I've noticed a disconcerting trend on the professional email lists lately. It seems that whenever someone asks a question regarding an unwanted behavior, all of the answers tippy-toe around various ways to manage the issue or how to prevent the dog from engaging in it rather than ever giving any solutions that might actually resolve the problem. Don't get me wrong - every trainer *should* know how to prevent and manage all sorts of issues, this comes right along with being a competent trainer. But shouldn't they also know how to use training to hopefully resolve the problem as well?
For example, just recently a question was asked regarding a large adolescent dog who was randomly jumping up on the back of his elderly, medically compromised owner: not a good thing. Something that could, in fact, result in that owner not being able to keep their dog. The responses ranged from:
a) tether the dog on a bed with a chew toy
b) tether the dog to something so that it cannot reach the owner
c) increase the dog's exercise
d) ignore the dog when it does it
e) mark and reward when the dog is calm.
None of these are "bad" suggestions at all! But none of them gives detailed advice on how to stop the dog from jumping in the long-term. Could it be an example of the emperor wearing no clothes? No one wants to be the one to suggest any sort of correction for this behavior? Or any training plan that would actively teach the dog *not* to jump anymore? I find this very worrisome, on many levels. There are many non-forceful ways to train this dog that there are household "rules", one of those rules being that you are not allowed to jump on your owner from any direction: front or behind. For example:
a) trainer takes the dog to their home for training - uses set-ups to catch the dog in the act before body contact and let that dog know in that instant that this will not be allowed
b) if owner does not want to send dog away, then trainer does the same thing at owner's home and instructs that dog is to be confined as above until behavior is successfully modified.
c) since this is an elderly woman with medical problems, trainer may implement a device such as remote vibration collar to help dog understand
d) actually train the dog to have self-control in the face of distractions, build bond between owner and dog, teach owner how to work with dog in various situations to build quick response. This will naturally lead to a more obedient, calmer dog.
These are simple ideas that might or might not work for this owner. But then that's part of it: figuring out what *will* work for each owner and providing a professional solution rather than trying to stay within the bounds of a politically correct answer.
Another aspect that is of concern as well, is the tendency I have noticed to instantly suggest referring nearly everything to a veterinary behaviorist. Veterinary behaviorists are a necessary and important resource and every trainer should be aware of them and understand that it is important to consider the physiological, medical aspects of behavior problems. However, a qualified trainer should be able to discern when a behavior is severe enough to warrant veterinary intervention without thinking that anything beyond basic obedience requires a trip to a veterinary behaviorist.
I find it very worrisome. If trainers begin to refer many cases away unnecessarily and thereby cause owners to feel that perhaps this expense and trouble is more than they can bear - what may happen to all of these dogs? I'm talking about cases which are not beyond the realm of rather basic behavior modification but which contain some element of anxiety or slight aggression. Shouldn't a good professional trainer/behavior counselor be able to handle such a case?
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Hi Valerie, Do you mind
Hi Valerie,
Do you mind going into more detail about options a), c) and d)? Thanks!
More details, please!
Do you mind going into more details about the options you've listed for training a dog NOT to jump up? Thanks!
Great post
Valerie,
I wish you posted more here. This is such a refreshing post, and a great and pertinent question. I'll even expand more on it, training can involve many things including management until getting to the training at hand to change the behavior. The training part is not immaterial, in fact it's a very material part to the whole process. None of this lives in a vacuum.
Hi Wicket
Respectfully - I thought quite a bit about whether or not to post anything at all as far as ideas to resolve these issues. I decided to throw a couple out there since it didn't seem right not to. However, that was not the point of this post. Therefore I am not inclined as part of this blog to go into detail about training options regarding dogs who jump. I hope you understand.
Sadoop
Thank you Sadoop.
Nothing wrong with the A-E Responses
"a) tether the dog on a bed with a chew toy
b) tether the dog to something so that it cannot reach the owner
c) increase the dog's exercise
d) ignore the dog when it does it
e) mark and reward when the dog is calm."
All of the above could be used together as part of a program. The tethering is the managing and the ignoring is the punishment/consequence. The dog is being punished for jumping up and rewarded for being calm. Surely that is how dog's learn? It is training that leads to a resolution.
Someone gave me a hard time once because I was being very neutral and ignoring a Golden Retriever who was jumping up. It soon stopped once he realised it was non-rewarding. Someone else tried shouting at him, trying to request a 'sit' and being quite physical, all that achieved was the Retriever got more exited and jumped higher! I think some people struggle with just how effective cutting off the attention can be, in most dog's eyes it is a huge punishment.
Hi Tc
I agree, there is nothing wrong with those responses in and of themselves. And I agree that being ignored can be very painful for *some* dogs. All of the above can/should be "part" of a program. But where is the part about when the dog is off the tether or leash. Where is the part about this is an elderly woman with a medical problem and this is a large adolescent physical dog...such a person can not tolerate ignoring the dog until it realizes that jumping is non-rewarding. And there is a very real possibility that the dog will *never* think it is non-rewarding. - quite often dogs who are not extremely sensitive do not respond as we might wish to that technique. We need to try and provide a program that will/can address the entire question. And I must add that in my opinion a professional trainer really should have the ability to suggest more than one solution considering the great differences in clients, their dogs, their situation and their needs. An aspiring trainer told me the other day that she had found the "best" way to stop a dog from jumping and that is really works and it's the only solution she suggests. You know what it was? Grabbing the dog's paws and holding them when he jumps up until he's uncomfortable....I disagree and personally never use that technique. The lesson there is: don't be married to only one solution.
hmmm
It's tough to know what's going on here without ore context. As TC indicated, ignoring the jumping and marking/rewarding calm with attention can - combined with short term management to prevent the jumping from being reinforced by those you can't ask to cooperate - be a quick and easy way to train a dog not to jump. It's what I rely on with 90% of my clients and it works beautifully. It's not just management. With young children or adults whose mobility or balanced is compromised, however, it's often an impractical technique and you have to take a more active approach as Val suggests.
Thanks
Thanks, Valerie. I do understand the point of your post and see why you're not going into more detail. :)
With my dog, I used an incompatible behavior of a sit/stay in combination with self-control games and ignoring the "bad" behavior. While the behavior isn't completely extinguished, she's getting better. For me, I don't see preventative/management vs. actual training, but both could be used.
Thanks for another thought provoking blog!
The Sit Stay Alternative
Rise VanFleet, Ph.D. www.playfulpooch.org
I have had lots of luck, too, with a simple Sit/Stay and a "no touch until you're sitting" rule. My elderly parents had this same problem with their GSD, and it was resolved very quickly using this alternative behavior approach. Not only did the dog learn quickly that if she wanted to have physical contact on greeting that she had to sit first, but it was a very easy method for my parents to learn. It worked quickly, resolved the problem completely, and the dog now automatically sits for greetings now. This was positive in all regards, did not run the risk of my parents losing patience or unintentionally misusing another approach, and it did the trick. I've had the same results with others.
One factor in all training or behavioral interventions really needs to be how the owners/clients will be able to implement the solutions. This was a good example where the solution was easy for them to learn and to implement very consistently. It was also easy--and fast--to teach the alternative behavior to the dog. This was important because the prior interactions between the dog and my parents could have had serious and disastrous effects.
Hi Rise
Very helpful comments and so important to point out that one must take into account what each individual owner is capable of doing!
Valerie