Suzanne Clothier on a Dog's Needs

Comments

• StaticNfuzz

  December 2009 edited December 2009

  Thanks Crystal for posting the info....great article! Yep every dog is different and that has to be considered.
  
  With that being said however, for the majority, training classes as a pup are pretty essential.
  
  Poking around I also see this article by Ian Dunbar. In the case of average puppy a puppy k socialization class is really helpful if done right. http://www.dogstardaily.com/blogs/bad-puppy-classes
  
  Not to jump topics....I also ran across this and thought it was significant given the other discussions on this forum in regard to methods of training.
  
  I found it interesting what Dr. Dodman has to say about brain activity research and training/learning etc.
  
  "We can also look at neurotransmitters in graphic form in regions we chose to study. This is what I call the cutting edge of brain research (in dogs, at least) and we are hopeful that it will shed light on not only underlying changes in obsessive-compulsive disorder but also, in future, on other behavioral conditions like aggression, hyperactivity and phobias.  It may even be possible to assess training efficacy by seeing how large the hippocampus becomes after a few weeks of the right type of training or how severely affected fear centers are when punitive training is employed (there is already evidence that even mild/unpleasant electric shock has long lasting (like forever) detrimental effects on these centers in rodents. " 
  
  http://www.dogstardaily.com/blogs/%E2%80%9Cinside-dog%E2%80%99s-brain-it%E2%80%99s-too-dark-read%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%A6-no-more
  
  Snf
• WrylyBrindle

  December 2009 edited November -1

  I think the point is that even doing everything as right as you can, you CAN still have a dog that isn't a social butterfly and why force it? Not all dogs are socially uncomfortable because their owners neglected or screwed them up, some just aren't. Obviously they CAN be and probably most often are & we all agree training is essential and lifelong. Puppy K is excellent and everyone should do it because it helps puppies socially, but despite that some dogs are just not into what WE decide the best life for them should include. Training should be tried first to rule out fears that can be overcome. But if it is what is, at some point you are just beating your head against the wall and ruining your relationship with the dog if you keep forcing the issue. "You must learn to walk to the farm and back without getting scared. And if you DO get scared, hold it inside because it's embarrassing." Why? If he has a comfort zone in which he is happy, safe and lights up- then why?
  
  I think inappropriate emphasis is placed on the ideal image of the 'everywhere' dog, and a singular image of what a well trained dog should be, should endure and should enjoy. Not all dogs are golden retrievers. (not even all golden retrievers are all that 'golden'). Furthermore, I think we cannot rely on pure input-output/stimulus-response behaviorism alone and recognize that there are variables in personality, relationship and environment that seriously impact behavior modification effectiveness.
  
  I am not saying if a dog balks at trash cans or hates getting his nails trimmed, don't help him & just give up- I am supporting the idea that we should know our dog and expect things of him accordingly when it comes to social & recreational enrichment. *I* like going to the Field every day for an hour. Reilly likes going to the Field every day for an hour. Sage likes playing football in the yard and greeting my daughter's friends when they come over. So he can't walk to the farm, its not as important that he do so. My trainer, Marjie, has GSMDs that she works in obedience and utility- she had been frustrated getting one of her dogs to do a correct straight sit in the ring. Its the only thing they were losing points on and annoying because the dog just needed to adjust a little bit. When a child with developmental deficits came to live with them for a little while the dog was everything you could ask, and the child was calmed being with the dog, she realized the straight sits were truly unimportant, and not worth the stress in their relationship.
  
  Sage and I had an appointment with Dr Dodman three weeks ago. I felt really relieved when I was describing our counter conditioning work and he shook his head and said No, fear like his doesnt care about any food. A fear experience can be indelible- as Dodman says above. At what price do I keep exposing him, working him, when what he needs is relief and protection? There's 'giving up' and then there is 'accepting' and for a while it is hard to tell the difference.
• BradA1878

  December 2009 edited November -1

  That really is a nice little post Chrys. Thanx for sharing.
  
  I am a fan of Suzanne Clothier, and I agree, sometimes you can do it all text-book style "correct", but still end up with a different result - just like people, some dogs are introverted, or learn differently - that's when we need to take a hard look at our dogs and what they really want from their lives.
  
  I agree with Patrice too, puppy K is super important, and to bridge the gap between your post and Patrice's comment on puppy K - I have noticed something with our dogs (all but 3 have gone to puppy K), in puppy K you can really see what your dog will grow to value and just how social they are. It would be nice if puppy K trainers would take the time to look at each pup individually and give the owner suggestion on next-steps for each pup... I bet sometimes those next steps might not be the "typical" path (like moving on to obedience) for some young dosg (like in Sage or Masha's case).
  
  ----