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
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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. With the XL Bully ban, there has been a lot of emotions and fear surrounding this, however working together, sharing knowledge as and when we can, we can move forwards together through this.
Cooper and Co solicitors held a zoom panel to discuss this and what is known as fact so far for the first 20 minutes of the Zoom, discussing Section 1 as it was and the new proposed ban as it has been outlined so far and what you can do as a guardian. There is a remaining 45 minutes of very good questions and answers based on opinion that you will find helpful to listen to. https://youtu.be/h33PjMk-UXA?si=f292iZzCB76aPZVd Here is the link for third party insurance from Dogs Trust, to ensure that even if your insurance provider will not insure your dog, you still have third party insurance. With support available and the option to have a certificate of the insurance once the ban comes into effect. https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/support-us/membership Beginning desensitisation to muzzles now will greatly help you when the ban does come into effect. I have included a link here to my blog which contains free YouTube tutorials to learn this, muzzle companies and a discount code for the charity Yellow Dog UK should you need any of their apparel. https://www.facebook.com/100057373879884/posts/844335340822254/?sfnsn=mo Investing in a good quality Y front harness and a good strong lead (not an extension lead) will also help you. I personally use Truelove Harnesses, they are high quality and ensure that your dogs gait is not impacted. I have an instructional YouTube video here of conditioning to a harness. It will take time and a lot of repetitions and a lot of treats to fully condition the harness but this is completely normal, conditioning dogs takes time to ensure that they are fully comfortable with the process. It can take time to adjust to the harness comfortably especially if you are switching from a Julius K9 for example and desensitise to it, so if the dog is stiff or has their body tense it can be really hard to fit the harness correctly which is why desensitising is so important for a loose and happy body. yout u.be/D3c5HeSrmK8 Here is a link to the Truelove Harnesses which are only available to purchase from Amazon https://amzn.to/3PFYeCY Good strong leads I have experience with are the double clip leads https://amzn.to/3tkovPG and also strong long leads, I personally use these as they last year's! https://amzn.to/46t5t8b Speak to your insurance providers and ask them how they will communicate with you with the roll out of the ban and the amnesty period. Speak to your vet about spay and neutering and if you have a puppy if they have knowledge on how puppies will be affected by neutering and spaying at the appropriate age. Attend training classes remotely or in person, keep a log of your training. Adhere to the new legislation and if you are in doubt please reach out to dog professionals, vets and insurance providers for support and clarification where needed. Cooper and Co solicitors have said that they will be doing a new zoom after the ban is finalised and a date set and the link above will be replaced so as to be in keeping with up to date information. The dog training industry is here to support you and you don't have to go through this alone. Image description: A four window comic strip, the background is grey. The title in green reads: proposed XL Bully ban tips. Each window has a brick wall backdrop in pop art style with the colours, pink, blue and green bricks. The first window has a pop art style mouth, shouting at the top right corner in black and white. The speech bubble says: "What do we do?" A mouth in the same style on the bottom left says "pull together." A soft grey bully is in the second window with tan eyebrows and a brownish muzzle with pink, tongue lolling. The dogs speech bubble says: "it is up to the humans to protect us and keep us safe." The third window on the bottom left has the same bully with the speech bubble: "Things you can do to help me are; Listen to the Cooper & Co Law solicitors YouTube for up to date information and speculation of possible outcomes Muzzle train me Have me trained Follow the new rules Keep me safe and secure Use a well made Y front harness Use a good quality strong lead - no extension leads. " The final window on the bottom right has the bully with a speech bubble. The text reads:" Speak to your insurance providers Get third party cover from Dogs Trust Have me neutered or spayed at the appropriate age. Speak to your vet for guidance in line with the new legislation." Window of tolerance
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. So in my last blog in the "Five Freedoms series - freedom to express normal behaviours. I mentioned thriving because I think this word and concept is massively underrated not only when applied to animal welfare but dog welfare. I did write a blog a while back on" Yerkes - Dodson Law" which also looks at states of arousal and optimal learning and performance and looks at how dogs learn and what can prohibit them from learning. So I wanted to make an easy to understand tool for everyone. I won't lie, making the inverted U curve graph was hard work and on reflection probably not so easy to understand. But our dogs need to be within an optimal emotional state to be able to participate in training or behaviour modification and be able to communicate with us for any work we do with them to be effective. Here is the blog if anyone wants a refresher or go back to cross post. Yerkes Dodson Law Blog https://www.facebook.com/100057373879884/posts/755132353075887/?sfnsn=mo When we or a dog feels threatened or perceives a threat, because it's the individual who decides what is a threat, or have experienced trauma, our very clever brains send lots of communication signals throughout our body. So here is my super geeky blog on the dogs brain for further understanding of all of the functions in detail. Understanding Your dogs brain blog https://www.facebook.com/100057373879884/posts/670293268226463/?sfnsn=mo In summary the automatic nervous system of the body sends signals which can communicate to a dog to enter into a state of fight, flight, submission or freeze . Also known as hyperarousal and hypoarousal. (1) So when we talk about healing trauma in dogs, we are giving you the tools and the knowledge to let your dogs vagus nerve turn off, so your dog can truly enter a state of relaxation and feeling of safety. The vagus nerve does not also control emotional regulation but also the digestion communication for the dogs body too. Entering into these states is to enter into a state of survival, the dog's brain is programmed very much like ours and when we are threatened we can enter into these different states to survive. However, just like humans, dogs too can still be affected after the event. There are cognitive, emotional and physiological symptoms. We also refer to this as the "Emotional Bucket" which was taken from "How full is your bucket", written by Don Clifton and Tom Rath 2004. (Another human psychiatry model we took for the Animal learning world). 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 So when a dog feels threatened or experiences a trauma, you may see them sleep more than usual,they may also be lethargic, have very little motivation to move, exercise, enjoy enrichment, appear depressed, go off their food, seem listless or not themselves. They could be very jumpy, anxious and unable to settle comfortably, shut down or distressed. Conversely you may find that they are high, boisterous, unable to calm, unable to engage, on constant alert, barking, lunging, humping and in a high state or fight or flight and hypervigilant. They can also be anxious, unable to rest and settle, growling, high risk of bite, piloerection, stiff body, dilated pupils, lead or barrier frustration and mouthing or chewing. So to understand this we then look to the window of tolerance, we can see on the scale where the dog is and if they are in either category of hypoarousal or hyperarousal, we need to begin looking into ways to help them to heal that trauma and encourage the vagus nerve to rest. When a dogs body enters into one of these states on either side of the thermometer, they can suffer physiologically and become unwell. We may not always see unwellness on the exterior, a lot of unwellness can and does occur internally and dogs are very good at hiding this. You may find the "Emotional Bucket" blog helpful in understanding why 72 hours decompression is so important in embarking on the immediate healing journey for your dog, encouraging sleep and enrichment opportunities. It is so important we help dogs to heal, not just for emotional regulation for a quieter life if they are in a state of hyperarousal or to essentially cheer them up if they are in a state of hypoarousal, but to let them heal inside and be in the optimal state biologically to thrive and not simply survive. If you would like to monitor your dogs behaviour you may find journaling helpful, noting what is happening, when, how long for. To begin to break down the behaviour and identify the trigger. You may find this blog helpful and the journal sheets are free to download and print. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=710183720904084&id=100057373879884&sfnsn=scwspmo References LeDoux, J. (2012) Rethinking the emotional brain, Neuron. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3625946/ 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. Freedom to express normal behaviours - one of the five freedoms of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 UK10/2/2023 Freedom to express normal behaviours - 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 to express normal behaviours. This one is a powerful one for me. This is one that I fight for vehemently. Because people may well provide their dog with food, water, a bed, some toys and provide walks. But many dogs, many dogs are not free to exhibit normal behaviours. This is one of the things that upsets me the most working with dogs and learning how others treat them. Being completely transparent I think a lot of my compassion fatigue and moral injury stems from. I could talk about this subject every day. But I won't. I'll keep it as brief as possible. One favourite quote of mine is: "There is a difference between surviving and thriving." this has been adopted and titled their own words by many psychologists so it is difficult to find the original author of this expression. But there is nothing more true when considering dogs, animals and even humans. But as this is about dogs, let's look at this deeper for dogs. One question: "Is your dog surviving or thriving?" it's a big question to think about and to answer. This is a dangerous balancing act that we have with the understanding and interpretation of the five freedoms. The Five freedoms were set as so, to be timeless so basically each generation would adapt it accordingly. But stripped to it's bare bones as presented under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 for the UK. The absolute bare minimum could be done for a dogs welfare and this would be lawful. (1) Universally it is agreed that the bare minimum just is not good enough and today more than ever we have so many people speaking for animals, not just dogs, but all animals. It is up to us humans to provide animals with the opportunity to have greater positive affects of their environment, so that they are able to thrive and not just survive because they are genetically programmed to endure negative affective experiences. (2) It can be argued we as humans have to endure negative situations as that is our genetic programming. We have identified this as eustress - good stress and distress - bad stress. But just because we endure or power through a negative situation or experience does not mean that our peers do not express sympathy or empathy for that person and their experience. So just as we show compassion to others and express words such as "you should never have experienced that." We do need to also apply this level of compassion to our dogs in preventing them from enduring negative experiences. Freedom 5 - to be able to exhibit normal behaviours. Provision 5 - providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animals own kind. So although the provisions update the five freedoms definitions and focus on the positive affects and not just the negative affects, the provisions are still problematic. What do we deem as sufficient space? Many guardians and colleagues have been upset and frustrated due to living in a flat and refused an application to rescue a dog because of living in a flat. I argue that although the guardian lives in a flat this doesn't mean the dog will not have their needs met, just because of living in a flat. I lived in a flat and took my dogs out to toilet, I had plenty of room to train them and I also had plenty of room to offer lots of safe and secure sleeping areas. The flat also did not prohibit them from expression of normal behaviours, such as barking, howling, zoomies, chewing, digging, sleeping and seeking out scent enrichment. Many dogs live in houses and do not have the life that they are legally entitled to have. They are not walked, trained, enriched or allowed to exhibit normal behaviours such as barking, chewing, digging etc. I also know of dogs on farms and small holdings, chained. Never going into the house, shelter is met by a plastic kennel and a barn for winter, food and water is provided and the dogs go to the vets. This is totally legal in the UK. Does this mean the dog has a good life? No, not at all. Company of animals of their own kind: many dogs do not wish to live with another dog, it could be dangerous for that individual dog and the cohabitating dog, some dogs are not social and do not wish to mix with other dogs. We have to be mindful of the law and how poorly written the law is. There is room to say that both freedom and provision have been met. But does it mean the dog is enjoying healthy and good welfare? Many dogs are still punished for toileting in the home, barking, chewing, digging, mouthing, expressing that they do not want to be near another dog, chasing cats or wildlife or being punished because the dog did not understand the behaviour being asked of them. Punished for getting excited about going for a walk, punishment for being excited? In today's age and not Victorian times I would hope children are not punished for being excited. It is the same principle. Instead because the provision is problematic, Mellor 2015; identified the mixing with their own species as the importance of that first critical period and bond to a mother and their siblings, we know how important it is for a puppy's development and socialisation pre and postnatally for that bond and secure attachment and of course playful behaviour. (3) Humans control animals and especially dogs in Domestic settings. This is why many of us argue that "dominance" is outdated. Because this term has been applied to harm a dog in favour of aversive practices. Instead it is an understanding that a dog is completely dependent upon a human, for food, when they will be fed, when and where they have access to water, access to walks, play, shelter etc. A human controls every aspect of a dogs life. We as humans have the ability to compromise or enhance animal welfare and those of us who work with animals have the most influence. This is why many of us dedicate our time to writing blogs, researching and keeping our learning up to date to pass knowledge onto colleagues, guardians and those up and coming in the industry for all around better welfare standards. This ideology expands on the original question of the five domains of "Is the animal's life worth living?" This is a big and a strong question. For example we as trainers, behaviourists and Behaviour consults have the ability to anticipate problems and remedy them, we are able to provide training and give knowledge, we can also improve cognitive behavioural learning. This is a big duty of care for those of us who work with animals professionally. We are responsible for a close animal - human bond. (4) I'll expand on the provisions, their history and the three orientations in another blog after exploring all of the freedoms as this again is just too big for one blog. So hopefully as we have explored this freedom and the meaning of this provision we understand that we help the individual dog based on their preferences to have an enjoyable life, where they can bark, chew, dig, howl, play, socialise or not socialise, enjoy their human family, sleep safely and comfortably and enjoy proper exercise and enrichment. Where they are not punished for expression of normal behaviours for a dog as a species, they are not punished for toileting indoors, barking or chewing for example. We would not punish a cow for mooing, nor for toileting so we absolutely need to think of our dogs in that context. The dog decides what is and what is not fun for them, they decide whether or not they enjoy the food offered to them and they decide where is comfortable and safe to sleep and they also decide whether they want to socialise with other dogs or not. We have to be mindful as we progress with our learning that dogs have choices and preferences just like us. 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 freedom from fear and distress. References Webster J., editor. Management and Welfare of Farm Animals. UFAW Farm Handbook. Wiley-Blackwell; Chichester, UK: 201 Mellor D.J. Enhancing animal welfare by creating opportunities for ‘positive affective engagement’ N. Z. Vet. J. 2015;63:3–8. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2014.926799 Mellor D.J. Enhancing animal welfare by creating opportunities for ‘positive affective engagement’ N. Z. Vet. J. 2015;63:3–8. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2014.926799 Coleman G.J., Hemsworth P.H. Training to improve stockperson beliefs and behaviour towards livestock enhances welfare and productivity. Rev. Sci. Tech. (Off. Int. Epiz.) 2014;33:131–137. doi: 10.20506/rst.33.1.2257 Freedom from discomfort - 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. The Five Freedoms first came to circulation in the 1990's due to John Webster which was simply an extension of the original Brambell Committee report which focused on the space of farm animals. (1) (2) When the Five Freedoms were originally applied to all animals in captivity or domestic settings and not just livestock. It was felt that the freedoms were clear and not open to interpretation. That people would read them and not mistake what they meant. They did not account for human error or interpretation. For example if you Google right now, freedom from discomfort. You will see that it is focused on shelter and that the animal must have suitable shelter. They did not consider the nuance of these freedoms. So some people may read this freedom and say "OK, they aren't in the rain, they are sheltered from the sun and they have a blanket in winter." The literal bare minimum, because the law is written so poorly. For myself and colleagues freedom from discomfort is so much more than shelter! It is freedom from hunger pangs, freedom from distress caused by human emotion, freedom from aversives, freedom from negative situations, freedom from ever being put in a situation which would cause emotional discomfort. Of course as the author and I agree, we cannot wrap animals in bubble wrap and prevent them from ever experiencing any of the above freedoms. But what we can do is absolutely strive to never let an animal feel distressed or compromised and if they do ever feel distress such as bumping into a door frame for example, we can be there to reassure them, check them over, take them to the vets if needed, we can prevent a negative experience from environmental learning from becoming a trauma. (3) Science explored this further by longing at the states known as "affect and affective states" - affect applies to internal emotions and physiology of how the animal feels as well as sensory and environmental factors that can negatively affect how an animal feels. (4) We as humans also need to understand that genetically animals are programmed to feel particular emotions and physiological changes that could be negative for their ultimate survival. With this we run the risk of entirely removing the biology of the animal at their core and leave them in a vulnerable state. Where survival skills only would not be used but also not passed on to offspring. (5) So to quickly break this down, something we express in holistic behaviour is helicopter parenting, where we understand fundamentally a dog may have negative experiences such as bumping into a door frame. However, how we support the dog, comfort them and enable their confidence makes all the difference of a learning skill to a trauma. So preventing traumas, being a helicopter parent and supporting the dog by rewarding them as often as possible supports us in meeting the freedom of "expression of normal behaviours." (6) It is really important to understand whenever exploring law, which I do a lot as many of you will know. It is so open to interpret or misinterpretation. Some people may see the five freedoms and think "Well I shall take this literally and provide the bare minimum." Others like myself take this much more seriously and are happy with the identity of a helicopter parent to our animals and supporting them holistically in their health, wellness and survival. We also have to consider the layout of the home, are there any drafts which could negatively affect our dog and wake them? Is it too hot for them? Do we need to consider a raised bed for air circulation and their joints? Do we need an orthopedic bed? Are there any external or internal sounds which could negatively affect them? Do they feel safe enough to sleep and enter deep sleep? Are they housed appropriately such as any animals that frighten them? There are so many things to consider as to how we affect our dogs. If we affect our dogs negatively this can develop into physical symptoms. We know this from studies and research of negative behaviour changes and guardians taking or not taking their dog to the vets for a wellness exam. If you refer back to my blog on "The importance of vet checks." https://www.facebook.com/100057373879884/posts/676485464273910/?sfnsn=mo So once again, when we bring a dog into our lives we research how to keep our dog well, for example yearly vaccinations or titre testing, keeping them safe and under control in public, keeping an eye out for local diseases, looking for ways to enrich them and meet their needs, ensuring they have the opportunity to be a dog, changes in behaviour which could be an indicator of unwellness and looking at supporting them so that they do not live in a negative affective state. Because as dog guardians this is what we want, happy, healthy dogs who we can confidently say have had a really good life and we absolutely strived to do the best for them, everyday. Next in the series I'll be discussing the next freedom: to be able to exhibit normal behaviours. References Webster J. Animal Welfare: Limping Towards Eden. Wiley-Blackwell; Chichester, UK: 2005 Brambell Committee . Report of the Technical Committee to Enquire into the Welfare of Livestock Kept under Intensive Conditions. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office; London, UK: 1965. Command Paper 2836 Mellor, D. (2016) ‘Updating animal welfare thinking: Moving beyond the “five freedoms” towards “A life worth living”’, Animals, 6(3), p. 21. doi:10.3390/ani6030021 Fraser D. Understanding Animal Welfare: The Science in Its Cultural Context. Wiley-Blackwell; Oxford, UK: 2008 Mellor D.J. Enhancing animal welfare by creating opportunities for ‘positive affective engagement’ N. Z. Vet. J. 2015;63:3–8. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2014.926799 Anonymous. Farm Animal Welfare in Great Britain: Past, Present and Future. Farm Animal Welfare Council; London, UK: 2009. pp. 243–254 The five freedoms and trolls
So in light of a particular person doing a world tour, Zak George has been very loud, passionate and trying to engage internationally with colleagues to shut this person down, because they are doing detrimental harm to dogs. Before being banned from a particular social media platform this person had 2 million followers. Lots of people asked me how? How does someone who publicly hurts dogs with barbaric methods in the name of training get such a big following. I felt my answer was here: I commented on Zaks post to support him and shared that I had also emailed the RSPCA. Someone decided they weren't done with Zak, Roman's Holistic Dog Training and others so they came for me. I had replied in one comment that anyone who has or work with dogs should always do research for their welfare. This was their response in the screenshot image. It dawned on me that actually many people do not know about the five freedoms under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 of UK law. I didn't bother responding to this person as with trolls you just don't win. But it got me thinking. Nobody can have a dog as part of their family, without doing research for their welfare. I mean it all comes down to the "I don't talk about religion or politics" but proceeds to moan about the cost of a beer. Same thing, right? If you rescue or buy a puppy, you do research of their breed. If you have them vaccinated you do research as to what the vet is giving them. If you see your dog or puppy is unwell you research their symptoms. If your puppy or dog is giving a behaviour you don't like you research the behaviour and ways to work with the behaviour or research to find a professional to help. I'll stop with the examples as you get the idea. So in order to care for a dog in the UK and be on the right side of the law, not only do you have to research welfare, you also have to know UK laws regarding dogs and other animal family members. Including the five freedoms. If we take any one of the five freedoms away, we will be doing detrimental harm. 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. Beginning with freedom from hunger, thirst and malnutrition. Dogs need nutrients and the compounds that come from nutrients in both foods and water for their development and maintenance of their physiology. Running jokes across social media are that "millennials" are obsessed with treating their dogs as "fur babies' ' and that by being obsessed with their nutritional intake we could effectively be harming them. One article the other week by the' Telegraph' headlined its article with,"stop feeding your dogs homemade diets, charity warns". (Linked under References). Reading this article was a waste of time with a misleading headline, it was a clear case of an article space need's filling. What can it be filled with? With research there are lots of conflicting statistics from blogs and websites written by non researchers that all claim different percentages of diets fed to dogs. All you have to do is pop over to Google to see this for yourself. There's lots of inflammatory headlines that one type of food is bad for a dog and harmful and again absolutely none of them agree or come from science based research. Looking at the dog holistically, every single dog is an individual with dietary needs and food preferences, just like humans and there is scientific research to back this up as well as testing foods and changes in dog's based upon different diets. We also know that diet affects behaviour and this is something that many dog owners (guardians) are becoming acutely aware of but it is still not general knowledge. All over social media, no matter which one you will quickly find, enrichment aesthetic accounts with dog food, people posting all of their dogs meals, people arguing about food for dogs and quality. This is all irrelevant for this blog; we are simply looking at how diet affects behaviour and not at brands or types of food. "A dog's behaviour is not only controlled by the environment, but also by genetic, cognitive and physiological factors. Miklosi. A, (2014). Physiological factors in turn can be affected by nutrition. Bosch. G, et al, (2007). The brain is full of an amazing communication system and within this communication are neurotransmitters and hormones and both of these components can be affected by the nutrition that a dog receives and when the brain is affected negatively or positively we can see these effects manifest through behaviour. In looking at the dogs welfare this is why it is so important to ensure that our individual dog is receiving the best possible nutrition that they can receive. The gut microbiome is the most important area of looking at the dogs diet as this area is needed to remain as undisrupted as possible, a healthy guy microbiome means that the brain communication system should be working well. When the gut microbiome is affected, the healthy balance is disrupted and many changes can occur such as inflammation, infections and the production of serotonin 90% of which takes place in the small intestine can be affected. Tizard. I. R, et al (2018). When serotonin is affected, cortisol can rise and the brain can become affected and stop or hinder normal communication and functioning. (Refer back to my brain blog last week). As well as infections and inflammation affecting the dog negatively just as it does in humans. When we have an infection or inflammation we may not be ourselves and our behaviour is altered and sadly this is the same for our dogs. A study with shelter dogs of the same breed was conducted in Italy alongside a veterinarian behaviourist and a dog handler, 18 dogs were classified as aggressive and 11 fearful and 13 dogs exhibiting normal behaviours and fed them all the same food. They then did a second study and worked with three shelters with different breeds and different food. The results showed that there were marked differences in the gut biome of the dog's with no reported behavioural issues and the dog's reported to have aggressive or fearful traits. Mondo, E. et al. (2020). So considering the dog holistically, if we were to work with a cross section of professionals, vets, nutritionists and behaviourists we can then look at the whole dog and have a fecal exam to ensure that the dogs gut is healthy and if it isn't, then work with a nutritionist to get the right balance for the gut biome and work in tandem with a behaviourist to help to change the emotions driving the behaviours. So basically dogs rely on food and the nutrients from food to contribute to healthy internal health, development of neurotransmitters and hormones. When these nutrients are lacking, out of balance or too high in particular chemicals such as tryptophan or tyrosine. This can upset the hormonal balance, tryptophan which regulates the serotonin levels, when out of balance can result in aggression, self mutilation behaviours and resistance to stress. An upset to catecholamines which are neurotransmitters such as adrenaline and dopamine can alter behaviour and healthy brain development as well as contribute to stress resistance. Polyunsaturated fats, omega 3's, n-3 and n-6 fatty acids when imbalanced can also contribute to changes of the serotonin and dopamine development within the dog's brain. Dog behaviour is signalled from chemical messages, within hormones and neurotransmitters. When changes occur with the hormones and neurotransmitters this can cause behaviour to change in a positive or negative way. Scientists unfortunately studied senior beagles to understand the influence of food on behaviour and a reduction of the symptoms of dementia in humans. To understand if food played a role in cognitive decline being delayed by using food enriched with antioxidants and mitochondrial cofactors decreased the rate of cognitive decline in senior beagle dogs under laboratory conditions and improved age-related behavioural changes in older dogs held in home situations. (7) It's unknown if dog food regulators have explored the amount of tryptophan requirements within dog food and whether the requirement is sufficient for dog behaviour, as researchers have found a diet high in tryptophan was found to decrease aggression and stress in trials. ( It is also known that a deficit in tryptophan and tyrosine can negatively alter the health of dogs too. Diets found to be low in PUFA not only contributed to a decline in health over all, but also negatively impacted cognition and behaviour. Stress was also seen to increase and resistance to stress was not as present as it had been with diets higher in PUFA. Dopamine and serotonin are also affected by a lack of PUFA which control the regulation of emotions, impulse control, cognitive function and neurological functioning. Due to the changes in neurological functioning changes in cognition and behaviour can be seen due to the levels of these chemicals within the food. So when considering behaviour and changes in behaviour or a prevalence of a breed trait behaviour we have to consider the diet and what is occurring physiologically inside the dog's body to their body and also to their brain and brain development especially in puppies and young dogs. "When considering dog behaviour we really should be considering what is in the dog's stomach." (9) Hunger can also play a role in affecting behaviour and when food isn't readily or regularly available this can negatively impact dog behaviour especially if food is so scarce that they are experiencing a deficit in nutrients and are malnourished. (10) Carbohydrate intake also plays a role in communication from the small intestine, the receptors when digesting good and high quality carbohydrates send signals of satiety to the brain before the gastric area is emptied. This slows the digestion process and the process of glucose being absorbed too readily which means better maintenance of insulin levels and glucose levels and poor carbohydrates particularly prevalent in dry extruded foods can cause negative impacts within the stomach and alter behaviour. Different breeds and larger sized dog's may respond differently in terms of satiety and nutrient absorption. (11) So diet plays a huge role in the contribution of unwanted behaviours such as barking, which is why behaviourists may refer you to not only an integrative vet but also a canine nutritionist to ensure that your dog is receiving the correct diet and nutrients for optimal health, brain development and regulation. In conclusion we cannot live with or work with a dog or any animal without researching their welfare needs. Even in the most basic sense! Part 2 next "The Five Freedoms and freedom from discomfort." References https://www.telegraph.co.uk/.../stop-feeding-dog.../ Miklosi, A. (2014). Dog Behaviour, Evolution, and Cognition. Oxford University Press. Pp. 16 Bosch, G., Beerda, B., Hendriks, W.H., van der Poel, A.F.B., Verstegen, M.W.A. (2007). Impact of nutrition on canine behaviour: current status and possible mechanisms. Nutrition Research Reviews, vol. 20, pp.180-194. Harju, C. (2016) Epsilon Archive for Student Projects, Welcome to Epsilon Archive for Student Projects - Epsilon Archive for Student Projects. Available at: https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/ (Accessed: January 23, 2023). Tizard IR, Jones SW. The microbiota regulates immunity and immunologic diseases in dogs and cats. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. (2018) 48:307–22. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2017.10.008 Mondo, E. et al. (2020) Gut microbiome structure and adrenocortical activity in dogs with aggressive and phobic behavioral disorders, Heliyon. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6994854/ (Accessed: January 24, 2023). Philip Roudebush, Steven C Zicker, Carl W Cotman, Norton W Milgram, Bruce A Muggenburg, Elizabeth Head. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 227 (5), 722-728, 2005 Bagshaw, CS, Ralston, SL & Fisher, H (1994) Behavioural and physiological effect of orally administered tryptophan on horses subjected to acute isolation stress. Appl Anim Behav Sci 40, 1–12. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 40 (1), 1-12, 1994 Mugford, RA (1987) The influence of nutrition on canine behaviour. J Small Anim Pract 28, 1046–1055. Journal of Small Animal Practice 28 (11), 1046-1055, 1987. De Leeuw, JA, Zonderland, JJ, Altena, H, Spoolder, HAM, Jongbloed, AW & Verstegen, MWA (2005) Effects of levels and sources of dietary fermentable non-starch polysaccharides on blood glucose stability and behaviour of group-housed pregnant gilts. Appl Anim Behav Sci 94, 15–29. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 94 (1-2), 15-29, 2005. Bourreau, J, Hernot, D, Bailhache, E, Weber, M, Ferchaud, V, Biourge, V, Martin, L, Dumon, H & Nguyen, P (2004) Gastric emptying rate is inversely related to body weight in dog breeds of different sizes. J Nutr 134, S2039–S2041. The Journal of nutrition 134 (, 2039S-2041S, 2004. |
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