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Assistance Dog Training 2012-2013 ELISTA Education
Assistance Dog Training 2012-2013
ELISTA Education
Welcome!...
Aims of the Course…
Research and develop knowledge and skill…
In ethical dog use… For assistance with physical and
sensory disability (and others who can benefit from interactions with dogs)
Hopes for the Course!
You will have the confidence… To offer your knowledge and skills… Develop or initiate services in this area
Still great potential in Ireland!
Course Assessments
Module 1: 10% of total grade (an introductory module)
Module 2: 20% of total grade Module 3: 20% of total grade –practical (assessed
in June) Module 4: 15% of total grade Module 5: 20% of total grade-practical (assessed
in June) Module 6: 15% of total grade
Practical Assessment
1. Complete an independent assessment on an adult dog with a view for use in a specific programme/service of your choice. (10% assessment design, 10% conducting assessment)
2. Train a dog a specific task relating to assistance dog training. Be able to describe fully the steps taken and evidence documentation of evaluation of the process. (10% accuracy and efficiency of conducting task, 5% explanation and documentation of training)
3. Clearly explain to a person with relevant disability (potential recipient for the dog) how to work with the dog, specifically have it conduct the trained task. (5%).
Weekend Schedule… Saturday10-11 Welcome session & Puppy
Personality Testing11/11.30- Guide Dog Facilities Tour12.30/1- Lunch1.30/2- Adult Dog Assessment & group
preparation time3.30- Presentation from Autism
Assistance Dogs4.30/5- Optional small group preparation
time
Weekend Schedule… Sunday10-12 Puppy Personality Testing12.30-1.30- Lunch2-4 Adult Dog Assessment
Puppy Personality Testing
Personality= “The combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual's distinctive character”
Puppy Personality Testing
Want to know…. How sociable How reactive (and how quickly
normalises i.e copes with stressors)
Puppy Personality Testing Carry out ‘tests’ that allow for ‘scoring’ in
relation to sociability and reactivity
…remember that a reaction will occur due to a stimulus and stimulus can be visual, auditory, chemical and tactile
Puppy Personality Testing
Each total ‘score’ must represent a personality type, and one must know what would be the preferred responses to create a score.
In assistance dog training a preferred personality must alsobe decided on, but it might differ.
What will affect choice of personality? Work to be carried out Work environment Trainer Recipient
Puppy Personality Testing
Keeping a fair assessment….Same degree for all puppiesSame presentationSame environmentSame previous experience (therefore excluding learning, and being aptitude; “natural ability or tendency”).
Volhard Personality Test Social Attraction-introversion/extroversion Following- introversion/extroversion, curiosity,
motivation Restraint- stress (physical), tactile stimulus Social Dominance-stability/recovery, social motivation Elevation- stress (alternative perception) Retrieving- play/hunt motivation Touch sensitivity (tactile stress) Sound sensitivity (auditory stressor) Sight sensitivity (visual stressor) Stability (more immediate stressor)
Task…
In preparation for tomorrow.Select an assistance dog organisation for which a puppy could be assessed. Plan and rehearse and assessment through the following steps. Use Volhard’s PAT as a guide (modify as little or as much as required).
1. Decide what the most preferable responses would be. (what type of personality do you need)
2. Consider and rehearse testing method, especially to ensure accuracy between puppies.
3. Review and revise responses/scores-know EXACTLY what you are looking for (extend the responses if need be).
Adult Dog Assessment What to assess?Personality (sociability and reactivity)Cope-ability (response to stress)Handle-ablityHealthTrainabilityReliability (does assessment alter in new situations?)
Volhard’s Personality Profiling- designed as questionnaire for owners rather than assessment Prey drive…interest in hunt related
activities Pack drive…social motivation Flight drive… cope-ability with stress Fight drive… cope-ability with stress
For personal safety and in the welfare of the dog ALWAYS watch for the signs of stress when assessing.
And bearing in mind learning theory try and finish with the dog making a positive association!
A reminder of recognition of Stress! “Normal” /no arousal=no stress
Breed dependant
Familiar/Obvious “Positive Arousal” (good stress)Positive Arousal •Demonstrate arousal with sensory responses •Switch off other sensory inputs•Over exaggerate clear positive body signals
Familiar/Obvious“Negative Arousal” (bad stress)Negative Arousal Two types:Flight based•Make themselves smaller•Withdraw/Submit (show they have no defences)•May change to fight based if pushed
“Negative Arousal” (bad stress)Negative Arousal Two types:Fight based•Make themselves look bigger (sometimes lower)•Show defences•Prepared to protect/defend (resource related)
More subtle signals of positive arousal (Distance decreasing signals)•Play Bow•Easy Wagging tail•Flicking Tongue•Submissive Grin•Rollover/tap out•Submissive Licking•Relaxed/Soft Eye
More subtle signals of negative arousal (anxious stress)- dogs (flight)
•·Yawning•·Teeth Chattering •Sweaty Paws•Lip Licking•Whale eye•Not eating•Urination•Ears pinned back•Freezes•Excessive Salivation•Shallow/Fast respiratory Rate
•Pacing•Slow/Little movement•Tucked/Low tail•Stiff Posture•Stretching•Trembling•Muscle Ridges•Urogential Checking
Signals not occur in a vacuum, must be taken in context
More subtle signals of negative arousal- dogs (fight)
•Marking territory•Hard Eyes•Tooth Displays•Ears Alert/Forward•Tense Body•Heightened Posture/Position•Lowering Head and neck•Excessive barks•Piloerection•Tail High and Fast/Flagging
Sometimes dogs show communication referred to as ‘appeasing’ signals. This typically means they have experienced a stressor (negative arousal) and are trying to calm themselves/the situation.•Look Aways•Paw Raises•Sniffing•Sneezing•Scratching•Blinking•Shaking Off
Task…
Prepare assessment for an older dog for an organisation of your choice.
Decide again first on what are the desirable behaviours. How can those be tested for? Prepare fair assessment techniques and a measure for scoring results.
