I've been thinking a lot recently about that old adage "prevention is easier than the cure..." and how important it is to be proactive, rather than reactive when it comes to preventing behavior problems. An example would be when out walking a dog - rather than not paying attention to the environment at all, and then being "reactive" as a handler, having to react because a dog lunges up a tree after a squirrel, or starts to bark when seeing another dog, a more successful strategy is to be "proactive", by being aware of your surroundings, ready to help your dog succeed no matter what scenario is thrown at you. Among other things, this requires being "present" when out with your dog, keeping them engaged, talking to them, keeping them focused on you when passing temptations such as cats, squirrels, or a half eaten burrito! It's like defensive driving - you can be an excellent driver, but you still need to be aware and prepared for the potential for unexpected events. Example: one of my neighbors has a very reactive dog - when I see her approaching with her dog I don't just assume that she's going to manage her dog's behavior, I'm proactive and manage my dogs' behavior instead - I'll cross the street, or stand using a parked car as a visual block until the reactive dog has passed, all the while keeping my own dogs focused on me using treats. My pups aren't reactive, and I'd like them to stay that way, so that means I have to be proactive and manage the situation so that they don't get the opportunity to learn that "shouting back" at the reactive dog is a viable option. Another example would be the dog park - some folks who are there with their critters are very "present", keeping an eye on their dog, able to interrupt and redirect play if it seems to be getting out of hand, mindful of whether or not their dog is enjoying himself, or overwhelmed. But some folks will show up, unclip their dog's leash and then pay more attention to their latte, or chatting on their cellphone, not mindful of whether or not their dog is playing appropriately, being harassed by unwanted playmates, or eating/rolling in something unpleasant. They're left in the position of having to react if their dog gets involved in a scuffle, whereas if they'd been "present" they likely would've had opportunities to prevent the scuffle from happening in the first place.
We all know about how important it is to prevent medical problems in our critters - that's why we vaccinate them, give them monthly flea/heartworm treatment etc. It's equally important that we take measures to prevent behavior problems from developing, that's why it's so vital that we become proactive, rather than reactive. As Jean Donaldson says, "dogs are learning all the time, whether we want them to or not...." If we're present and proactive we can guide that learning, so that the dog can be set up to succeed - if we're reactive we just end up reacting when we notice a problem, and "prevent" mode is no longer an option, we're looking at "undo" instead...
Other news: Shelter trainer Lindsey is now Shelter trainer Lindsey, CPDT - KA, that stands for "Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed". She earned this credential by passing a lengthy exam held by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers back in September. Well done and congratulations to her! Now when are you coming back to work? Joking, joking, no rush!
Lindsey stopped by the Behavior office with the new baby, Cassius, last week. The wee lad has a great set of lungs on him, and he got to meet Wilma and Jethro - Wilma showed him her green ball, and Jethro gave him a wee kiss..
