I’m working with several families now who have called because of differing reactive behavior in their dog, barking and lunging on leash or barking at guests in their home. Anytime I am helping families with a behavior issue in their dog, one of the early steps is coming up with a management plan to prevent their dog from practicing his/her undesirable and underlying emotions. The scientific term for that plan is called antecedent arrangement. It has an important role in teaching and changing behaviors. This mailbox on the outside of my client’s door, is a great example.
Before Trying To Change Your Pet’s Behavior, Practice This
Management
If you work with me you hear that word a lot. It is a part of any behavior modification plan.
How Behavior Chains Cause Dog Behavior Problems
If you have a dog that continues to move to the end of the leash, bark for attention, jump on people, or bump your leg at the dinner table despite your best efforts to teach an alternative behavior, there are many reasons it could be happening. One of those reasons could actually be that you are inadvertently teaching your dog a behavior chain – and those behaviors are part of it.
A Simple Solution to Dog Problems
Sharing a lesson from the field:
The other day, at an appointment with a new dog training client, one of the problems she had mentioned was how her puppy – a terrier mix – would bark A LOT at squirrels Ellie saw out this one window in the living room. If you have a dog prone to this behavior, then you more than likely can empathize with my client. You probably never knew you had so many active animals outside until you brought a dog into your life. You may even look forward to evening darkness when finally, you have some quiet.
How To Stop Your Dog From Barking Out Windows
It is not uncommon for people who share homes with a dog to complain about their furry friend bursting into a barking frenzy as a response to seeing or hearing something outside the window. Understandably the noise can be really annoying to human ears, especially when it comes at inopportune times.
Effectiveness Is Not Enough In Animal Training
I was one of more than 500 trainers from across the globe who convened on Dearborn, Michigan in March for the Karen Pryer Clicker Training Expo. It was a phenomenal opportunity to learn from some of the best trainers and behaviorists whose focus is on modifying behavior in the most positive way. What also made the weekend special for me was the chance to see my very first teacher and long time mentor, Dr. Susan Friedman (who pioneered the use of Applied Behavior Science to the care and training of captive and companion animals). In one of her lectures, ‘Effectiveness Is Not Enough’, Susan reminded us to make a habit of two things: to HELP or at least to DO NO HARM. She also talked to us about the Humane Hierarchy.