NICOLE NOSE BEST !
Nicole Nel is a qualified Animal Behaviourist who works at the Cape of Good Hope SPCA Adoption Centre . With an indepth knowledge of animal behaviour , she works to fix the wounds that the eyes can ’ t see . Nicole busts some common myths with regards to animal behaviour for you below :
MYTH 1 :
Using food in training is bribery .
FACT :
Food is a primary reinforcer , it is what motivates an animal .
• Why use food ? SCIENCE ! It ’ s how animals learn .
• Motivation is key when working with animals . They decide what is motivating , not us .
• Food is necessary for survival . You don ’ t have to teach your dog to value it . For this reason , using food to reward good behaviour is extremely effective .
• Food helps an animal associate positive emotions with things they may feel unsure about .
• It helps build solid foundations of good history and positive associations .
• Using food in training activates the flow of positive hormones into the blood and brain , leaving the dog feeling happier , more confident , enabling problemsolving and generally improves their overall emotional wellbeing .
• Positive reinforcement training methods help build a strong relationship with you and your dog .
• The methods of rewarding desirable behaviours by using food are humane .
• The more one rewards desirable behaviour with a primary reinforcer , the more the desirable behaviour will be repeated .
MYTH 2 :
Dogs are pack animals , dominant or alpha .
FACT :
Several years ago people claimed the earth to be flat . Science proved this theory incorrect . The same applies to the “ pack theory ”, it is a debunked study and misleading .
• This myth originates from a study done in the 1930s observing wolves ( not domesticated dogs ) in captivity and not in their natural habitat
• The study was disproven decades ago .
• Dogs are opportunistic scavengers , not co-operative hunters / predators like wild canids .
• Pack theorists claim that pet dogs live in “ packs ”, claiming that they live in complex social groups with an alpha pair and are in continual competition for status .
• Further research ( Mech 1999 ) proved this to be wrong . Wild canids ( like wolves ) live in family groups and never compete with the breeding pair . They live in harmony with each other .
• Labelling dogs as alpha / dominant / pack animals leads to an antagonistic relationship with our companion animals .
• Dogs often do not have a choice as to where or who they live with , as they may be selected from a litter or adopted into a family , unlike wild canids .
• Pet dogs in the home are often unrelated , there is no social “ pack order ”. They form loose social bonds with other animals in the home .
• Dogs in rural communities live in loosely connected , interchangeable groups , often unrelated to each other .
• Dogs do not spend their lives striving to increase their dominance nor live in a hierarchy within their home with each other or their humans .
• Dogs use behaviours to access rewards ( good things ) or to avoid threats ( bad things ). Dogs are trying to have control of their own lives and survival .
• Throughout history , humans have an unfortunate desire to control other beings and have status . This often extends into misunderstanding the emotional wellbeing or training of other animals .
• Unfortunately , it seems easier to label a dog as “ difficult , alpha , dominating ” than treating the underlying emotional issue .
• A true understanding of the rich emotional lives of domesticated dogs , their origins and how they learn is the basis of modern behavioural science .
• Domesticated dogs are not wolves . The research into dog cognition is ongoing and scientific research updates what we know about domesticated dogs , so it is vital to stay informed with facts .
MYTH 3 :
That “ guilty ” look .
FACT :
Guilt is a human emotion . Dogs are not capable of feeling “ guilt ”.
• In those “ shaming ” online photos or videos what you are observing is actually FEAR .
• Dogs are incredibly adept at responding to visual signals and our body language and tone of voice .
• Dogs react to these visual and auditory signals in an attempt to reduce conflict and calm us down ( through calming signals or appeasement ).
• If you have previously “ chastised ” or scolded them for chewing something , soiling the house etc , the feelings they associate with an incident or your presence are negative emotions of fear or feelings of anxiousness .
• Dogs learn by association whether it be to avoid a threat or gain access to rewards .
• Dogs do not learn effectively through the use of punishment or aversive methods .
• Behavioural fallout from punitive methods is extensive and can lead to shut down behaviours ( often misinterpreted as “ calm ”), depression , fear , anxiety , learnt helplessness and aggression .
• Rather manage the situation so that the dog cannot rehearse the unwanted behaviours , redirect the dog on to an alternative activity and reward desirable behaviour .
• Remember , positive reinforcement training is humane , effective and helps dogs learn faster and feel happier !
The “ guilty ” look is fear based
FOOTPRINTS 2020 33