Because dog walking is the primary activity I have these days during our Covid-quarantine, I notice more things…
When walking a dog in New York City there are moments when we are grateful or even excited when our dog finally makes their poop, usually after several blocks of sniffing.
And, I am as much a fan of putting a positive spin on things as the next guy.
But…
When the NYC sanitation department thinks my dog’s poop earns the “special events” designation…
Dog walk in Central Park juxtapositions the mundane and the macabre.
It is one thing to hear the news and another to see it when taking the dog for a walk in Central Park.
My morning walk with Pax’e usually takes us from Central Park West at Ninety Seventh Street across the park to Ninety Seventh Street and Fifth Avenue.
It didn’t come as a surprise that Mt. Sinai was setting up hospital tents in the park just north of Ninety Seventh Street at Fifth Avenue. But like anything we think we are prepared for, sometimes when we actually see it, we realize we are not.
In human history, crises like this one are so often outlined by the juxtaposition of the mundane and the macabre.
Pax’s poses for her picture while the hospital tents go up behind her.
You could almost miss them as you look at the cute dog in the foreground.
Some trainers will tell you to make a specific sound like a dog growl or make a snake-like hiss as if these sounds are dog training magic.
Alas, there is no magic sound out there that will make a dog behave one way or the other.
However, there is magic in dog training. Eight-five percent of dog training is science, ten percent is gymnastic dance, and five percent is the dog training magic.
It feels magical when we see our dogs understand what we’ve said, and we feel like we understand what they’ve said. We build that magical connection on the simple and powerful premise of A-B-C. All of us learn behavior through this process:
A = Antecedent – the thing that requests or triggers a behavior
B = Behavior
C = Consequence – the result of the behavior (good, or not-so-good)
The (A) can be a sound that we make, a gesture, something in the environment (like a door bell), the actions of another animal in the home, a bicycle on the street, the funny look I give my dog when she is barking, etc.
No matter what our antecedent is – it only becomes magical when there are consistent consequences that follow the behavior and build understanding.
You can see Pinball looking at me trying to figure out what I’m asking for. When he gets it, he happily responds and I praise him – magic!
All of us repeat behaviors that are rewarded and not repeat behaviors that are not rewarding.
If a dog jumps on you and you respond with a subtle sound, look away, fold your arms tight to your chest, and continue no interaction until the dog stops jumping, you have offered clear immediate consequences. There is no reward and no attention for jumping.
Maybe the dog jumps again because jumping is a self reinforcing behavior. And you offer the same sequence of No Reward and No Attention. Dog will learn that the (B) behavior of jumping doesn’t get paid for – an unwanted (C) consequence.
So, the dog chooses another behavior – maybe sitting or standing next to you. This is dog training magic step one, the dog has chosen a different better behavior that we like. So, we move to step two.
Magic step two is the big one and it’s on you…
When dog chooses another behavior (B) besides jumping, like sitting or standing quietly, you MUST offer a consequence (C) that dog likes. This could be food, toys, butt scratches, etc.
This is where the magic happens and communication begins. The dog starts choosing something better and we reward that better and then ask for even better choices.
Some might suggest the dog is training you, but in reality it is a dialogue between two different species.
I offer both Remote or In-person behavior consultations.
For either remote or in-person sessions:
You will fill out a behavioral questionnaire prior to any scheduled appointment.
In our dog behavior consultation we work together to change your dog’s behavior for the better. We employ data driven force-free behavior modification protocols. And our processes will scaffold exercises that support the long-term welfare of your dog and the dog-human relationship.
You can find more details on current research and protocols for behavior modification on the following websites.
Both Remote and In-person Sessions offer great instruction and sometimes one is more effective than the other.
There are times when a remote session is a necessary alternative to an in-person meeting. If your dog has stranger phobias/aggression, resource guarding, or other issues that could make an initial in-person session very stressful for them, we would begin remotely. This jump starts training by allowing me to get more details, view videos, and set up protocols without stressing your dog. We then have a strategy before we continue in-person.
I will also need some video which usually shows me what I might not be able to see in person because your dog is in their natural setting without a stranger looming.
If a situation is dangerous, I don’t need unsafe video. I just need to see your dog in action vis-a-vis family, other dogs, and etc. – safely.
Here is a video that demonstrates how sometimes when we observe in real time, we miss a lot of signals that can help us help our dogs.
In-person sessions allow me to physically interact and demonstrate with your dog and if necessary work with you and your dog in an environment specific to your dog’s issues.
Regardless of remote or in-person sessions, I send notes to help you follow the stratagies we go over in our session. And our ultimate goal is to make your life with your dog happier and safer.
Toilet paper hooliganDrunken dogHead ChefLibrarian
While we might not be able to turn your dog from a holligan to a librarian, we can make everyone happier and more at ease.
To set up a private session or get more information, email me.
