Protocol™ served as the structure for the updating of their puppy raising programs.

Since 2007, more than 10,000 puppies have been raised in programs built around The Enriched Puppy Protocol™. Meanwhile, with fellow trainer Cindy Knowlton, she developed CCC: Connection, Cooperation & Control™, a puzzle-based program that builds joyful relationships between handlers and dogs. Her newest program, FAT Functional Assessment Tracking™, helps caretakers assess a dog’s well-being day-to-day as reflected in physiological, cognitive and social aspects.

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training

Raising a Puppy Sally Bradbury provides a range of tips to help new puppy guardians set their pup up for success while avoiding potential pitfalls

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f you've read the children’s book Jack and Billy: Puppy Tales that I co­ wrote with Steven Goodall, you may remember that we related the tale of two littermates who were placed into two very different homes.

Explains Norris (2019): “In the case of Jack and Billy, both puppies go to homes that are similar: they both have children, both puppies have access to toys, both puppies are to be crate trained and house trained, and both puppies go out for walks. But there is a big difference in the two families’ approaches. While Jack’s family is organized in their puppy raising plan, it is easy to see that Billy’s family is not terribly prepared.”

While Billy's family didn’t always get it right, it didn't mean they loved him any less, not in the beginning anyway. For example, at bedtime they left him in the kitchen shut in a crate from day one. He cried at night for a long time because he was scared and alone. They taught him to uri­ nate on newspaper in the kitchen but he was reprimanded for urinating in the kitchen if the newspaper wasn't there. They gave him lots of toys and left them on the floor amid the children's shoes and the TV remote and then got cross when Billy chewed the wrong thing.

They didn’t socialize him with other dogs which resulted in him being fearful and then reactive when he encountered dogs on walks. As a re­ sult of being reprimanded when out for walks, Billy did not always have such a great desire to be with his family and so when he was let off leash it was more fun to chase rabbits and squirrels. One day Billy discovered a meat bone in the kitchen garbage bin but not before he had scattered the rest of the contents all over the floor first. Billy often got himself into trouble just for being a puppy and was destined to fail simply because his family didn't know how to help him succeed.

It's actually quite straightforward to set your puppy up to succeed by just remembering these four points:

© Can Stock Photo / schorsch

Guardians can avoid potential pitfalls by setting up their puppies for success right from the outset

Think of your relationship with your puppy as a bank account. Every positive interaction is a deposit and every time you scowl or get cross or punish you make a withdrawal. As soon as your account goes overdrawn then things will most likely go from bad to worse but keep a nice healthy bank balance and you and you pup will soon end up as millionaires in the relationship stakes.

Teach: Anything you'd like him to learn, e.g. outside is where you uri­

1. Prevent 2. Reinforce 3. Teach 4. Interrupt Positively

nate; guardians are fun to be with on a walk, it’s a fun thing to stay on your bed and relax, can be taught with positive reinforcement.

Prevent: Make sure your puppy doesn't become distressed and scared at being alone by taking them to your room at night or by sleeping down­ stairs with them until pup is confident enough to be alone. During the day, let puppy be with you in the early days if that’s what he chooses to do.

Put shoes in wardrobes when not on feet. Keep the TV remote out of reach. Use a puppy pen so that puppy is safely contained with his chew toys.

Reinforce: Capture behaviors that you like by giving praise and rewards when your puppy is engaging in desirable behaviors as this encourages pup to do it again at every opportunity.

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Interrupt: Teach a positive interrupter. Never get cross and risk frighten­ ing your puppy. Teach a word that means, "Quick, stop what you are doing and get over here and see what I've got for you!" With the best will in the world, no puppy goes through life never doing something we don’t want them to do!

Investment Think of your relationship with your puppy as a bank account. Every posi­ tive interaction is a deposit and every time you scowl or get cross or pun­ ish you make a withdrawal. As soon as your account goes overdrawn then things will most likely go from bad to worse but keep a nice healthy bank balance and you and your pup will soon end up as millionaires in the relationship stakes.

training Puppy Training Tip #1: Teach Your Puppy to Lie Down on Cue Using Capturing

Puppy Training Tip #3: Games to Play with Your Puppy

s Take your dog to the smallest room in the house. Take with you a pot of tasty treats cut up small, a good book and a coffee or pre­ ferred drink. s Close the door and sit on the seat that is conveniently provided in there. s Have a treat concealed in your hand. s Read your book but keep one eye on puppy. When she lies down, toss her a treat so she has to get up to get it. Go back to your book and wait for her to lie down again and repeat. Say nothing except for a quiet “gooood” as she lies down. s When she knows that lying down gets her a treat, and you'll know when she knows, then add the word that you are going to use.

You say "down." She lies down and gets a treat. s Now try it in other places but start back at the beginning again, no cue yet. She'll get it even quicker the next time.

© Can Stock Photo / goce

A game of tug can help teach puppies when and how it is appropriate to use their teeth in play

Tug Play gentle games of tug with your puppy. A long soft toy, rope or fleece is ideal. Animate the toy on the floor and encourage puppy to grab it.

You just need to hold it and be part of the fun. There is no need to pull or shake the toy, let puppy do that. Playing tug has many advantages, not least in giving him an outlet for his play biting. By putting it on cue you can teach a puppy what to bite and when to bite. Much better than trying to insist on no biting at all during play. After all that's how puppies play. They have no hands. © Can Stock Photo / fotojagodka

Guardians can use capturing to train their puppy to lie down on cue

Puppy Training Tip #2: Introducing Your Puppy to a Harness

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t's worth taking time to make sure that having a collar and/or harness put on, wearing it and having it taken off is a positive experience for your puppy. Be prepared to stop at any time if he is uncomfortable and backs away at any point. As always, end your training session on a happy note, then consider approaching the introduction more gradually next time. Once your puppy is happy to be touched anywhere, introduce the harness by having it next to you on the floor while feeding him. If you use a clicker, you can click and treat him for looking at or sniffing the har­ ness. Or you can use a marker word such as “yes” instead of a clicker.

Once puppy is happily touching the harness on the floor, then hold it and have him touch it for a click and treat. The next stage might be to have him take the food from your hand that is poking through the har­ ness with a view to him starting to put his head through to take the food from your hand. Repeat that till he is comfortable with it. Then pop it over his head. Click and treat. Take it off. Click and treat. Make sure he is happy about the fasteners clicking before doing them up. You could even use the fastener as a clicker. Some puppies will sail through the whole process while others will need it broken up into lots of tiny steps. I prefer a harness with a Y­shaped chest piece for comfort and fleece ones for extra comfort. Avoid using anything that tightens and causes discomfort.

Harnesses with a horizontal chest strap interfere with shoulder move­ ment and should be avoided, in my opinion.

Fetch Gently roll a soft ball or toy across the ground and encourage puppy to chase and pick it up and bring it back.

There are 101 uses for a dog that retrieves. Perhaps the biggest ad­ vantage is that you can completely avoid triggering the guarding behav­ ior that is often associated with having to take an item from him that he has picked up and that you would prefer him not to have. Using praise and encouragement, just as you would with his toy, will see him will­ ingly bringing the forbidden item to you.

Find It Let puppy watch you hide a toy and then encourage him to find it. Progress onto hiding it unseen and let puppy do what comes naturally and use his nose to search. Every family needs a dog that can find the keys. n

Resources Norris, B. (2019, September). A Tale of Two Puppies. BARKS from the Guild (38) 56-57. Available at: bit.ly/36VTyCf Sally Bradbury has worked with dogs all her adult life, from RSPCA kennel maid in her teens to founding and running her own very successful dog training business for 20 years. She was also a founding member of the APDT (United Kingdom). Her passion is helping and supporting new puppy owners raise their puppies to avoid the many pitfalls that result in so many youngsters being handed into rescues in their first year. She is now retired and living in Wales and has recently published the children’s book, Jack and Billy: Puppy Tales, featuring two puppies who experience vastly different journeys in their new homes (jackandbillypuppytales.com).

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c a n i n e

Examining Anxiety Traits and Breed Specifics Dr. Sheryl L. Walker reviews a recent paper on the prevalence, comorbidity, and breed differences in canine anxiety in Finnish pet dogs

© Can Stock Photo / Zuzule

© Can Stock Photo / ponytail1414

Teaching puppies how to encounter novel stimuli will not only teach them how to be confident throughout their life stages, but it also builds a foundation on which to build further life skills

A study by Salonen et al. (2020) names stimuli that often induce fear in dogs, as thunder, fireworks, gunshots, strangers, other dogs, novel situations, different surfaces, heights, stairs where you can/cannot see between steps, narrow bridges

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Study Methods

ith a background in behavior analysis and animal sheltering, and currently working toward my Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) certification, I personally found the re­ search in Prevalence, comorbidity, and breed differences in canine anxi‐ ety in 13,700 Finnish pet dogs by Salonen et al. (2020) intriguing.

Review Introduction Right off the bat, the first sentence in the Abstract packs a punch, espe­ cially if you have spent any time in an animal shelter: “Behavior prob­ lems and anxieties in dogs decrease their quality of life and may lead to relinquishment or euthanasia.” Having spent over 14 years working pro­ fessionally with animals, I can say with confidence that this is absolutely true. A plethora of research exists in human psychology showing that unmanaged anxiety can decrease quality of life. Similarly, although not studied as in depth, research also exists showing anxiety in animals can decrease their quality of life. In my opinion, there are several stakehold­ ers (e.g., animal shelter personnel, veterinary behaviorists, dog trainers, certified applied animal behaviorists, breeders) who can benefit from the knowledge outlined in this article.

State Salonen et al. (2020): “Dog breeds showed large differences in prevalence of all anxietyrelated traits, suggesting a strong genetic contribution. As a result, selective breeding focused on behavior may reduce the prevalence of canine anxieties.”

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In this study based in Finland, the convenience sample size (more on this later) of 13,715 questionnaires representing 264 breeds was used to as­ sess prevalence, comorbidity, age, and sex differences of anxiety­based behavioral problems. A subset of those represented 14 breeds (plus mixed breed) with a minimum sample size of 200 individuals per breed, accounting for 35% of all dogs in the entire data set. Guardians were asked to rate their dogs’ behavior on several anxiety­based traits. “Noise sensitivity” was split into fear of thunder, fireworks, and gunshots. “Fear” was split into fear of strangers, other dogs, and novel situations. “Fear of surfaces and heights” was split into walking on different surfaces (e.g., metal grid, shiny floors, moving from one surface to another) and diffi­ culty in high places (e.g., walking next to glass railings, climbing metal stairs, walking over narrow bridges). “Compulsive behaviors” was as­ sessed by looking at the occurrences of tail chasing, fly snapping, and light chasing, among others. “Aggression” was rated as the likelihood of the dog growling, snapping, or biting when a stranger tries to pet the dog, or when the owner tries to take a resource from the dog.

Study Results Noise sensitivity was the most common anxiety trait with 32% of dogs being fearful of at least one noise, of which fear of fireworks was the most common subtrait with a prevalence of 26%: “The prevalence of noise sensitivity increased with age, especially fear of thunder.” (Salo­ nen et al., 2020). Anecdotally, I see this with both of my dogs. My Ger­ man shepherd/rottweiler, Luigi, has always been noise sensitive to fireworks and gun shots, but never thunder until he was about 8 years

c a n i n e old (he is now 11). As referenced in this article, “pacing and excessive drinking were often performed by mixed breed dogs and German shep­ herds.” (Salonen et al., 2020). Luigi will pace, excessively pant (which leads to excessive and intense drinking of water), and occasionally shake; these behaviors are significantly decreased with Trazodone* and a safe space in a bathroom with the lights off and the fan on as white noise. My beagle, Spud, whom I recently had to humanely euthanize at age 12.5 due to hemangiosarcoma, never minded thunderstorms until he was about 10 years old. After that, he would be glued to my side and shake; his shaking was significantly decreased with Trazodone and good quality cuddles, under a blanket, with medium pressure.

In this study, the most common comorbidity (i.e., simultaneous presence) was fear, especially in dogs displaying aggressive and separa­ tion related behaviors: “Dogs displaying separation related behavior were 4.1 times more often hyperactive/impulsive and 3.4 times more often inattentive than dogs not displaying separation related behaviors.”

(Salonen et al., 2020). Over 50% of dogs who were fearful of one noise were fearful of several noises. Comorbidities are good for all dog profes­ sionals to be aware of, whether you are a veterinary behaviorist who is treating one specific condition, or a dog trainer who builds training plans for a fearful dog, for example.

Several breed­specific findings were worthy of discussion, in my opinion: “10.6% of miniature schnauzers were aggressive toward strangers, whereas only 0.4% of Labrador retrievers showed aggression.

Similarly, 9.5% of Staffordshire bull terriers were reported to display tail chasing, but none of the Lagotto Romagnolo dogs chased their tails.” (Sa­ lonen et al., 2020). Also, over 30% of Lagotto Romagnolos and fewer than 10% of Labrador retrievers displayed fear of thunder; almost 30% of Spanish water dogs and very few Staffordshire bull terriers displayed fear of strangers; and almost 40% of rough collies showed fear of surfaces and heights, whereas less than 20% of border collies did (Salonen et al., 2020).

Study Limitations There are limitations of questionnaire­based research results, just as there are limitations of the generalizability of any research. Question­ naire­based research is not observational research, so the results are purely based on guardians interpreting their own dogs’ behavior with no operational definitions of what each behavior is. This is a conven­ ience­based sample (i.e. people who are easy to reach), and the results may not be completely representative of all dogs in Finland, let alone in different regions of the world. Also, not all dogs within each breed will be at risk for certain problematic behaviors.

Real World Applications For all of us who share our lives with animals in one capacity or another, personally or professionally, we not only understand how critical quality of life is, but also how critical our roles can be when assessing and mak­ ing decisions about quality of life. In the study’s Introduction, Salonen et al. (2020) state: “Problematic behaviors can be a threat to dog welfare.

Anxious dogs may be more vulnerable to diseases and show decreased lifespan. Satisfaction with the dog’s behavior may increase attachment to the dog and problematic behaviors, especially aggressiveness, de­ structiveness, fearfulness, and hyperactivity are a common reason for relinquishment to shelters.”

Shelter personnel are no strangers to assessing quality of life, as they have to make life­or­death decisions every day, taking into account the intake or background information from the relinquisher, behavioral health, physical health, shelter population and capacity for care, and adoptability of that dog and whether a typical community member would be able to appropriately care for a dog with said problematic be­ haviors. Shelter personnel also have to assess each dog’s quality of life during his or her length of stay, depending on resources available (e.g.,

Noise sensitivity was the most common anxiety trait with 32% of dogs being fearful of at least one noise, of which fear of fireworks was the most common subtrait with a prevalence of 26%: “The prevalence of noise sensitivity increased with age, especially fear of thunder.”

(Salonen et al., 2020). in­kennel enrichment, walks outside, playgroups, off leash time in a physically secured area). Are dogs more vulnerable to anxiety when staying in a shelter? Absolutely. Shelters can be scary with the lack of predictability in the environment. And by being aware of breeds and mixes who are prone to anxiety and educating themselves on dog body language and behavioral indicators of pain and anxiety, shelter person­ nel can help make a dog’s stay in the shelter less stressful.

Anxiety can also be managed with the help of psychopharmacology.

For example, canine compulsive disorder (CCD), an anxiety­based ana­ logue of obsessive­compulsive disorder, is diagnosed by a board­certi­ fied veterinary behaviorist. Evaluation of the frequency and intensity of compulsive behaviors (e.g., tail chasing, fly snapping, light chasing, sur­ face licking, pacing, staring, excessive drinking, self­biting) as well as how easily you can distract a dog away from these behaviors, is needed when considering chemical intervention. Salonen et al.’s study (2020), I believe can help veterinary behaviorists understand what breeds are most at risk for CCD and prepare them to have conversations with their clients regarding the possible use of psychopharmacological anxiolytics.

Veterinary behaviorists will also develop behavior modification (B­Mod) plans to help patients manage their anxiety in conjunction with the use of anxiolytics.

DS/CC Meanwhile, dog trainers and certified applied animal behaviorists may collaborate with veterinary behaviorists on implementing B­Mod plans.

Noise sensitivity was the most common anxiety trait with one third of dogs being fearful of at least one noise. Systematic desensitization, whereby a dog is exposed to the fear­inducing noise or stimulus, but at a level that does not induce fear or a reaction (aka under threshold), is a powerful tool when it comes to changing emotional reactions to stimuli.

It is commonly used in tandem with counterconditioning to create a positive emotional response to the problematic stimulus. These meth­ ods can be used to modify the behaviors mentioned in this article (e.g., noise sensitivity, fear of surfaces and heights, inattention/impulsivity, separation related behavior, aggression) and can help dogs with these issues adjust to life more easily. It is also imperative that we, as profes­ sionals, not only understand canine body language, but also educate others on how to interpret how and what a dog is communicating to us.

Teaching a “Drop It” or “Trade Game” at an early age can help with pre­ venting resource­related aggression by trading nonpermissible items that a puppy has taken in exchange for something more reinforcing.

Salonen et al. (2020) have previously published research mapping “two loci for generalized fear and noise sensitivity” and “a genomic re­ gion associated with noise sensitivity in German shepherd dogs con­ tain[ing] the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR).” Those who have an understanding of genetics and genomics, such as responsible, ethical breeders, can make such a huge impact on future generations of dogs, especially those breeds who are predisposed to behavioral problems such as anxiety. State Salonen et al. (2020): “Dog breeds showed large differences in prevalence of all anxiety­related traits, suggesting a strong genetic contribution. As a result, selective breeding focused on behavior may reduce the prevalence of canine anxieties.” Salonen et al. (2020) also state that “some genomic areas and loci are associated with prob­

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

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c a n i n e lematic behavior [which] may be influenced by many environmental fac­ tors, including, for example, maternal care, owner experience, training, and exercise.” In my opinion then it is critical to educate breeders about responsible and healthy breeding practices, indicators of good welfare, and positive reinforcement and force­free training of the studs and bitches, especially during pregnancy, as maternal stress is positively cor­ related with the health of her offspring.

Path to Success The Puppy Culture program (developed by Jane Killion) sets puppies on a path of success by incorporating a variety of early neurological stimula­ tion techniques along with teaching skills such as leash walking, recall, potty training, crate training, and safe early socialization during the puppy’s first 12 weeks of life. I believe that this program, along with the Puppy Start Right program (developed by Dr. Kenneth Martin and his wife Debbie Martin), should be mandatory for all breeders and new human puppy guardians to implement. The study by Salonen et al. (2020) dis­ cusses stimuli that often induce fear in dogs: thunder, fireworks, gun­ shots, strangers, other dogs, novel situations, different surfaces, heights, stairs where you can or cannot see between steps, narrow bridges. All of these are wonderful starting points for a good quality socialization pro­ gram. Teaching puppies how to encounter novel stimuli will not only teach puppies how to be confident throughout their life stages, but it also builds a foundation on which to build further life skills. n

Study Article Reference Salonen, M., Sulkama, S., Mikkola, S., Puurunen, J., Hakanen, E., Tiira, K., Araujo, C., & Lohi, H. (2020). Prevalence, comorbidity, and breed differences in canine anxiety in 13,700 Finnish pet dogs. Scientific Re‐ ports 10:2962. Available at: bit.ly/2WywTrX

Over 50% of dogs who were fearful of one noise were fearful of several noises. Comorbidities are good for all dog professionals to be aware of, whether you are a veterinary behaviorist who is treating one specific condition, or a dog trainer who builds training plans for a fearful dog, for example. *Trazodone (brand name Desyrel®, Oleptro®) is a serotonin antagonist/reuptake inhibitor (SARI) antidepressant that is used to treat behavioral disorders, especially anxiety‐ or phobia‐related in dogs (e.g., separation anxiety, noise phobia such as fireworks or thunderstorms, veterinary visits, hospitalization, and travel). It is frequently used as a supplemental therapy in pets that do not respond to conventional thera‐ pies. ‐ Gollakner, R. (n.d.). Trazodone. Available at: vcahospitals.com/know‐your‐pet/trazodone

Resources Puppy Culture: shoppuppyculture.com/pages/puppy-culture-1 Puppy Start Right: karenpryoracademy.com/courses/puppy-startright/ Sheryl L. Walker holds a master’s degree in behavior analysis and a Ph.D. in animal behavior and sheltering. She also operates WAGS: Wonderful Animal Guidance Services (wonderfulanimalguidanceservices.com) in Lafayette, Indiana, specializing in puppies. She is currently working toward her Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) certification, and her current research interests are puppy socialization and training.

The A-Z of Training and Behavior Brought to you by J is for...

Jackpot: A term used to describe a special type of reinforcement where more food, additional play or more quantity or quality of reinforcer is being used.

Jolly Routine: A training tool that makes use of emotional contagion by the owner and/or trainer behaving cheerfully to prompt a happy emotional state in the pet being trained. Often used in situations that are potentially scary to the pet to avoid fear and stress and to encourage resilience.

Jump Start: Also called a sampling of the reinforcer. When a trainer allows the pet to smell, see or sniff the appetitive reinforcer to help create motivation in the pet.

K is for...

Keep Going Signal: Continuation Bridge: An auditory or visual signal that indicates to the pet that it is carrying out the correct response and should continue; reinforcement will be delivered at the end of the behavior or chain. Ex. In the 1960s

Bob Bailey developed a “Keep Going System” for the military in which cats, that had microphones implanted in them, were directed to keep going in a specific direction via the continuation of a specific sound. Keep Going Signals are most effective when previously conditioned as secondary reinforcers.

L is for...

Latency: The time period between the cue and the initiation of the behavior. Fluency is attained if you have minimal latency. Ex. Trainer says “sit” – pet sits immediately within less than one second.

Latent Learning: A form of learning that occurs without any obvious reinforcement and is not behaviorally observable until a later time. Latent learning demonstrates that reinforcement does not need to be present for learning to occur.

From: A Lexicon of Practical Terms for Pet Trainers & Behavior Consultants: The language you need to know!

by DogNostics Career Center. Available from: dognosticseducation.com/p/store

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

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c a n i n e

Dog Guardian Etiquette Anna Bradley examines ways in which dog guardians can be more aware of their own actions, as well as those of their dogs, to ensure dog walking is a less stressful time for all

A

s I write, we in the United Kingdom, like many countries in the world, are in the midst of a lock­ down due to the coronavirus pandemic. Here in the UK, one of the requirements of lockdown is the pro­ vision of just one opportunity to get outside and exercise per day. This, of course, means just one dog walk per day. In addition, social gatherings are banned, as are all nonessential journeys as determined by the government.

From what I have noticed, these new requirements have highlighted an already present issue – dog guardian etiquette. In other words, how should we behave when we walk our dogs and there are others in close vicinity? I believe the issue of dog guardian etiquette correlates di­ rectly with the preference demonstrated by some guardians to seek more remote places to walk. Under cur­ rent conditions, however, we have more of a coming to­ gether of dogs and people in places closer to home, like woods with narrow pathways, blind spots etc. and these may exacerbate behavior issues both dogs and guardians may already struggle with.

My aim with this article is to highlight some of these etiquette issues to help create a greater awareness about some of the simple things we can do to make our dog walks more pleasurable and less stressful, not only for ourselves but for others and their dogs too.

© Can Stock Photo/woodygraphs

Not all dogs and not all dog guardians enjoy being approached by an off leash dog and some may find it intimidating or even frightening

#1. Exuberant Dogs I’ll start with a classic example. Let’s say you have a dog who loves to charge about but is also a complete softie (I do!). He’s in an area where it’s safe and permitted to be off leash and you see a dog in the distance.

You shout, “It’s okay, he’s friendly!” But you have absolutely no idea how the other dog will respond to your dog or how that dog’s guardian feels about the advance. Many, many times I have worked with clients with nervous dogs who are on the receiving end of advances such as this and they are absolutely petrified, never mind their dogs. I would al­ ways advocate teaching your dog calm greetings from day one and, if you see another dog on the leash, understand that there is a reason and put yours on a leash too.

Think too about overzealous play. For social dogs, off leash play in the park can be great fun. They can learn so much about interactional skills this way, but here is the caveat: no one likes their dog to be bull­ dozed. And even a confident dog who enjoys interacting with other dogs isn’t likely to enjoy it either, much less the dog who is fearful of or not well socialized with other dogs. Play should be balanced with each dog taking his turn, mirroring, pausing, etc. Take time to brush up on canine body language. If play is completely one­sided and begins to be overly rough, for instance, with one party body slamming and the other contin­ ually attempting to run away, please calmly and safely step in and stop it. Dogs need to learn appropriate play behavior and can otherwise quickly learn to bully. In preparation, you can teach a cue to stop, pause, redirect to you and go back to play being contingent on that calm pause.

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For instance, ask your dog for a time­out – stop, sit, wait/look for five seconds, and resume only when calm. The same goes at the very initia­ tion of play. If you always let your dog off leash at the first sight of an­ other dog, then you may end up with one of those dogs who goes crazy at the sight of another furry friend! Teach impulse control. Cue calm en­ gagement with you, then reward with, "go play."

#2. Missing Guardians Have you ever seen those dogs with, apparently, no guardians? Me too.

While there is always the possibility that your dog goes AWOL for some reason (after all, dogs are dogs!), do your best to keep an eye on where your dog is at all times. The Dangerous Dog Act (2014) states that dogs must be kept under control in public (and in a private domain). This refers to all dog breeds and the dog simply has to look as if (subjective though that may be) he may injure someone, to be in trouble.

#3. Dealing with Distractions We school our kids and, hopefully, they listen and pay attention to what they are being taught. It’s the same with our dogs. Try to instill basics, such as a solid recall. Dogs love to run, explore and sniff, but if they won’t come back in the park when you call them and, instead, interrupt people enjoying a picnic or steal a family football, you won’t be very popular! Similarly, make sure you start the concept of remaining calm around people from an early age. Puppies often get excited by new en­

c a n i n e Let’s say you have a dog who loves to charge about but is also a complete softie (I do!). He’s in an area where it’s safe and permitted to be off leash and you see a dog in the distance. You shout, “It’s okay, he’s friendly!” But you have absolutely no idea how the other dog will respond to your dog or how that dog’s guardian feels about the advance. vironments and everyone in them, that’s normal. But they do need to learn to settle and not leap or jump at the nearest bystander. A dog who lunges or jumps up, especially one with muddy paws, is seldom terribly popular, so start the process of teaching your dog to engage with you, no matter what the distraction, early on.

Start your training in puppyhood or as soon as you adopt your new dog. Reintroduce distractions gradually. Try not to set your dog up to fail. Take the example of recall ­ if you know there’s a high chance your dog won’t come back, don’t try. Practice where there are fewer distrac­ tions, say a quieter corner of the park. Maybe use a long line, increase the value of your reward, and repeat another day. You can also begin lots of focus training and games which help your dog to understand that simple listening is super rewarding – a great precursor to recall.

#4. Greater Awareness Remember also that not everyone likes dogs! Some people are scared of dogs. So it really is important that calm and polite behavior is trained from the start. We wouldn’t expect our children to be unruly and impo­ lite with strangers and it’s the same for our dogs as family members.

If you see a guardian with their dog on a leash, always put your dog on a leash too. If you’re in doubt, ask the guardian if your dog can say hello, or play. People may be very happy to let their dogs greet or play with other dogs, but it’s always best to check first. Pay attention to the dog too. If he is showing signs of fear, stress or anxiety, or that he is trying to avoid meeting you and/or your dog, or the guardian is obviously trying to prevent this, then give them some space to move on.

As dog guardians, we all share that common love, but it’s sad when friction and ill feelings occur. All we really need to do is be sure to have some awareness of other people, their circumstances, what their predicament may be with their dog and understand that not everyone may have it the same as we do. Maybe they are working on modifying their dog’s behavior or a specific aspect of training. Or maybe they are dealing with some personal battles and there’s no reason for us to make things more difficult for them. A little foresight and empathy go a long way and make life so much easier, whatever activity we are enjoying. n

Resource legislation.gov.uk. (2014). UK Public General Acts 2014 c. 12PART 7: Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Available at: bit.ly/3bQxXvM 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.

c a n i n e

Pets and Road Safety Louise Stapleton-Frappell presents tips on the safest ways to transport pets, both large and small, in a private vehicle

© Louise Stapleton­Frappell

© Can Stock Photo/AndreyPopov

Larger animals like Phoebe can travel more safely in a crate that is positioned horizontally in their guardians’ car

A dog’s car harness can also be secured via a car seat belt attachment to try to avoid the pet flying forward into the front seat in the event of an accident

I

the comfort and safety of both the pet, other car occupants and road users. Much will depend on the size of the pet and the space in the car.

n this article, I will discuss how to best and most safely transport pets in private vehicles. As I am based in Spain, I am going to take a look specifically at the regulations by the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) (Department of Traffic). While regulations in other countries will obviously vary (so please check your local legislation), the issue of keep­ ing pets safe when traveling in vehicles is largely universal and so the tips provided here can be applied no matter where you are.

In Spain, the Código de Tráfico y Seguridad de la DGT (Traffic Safety Code of the Department of Traffic) states that a vehicle driver is obliged to maintain his own freedom of movement, necessary field of vision, and permanent attention on driving, so as to guarantee the safety of the driver, any passengers and other road users. The Traffic Safety Code also states that special care should be taken to maintain adequate position­ ing of objects and animals so that they do not interfere with the driver.

From this, it is clear that if we travel with our dog in the car, the dog should be secured so that he will not fall, move around or in any way distract the driver or obstruct the field of vision.

The DGT does not specify which accessories should be used to ensure

If a crate is not a viable option, the pet’s car harness should be secured via a car seat belt attachment or a short leash attached to a secure point in the floor (many vehicles have strong attachments rings in the floor). This will promote the safety of the pet and other car occupants in the event of sudden braking or an accident.

Safety First To demonstrate the necessity of safely securing pets while travelling, the Royal Automobile Club of Spain (RACE) carried out a series of crash­ tests in which they simulated a frontal collision at 50 km/h (31 mph), using a dog dummy weighing 22 kg (48.5 lbs) and a human driver dummy. RACE concluded that the safest way to transport a pet is in a pet carrier (crate). For small dogs and cats, the crate is best located on the floor of the car. For larger dogs, it is preferable to locate the crate in a horizontal position in the back of the car, behind a dividing dog guard/grille (Dirección General de Tráfico, 2013).

If a crate is not a viable option, the pet’s car harness should be se­ cured via a car seat belt attachment or a short leash attached to a se­ cure point in the floor (many vehicles have strong attachments rings in the floor). This will promote the safety of the pet and other car occu­ pants in the event of sudden braking or an accident.

The following list summarizes the efficiency of the different safety options that were tested by RACE (Dirección General de Tráfico, 2013):

Efficiency of Retention Systems

#1. Loose Animal: The worst scenario possible is the animal lying in the back seat. In the event of an accident, the animal will fly forward against the front seat headrests. Human occupants and animal could suffer serious injuries and even death.

#2. Harness with One Attachment Point: Harness attached to car 46

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

c a n i n e seat belt. In case of a collision, the harness attachment ring breaks. The dog flies into the back of the front seat causing serious spinal injuries to the front seat occupant. The animal suffers serious injury or death.

#3. Harness with Two Attachment Points: This type of harness is more secure. The harness, attached via a short union, avoids the possi­ bility of the pet flying forward into the front seat.

#4. Pet Carrier Held in Place with Seat Belt: The crate or carrier might destroy the seat belt attachment point. The animal could suffer serious injury as could other car occupants.

#5. Pet Carrier on Floor of Vehicle: Small crates/pet carriers will fit into the floor space. As there is little room, the impact is absorbed and does not cause serious impact. The carrier’s integrity is maintained, thus avoiding serious injury. Light injury may occur.

#6. Pet Carrier in the Trunk: When the animal is larger, the crate can be horizontally positioned in the car trunk (if it is a hatchback or SUV).

This does not exclude injury to passengers travelling in the back seats.

#7. Dividing Grille: A dog guard securely situated between the struc­ tural pillars of the car, separating the cabin from the back of the car, per­ mits the pet to move freely without interfering with the driver, but depending on the position of the animal in the eventuality of a collision, the animal may suffer very serious injury.

#8. Dog Guard and Crate: The safest option is a pet carrier/crate placed behind a dividing safety grille.

To demonstrate the necessity of safely securing pets while travelling, the Royal Automobile Club of Spain (RACE) carried out a series of crash-tests in which they simulated a frontal collision at 50 km/h (31 mph), using a dog dummy weighing 22 kg (48.5 lbs) and a human driver dummy. RACE concluded that the safest way to transport a pet is in a pet carrier (crate).

More Safety Tips Finally, here is some additional advice for your pet’s safety and well­ being when out and about in the car: aPets should not be attached to anything via their collar as damage could be sustained to their necks. If you usually walk your dog on a flat collar, I recommend you purchase a harness for use in your car. aPets should not be held in a person’s arms, on a person’s lap, or be

loose in the vehicle. aPets should not be allowed to travel with their heads sticking out of open windows. Their eyes may be exposed to dirt, rocks, dust and other debris, materials that can easily puncture and scratch their eyes. aNever leave your pet inside a car during high temperatures. States the American Veterinary Medical Association (2020): “The temperature inside your vehicle can rise almost 20º F in just 10 minutes. In 20 min­ utes, it can rise almost 30º F...and the longer you wait, the higher it goes. At 60 minutes, the temperature in your vehicle can be more than 40 degrees higher than the outside temperature. Even on a 70­degree day, that's 110 degrees inside your vehicle!” aPlease consult your vet if your pet suffers from car sickness (see also Resources). aWhen you open the car door or rear hatchback door, please make sure your pet is still secured so they do not jump out as this could po­ tentially cause an accident resulting in injury to the pet or others, or loss of the pet if they were to run away. n

References American Veterinary Medical Association. (2020). Pets in Vehicles.

Available at: bit.ly/2TrNs7g Dirección General de Tráfico. (2013). ¿Cuál es la forma más segura de transportar a su mascota?/What is the safest way to transport your pet? Available at: bit.ly/2Zq7B19 Gobierno de España. (n.d.). Código de Tráfico y Seguridad Vial/Traffic and Road Safety Code. Available at: bit.ly/3cRXBlo

Resource Nanan, L. (2018). Canine Car Anxiety. BARKS from the Guild (32) 22-23.

Available at: bit.ly/2D1bEHM Louise Stapleton-Frappell BA (Hons) PCBC-A PCT-A CTDI CAP3 CWRI DN-FSG1 DN-CPCT2 is a professional canine behavior consultant, accredited through PPAB. She is also a certified trick dog and fun scent games instructor, a certified whistle recall instructor and a Pet Dog Ambassador instructor and assessor who owns and operates The DogSmith of Estepona, Spain (dogsmith.com/dogsmithestepona). She works hard to promote a positive image of the "bully" breeds and advocate against Breed Specific Legislation in favor of breed neutral laws. Her Staffordshire bull terrier, Jambo (facebook.com/StaffyChampion) is a trick dog champion, the first of his breed to earn the title. She is also the author and instructor of the DogNostics TrickMeister Titles and the DogNostics Dog Training Program. She is a PPG and PPGBI steering committee member, PPGBI membership manager, Doggone Safe regional coordinator (Spain) and steering committee member, co-presenter of the PPG World Service radio show and faculty member of DogNostics Career Center.

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

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f e l i n e

Respect, Routines and Redirection Andrea Carne explains how ‘The Three Rs’ can prevent a cat-astrophe during home isolation

D

ear Diary, day 10 of quarantine and the human is STILL sitting in my spot …

Over the past few months, your social media has no doubt been filled with a host of funny memes depicting the plight of cats reluctantly having to endure the presence of their humans 24/7. While these have provided some much­needed light relief in an incredibly stressful pe­ riod, I believe there is also some truth behind the comedy.

At the time of writing this article, we were in the middle of the worldwide COVID­19 pandemic which moved millions of people into iso­ lation, quarantine and lockdown arrangements and we’re subsequently spending much more time at home. This is a huge change for most of us. The effects are far­reaching on so many levels and will be felt for some time yet.

But while we’re thinking about how much our lives have had to change in the fight against this potentially deadly virus, spare a thought for our feline family members… Change is not necessarily something cats are all that keen on and this has been an absolutely massive one for those of them who are used to having their home to themselves while their guardians are out at work.

Broadly speaking, we might say that cats tend to prefer routine and predictability. Knowing when they will be fed, when the humans leave for work or school and return, when the humans go to bed and get up – all of these seemingly mundane things are important for cats, because a predictable environment makes them feel safe and in control. With the humans around more often, routines often go out the window and the cats may no longer be able to predict any of their daily activities.

Many cats also like their space and time alone. The humans head off to their daily routines and so the cats have plenty of space to wander, take a nap, watch the birds, and have a snack, all without interruption.

Now they may suddenly be competing for their favorite spot on the couch in the sun and may also be the object of fascination for bored hu­ mans wanting to interact far more than usual.

Individual Preferences Like all animals, for cats, having a choice is empowering. Without their humans around 24/7, cats have more choice about how to spend their time and where to spend it. Now they may have humans in their fa­ vorite spaces, picking them up even though they don’t like it, waving toys in their faces, being generally noisy and making their resources harder to access when and how they’d prefer.

Take routines, space, and choice away and many cats find them­ selves in an environment where they no longer feel comfortable. Some cats will deal with this reasonably well (some may even absolutely love having their owners around more often), but others will not, and behav­ ioral problems could potentially be the end result.

How cats deal with change is individual for each animal and de­ pends largely on three main factors: 1.

Genetics – studies have shown, for example, that a cat fa­ thered by a friendly cat is more likely to be friendly towards humans and more confident with novel objects (McCune,

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

© Can Stock Photo / duskbabe

Adding more resources, such as hiding places and vertical space, to a cat’s environment allows him to escape all the hustle and bustle of a busier­than­ normal household whenever they feel the need

1995).

How positive a cat’s experiences were with humans, other an­ imals, and novel objects during the critical socialization period when aged between about 2 and 7 weeks.

3.

The relationship they have with their humans, including what their human provides for them.

As a side note, there’s also evidence now that the age at which kit­ tens are weaned also plays a part in their future behavior (Ahola et al., 2017). But let’s focus on the three main factors above – if our cats are past the critical socialization period, we can’t influence what’s already happened in regard to points 1 and 2 (which have led to their overall personality). However, we can absolutely take the lead role with point 3.

Apart from love and affection, our relationship with our cats should ideally involve some knowledge of cat behavior, what makes them happy and how we can best provide an environment that offers every­ thing they need to be physically and mentally healthy. This knowledge and its application will build a better bond between us and our felines and will guide us in helping them through major changes such as those caused by a worldwide pandemic.

The way I see it, now more than ever, what our cats will benefit greatly from is my feline version of “The Three Rs,” i.e. Respect, Rou­ tines and Redirection. And this formula will work not only in the face of a pandemic, but also at any time when a change in our circumstances 2.

f e l i n e Like all animals, for cats, having a choice is empowering. Without their humans around 24/7, cats have more choice about how to spend their time and where to spend it. Now they may have humans in their favorite spaces, picking them up even though they don’t like it, waving toys in their faces, being generally noisy and making their resources harder to access when and how they’d prefer. means we are suddenly at home most of the time when we weren’t be­ fore.

Respect Our first priority is to understand and respect that our cats have specific individual needs and that, often, they don’t like change. We need to re­ spect that cats have their own feelings and emotions and that the changes that have been forced upon us will also affect them. We need to acknowledge this and assist them in adjusting at a level which is comfort­ able for them and which aims to keep stress levels as low as possible.

Here are some tips, which guardians may find to be particularly relevant for indoor­only cats: • Add extra resources to their environment – perhaps most im­ portantly, add more hiding places and more vertical space so the cats can escape all the hustle and bustle of a busier­than­ normal household when they need to.

• Try and keep added noise at a low level. Children and adults yelling and playing loud computer games for long periods can be stressful for cats and may not be something they’re used to enduring so often. Encourage humans to move away from the cats for some of the noisier activities.

• Set up a quiet space at one end of the house where the cats can escape to for some peace and quiet.

• Look for signs of stress.

Atkinson (2018) lists the physiological signs of stress as panting, sali­ vation, dilated pupils, sweaty paws, loss of bladder control, diarrhea, constipation, and loss of appetite. Behavioral signs of stress include in­ creased vigilance, tense appearance/inability to relax, lowered head and body posture, flattened ears, tail held close to body, poor appetite, ei­ ther a decrease in grooming or over­grooming, withdrawal from human interaction, hiding and urine spraying indoors (Atkinson, 2018, p.256). I’d add to that list inappropriate toileting in general and unexplained and/or unusual aggression towards humans or other animals in the house.

Above all, respect that your cats may not cope very well with all the changes, despite your best efforts, so if your cats need extra help, seek advice from your veterinarian or cat behavior consultant sooner rather than later.

Routines Keep routines as normal as possible and keep things predictable for your cats: • Feed, play, groom and interact at regular times. If your cats have outdoor access and regular times for letting out and in, stick to those as much as possible.

• Try to get up and go to bed at regular times.

• If working or schooling from home, choose a particular space to be your workstation – preferably an office where the cats don’t tend to spend much time anyway. Keep to that dedi­ cated space when working or schooling rather than constantly moving around to different locations in the house. The cats will get used to the workstation as a new addition more easily if it’s predictable each day.

Redirection This is normally a term I would use when trying to modify problem cat be­ haviors such as scratching furniture – you redirect the behavior to a sur­ face that’s more appropriate like a scratching post. But redirection also applies to human behavior. In this sense, I would advise the following: • Give cats space – don’t force interaction just because you or your children are bored. Instead, redirect your intention by giving the cats the option to engage or disengage (and this will be different for every cat). As I mentioned earlier, choice gives cats a sense of control and a sense of control is important for them to feel safe.

• Teach children (and adults for that matter) that if cats are sleeping, eating or toileting, leave them alone.

• Instead of pestering the cat, redirect your and your kids’ en­ ergy into other activities that will have a positive impact on your cats: get crafty and make some homemade toys and food puzzles; organize a treasure hunt with little treats to seek out all over the house; get everyone involved in designing and putting together (with the help of the resident handyperson) an outdoor cat enclosure. The possibilities are endless and redirect energy towards things that will further enhance the cats’ well­being (and their bond with you).

• Being home more also offers a great opportunity to engage your cats in training sessions. Get some online instruction in clicker training (e.g. Space Cat Academy) or see also Clicker Training for Cats (BARKS from the Guild, November 2017, pp.

16­23). You could start by working on behaviors such as “sit” and “high five.” Keep sessions short, reward with tasty treats, and watch your cat thrive on the mental stimulation.

By respecting their needs, keeping their routines as predictable as possible and redirecting human energy into positive experiences rather than boredom­induced pestering, we can help our cats manage the changes that have been thrust upon us all this year. Of course, when all

Member Profiles: bit.ly/2y9plS1 Case Studies: petprofessionalguild.com /CaseStudyTemplate

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

49

f e l i n e goes back to normal and cat guardians go back to work, their cats’ rou­ tines and environment will be changing yet again. But the Three Rs will help with this situation as well – respect and routines are self­explana­ tory, whilst redirection will take care of itself as much of the humans’ energy will be redirected back to work and school. Give cats time to re­ adjust and keep a lookout for signs of stress.

Separation It is important to note that some cats may have become used to their humans being around all the time and liked it. So, when this suddenly changes and the humans go back to spending long periods of time away from the house at work, school or play, a consequence could, unfortu­ nately, be separation­related disorder. In a recently released question­ naire­based study, researchers found that separation­related problems (SRP) were more common in cats than most would believe: “The ques­ tionnaire identified that about 13% of cats may have signs consistent with SRP according to their owners’ reports.” (de Souza Machado et al., 2020).

While more research needs to be done, SRP is a very real condition in cats and could become an increasing problem when the world goes back to normal following COVID­19. Having said that, however, I’d like to believe that we can help prevent those SRP figures rising – and manage other potential behavioral issues – if we stick to The Three Rs. If we en­ deavor to respect our cats’ needs, maintain their routines and redirect our energies (away from smothering and pestering and towards more positive outcomes), then hopefully our feline family members will be able to cope better with both the present situation, and whatever lies ahead. n

References Ahola, M.K., Vapalahti, K. & Lohi, H. (2017). Early weaning increases aggression and stereotypic behaviour in cats. Scientific Reports 7 10412. Available at: go.nature.com/2WXSrgN Atkinson, T. (2018). Practical Feline Behaviour: Understanding Cat Behaviour and Improving Welfare. Oxfordshire, UK: CABI De Souza Machado, D., Mazza Barbosa Oliveira, P., Clemente Machado, J., Ceballos, M.C., & Sant’Anna, A.C. (2020). Identification of separation-related problems in domestic cats: A questionnaire survey. PLOS ONE 15 (4). Available at: bit.ly/3bzxCNV McCune, S. (1995). The impact of paternity and early socialization on the development of cats’ behaviour to people and novel objects. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 45 (1):109-124. Available at: bit.ly/2AnUymn

Resources Garber, P. & Miller, F. (2017, November). Clicker Training for Cats.

BARKS from the Guild (27) 16-23. Available at: bit.ly/2moXtRD Space Cat Academy: spacecatacademy.com Andrea Carne is a graduate of the University of Southern Queensland, Australia where she majored in journalism and drama before, later in life, following her dream to work in the field of animal behavior. She is a qualified veterinary nurse and dog trainer and member of PPG Australia. Her special area of interest is cat behavior and her passion for it led to the establishment of her own cat behavior consultancy Cattitude (cattitude.com.au), based in southern Tasmania, through which she offers private in-home consultations.

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The authors advise on the pertinence of all these issues to the development of an infrastructure for oversight to support the professional evolution of the pet training and behavior industry while providing a complete recommended implementation model from which to do so.

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

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e q u i n e

The Right to Freedom Kathie Gregory considers the social restrictions imposed by COVID-19, finding similarities with the experiences of some domesticated horses, and examines what can be done to set up the environment so horses have more opportunities to express and engage in natural behaviors

I

n these unprecedented times, at the time of writ­ ing, people all over the world were facing isola­ tion due to lockdown procedures aimed at combating COVID­19. In the U.K., where I am based, people were being advised to stay at home and not go out unless absolutely necessary and, as a whole, were adhering to this advice – but we also saw that some were not. It led me to wonder what is the im­ pact of staying at home, and why were there people who were not following the guidelines despite a very real risk to their lives? Let's put aside the issue that if we are at home, many of us are unable to work (which obviously has serious consequences of its own), as this is not pertinent to this article. Instead, I will concentrate on a couple of other issues.

One, isolation. We are confined to our homes.

We are only able to go out once a day for exercise.

We cannot meet up with friends or family. We can only shop if necessary. The reality of this is that we are missing social contact, and that can be particu­ larly difficult when we have an innate need to see family or friends but are not allowed to do so. There is also the need to interact with other people. With­ out this social aspect of life people may start to feel lonely. They may not know what to do with them­ selves, and I imagine there are quite a few people who are unable to always put the time to good use, as the situation we now find ourselves in is upset­ ting, worrying, and emotionally distressing.

Two, being unable to change the environment.

This may not seem like a big deal, but people can lit­ erally feel they are going a little crazy if they are con­ fined to a space with no choice of going somewhere else. People need a change of scenery, different en­ vironments, and different things to do. Being made to stay in the same place with no new stimulation can create boredom and frustration.

I believe this is why some people are not staying at home. I believe they choose to go against official guidelines because they find it too difficult to remain in isolation and cannot cope with the situation that has been thrust upon them. I find this interesting be­ cause, what we may not realize is that the circum­ stances we now find ourselves living in are a lifelong reality for many horses. For us, once the pandemic is over, we may well go back to living our lives as we did before, but horses will not have that option. Take a moment to appreciate what a big deal that is. Does anyone want to remain in this current situation of restrictions for the rest of their lives? Of course not, but this is exactly how many horses are kept. I hope

52

© Can Stock Photo / juniart

Horses are a social species who form strong social bonds and will join different groups at different stages of their lives

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

e q u i n e In a natural setting, horses roam great distances and are able to move in all gaits whenever they wish. Their innate desire to roam is essential for internal homeostasis and the freedom to move about the land allows them to exercise freely, keeping strong and fit for purpose. that from this experience people will have a greater awareness of the im­ pact of making other species live in isolation and/or confinement.

Every being has a right to freedom, but how exactly do we define it? It can mean many different things to many people, and personal perspec­ tive may result in some freedoms being more important than others.

What Is Freedom?

We might say that freedom is the ability to live life as you want, to be able to express yourself, choose what you do, what you eat, where you live, where you go, etc. In other words, to feel safe and secure in the en­ vironment, in yourself, and in the life you lead.

The reality is that, whether human or animal, this ideal is not always possible. There are almost always constraints, stresses, pressures, and circumstances that mean there are a range of aspects to freedom which are outside of our ability to control or change, resulting in compromise.

The compromise might be small and an inconsequential part of life; we adjust for it and live happy lives. We might even have to live with a big compromise but exercise our freedom in other ways. However, certain compromises, both big and small, can have a devastating impact on quality of life.

In horses, the obvious starting place is the freedom to express natu­ ral behavior. Straightforward enough, but when you examine this more closely you realize it involves every aspect of their lives. When we con­ sider the different ways horses are kept, we can see that the level of freedom the horse enjoys is completely dependent on the environment he is in and the management system in place.

Roaming In a natural setting, horses roam great distances and are able to move in all gaits whenever they wish. Their innate desire to roam is essential for internal homeostasis and the freedom to move about the land allows them to exercise freely, keeping strong and fit for purpose. They can choose when to be active and when to rest, when to be out, and when to find shelter from the weather. Being able to roam also satisfies their inquisitive nature in that they are free and able to investigate and ex­ plore new places.

Moving around enables horses to find the right type of food at the right time of the year. Their diet is seasonal to take advantage of what is available. This not only ensures they do not suffer from malnutrition; it also means they receive a rich variety of foods which supports a healthy digestive system. The equine species is a grazer, meaning they may eat for up to 90% of the time. The gut requires an almost continuous supply of food going through it in order to function properly.

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Social Horses are a social species. They have strong social bonds and form sev­ eral types of groups. In a natural setting, they have the freedom to choose who to accept into their group, and who not to. The groups serve more purpose than just a prey species living in a group for safety too. Horses will join different groups at different stages of their lives, de­ pending on the group’s makeup being right for individuals of a particular stage. This gives them the ability to play with other horses, which is es­ sential for youngsters, adolescents, and young adults. Play is also impor­ tant for practicing and honing motor skills and movement patterns

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53

e q u i n e able to manage their own safety. There are stabling options that range from being com­ pletely inappropriate to those that address a horse’s needs more adequately, even if in a somewhat limited way. Wherever possible, avoid isolation. This is the worst stabling situa­ tion a horse can be in. The more open the sta­ ble the better, as this at least allows horses to see and have contact with each other. The best option is, of course, a field shelter, where the horses are free to come and go as they please, but understandably, this is not possible in some situations. So, we must compensate.

Look at how you can minimize the time spent in a stable. This is always the starting point as it means the horse is not just standing there with nothing to do. Look at how the stable en­ vironment can be made more interesting. How can you address the need to graze for a signifi­ cant part of the day when the horse is in a sta­ ble? For some, the solution may be to find a new place for the horse to live. For others it is thinking creatively so that they can redress the lack of natural living.

Grazing Horses need access to fields for grazing, time to slowly roam around, and then to relax. They require spaces big enough to gallop about and play in. This also helps their sense of safety, as there is room to distance themselves from potential threats whilst they assess a situation. Again, this is not always possible, so what alterna­ tives are there? You may be able to rent a field to give your horses time to wander about. Even if you are only able to get your horse onto a field once a week, it is better than not at all. Horses can also graze as you walk them along lanes. This may not be what your usual ride looks like but just as we should spend the time letting our dogs stop and sniff as we walk them, a grazing walk is also beneficial to the horse.

© Can Stock Photo / olgait

The ability to play with other horses is essential for the development of youngsters, adolescents, and young adults

which are utilized in other aspects of life. Older horses also enjoy play, although not as often. Play also supports self­development and the so­ cial aspect is part of learning to form friendships.

Safety There is also the freedom to keep themselves safe, one of the most im­ portant aspects of freedom for a horse. Immature beings of all species look to adults to keep them safe, but once they are adults they play an active part in their own safety. Having the ability to make decisions and choosing to act on them, or not, to keep themselves safe is essential for emotional security.

All the above aspects of freedom contribute to the physiological and psychological health of the horse, and a good life.

While giving a domesticated horse this kind of freedom is not al­ ways possible, setting up their environment to mirror their natural life as much as we can most definitely is. However restricted your circum­ stances, there are always things you can do – it just takes a little creative thinking.

Stabling Firstly, we must recognize the detrimental impact of keeping horses sta­ bled for the majority of their time. Stabling removes many aspects of freedom, from the ability to roam, to eat as their digestion requires, to be sociable and form friendships, to find security in the group and be

Horses are a social species. They have strong social bonds and form several types of groups.

In a natural setting, they have the freedom to choose who to accept into their group, and who not to.

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

Companions Do your research when looking for companions for your horse. There is more to buying a horse than just assessing the needs of the person and what the horse will be doing. What personalities will complement the horse(s) you already have? What age horse will be best for your existing one(s)? Unfortunately, it does happen that horses who do not actually get on with each other have to live together. This kind of situation is stressful and can impact every aspect of their lives. Taking the time to match a new horse with your existing one(s) will pay dividends going forward.

Horses do have to comply with whatever reason we have bought them for and what we do with them. This may be a particular sport or activity where the horse is trained to the level that is necessary for him to take part. It may be that the horse is not used for a formal sport, or he is simply a field companion. Again, look at the type of horse and how his attributes match what he will be doing. Whatever the level and amount of training he does or does not need to do to support the per­ son’s choice of activity, he will always need to comply with being han­ dled to keep him healthy. To this end, time activities to when he is most receptive to them. If he is busy in the morning and quiet in the after­ noon, engage him in training activities in the morning, then let him rest, and make appointments for professionals to see him in the afternoon.

Be mindful of hormones and how they change perceptions and motiva­

e q u i n e tions. Mares in season are less likely to want to stand still, so regular things such as hoof trimming can be organized between seasons. Also adjust training and activities according to how your horse copes with hormones.

You might think that making changes to how the horse lives, what he is able to do, and what he has access to will have immediate and positive results. However, this is not always the case. Some horses will take the changes in their stride while others will need time to adjust.

Many animals like routine and changes can make them anxious. Horses are no different. Added to this, some horses may be in a state of learned helplessness. The more intensive the management the less the horse has a say in what he does, so he learns not to rely on himself but to look to those handling him to tell him what to do. For example, imagine that a horse kept in an isolated stable 24/7 for many years suddenly has a change in circumstances and moves to somewhere with a field barn and 24­hour access to fields. He can come and go as he pleases. What does he do in the first few weeks? He most likely spends most of his time in the barn. It takes time to adjust to the new situation and for the horse to realize that he can do as he pleases.

Here's another example. You may find that a horse who has been tied up for years and then suddenly gains freedom may now feel that being tied up, even temporarily, is unacceptable. Again, it takes time to adjust and to feel safe in the new situation. How does he know that he is only being tied up for a short time and that in a few minutes he will be free again? He needs time to trust the new routine.

Whenever we make changes for our horses in order to improve their welfare, we must take things slowly and look out for a range of re­ sponses that we may not expect to see. We should constantly assess the motivation for his responses, make adjustments, and reassure the horse as he transitions to a new way of living. n

Resources Eisenberg, J. F., & McKay, G. M. (1971). The behaviour of ungulates and its relation to management. In The behaviour of ungulates and its relation to management (Vol. 1). Morges (Switzerland): International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Gregory, K. (2019, May). Stable Life. BARKS from the Guild (36) 4648. Available at: bit.ly/3dKTkQw Gregory, K. (2018, September). Equine Social Structure. BARKS from the Guild (32) 39-41. Available at: bit.ly/2NKZh6G Murray, M.J., & Eichorn, E.S. (1996). 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. U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods 2-A9, 23. Available at: on.doi.gov/2IEO4lu Kathie Gregory is a qualified animal behavior consultant, presenter and author, specializing in advanced cognition and emotional intelligence. Passionate about raising standards and awareness in how we teach and work with animals, she has developed Free Will TeachingTM (facebook.com/freewillteaching), a concept that provides the framework for animals to enjoy life without compromising their own free will. She has authored two books, A tale of two horses: a passion for free will teaching, and A Puppy Called Wolfie: a passion for free will teaching, and her work is currently divided between working with clients, mentoring, and writing.

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55

e q u i n e

Developing Food Manners Michelle Martiya sets out recommendations to use when working with horses to develop manners around food delivery

O

ne of the top reasons I believe people move away from clicker training with their horses is being unsure of how to manage their animal’s behavior around food. Horses can often become overexcited with the introduction of food reinforcers and offer unex­ pected or even dangerous behaviors that can scare or injure their han­ dlers.

In my experience, “food manners” is often taught as an isolated be­ havior in which the horse stands calmly next to his handler, facing for­ ward in a neutral position. While this behavior is an excellent default behavior to have, it should not be viewed as the whole of your equine’s food manners.

Food manners develop over time and are dependent on your clarity and consistency in the management and delivery of the food. In this video, Safely Hand Feed Your Horse, I address every issue that people encounter with hand feeding horses that I’ve heard of so far. You can also follow the guidelines I have set out below to help you be successful in introducing clicker training and delivering food reinforcements to your horse. © Michelle Martiya

Where you feed your horse can make the difference between a horse that is searching for food on your person or nipping you, and one that is not. Feeding close to your body or right over the treat pouch can often encourage these behaviors. Feeding at arm's length away from your body discourages them.

Food Deprivation In my experience, resource guarding and general anxiety around food is pretty common in horses and your horse may have pre­existing issues with food you don’t even know about. Even if your equine is getting plenty of food now, a history of deprivation can still cause considerable anxiety when you begin training with food reinforcers. Using a low­value food and having plenty of free food available during training can help to reduce this anxiety.

© Michelle Martiya

Practice without the Animal An anxious handler may result in an anxious horse, so it’s important to feel comfortable with the mechanics of your food delivery before you begin. A treat pouch that’s comfortable to wear, easy to reach into and pull out a handful of food, and secure enough to not spill food every­ where when you crouch down or lean over is a must.

Consider where you are going to wear your treat pouch. This will de­ pend on how you plan to feed and how your horse behaves when you begin the training. If you’re feeding underhand with the hand closest to your horse, then you’ll want your treat pouch on the inside hip. If you’re feeding overhand with the hand furthest away from the horse, then you’ll want it on the outside hip. Keep in mind that wearing the pouch on your front or on the hip closest to your horse may make it more diffi­ cult for him to ignore.

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

© Michelle Martiya

(Top to bottom) Food manners develop over time and are dependent on the trainer’s clarity and consistency in the management and delivery of the food

e q u i n e Choosing attainable criteria will mean that your horse can be successful right away. For example, if he is a little shy, expecting him to reach out and touch a target on his first attempt may not be a reasonable expectation. For the horse to be successful, your initial criteria need to be easier, like the horse reaching towards the target with his nose from three feet away.

Timing It takes considerable self­control to keep your body still while you click for behavior so it’s a good idea to practice this often. Click your clicker first and then move your hand to reach for the food in your pouch. Pre­ loading your hand is also something to consider, as it will mean faster delivery of the reinforcer, but your hand should remain still holding the food until after you mark the behavior. Otherwise, the movement of your hand becomes the mark.

Protected Contact Most people promote protected contact as a way to keep you safe from your horse, but there are many other reasons to begin training in pro­ tected contact and even to use it periodically throughout your training.

For your horse, protected contact eliminates the possibility of searching for food on you, allowing him to focus on the learning process. It also helps to reduce any anxiety he may feel in your presence and gives him the option of walking away without worrying about you following him.

For you, protected contact allows you to test out your food delivery mechanics and focus on marking the behaviors you want. If there are any issues, you can work them out without worrying about any of your horse’s undesirable behaviors.

pectation. For your horse to be successful, your initial criteria need to be something easier, like the horse reaching towards the target with his nose from three feet away. A few repetitions of this easily attainable cri­ teria will result in a horse that quickly closes the distance and touches the target with his nose. Breaking down behaviors in this way will create a high rate of success which equals a high rate of reinforcement.

End of Session Signal An end of session signal lets your horse know that the training session is over and opportunities for reinforcement are no longer available. To avoid creating a negative association with your departure, it can be helpful to leave an extra handful of food or an enrichment activity for your horse as you go.

While this is not a complete list of the many ways you can help de­ velop your horse’s manners around food reinforcers, hopefully it will get you started on the best path to success. Remember, every horse is dif­ ferent so don’t be afraid to try different things until you find what works best for you and your horse. n

Resources Essential Animal Training. (2019, November 18). Safely Hand Feed Your Horse [Video File]. Available at: youtu.be/ZMiE3Y8TeII Michelle Martiya owns Essential Animal Training (essentialanimaltraining.com) in Boca Raton, Florida where she offers training and behavior modification services, both in person and online. She specializes in working with wild mustangs and abused, fearful equines, be it horse, donkey/burro, or mule, as well as exotic pets, puppies and adult dogs.

Feed for Position Where you feed your horse can make the difference between a horse that is searching for food on your person or nipping you, and one that is not. Feeding close to your body or right over the treat pouch can often encourage these behaviors. Feeding at arm's length away from your body discourages them.

Sometimes when you click for a behavior, your horse may move be­ fore you have a chance to deliver the reinforcement. In these instances, delivering the food where you want your horse to be instead of where he is can help to further the desired behavior.

For example, if you clicked and your horse took a step forward to­ wards you, you can place the food in such a way that it causes him to step back again to where he was when you clicked. Likewise, if your horse is standing with his head facing forward, but turned his head to­ wards you when you clicked, you can feed where his head was when you clicked to bring him back into the position you want. Your horse will learn to wait for the food to come to him.

Rate of Reinforcement You’ll hear many people say that when you start, you need to maintain a high rate of reinforcement to prevent frustration and mugging behav­ iors. This can be very misleading, however, as it implies that you should be stuffing your horse’s face no matter what.

What you really want to achieve is a high rate of success. Choosing attainable criteria will mean that your horse can be successful right away. For example, if your horse is a little bit shy, expecting him to reach out and touch a target on his first attempt may not be a reasonable ex­

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

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b o o k s

Understanding Science Gail Radtke reviews Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy by Dr. Zazie Todd

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n Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, Dr. Zazie Todd has delivered a book that should be on your reading list, if it isn’t already.

I was excited for the release of Wag as I had been a follower of Dr. Todd for quite some time through her blog, Companion Animal Psychol­ ogy, her business Blue Mountain Animal Behavior and her additional blog with Psychology Today. She is a consistent contributor to the force­ free training philosophy, sharing her desire to educate people on the science of behavior through her writings, volunteer work and now, by reaching a new level with this publication.

The book’s foreword is penned by Dr. Marty Becker DVM and founder of Fear Free®, who states that the work is “meticulously re­ searched and up to date on the latest science about dogs” and high­ lights Todd’s passion for dogs’ emotional welfare. And this is evident throughout the book. Todd starts out by telling us about her relation­ ships with her own dogs and how adopting Bodger and Ghost, whom the book is dedicated to, changed her life path dramatically. She holds a Ph.D in social psychology and admits that she “didn’t think much about animal learning until we adopted Ghost,” but went on to volunteer at her local branch of the SPCA in Maple Ridge, British Columbia and also became a certified dog trainer.

Todd writes with the ability to captivate both canine professionals and dog guardians who want to learn more about dogs for the benefit of their own pets. As a canine professional, I was taken back by the vol­ ume of research she conducted when writing this book and the count­ less interviews she conducted with many of the learning experts in today’s canine behavioral science fields. And, if you love research as much I do, you will be as excited as I was when I saw the book’s refer­ ence section.

Todd takes the reader through the book in stages, like she is building our understanding of dogs from their welfare and development, to how they learn, to their training and health. The discussion includes canine body language and communication, how dogs learn, dogs and other dogs, dogs and their people, walkies, puppies, socialization and early developmental stages, enrichment, fear and other behavior issues, sen­ ior dogs, end of life and, at the very end, a checklist for a happy dog.

As you flow through the chapters, the information is delivered in a way that retains the attention of an interested dog guardian without

The book’s foreword is penned by Dr. Marty Becker, DVM and founder of Fear Free®, who states that the work is “meticulously researched and up to date on the latest science about dogs” and highlights Todd’s passion for dogs’ emotional welfare

I feel that Wag is going to be a staple in the canine learning library for all dog people. As Todd explains in the book’s introduction: “Although I write about specific scientific studies, I’ve tried to make them easy to understand and not get too bogged down in technical details.” In this, I believe, she has been successful.

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b o o k s overwhelming them with terminology and behavioral science but also keeps the reader who wants to know more about the science of canine behavior and research engaged. Todd balances these two audiences throughout her book and for this reason I feel that Wag is going to be a staple in the canine learning library for all dog people. As Todd explains in the book’s introduction: “Although I write about specific scientific studies, I’ve tried to make them easy to understand and not get too bogged down in technical details.” In this, I believe, she has been suc­ cessful. I also loved the fact that, at the end of each chapter, Todd adds a summary – “bullet points telling you how to apply the science at home” – of what has been covered, which makes for a nice quick review and refresher course.

Back to that reference section! Todd organizes the references by chapter at the end of the book. This made me so happy and I am sure it’s making lots of other people happy also! Wag is bound to enrich the lives of many dogs and contribute to their welfare due to Todd’s ability to write for all audiences, and for this I am enormously grateful. n Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy Author: Zazie Todd 304 Pages Greystone Books, Vancouver, Canada ISBN‐10: 177164379 (pbk.)

ISBN‐13: 978‐1771643795 (epub)

BARKS Asks Dr. Zazie Todd: “What’s the one thing you would want pet dog guardians to know?”

On April 28, 2020, Dr. Zazie Todd was our guest on BARKS Podcasts to talk about her new book, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, reviewed here.

During the conversation, host Niki Tudge asked Dr. Todd to name the one thing she would want pet dog guardians to know.

Here’s what she had to say: “The one thing I always pick is that you should use food to train your dog because I think when ordinary dogs owners know that, it will help them to avoid some of these dog trainers who, as you say, are not regulated, and it will help them avoid some of the pitfalls of going to an unregulated dog trainer who is going to tell you to do something else. If they're not using food to train your dog, you’ll want to know why. And the other reason is that food is a great way to motivate your dog.

There’s research that shows the dogs will run faster to get a piece of sausage rather than a piece of kibble. They’re very sensitive to the reward! Use food as positive reinforcement when your dog does something that you like or that you want them to do again.”

Listen to the full podcast: bit.ly/3gcG6yb For a full list of recent BARKS Podcasts, see p.9 See also barksfromtheguild.com/podcasts

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

59

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p r o f i l e

The Ethical Choice In our ongoing series of PPG member profiles, this month BARKS features

Janet Velenovsky of Kaizen Pet Training & Behavior in Montpelier, Virginia

J

anet Velenovsky runs her own business, Kaizen Pet Training & Be­ havior, and shares her home with five dogs, all of whom are regis­ tered therapy dogs, and four rescue cats.

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: The company I worked for went out of business when my first adult dog was about a year old. During my time of unemployment, I en­ joyed going to some seminars on training and dog behavior and quickly became hooked. I ended up being offered a job with a pet products company who liked my corporate experience and I spent the next seven years getting on­the­job training and networking with the movers and shakers of training and veterinary behavior. When that company was sold to a shock collar manufacturer, I knew I couldn't stay. I left to start my own company, providing insight and assistance to pet owners in my own community. I couldn't be happier.

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

A: I am currently owned by five dogs and four cats. It never ceases to amaze me how much diversity there is within a species. All four cats are rescues, two are shorthairs and two longhairs. Each has his or her own story and personality.

My canines include two border collies, two golden retrievers, and a terrier/spaniel mix. We do agility, Rally, Nosework, and therapy activi­ ties. They make amazing partners in working with fearful and aggressive dogs. I couldn't do my work without them.

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

A: Like most, I have always loved animals. Providing help to animals and their families is a privilege.

Q: What drives you to be a force‐free professional and why is it impor‐ tant to you?

A: It is essential to my world view to use cooperative, kind, and clear communication to develop relationships with animals and give them op­

Showcasin best of theg the pet industry chuckle anto chat, d share Join hosts Niki Tudge and Louise StapletonFrappell with their special guests discussing news and views on force-free training, behavior, and pet care!

barksfromtheguild.com/podcasts

© Janet Velenovsky

Janet Velenovsky considers helping animals and their families to be a privilege

portunities to participate in their learning processes and in their care.

The science of dog training provides us with understanding of how to accomplish this. There is no other ethical choice. First do no harm. Build communication and relationship. Then shape behavior, rewarding what we want.

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

A: I have always been a force­free trainer.

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

A: Behavior challenges like aggression, problems between housemates, and remedial socialization. I work with both dogs and cats.

Q: What is your favorite part of your job?

A: There are so many good things. Independence from "office hours," meeting people and helping them, making new cat and dog friends, watching any creature (human, feline, canine) acquire new knowledge or understanding, using the science to perform "magic" in the owners' eyes.

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

A: Well, there are the usual faux pas like confusing the names of the pet and the spouse or child during a first visit, or ringing the wrong doorbell because I tend to invert numbers in addresses.

And there was the time a dog who didn't like riding in cars tried to get into mine with me as I was leaving the appointment...

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

A: All of my dogs are registered therapy dogs. I have also certified three of my dogs as crisis response comfort dogs.

Four dogs have competed in agility, earning a dozen titles, with two

BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

61

p r o f i l e “It is essential to my world view to use cooperative, kind, and clear communication to develop relationships with animals and give them opportunities to participate in their learning processes and in their care. The science of dog training provides us with understanding of how to accomplish this. There is no other ethical choice.” - Janet Velenovsky

reaching Excellent levels. Five have competed in Rally, earning multiple titles in two venues. Three have competed in Nosework. My latest has titled in Dock Diving.

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

A: I always enjoy establishing a relationship with an animal and watch­ ing him/her go from uncertain and afraid to eager to interact. That sim­ ple connection with a nonverbal being never ceases to thrill me.

I also enjoy the smiles and relief many owners show when I can con­ nect with their pet, when I recognize the beauty or intelligence of their pet, and when the pet makes a breakthrough in understanding what we are asking. Seeing progress that helps us keep the pet with its family is a highly rewarding outcome.

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

A: I am most interested in helping the dog make good choices in any sit­ uation and building confidence in the dog to work with me. Careful ob­ servation, marking, and rewarding the slightest indication of a good choice (inhibition of excitement, checking in with handler, moving of

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BARKS from the Guild/July 2020

muscles that indicate the beginning of desired response) builds value for that choice. There is no substituting clever gadgets or techniques for focused observation and clear communication with the "student."

Q: Who has most influenced your career and how?

A: I was blessed to have Dr. R.K. Anderson as a mentor; he impressed upon me the value of data and true scientific standards in learning. I can count friends and colleagues Terry Ryan, Karen Pryor, Jean Donaldson, Sophia Yin, Pam Reid, and Lore Haug as major influences. Each of these folks provided models of professionalism, compassion, curiosity, and drive for excellence. Veterinary behaviorists and professional dog train­ ers as communities also had an influence on my desire to strive for stan­ dards and collaboration in our work.

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

A: Read lots and lots of books by qualified trainers and veterinary be­ haviorists. Meet as many as you can, and attend lots of conferences, seminars, and meetings. Go for a variety of input within the scientific community. Be critical. Don't accept everything you hear or read with­ out critical thought. Study and practice as if you were earning a college degree. Be professional in all your interactions and practices.

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

A: PPG is doing an invaluable service by providing a focus on finding the most compassionate and humane way to accomplish the work we do. I am very pleased to be a founding member of PPG. n

Kaizen Pet Training & Behavior (velenovsky.com) is based in Montpelier, Virginia.

To be featured in the BARKS Profile section, please complete this form: bit.ly/2y9plS1

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