CATCH CANINE TRAINERS ACADEMY
on a Boston Terrier given their facial structure and nub of a tail . I also shared a handout of what different canine emotions could look like in terms of body language . Jenna picked up on it quickly . We also discussed how to set Oliver up for success by looking at different ways to prevent Oliver from being triggered . I explained to Jenna how this is called “ management ” when it comes to behavior and training work .
Dogs “ see ” the world through scent . Allowing them to interact with their environment through their noses taps into an often-overlooked way for them to process their situation . Research suggests that sniffing promotes positive emotional affect , or in layman ’ s terms , sniffing helps dogs feel calm and happy . For dogs , olfaction is intrinsically linked to emotion in a very special way .
Jenna started using higher value food choices , such as meatballs and cheese , because they made more of an impact for Oliver , capturing his attention outside . We also invited Oliver ’ s dog walker to come to the session so that she was following through on the exercises Jenna would also be doing on walks with Oliver . Because Oliver was so much more at ease in green spaces , I asked Jenna to walk Oliver to Central Park and spend time there , avoiding city blocks for the time being . I explained that it will lower the likelihood of Oliver being triggered by urban noise and activity . We wanted to prevent trigger-stacking from occurring . Jenna continued to carry Oliver in her arms in all the common spaces of her building to prevent incidents with other dogs and children .
I introduced different ways to help reduce Oliver ’ s stress in the moment , including the action of sniffing . Jenna purchased a Snuffle Mat so that we could use sniffing as part of introducing Oliver to new people . Dogs “ see ” the world through scent . Allowing them to interact with their environment through their noses taps into an often-overlooked way for them to process their situation . Research suggests that sniffing promotes positive emotional affect , or in layman ’ s terms , sniffing helps dogs feel calm and happy . For dogs , olfaction is intrinsically linked to emotion in a very special way . Snuffle Mats are not just great for enrichment but can also be used as a tool to reduce anxiety as part of a behavior modification program . By sprinkling treats repeatedly into the Snuffle Mat , duration sniffing can reduce arousal .
When I arrived two weeks after the initial consult , Jenna had already put Oliver behind the gate in her bedroom , per my previous instruction . Oliver barked as I came into the apartment , but he was not able to access me . I started tossing pieces of meatballs that Jenna had prepared ahead of time , per my instruction , for Treat / Retreat . Oliver chased all the pieces of meatballs I tossed . I sat on the couch while I continued tossing . Oliver appeared more relaxed after a few minutes , so I asked Jenna to let him out . He cautiously approached me and sniffed me . I periodically tossed treats .
We also went for a walk in Central Park so that I could coach Jenna on how to manage and work with Oliver around dogs and people . I asked her to feed Oliver treats any time he noticed a stranger 10 feet or closer to us . We used a technique called Engage / Disengage made popular by trainer Alice Tong , where the dog is reinforced for looking at the trigger ( the person ) and then back toward their handler .
I showed Jenna how she could scatter treats into the grass to help Oliver settle if he seemed agitated . The repeated sniffing helped reduce his arousal . A recent study explored the pulse rate of dogs on walks and found some interesting results related to leash length , sniffing and the behavior that is most commonly described as “ shaking it off .” Sniffing and pulse rate showed a correlation , too . When dogs sniffed , their pulse rate went down . The more intensely they were engaged in the sniffing behavior , the more their pulse rates lowered . The decline in pulse rate cannot be solely attributed to the level of physical activity because pulse rates of dogs declined when they sniffed even if they continued walking .
When we got back , Oliver was feeling good . He became playful with me and brought out a toy . He allowed me to pet him and leaned into my leg when I did . Based on my observations at that point , I suggested to Jenna to forgo muzzle training . I had spoken with the veterinary behaviorist , and she agreed that it was not necessary . Jenna appreciated this because she was uncomfortable with the idea of using a muzzle .
Note : About four weeks into Oliver ’ s medication protocol , Jenna started noticing Oliver recovered faster when he was triggered . If he barked at a dog , Jenna was able to lure his attention away with a treat and Oliver could focus on Jenna . Oliver didn ’ t startle as often when he heard trucks and loud bangs on the city streets during walks . And when he did startle , Oliver was able to keep moving instead of freezing and looking in the direction of the noise for a few moments , as he did before starting the medication . Based on this we decided to continue with the medication as part of the plan for helping Oliver ’ s emotions and behavior improve .
Indoor Work : Relaxation and Guest Protocol There were two key training plans that I discussed and demonstrated with Jenna : Relaxation Conditioning and a Guest Protocol . I will summarize each in this section .
For relaxation , we used Nan Kene Arthur ’ s methods described in her book , “ Chill Out Fido ! How to Calm Your Dog ” from 2009 .
32 Building Better Trainers Through Education