Treatment of Fear in Dogs
by Robert Forto, PhD
In an article a few weeks back I discussed the causes of fear in dogs and why it manifests. This week I will discuss the treatments of fear and how to prevent your dog from becoming fear/anxiety-induced aggressive.
Fear is more common than most people think in dogs. Almost weekly someone will come into Denver Dog Works and state that their dog is fearful of this or that and that he is aggressive. I start off by evaluating their dog and begin to explain that fear is an emotional state of dread triggered by perceived danger. Anxiety, a fear based state of uneasiness and irritability, is the state of annoyed stimulation.
All three are unpleasant emotions that cause defensiveness in living things, often resulting in defense aggression, Therese states of emotion are usually fed by a number of contributing factors instead of just one, and just like us, dogs have a limit to what they can endure before feeling the need to defend themselves. Although some dogs have a lower threshold than others, if the stimulus persists and the emotion grows in intensity, sooner or later most of us will defend ourselves. Everything that creates a feeling of unease is a potential bite and every dog has the potential for defensive aggression.
Treatment for fear/irritability/anxiety induced aggression
DO NOT punish the dog; the only way to eliminate fear is to raise confidence.
All necessary reprimands must be verbal, and only severe enough to stop the unwanted behavior. The moment the dog acknowledges the verbal reprimand, the reprimand must stop.
Interrupt and re-direct unwanted behaviors to teach the dog “don’t do this, do that.”
Teach relaxation exercises.
Carefully play games such as wrestling and tug-o-war to raise the dog’s confidence, being careful to follow the rules for games and to never overwhelm or frighten the dog.
Have the dog sleep in the same room as the owner to strengthen the trust and bond.
List all the fear triggers.
Systematically desensitize the dog to each fear trigger.
Pair up food and games with what previously caused a fear reaction.
Work at a pace that avoids putting the dog in a fearful situation, instead create a low level of arousal.
Defuse a fearful reaction by using the jolly routine, reciting poetry or signing, to change the mood.
Ignore fearful behaviors and reward non-fearful behavior.
Start an obedience training program including positive reinforcement techniques to help raise the dog’s confidence.
Always reward correct responses, confidence and good behavior.
Eliminate stress from your dog’s life.
Provide chew toys to eliminate stress and boredom.
Never leave the dog unsupervised in the presence of anyone who is not a trained part of the rehabilitation program, especially children.
Avoid close contact with strangers and especially children when not actively training the dog.
Please understand that this article is used as a guide in the treatment of fear in dogs and should in no means replace a behavior modification program under the direction of a canine behaviorist. Remember that most dog trainers do not understand the underlying causes of fear and the behavior behind it. While these trainers will be very good at teaching loose leash walking, sit, and other basic manners, I advise you to consult with a canine behaviorist if you suspect fear in your dog.
Denver Dog Works offers behavioral consultations to deal with a wide variety of behaviors including fear and aggression. All behavioral consultation are under the direction and supervision of Dr. Robert Forto, a certified canine behaviorist. If you would like to schedule an evaluation, Dr. Robert Forto can be reached through his website at www.denverdogworks.com or by phone at 303-522-1727.
_________________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works in Colorado and is a certified canine behaviorist. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at www.denverdogworks.com.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Stress and Compulsion in Dogs
Stress and Compulsion in Dogs
By Robert Forto, PhD
Is your otherwise good dog driving you to distraction repeatedly snapping at shadows or chasing his tail for hours? Robert Forto, PhD, certified canine behaviorist and training director of Denver Dog Works recalls a case from a few years ago:
A client’s bull terrier would spend much of the day staring at reflections and pouncing on shadows, he said. “He’d stare at his water bowl and refuse to drink, apparently because of the reflection. Eventually we resorted to using a rabbit sized water dispenser wrapped in a towel to get him to drink.”
Dogs exhibiting such compulsive behaviors may end up in a animal shelter or worse. “Seriously affected dogs may be euthanized if owners or veterinarians are not aware of treatments available,” Said Dr. Forto.
Chasing and other predatory pursuits and grooming are all normal dog behaviors that were once essential in the wild. Today, some dog owners unknowingly reward behaviors like tail chasing or retrieving objects, believing they are “cute.”
“But normal behaviors become problematic when performed to the excess,” Dr. Forto said. “A dog with a compulsive disorder is often unable to terminate the repetitious behavior. His normal patterns may be disrupted to the point where he would rather perform the behavior than go for a walk, come to you when you call him or even eat or drink. Understandably, this is frustrating for both the dog and owner.”
Obsessive-compulsive disorders, whether in humans or animals are repetitive, relatively unvaried behavior patterns that re exaggerated in intensity, frequency and duration. In dogs, they include pacing, spinning, tail chasing, shadow chasing, flank or fabric sucking and over-grooming. People suffering from OCD may wash their hands excessively or return home repeatedly to make sure they turned off the stove.
In young dogs, compulsive behaviors often appear before they reach sexual maturity and are exacerbated by a stressful situation. In some cases, the behaviors have a high threshold of expression—they need exposure to strong stimuli before being activates.
Frequently, the trigger or cause of the behavior is likely to be the interaction of genes and environment. For example, behavioral observations suggest compulsive tail chasing is derived from a predatory instinct gone awry. “Today, I suspect there is a genetic basis for most compulsive behaviors,” Dr. Forto said.
One reason: Some breeds are prone to certain types of compulsive behaviors. For example, Doberman Pinschers tend to exhibit flank sucking and fabric or blanket sucking disorders, while tail chasing or spinning tends to occur in Bull Terriers and German Shepherd Dogs. Large breeds, such as Golden’s and Labradors more frequently than other breeds persistently groom the lower extremities of the limbs, resulting in lesions.
Simply diverting a dog from the behavior isn’t ineffective. Once a behavior has reached compulsive proportions, the dog has no ability to terminate the behavior.
Arousal Levels
Because compulsive behaviors tend to progress if untreated the sooner the owner recognizes it, the sooner they can deal with it. Dr. Forto first suggests a veterinary visit to rule out any underlying medical conditions. Next, he advises owners to examine the dog’s environment an his management, looking at any aspect that would trigger or increase arousal levels for compulsive behaviors.
For example, dogs are social animals, and leaving then tied outside can make them feel ostracized—in addition to being vulnerable to predators and theft. Dogs who live indoors tend to feel more included and secure. However compulsive behaviors goes well beyond being lonely or bored, Dr. Forto said. “it’s a medical disorder of as yet unknown neurological origins. Although many neglected dogs do not develop compulsive disorders, the stress of insufficient social interaction can certainly be a trigger for a dog predisposed to developing compulsive behavior.”
Dogs also need more mental stimulation than the living room sofa provides. Whenever possible, owners should take their dog to work with them, on errands and especially outside to hike or retrieve balls. Obedience classes serve a double purpose. They allow owners to spend time with their dog, while giving the dog a job to do. These approaches can help avoid separation anxiety, boredom, loneliness and frustration—and compulsive behaviors they trigger.
For compulsive behaviors that cannot be interrupted, that interfere with normal functioning or resulting in physical injury medications like Prozac and other serotonin re-uptake blockers can help. They stabilize the dog’s mood so he can respond more readily to behavior modification techniques. Medications are especially effective with dogs when they have a regular schedule, lots of mental stimulation, exercise and social contact.
“Most compulsive dogs person well to a combination f behavior modification and anti-anxiety medications.” Dr. Forto said. “So far we have had good success rates, but we are not yet at 100 percent. If we can identify the genes for compulsive behaviors, we might be able to develop more effective treatments.
_____________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works in Colorado and specializes in canine aggression and violent dogs. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at www.denverdogworks.com or by phone at 303-522-1727.
By Robert Forto, PhD
Is your otherwise good dog driving you to distraction repeatedly snapping at shadows or chasing his tail for hours? Robert Forto, PhD, certified canine behaviorist and training director of Denver Dog Works recalls a case from a few years ago:
A client’s bull terrier would spend much of the day staring at reflections and pouncing on shadows, he said. “He’d stare at his water bowl and refuse to drink, apparently because of the reflection. Eventually we resorted to using a rabbit sized water dispenser wrapped in a towel to get him to drink.”
Dogs exhibiting such compulsive behaviors may end up in a animal shelter or worse. “Seriously affected dogs may be euthanized if owners or veterinarians are not aware of treatments available,” Said Dr. Forto.
Chasing and other predatory pursuits and grooming are all normal dog behaviors that were once essential in the wild. Today, some dog owners unknowingly reward behaviors like tail chasing or retrieving objects, believing they are “cute.”
“But normal behaviors become problematic when performed to the excess,” Dr. Forto said. “A dog with a compulsive disorder is often unable to terminate the repetitious behavior. His normal patterns may be disrupted to the point where he would rather perform the behavior than go for a walk, come to you when you call him or even eat or drink. Understandably, this is frustrating for both the dog and owner.”
Obsessive-compulsive disorders, whether in humans or animals are repetitive, relatively unvaried behavior patterns that re exaggerated in intensity, frequency and duration. In dogs, they include pacing, spinning, tail chasing, shadow chasing, flank or fabric sucking and over-grooming. People suffering from OCD may wash their hands excessively or return home repeatedly to make sure they turned off the stove.
In young dogs, compulsive behaviors often appear before they reach sexual maturity and are exacerbated by a stressful situation. In some cases, the behaviors have a high threshold of expression—they need exposure to strong stimuli before being activates.
Frequently, the trigger or cause of the behavior is likely to be the interaction of genes and environment. For example, behavioral observations suggest compulsive tail chasing is derived from a predatory instinct gone awry. “Today, I suspect there is a genetic basis for most compulsive behaviors,” Dr. Forto said.
One reason: Some breeds are prone to certain types of compulsive behaviors. For example, Doberman Pinschers tend to exhibit flank sucking and fabric or blanket sucking disorders, while tail chasing or spinning tends to occur in Bull Terriers and German Shepherd Dogs. Large breeds, such as Golden’s and Labradors more frequently than other breeds persistently groom the lower extremities of the limbs, resulting in lesions.
Simply diverting a dog from the behavior isn’t ineffective. Once a behavior has reached compulsive proportions, the dog has no ability to terminate the behavior.
Arousal Levels
Because compulsive behaviors tend to progress if untreated the sooner the owner recognizes it, the sooner they can deal with it. Dr. Forto first suggests a veterinary visit to rule out any underlying medical conditions. Next, he advises owners to examine the dog’s environment an his management, looking at any aspect that would trigger or increase arousal levels for compulsive behaviors.
For example, dogs are social animals, and leaving then tied outside can make them feel ostracized—in addition to being vulnerable to predators and theft. Dogs who live indoors tend to feel more included and secure. However compulsive behaviors goes well beyond being lonely or bored, Dr. Forto said. “it’s a medical disorder of as yet unknown neurological origins. Although many neglected dogs do not develop compulsive disorders, the stress of insufficient social interaction can certainly be a trigger for a dog predisposed to developing compulsive behavior.”
Dogs also need more mental stimulation than the living room sofa provides. Whenever possible, owners should take their dog to work with them, on errands and especially outside to hike or retrieve balls. Obedience classes serve a double purpose. They allow owners to spend time with their dog, while giving the dog a job to do. These approaches can help avoid separation anxiety, boredom, loneliness and frustration—and compulsive behaviors they trigger.
For compulsive behaviors that cannot be interrupted, that interfere with normal functioning or resulting in physical injury medications like Prozac and other serotonin re-uptake blockers can help. They stabilize the dog’s mood so he can respond more readily to behavior modification techniques. Medications are especially effective with dogs when they have a regular schedule, lots of mental stimulation, exercise and social contact.
“Most compulsive dogs person well to a combination f behavior modification and anti-anxiety medications.” Dr. Forto said. “So far we have had good success rates, but we are not yet at 100 percent. If we can identify the genes for compulsive behaviors, we might be able to develop more effective treatments.
_____________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works in Colorado and specializes in canine aggression and violent dogs. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at www.denverdogworks.com or by phone at 303-522-1727.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
