Curiosity- Page 5 of 6 - Daily Dog Discoveries

Five Ways Dogs Ask For a Back Massage

June 27, 2016April 24, 2016 by Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA

In the human world, we can get quite creative when we have a sudden itch in our back and use a pen, ruler or anything handy, but how do dogs scratch their backs? It’s not like they can ask you to pass them the back scratcher or verbally let you know that “Hey, I have a terrible itch at the end of my back ,would you mind scratching it for me?” Fortunately, there are some things dogs can do to quench a sudden itch, but since dogs lack opposable thumbs it doesn’t involve anything fancy, rather their way to calm down an itch is quite down to earth… and yes, that often means literally.

Hard to Reach Spots

Just like us, dogs have some areas in their bodies that are quite difficult to reach. In particular, the back and the rump may be difficult areas to reach and dogs seem to know it. Did you ever see a dog panic when a bug is buzzing nearby their rump? If so, you may have noticed how the dog appears to be particularly worried about the bug landing on their back end or under the tail. The dog may turn his head repeatedly towards his rear while making sudden swooping movements of the back and tail in hopes that the annoying bug decides to go somewhere else.

Most likely, this sheer panic is due to the fact that the back is a hard to reach area, far away from the mouth and in an area that cannot be easily scratched. Sure the tail is there, but it’s not effective as the tails of horses and cows which are meant to deter flies with their swishing movements.

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“The reason most dogs like their rears scratched is because that is a very hard area for them to reach themselves. Think about the hardest place you have to reach in the middle of your back, and how nice it is if someone will scratch that for you.” Dr. Bonnie Beaver

1) Rolling On Their Backs

Perhaps one of the most common ways dogs scratch their backs to relieve an itch is to simply roll on their backs. Before there were groomers and their associated grooming salons, dogs had to figure out a way to get rid of dead hairs from their coats when shedding season was in full swing. By rolling, dogs could groom themselves by shedding some of their undercoat, explains Karen L. Overall, in her book ” Clinical Behavior Medicine for Small Animals.”

Once the dog is on his back, he’ll be moving himself side to side so to create some added friction between his back and the floor. The choice of surface is important here as some surfaces may not be very suitable for the purpose. A rough carpet, grass or hay may be appealing places to get a nice a back rub.

2) Rubbing Against Toys

If your dog leaves toys around the room, they might not be there just for gnawing and playing. Many dogs have found an extra creative use for them. Instead of just rolling their back on the floor, these dogs have found that rolling their backs over their toys may prove to be an effective way to ease an annoying itch, and while they are it, get a little bonus massage accompanied by groans of approvement. Preferred “massage toys” are often tug toys and other types of toys with ridges. Some toys though can be painful to roll over, so owners must be careful that their dogs don’t get injured by their vigorous rolling action over them.

3) Walking Against Walls

Some dogs can get quite creative and use various other items to get relief from their itchy backs. Some dogs will walk and rub the sides of their backs against sofas and couches. Others will rub the sides of their backs against walls as they walk against them. You can readily recognize the homes where dogs tend to do this: the walls over time develop a distinct line made of dirt and debris, right where the dog walks. And some dogs will borrow an idea from bears when they go camping: they’ll walk up to a tree and then rub their backs against that sturdy tree trunk!

Tip: Some dogs will accumulate many hairs on their rumps when they shed and these hairs may cause itchiness. Dog owners can help by brushing the rump area and removing those tufts of dead hairs which can be easily detected as they’re sometimes of a different color from the rest of the coat.

4) Soliciting Other Dogs

Dogs, as some other animals, may engage in what is known as “social grooming. ” A dog may start licking and gently nibbling another dog and the other dog may return the favor by licking and gently nibbling back. These grooming sessions generally take place with dogs relaxing side-by-side and often involves licking and nibbling gently with teeth. The nibbling action with the incisor teeth acts like a comb, removing any dirt and debris from the coat.”These behaviors are done by individuals closely associated to each other,” explains Dr. Bonnie Beaver in the book “Canine Behavior: Insights and Answers.”

However, when dogs groom each other, their focus is mostly concentrated on the ears, eyes and mouth area, so there’s likely not much luck in getting that back nibbled on. Dogs may therefore try to rub their back against other dogs as they do with walls, furniture and people’s legs.

5) Asking for Owner’s Help

And then you’ll stumble upon those dogs who will bluntly request a butt scratch by strategically backing up with their rears in the owner’s face in hopes of getting the so badly wanted rump scratch. The owner doesn’t get the message? They’ll turn around and look back wondering what they are waiting for! Some dogs take the back massage to a higher level: they’ll start shifting the weight on their back feet as they are being scratched in a happy dance matter.

Most dogs seem to love having a nice rump scratch, there are however as always some exceptions to the rule. Some dog may not like having certain areas touched and the back may be one of them. If on the other hand, your dog always enjoyed back rump scratches, and now he is moving away, there may be chances that he may be experiencing some discomfort or pain there. Watch for bald spots, unusual odors, excessive itchiness and other signs of discomfort and see your vet to let him know about your findings. In many instances, excessive rubbing against walls, carpets and other surfaces may be signs of allergies and other skin conditions.

References:

Clinical Behavioral Medicine For Small Animals, by Karen Overall, Mosby (Feb. 1 1997)
Canine Behavior: Insights and Answers, By Bonnie V. G. Beaver, Elsevier Health Sciences, Nov 11, 2008

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Twelve Dog Peeing Positions, How Does Your Dog Pee?

June 27, 2016April 23, 2016 by Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA

Let’s face it, a dog’s elimination rituals are quite interesting to study, especially considering that dogs tend to assume different peeing positions. You’ll see male dogs mostly lifting their legs, female dogs mostly squatting (even though there are exceptions to the rule) and then you’ll stumble on some dogs doing quite some amazing headstands that are worthy as a circus trick! To each their own! The question though that comes to mind is whether those peeing positions mean anything in particular, and some researchers have started actually studying the elimination habits of dogs more in depth. Hopefully, one day we’ll discover more about this. In the meanwhile, following are some interesting peeing positions in dogs. How many peeing positions can you think of?

Male Dog Peeing Position

Peeing in dogs has been often referred to as being a sexually dimorphic behavior, meaning that there are differences in the urinary rituals based on gender. Male dogs are known for leg lifting, while females are mostly known for squatting. These differences are after all not too astounding since they’re also seen in human beings, with most males standing up in front of urinals and females sitting on the toilet. Talk about the effects of anatomical differences!

There’s belief that leg lifting in male dogs must have evolved as a result of getting splashed too often with pee during elimination, but there’s likely more to that. As with many things dog, oversimplification is often not the answer! Lifting the leg also offers the advantage of directing urine with precision on vertical surfaces so that scent can be left for other dogs to examine. Male dogs are therefore known for lifting their leg and urinating more frequently, precisely directing their urine towards specific locations, generally at a higher rate than female dogs.

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Female Dog Peeing Position

In the past, it was thought that female dogs urinated mostly just for elimination purposes, but turns out that research says that female dogs also tend to scent mark. In a study, six intact female Jack Russell terriers (not in heat) were watched as they urinated on walks and areas away from their homes. It was found that female dogs were more likely to urinate more frequently when away from their homes, and that upon urinating, their urine was often targeted to objects in the environment. This proved that female dogs are interested in scent marking as well, even when they are not in heat. And what about peeing postures? The most common peeing positions noted in the female dogs were the squat-raise posture, but in order of frequency, the squat, arch-raise, combination, and handstand postures were noted as well.

Exceptions to the Rule

In the world of dog behavior, you rarely can make black and white statements as there always seem to be exceptions to the rules. You may therefore stumble on male dogs who squat and female dogs who lift their legs, what gives? According to Scott & Fuller 1965, male dogs that were set apart from each other showed a higher incidence of squatting. The strongest trigger for leg lifting appeared to be sensing the odor from a dog that belonged to a different social group. Male dogs who have always leg lifted for the main part of their life and then suddenly out of the blue start squatting, should see the vet to rule out any medical problems.

There are several female dogs who will lift their legs a slight bit when they urinate. Some may presume they do this to keep their leg out of the way from getting splashed, but more research is needed as to why some female dogs are more likely to lift their legs than simply squat. Most female dogs who lift their legs though tend to do it much less than male dogs. Female dogs who raise their legs as male dogs, may have been subjected to a phenomenon called “androgenization” explains Patricia McConnell. Basically, these masculine dogs were flushed with androgen in utero. These female dogs are more likely to display characteristics of males dogs in their behavior repertoire and that includes leg lifting.

“Pre-natal masculinization occurs in mammals that give birth to multiple offspring where the males outnumber the females in the litter and a hormonal transfer occurs during prenatal development.”~Peter Borchelt, PhD,certified applied animal behaviorist.

How Does Your Dog Pee?

How many peeing positions are there in dogs? Turns out, there are several. Sprague and Anisko found a dozen when they researched the topic back in 1973. When they studied a group of beagles, they found that females were likely to use more urination postures compared to males. Call them creative! To be exact, eight postures where found in female dogs while just four were found in male dogs! How does your dog pee?

Did you know? Females dogs may also produce small quantities of testosterone, therefore it’s not surprising if small quantities of testosterone breakdown products is found in their urine, explains Dr. Nicholas Dodman.

References:

Urinary behavior of female domestic dogs (Canis familiaris): influence of reproductive status, location, and age Sharon Cudd Wirant, Betty McGuire, Department of Biological Sciences, Clark Science Center, Smith College, Northampton, MA 01063, USA
Animal Behavior: Effects of Sex, Social Status and Gonadectomy on Countermarking by Domestic Dogs, Canis familiaris; Anneke E. Lisberg, Charles T. Snowdon
Elimination Patterns in the Laboratory Beagle, Randall H. Sprague¹ and Joseph J. Anisko, Behaviour, Volume 47, Issue 3, pages 257 – 267 Publication Year : 1973
Regulation of urine marking in male and female mice: effects of sex steroids. Kimura T, Hagiwara Y, Horm Behav. 1985 Mar;19(1):64-70.
Hart, B. L., & Eckstein, R. A. (1997). The role of gonadal hormones in the occurrence of objectionable behaviours in dogs and cats. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 52, 331-344.

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Four Dogs That Have Proven Dogs Can Climb Trees

June 27, 2016April 21, 2016 by Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA

We are used to seeing cats climb up trees like if it’s no big deal, but seeing a dog climb up a tree may seem quite close to impossible. Yet, there are several dog owners who can attest that they own talented dogs who can effectively climb up a tree; indeed, some dogs can climb up trees so well, they have even managed to escape the yard if the tree happened to be strategically close to a fence! How can dogs though manage to climb up a tree? We know that their conformation isn’t very suitable for the task, but apparently for some dogs, when there is a will there is way!

A Matter of Conformation

If cats have amazing tree climbing abilities, they must thank their sharp, retractable claws with curved angles. Cats use their claws like miniature mountaineering crampons (likely these were inspired from them!) which makes them perfect for climbing up. Those same claws though are unfortunately not well designed for climbing down though, which is why cats tend to get stuck in trees– but this is a whole different story! On top of having sharp claws, cats also have agile bodies with very mobile shoulders and hip joints which facilitate them in being proficient climbers. Most likely cats have evolved to climb trees because of their preference for living in wooded environments.

Dogs on the other hand, seem to have lived for the most part in open plains, so their body is built for this environment, suggest Xiaoming Wang, Richard H. Tedford, Mauricio Antón, in the book “Dogs: Their Fossil Relatives and Evolutionary History.” The do not have retractable claws, nor are their bodies built for being proficient climbers as the cat. Their ancestors were social hunters with bodies built more for long-distance endurance running on open fields rather than short, bursts of speed.

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Did you know? The ability to climb trees is known as “arboreal locomotion” and animals who have this skill are known as “arboreal animals.”

Exceptions to the Rule

In the dog world, it looks like you can never make any black and white statements. After discovering how the bodies of cats are built to help them climb and how a dog’s body differs from it, you would assume dogs have no good reason for hanging around trees. Even several treeing dogs, that is, dogs selectively bred to chase animals until they end climbing up a tree, stop abruptly by the tree trunk as they bark in frustration and alert the hunters of the “treed animal.”

However, it seems like some very determined dogs manage to climb up too! What dogs are capable of climbing trees? There are just a handful of dogs who have repeatedly proven they can climb up trees. Here is a list of dogs who can climb trees:

1) New Guinea Singing Dog

This very rare breed is for the most part a wild dog that has originated from the island of New Guinea; however some of these captive bred dogs are nowadays also being kept as companions. These dogs are called singing dogs for a good reason: they emit unique yet, melodious vocalizations. These dogs are relatively short-legged with very flexible limbs and spine which makes them quite agile. It is thanks to this flexibility that they are able to spread their legs sideways in a similar fashion to the Norwegian Lundehund. On top of that, these dogs can rotate their front and rear legs which allows them to climb trees to search for prey! See video below to watch these amazing dogs in action climbing up trees and singing their delightful melodies!

2) Louisiana Catahoula leopard

As the name implies, the Louisiana Catahoula leopard originated in North Central Louisiana nearby the Catahoula Lake. This dog breed with a striking coat has a history of tracking and herding wild hogs that roamed the forests. Catahoulas are known for being well muscled, powerful dogs, that give the impression of agility and endurance. And they sure are quite agile! They may be not as flexible as the New Guineas singing dogs, but there are several owners attesting that their Catahoula dogs are capable of climbing up trees!

3) The Treeing Walker Coonhound

As the name implies, this dog breed is one of those who were selectively bred to hunt raccoon, tracking them down and treeing them. Raccoon weren’t the only animals these dogs hunted though, they sometimes also would hunt down and tree bobcats, cougars and even the occasional bear. While the main job of these dogs is to bay with their distinctive howl to inform the hunter that they have treed their prey, some of these guys (and some other coonhounds) take their career at a higher level and manage to virtually climb up the tree!

4) Jack Russell Terrier

For those not familiar with these little feisty dogs, these innocent looking pooches are often labeled as big dogs in little bodies. The saying “when there is a will there is a way” fits these fearless dynamite dogs perfectly. A securely fenced yard is not an option with these fellows, it’s an obligation, as these astute dogs have quite a Houdini reputation. If they can’t jump over the fence, they’ll try to dig under and some owners have reported these little fellow can even climb their way out by using tree limbs as helpful perches to get from point A to point B!

The Bottom Line

There are certainly several other dogs who have shown to be capable of climbing trees as many dog owners can attest. As impressive as seeing a dog climb up a tree can be, it’s important to realize that a fall can prove disastrous no matter how agile the dog. Unlike cats, dogs don’t really stand a chance to land on their four feet when falling from a height ( and cats do not always land on their feet!) Definitively not worth the stunt, as much as it may impressive. For sure though, this is an eye opener, meaning that tree climbing is another of those things dog owners may want to watch for when leaving their dogs unattended in the yard. When there is a will there is way and some agile dog may manage to climb up a tree, whether they’re chasing a squirrel up a tree or planning to evade the yard.

References:

Dogs: Their Fossil Relatives and Evolutionary History, By Xiaoming Wang, Richard H. Tedford, Mauricio Antón, Columbia University Press (August 4, 2008)

Photo Credits:

Flickr, Creative Commons, Haundreis, Climbing dog 1 of 2, (CC BY 2.0)

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What’s Your Dog’s Play Style?

December 2, 2016April 1, 2016 by Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA

Let’s face it: dog play can be quite entertaining to watch and its associated amusement can even beat the best television shows. Have you ever found yourself putting down the remove and shutting off the T.V. to watch your four-legged companions play? The best part is that every dog seems to have a preferred play style. There are dogs who love to chase, dogs who love to wrestle and dogs who are just satisfied to watch other dogs play while carefully monitoring their interactions. In a previous article we looked at the different meanings behind dog sleeping positions, today instead we’ll be discovering different play styles in dogs. Interestingly, there are several! How does your dog play?

The Referees

These dogs may not actively play among other dogs much. Instead, they’ll carefully monitor play sessions sticking by the edges of a group of dogs playing. Their main “play style” seems to entail following at a distance repeatedly barking at the players and swiftly intervening if things seem to get out of hand.

What triggers their intervention? Overly exuberant play or the first signs of a fight brewing may cause them to raise their yellow “penalty card” evoking them to get in between the dogs in an attempt to split things up or break up the fun.

Caution: While these dogs’ interventions may be helpful to split things up when dogs seem to not play “by the rules,” things can turn problematic when certain dogs don’t appreciate their “fun police” intrusions and get tired of having their movement controlled.

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“Herding dogs often assume the cheerleader or fun police role.” ~Pat Miller

The Chasers

These are dogs who love to romp around chasing other dogs or being the ones chased. They may do a play bow to initiate a chasing session or they may pick up a toy to entice a game of “keep away.” Then, off they go running around wildly.

Most dogs cannot resist a game of chase when one dog takes off asking to be chased. Dogs may even take turns in a tag-like fashion and sometimes play “freeze tag” where they stop and go, stop and go. Herding breeds may add their personal twist to the game and also add staring, stalking and nipping the heels of the dog being chased in the mix.

Many dogs do not mind being chased, but some may get a bit nervous especially when they are cornered. Keep an eye on the body language of the dog being chased. If his tail is low and he is trying to hide somewhere with his ears flattened or paw raised up, there are chances he’s intimidated by the game.

Not too sure if the dog being chased is having fun? Here’s a good test to find out. Gently restrain the chasing dog and see if the dog being chased runs right back to the chaser for more play.

Caution: chasing can be contagious! Keep an eye on dogs joining in and chasing down a single dog as seen in the picture! Also, use extra caution with large dogs chasing small dogs; predatory drift is a dangerous phenomenon that can be easily avoided by simply dividing play mates by sizes. Don’t take the risk!

“A dog that is having fun chasing is relaxed and loose. The dog that becomes predatory looks stiff, fixated and intense.” Robin K. Bennet

The Rugby Players

Some dogs like to play hard and their passion may be body slamming at full speed against others dogs and even flipping them over. These dogs enjoy full-contact play which can be fun if they find another buddy with a similar play style, but the problem is that not all dogs are accepting of this rough play style.

The body slams and hip checks may be perceived as frightening to smaller dogs, old dogs, and puppies which can get hurt or end up being bullied, cautions dog trainer Jolanta Benal.

Caution: dogs who do not find this type of contact sport acceptable may respond by lunging or snapping and things can take a turn for the worse.

It’s a good idea to train rough-and -tumble dogs a solid “leave it” or a recall so they can be re-directed before things get out of hand.

The Wrestlers

As the name implies, these dogs seem to mimic a wrestling match with dogs jumping up and pawing at each other. This play style entails mostly vertical play. Along with the pawing, there’s often also big displays of teeth where dogs take turns biting on faces and necks, a behavior that many dog owners refer to as “bitey faces.”

These players are often great in inhibiting their bites and despite how vicious they look, it’s for the most part harmless play. You may sometimes stumble on hounds who will chase dogs and then they’ll start wrestling, ending the matches with fearsome growls and playful mock attacks aiming for the throat.

Many sporting and working breeds, along with the larger terriers, may enjoy this type of play.

Caution: as with rugby players, this style of play requires close monitoring to check how other dogs are perceiving it.

The Tuggers

Some dogs are particularly passionate about tug-of-war games and they’ll encourage other dogs to play by shoving their tug toy near their faces. Despite what you may have heard in the past, this game has little to do with “dominance’ but more about just having fun.

Indeed, you’ll often see large dogs “self-handicapping” when playing it with a smaller or younger dog. This game is reminiscent of ancient times, dating back centuries prior to when tug toys were invented.

Indeed, in the old days a dog’s ancestors were playing games of tug by using remnants of pieces of hides of killed animals.

Caution: this game puts dog faces close to each other and there may be some inevitable moments of direct eye contact. Watch the game as some dogs may not be comfortable with this. Also, keep an eye open for signs of resource guarding.

The Batters

You often see this play style in small, toy breed dogs or in dogs who lack confidence or have a history of being intimidated by rowdy play. These dogs engage in cat-like play where they will be gently batting other dogs’ faces with their paws and engage in other forms of soft play.

Some dogs may have converted to this play style because of some physical impairment such as arthritis or other orthopedic problem.

Caution: These dogs do best playing with appropriately sized playmates or other dogs who match their play style as wrestling, body slamming may be too much for them physically or emotionally.

As seen, there are many different play styles in dogs, but you may find that many like to combine many of the above and some dogs may have some quite unique play styles. How does your dog play? Regardless of the type of play that dogs engage in, the most important factor is to make sure everyone is having fun! A good way to dog this is by hand picking dogs that make good, compatible play mates.

References:

Quick and Dirty Tips: Dog Play Styles and Aggression, by Jolanta Benal, retrieved from the web on April 1st, 2016.
Play with Your Dog, by Pat Miller, Dogwise Publishing (July 1, 2008)
Off Leash Dog Play: A Complete Guide to Safety and Fun, by Robin Bennett, CPDT and Susan Briggs, CKO, Dogwise Publishing (January 1, 2008)

Photo Credits:

Flickr, Creative Commons, Ha, Gotcha! by Eileen, CC BY 2.0
Flickr, Creative Commons, Taro the Shiba Inu, nori chases harley, CC BY 2.0

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Discovering Why Dogs Bunny Hop when Running

June 27, 2016March 27, 2016 by Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA

It’s not a common sight, but when you see a dog bunny hopping you may be wondering what may cause such an unusual gait. Just for clarification, a dog who is bunny hopping is picking up his back legs at the same time, a movement that reminds us of how rabbits hop. It’s often seen in young dogs, but sometimes can be seen in older ones too. Because there are some medical conditions that may cause a dog to run this way, it’s always a good idea to stop by the vet for an assessment just to play it safe before assuming it’s just a cute quirk that will possibly go away as the puppy matures.

Hopping Through Grass

Sometimes, you may stumble on videos of dogs happily hopping through a tall field of grass almost as if they were the canine personification of a kangaroo. In this case, the dogs look like they may be pouncing, a hunting strategy used by predators to hunt down some small critter, perhaps a rodent. The pouncing may help the dog flush the critter out from its hiding spot so it can be caught. Some dogs will also instinctively do the bouncing/hopping behavior when a ball ends up being tossed in tall grass. It’s sure a fun behavior to watch! See the video below for a fun video of a dog hopping and pouncing through tall grass.

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A Case of Puppy Zoomies

In some cases, hopping like a bunny is simply a sign of a puppy who is playing and acting excited. Many dog owners report that their puppies bunny hop when they are happy and have a bout of zoomies. These puppies are simply having lots of fun and will run like rabbits arching their backs and tucking their rear legs under as they speed as fast as lightening. Even when getting x-rays done, many owners of puppies and young dogs claim that their vets found to nothing medically wrong with their dogs’ joints.

“I wouldn’t say that bunny hopping would make me concerned,” says veterinarian Dr. Marie on her Ask a Vet Question website. However, if there are signs of pain such as limping or whining when walking or jumping then the situation may be more concerning, she remarks.

“Bunny hopping is a descriptive term that is often at least part of a normal gait in many dogs, often young ones.” Dr. Peter Bennett

A Temporary Glitch

There is a reason why young dogs are often the ones seen bunny hopping: they are in the a transitional period of their development. As the dog is rapidly growing and adapting to his body, the developmental process can be awkward, explains veterinarian Eric Barchas.

The good news is the puppy goofiness and lack of coordination stage is often short-lived and the young dog may outgrow the bunny hopping as he matures. Generally, bunny hopping is only seen occasionally when the puppy plays, but if it seems to be persistent or if the puppy appears stiff, it’s always a good idea to check with a vet. Determining if the pup is just going through normal development or the bunny hopping may be an early sign of something else can be tricky. “This can be a difficult call in the large and giant breed pups because they are usually so gangly and awkward at this stage anyway” says Dr. Melj, a graduate of the University of MN College of Vet Med.

A Hip Dysplasia Problem

An orthopedic problem that could cause a bunny hop gait in dogs when running or climbing stairs, is hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is a condition that is most commonly seen in larger dog breeds and occurs when the dog has a loose-fitting hip joint that leads to abnormal wear and tear, eventually causing arthritis with its associated (and much dreaded) inflammation and pain. The condition arises from the abnormal development of the puppy’s hip joint. Genetics are often the main factor to blame, but environmental factors may also play a role. Dogs who are affected by forms of moderate to severe hip dysplasia may show signs as early as 4 months of age.

“Clinical signs of hip dysplasia can be seen as early as 4 months of age, however, many dogs are 8 to 12 months of age. Bunny hopping, stiffness on rising after a rest, lameness on a limb, and atrophy of the muscles of the hind limbs are typical clinical signs.” ~Dr. Daniel A. Degner, Board-certified Veterinary Surgeon.

A Possible Patella Problem

While large dogs are more prone to get hip dysplasia, small dogs are more prone to a medical condition known as luxating patella. In this case, what happens is that the knee cap (patella) pops out of its groove. Affected dogs may be seen bunny hopping or running on three legs, sometimes shifting the back legs, explains veterinarian Dr. Gary. Also known as luxated knee cap, floating kneecap or trick knee, this condition is graded into 4 degrees of severity ranging from a stifle joint that appears almost normal to a disabling degree where the patella is dislocated all of the time and requires surgical correction.

“An owner typically notices a little skip or ‘bunny hop’ in their dog’s step. The dog may even run on three legs, holding one hind leg up, and then miraculously be back on four legs as if nothing has happened. “ Adobe Veterinary Center

Other Possible Causes

What can cause a bunny hop in a dog who has had x-rays and no signs of hip problems were found? Something to consider is that x-rays can be subjective, points out veterinarian Dr. Andy, a UC Davis graduate. A veterinarian specializing in radiology can sometimes find things on x-rays that a general practitioner may miss. Other possible causes for bunny hopping other than hip dysplasia or floating knees may include growing pains, a tear of a dog’s cruciate ligament (more limping though than bunny hopping in this case), or a soft tissue injury. In some cases, vets may prescribe a trial of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to determine if there may be some form of inflammatory process going on. Other possible causes for bunny hopping in dogs also may include disorders of the nervous system. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, bunny hopping may be a sign of spinal dysraphism causing neurological symptoms by 4 to 6 weeks of age or protozoal polyradiculoneuritis causing bunny hopping by 3 to 8 weeks of age. As seen, bunny hopping can have many causes, and a stop by the vet is warranted for a diagnosis or to simply rule them out.

Disclaimer: this article is not meant to be used as substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your dog or puppy is bunny hopping, please see your vet for proper diagnosis and treatment.

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Five Dog Sleeping Position Meanings

November 21, 2016March 18, 2016 by Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA

Let’s face it: dogs tend to sleep in the oddest positions. Whether your dog sleeps on the couch, on the bed or on your feet using your slippers as a pillow, you likely must have wondered at least once or twice why dogs sleep in weird sleeping positions. Believe it or not, you can discover some interesting findings about dogs just from the position in which they sleep. While your dog’s sleeping position perhaps may not reveal as many insights as human sleeping positions do, it’s sure interesting learning what your dog’s sleeping positions may possibly mean: to each their own!

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1) The “Dead Cockroach” Position

You might see this sleeping position in dogs a lot in the “dog days” of summer. Indeed, this is a favorite summer sleeping position that looks quite silly, but your dog sure knows what he’s doing.

Turns out, “the dead cockroach” position is one of the best ways to cool down. Indeed, if you take a look at your dog’s tummy you will notice he has some areas with little fur so by exposing it to the air, he’s granted some speedy cooling.

On top of that, his big paws are also exposed to air which helps out since that’s where a dog’s exclusive sweat glands are located.

Often this sleeping position is seen in dogs who feel secure in their environment for the simple fact that by sleeping on their back they are more vulnerable as it may take some time for them to flip over and stand up in case of a threat. This position is a sign of comfort as all the muscles are relaxed. You’ll likely see your dog sleep in this position mostly when he’s indoors in his safe haven and around people he trusts. If your dog sleeps this way close to you or against you, consider it another of those ways dogs say “I love you.”

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2) The “Snowball” Position

Most likely, your dog is sleeping in the curled up, nose-to-tail snowball position when the temperatures start dipping. Indeed, this sleeping position is the best way to conserve heat. You’ll often see Siberian huskies sleeping this way, with the tail strategically covering their nose for further warmth.

However, there may be more to that. This position is somewhat similar to the human fetal sleeping position for the fact that it involves being curled up.

Other than keeping warm, this is a protective position reminiscent of ancient times when dogs used to dig up a den and sleep curled up inside. Indeed, this position not only kept dogs warm, but it also had a protective function as it helped protect vulnerable organs from dangerous predators, explains Margaret Gruen, a board-certified veterinary behavior specialist working for North Carolina State Veterinary Hospital.

Like the human fetal position, a dog sleeping in this position may be trying to feel secure and therefore can be seen sometimes in a new puppy or dog exposed to unfamiliar territory and in need of some time to acclimate to his new place, adds Dr. Gruen. This position indeed allows the dog to be on his feet immediately if need be. Does this mean that if your dog is sleeping in this position he’s feeling insecure? Not necessarily. Just as in human behavior, there are no rules written in stone.

Did you know? The curled up position may seem comfy and make a dog feel more secure, but it’s one of the less restorative sleeping positions. By sleeping curled up, your dog’s muscles are likely tense and therefore he’ll be less likely to slip into the REM stage, which is the most restorative sleep stage, explains veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker.

3) The “Pancake” Position

A dog who is sleeping flat on his side with legs extended is also comfortable in his surroundings as it takes a bit to get back on his feet from this position.

This is a restful position that works very well for restorative REM sleep. You have likely seen your dog pawing, chewing, kicking, twitching and paddling while sleeping in this position and you might be wondering whether he’s dreaming about chasing the neighbor’s cat or eating that sandwich you left unattended on the kitchen counter.

Regardless, consider that REM sleep seems to occur much more frequently in puppies and elderly dogs.

4) The “Sphinx” Position

This is a similar position to what your dog assumes when you cue him into a “down.” I remember back in dog training school, our trainer teachers under which we apprenticed, wanted our dogs in a perfect “sphinx-position down” with the front legs straight in front and the rear legs nicely tucked under.

Why so much emphasis on getting dogs in this position? This was the best position to get the dog from a down position to sprinting in little to no time. The position therefore was optimal for “down/stays,” followed by a recall, so when the dog was called, he could quickly get up on his feet and run towards us.

You might see this as a transitional position when your dog is sort of in between awakening from sleeping and getting ready to do something.

At times, this can be a sign of dog who isn’t too comfortable in his surroundings so he can be ready to react, but it may also be seen in a dog who is ready to sprint into action to follow his beloved owner around at a moment’s notice.

5) The “Super Man” Position

Does your dog sleep like Superman ready to take flight? However, instead of taking flight though, he’s drifting into dream world…

This is certainly a position that grants many chuckles and one of the most shared on social media.

It’s a variant of the sphinx position, with the back legs instead of being tucked in, being kept stretched straight out as if the dog was flying.

What does this position tell about your dog? Again, as with the dead cockroach position, this may be an attempt to cool down; however, instead of cooling his belly by airing it upwards, he’s cooling down by laying on a cool surface such as moist grass, tiles or hardwood floor.

You may likely see your dog assume this position after playing hard. Suddenly, he plops down, and since the floor’s surface feels good, he stretches his four legs out and falls asleep in this awkward position. A bit like the sphinx position, the superman position offers the advantage of allowing your dog to sprint into action as needed.

As seen, your dog’s sleeping positions can give you a few insights on what may be going on in his body and mind. In many cases, you may find that your dog sleeps in a certain position just because it’s comfy and feels good. How does your dog sleep? Regardless of how your dog sleeps, consider that it’s important that he has the opportunity to do so undisturbed. Sleep deprivation can lower a dog’s impulse threshold and increase reactivity. As the saying goes “let sleeping dogs lie.” Just as humans, dogs need their daily dose of sleep so they can restore their energy, get relief from stress hormones and wake up happy and relaxed!

“Rest and relaxation is important to the management of biological and emotional stress as it allows the body to recover from releases of ‘stress’ hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. “~ Lizi Angel, Canine Mind.

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dog sleeping position meanings

Does Daylight Saving Time Affect Your Dog?

June 27, 2016March 13, 2016 by Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA

Sunday March 13th, it’s that time of the year again, if you haven’t done so already, it’s time to move your clock ahead an hour before going to bed, but how will your dog cope with the time change? In humans, the effects of daylight saving time aren’t that good. Losing one hour of sleep may sound like a small change, but in 1999, researchers at Johns Hopkins University and Stanford found a small, yet significant increase in the number of car accidents. From the average 78.2 seen on a typical Monday, the numbers jumped up to 83.5 on the Monday following the daylight savings time shift in spring. Fortunately, dogs aren’t likely to be at the wheel on Monday morning with a cup of Java besides to keep them awake, but the time change can sure affect them as well.

Dogs Love Routines!

As we have seen in our previous article on dogs predicting when owners come home, dogs are very routine-oriented animals. They have an internal clock, that provides them with information about when it’s time to eat, go to sleep and wake up. Some dogs even seem to keep tabs on when it’s time to go on a walk or when owner come home from work.

This occurs courtesy of circadian rhythms, which include all the physical, mental and behavior changes occurring in a 24 hour cycle. In evolutionary terms, circadian rhythms offer the advantage of helping animals and plants prepare for environmental changes.

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Daylight Confusion

How your dog reacts to daylight saving time depends on how precise his routine has been so far. If your dog is used to you getting up and feeding him at different times, he may hardly notice the difference, but if you have being feeding your dog every single day precisely at 7AM, it’s quite normal for him to look at you with a puzzled face when you wake up an hour earlier. Your dog may still be in snoozing mode and his gastric juices may not be actively flowing, but the good news is that most dogs adjust fairly quickly to their new routines. There are a few things though you can do to help them out.

Fun fact: In the spring, you’re likely the one to have to wake up your dog, while in the fall, your dog is likely to wake you.

Helping Dogs Adjust

There is a way to help dogs and prevent them from getting confused about the daylight savings time change. You can adjust your dog’s schedule gradually in 10-15 minute increments starting a week prior to the time change. Simply wake up each morning earlier and earlier. If you haven’t started doing this, you still can remedy by playing with your dog or going for a walk an hour before bedtime. This should allow him to relax and be able to go to sleep an hour prior to make up for the earlier Monday morning awakening. Going to bed a little earlier Sunday night can benefit both you and your dog so you’re both more likely to wake up refreshed.

Did you know? Losing” an hour in the spring is more challenging to adjust to than “gaining” an hour in the fall.

Six Dogs Who Hate Daylight Saving Time

Think you’re the only one to dislike Daylight Savings Time? You’re not alone. Here are six adorable pooches who are not too excited to start their day. This is just for laughs, we know most dogs are eager to get up, eat and start their day!

Pointing Out the Dangers of Laser Pointers for Dogs

March 10, 2017March 11, 2016 by Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA

Let’s face it, laser pointers seem to offer an ideal way to play with dogs especially because dogs seem to be very fascinated by them. Dog owners may just sit down, move the laser point in several directions and off goes Rover, following it into a frenzied chase. The countless videos of dogs chasing laser pointers are proof that many find it to be a fun way to burn a dog’s energy. Many dog owners prefer this to a game of fetch since they don’t have to continuously toss and handle a slimy ball. As fun as the game may seem though there are certain risks associated with it and some dogs have been already paying the price.

Predatory Drive

Why are dogs so attracted to laser pointers? The main reason is that it triggers their predatory drive. Just like a ball, the rapid movement of the light beam stimulates the dog’s nervous system, triggering the dog’s chasing instinct. The mechanism is similar to when dogs in the wild were chasing critters in hopes for a meal.

All dogs have some level of predatory drive in them as it’s part of who they are, and it will come out at some time or another, whether it’s from seeing birds, squirrels or a ball pouncing in front of them.

There is really nothing wrong with stimulating the dog’s predatory drive through games as games redirect it to appropriate outlets, but laser pointers no matter how attractive they are to dogs, are quite unique for the fact that they come with a major flaw.

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Never Getting It

The main problem with the laser beam is the fact that unlike a ball, the dog never really gets to grasp it. The full predatory sequence in dogs consists of detecting the presence of prey, orienting towards it, stalking, chasing, grabbing, killing, dissecting and eating.

When dogs play with a ball, they get to catch it and some dogs even enjoy biting it or chewing on it. This fulfills a dog’s predatory drive. With the laser pointer, the dog sees the dot but he can never gets to feel it or hold it, thus never completes the chase and catch sequence. This fruitless chasing and lack of closure may cause frustration and confusion in dogs overtime.

This is nothing new. Trainers of bomb and drug sniffing dogs know for a fact that fruitless searches may overtime cause dogs to get become drained and mentally disturbed. To prevent this, their dogs are occasionally taken on dummy missions where they finally get to find something and get rewarded for it.

Obsessive Disorder

Playing frequently with laser pointers may therefore cause the onset of serious behavior problems, since overtime, the dog may start getting obsessed about it. Soon it becomes a behavior problem. It’s as if the chase instinct doesn’t turn off and the dog is constantly seeking a way to gain closure.

“I’ve seen light chasing as a pathology where they will just constantly chase around a light or shadow and pounce upon it. They just spend their whole lives wishing and waiting,” explains Nicholas Dodman, veterinary behaviorist and professor at Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

Of course, not all dogs will become obsessed about laser pointers, but with several dogs already showing signs, why take the risk?

“Will playing with a laser or flashlight beam trigger behavioral issues in your dog?…maybe…maybe not, but it has in many anecdotal cases. Will your dog get hit by a car if you let it run loose in the neighborhood?…maybe…maybe not, but are you willing to take that chance?” ~Dr. Caryn Animal Behaviorist and Dog Trainer

Alternative Games

There are several better options than using laser pointers in dogs. One option is using a flirt pole, a stick with a rope attached at the end. With a flirt pole you can just fling it around without having to move around too much and your dog gets to touch it and catch it.

Tug of war, is another great game that can be fun for dogs and owners when played by the dog tug-of-war rules. There are several other great ways to keep dogs mentally stimulated while allowing them to channel their predatory drive.

Interactive games where dogs must chase a ball, grasp it and pour the contents out, offer a stimulating challenge that’s fun to watch too!

Did you know? According to an article on New York Times, Dr. Karen Overall, a veterinary behaviorist, estimates that about 8 percent of dogs in America (that’s about five to six millions!) suffer from obsessive behaviors.

References:

Discovery News, Pets and People Addicted to Dots of Light, retrieved on March 11, 2016
New York Times, Scientists Find a Shared Gene in Dogs with Compulsive Behavior, retrieved on March 11, 2016

Photo Credits:

Flickr, Creative Commons, Laser Game, by Szapucki, (CC BY 2.0)

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Five Ways Dogs Know You’re Coming Home

June 27, 2016March 10, 2016 by Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA

Dogs often surprise us with their astounding abilities, and something really surprising is a dog’s talented perception about knowing when his owners are coming home. Surveys have demonstrated that 46 percent of dog owners in England and 45 percent of dog owners in California noticed this ability in their dogs, and in both surveys, dogs were capable of detecting their owner’s arrival less than 5 minutes prior to when the person arrived home. Some dogs though showed remarkable anticipatory signs as long as more than 10 minutes prior to the person’s arrival! How can dogs know when their owners are coming home? Following are some “pawsibilities.”

The Car’s Make and Model

OK, dogs may not be able to tell you exactly what make and model your car is, but they sure can recognize the distinctive noise of your car. Dogs are very sensitive to environmental cues and through experience they can learn to put two and two together. If every day your dog hears your car pulling into the driveway and then he hears you opening the door, through associative learning your dog will soon learn to pair the two events together. But that’s not all.

Dogs also have uncanny ability to chain together a longer series of events. We see this all the time in dogs suffering from separation anxiety. These dogs get nervous the moment you start your “getting-ready-to-go-to-work” routine as soon as you get up and prepare breakfast. So in the case of you coming home, your dog may reach a point where he’ll pair the noise of your car’s engine at a distance, the noise of your car’s breaks, the noise of your car pulling into the driveway, the noise of your car door closing, the noise of your foot steps and the noise of your keys jingling with the most anticipated event of all… you opening the door to come inside. This can explain how dogs may be able to know their owners are coming home perhaps a couple of minutes prior, but how can some dogs know even 10 minutes or more in advance?

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The Almighty Sniffer

We all know that dogs have a powerful sniffer, so it’s not surprising if dogs could smell their owners as they’re on their way home. It’s highly unlikely though that dogs could pick up their owner’s scent as they’re driving considering that scent doesn’t travel forward like sound, and on top of that, cars are for the most sealed nowadays, and at home, windows and doors are closed to prevent drafts, explains Malcolm Fish of the Essex Police Dog Section in the book “Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home” by Rupert Sheldrake. Dogs are therefore more likely to pick up their owner’s scent if they’re walking and the wind is blowing the right way, but likely at less than a mile for a dog like the bloodhound.

An interesting explanation as to how dogs may predict their owner’s arrival might come from how long the owner’s scent lingers since he leaves the house. Some researchers suggest that after dog owners leave the house, their smell lingers for some time. There’s a possibility that the scent decays slowly over the day, and that around a certain time, the dogs associate a specific amount of scent with the owners unlocking the door. The video below shows an episode from “Inside the Animal Mind”: Episode 1 Preview – BBC Two discussing this theory.

Reactions of Others

As we already know, dogs are very tuned in to the slightest changes in their environments and they easily pick up even the most subtle cues. It’s therefore no surprise if dogs could also pick up “pre-arrival” signs from those around him. If, for example, you know your husband comes home every day at 5PM, you might be carrying out tasks that are telling your dog that the anticipated arrival time is coming closer. It could be anything you do on a daily basis such as starting to prepare dinner, putting the mail on a table or unlocking the front door. Don’t forget that dogs are always watching! If you notice your dog starts getting excited when you start doing these things, it could be your dog is picking up these signs predicting your husband’s arrival.

Perception of Time

Dogs may not be able to tell you exactly what time it is if you were to ask them, but they are very tuned in to their biological clocks. If you always come home around the same time, your dog may rely on his circadian rhythm to roughly predict when you are about to come home. Circadian rhythms include all the physical, mental and behavioral changes that occur in a 24 hour cycle. They offer animals and plants an advantage in evolutionary terms as they help them anticipate and prepare for regular environmental changes.

“Dogs wear an actual clock-though internally. It is in the so-called pacemaker of their brain, which regulates the activities of other cells of the body through the day.” ~Alexandra Horowitz

Psychic or Telepathic Powers

Finally, sometimes we stumble on things that are unexplainable even when it comes to science. Take for example the behavior of Jaytee, a mongrel terrier who has shown the uncanny ability to anticipate the owner’s arrival up to half an hour prior, or even more. In the case of Jaytee, nobody else knew when the owner was on her way as she returned at non-routine times, and on top of that, she sometimes arrived in unfamiliar vehicles, so the above explanations wouldn’t cut it. In the research conducted by Rupert Sheldrake and Pamela Smart, they concluded that Jaytee’s behavior remains unknown to science and must be stemming from telepathic or psychic abilities or even perhaps a “sixth sense”

” There is a strong connection between humans and animals that lies beyond present-day scientific understanding.” ~ Rupert Sheldrake

References:

Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know, by Alexandra Horowitz, Scribner (September 3, 2009)
A Dog That Seems To Know When His Owner is Returning: Preliminary Investigations
Journal of Scientific Exploration 14, 233-255 (2000) Rupert Sheldrake and Pamela Smart.
Brown, D. and Sheldrake, R. (1997) Perceptive pets: a survey in California. JASPR (in the press).
Sheldrake, R. and Smart, P. (1997) Psychic pets: a survey in North-West England. JSPR 68, 353-364.
“Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home” by Rupert Sheldrake, Broadway Books; Upd Rev edition (April 26, 2011)

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The Secret Behind Dog Tricks

June 27, 2016March 3, 2016 by Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA

It’s Talent Thursday and today we will be focusing on the secret behind dog tricks. How do dogs perform tricks? We are used to seeing shows where dogs perform amazing tricks. Whether it’s a dog playing dead, a dog grabbing a tissue when a person sneezes or a dog walking backwards, what you see is mostly the finished product, but there are many things going on behind the scenes before the dog performs the tricks so naturally and fluently in front of an audience. Today, we’ll be taking a sneak peak into how dogs are taught to perform tricks and what really goes on behind public view.

A Matter of Prompts

When dogs are taught to perform tricks, there are several different kinds of prompts trainers may rely on. Prompts, as the name implies, are simply aids that help the dog perform the behavior. Food used as a lure is a common prompt used by trainers to evoke behaviors. Because dogs tend to follow treats with their noses, a food lure is often used to guide the dog into a desired position.

For example, holding a food lure at the level of the dog’s nose and lifting it up towards the back of the dog’s head will often get a dog to sit. Lower that food lure down from the dog’s nose to the middle of his paws and outwards and you may get a dog to lie down. Move the food lure in a large circle, and you’ll likely get a dog to spin. Other forms of prompts include physical prompts such as gentle physical assistance, under the form of guiding a dog with a leash or giving a light touch to get a dog to sit, however, it’s best to avoid physical prompting as it can distracting and even disruptive. Another more subtle type of prompt can be slightly leaning forward towards a standing dog to get the dog to take a few steps backwards.

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“A prompt is defined as an antecedent stimulus (something that comes before a behavior, as opposed to consequence, which comes after a behavior) that is likely to elicit (achieve without any training) the desired response. ” ~ Jean Donaldson

The Power of Reinforcement

The purpose of training a dog is getting the dog to first perform a desired behavior, and then, having the dog to repeat the behavior. As we use a prompt to get the dog to perform a behavior, how do we tell a dog: “Oh, that’s great! Can you please do it again?” The best way is to provide feedback through positive reinforcement training. To inform the dog he did something good, positive reinforcement trainers will mark the desired response with the click of the clicker or a verbal marker such as “yes!” immediately followed by a treat. Some dogs who are highly motivated by toys, may find the use of a ball instead of treats rewarding enough.

What do we accomplish by marking and rewarding behaviors? It’s as if we were telling the dog, “Yes! you got it right, here comes a treat!” For the sake of comparison, it’s sort of like a game show’s right answer bell going “ding, ding ding!’ immediately being followed by money being deposited into your account. Doesn’t getting a right answer motivate you to get more right answers in the future so you get more money? You bet!

“Skinner introduced a new term into the Law of Effect – Reinforcement. Behavior which is reinforced tends to be repeated (i.e. strengthened); behavior which is not reinforced tends to die out-or be extinguished (i.e. weakened).” ~Saul Mcleod, Psychology Tutor at The University of Manchester.

Fading the Prompts

When you watch a dog perform an impressive trick on television or at an event, you’re unlikely to see the trainer still using prompts. After all, it’s not very impressive (and it’s also very wrong!) if the trainer must show food to get the dog perform the behavior or if she must rely on other types of prompts. Good trainers will start fading prompts as soon as they can, otherwise the dog will become overly reliant on them. The longer they stick to prompts, the harder it will be to remove them. So prompts are gradually faded.

The trainer who leaned forward towards the standing dog to get him to him to take a few steps backwards, will start leaning less and less. The trainer who used a food lure to get the dog to spin by moving it in a large circle will have a little more work. First, he must fade the food lure by using an empty hand to make the large circle hand motion. Then, to make the trick even more flashy, he may be making the hand motion smaller and smaller until the dog performs the spinning trick with a mere wave of the hand.

Introducing Flashy Cues

Once a dog gets pretty good at performing a behavior, a new, flashier cue can be permanently assigned to it. In other words, the behavior can be named and the dog can be taught to perform the trick when the trainer says the cue. The cue doesn’t necessarily have to be a word. For example, a dog may have been taught to grab a tissue from a tissue box when the trainer pointed to the tissue box. To make the trick more impressive, the trainer may wish to have the dog grab the tissue the moment he sneezes. To introduce this new cue and replace the pointing gesture, the trainer would therefore first sneeze, and then point. After several repetitions, since most dogs love to anticipate, at some point, they’ll grab the tissue upon hearing the trainer sneeze even before the trainer points at the tissue box!

“Once you have the behavior you want, practice it until the dog is actively offering exactly that behavior—that perfect behavior—80% of the time, then add the cue.” ~Melissa Alexander

Feeding on Variable Schedule

You may have heard in the past that dogs who are trained with treats are bribed and will go on strike that day the person isn’t carrying treats. This may be true, there are several dogs who won’t budge until you get that treat out of your pocket, but this doesn’t mean that using treats for training is wrong. It just simply means that the treats are being used incorrectly. A good trainer will make sure to fade those food lures quickly so that the dog doesn’t rely on them and think that they’re part of the cue.

On top of that, the trainer will also move from a continuous schedule to a variable schedule. This means that while it’s fine in the initial stages of training to reward the dog for every single correct response (continuous schedule), once the dog’s behavior becomes reliable, treats can be given in an unpredictable, random manner (variable schedule, also known as intermittent schedule). Since the dog won’t know when the next treat will be coming, he’s kept on his toes just like people who don’t know when they’re going to hit the jackpot next when playing the slots at Vegas. From a performance standpoint, it means that the dog can compete in an event without the trainer having to dole out treats too often, while feedback can still be given though under the form of praise which can be rewarding on its own if it’s been astutely paired with treats in the past!

“When your pet is learning a new behavior, reward him every time he does the behavior. Once your pet has reliably learned the behavior, you want to switch to intermittent reinforcement, in which you continue with praise, but gradually reduce the number of times he receives a treat for doing the desired behavior.” ~The Humane Society of the United States

Practice Makes Perfect

Training a dog to perform a trick requires lots of practice so to attain a high level of fluency and a high response rate. To help dogs generalize the trick, the trainer makes sure to train in different contexts in gradually more and more distracting environments. The trainer may first train the trick in the home, then may practice in the yard, then on walks and then in front of a crowd. Other challenges are added, such as training the dog to perform the behavior at greater and greater distances (think a dog sitting from across a room) or for longer and longer times (such as a dog holding a five-minute stay) Distraction, distance and duration are known as the 3D’s of training and they are part of what’s needed for proofing behaviors. The rest involves getting the dog to perform the tricks with precision and speed. Once the dog performs the behavior fluently and reliably anywhere upon hearing the cue, the behavior is said to have attained stimulus control.

“When a dog performs a behavior on cue quickly, anywhere, and under a wide variety of conditions, the behavior is said to be under stimulus control.” ~Pat Miller

Did you know? Using prompts is only one way of training. There are trainers who used other different methods such as capturing, where spontaneous behaviors dogs do on their own are rewarded or shaping where successive approximations of a desired behavior are rewarded taking a step-by-step approach.

References:

Oh Behave: Dogs from Pavlov to Premack to Pinker, by Jean Donaldson, Dogwise Publishing (April 7, 2008)
Whole Dog Journal, Advanced Dog Training Methods: How to Fade Prompts and Lures by Pat Miller, retrieved from the Web on March 3rd, 2016
Clicker Training, by Karen Pryor, Fading the Click? retrieved from the Web on March 3rd, 2016
Clicker Training, by Casey LoMonaco, Everything You Wanted to Know About Proofing—But Were Afraid to Ask, retrieved from the Web on March 3rd, 2016
Clicker Training, by Casey LoMonaco, Got behaviors? Want proof? retrieved from the Web on March 3rd, 2016

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