July 26, 2011
Recently, what got started as a discussion on good breeders and what might define them from puppy millers turned into a debate over how dogs become “homeless.” This actually doesn’t stray (dog) from defining good breeders in an overall discussion concerning the welfare of dogs. But the discussion turned into a debate as to WHY dogs end up in shelters. One person suggested it was due in large part to the current economic crisis and owners’ losing their homes, but this does not explain why dogs and cats [included] have been routinely relinquished to shelters with millions being euthanized over the years! Our housing crisis is current; we were in an economic boom for years. Nevertheless, dogs and cats routinely were sent to shelters.
June 2, 2011
If you've never trained a Jack Russell terrier, you don't realize the patience necessary to teach them to be well-mannered with acceptable dog behaviors. If you really want a good Jack Russell, you should seek help from a qualified dog trainer that understands the breed. They can be wonderful companion dogs, but they are impulsive and retained the most unpleasant parts of the normal wolves prey drive!
October 17, 2010
Attention is considered the most basic form of behavior and “both classical and instrumental elements closely cooperate” mediating effective “perception and action” (Lindsay, 2000). In a broader view, “attentional activities specify a dog’s intentions, reveal a dog’s motivational state” and sometimes define what he is prepared to learn, thus “attentional activities” are said to “reflect a dog’s overall disposition to learn” (Lindsay, 2000). How we stimulate and control dog’s attentional behavior can have profound effect on training and behavior modification. Lindsay (2000) says “dogs pay attention to occurrences that are significant to them and learn to ignore occurrences that are irrelevant” and stimuli associated with pleasurable events or those associated with fearful events gain the most attention than other irrelevant stimuli.
September 22, 2010
Why consider the use of Shock Collars (E-Stimulus, E-Touch) carefully This is a bit technical but brief overview on this issue. I will do my best to make it easy for everyone to understand. In the JVB (2007) Overall evaluated the molecular and cellular use of shock on the learning process. She suggested, "we may be changing other behaviors or processes” with these collars technically called E-Stimulus Devices. Overall (2007) uses what she describes as “a landmark study” by Schilder and van der Borg published in Applied Animal Behavior (2004). Schilder and van der Borg noticed dogs exhibiting more stress related behavior when using these types of devices. Stress related behavior continued with the control group, during free time in the handlers presence while at parks, when dogs should be relaxed. Stress behaviors and/or conflict resolution behaviors is extensively defined in recent dog literature.
April 10, 2010
Learned helplessness is a complex behavior first identified by Seligman in 1967 who was studying experimental neurosis. One of Seligman’s experiments found “…dogs exposed to traumatic inescapable shock showed signs of neurotic elaboration and disintegration on cognitive, emotional, and motivational levels of organization” according to Lindsay (2000).