Aranda Dog Training

DOGS ARE TRANSPARENT..
Yes the word transparency is getting thrown around quit a bit these days. And yes I think it's important. What does it mean to be transparent? Here are a few definitions I looked up.

1. Allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen
2. Transparency is intentionally baring your soul to the world by showing your true self to others. Most people hide their essence in fear of rejection, lack of self-confidence, broken-hearted, or lack of fulfillment in life; there are many reasons a person will hold back who they are.
3. Transparency is really about being honest and open with information
4. Having thoughts, feelings, or motives that are easily perceived.

Based on these definitions, Dogs Are Very Transparent.
Dogs are so transparent about their feelings and emotions. I tell all my clients that a dog’s behavior is generally a reflection of the emotion they are feeling at that moment. You can’t always say that about humans.

A man can be afraid of harmless garden snakes, however, because he may be a little macho he may not want to show his fear if there are women around. He can hide his emotion fear and his behavior may not reflect his emotion.
When a dogs are afraid they have no reason to try to hide their emotion fear. They will crouch down with their tail tucked, ears pulled back and when they growl their lips are retracted way back. They have no reason to hide their fear. They have no ulterior motive.

A woman can be sad and depressed for whatever reason but she does not want her family to know it. So she walks around with a happy face. Her behavior does no reflect her emotional state and she can hide it if she wants to.
Go to the Humane Society or any shelter and see how depressed some dogs can get after their owners have abandoned them. They have no reason to hide their depression, stress and anxiety and it’s obvious.

A man can be getting chewed out by his boss and he knows he doesn’t have it coming. He is so angry he wants to knock him on his butt. However he may just smiles and accepts it because he needs his job to support his family. So his behavior does not reflect his emotional anger and he can hide it if it is his best interest.
Well let me tell you when a dog is angry they don’t try to hide it. They stand very erect with their tail wagging in a circle like a rattlesnake. When they are growling their lips form a C cup with their incisors showing and hard ridges over their nose. They have no reason to try to hide their anger.

DOGS ARE SO HONEST
They are not deceptive. They have no ulterior motives.
Dogs are Transparent and Honest

What you see is what you get..
Can we say that about all humans?

This is not a training post; however, remember that a dog’s behavior is a reflection of their emotional state at that moment.
Fear can elicit all kind of problem behaviors. Fear fuels the Animals Genetically Programed Survival Responses, the Flight & Fight..Dogs Are Animals.
So if you do not like or approve of the Flight - Fight behavior, you must change the emotions fueling those behaviors.

It was easy to tell LeeLa's Emotions:
* Happy at Grandmas
* Concerned about loose dogs
* Unhappy about her raincoat
LeeLa was so transparent and Honest

Ted Aranda
CPDT-KA Certified
Aranda Dog Training

SIMPLE AS ABC
Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence
The “Science” Of Behavior

Did you know that the causes of dog behavior are as simple as ABC.
“It can’t be that simple Ted”

In order to better comprehend how your dog learns and to properly teach appropriate behavior, you should understand the ABC’s of Learning Theory.

Simply stated:
A. Antecedents – What triggers or cues that come before and evoke a behavior. A behavior always has an Antecedent, something that happens before the behavior and causes or stimulates it to happen.

B. Behavior – Behavior is what the dog actually does once it’s stimulated. A behavior is any performance, anything the dog does that can be observed and measured.

C. Consequences – The outcome or result of a behavior. What happened after the behavior! Once the Behavior is evoked there is always a Consequence. In other words something happens after the behavior that influences if it will likely be repeated or not.

*When a dog performs a specific behavior and there is a good Consequence such as treats-pleasure (Positive Reinforcement) that behavior will most likely be repeated.

*Or when a specific behavior brings a Consequence such as relief, turning off discomfort/pain (Negative Reinforcement) that specific behavior will most likely be repeated.

*When a specific behavior evokes an aversive Consequence, such as emotional or physical discomfort/pain (punishment) that specific behavior is weakened and will most likely diminish or cease.
Keep in mind, it’s not the Antecedent that keeps the Behavior going, it’s the Consequence.

REINFORCEMENT DRIVES GOOD OR BAD BEHAVIOR
EVERY BEHAVIOR HAS A REINFORCER

UNWANTED REINFORCEMENT:
Behaviors that are reinforced will be repeated, even if they are unwanted behaviors. Remember to think about training from the dog’s perspective. What’s in it for the dog? Will the Consequence be more likely to increase or decrease the behavior? Keeping the consequence in mind is a great way to think of solutions for solving unwanted behaviors. If your dog is counter-surfing, what’s in it for the dog? You left hot dogs on the counter (Antecedent), the dog jumped up and placed front paws on the counter (Behavior), and the dog ate the hot dog (Consequence). Because the dog surely enjoyed the hot dog (good consequence), the behavior of jumping up on the counter is more likely to increase because it was reinforced.

The ABC model can be used to train new behaviors or to modify old ones. It’s all about manipulating the Antecedents and Consequences until you get the Behavior you want, or stop behaviors you do not want.

Sounds pretty easy doesn't it? It is fairly simple for basic training exercises such as sit, lie down and come.
However, the ABC's for Problem Behaviors is not always so easy!! Let me assure you, with some serious problem behaviors it can be extremely difficult to pin point the Antecedents and Consequence for unwanted Behaviors. What can be motivating-reinforcing aggressive behavior? Is it fear or pleasure. Or is it a medical condition? Sometimes it can appear like dominance- pleasure but it can still be fear. If you misdiagnose then the problem will get worse. You must define the Antecedent and Consequence before you can design a proper protocol to treat the problem.

Defining the reinforcement for compulsive behaviors such as tail biting, chewing paws, chasing shadows and lights can be difficult. Is the dog getting an endorphin high when he engages in these compulsive behaviors? Most compulsive behaviors are said to be fueled by the emotions stress and anxiety.
Compulsive behaviors may become a dogs way of “self medicating” as it boosts the endorphin production in the brain. The brain releases endorphins naturally in response to pain or stress.

Yes, in some situations it is difficult to define the reinforcement for unwanted-undesirable behaviors. If you cannot define the reinforcement, you cannot remove the reinforcement and the unwanted behaviors continue. If the unwanted behaviors continue they get stronger and stronger and become serious habits.

It has taken me years of experience dealing with problem behaviors to be able to quickly define the reinforcement for serious problem behaviors. But like any other skill, the longer you practice the skill the better you get at it.

Remember, reinforcement drives behavior. If you want consistent good behavior you need what the dog perceives as reinforcement. If you want to eliminate unwanted behaviors you must identify the reinforcement and then remove it. Sometimes it’s easy.. Sometimes it’s not.

To assure success in in the ABC’s in training your dog three components are necessary:
1. MANAGEMENT: Managing your dog’s environment is very important in teaching your dog proper behavior by preventing the triggers or cues (Antecedents) for undesired behaviors.

2. CONSISTENCY: Be consistent with the Consequence for any wanted or unwanted behavior.

3. SET DOG UP FOR SUCCESS: It is important to set your dog up to succeed by making it easy to do the right behavior and hard to do the wrong response. You can help prevent unwanted behaviors from occurring and being reinforced if you can manage the Antecedents (cues-triggers) in your dog’s environment.

Again, in theory it’s as easy as ABC.. In reality…

Ted Aranda
CPDT-KA
Aranda Dog Training

Aranda Dog Training Problem Behavior Specialist: Aggression - Barking - Chewing-Housetraining - Jumping - Separation A