My Dog that Struggles to be Good – Behavior or Obedience: What Does My Dog Need?
I am an animal lover, a dog person, a “dog is not just a dog” kind of gal, but I am also a scientist. I diligently work to not anthropomorphize my animals. After all, they are not human, having only the thoughts of their species. When we anthropomorphize animals, we are attributing to them feelings, desires, fears and expectations that we might use to describe ourselves. I have always been fascinated with animal behavior, specializing in the ethology or normal behavior of each species. It was not until I brought a very large, lovable Labrador Retriever into my home that I began to fully understand the frustration of being the companion to a special needs, fearful dog. We named him Csonka – my dog that struggles to be good.
My children were away at college when we said goodbye to a different dog, our 13-year-old Labrador Retriever. I was heartbroken, and having been through the common realization that dogs need to live longer, I felt the need to take time to grieve before contemplating a new furry family member. Spring break approached, and my children had already found a puppy at a shelter needing to be rescued. I replied to my children, “No, not yet.” They said, “Yes, now! Come on, Mom; we are dog people, and we need a dog!” They could not imagine coming home to an empty house, free of dogs and occupied by only the old parents.
The children won, and we named her Maddie. The plan was for Maddie to be a temporary member of the family-a foster dog. That was the rule. Rules must be made to be broken, because after five minutes, I knew this pup had the temperament to be my next therapy dog and best friend. I bonded with her immediately. My husband had that mesmerizing look in his eye, the cross between madly in love and disbelief that he was allowing his heart to flutter for another dog so soon. Maddie quickly took her place as ruler of our kingdom but did not much care for alone time. She destroyed crate after crate until she finally convinced us that crating was not the wisest selection of confinement for her. She told us the first time, so why did we not listen to her? We replied to her demands by bringing home another fur baby to help ease her anxiety. There he was at the rescue event, the biggest, most beautiful, pure-bred Labrador, sweet, cuddly, smart and, of course, in need of a home. This is where the indoctrination into behavior problems in my own household begins.
Csonka and Maddie bonded right from the start-the best of friends – and our plan worked great. Maddie was not fearful of being alone as long as her new friend was nearby. Her inappropriate behaviors decreased. That for me was quantifiable, scientific. I could measure the success of our plan. That was easy I thought, but I was wrong. Csonka panted harder than any dog I had ever experienced. He could shake the bed and wake the dead. He began mounting Maddie. This was a problem as she was a 6-month-old puppy, and he weighed in excess of 100 pounds. I knew that mounting was often anxiety and not “hormones.” These behaviors increased, and I asked for help. We attempted many techniques and modifications offered to us, which only increased his behaviors. Csonka began to softly growl, close his mouth and, with a glimmer of fear in his eyes, glare at the human near him through the corner of his eyes. He licked and smacked his lips and had the Elvis-like lip quiver. He even lunged, teeth making contact with my son’s face. We had a dog bite! In my house, we had a dog bite and a big problem.
A fundamental tool toward helping dogs become well-adjusted, great family pets is obedience training. We enrolled in obedience classes and practiced our skills daily. Both dogs completed at least two years of obedience training and achieved Top Dog honors and Canine Good Citizen certifications. Csonka is a trainer’s dream as he desires to please, is highly food motivated, and works hard to do exactly what you are asking. He is a very obedient dog, but the training process did not fix my Csonka. His inappropriate behaviors only increased in frequency and duration, which forced me to step back and look at the problem from a different perspective-behaviorally.
Behavioral issues are the primary reason that cats and dogs are abandoned, relinquished or euthanized, and most are under 3 years of age. There is often confusion about the differences between obedience training and behavior counseling. Dr. Carlo Siracusa, DVM, (MS, PhD, Dip. ACVB, Dip. ECAWBM Clinical Assistant Professor of Animal Behavior, Director, Animal Behavior Service, Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania) explains, “Training is a process where the dog is learning to communicate what we want them to do. There are limits to how the dog will respond to training. For training to be successful, the dog must have a normal response to the stimulus with normal intensity. If your dog is over-stimulated or aroused, they cannot learn through operant conditioning or obedience training. Obedience training is a fundamental tool, if your dog is able to respond normally.”
How do you know if you need to seek a behavior counselor? According to Siracusa, “useful criteria to help determine if your dog needs behavior treatment are: 1) Does your dog have an inappropriate response to a stimulus? 2) Is he calm and learns to change his behavior when presented with a reinforcement or punishment, or does he respond with overwhelming fear and anxiety?” If your dog cannot respond normally and cannot focus on you, it may be time to seek professional behavior counseling. A normal dog should be able to respond and learn appropriate behaviors. Siracusa also explains,”You could be using the wrong tools. It is important to select a trainer that utilizes positive reinforcement techniques, especially when working with a fearful dog. What you teach your dog may be less important than how.”
Dr. Siracusa describes that, “not all behavior can be trained. We must change our approach, be more accepting of our dog, as not all things are possible with all dogs. They are individuals.” Dog owners must compromise and agree to work together with their dogs to help them overcome their challenges. By understanding the ethology or normal behavior of the dog, realistic expectations and goals can be clearly defined and measured. People often have unrealistic goals for their dogs. There are no cookie cutter answers to behavior treatment.
Fear is an underlying cause of many inappropriate behaviors in dogs. They may flee, freeze, fight and fidget when fearful or anxious. Some examples of how dogs fidget are: panting, pacing, trembling, lip licking and smacking, salivating, yawning, changes in eating habits, stereotypic behaviors, the Elvis-like lip quiver (like my Csonka) and many more. Dogs can even wag their tail as they are fearfully lunging and growling at you. If a dog growls at you, take the dog seriously and thank him for giving you a warning that he’s afraid. Some dogs give very subtle, hard-to-read cues before a problem arises. Owners must learn to read their dogs’ cues. Dogs do communicate with us; we just don’t do a very good job of reading what they are saying.
Environment plays a key role in the behaviors of dogs. By directly observing the home environment, modifications can be made involving adjustments, such as closing the blinds to block the outdoor view for the dog. There are often many environmental variables to consider as disturbing to your dog. It is much like detective work.
Modifying how the owners respond to their dog is key to the success of the behavior treatment plan. The human factor is often difficult as it involves a change and commitment to the treatment. It takes patience, and it’s important to realize that your dog did not get this way overnight; therefore behavior will take time to improve. People are incredibly busy, and old habits can be hard to break.
Myths and a lack of science-based opinions can get in the way of helping a dog and family. One myth is that rescue dogs exhibit the most behavior issues. According to research, this is a harmful label and misnomer to place on a group of dogs. Rescue dogs can make great pets. In fact, behavior has a genetic component, and dogs with behavior issues should not be bred. Irresponsible breeding can lead to an increase in undesirable behaviors, like extreme anxiety. Pure-bred dogs are not exempt from behavior issues. If you are looking for a new dog, don’t shy away from rescue dogs because you are afraid they come with many behavior issues. Any dog can have behavior problems and challenges.
What do you do if you have a dog with behavioral challenges? The first step is to consult with your veterinarian. Medical or pathological issues such as pain in the joints, allergies or a tooth ache can be the root of behavior problems. If your veterinarian determines your dog has no medical concerns, it may be time to call a professional animal behavior counselor. You should be careful to select a professional counselor that is knowledgeable in physiology, in the normal and abnormal stress responses of the dog, and how they learn. He or she should be trained in the scientific, research-based approach toward animal behavioral analysis.
Through my own journey with Csonka’s behavior struggles, I have a better understanding and appreciation of the struggles and heartache that can come with a behavior dog in your home. I have learned that through hard work, consistency and a positive approach, the bond with your dog can be strengthened and unbreakable. The relationship you build with your dog can teach you how to form healthy human relationships with people. Companionship with my dogs has become their motivational treat. Csonka is a family member, a best friend. When he gives me the Elvis-like lip quiver, that is my cue that he is struggling to be good and needs a gentle reminder that he is loved and a good dog.
This article first appeared in TulsaPets Magazine, May/June 2017.