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A Framework for Resilience Conditioning : The 7 Domains
Predictability Decompression Completing the Stress Cycle Mental & Physical Well-Being Safety & Security Social Support Agency
Slide from Ferdie Yau ' s presentation at the 2023 APDT / CAPDT conference in Covington , Kentucky .
when we took him out that he didn ’ t even flinch . He didn ’ t even show any avoidance other than just pulling back toward the kennel . But it was only when I was in the kennel that I could see those responses , the flinching . I think the white noise from I-95 helped , which dampened down the clang of the bowls and the doors . So that was our first little crack .” Ferdie encouraged the staff to blanket sit with Hank – just hang in the kennel with him with some treats and have a picnic , which was giving Hank social support . “ After getting Hank more motivated to work , then we were able to start working on a relaxation exercise . Not asking him to do anything other than lie on the mat . Early on , if he heard some noise in the shelter , the session was over . He ’ d be gone . But I started to see some improvement . But even when he just stood there , he would eventually come back to me . Then he started responding in noisier , busier places . Now Hank is eating treats consistently and acting more like a dog rather than being shut down constantly .”
One way to understand a dog ’ s perspective is to get in the same space as they live , or “ umwelt ,” a German word the environment , the part of the world an animal can sense and experience , Ferdie said . “ Dogs perceive things very differently than us , even when we are in the same space . Do something simple like get down on the floor at the dog ’ s level and look at the world around you . It actually looks much different even if you ’ re only a few feet lower .”
Ferdie discussed reasons a dog scent rolls , an instinctual carryover from the dog ’ s wild canid ancestry . “ Scent rolling has a biological and adapted value for wild canids . Imagine how a wolf that covers himself in a dead animal scent also picks up the ground around him . And then that wolf can bring the information back to the
rest of the pack and potentially communicate to the pack about the type of species and a location where they can find this food . So the message is – when it ’ s safe , let them do doggy things . They have very little chance to do doggy things in the shelter .”
Completing The Stress Cycle is difficult when a dog is in a shelter environment , Ferdie said . “ But you can still get it as close as possible . For a dog completing a stress cycle , it can be active or passive . Things like toy play and social play . Racing around having zoomies might actually help them complete their stress cycle . After they are aroused , you want to try to bring the dog down that ladder of stress and arousal because what goes up must come down . Just try to remember to constantly focus on bringing a dog down from arousal , even during play and excitement and fun times , not just when there ’ s stress when they ’ re triggered by something . That can help them strengthen that pathway to recovery .” He suggested looking at respiration rates and heart rates during play groups and nature walks . Then afterward , use sniffing exercises or enrichment in the kennel that involves licking or even tearing things apart . “ See if they have the ability to switch attention , instead of focusing or being too vigilant on something , look for a softening of the muscle tone . I want them to complete their stress cycle over and over again .”
Safety and Security is difficult for a lot of dogs to find in a shelter . As trainers , it ’ s about creating a safe zone for them . Another thing is avoiding triggering situations and environments . Ferdie admitted when he was a “ baby ” trainer , he would try to expose dogs to triggers and work on counter conditioning , work on that desensitization . “ But now I ’ m on the other end of the spectrum . I am actually avoiding triggers and situations . I ’ ll still learn these
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