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Head halters or haltis *** Please read fully before making comments. *** So a guardian surmised this perfectly: “Until I knew about Truelove Harnesses, I felt the only way I could walk my dog was with a halti for fear of being pulled over. I never enjoyed using it and did wonder about the damage it could potentially cause.” For the purpose of this blog I will refer to halters/ haltis as halters to clear any confusion as I have found in Europe we seem to say “halti” as the brand and in the US the term halter is used. So to make this internationally friendly I am just going to use the term halter. I would like to clarify as well. I am a full time wheelchair user and I also have arthritis in my shoulders and very limited feeling or sensation in my hands. I use Y Front Harnesses. I don't think I've spoken to one fear or force opposed professional who has ever said, haltis are fine as a permanent solution. Instead what's normally said is: “although we understand the risk and damage from haltis etc we make it clear that we need to get it off and replaced with a Y Front harness as soon as possible.” This is very much lesser known information across search engines and scholar papers, trust me I have searched over many hours over many months before completing this blog. Head halter's can cause severe damage to our dogs. They are a tool that's been designed to "stop dogs from pulling" by altering dogs movement into a way that suppresses their natural behaviours. They are merely a crutch to make walking easier for dog guardians and most trainers can agree are a very aversive tool and some even claim worse than other aversive tools. This maybe news for you, this may come as a shock and this maybe upsetting, this information isn't personal or aimed at anyone as individuals, this information is factual and here to improve your dogs welfare. Sadly there is very little research available as to the damage of these tools, but after much sleuthing, I have found some gems of information to help inform you. A craniosacral therapist has done a lot of research on the use of head halters and found them to be very harmful in their research of the cranial area and the physiology of the dog. Which is exactly the information I was seeking to pass along. Halters are rarely fitted well, the halter isn't actually designed for the dog's anatomy, the dog can suffer injuries within the head and neck areas unknown to the guardian, trainer and even the vet! Dog's can still try to express natural behaviours and be adversely inhibited by the halter causing injury. Over time physically this can lead to serious misalignment of the cranial and facial bones possibly resulting in further symptoms such as headaches, ear ache, blurred vision, impaired swallowing, breathing problems, difficulty swallowing, chewing food, altered mood and much more! (1) Recent research was done at Nottingham Trent University recently in 2020. The research found that guardians themselves are concerned as to the damage that flat collars are doing to their beloved companions, likening the pressure to that of a tourniquet. (1) More research was conducted by the Myerscough college. Using temperature as a guide to navigate the emotions of the dog's they were able to work with 22 dogs to assess the changes in temperatures. They did this by using thermal imaging and focused on the areas of the dog's body that indicate stress levels and changes in stress. Dogs' core temperatures will change drastically according to whether they are about to go into a state of fight or flight. A baseline was used from taking the dogs ear temperature before beginning, they used 21 pet dogs in total and used Y Front harnesses and head halter's. The findings were that the temperatures of the dog's drastically fell when the halter's were used, which indicated extreme stress. Physical body language communication could be seen too such as yawning and lip licking, which all points to the damage to the welfare of the dogs. The dogs had not experienced harnesses before either but they did not attempt to shake or roll to take them off whereas 62% of the dog's attempted to remove the halter, by face rubbing, pawing or shaking the halter off. (2) Internally the dogs have lots of nerves, specifically the halter affects the cranial nerves, these govern the eyes, ears, throat and nose. They become stretched, distorted and tweaked with the damage to them and the changes in the bone structure. This can be temporary or permanent depending on whether the bones can realign on their own or whether they become permanently altered. More often than not due to the bones locking into this position, this becomes permanent. The vagus nerve also runs through the cranial nerves, the vagus nerve travels beyond the throat to the lungs, heart and digestive organs, it also controls swallowing, barking, breathing and regulating the heart. All body functions in every organism is regulated and controlled by the brain, the cranial nerves are direct extensions of the brain, they send information to all areas of the body. Trauma whether acute or chronic can negatively impact a dogs health and make life altering changes, making the dog extremely ill. (3) Suzanne Clothier shares that head halters can compromise dog welfare, even if the dog seemingly gives into the halter . Sharing an experience from her own blog "The problem with head halters." Suzanne shares that a Labrador was happy and enthusiastic on entering a class and playing tug, when the halter was put on, the dog became very depressed, tail tucked, head lowered and no longer interested in engaging with the trainer who she had previously been playing with. This is a stark contrast from a dog who was previously alert, engaged and happy. The halter for dogs is also likened to that of the halters used on cows and horses. Whereas halters sit along the long bones of the horse and cows face and away from the eyes, many halters for dogs ride into their eyes causing further discomfort, because when it comes down to it the canine anatomy isn't designed for halters. Dogs also use their muzzles for their communications, not just amongst their own species but to also engage in the environment and to communicate with us too. The damage that halter's can do are soft tissue injuries, damage to the spine and cervical bones. (I'll expand on this further along). Dogs are also not prepared for the jerk that the halter will give, when the human stops and because of the halter working in the way that it does, it's too easy for the human to not be engaged. The halter is merely a crutch and not solving the behaviour or teaching the dog anything at all, but when the human stops unaware of their dog's movements, the halter can snap the dog's head back both sideways and upwards. Or as many of us have seen when the halter is used to jerk the dog deliberately if they try to engage with the environment. When people have argued that dogs can also go through this in other activities, Suzanne argues that when the dog is aware of a situation, they can engage their muscles and brace for the situation by the brain telling them to, just like us when we engage our muscles in preparation for an abrupt stop or climbing stairs. halter's do not give dogs this grace, thus causing severe injuries in dogs. (3) Halters are punishment, they are an aversive tool and with this comes adverse effects to emotional safety for dogs. Many trainers including Kommetijie Canine College have shared their experiences of seeing dogs suppressed and emotionally shut down due to head halters. Despite still going through the motions of taking treats and not reacting, this is only due to the suppression of the halter . Which you can read here https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02BEc9YJoDhUMvykRK7ijKnK46nr6RyFyxGXeUH419UXqBcyh5CauKsQosZyK5QXqNl&id=857426880942607&sfnsn=scwspmo From the study by Myerscough college it was found that the dogs were adversely affected in their behaviour and behaviours that guardians believed they could Control with a halter such as lunging at dogs, vehicles and people and the study found the halter actually increased this behaviour. It was also considered that the dogs were forming associations of anxiety with the leash due to the pressure that the halter applied to them and the negative emotions that they experienced on walks. (4) It should be considered that using head halters cause discomfort to the facial area for dogs both externally and internally. (5 Although scientific research is limited, as we have seen scientific evidence is available, as well as of course information shared from trainers, behaviourists and a craniosacral therapist. So what's the answer? Use a Y shape harness, with a front and back clip attachment. Find a Trainer who can help you to learn to enjoy walks with your dog, communicate with them, engage with them and safely walk together. If you need help finding the right harness for you we have guides within the Do No Harm Dog Training Group and I also have a tutorial for you to condition your dog to a harness safely. https://youtu.be/D3c5HeSrmK8 Draw what you can from this blog, but please let the take away be the negative effects to both emotional and physical welfare of your dogs when a halter is used. References
Image References Page one image: Anatomical diagrams muscle location and bone names from Micheau, Dr.A. and Hoa, Dr.D. (2022) Canine myology: Normal anatomy: Vet-anatomy, IMAIOS. Available at: https://www.imaios.com/en/vet-anatomy/dog/dog-myology Page two image: Suboccipital Muscle Group reference Chau, L. (2022) Suboccipital Muscle Group: Radiology Reference Article, Radiopaedia. Available at: https://radiopaedia.org/articles/suboccipital-Muscle-Group Page two image: temporal, masseter and pterygoideus medialis muscle. Stone , I. (2023) Don’t use a head halter unless you have to: What you need to know, Simpawtico Dog Training. Available at: https://www.simpawtico-training.com/dont-use-a-head-halter/ (Accessed: 08 October 2023). Anatomical diagrams muscle location and bone names from Micheau, Dr.A. and Hoa, Dr.D. (2022) Canine myology: Normal anatomy: Vet-anatomy, IMAIOS. Available at: https://www.imaios.com/en/vet-anatomy/dog/dog-myology Page three image: Anatomical diagrams nerve locations and names from Micheau, Dr.A. and Hoa, Dr.D. (2022) Canine myology: Normal anatomy: Vet-anatomy, IMAIOS. Available at: https://www.imaios.com/en/vet-anatomy/dog/dog-myology Page four image: Vagus nerve diagram Palazzi, X., Pardo, I. D., Ritenour, H., Rao, D. B., Bolon, B., & Garman, R. H. (2022). A technical guide to sampling the beagle dog nervous system for general toxicity and neurotoxicity studies. Toxicologic Pathology, 50(4), 432–465. https://doi.org/10.1177/01926233221099300 Image description Skeleton: a diagram of a dog like a German shepherd showing the skeletal system to the last rib of the rib cage. The arrows point to the: hyoid bones, occiput bone, mandibular joint and cervical vertebrae. The first black splat which is a text box reads: The bones in the skull area can become negatively impacted and even altered due to the pressure from a halti device. Damage to the hyoid bones can impact swallowing and vocalisations. https://www.simpawtico-training.com/dont-use-a-head-halter/ Muscles: a diagram of a dog like a German shepherd showing the skeletal system to the last rib of the rib cage. The muscles in the jaw area are highlighted in red. The arrows point to the: temporalis muscle, rectus captitulation dorsalis, semispinalis capitis, masseter muscle, pterygoideus medialis muscle, Obliquus capitulation cranialis and the Obliiquus capitis caudalis muscle. The black splat which is a text box reads: These groups of muscles can become tender and sore, contribute to headaches, earaches and general aches and pain around the facial muscles. This condition is medically known as TMJ disorder or Temporomandibular joint disorder. Stone , I. (2023) Don’t use a head halter unless you have to: What you need to know, Simpawtico Dog Training. Available at: https://www.simpawtico-training.com/dont-use-a-head-halter/ The second black splat which is a text box reads: This is the suboccipital muscle group, these four muscles are paired, three of these muscles form the suboccipital triangle. They are found below the occipital bone, they are the postural support for the head. They are also responsible for extending, lateral flexion and rotation. They are small muscles that act in unison. Chau, L. (2022) Suboccipital Muscle Group: Radiology Reference Article, Radiopaedia. Available at: https://radiopaedia.org/articles/suboccipital-muscle-group Nerves: a diagram of a dog like a German shepherd showing the skeletal system to the last rib of the rib cage. The nerves of the dog affected by halters are highlighted. The nerves are listed below. The first black splat which is a text box reads: 12 canine cranial nerves, 1. Olfactory nerve, 2. Optic Nerve, 3. Oculomotor nerve, 4. Trochlear nerve, 5. Trigeminal nerve - branches are the ophthalmic nerve, maxillary nerve and mandibular nerve, 6. Abducens nerve, 7. Facial nerve, 8. Vestibulocochlear nerve, 9. Glossopharyngeal nerve, 10. Vagus nerve (see below), 11.Accessory nerve, 12.Hypoglossal nerve. Admin, V. (2016, July 18). Cranial nerves. Veterian Key. https://veteriankey.com/cranial-nerves/ The second black splat which is a text box reads: Vomeronasal nerve also known as the Jacobson organ. This is a specialised sensory nerve which connects the vomeronasal organ within the nasal cavity to the brain. This nerve detects chemical signatures and pheromones, dogs are able to process the information and communicate thanks to this nerve! Dzięcioł, M., Podgórski, P., Stańczyk, E., Szumny, A., Woszczyło, M., Pieczewska, B., Niżański, W., Nicpoń, J., & Wrzosek, M. A. (2020). MRI features of the vomeronasal organ in dogs (canis familiaris). Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00159 Vagus nerve:Nerves: a diagram of a dog like a German shepherd showing the skeletal system to the last rib of the rib cage. The vagus nerve of the dog is highlighted in blue. The vagus nerve runs from the stem of the brain to the stomach. The first black splat which is a text box reads: The vagus nerve also directly communicates with the gut and is responsible for controlling how the body responds to stimuli. Such as "rest and digest" and "freeze, fight and flight". The second black splat which is a text box reads: Has the largest concentration of tissue after the brain and the spinal cord. The vagus nerve also has its own nervous system independent of the brain. The third black splat which is a text box reads: The vagus nerve is connected directly to the brain and is responsible for connecting and regulating internal organ functions. The vagus nerve is also responsible for some involuntary reflexes. Breit, S., Kupferberg, A., Rogler, G., & Hasler, G. (2018, March 13). Vagus nerve as modulator of the brain-gut axis in psychiatric and inflammatory disorders. Frontiers in psychiatry. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5859128/
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There is no such thing as bad behaviour in dogs, there is only behaviour. Dogs are a different species to humans and when we bring them into our home we are essentially adopting a baby or child and entering into an unwritten contract that we are now this baby’s guardian. What many don’t understand, still today in 2023. We need to adopt this understanding that there is no “nipping” behaviour in the bud, “stopping” behaviour, “punishing” behaviour etc. We have to understand and accept that we have chosen to bring a different species into our home to become a member of our family. We are responsible for their welfare, medical needs, emotions and care. Behaviours many deem as bad are behaviours such as: barking, chewing, stealing items, worktop surfing, running off, no recall, digging, animal chasing, not engaging, humping, rough play, showing emotions, fights with other dogs, expression of behaviour that show that they are not feeling OK, which can escalate to a bite. This isn’t an exhaustive list but a general summary of what we see. We have to understand their needs as a species. All of the behaviour ls above are normal for dogs to express. It is important to understand that there are biological needs which means a dog may exhibit behaviours such as digging, opportunistic behaviours of worktop surfing, pulling on the lead, sniffing, not engaging, barking, no recall etc. Then there are behaviours which are a communication of emotion, such as anxiety, separation anxiety, resource guarding – anxiety that the item they have will be taken, growling – needing space, anxious, unsure, frightened. Lunging, barking or trying to attack other dogs, an expression of an emotion and normally because they have been put over threshold and their space invaded with lack of advocacy from their human. (Or in a lousy position because of irresponsible guardians and off lead dogs or arrogance). Behaviour is fluid, there is no simple answer to any of the above because so much has to be considered and taken into consideration to help the dog if the behaviour could be further affecting them in an adverse way and teaching you the guardian alternative behaviours for an outlet which doesn’t bother you or give you the understanding of your dogs behaviour. It is important to heal a dog’s emotions instead of focusing on fixing their behaviour because behaviour is often a symptom of an underlying emotional issue. If a dog is exhibiting unwanted behaviour, it usually means they are feeling anxious, stressed, frustrated, or fearful. It can also mean there is pain, many people say that their dog is fine, however pain is fluid and dogs are stoic, boosters are not a full health check at the Vets, and many guardians find within a health check the vet is only seeking isolation pain and not looking for chronic pain or setting up exams where the dog is addressed as an individual, working with you the guardian to rule out or address medical causes of changes of behaviour. There are many ways that a full vet check can be fully encompassing of your dog as an individual. Simply correcting the behaviour without addressing the emotional or medical root cause may lead to temporary improvement, but the underlying emotional issue will remain. This could result in the dog developing other unwanted behaviours or the original behaviour resurfacing in the future. This is also like someone correcting you for a fear of spiders or feeling anxious about a situation. It isn’t humane, so it isn’t right to do this to a dog. When you do this, your dog will either go into shut down, learn you are not a support system and feel that they have to escalate themselves. Leaving them in a state of learned helplessness. Healing a dog’s emotions involves identifying and addressing the underlying emotional issue. This can be done through learning about healing the emotions, desensitisation and counterconditioning, creating a positive and safe environment, and providing the dog with plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. By addressing the emotional issue, the dog will naturally begin to exhibit positive and desirable behaviours. Ultimately, healing a dog’s emotions not only helps them feel better and lead happier lives, but it also creates a stronger bond between the dog and you. When a dog becomes over threshold, it means that they have surpassed their threshold for stress and arousal. At this point, their emotional state has taken over, and they are no longer able to process information and respond to cues. From a holistic perspective, this can be explained by the complex interactions between a dog’s physical, emotional, mental, and overall welfare and biological needs. When a dog becomes over threshold, their sympathetic nervous system takes over, triggering the “fight or flight” response. At this point, the dog’s body is flooded with stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which can impair their cognitive function, cause physical changes such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, and limit their ability to focus and learn. Their body is also becoming physically drained at this point and something not often considered or widely known is that your dog can become poorly and need medical care due to being in situations which cause their body to go through so much stress. Which is why it is so important to move away from the ideology of fixing the dog and instead healing the dog. To prevent a dog from becoming over threshold, it is important to understand their individual triggers and manage their environment and emotional state. This can involve creating a calm and predictable routine, providing plenty of exercise and mental stimulation, using positive reinforcement training methods, and avoiding situations or stimuli that are known to trigger stress and anxiety. Overall, holistic approaches to understanding and managing your dog’s behaviour includes considering their physical, emotional, mental, and welfare as interconnected and vital to their overall health and happiness. By addressing all aspects of a dog’s well-being, it may be possible to prevent over threshold responses and help them learn and respond to cues more effectively. Guardians, listen to your dog’s communications because it is the only way to truly understand your dog’s needs and emotions. Dogs communicate in a variety of ways, including body language, vocalisations, and behaviour. By paying attention to these communications, guardians can develop a deeper understanding of their dog’s personality, likes and dislikes, and needs. Some common dog communication signals include tail wagging, barking, growling, displaying teeth, licking, yawning, and avoiding eye contact. For example, a dog that is wagging their tail while their ears are pressed back and their body is stiff may be communicating anxiety or fear, rather than happiness. Similarly, a dog that is growling or displaying their teeth may be communicating discomfort or aggression, rather than being “mean”. By learning to read your dog’s communication signals, you can better meet your dog’s needs and avoid situations that may be overwhelming or stressful for your dog. This can help build a stronger bond between you and your dog, and lead to a happier and healthier relationship. Additionally, listening to a dog’s communications can help reduce the risk of dog bites or other aggressive behaviours. By recognizing when a dog is uncomfortable or anxious, you can take steps to prevent a situation from escalating and avoid putting yourself, them or others in danger. If you don’t like species appropriate behaviours such as digging, chewing, destruction, stealing items, lack of engagement it’s time to work with your dog and address these needs rather than working against them or punishing. Provide a dig pit and an area dedicated to their digging needs, provide natural chews as an outlet for their chewing needs, set up destruction boxes and enrichment that is mentally stimulating, play with your dog, train them through games and become exciting to them. Use high value treats. High value toys. Be interesting to them, help them to want to communicate with you rather than going self employed. Begin to understand your dog and their needs to enjoy your dog for the amazing species and individual that they are. For further reading on meeting your dogs needs as an individual and understanding the Importance of an holistic doctrine you can read previous blogs here: Vet checks https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0VvH8GQSqQJ4qaWjuvnTqAowY5pa6pENXB6QQ81AkwTAaEu8uESEbcfv1kuM3DyH6l&id=100057373879884 Diet https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0EFYPPEwGHHe3F34PaBSenna9Hmsr6Hk7UUuWupeLUwKdpmRYXjWW7hVTZcxupfVsl&id=100057373879884 Enrichment https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0CNSXxmxQqbdf5eCx6ETZqNXnBGLbG3Wyhxa64oQtiHgHPyZY7uzbSEZAB75f64Y8l&id=100057373879884 Importance of keeping journals https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02Fygmws8SALEge3QME5JhjiKoh2hBaMFj8mYAbiVaT3eoUxSXs5SyuWRf1rf5UJ55l&id=100057373879884 Image description: A six window comic strip. The first left hand window has a blue background and a grey and cream Wolfdog holding a purple ear torn teddy in his mouth. A star label text says:stealing items. The left bottom window has a grey Wolf Dog play bowing, dragging a purple blanket with a brown half eaten shoe. With a green background. A star label text box reads: chewing. There is also a cloud with thunderbolts. The text inside reads: There are only needs: biological, emotional, social,cognitive & force free needs. Linda Michaels MA. The top centre window is red with a cream and grey Wolfdog digging in soil and the soil is flying everywhere. The spiky text box reads: digging. The next window on the final column, has a green background and a cream and grey Wolfdog with her back to the screen and her head turned over her shoulder. The spiky text box says: ignoring. The window underneath this has a pink background and a grey and cream Wolfdog with piloerection, growling, facing into the centre. The spiky text box reads: growling. The final window on the bottom right hand side is a blue background with a cream and grey Wolfdog lying in a submissive position with ears back and a grey Wolfdog over her in a playful stance on grass. The spiky text box reads: rough play.   The last few weeks I have explored the Five Freedoms/ domains and the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Under the Animal Welfare Act all Animals have the rights to: Freedom from hunger, thirst or malnutrition Freedom from discomfort To be able to exhibit normal behaviours Freedom from fear and distress To be protected from pain, suffering, disease and illnesses. In this blog I will be sharing my opinion of what the five freedoms and the animal welfare act means to me. In an ideal world the dog training industry would be regulated and dog trainers and behaviourist would be protected titles with external verification and a pledge to do no harm, just like the hippocratic oath. It really puzzles me that we have the above law in the UK and very rarely see it in action, if the law was followed to the letter, pet shops would be regulated and would look very different, and the pet food industry would be regulated. Veterinary practices would also look very different with stronger regulation and holistic practitioners would also have to be regulated. Anyone can currently and does set up a Facebook page overnight and claim to be an experienced dog trainer, behaviourist, walker, hydrotherapist, physiotherapist, nutritionist, groomer and the list goes on and on and on. Voluntary dog training membership organisations leave a lot to be desired, with some having much better standards than others and much better education opportunities than others. If the dog world is in disarray amongst professionals, what about the poor guardians trying to navigate who to hire, what food to give, which vet to use, which veterinary advice to follow and which to challenge. How many times do they accept a diagnosis of “you are an over dramatic dog owner?” What about the “dog professional” who promises a quick fix via aversion and compulsion based methods? What about other professionals that leave a lot to be desired and the ethics are not quite in line with what their website states? What about those who have faked qualifications? This is why I feel the UK needs a massive shake up! Dog professionals need to be externally verified independent of their organisation. Their title needs to be protected. All organisations must follow one ethos and as soon as there are concerns, this is immediately investigated. All professionals have a duty of care to then best educate guardians to which is ethically moral and sound for the welfare for dogs. No we cannot prevent all illnesses, diseases and negative experiences but can we be a part of a solution instead of the problem? Absolutely! If people were genuine and waited to shadow, learn, gain qualifications and become certified (not offer student discount rates - unethical) and organisations policed their members harder and all professionals agreed to abide by the law there would be no shock collars, prongs, chokes, harnesses that compress organs, air horns, sprays or the whole list of horrible devices. But until the UK government knows what a shock collar is and what it does, understand how a prong works and the Prime minister himself stopped using a slip lead. Well. It's up to those of us wholly committed to ethical dog welfare standards that need to steer the industry. To educate guardians and keep guiding guardians into the right direction so that the Animal Welfare Act 2006 is never broken and dog welfare is a priority not a “the dog must obey so the law doesn't exist.” Anyone of us who is properly educated, part of a membership organisation, properly insured and can sleep at night knowing we are doing our best with gentle methods with welfare at the forefront of our work. We know we are our authentic selves. Those who might be cringing. Well. It's never too late to become a better and honest person. If you can't do that you don't belong in our industry. Image description: A three pane comic strip. The top left window has a yellow orange background with a grey and cream Wolfdog. The Wolfdog is saying "Dick the pr@&k invented shock collars in 1973... 50 years later thanks to evolution... The bottom left window has a grey and cream Wolfdog with a thought hubble behind him with electronic peices as a blueprint. The final window on the right which is one window has a blue background with the comic ZAP with lightning and a WTF in comic style. The Wolfdog is holding a paw to his chin looking thoughtful, his thought bubble is a skeleton with an electric shock collar being zapped!
Freedom from pain, suffering, disease and illnesses - one of the five freedoms of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 UK
Under the Animal Welfare Act all Animals have the rights to: Freedom from hunger, thirst or malnutrition Freedom from discomfort To be able to exhibit normal behaviours Freedom from fear and distress To be protected from pain, suffering, disease and illnesses. As it is such a big topic I'll explore each freedom within each blog. Freedom from pain, suffering, disease and illnesses. This is another big one for me. One of the most misunderstood needs when addressing a change in behaviour is working through a process of elimination, beginning with a Vet check to rule out pain and illness as this can and does cause changes in behaviour. Many guardians think that a booster appointment is the same as a Vet check. It isn't. Within a Vet check we are potentially looking at a full cbc (complete blood count) tweaked as needed for the individual dog so the blood test may actually be looking for more. A urinalysis to rule out any problems with the kidneys and liver or is there any information from the urine during analysis. Your annual check up may look different if you have a senior dog, where further tests are done such as a cbc and urinalysis for example. However in the years before the senior years, if you book an independent full vet check or wellness exam, you may already be aware that as well as checking over the body, they will listen to the heart and the lungs, take their temperature, check their pulse rate and respiratory rate. Feel the abdomen and limbs, check their teeth, eyes and ears. They may also take your dog's weight or do a body score. They may also do a rectal exam and check that there are no problems with the anal glands, they may also check their reflexes and watch their movements around the consultation room for a gait analysis. They may also do faecal exams, heartworm tests and possibly give parasite prevention if you purchase this from the vets. The vet may also ask you about their routine and diet, so the vet can establish what is normal for your individual dog. If your dog appears unwell or there is a change in behaviour you may find that they need to then explore a cbc and look at other diagnostic tests which can include the above or more depending on your individual dog. When we advise guardians to have a Vet check when there is a behaviour change, many guardians say that they have just had their boosters so they don't understand why we are recommending a Vet check. This is on all of us as professionals to guide guardians through the above expected process for their dogs health and well being. Working holistically we can also pull in the services and help across a multidisciplinary team of a nutritionist, hydrotherapist, canine chiropractor, physio, groomer and homoeopaths. It is clear that it isn't the fault of anyone if a dog is taken ill or injured and that just like for humans being unwell or injured is a part of life. However the five freedoms brought attention to the avoidance of negative welfare states which can reduce the likelihood of illness, disease and injury. By improving welfare standards, for example Vaccinations, titre tests, health screening and scores, keeping dogs indoors (as opposed to residing outdoors),with a highly nutritious diet, access to fresh water and in a safe environment was the first step in reducing the risk. It was also identified within the five freedoms that affects and affective states also contribute to the unwellness or imbalances to the internal physical and functional wellness of animals. If you refer back to this blog: Freedom from distress you can read more about affects and affective states. https://www.facebook.com/100057373879884/posts/847933643795757/ There is also another negative affect, which can affect dogs' health and wellness, which are the negative emotions that dogs can experience such as fear, anxiety, panic, frustration, anger, helplessness, depression, boredom and loneliness. The negative emotional states can cause unwellness in dogs just like it does with us. This has been evidenced by the sciences of neuroscience, behavioural and physiological. (2) Remembering that dogs also have mental health needs like us and can become physically unwell due to poor mental health. So when a behaviourist begins by building a history form and a consult with lots of questions which can sometimes feel time consuming or irrelevant, it is because of the model of the five domains. To understand your dog as an individual in order to understand the why of the behaviour. Much like calling 111 and the speaker says “some of these questions may seem irrelevant.”(3) It is also really important that we note within this freedom that there is a difference between surviving and thriving. For example the absolute minimum of keeping a dog alive and allowing them to thrive. For example puppy mills, where the dogs are given the absolute minimum to simply stay alive, we know that these dogs and their puppies are absolutely not in a state of thriving. It is also important to note that dogs can be chronically over or underfed, exposed to bad and or extremes of weather, suffer with chronic injuries or infections and still be alive. (4) It's important to understand that the phrase “when you know better you do better” is kept in mind here, my intention is not to offend or upset anyone, nor for anyone to feel bad. I raise this awareness and share this knowledge so that you have access to it. I feel as a professional I have a duty of care to enable guardians and colleagues as much as possible, to have as much knowledge as possible. This will only enable better dog welfare when you have this information in a summarised and easy to understand format for everyone. Many guardians and in fact professionals do not have this knowledge, nor do they know what to ask a Vet for, within a full health check and there is no shame in that. It is not easy to find this information and have it in terms that are not clinical. Hopefully by sharing this knowledge you now feel you have a much wider understanding and can educate friends, family and colleagues about their own animals they share their home with. If you are ever concerned about the welfare of someone's animal within the UK please contact the RSPCA https://www.rspca.org.uk/utilities/contactus/reportcruelty this will take you to a landing page to signpost you to the relavent service. The RSPCA is often overwhelmed with calls nationwide so utilising the website and even their chat button can help them to learn of your concern and take measures to further contact you. You can report concerns anonymously. In the next and final blog concerning the Five freedoms I will be wrapping up with a summary and how we can help dogs now, with small changes! References 1. Broom D.M. Cognitive ability and awareness in domestic animals and decisions about obligations to animals. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2010;126:1–11. doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2010.05.001. 2. Panksepp J. Affective consciousness: Core emotional feelings in animals and humans. Conscious. Cogn. 2005;14:30–80. doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2004.10.004. Gregory N.G. Physiology and Behaviour of Animal Suffering. Blackwell Science; Oxford, UK: 2004. 3. Mellor D.J., Beausoleil N.J. Extending the ‘Five Domains’ model for animal welfare assessment to incorporate positive welfare states. Anim. Welfare. 2015;24:241–253. doi: 10.7120/09627286.24.3.241. McMillan F.D. Maximising quality of life in ill animals. J. Am. Anim. Hosp. Assoc. 2003;39:227–235. doi: 10.5326/0390227. Mellor D.J., Beausoleil N.J. Extending the ‘Five Domains’ model for animal welfare assessment to incorporate positive welfare states. Anim. Welfare. 2015;24:241–253. doi: 10.7120/09627286.24.3.241. 4. Edgar J.L., Mullan S.M., Pritchard J.C., McFarlane U.J.C., Main D.C.J. Towards a ‘good life’ for farm animals: Development of a resource tier framework to achieve positive welfare for laying hens. Animals. 2013;3:584–605. doi: 10.3390/ani3030584. Mellor D.J. Animal emotions, behaviour and the promotion of positive welfare states. N. Z. Vet. J. 2012;60:1–8. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2011.619047. Appleby M.C., Mench J.A., Olsson J.A.S., Hughes B.A., editors. Animal Welfare. 2nd ed. CAB International; Wallingford, UK: 2011. Grandin T., editor. Improving Animal Welfare: A Practical Approach. 2nd ed. CAB International; Boston, MA, USA: 2015. Webster J., editor. Management and Welfare of Farm Animals. UFAW Farm Handbook. Wiley-Blackwell; Chichester, UK: 2011. I am so honoured to have won the Prestige Awards again this year for the Best dog training and behaviourist services Lincolnshire! I am also super pleased to share I came runner up for the The Pet Professional Guild Homeward Bound Summit competition! I want to give special thanks to Claire Elvin and Paul of Bilsby Dog Field and Bilsby Canine Hydrotherapy for allowing me to submit Riff Raffs case study for the competition. As this is such a personal and tremendous journey that you have allowed me to share and Riff Raff is just awesome. Thankyou!
Freedom from fear and distress - one of the five freedoms of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 UK Under the Animal Welfare Act all Animals have the rights to: Freedom from hunger, thirst or malnutrition Freedom from discomfort To be able to exhibit normal behaviours Freedom from fear and distress To be protected from pain, suffering, disease and illnesses. As it is such a big topic I'll explore each freedom within each blog. Freedom from fear and distress. This is another big one for me. One of the main arguments we have as fear and force opposed holistic practitioners is the trauma we see from aversive and compulsion based methods. We understand that clearly a dog just like a human will feel distress at points in their life, just as we do. It is unavoidable. (1,2) But how we manage that distress is the difference, do we comfort our dog and listen to their communication in time of distress and prevent a trauma from developing. Or do we punish and cause trauma? This is the difference, using punishment with dogs suppresses emotion, does not allow for expression of normal behaviours, causes fear and distress. Which is breaking the law in the UK and other countries which also have the Animal Welfare Act and the five freedoms/ domains. We also understand that fear and distress essentially protects animals, especially in times of vulnerability, for example prey animals. We also understand that there are physiological changes within the body which aids the animal to meet their biological need in that moment such as, thirst provokes the need to seek water, panic or the sensation of pain avoids injury and the feeling of hunger motivates the need to seek out food. So yes a dog will experience negative states in moments like these for their basic survival. (3) We also have to be mindful of this, in order to stay within the law and ethically meet the biological needs of our dogs, we also have to ensure we aren't doing things like leaving food down all day, which can impede their function to seek food. We have to be mindful to work with prey drive and not totally inhibit it due to the release of oxytocin that dogs experience during the predation sequence. It truly is a very fine balance to meet all of the biological needs, protect them from fear and harm, but to also meet their species specific needs so that they experience true species specific behaviours. But what dogs are not evolved to or physically altered in their genetics and epigenetics is the tolerance of pain and fear from humans. The use of electric shock collars, prongs, choke, crates for endless hours, rubbing their noses in their toileting, locking them outside, locking them in a room, excluding them from the family, not walking them, feeding them a healthy and nutritionally balanced diet for them as an individual, not going to the vets, not allowing them to experience enrichment or punishing them for chewing, digging, barking. All of this is not programmed within a dogs biological make up. Dogs evolve over years and generations, they do not evolve to tolerate or endure punishment and neglect from humans. They seek connections or their genetics can be altered to such extremes they are terrified from their earliest weeks of life. When we bring an animal into our home, we are asking this species to adapt to an indoor environment, to not break our things, steal our food, know how, when and where to use the toilet. To cope without their mother and siblings, to just fit into our home and routine. To be quiet and be seen and not heard, essentially. This is a tall order and what we quickly see is people cannot cope with this new parenting role and the animal suffers. In order to be within the realm of the law, be the best parent or guardian to our dogs/ animals we must first appreciate them for the species that they are, their breed, their heritage, their needs and how we are going to adapt our life to integrate both of our lives together so that they are thriving and not just surviving. We are responsible for this life that we have chosen to bring into our home, it is up to us to care for them as we would any other family member, to ensure that all of their needs are met, that they are free from fear and distress as much as possible and definitely not experiencing fear or distress because of human actions or behaviours around them or to them. If you would like to learn more about the five freedoms and helping a dog to thrive and not just survive The Do No Harm Dog Training and Behaviour Handbook by Linda Michaels MA will be a great source of knowledge, information and guidance for you and is available in paperback or ebook form from Amazon https://amzn.to/3PhC74z In the next blog we will be exploring the final freedom, freedom from pain, suffering, illness and disease. References Webster J. Animal Welfare: A Cool Eye Towards Eden. Blackwell Science; Oxford, UK: 1994. Assessment of animal welfare: The five freedoms; pp. 10–14. Broom D.M., Fraser A.F. Domestic Animal Behaviour and Welfare. 5th ed. CABI; Wallingford, UK: 2015. pp. 55–56 Denton D.A., McKinley M.J., Farrell M., Egan G.F. The role of primordial emotions in the evolutionary origin of consciousness. Conscious. Cogn. 2009;18:500–514. doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2008.06.00  Fireworks will soon be upon us again and every year many guardians struggle with knowing how to comfort and soothe their dogs during this time. Preparation and practice is key and the best way to set both you and your dog up for success. Closing the curtains, playing music, turning on white goods, providing mental enrichment games as well as chews and or physical play if your dog is able to play is super important. Doing this in practice when there are no fireworks also helps the dog to not predict fireworks or a thunderstorm, because we are habituating the routine and the behaviour so as not predicting that there is going to be a frightening event. You can absolutely comfort your dog if they will allow you, especially if they initiate needing comfort. Provide safe cosy spaces and lots of escape routes, we may deem a space as cosy and safe but our dog may feel safer elsewhere so it's important to respect this and give them choice of the spaces within the home. White noise machines can also be really helpful and on average are about £20 but give the added comfort of knowing the noises are being drowned out. Many offer different frequencies such as white, brown, blue or pink noise as well as nature sounds. The other thing we need to make sure is ready is either frozen licki mats or Kongs or fresh Kongs and Licki mats, as well as our enrichment games and brain games such as snuffle mats and destruction boxes so that this helps the dogs to become less anxious. Here are some fantastic articles for further reading: Karalina Westlund https://illis.se/.../eliminating-firework-and-thunder.../ Fear Free Pets has a brilliant article and examples of consent training. https://fearfreepets.com/stationing-behaviors-how-to.../ The Do No Harm Dog Training and Behaviour Handbook by Linda Michaels MA from Amazon https://amzn.to/3PhC74z The handbook not only teaches about fear and desensitisation but also teaches about enrichment and explains in depth why working on these behaviours and providing enrichment is so important. Help! My dog is scared of Fireworks by Toni Shelbourne https://amzn.to/3Alwo8N The Relaxation Protocol by Dr. Karen Overall will be very helpful https://journeydogtraining.com/karen-overalls-relaxation.../ I also have these videos on my YouTube of fireworks desensitisation as well as thunderstorms. Within the videos I am utilising a wireless Sub Woofer speaker which you can get on ebay or Amazon for about £20. This makes the sounds so much more realistic. Working on desensitisation sessions throughout the year can be really helpful in ensuring your dog is comfortable with fireworks and thunderstorms or at least as comfortable as they can be. Fireworks desensitisation https://youtu.be/DygQqzykxFk?si=_zq8AzYns1Ytn_o3 Thunder and lightning desensitisation https://youtu.be/_nqpdl7a7CY?si=KFh2_dCYh05giFRw Enrichment preparation https://youtu.be/KLTdr6c6vqI And of course this is not just limited to dogs! https://youtu.be/MTw9M94J2_g We also have our heavily discounted Fireworks course available within our Mutts and Mischief Academy. https://muttsandmischiefacademy.com/p/fireworks-and-dogs Image description: a Wolfdog puppy and teenage Wolfdog one lad half in a red fabric crate and the puppy laid beside him. Centered in the middle of the infographic. Title reads Fireworks and Thunderstorms Speech bubbles read: provide safe spaces and escape routes Comfort them!! Play with them if they will Be present with them Make sure plenty of water is available Practice throughout the year Provide lots of enrichment Close the curtains Turn on the TV, radio etc Invest in a white noise machine  Halloween can be daunting for many dog guardians, because of Trick and Treat and knocks on the door, especially with bonfire night days after. So I have created a poster you can print - completely free. So you and your dog(s) can have a peaceful night and the kids still get their treats. Simply place a pot at the foot of your door. Win, win! Image description: purple, orange and pink night with a moon in the centre, with silhouette trees, graveyard and headstones. A blue raven sits on a tree branch in the top left hand corner. 3 Wolfdogs and a Spaniel in white ghost sheets and a row of pumpkins at the bottom of the poster with fog throughout. White text with black shadow reads: All treats, no tricks. Please don't knock our dog is scared. Please help yourself to the treats by your feet and have a fantastic night. Thankyou  Window of tolerance part 3 The window of tolerance is a very clever tool that a clinical professor of psychiatry, Dan Siegel established back in 1999. This window looks into how we as humans are described best in a state of arousal in which we can thrive and function, especially following trauma. Of course because the window of tolerance is another tool that we can apply to further understand dog behaviour a model of a window of tolerance was researched with dogs to understand their ability to function and thrive and where this landed within the window and where dogs were placed for hypo and hyper arousal. Two very different states. Dog behaviour can be so complicated to understand and for most guardians the language is very different in observation of the behaviour. Guardians may tell us the dog is an embarrassment to walk, or the crying and pacing is becoming annoying and interrupting sleep. Instead what we see are the underlying emotions and what is driving the emotions. Positive emotions means that a dog may want to engage with a stimulus such as play, or predation (chasing a rabbit) or even engaging in scent work, a negative emotion means that the dog is avoidant of the stimulus and feels that they need to protect themselves from the stimulus, they could be experiencing bereavement, grief, pain or unwellness or a feeling of not being safe. (1) Many of the "problem behaviours" we are told about in clinical settings are actually emotions that are simply trying to protect themselves from feelings of danger, feeling unsafe or fear. It's really important that we understand that reading from blogs is extremely generalised and not individualised to your dog. But what we can do is discuss how we can meet dogs' needs and strive to prevent them from escalating into hyperarousal or hypoarousal. To help prevent dogs from entering hypo or hyper arousal states, it's important to provide them with a balanced lifestyle and meet their physical, mental, and emotional needs. It's all about maintaining a balance, routine and lifestyle that makes your dog feel safe and comfortable and you are also happy with your dog. One of the main concepts people understand about dogs or link to dogs is walks and exercise and yes this absolutely is important for healthy growth and development but it is also important to be mindful of the emotional bucket, trigger stacking and of course the window of tolerance, so if your dog has a negative experience on a walk or even at home it is really important to allow them 72 hours for rest and recovery. Here is a summary blog I wrote to fill you in with in depth detail should you wish to learn more: Your dogs emotional bucket blog https://www.facebook.com/100057373879884/posts/632791141976676/?sfnsn=mo During rest and recovery it is really important to offer but not force mental stimulation, this can aid in promoting deep sleep, emotional regulation, soothing and calming your dog, which all contributes to the emptying of their emotional bucket and reduces their trigger stacking. This can also prevent hyperarousal too. You can engage in gentle training, interactive toys, puzzle feeders, and scent games are great ways to engage a dog's mind. Providing regular mental challenges can help them stay focused and offer them alternative behaviours that are also going to meet their biological needs. Many guardians report their dogs are in a state of hyperarousal both in the home and on walks, this can look like excessive barking, barking out the window, barking at sounds, chewing, digging, mouthing, grabbing the lead on walks, resource guarding, fighting with other dogs either in the home or on walks, fence fighting, hyperactivity when the harness and lead are presented for a walk, biting and grabbing the lead on a walk, counter surfing, separation anxiety and so much more. So let's look at the home first: Incorporating activities that promote relaxation can help prevent dogs from entering hypoarousal or hyperarousal. These can include providing a calm and safe environment, using calming music or pheromone diffusers, and offering quiet spaces or cosy beds where the dog can relax. This can also look like working on a specific individualised plan for separation anxiety, providing an enrichment garden for engagement away from the fence, for an area dedicated to digging and engaging in sniffing. This can also of course be mental enrichment and stimulation such as licki mats and puzzles or this could be engaging in gentle play or training with your dog, giving them one to one time or even sitting and reading to them. It's all about offering alternative behaviours before the escalation of arousal and creating a calm and safe space for them to relax and feel safe. This can also promote deep sleep which can prevent many behaviours that escalate and guardians struggle with. Many over tired dogs just like a toddler can become aroused in either direction because they do not have the ability to self regulate. Sleep can also be disturbed due to having their bed in a high traffic area of the home, minor adjustments to the home for your dog, can make the world of difference. Window film is a brilliant and inexpensive way to prevent rehearsal of barking out of the window. On walks working on calmness and lowering arousal before going out for the walk, can help to change the dogs arousal levels so you leave the home in a calmer state and this also prevents rehearsal of lead grabbing if this is due to hyperarousal. If lead grabbing is due to fear and feeling insecure this is due to hypoarousal and it is really important to set clear communications with your dog, where they can communicate to you, what is too much and what isn't. Such as a dog in the distance, utilising pattern games from Control Unleashed by Leslie McDevitt can be a huge help in learning how to empower and effectively communicate with your dog! Being predictable and safe can be a big help for your dog, if the home is chaotic and there is no predictability, this can be stressful for a dog. Keeping to a routine as much as possible and a calm home can be a big help, rows and upset can also cause your dog to enter into hyperarousal and hypoarousal states. Avoid overstimulation, we all like to do things with our dogs, but we have to respect them for the individual that they are. They maybe a homebody and introverted and they may find loud noises, crowded areas, or unfamiliar environments stressful, altering their arousal state. Be mindful of your dog's sensitivities and gradually expose them to new experiences and stimuli to prevent overwhelming arousal. Very much like humans, you may enjoy nightclubs and your spouse or best friend may hate them and enjoy curling up with a book, dogs are just as different as we are and it is important to understand the kind of personality your dog has to meet their needs. Regular veterinary care is so important to ensure your dog is not hiding pain or unwell, regular check-ups can help to identify any underlying medical conditions that could contribute to hypo or hyperarousal. Addressing medical issues promptly can help maintain a dog's overall physical and mental well-being. Health checks are not the same as a booster vaccination visit, you have to book a health check separately. For dogs ages 7 and over it is recommended they have a health check at least once every six months. When dog's feel the escalation to a bite there will be a trigger, even if one is not immediately identified. Even if your dog seems depressed, quiet, lethargic or very sleepy, during hypoarousal dogs can show aggression, although it is less common compared to hyperarousal. So a quiet and withdrawn dog is not necessarily a good thing! In some cases, aggression during hypoarousal may be reactive or defensive. When a dog is in a hyperarousal state, they may feel vulnerable or threatened and react aggressively to protect themselves. For example, if a person or another animal approaches or touches a dog while they are in a hypoaroused state, they may respond with defensive aggression. It's important to note that aggression during hypoarousal can also be a sign of an underlying medical issue or pain. When dogs are in pain or discomfort, they may display aggressive behaviours as a way to communicate their distress. If you notice aggressive behaviour by your dog, it's crucial to consult with a veterinarian or a professional dog behaviourist. They can help identify the underlying cause of the aggression and develop a suitable treatment plan to address the issue. Dog behaviour is so vast and complex and can be hard to understand but a multidisciplinary approach and support from professionals can help to identify the motivation for the emotion. Remember, every dog is unique, and it's important to understand their individual needs and thresholds. If you are unsure about managing your dog's arousal levels, seek guidance from a professional dog trainer or behaviourist who can provide tailored advice and support. References Panksepp J. Affective Neuroscience: The Foundations of Human and Animal Emotions. Oxford University Press; New York, NY, USA: 1998. Image description Title: FEELINGS Thermometer for dogs and subtitle We need our dogs in the optimal zone to thrive. A grey background infographic with a thermometer to the left hand side. The thermometer is blue at the bottom, green in the middle and orange on the top. There are 6 text boxes in colour code parallel to the thermometer. There are 3 Wolfdog cartoons on the thermometer. The blue zone has a cream and grey Wolfdog howling with the label hypoarousal in black text. The Wolfdog on the green middle of the thermometer is a charcoal and cream Wolfdog on his back playing with a Kong toy. The label says optimal level. The Wolfdog on the orange section of the thermometer is charcoal and cream, sat with a purple teddy in his mouth with the right ear chewed. The label in black text reads: hyperarousal. The first text box parallel to the bottom of the thermometer is light blue in colour and in black text reads: Shut down, lethargic, possibly not eating, possibly suffering with depression and distressed. The second text box parallel to the lower bottom of the thermometer is darker blue in colour and in white text reads: Fatigued, sleepy, little motivation to move, not really interested in exercising or enrichment. The third text box parallel to the middle lower of the thermometer is light green in colour and in black text reads: Optimal level. Able to cope with stress effectively (eustress), optimal ability to learn and respond to cues,thriving! The second text box parallel to the higher middle of the thermometer is darker green in colour and in white text reads: Able to be present and demonstrate curiosity, able to self regulate emotions, able to listen actively and engage. The text box parallel to the bottom of the orange section of the thermometer is light orange in colour and in black text reads: Hypervigilant, high state of arousal, humping, lead or barrier frustration, mouthing, dilated pupils. The first text box parallel to the top of the thermometer is dark orange in colour and in white text reads: In a state of fight or flight, lunging, barking, growling, high risk of bite, unable to engage, piloerection, stiff body. Second image description: A comic book strip with two windows on the left hand side representing hyperarousal states. The centre title reads "Window of tolerance and meeting needs". Under this reads muttsnmischief.com In the first window a green and black comic background with a grey and cream Wolfdog in a play bow to the front of the screen. The lower window has a green and black comic background with a grey and cream Wolfdog growling with piloerection. A starburst text box says: Scared of escalation of growl or bite. A white label at the top says: hyperarousal. The centre window is a pink starburst comic background. The lower image is a Wolfdog in a Doggy Enrichment Land, the middle image is a Wolfdog on his back playing with a Kong, the top image is a Wolfdog sat playing the chair game with their handler who is in a Wheelchair. The right hand windows have a pink and white starburst comic background. The top window is of a cream and grey Wolfdog howling. The lower image is a grey and cream Wolfdog growling with piloerection. A starburst text box says: Scared of escalation of growl or bite. A white label at the top says: hyperarousal.
Window of tolerance part two - Exploring the behaviour on a walk or a different environment.10/4/2023 Window of tolerance part two. Exploring the behaviour on a walk or a different environment. The window of tolerance is a very clever tool that a clinical professor of psychiatry, Dan Siegel established back in 1999. This window looks into how we as humans are described best in a state of arousal in which we can thrive and function, especially following trauma. Of course because the window of tolerance is another tool that we can apply to further understand dog behaviour a model of a window of tolerance was researched with dogs to understand their ability to function and thrive and where this landed within the window and where dogs were placed for hypo and hyper arousal. Two very different states. What I didn't explain in the first blog as my blogs always seem so long are the behaviours you may see on a walk or in a different environment, now I am exploring how you may see this behaviour in the context of a walk or in a different environment to home. This is not individualised but generalised, in layman's terms for guardians. This is a broad idea rather than addressing each and every behaviour and challenge as we would be here for weeks. We and dogs both experience emotions to ultimately keep us safe, they keep us alive and keep our instincts sharp. Dogs can experience many emotions interchangeably just as we do. Dog body language and emotions can be widely misunderstood. Dog refusing to walk any further on a walk? A cute social media viral video or an annoyance for the guardian? Or is it actually a sign that the dog is unwell, in pain, fearful, in a freeze or fawn state? Is the dog frozen because they are trying to be difficult? Have they just showed their belly because they want a belly rub? No, this is called fawning. So the viral video of the Golden Retriever guardian attempting to pull him along on his back with his belly exposed is not actually funny, but really sad. Those of you versed with behavioural consults will know that this guardian should be seeking a Veterinary consult and a behaviour consult to explore why the behaviour occurred and what was happening in the environment to cause this behaviour. Every single dog is an individual and I can't stress this enough. Some dogs maybe found to be mostly in an hyperarousal state and you may see: lunging, barking, snarling, piloerection and the other behaviours in the chart below. But you may also see a freeze and a possible stalk or a freeze into lunging, fighting the lead, spinning, showing extreme distress because they are so frightened. A frightened dog isn't necessarily attempting to hide, but attempting to make the scary thing go away! This is hyperarousal and a state where the dog is extremely high, they act impulsively and lack self control, they maybe teeth chattering (a common behaviour described by guardians), dilated pupils and not noticeable by the guardian but a heightened heart and respiration rate, they can't listen to what you are asking of them. They are barking at every passerby now, they could be repeatedly shaking, spinning, heavily panting, showing whale eyes and pulling as hard as they can. You may find at home that they are also hypervigilant and unable to rest properly and every little sound can cause a reaction. Then there are dogs who may freeze, fawn or be giddy and moving backwards, going forwards and so on and licking the face of the other dog quite feverishly to engage in play and show the other dog that they are not a threat. This is why I say every single dog is an individual and we cannot simply say this behaviour means this, because just like us behaviours are so intricate and broad at the same time. In a state of hypoarousal you may also see freezing, fawning, where they roll on their back and expose their belly or they are trying to hide in an attempt to be as small as possible. They maybe showing displacement behaviours of scratching and sniffing the ground and avoiding eye contact with the other dog or person. Trying to escape entering into flight rather than fight and I sincerely hope you have never had to witness this but the awful scream some dogs emit when they are feeling that their fear is just not being respected. Lip licking, yawning, whale eye, stiff body, tail tucked, crawling along the floor, trembling and very jumpy in their movements. However, all dogs are individuals and because emotions change so intermittently and the autonomic nervous system is so complex they can fluctuate between arousals. They may show shaking, barking, screaming, teeth chattering, tucked tail, low tail, crouching to the floor, fawning, growling, snarling, grimacing, cowering, pulling to the end of the lead, attempts to flee and more all whilst on the lead! There are just too many behaviours to name them all. So with this in mind it is really important to understand your dog as an individual and become accustomed to their behaviours on walks and behaviours at home, especially following times of stress. I am purposely not using clinical terms as this is designed for guardians, but you may want to seek a behaviour consult to fully understand your dog. The behaviourist can look at more than just your dog behaviour, but pain and unwellness, the environment (not just home), routine, a full history, experiences, behaviours that concern you or perhaps you aren't aware of behaviour to be concerned about. Having a behaviour consult compiled can be so helpful to fully understand your dog! I will link back to the original Window of tolerance blog and dogs emotional state and how to support them effectively which signposts to the Emotional Bucket blog and specifically how the dog brain works, so you can get a true understanding by cross referencing in your own time https://www.facebook.com/100057373879884/posts/853950979860690/?sfnsn=mo The new model below is one based on the "Circumplex model of emotions" by a neuroscientist called James Russell. He wanted to show how emotions are related. His model is related to humans whereas I have adapted this to apply to dogs. (1) The framework categorises emotions into a circular structure (on the original) based on two primary dimensions: valence (how positive or negative an emotion is) and arousal (how calm or aroused an emotion is). The model proposes that emotions can be plotted on this circumplex space, creating a two-dimensional representation of emotional experiences. In the Circumplex model, emotions are placed around the circle based on their position along these two dimensions. For example, emotions such as happiness and excitement would be located in the upper right quadrant of the circle, indicating high positive valence and high arousal. On the other hand, emotions like sadness and relaxation would be found in the lower left quadrant, indicating negative valence and low arousal. When it comes to dog emotions, the Circumplex model is a useful framework to understand and interpret their emotional experiences. Dogs, like humans, experience a range of emotions, including happiness, fear, sadness, and contentment. By applying the Circumplex model, we can assess the valence and arousal levels of these emotions in dogs. For example, when a dog is excited to see you, their guardian or play with a toy, their emotions would be located in the upper right quadrant of the circumplex, indicating positive valence and high arousal. Conversely, if a dog is fearful or anxious, their emotions would be located in the lower left quadrant, indicating negative valence and potentially high or low arousal depending on the situation. Understanding the emotional experiences of dogs through the Circumplex model can help us better interpret their behaviours, reactions, and needs. It allows us to recognize when a dog is experiencing positive or negative emotions and adjust our interactions or environments accordingly. By using this model, we can enhance our understanding of dogs' emotional well-being and promote their happiness and satisfaction. This is where a behaviour consult comes in, as sometimes being in the situation you cannot remove your own emotions and think of this in a clinical way and understanding that the dog isn't being bad or difficult but experiencing a range of complicated and intertwining emotions due to their environment and other factors that we study and breakdown to learn how to best support your dog. In the next and final blog of the "Window of tolerance" I will explore generalised ways we can address these behaviours and work with these emotions and set up effective communication with our dog where we feedback to them we are listening and ready to help them. References POSNER, J., RUSSELL, J.A. and PETERSON, B.S. (2005) ‘The Circumplex model of affect: An integrative approach to Affective Neuroscience, Cognitive Development, and psychopathology’, Development and Psychopathology, 17(03). doi:10.1017/s0954579405050340.
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Or are you looking for support and would like to get to know us better?
If the answer is yes then click the image below to join my free facebook group. What is Miyagis Dog Training Community?
So it is what it says on the tin! Its a community that is international of Clients and Colleagues with the most supportive and friendly people on the planet. Dog Trainers and Behaviourists from all over the world!
Why did I set up such a mammoth group?
I wanted to have a group exclusively for Clients. For support and to meet uo and build on friendships from Classes or One to Ones. I want Clients to see you are not alone with your Dog and the problem you maybe having that you are not the first and won't be the last! I wanted a safe place where Clients could trade stories good and bad in one place for free!
I also wanted a safe place for the Trainers and Behaviourists I mentor within Social Media Platforms.
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Because when I say I offer an holistic service I really do. It isn't about the money it is about you and your dogs. You and your dogs are all that matter.
So I wanted to encourage people to do homework and build better quality relationships with their dogs. So 3 years ago I had a mad idea and set up the 100 days of dog training challenge. Once a day people would spend 5 minutes plus training their dog. Recording it and uploading their video onto the Community. Every participant recieved a Certificate.
What I didn't count on was how many Professionals wanted to join and how fast word would spread. So this year 2020 I set up a 366 days of dog training challenge.
We have Clients in America, Greece, Norway, Denmark and Spain. We have Trainers from Greece, Norway, Isle of Wight, America and many more Countries. As well as dog trainers and trainee behaviourists: I mentor all over the world.
So again yes this group is free. It is still primarily for clients and for people to get to know me but we also have the challenge running. Again for free. So if you want to join click the image below to be taken to the group directly. See you there!
So it is what it says on the tin! Its a community that is international of Clients and Colleagues with the most supportive and friendly people on the planet. Dog Trainers and Behaviourists from all over the world!
Why did I set up such a mammoth group?
I wanted to have a group exclusively for Clients. For support and to meet uo and build on friendships from Classes or One to Ones. I want Clients to see you are not alone with your Dog and the problem you maybe having that you are not the first and won't be the last! I wanted a safe place where Clients could trade stories good and bad in one place for free!
I also wanted a safe place for the Trainers and Behaviourists I mentor within Social Media Platforms.
Why do this for free?
Because when I say I offer an holistic service I really do. It isn't about the money it is about you and your dogs. You and your dogs are all that matter.
So I wanted to encourage people to do homework and build better quality relationships with their dogs. So 3 years ago I had a mad idea and set up the 100 days of dog training challenge. Once a day people would spend 5 minutes plus training their dog. Recording it and uploading their video onto the Community. Every participant recieved a Certificate.
What I didn't count on was how many Professionals wanted to join and how fast word would spread. So this year 2020 I set up a 366 days of dog training challenge.
We have Clients in America, Greece, Norway, Denmark and Spain. We have Trainers from Greece, Norway, Isle of Wight, America and many more Countries. As well as dog trainers and trainee behaviourists: I mentor all over the world.
So again yes this group is free. It is still primarily for clients and for people to get to know me but we also have the challenge running. Again for free. So if you want to join click the image below to be taken to the group directly. See you there!
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