the behaviorist came to us and I learned so sO SO much from him about me and about my dogs. Kitsune was very attentive without any food reinforcement and did amazing with him (after a good half hour of him talking with me at the table and slow introductions). He taught me how to communicate a no-fear action/reaction with Kitsune. He believed that when new people were in or around Kitsune, I would tense up because of the bite and that I was more fearful than the dog and communicating that successfully while trying to convey otherwise. He believed we have good communication with our dogs but can convey the wrong message unintentionally. He believes our dogs trust us and that Tsuki is the alpha female and Kitsune is perfectly fine with that idea and finds comfort with that structure. He believes we did a really good job with Tsuki because we got her out of rescue so young and that we are on the right track with Kitsune. While he was here, because Kitsune had incredible attentiveness to both him and me, we reinforced the off lead training (at the fenced in dog park) and attention exercises. He thinks we did a very good thing to work on grabbing his attention and redirecting his fear by making him sit or stay or shake and than using verbal praise instead of food to reward his attention to us. He believes Kitsune is a confident dog in our pack structure and we have to reinforce this in public with continued socialization because in his past life (before us) they failed him in this department. He doesn't even think he needs to bring his male dog into our home at all in our sessions because although Kitsune may be dominant food aggressive, but he is not reactive unless we give him that non-vocal vibe to be so OR if we loose control of other dogs and he has to step up out of fear or low confidence. He thinks the fight with Kobe was our fault for not reading clear signals in his discomfort with Kobe, and with the food aggression, it was just a really stuffy situation that was totally unfortunate. He also believes in free feeding, which is great because I have the community bowl and would like to keep it that way because it works for us. He doesn't believe we have to change that unless when we have a foster or a new pup in the future we see an issue, to work with it, and then re-establish the free feeding. We've scheduled a few more sessions at the behaviorists suggestion and he told me to keep working with the trust and reassuring non verbal communication. He believes that Kitsune will successfully be able to integrate with either other non dominant fosters or a young pup in due time but after our sessions we will know for sure.
I'm noticing my non verbal interaction with kitsune even more. Today after the session was his vet visit where last time he got so nervous he expressed his anal glands (so stinkin grossssss) and screamed and squirmed so much it took a bit to do the vaccinations and blood tests.. but THIS time, we connected, redirected, communicated and all went well, no screaming, no gross, no real discomfort. It.. was.. awesome.
We did. I had the opportunity to speak over the phone with him for a good hour after the evaluation (which is something he said he rarely does) and I told him what made me uncomfortable and after he asked what my expectations are for my dogs, he explained fully what he hopes to do for me and my dogs according to that expectation. Once he was here, I just felt better about dealing with him in my environment.
I wouldn't call myself ignorant, but there are a lot of things that I do not know or understand about the animal kingdom and I think the hype surrounding people like Cesar Millan puts a damper on the integrity and validity of behaviorists and "human teachers" and maybe promotes people to claim they are like him or can do what he does just from watching him, 'riding' his fame.. I will admit I went to the evaluation with that doubt, I saw his credentials, had testimonials, but I got a call from a local K9 unit that he trained, it was an amazing testimonial, I hope they use that one on every real animal lover.. so I decided for Kitsune's benefit, I'd give the behaviorist the benefit of a first session and it really worked out for everyone.
Comments
He believed we have good communication with our dogs but can convey the wrong message unintentionally.
He believes our dogs trust us and that Tsuki is the alpha female and Kitsune is perfectly fine with that idea and finds comfort with that structure.
He believes we did a really good job with Tsuki because we got her out of rescue so young and that we are on the right track with Kitsune.
While he was here, because Kitsune had incredible attentiveness to both him and me, we reinforced the off lead training (at the fenced in dog park) and attention exercises.
He thinks we did a very good thing to work on grabbing his attention and redirecting his fear by making him sit or stay or shake and than using verbal praise instead of food to reward his attention to us.
He believes Kitsune is a confident dog in our pack structure and we have to reinforce this in public with continued socialization because in his past life (before us) they failed him in this department.
He doesn't even think he needs to bring his male dog into our home at all in our sessions because although Kitsune may be dominant food aggressive, but he is not reactive unless we give him that non-vocal vibe to be so OR if we loose control of other dogs and he has to step up out of fear or low confidence. He thinks the fight with Kobe was our fault for not reading clear signals in his discomfort with Kobe, and with the food aggression, it was just a really stuffy situation that was totally unfortunate.
He also believes in free feeding, which is great because I have the community bowl and would like to keep it that way because it works for us. He doesn't believe we have to change that unless when we have a foster or a new pup in the future we see an issue, to work with it, and then re-establish the free feeding.
We've scheduled a few more sessions at the behaviorists suggestion and he told me to keep working with the trust and reassuring non verbal communication. He believes that Kitsune will successfully be able to integrate with either other non dominant fosters or a young pup in due time but after our sessions we will know for sure.
I'm noticing my non verbal interaction with kitsune even more. Today after the session was his vet visit where last time he got so nervous he expressed his anal glands (so stinkin grossssss) and screamed and squirmed so much it took a bit to do the vaccinations and blood tests.. but THIS time, we connected, redirected, communicated and all went well, no screaming, no gross, no real discomfort.
It.. was.. awesome.
So, its sounding like you've revised your opinion of the behaviorist?
I wouldn't call myself ignorant, but there are a lot of things that I do not know or understand about the animal kingdom and I think the hype surrounding people like Cesar Millan puts a damper on the integrity and validity of behaviorists and "human teachers" and maybe promotes people to claim they are like him or can do what he does just from watching him, 'riding' his fame.. I will admit I went to the evaluation with that doubt, I saw his credentials, had testimonials, but I got a call from a local K9 unit that he trained, it was an amazing testimonial, I hope they use that one on every real animal lover.. so I decided for Kitsune's benefit, I'd give the behaviorist the benefit of a first session and it really worked out for everyone.