Playing Fair (Guest Blog)

My good friend, Meghan, was able to do another guest blog for me. We discussed the matters of calming signals along with self handicapping in dogs. I felt she was more knowledgeable on the aspects of this latter topic so asked her to write about about it. This post and topic relates to calming signals which can be found in the December 2012 file of posts. Enjoy!

One of the reasons I love dogs and enjoy learning about them is that our base of knowledge about canine behavior is continuously evolving.  Lately, I’ve been fascinated with the concept of self-handicapping in dogs.  This is a phenomenon that most people who own more than one dog have observed but probably never thought about before.  Perhaps the term self-handicapping is a bit misleading because the definition (as it applies to human psychology) isn’t that flattering.  In humans, self-handicapping refers to an action or choice which prevents a person from being responsible for failure (Kolditz & Arkin, 1982).  People self-handicap because they have low self-esteem and are afraid of failing at something after putting forth effort so they make it appear as if they are incapable of doing something, even if they are clearly able.  In canines, the term refers to behavior that levels the playing field between two dogs of seemingly disparate size, strength or ability.

This behavior is the reason why my 104 lb Rottweiler can play safely with my 35 lb mixed breed.  Even though Cinna is three times larger than Ritter and could easily injure him during an enthusiastic bout of wresting there has never been a problem with the two of them even though they get rather rambunctious at times.  A well-socialized dog knows how to pull their punches so that their play partner doesn’t sustain injury.  They learn this very early in life with their litter-mates and mother.  If they bite too hard or play too roughly then their litter mates don’t want to play with them anymore or worse, they retaliate and hurt the aggressor in return.  This is one of the reasons it is so vitally important that a puppy stay with its mother and litter mates for at least six to ten weeks before being placed with a forever family.  Essentially, dogs learn that playing fair allows the game to continue for longer and keeps your playmate coming back again and again for more fun. 

For example, when my two dogs play tug, Cinna could easily jerk the rope away from Ritter at any time.  He is far larger and stronger (even as a juvenile) than Ritter.  However, not only does he NOT choose to win every game, he will use just enough strength to give Ritter a run for his money without overpowering the smaller dog.  This keeps the game going AND encourages Ritter to keep tugging.  Cinna will often go a step farther and allow Ritter to win (in fact, he allows Ritter to win most of the time during tug).  He has learned that if he lets the smaller dog win then Ritter will often bring the tug back and offer it to him for another go.  This self-handicapping isn’t limited to games with toys.  Often, when two dogs of such disparate size are engaged in wrestling type play, the larger dog will lay down and ‘sword fight’ with his or her muzzle in order to make it easier for the smaller dog.  If you’ve ever seen a Great Dane lay down while a toy dog jumps at his or her head and face while the Dane play bites at the smaller dog then you’ve seen an excellent example of self-handicapping (and an example of some well-socialized dogs).

 
This is a vital skill for all dogs to have.  As a dog trainer I can honestly say that the majority of social issues my clients have with their dogs (reactivity, aggression, over-stimulation, shyness, anxiety) are directly related to poor socialization.  If you want your dog to be able to play nice with others, it is vitally important that you allow your young puppy to engage in play and learn how to play fair with other dogs of all shapes, sizes and ages.  You can save yourself a lot of training headaches later if you allow your puppy to learn how to play with all different types of dogs.  Properly supervised puppy play is probably more important than formal training for the first few weeks of your puppy’s life.  From birth to about six months of age your puppy learns vital skills that it will need for the rest of its life.  Self-handicapping is only ONE of those skills.

 

A note about the author of this guest blog:

Meghan McMillan is a PetSmart trainer and has been working with dogs for several years. She competes in canine frisbee, has done therapy dog work and is working on getting into the obedience and agility rings. Thank you, Meghan, for taking time to address this topic.

What makes a good dog trainer?

Although this post could be considered more about opinion than fact, I wanted to share some of the things I thought were important qualities to have when you decide to train your dog. The title of this whole blog is "Dogs Speak! Let's Listen...." so that is where I will start. Dogs communicate in a number of ways, many of which we have covered here already. Our job, as trainers and owners, is to listen to the feedback. Dogs are constantly responding in ways to try and tell us something. If we take the time to stop and understand the why and how, often, communication becomes much easier. Along with the ability to listen, a huge mindset I prefer to have is not that we are trying to teach dogs how to speak our language, but instead, we are learning to speak theirs. Dogs are incredibly intuitive and smart. Often times, we're the ones who ignore or pretend that dogs are feeling or thinking a certain way even if we're wrong. Why may that be? We as humans would like to be right. We'd like to think we're correct and that we understand, but the fact is, many of us don't. Not to worry though, because that is why so much extensive research and so many studies have been done. We are constantly learning, ever changing and hoping to learn more about these creatures we so affectionately call "Man's Best Friend". If we're going to give them such a title, then they are certainly more deserving of us understanding their behavior and thought process.

"My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet." -Edith Wharton

Most if not all of their lives, dogs do their absolute best in trying to understand us as people and pleasing us. They find joy in making us happy. We owe it to them to be the best communicator and trainer we can be. This includes a variety of other things such as patience and giving dogs our time. We must understand that dogs are living creatures just like us. Not only do they deserve respect but we must realize that they are by no means perfect. No dog, no matter how well trained will be a robot and always get it right. Even the best trained service dogs have their off days. Sports competitors such as agility dogs, flyball dogs and frisbee dogs among other canine athletes have their downfalls and their bad days. This doesn't mean we should be angry or upset with them. We make mistakes, too. If we think about the grand scheme of things, the fact that our dogs are able to do things, that we train them to do, so well is fascinating and worthy of noting.

When we train, it's important to keep an eye out on how you as a person act. Are you stressed, angry, upset or sad? Don't train your dog. Dogs as stated are so very intuitive and pick up on things. Along with this, we as people can get very emotional and even more upset if things don't work out exactly as planned. Training goes no where if you and the dog aren't 100% in it and enjoying it. We want training to be fun, effective and enjoyable. So, if necessary, step back, evaluate and make sure you're in the correct mindset to do some training.

High value rewards are another big point for me. It's often mentioned in dog training that "you wouldn't work for free, would you?" So, why ask your dog to do so? Find what motivates your dog. More on this in my first ever blog post called *Motivation* back in the December 2012 section. Use what motivates your dog and be a fair "boss" so to speak. The dog has earned his paycheck if he does what you've asked or participates and makes excellent choices. This is what makes training fun and what keeps him coming back. If you didn't get paid on a regular basis or with a high value (money), you wouldn't want to keep working either.

Be fair and be honest. Dogs make mistakes just like us and get sidetracked as well. Be fair to your dog and offer a chance for them to do it correctly without scolding them. We don't always do things right the first time we try something new. Dogs are no different. On the basis of honesty, if you click, give a treat. This is even if you click at the wrong time. If you're a clicker trainer or someone that uses a clicker frequently, such as when shaping new behaviors, then we don't want to devalue a click. Be honest and give your dog that cookie because one wrong click/reward in a sea of correct ones doesn't will not poison your behavior or cue.

While there are many things we need to take into consideration while training, these are some of the top things that jump out at me. It's about creating a positive relationship with your dog. In order to get your dog to respond positively to you, YOU must work on being a good trainer. Use compassion, kindness, and understanding to communicate. This will make the process much easier for you and your dog!

Making Excellent Choices

Positive training is very much about choices. Good choices yield desired rewards and bad choices warrant negative punishment, which is the removal of a pleasant stimulus.  Allowing your dog to make choices creates new behaviors and lets you see what your dog is really capable of. It's about teaching the dog to chose the right behavior and that behavior is then praised.

Not only do good choices show you how smart your canine partner can really be, they're also much more effective than forcing a dog to do something. If we use force to teach a dog, the desired behavior or action may very well be achieved, but we have to think if the dog really learned anything. Can the dog perform the behavior on his own? An example would be teaching the trick, "wave". How would you go about teaching this to a dog using force? By allowing the dog to realize that using his paw gets him a yummy treat, you've taught him to offer that. Along with this, because it's his choice to lift his paw, he's learned something and feels that it's fun because cookies are involved. If I chose instead to simply lift is paw he would likely be very confused and not understand what I was asking of him. Here's an example of Vengeance learning his new trick. The "say hi" cue has been added because when waiting for him to offer an action, it is almost guaranteed that he will lift his paw. This way he can begin associating the behavior with the words that accompany it. The main point is, it's his choice and he enjoys doing this. He's alert, focused and relaxed. This is the wonder that goes along with shaping behaviors.

 

 "It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." -J.K. Rowling 

With that being said, force does work. I won't deny and I won't argue it. But, would you train without force if you could? If you could allow your dog to make excellent choices and see them love to learn, would you? What choice would YOU make if you could allow your dog to experience sheer joy and happiness while interacting with you? These are the questions you, and only you, can answer for yourself. You can chose to intimidate and scare your dog into behaving and listening or you can form an incredible relationship based on trust and understanding. Everyone has to make a choice. Just as your dog will chose to make excellent choices when given the freedom to do so, you must make the choice whether to build a relationship on fear or trust. The choice is up to you.

Rewards in Training

Rewards come in many forms including, toys, food and desirable behaviors such as off leash time or the chance to investigate something interesting. We've covered this before but in this post, I'd like to elaborate that not only are the motivators and rewards important but the manner in which their are presented and time intervals are crucial as well. In the beginning, say when we are shaping a new behavior, fast rewards within milliseconds of the behavior being performed are important. Why? Simply because, if we wait to reward that behavior, a close associated isn't always formed not to mention that if you're trying to get a dog to sit, and you reward 10 seconds after they sit, they've now had time to yawn, look around, get back up or do a number of other behaviors. It's not clear what we're rewarding for. It is highly important that we communicate what we want. A huge part of this is rewarding behaviors as soon as they are performed.

Sometimes we do reward for an incorrect behavior. That's okay, too. In a sea of many of the same behaviors performed, one small click or one treat at the wrong time doesn't make a huge difference. The important thing is that we honor the reward. If we don't stay consistent, then the clicker or your marker word, such as "yes" or "good" loses it's meaning very quickly. I, myself, would rather reward than poison or lose value for the word I've worked so hard to build up.

Something else comes to mind when I consider rewards. Especially, when we're working with young puppies or dogs that are very new to training, we want to reward numerous times. Once the behavior has become solidified, rewards can be stretched out over time. It's sort of like we have to teach the dog the game first. Once all rules have been established and the dog knows what to expect, we don't have to remind them of all the rules.

"The way positive reinforcement is carried out is more important than the amount." -B.F. Skinner 

This is important to remember as well. One could say that the speed or quickness of the reinforcement is both the way in which it is carried out as well as the amount. Rewarding often does have it's perks, but we can also look at a varied schedule of reinforcement. Sometimes we reward every 2 behaviors and sometimes we go 5 behaviors before we reward. When does the cookie or toy come next? Since the dog doesn't know, this method allows behaviors to become strong, clear and we see duration as well. The dog is going to try their very best every single time, because just maybe, this time we will give him his desired reward.

While there are many types of rewards out there and many ways in which we can deliver them, the main point is that studies have shown that positive reinforcement does wonders. It often creates behaviors that are understood better and last longer. If we associate training and behaviors with positive results and desirable rewards, the dog is more likely to repeat the actions that earn him those rewards.

After all, it's much more fun when something pleasant happens while you're learning!

Respecting Your Dog

Respect is mutual in any relationship. This applies not only to the relationships we have with other human beings but those we have with our dogs. Dogs are constantly communicating with us whether it be through vocalization, body language or even emotions. We may not speak the same language, but animals certainly know how to make themselves be heard. Unfortunately, for them, countless people chose to ignore these signals by either misinterpreting them or simply not caring to understand their dogs.

Dogs are very much like people. Though an entirely different species, they feel many of the same emotions we do. Studies have shown that dogs are unable to feel guilt. Many offer appeasing behaviors but these are not due to "knowing" they have done something wrong, but merely the fact that we are upset with them. Dogs are incredibly in tune with us and feel the change in our blood pressure, the stiffness in our body posture and the difference in our voice. If a dog feels stressed, they will communicate this with calming signals such as we discussed in a previous post. If a dog is happy, they easily express this by exuberant tail wags and a bright, happy face. If a dog is nervous they will often pin their ears back and cower. An angry dog does not have to do much to show their discontent. A low, deep growl or bared teeth will often communicate all too well that the canine you are near is not pleased. However, I've noticed, for some reason, that people still ignores these signals.

Many people think that their dogs can just "get over it" or "deal with it". If you're in a situation where you are stressed, nervous or angry at someone, I highly doubt you simply wish to deal with the situation or have someone dismiss your emotion and get over the fact that something is troubling you. So why do we do it to dogs? My question still remains, as I'll certainly admit that I've put my dogs in that situation. The more I have learned though, the more I try to understand how my dogs are feeling and what they mean to tell me and if they need some space, I can happily give it to them. This is how we avoid conflict. This is how we avoid accidents, fights, negative experiences as well as keep our dogs happy and relaxed.

I'm not sure about everyone else, but I certainly want my dog to feel comfortable and understand that I have her back anytime she needs me to let her have a moment to herself. If there is something upsetting her, I want her to know that I am her protector. I will kindly remove her from the situation or remove what is causing distress and remedy to situation. We as owners are responsible for our dogs. Dogs are very clever and certainly intuitive. They understand us and what we do for them. If we as owners respect our dogs and their emotions, a lot can be learned and gained from this. Respecting your dog will gain their trust as well as cooperation. Two clashing minds that are angry at each other rarely get anything accomplished. If your dog is upset and you get mad at your dog for not acting the way YOU believe he is supposed to, then where will that get you?

"One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say." -Bryant H. McGill

This respect comes in many different forms. It breeds mutual understanding and a relationship that lasts a lifetime. Not only should you as an owner respect your dog, but expect others to respect your dog as well. If your dog is not one for human interaction and someone continues to approach them despite your dog's warning signals to stay away, it is your duty to ask or tell that person that you wish them to give your dog some space. This goes hand in hand with dog on dog interaction. Dogs are taught through socialization and interaction with each other. Dogs learn to communicate and use their natural body language such as calming signals. If a dog is taught and learns to read these signals then often conflict is able to be avoided. Unfortunately, if you have a rambunctious puppy who is "friendly" and "just wants to say hi" but continuously pounces in an older dog's face, then eventually the older dog is forced to escalate their signal from possibly a growl to a snap. If the puppy yet again decides to not respect this signal a dog will be forced to make themselves as clear as possible in a way that could cause problems such as a bite. Yet, the puppy gave the other dog no choice. In this type of situation it is up to you as the owner to either remove your dog from the situation by respecting their choice to not interact with the puppy, to ask the puppy's owner to call their puppy to them so your dog may receive space, or that the puppy has learned to respect the fact that this certain dog may just chose to not enjoy this type of play or socialization.

All in all, respect is something that we as people often ask for and feel we deserve. We are living beings just as our dogs are. They deserve the same respect we do because they have feelings too.