[YorkieMother]

REHABILITATION OR SUPPRESSION?

Behavior Modification is the process of changing a dog's underlying emotions by gradually exposing a dog (desensitization) to the triggering stimulus (dog, person, car, etc), then teaching an alternate behavior (counter-conditioning). This process keeps the dog below the level at which they react (commonly referred to as the threshold) and gradually teaches the dog a more desirable response under stressful situations. There is a difference between suppressing a behavior and modifying a behavior.

Suppression is typically done through the use of force or flooding. Suppression of behavior stops the behavior in the moment, but requires the dog owner to constantly repeat the steps necessary over and over. Because so many dog owners want to know "What do I do when my dog..." this feels like a solution. However, it is not actually changing the underlying cause of the behavior.

A dog with modified behavior willingly offers the alternate behavior, such as looking at the owner instead of lunging toward a strange dog, without a tight leash or physical restraint, allowing the owner to reward the more desirable behavior, rather than "correct" the undesired behavior.

Force includes punishment such as verbal corrections, leash corrections or jabbing a dog in the neck with your fingers. It can also include forcing a dog on its side or back. While techniques such as this may immediately suppress the symptoms of the problem behavior (if it does not elicit an aggressive response), the use of force can often make problems worse as the dog forms an association between the punishment and the trigger (the person, place or thing) that incites the aggressive or undesired behavior. In many cases, the frequency or form of punishment must be increased to maintain the suppression.

While there are types of punishment that can be used humanely and effectively to modify low-level training problems, the use of aversives as seen on the show suppress the symptoms of the behavior in the short-term. The long-term behavioral fallout may take months or years to surface.

Flooding. If you are afraid of spiders, will it lessen your fear if I give you a massage with a pair of tarantulas? Flooding is prolonged and forced exposure to something that is or has become unpleasant. It includes pulling a fearful dog into a swimming pool or immersing a dog-reactive dog in an environment with numerous other dogs. When a dog is flooded, they can "shut down" from stress and won't exhibit any of the problem behaviors. This is not fixing the behavior, although it appears to because the dog does not show overt signs of aggression, in fact that dog is not doing anything at all.

While true behavior modification is not a fast process, and while it certainly doesn't make for exciting television, the effects are more permanent than those gained by suppressing a behavior through the use of force or flooding.

Additional Reading

American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior Statement on Punishment
Punishment: How Not To Do It

MEDICAL CAUSES FOR BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS

Not all behavior problems are the result of a lack of training, exercise, leadership or discipline. There are many medical causes for behavior problems, as well. House training issues can be due to urinary tract infections and aggression can be a reaction to pain caused by injury or illness. Aggression could be triggered by injury or illness such as hypothyroidism.

On a recent episode of It's Me or the Dog, an American Bulldog that was exhibiting aggressive behavior towards visitors was diagnosed with hypothyroidism after the trainer recommended a vet check. The owners were previously unaware that the dog had a medical condition which was contributing to his behavior.

There are also some behaviors which do not have physical causes, but mental, such as compulsive disorders. A popular internet video shows a dog attacking its own foot. This is a very good example of an compulsive behavior problem. Problems such as this would not be modified through exercise - in fact the dog in the video exhibited this behavior after returning from walks - leadership or discipline.

A qualified professional will recognize when a behavior problem may have a medical cause and will make appropriate referrals before attempting to modify the behavior through training.

Any sudden change in behavior should always be discussed with a veterinarian.

Additional Reading
Vet Diagnoses Dogs With Compulsive Disorder

DOG PSYCHOLOGY OR POP PSYCHOLOGY?

Dog psychology or, more accurately, the study of animal behavior, is not a complete mystery that is left to the interpretation of a few individuals. While there are many areas in which our understanding is incomplete, there is a staggering amount of scientifically proven information available.

Additional Reading

Animal Trainer's Introduction to Operant and Classical Conditioning
What Were They Thinking? More Than We Knew
Clever Canines
Behavioral Science Turns to Dogs for Answers
Millennia of Human Contact Linked to Unusual Canine Cognition
Books

The Other End of the Leash
For the Love of a Dog
Dogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior and Evolution
How Dogs Learn
Excel-erated Learning.
CONCLUSION

Is exercise important? Absolutely! Do dogs need rules and boundaries? Certainly! Do humans need to stop equating dogs to humans and gain a greater understanding of dog behavior? Definitely! But how these goals are accomplished are of equal importance.

A basic understanding of canine behavior can give dog owners the knowledge they need to determine the right training methods for their dog and avoid those methods that offer new age explanations or pop psychology to sell old and potentially dangerous methods in a new package.

The fact that the show's very foundation is flawed should be enough to make dog owners think twice before buying into the methods promoted. However, in our media-centric society, if it's on television, it must be true.

Part II: Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING

Dog Whisperer Approach More Harmful Than Helpful

Training Philosophies

He Ought To Call Himself The Dog Screamer

Review Sent to National Geographic

Pros and Cons of the Cesar Phenomenon

Cesar Contends "I Help The Dogs," Experts Question His Approach

Interview with Cesar Millan mp3

The Anti-Cesar Millan

Beyond the Dominance Paradigm

Producer Sues TV's Dog Whisperer

Pack of Lies

Misguided Expert of the Year