The British Veterinary Association (BVA) and British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) have joined forces with several UK animal welfare, behaviour, and training organisations (full list below) to warn of the possible dangers of using techniques for training dogs that can cause . . . → Read More: Problems with aversive dog training]]> Welfare Organisations Join Forces To Highlight Problems With Aversive Dog Training Techniques, UK

23 Dec 2009

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) and British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) have joined forces with several UK animal welfare, behaviour, and training organisations (full list below) to warn of the possible dangers of using techniques for training dogs that can cause pain and fear, such as some of those seen used by Cesar Millan ‘The Dog Whisperer’, who has announced a UK tour next year.

The organisations have come together to voice their serious concerns about techniques which pose welfare problems for dogs and significant risk to owners who may copy them. These concerns are shared, and the statement supported, by similar organisations around the world and in continental Europe.

Aversive training techniques, which have been seen to be used by Cesar Millan, are based on the principle of applying an unpleasant stimulus to inhibit behaviour. This kind of training technique can include the use of prong collars, electric shock collars, restricting dogs’ air supply using nooses/leads or pinning them to the ground, which can cause pain and distress.

The use of such techniques may compromise the welfare of dogs and may worsen the behavioural problems they aim to address, potentially placing owners at considerable risk. A number of scientific studies have found an association between the use of aversive training techniques and the occurrence of undesired behaviours in dogs.

The organisations believe that the use of such training techniques is not only unacceptable from a welfare perspective, but that this type of approach is not necessary for the modification of dog behaviour. Dog trainers all over the UK use reward-based methods to train dogs very effectively.

Where dogs have behaviours which owners find unacceptable, such as aggression or destruction, qualified behaviourists achieve long term changes in behaviour through the use of established and validated techniques of behaviour modification without subjecting dogs to training techniques which may cause pain or distress.

We urge dog owners to carefully consider the help they choose to train their dogs or tackle behavioural problems. Anyone can call themselves a behaviour expert, but we believe that only those with a combination of appropriate qualifications, up to date knowledge as well as skills and experience should be treating dogs, and should only do so in a way which does not put the welfare of the dogs at risk.

The jointly-sponsored website http://www.dogwelfarecampaign.org has information on:

- the misconceptions which underlie the use of aversive training techniques
- the development of behaviour in dogs
- the problems associated with the use of aversive training techniques
- finding a suitable trainer or behaviourist

The organisations involved in the campaign are:

- Dogs Trust
- The Blue Cross
- RSPCA
- The Blue Dog
- Wood Green Animal Shelters
- World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)
- The Kennel Club
- Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare
- Canine Partners, UK
- Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB)
- Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC)
- Association of Pet Dog Trainers, UK (APDT, UK)
- UK Registry of Canine Behaviours (UKRCB)
- Companion Animal Behaviour Therapy Study Group (CABTSG)
- British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA)
- British Veterinary Association (BVA)
- Australian Veterinary Association (AVA)
- Australian Veterinary Behaviour Interest Group (AVBIG)
- American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB)
- American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB)
- The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)
- The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, Inc. (CCPDT)(USA)
- European Society of Clinical Veterinary Ethology (ESCVE)
- European College of Veterinary Behavioural Medicine – Companion Animals (ECVBM-CA),
- Flemish Veterinary Working Group on Ethology (VDWE)
- Norwegian Association for Pet Behaviour (NAPB) Norsk Atferdsgruppe for Selskapsdyr (NAS)

Source
British Veterinary Association

http://www.avsabonline.org/avsabonline/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=118

Adverse Effects of Punishment

Punishment can be effective in specific cases, but it must be used carefully due to the difficulties of performing it properly compared to positive reinforcement and due to its potential adverse effects. The following is a description . . . → Read More: AVSAB statement on effects of punishment]]> American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
Position Statement on Adverse effects of Punishment

http://www.avsabonline.org/avsabonline/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=118

Adverse Effects of Punishment

Punishment can be effective in specific cases, but it must be used carefully due to the difficulties of performing it properly compared to positive reinforcement and due to its potential adverse effects. The following is a description of the difficulties and adverse effects that one should be aware of when using punishment (aversives).

It’s difficult to time punishment correctly: In order for the animal to understand what it is doing wrong, the punishment must be timed to occur: while the behavior is occurring, within 1 second, or at least before the next behavior occurs.

Punishment can strengthen the undesired behavior: In order for punishment to affect a lasting change, it should occur every time the undesirable behavior occurs. If the animal is not punished every time, then the times it is not being punished, it is actually receiving a reward. Additionally these rewards are on a variable rate of reinforcement (i.e. inconsistent punishment), which may actually strengthen the undesirable behavior. Variable rate of reinforcement is a powerful reinforcement schedule that is used to maintain behaviors trained with positive reinforcement the animals know the reward will occur eventually, but since they don’t know which time the reward will come, they keep performing the behavior with the expectation of an eventual reward. Thus the animals become like gamblers playing the slot machine.

The intensity of the punishment must be high enough: For punishment to be effective, it must be strong enough the first time. If the intensity is not high enough, the animal may get used to it (habituate), so that the same intensity no longer works. Then, the owner must escalate the intensity in order for the punishment to be effective. No matter when it is administered, punishment may cause physical harm or fear when used at the required intensity for learning to occur

Punishment may cause physical harm when administered at high intensity: Many punishments can cause physical harm to the animal. Choke chains can damage the trachea, especially in the many dogs with collapsing tracheas or hypoplastic tracheas. They can also occasionally cause Horner’s syndrome (damage to the nerve to the eye). Some dogs, especially brachycephalic breeds, have developed sudden life-threatening pulmonary edema, possibly due to the sudden upper airway obstruction leading to a rapid swing in intrathoracic pressure. And dogs prone to glaucoma may be more susceptible to the disorder since pressure by collars around the neck can increase intraocular pressure.

Regardless of the strength, punishment can cause some individuals to become extremely fearful, and this fear can generalize to other contexts: Some punishments may not cause physical harm and may not seem severe, but they can cause the animal to become fearful, and this fear may generalize to other contexts. For instance, some dogs on which the citronella or electronic collar are used with a preceding tone may react fearfully to alarm clocks, smoke detectors, or egg timers.

Punishment can facilitate or even cause aggressive behavior: Punishment has been shown to increase the likelihood of aggressive behavior in many species. Animals in which the punishment does not immediately suppress the behavior may escalate in their efforts to avoid the punishment to the point where they become aggressive. Those who already show aggressive behavior may exhibit more intense and injurious aggressive behaviors.

Punishment can suppress behaviors, including those behaviors that warn that a bite may occur: When used effectively, punishment can suppress the behavior of fearful or aggressive animals, but it may not change the association underlying the behavior. Thus, it may not address the underlying problem. For instance, if the animal is aggressive due to fear, then the use of force to stop the fearful reactions will make the dog more fearful while at the same time suppressing or masking the outward signs of fear. Once it can no longer suppress its fear, the animal may suddenly act with heightened aggression and with fewer warning signs of impending aggression. In other words, it may now attack with no warning.

Punishment can lead to a bad association: Regardless of the strength of the punishment, punishment can cause animals to develop a negative association with the person implementing it or the environment in which the punishment is used. For instance, when punishment is used for training dogs to come when called, the dogs may learn to come at a trot or walk (or cower while approaching) rather than returning to the owners at a fast run as if they enjoy returning to their owners. Or when punishment is used during obedience competition training or agility training for competitions, dogs may perform the exercises with lack of enthusiasm. This negative association is particularly clear when the dog immediately becomes energetic once the exercise is over and it is allowed to play. Pets are not the only ones who can develop a negative association from this process. Owners may develop a negative association, too. When owners use punishment, they are often angry, thus the expression of force is reinforcing to them because it temporarily decreases their anger. They may develop a habit of frequently becoming angry with their pet because it “misbehaves” in spite of their punishment. This may damage the bond with their pet.

Punishment does not teach more appropriate behaviors: One of the most important problems with punishment is that it does not address the fact that the undesirable behavior occurs because it has been reinforced— either intentionally or unintentionally. The owner may punish the bad behavior some of the time, while inadvertently reinforcing the bad behavior at other times. From the dog’s view, the owner is inconsistent and unpredictably forceful or coercive. These characteristics can hinder the pet/human bond. A more appropriate approach to problem solving is to focus on reinforcing a more appropriate behavior. Owners should determine what’s reinforcing the undesirable behavior, remove that reinforcement, and reinforce an alternate appropriate behavior instead. This leads to a better understanding of why animals behave as they do and leads to a better relationship with the animal.<

Posted by: “Christy Hill” care4k9@att.net Sun Jan 13, 2008 7:33 am . . . → Read More: How to have a good dog]]> (Thanks to Christy Hill for this great post on how to select a good dog. Her post was specifically in regard to service dogs; but is so applicable to all areas of dog training and behavior that we have re-posted it here.)

Posted by: “Christy Hill” care4k9@att.net
Sun Jan 13, 2008 7:33 am (PST)

Outside of picking a good line, health checks and good temperament testing screening….now not really selection, but a VERY important part of training a service animal….let’s look at us, the handler…

I have been training my own hearing dogs for 20 years and right now on my 5th hearing dog. I’ve worked through SEVERAL dogs over the years. What I find with self-trainers (me included) that with young dogs we expect WAAAAYYY too much out of them. When they don’t do “model” service dog behavior, our emotions and mood changes which I believe goes right down that leash to the dog. Self-trainers tend to start over analyzing and flop back and forth when they see “ONE” behavior…oh, they did that and it was bad…maybe they shouldn’t be a service dog, then we see them do something good…OH!!! they did that perfect, maybe they can be a service dog. I’ve seen this back and forth with SEVERAL people.

I think what is important with a young pup is to LET THEM BE A DOG!!!! Let them EXPLORE their environment to learn what works and doesn’t work. It isn’t the time to expect them not to interact with their environment by being good well behaved dog. I’m not saying the dog should be a maniac and shouldn’t learn “basic” manners, but shouldn’t be pushed to be perfect little service dogs. Don’t have them be in second grade and expect them to act like an 8th grader.

If they do something you don’t want, DON’T get upset! We may THINK we are not showing our dog our disappointment, but dogs can read our emotions better than WE do! I’ve learned a lot about myself by watching my dogs since they are responsive to my actions. It is amazing.

During the ages of about 7 months to 9 or 10 months is about the second fear period. They will do weird things at this time. This isn’t grounds for washing out, this is time to chill out and let your dog figure things out with CONFIDENCE. The more you expect them NOT to bark and try to suppress this behavior, the more they will do it and get stressed. This isn’t the time to be taking a pup EVERYWHERE! Nor is it time to expect your young puppy to act like a service dog in training. This is the time to LET THEM BE A PUPPY! You do train and channel behaviors, shape them, nurture them and let them EXPLORE their world to learn about it.

I can’t stress the importance of this because again, I’ve seen myself, many friends and many other people wash (out) dogs or stress dogs out because the handler put too much expectation on a dog too young. Now training a behavior is one thing, expecting a dog to do this in a stressful working environment is another. I wouldn’t expect a pup to do model service dog behavior until about 18 months.

Enjoy life with a young pup, let them grow up and have fun, then when the time is right, about 18 months, then do the right assessment of your dog. DO NOT over analyze before hand. (This does not include a dog that has developed very serious behavioral roblems, then yes do a career change for the dog).

Now go out and play some FUN puppy games!!

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Excerpts: Dogs have been used successfully for years by military and law enforcement. Dogs and their handlers are the most widely used, accurate, durable and flexible system available for detecting illegal drugs and explosives. A critical aspect of canine performance is their effective duty cycle.

Duty Cycle of the Detector Dog

A baseline study funded by a grant . . . → Read More: Detector dog duty cycle]]>

Excerpts: Dogs have been used successfully for years by military and law enforcement. Dogs and their handlers are the most widely used, accurate, durable and flexible system available for detecting illegal drugs and explosives. A critical aspect of canine performance is their effective duty cycle.

Duty Cycle of the Detector Dog

A baseline study funded by a grant from the FAA

Duty cycle of the detection dog refers to the amount of time the dog will work without observed deterioration in its detection performance. Not only is the duty cycle defined by actual performance, hits, misses, false alarms, but also by rate of searching and willingness to search. Traditionally, within the canine detection community the most frequently stated duty cycle is 30 minutes. However, within the context of the study; the maximum effective duty cycle under moderate environmental conditions was at least 91-120 minutes of continues searching. Data show that elapsed search time, total search duration, and search order were not related to probability of detection. In summary, the data showed that all four dogs were willing and able to work as long as asked, the dogs did not provide their own limits. The conditions of the study did not exceed their capabilities to work for extended periods. Variables were heat, humidity, body temperature, size of search setting and number and distribution of hides.

full article: duty cycle

U.S. Police K-9 Bldg Search Training (redacted) orig:http://www.uspcak9.com/training/johnskalskibuildingsearch.shtml(no longer active)

Before the building search training is started the dog must be . . . → Read More: Police K-9 bldg search]]> The building search is one of the most important functions performed by the patrol dog. The dog is performing the search under conditions that are very dangerous for the handler and is extremely dangerous for non canine personnel.

U.S. Police K-9 Bldg Search Training (redacted)
orig:http://www.uspcak9.com/training/johnskalskibuildingsearch.shtml(no longer active)

Before the building search training is started the dog must be proficient in the following:

1. Biting solid on a sleeve
2. Doing off lead apprehensions
3. Proficient in the out

We must also be aware that the dog will use whatever sense is most convenient for him when performing any function, including the building search. It is our responsibility to ensure that the dog becomes extremely proficient in the use of his nose to detect people in a building. The nose is used almost exclusively to at least locate the subject in a certain area of the building, and the other senses then may come into play by narrowing the area and helping to find the subject.
Training The Building Search
As mentioned in the introduction there are some requirements that should be met before starting the building search training. With the bite being used as the primary reward in training, …For the dog to have made it through the requirements of the bite work we now know that the drive to hunt and chase is strong or at least adequate. In a majority of cases the dog has already done nose work to some degree thereby tuning and creating intensity in his olfactory work.

He is checking closed doors that are slightly ajar, with his nose, in an attempt to locate the decoy. It is somewhere near this point that every now and then we have a dog that may bark at a door, either before he checks it or after, and it’s the wrong door. We DO NOT CORRECT THE DOG WITH NEGATIVE. We have seen in the past that the dog does not realize what the correction is for. Is it for going out to search? Is it for barking? Is it for being by a door?

As we make progress in the intensity, length of search, use of the nose and some semblance of a pattern, we will want to have the dog search certain areas that he may have missed. Most dogs when released will charge out and search, missing some areas. We consider this common behavior and like to see this type of enthusiasm and intensity.

Upon your entry into any building you should be aware of heat and air conditioning use and the effect it could be having on the distribution of scent in an area. The reaction of the dog may be confusing in his indication of his attempt to locate the subject;e.g.: circling in the middle of the floor with his head up in the air. Realizing that he is having difficulty we should be able to figure out the possible reason and a probable location of the suspect (s). You should also be aware through training of the possible effects in a open type building, for example a warehouse with broken windows, on a cool or cold night when it’s windy. A dog must be worked on these type of searches to hone his skills, just as he improves with the increasing difficulty of tracks and other exercises.

We should also work our dogs in places that have many different and strong smells, tire stores, supermarkets, paint shops, etc. Practice in them and learn.

Reminders/Suggestions
A good exercise in familiarity for the dog is to actually do the bite work in the building you are going to start your building searches in before you begin. This helps the dogs confidence and introduces him to the different surface under comfortable and familiar circumstances.

There is no harm in using the same building for the majority of the training. This allows the dog to concentrate on learning because he is comfortable.

Do low searches behind doors before high searches. It promotes and teaches the dog to use his nose. The other way does not create the intensity. But you must teach the high search later.

Keep in mind that all is not what it appears to be. Some doors inhale yet the door only 10 feet away may be exhaling. There is no set rules for this phenomenon.

Don’t forget to pay special attention to cold air returns. If someone crawls into one you may not get an alert or it may be at the furnace.

Remember if we run into a problem with the dog we should go back to basics. Putting the dog on a leash or backing up the process to correct a problem is nothing but good dog training. It does not show any weakness in the dog or the training but good common sense.

By keeping the situations as realistic as possible we sometimes forget the time before and leading up to the search. ..
An important factor in creating the previously mentioned condition is a proper mind set. What we should try to do is to actually believe and act as if each search in practice is real. This ability to act and make the dog think the situations are real separates the good handlers from the ordinary.

Remember, they call it the canine team! The dog can do things that you can’t and you can do things that he can’t, like think. Direct him to areas he hasn’t searched and remember he only does what the brains of the operation tells him to do.