Continued from Part 2 In clinical practice we have observed cases where phobic behavior (both towards the dog’s immediate surroundings and towards humans with which the dog has little contact) and anxiety develop in pre-puberty. This occasionally leads to an anxiety syndrome which I call “anticipated defense behavior” (Dehasse, 1990a). A Bernese sheep-dog (raised …
Continued from Part 1. The emotional self-regulation (homeostasis) phase Homeostasis is the ability of an organism to maintain an equilibrium in a variable environment. Just as we have thermo-regulation (thermal homeostasis), we can also speak of emotional and relational homeostasis (Vincent, 1986). And we could even stretch the analogy somewhat: the organism has a …
Introduction In our Western culture, the relation between humans and dogs is played out in a historical and socio-economic context that fosters the emergence of behavioral dysfunctions in animals (the discrepancy between the imagined dog and reality). Many behavioral problems in dogs arise from a failure to recognize social and environmental constraints during their growth. …
Throughout the dog’s twelve thousand-year relationship with man, its behavior has been carefully molded to distinguish the dog from its wild ancestor, the wolf. In the first installment of this series, we saw how aggression, a trait seldom seen in the defensive behavior of the wild predator, has been developed in the modern dog to …
Click here for a Printable Copy TEST PURPOSE SCORE Social Attraction: Place the puppy in test area. From a few feet away the testor coaxes the pup to her/him by clapping hands gently and kneeling down.Testor must coax in a direction away from the point where it entered the testing area. Degree of social attraction, confidence …
Behaviorally, interdog aggression is separate from aggression to humans. (Which would obviously make it genetically different). When looking at aggression exhibited by dogs, behaviorists note some risk factors – and it is wise you look at medical reasons simply to rule out medical causes since there are over 50 medical reasons for aggression. There are …
We have developed a series of tests and exercises for baby puppies, which both educates and evaluates each puppy as it grows and develops. These methods are based upon Clarence Pffafenberger’s book, New Knowledge of Dog Behavior, Howell Book House, Inc., 1977, and research publications from many institutions of higher learning. Modifications have been developed …
The Crate is a Puppy’s Safe Haven When you bring your puppy home for the first time, pick out a location for the puppy’s bed that is safe and comfortable. One of the best house breaking and containment methods is to put your puppy in a crate. Some people think a crate is mean or …
As always, I will start by saying that the following is a way of picking puppies for a working program. This by no means is the way for making your selections. No matter what anyone tells you, puppies are a gamble. You can have the best Sire and Dam available to you and still they …
The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too. Samuel Butler in note-books of “Higgledy-Piggledy,” 1912 INTRODUCTION There are millions of species of life that exist on earth today but …