At the series of seminars hosted by the Animal Care College at Beaconsfield the first day was conducted by well know canine behaviourist Sarah Whitehead who reviewed modern approached to canine behaviour modification. During a fascinating day, Sarah began by asking why dogs behave in specific ways. For instance, why do dogs chase to bring down their prey and not wait silently and hidden like the smaller cats, ready to pounce?
The answer is that it is the mechanism which canids have developed to identify the weakest in the group being chased. So ‘chasing’ along with other behaviours such as pulling, digging, shaking, gripping, tugging and sniffing, for instance, are ‘hard wired’ into the species as a result of the way in which they evolved as successful, hunting dogs.
What we have to do as owners is to ‘manage’ those behaviours so that the dog can live happily and comfortably in our environment. The solutions will, of course, be different depending on the circumstances. Living in a flat, in a house with a garden or in the country will all make different demands on the way the dog is required to be have. And we, as humans, have complicated the issue by selective breeding and using this particular ‘hard wired’ behaviour in the development of chasing dogs such as Greyhounds, Deerhounds and Salukis.
Unfortunately, in an increasingly restrictive society where ownership has become more difficult for family, economic and social reasons we, as owners, have a high failure rate, hence the rise of the canine trainer and behaviourist over the past thirty years. Sarah paid tribute to Barbara Woodhouse, not because she was a successful trainer, for she was not, (and she showed some hilarious video footage demonstrating her lack of success) but because she brought to our attention the fact that if dogs (and their owners) are to be happy they need to be trained.
Most serious behavioural problems are caused not just because of the dog’s hard wired DNA but because the dog physically and mentally enjoys the behaviour. If you put your dog on the lead, allow it to sniff happily all its way to the park and then let it off the lead for a free run, you are actually rewarding the dog for pulling. Do it every day and you just re-enforce the behaviour so stopping it pulling on the lead becomes virtually impossible.
There was much discussion and explanation of the chemical/neurological development of the dog’s brain not just as it is established at birth but of the way in which changes develop as the result of training. In dogs encouraged to fight and attack the dog will virtually ‘psych’ themselves up so they get an adrenalin rush which not only overcomes normal restraints but which gives their brains a chemical drench of pleasure (through the action of dopamine) when they are in obsessive/destructive mode.
Sarah explained how essential it is to study the whole of the dog’s environment when assessing problems. Most dogs spend most of each twenty-four hour period in a sate of rest/contentment. If their only excitement is ‘the day’s walk’ or even the homecoming of their owner, the ‘excitement graph’ of the day is too low to for stimulation most of the time but then screeches to the top of the scale for a very short period. It may be that this period is the ‘behaviour’ that the owner is concerned about and it is often the case that if the dog can be stimulated to a lower extent more regularly through the day the ‘problem’ behaviour either disappears of become at least manageable.
The management of behaviour is probably them most important concept for those involved in behaviour modification to understand. Solutions to problems are seldom complete or permanent. Serious unacceptable behaviours of most dogs have to be ‘managed’ because they are so ingrained that they cannot actually be resolved. Changes to the pattern of the day, the environment, diet (nutrition is vitally important especially in puppies), the provision of alternative opportunities and occupations of the dog as well advice to owners are all ways forward which the canine behaviourist must have in their armoury of techniques to deal with difficult dogs.
On the second day John Fielder, one of the UK’s most respected HR and personal development consultants, took the first session on the implications of running your own business. He began by explaining that before you begin you have to know your personal strengths and weaknesses. You know what you want to do and you have the skills for that but if you are good at figures but do not know about marketing you should not waste money on an accountant but you will need help with the advertising. Then you need to research the market. There is no point in setting up a business for which there is little demand or if those already involved in that business do not have enough to do and are not making a living!
John squeezed the three-day seminar he normally gives into three hours so the morning was very intense. He asked five deceptively simple questions: What do I intend to sell? (this could be a product or a service); who do I intend to sell to?; Who else offers a similar product/service?; How much will I charge?
In a fascinating series of interactive scenarios the delegates found themselves talking through everything from basic business concepts, viral marketing, FABs (Features and Benefits) and FUBs (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt), USPs (Unique Selling Points), added value and ‘opt in hooks’ on the Internet to advanced spin off activities - ideas which few had even considered in their business plans.
In the afternoon, David Cavill discussed the range of options available in animal care and the decisions which those wanting to become involved have to take. Firstly it is important to understand your personal circumstances. Some people are not psychologically equipped for self-employment and need the security provided by a permanent job where their employer shoulders much of the risk. Others, and an increasing number as they gain experience and confidence in themselves, are happy to take those risks with the prospect of increased rewards. The presentation was therefore split into two parts, one concentrating on the opportunities for employment and the training and qualifications required and the other on the development of businesses suitable for self-employment. There is a useful summary of his talk at www.animalcarecollege.co.uk (just click on the ‘Careers in the Animal Care Sector’ on the menu in the left hand column.)
Fascinating weekend seminar
