Behavior Modification for Dogs

December 28, 2022 • Behavior Bytes Dogs I am a... Shelter Worker Trainer

By Christine D. Calder DVM DACVB

When it comes to changing behavior, training alone is often not the answer. If your goal is to change behavior long-term, your pet will need behavior modification instead. Training focuses on specific behaviors like coming when called, sitting politely at the door, touching a target with their nose, and walking on a leash without pulling. Behavior modification involves changing behavioral and emotional responses and more specifically, how your pet feels and acts. 

The Five Steps of Behavior Modification

Step One: Avoid all the things that cause the behavior. This may mean stopping all walks, placing your dog away in a “safe haven” before guests arrive, or letting toenails get a little long. While this seems counterproductive, the brain needs a vacation from all things scary to keep the behavior from worsening. During this break, medications may be needed, and new behaviors learned before the behavior modification process can even start. 

Step One: Safe Haven
Courtesy of Christine D. Calder, DVM, DACVB

Step Two: Open the lines of communication between you and your pet. Learn body language so you can understand how your dog or cat is feeling. Reduce anxiety by stopping all corrections or punishments since these methods probably are not working anyway. Instead of saying no or yelling at your pet, reinforce the behaviors you would rather see. 

Step Two: Body Language
Courtesy of Christine D. Calder, DVM, DACVB

Step Three: Build a toolbox of known behaviors such as voluntary eye contact, touch, or a chin rest. These behaviors encourage your pet to “check in” more frequently and can redirect your pet to another activity. Substitute the unwanted behavior with an alternative, like sitting instead of jumping.

Step Three: Voluntary Eye Contact
Courtesy of Christine D. Calder, DVM, DACVB

Step Three: Touch
Courtesy of Christine D. Calder, DVM, DACVB

Step Four: Many pets with behavior problems have trouble settling and focusing. Teaching your pet how to relax is often key to changing behavior long term. Before exposing your pet to the environment or to things that trigger their behavior, they need to learn how to stay calm and keep their anxiety in check.

Step Four: Relax
Courtesy of Christine D. Calder, DVM, DACVB

Step Five: Systematic Desensitization and Counter Conditioning (DS/CC) are used to change behavior long term. This is when triggers, including sounds, people, other animals, objects, and environments, are reintroduced to your pet gradually while controlling distractions and distance. Pair these triggers with good things, like food and play, to change how they feel and respond. 

Step Five: DS/CC
Courtesy of Christine D. Calder, DVM, DACVB

As you work through the steps above, remember that behavior modification will be a slow process with no quick fixes. If you have questions about your dog’s behavior, always contact your veterinarian. 

Choose Your Enrichment Wisely

December 28, 2022 • Ask LSH Dogs I am a... Pet Owner Shelter Worker

By Pat Koven, LVT, KPA- CTP

Photo Courtesy Pat Koven, LVT, KPA- CTP

Q:  How do I know what kind of toys will help with enriching my dog’s behavior? 

A:  Enrichment can be a useful tool in behavior modification. Food dispensing and puzzle toys are great substitutes for meal feeding. Some toys are mentally stimulating, and others help your pet relax. The enrichment choice will vary based on the behavior you wish to reinforce.

Commercially available puzzle toys feature drawers or spinning motions for your dog to manipulate and find treats. You can also make your own enrichment items or use the environment, such as hiding your dog’s food around a room or spread in the grass. Dogs may sniff in the grass to gather information from passersby, but this also helps to calm down.

A snuffle mat used inside the house encourages calmness and relaxation. A simple rubber mat tied with fleece can hold your dog’s kibble, training treats, and other dry food. Finely shredded cheese mixed in the fleece ties can be fun for your dog too. These types of enrichment puzzles can be used during training sessions to extend your dog’s relaxation time on their bed or mat. This is helpful when guests are visiting, or you need quiet time yourself.

Freezing your dog’s own food in the puzzle can make it last longer and encourage your pet to lick. Adding vegetables, fruit, and other treats approved by your veterinarian help to layer and stuff the puzzle for added variety.

Enrichment choice may vary based on the time of day, the environment, and your dog’s emotional needs. Use calming games when children are visiting and stimulating ones for mental and physical activity during a work break. Understand your dog’s needs and choose your reinforcements wisely.

Feline Play and Play Aggression

December 7, 2022 • Behavior Bytes Cats I am a... Veterinary Professional

By Rachel Lees LVMT, KPA CTP, LSHC-Silver, FFCP, VTS (Behavior)

Photo Courtesy Canto Images

Cats are social animals and enjoy interactions with the humans in their lives.  While some cats are particular, others will play with any object, toy, or person.  Some cats prefer social play with their owners and some enjoy playing by themselves or with other animals in the home.  

Cats come pre-wired with hunting skills. Most cats develop preferences for toys that copy normal hunting behaviors such as stalking, chasing, pouncing, grabbing, clawing, and biting. Typical kitten play behaviors often mimic these hunting skills.

Photo Courtesy Canto Images

Play postures develop by three weeks of age and can involve social play with other cats and kittens. If cats do not have an outlet, these behaviors may be used inappropriately, resulting in stalking or attacking moving hands and feet. Introducing routines, finding new ways to play, and engaging your cat with healthy play activities encourage positive behavior. 

Routines can minimize stress and create a predictable pattern for your cat to know how and when they can play. Play times should be at a time of day that works for your schedule. For example, if you are playing with your cat in the evening prior to bed, make sure playtime ends with a special treat that ends the hunting behavior and encourages rest. Toys such as wands, small mice, and fuzzy balls that encourage chasing and do not directly involve interactions with your hands are best. To keep things fresh, it is recommended to have a few toys out at a time and rotate them every two to three days, creating new excitement with each toy rotation. Food puzzles are another alternative to keep your cat engaged.

Outdoor exploration can be difficult to recreate inside. Supervised outdoor time in a catio or on leash and harness creates other positive ways to play, interact, and stimulate hunting behaviors. Some cats enjoy walks in an enclosed pet stroller or backpack carrier. You may need to condition your cat beforehand.

Understanding different ways to safely play and interact will encourage appropriate behaviors and strengthen the relationship between you and your cat.

Asking or Demanding: Cue vs Command

November 18, 2022 • CattleDog Publishing Newsletter Dogs I am a... Pet Owner Trainer

By Breanna Norris, KPA-CTP

Photo Courtesy DepositPhotos

Communication with our pets is important whether we speak to them directly or they read our body language. Training methods using harsh, bossy commands will likely produce different results from using cues said in a jolly voice which will come with rewards.

A command does not consider your dog’s emotional state or their understanding of the training. By asking for a behavior with a cue rather than a command, we are allowing your dog to be a participant in the learning. This minimizes frustration, fear, and aggression. A dog taught with cues may learn faster and enjoy the learning process. 

A command is an order which must be done and carries an implied threat of a consequence or may create a fear of punishment for not completing the task. You might repeat the command, not allow him to refuse, and then push his hips down when teaching sit. Some reasons to consider why your dog might not sit:

  • Their hips hurt.
  • There are many distractions around.
  • The ground was hot, rough, or slippery.
  • They feel unsafe or afraid in the current environment.
  • They do not understand what you are asking.

Photo Courtesy of Christine Calder, DVM, DACVB

Ordering or forcing your dog into a sit will increase their fear and make them less likely to perform the behavior when commanded the next time. They may show avoidance or stress behaviors like looking or walking away, licking their lips, or yawning. They may shut down and avoid interacting with you. 

A cue supplies an opportunity to earn a reward. A cue may be a word, scent, sound, gesture, or touch and gives an identification to the behavior. First, the desired behavior must be taught before introducing the cue. This makes sure your dog understands what behavior is expected. Use a marker and reward to communicate to your dog that they have done what you asked and chosen the correct behavior. The cue then identifies when the behavior should reoccur. The reward will motivate your dog to repeat the cued behavior. For example, when teaching your dog to sit initially, a lure may be used to guide your dog into position by moving the treat above and over their head. Their hind end should naturally drop to the floor. Make sure to mark and reward when it does. As an alternative, capturing can be used to teach the same behavior by marking and rewarding your dog when they choose to sit on their own. When this behavior is offered at least 75% of the time, it is time to introduce the cue.

Although a sit might look the same whether cued or commanded, a cued dog is a willing participant and should not appear stressed or afraid. Most importantly, you are addressing their emotional and physical needs while supporting a training relationship built on communication and trust. 

   

   

   

Why Is My Dog So Stubborn?

November 18, 2022 • Ask LSH Dogs I am a... Pet Owner

By Pat Koven, LVT, KPA- CTP

Photo Courtesy of Pat Koven, LVT, KPA- CTP

A: Your dog is not stubborn. Either they do not understand what you are asking, or they are not motivated.

If you are unclear or inconsistent in training, your dog may be confused. If your dog is jumping on you and you respond each time differently by saying sit, down, or off, they may not know which behavior you want. They may do all those actions or may not do any.

Reinforcing a behavior, good or bad, increases the likelihood of it happening again. Food, play, and affection are positive reinforcements for your dog. If you do not reinforce good behaviors often, or at all, they may stop offering the behavior since you are not paying them. Even when your dog offers the behavior reliably, they should be paid periodically. Sometimes you may need to increase the value of the reinforcement and offer chicken, cheese, or a game of fetch. This will help keep them motivated.

Distractions, pain, or fear may prevent your dog from doing what is asked. If they have a solid history of successfully doing the behavior and they stop, something has changed, and it is your responsibility to figure out the cause. If your dog is in pain, he may avoid doing a task that may cause or aggravate pain or discomfort. Fear can cause your dog to avoid performing a cue, either from fear of punishment, fear of performing the behavior, or the environment.

If pain does not seem to be a factor, move to an area with fewer distractions or practice at home. Begin with the last step they did successfully and reinforce well. Gradually reintroduce distractions and watch if your dog avoids doing the behaviors.

Training should be fun for you and your dog. By meeting your dog’s needs, you are more likely to have compliance.

Shake a Paw for Nail Trims

November 9, 2022 • Behavior Bytes Dogs I am a... Shelter Worker Trainer

By Jessica Benoit RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, EFFCP

Teaching “shake a paw” is a fun trick and can be helpful for nail trims. When your dog offers a paw, this signals to you that your dog is ready to start the nail trim. If they try to pull their paw away, stop the session and begin again when the paw is offered. Offering a paw is a quick motion trick. In the “shake hands” version, your dog offers a paw and removes it after contact. With “shake a paw”, the goal is to have your dog hold the paw out for longer durations.

Your dog learns which behavior is rewarded by taking a “picture” of the desired behavior using a clicker or verbal marker “yes” followed by a treat. This is mark and reward training.

Items needed to teach “shake a paw” include:

  • Treats.
  • Clicker or verbal marker “yes”.
  • Target, such as a clear food container or lid your dog can see the treats through.
  • Non-slip surface for the dog to sit on.

Over several sessions, hold the paw as you would if you are preparing to trim the nails. Building duration is important for this behavior.

Dogs who are gentle with their paws can be taught this behavior by following these steps with a treat in your closed fist instead of using a food container target. However, some dogs will mouth your hand, which can be uncomfortable.

Once your dog places their paw in your hand consistently, build the time you hold their paw before marking and treating by increasing up to ten seconds over several sessions.

Placing your hand flat in front of your dog is the visual cue for this behavior. Once your dog displays “shake a paw” consistently with a 5-10 second duration, you can teach consent for nail trims using this behavior.

Photo Courtesy Jessica Benoit RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, EFFCP

Step 1: Begin by cueing your dog to sit on the mat or chosen station. Mark and treat for the sit behavior.
Photo Courtesy Jessica Benoit RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, EFFCP

Step 2: Place the treat under the container and hold the target in your hand in front of the dog’s paw.
Photo Courtesy Jessica Benoit RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, EFFCP

Step 3: Any paw movement toward the container will earn a mark and treat. Repeat as many times as needed until the dog contacts the container.
Photo Courtesy Jessica Benoit RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, EFFCP

Step 4: Mark and treat for a paw on the target and repeat 3-5 times before moving on to the next step.
Photo Courtesy Jessica Benoit RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, EFFCP

Step 5: Present your hand while holding the target slightly higher each time, always keeping the target at a comfortable height. When the dog’s paw contacts the target, mark and treat.
Photo Courtesy Jessica Benoit RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, EFFCP

Step 6: Continue slowly raising your hand to the desired “shake a paw” height, usually in line with the dog’s elbow, then mark and treat.
Photo Courtesy Jessica Benoit RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, EFFCP

Step 7: Remove the container from your hand and place a treat in your closed fist. Mark and treat when your dog places their paw on your closed fist. Repeat 3-5 times. If your dog seems confused, go back to step 6.
Photo Courtesy Jessica Benoit RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, EFFCP

Step 8: Open your fist slightly and loosely hold the treat inside. Mark and treat when your dog places their paw on your open hand.
Photo Courtesy Jessica Benoit RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, EFFCP

Step 9: Next, remove the treat from your hand and slowly open your hand without the treat, so the dog begins to place their paw on your open hand.
Photo Courtesy Jessica Benoit RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, EFFCP

  

  

      

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