We are increasingly discussing stress and its consequences. We know more and more about its mechanisms and how much it changes our reactions, the way we see the world, and our interpretation of what is happening around us.
It’s astonishing how rarely we use this knowledge when analyzing interactions with our four-paw friends.
Did you know that the vast majority of dog behaviours that we consider problematic are due to their stress?
What makes a dog:
– demolishes the apartment,
– afraid to approach someone or something,
– not want to get into the car/bus/tram,
– afraid to enter a veterinary clinic,
– not allow you to touch/stroke/comb him,
– bark at cars/people they pass / dogs they meet,
– chase cyclists/runners/birds,
– attack a particular type of people/dog,
– chase his tail,
– not want to eat,
– pull on a leash,
– commit self-harm (e.g. bite his paws until he bleeds)?
The answer is the same everywhere: stress. However, in some cases, the cause may also be different (stomach ache when the dog does not want to eat, lack of training or bad habits when pulling on the leash, allergy in the case of biting his paws).
However, there is no doubt that the cause of most of our human problems with dog behaviour is the stress overwhelming our little friends. This repetitive stress pushes our pets to behave in a way that we call “problematic” or “undesirable” and that we aim to eliminate.
Because we do not understand that the real cause of problems is the stress our dog can’t deal with, we often judge that our dog misbehaves. We conclude we need to change this awful habit of barking/destroying shoes, etc. We decide to call a “professional” and ask him to train our dog to stop:
– barking at the neighbour,
– growling at the child,
– pouncing on the dogs he is passing by,
– defending his food,
– demolishing the apartment, etc.
Instead of helping our friend, we focus on our problem. We fight the symptoms, not the real problem.
Why does this approach persist?
Firstly, few people know what causes so-called “problematic” behaviours. We can’t blame dog owners for this. When they see a problem, they usually seek help from so-called specialists. So, it is evident that they listen to their recommendations, believe in their explanations, and follow their guidelines.
I am writing about it so that more dog owners know what can and should be expected from behaviourists. You should expect up-to-date knowledge, empathy, and understanding of dog behaviour and emotions. You should expect the specialist to solve the real problem, not to eliminate the symptoms. This is a huge difference.
Secondly, because usually changing the dog’s behaviour ) is the result of the real problem) is faster than getting to the source and solving the real problem. And the truth is that most people don’t have the knowledge to see that the behaviour they want to eliminate is just a symptom. They want the trainer to change the element that bothers them. If the dog pounces on the pets he passes on walks, a much faster method will be to eliminate this behaviour using the so-called “correction” (i.e. tugging, choking, by using the metal choke (sometimes called “no pull training collar” / “Anti bark collar” or an electric collar). The effects will be fast, and the human customer will be satisfied and convinced that it could not have been done otherwise.
Well, it can be done differently! It should be done differently! The work will take several months instead of a few days or weeks, but it will solve the problem of the carer and the dog! In addition, it will not undermine the bond and trust between the dog and his human. It will also ensure a much more durable and reliable effect!
Suppose the dog pounces on other pets, and the carer uses a choke chain to eliminate the unwanted behaviour. Will the dog’s emotions change?
Yes and no. No, because the dog will still be afraid of other pets (no matter how absurd it may sound, most dogs attack out of fear). Yes, because he will stop trusting his carer and start to be afraid of him.
Your pet’s emotions toward other dogs did not change. How do you think he will behave if one day, without a leash, he meets a spaniel or a Yorkie? If it was the leash, the choke chain, and the closeness of a human that used to block his spontaneous reactions so far, and this day, all these elements were missing, then… I don’t need to finish the sentence, I guess.
On the other hand, if you solve your dog’s problem, his emotions will change.
Let’s see: Rex used to jump on other dogs because he feared them. The question is why he was afraid of them. The answer can be:
- a) Rex did not know any other dogs very well; he never had many doggy friends;
- b) Rex had bad experiences,
- c) Rex could not get along with dogs because he was isolated from them for most of his life.
If Rex acquires social competencies, he learns how to get along with the pets he meets. If you show Rex that he can choose to approach or avoid an approaching dog, if you give him support when he feels insecure if you make sure that he finds a canine friend with whom he feels good and safe, and if you do not force him to contact other dogs, then you really solve the problem—both yours and your friend’s.
If Rex stops being afraid of other dogs, copes well with them, knows how to withdraw, and knows that he can always come to his carer for support, he will have no reason to pounce on them! By eliminating the source of unwanted behaviour, you make this behaviour useless, so it will simply disappear as a senseless effort.
If a dog attacked out of fear and now meets other pets at complete ease, and some even with pleasure, why would he attack them? As long as he does not see the need to defend himself, he will not attack another dog, even if he is without a leash and his carer.
The same applies to demolishing the apartment, fear of touch, veterinary clinic, travelling by car, and chasing cyclists. (The latter is often a way of reacting to accumulated stress, so it does not always result from fear of cyclists, although it can still be so.)
If you have a problem with your dog’s behaviour, ALWAYS think about what his problem consists of. By helping your friend, you will also solve your problem.
The matter is only sometimes obvious. If in doubt, contact a behaviourist. Please pay attention to what he focuses on. Is he aware of your fiend’s emotions? Is he searching to find the source of the problem or rather concentrating on changing the unwanted dog’s behaviour? If he works to eliminate the symptoms, look for someone else.*
*Write to me if you need help determining the source of the problem. I will be happy to help you unravel the mystery and create a plan for how to help your friend.
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