Words and Images by: JULIA ZIVANOVIC W88924

From the many emails I receive from CMCA members travelling with their dogs, and those members I met at the Albany WA rally, it seems that dog behaviour is a hot topic. Given many of us have some downtime over January, it can often be an opportunity to relax and catch up on some reading. For this article I thought I would share with you three of the books I have found useful in helping dogs to overcome behavioural challenges.

The Cautious Canine: How to Help Dogs Conquer Their Fears by Patricia B. McConnell This is a very slim book of 20 pages but it packs a lot in. The book comes from the premise that behavioural problems in dogs often come  from fear. Incorrect treatment of those issues can make the problems worse. The book is very practical and helps you systematically work out what are the real triggers for your dog’s behaviour. Then it covers how to create a step-bystep treatment plan and how to measure your dog’s progress. If your dog’s issue  doesn’t stem from a fear of something (the vet, ceiling fans, people, trucks, vacuums, nuisance barking and so on) then this book probably won’t be of help to you. The author is very clear that to get results you have to make a commitment of time and energy in line with the severity of the problem. There is also a useful section on how to overcome the barriers like getting side tracked, not having enough time to devote to it and so on. I used this book to help develop a technique to quell anxiety about people and vehicles the dogs could hear and/or see outside the home.

What Dogs Want: A Visual Guide to Understanding Your Dog’s Every Move by Arden Moore

There are 100 postures, expression, sounds and actions covered in the book with photos. Each one covers some key points on the behaviour in question and the following four segments.

• Notes the dog breeds that are prone to the behaviour, if any.
• Outlines what your dog wants when it does the behaviour.
• Tells you how to respond to it.
• Provides vet notes on the behaviour and dealing with it.

Just a few of the behaviours listed:

• Gutting stuffed toys. Yes, it is about practicing their ‘hunting’ skills. How to respond includes making sure the toy is the right size for your dog, supervising them so you can clean up the bits before they digest them, and making it harder by wrapping the toy in an old T-shirt with the ends tied off.
• Circling in their bed before sleeping. Pampered as our dogs might be, the book states that this behaviour harks back to their ancestors that had to circle and paw at twigs and leaves to create the right bowl shape to fit their bodies so they can have a nap. How to respond is to not make a big fuss about it. Make sure the bed actually is suited to the size of your dog and perhaps look at a bed with orthopaedic foam to better support their joints.

This book is concise and easy to read with some very practical ideas on how to respond. It is a handy reference to have as well as an illuminating read.

When Pigs Fly: Training Success with Impossible Dogs by Jane Killion

While the author is a bull terrier breeder, the techniques it covers can be used on any breed. For those that do not know much about bull terriers, they are often seen as impossible dogs to train in the most basic of dog skills due to their legendary stubbornness or as the book states they are ‘not biddable’ dogs in that the dog is not willing to do your bidding just because you asked.

There is a section of the book devoted to problem behaviours like jumping up on people, nipping, going crazy when the doorbell rings, barking and more. However, this section cannot be read in isolation, as there is a system to be followed.

Most of the book covers the Pigs Fly training system. It takes a bit of a different approach, as it is just as much about training your dog’s mind as it is about its behaviour. The book covers how dogs learn, using a clicker tool, using games to get your dog to start offering to do the things you want and how you ‘shape’ your dog’s behaviours. This book avoids traditional training methods like leash corrections, verbal reprimands and physical grabbing as the author sees these as creating a sense of ‘punishment’ which just makes the dog avoid interaction.

If you have a dog that has no natural desire to please you, pays no attention to you and lacks focus on the things you want him or her to do, then this book may very well be the only book that will help you when all traditional training methods have failed.

When it comes to behavioural issues in dogs remember, there is no one right ‘method’ to address it. Dogs, like us, are individuals. Their motivation, and learned behaviours will influence the choices you make in understanding and modifying unwanted behaviours. There are many books to choose from but I hope that the three I have highlighted spark some interest in finding the right books to help you and your dogs.

Category: Unknown
Written: Fri 01 Jan 2016
Printed: January, 2016
Published By: