Dealing with Challenging Behaviors in the ShelterDog Walker Volunteer Info Session

Angela Schmorrow, CPDT-KA

March 25, 2018

Today’s Agenda

� ABC’s of behavior

� Functional behavior analysis/Developing a modification plan

� Examples with common behaviors in shelter animals

� Troubleshooting

� Reactivity

Unlabel Me!

� Behavior is communication.

� Behavior is responding to the environment to get one’s needs met.

� Behavior is not “good” or “bad.”

� Behavior continues because it works.

� A dog is NOT his or her behavior.

Why is the dog doing that?

� The ABC’s of Behavior

Antecedent Behavior Consequence

ABC’s of Behavior

� Antecedent: Something in the environment that triggers the behavior

� Behavior: What the animal does to influence the outcome in that environment

� Consequence: What happens to make that behavior more or less likely in the future� Reinforcement: Makes the behavior more likely to happen

� Punishment: Makes the behavior less likely to happen

� Reinforcement drives behavior!

Example:

� Fido in Kennel 1 sees a walker approaching his kennel door with a leash. He begins barking and jumping up repeatedly at the kennel door. The walker proceeds into the kennel, leashes Fido up, and they go on a walk.

Example 1: Jumping

Walker Approaches Kennel

Dog jumps repeatedly at

kennel door and barks

Walker opens kennel door, enters, and takes dog on

walk.

How do we change this?

� Change the antecedent

� Change the consequence

Functional Behavior Analysis

� Environments trigger behaviors. Good “antecedent arrangements” can set animal up for success.

� Animals behave for a desired outcome (or reinforcer)

� Anything that strengthens a behavior is a reinforcer. Any behavior that continues or gets stronger is being reinforced.

� “Rewards” do not necessarily = Reinforcers

� Learner decides what is reinforcing, and what is aversive.

� “Replacement” Behaviors: What could meet the same desired need?

Example 1: Jumping

Walker Approaches Kennel

Walker opens kennel door, enters, and takes dog on

walk.

Example: Changing Antecedent

Walker tosses handful of treats

into kennel as approaches.

Dog keeps “four on the floor” while

eating.

Walker opens kennel door, enters, and takes dog on

walk.

Example: Changing Consequence

Walker Approaches

Kennel

Dog jumps repeatedly at kennel door and barks

Consequence: Walker pauses

at door.

Behavior: Dog pauses

from jumping, stands with four on the

floor.

Walker opens kennel door, enters, and

takes dog on walk.

Example 2: Leash Biting

� Possible Antecedents:� Dog has not been out of kennel and had outlet for energy and/or release

of stress

� Dog is over-stimulated by trigger in the environment� Dog has become hyper-focused on handler

� Possible Antecedent Arrangements:� Increase exercise/enrichment� Change kennel location� Choose time/route to minimize exposure to triggers

� Engage in “find it” game tossing treats to keep head down� Use metal leash� Give dog a toy to hold

Example 2: Leash Biting

� Possible Reinforcers:� Displacement for stress/arousal

� Engagement with person

� Tug game

� Proactively reinforce a replacement behavior:� Mark/reward forward motion with head down

� Cue a known behavior to reward (hand target, sit)

� If biting happens, remove source of reinforcement� Hold collar until leash is dropped

� Return to kennel

� (Note: yelling, tugging, etc. can actually reinforce this behavior)

Leash Biting: Reinforcing head down and forward motion

� Adolescent, high energy lab mix

� Frequent leash biting/clothes grabbing on walk

� https://youtu.be/aRKKVKKZqvY

Example 3: Pulling On Leash

� Why do dogs pull? IT WORKS.

� Make reinforcement of moving forward contingent on loose leash first

� Sounds easy, but:� Dogs have long history of pulling working

� Usually many distractions present

Tips for Successful Loose Leash Walking

� Train this like any new behavior in an easy context� Ed Center

� Play yard on leash

� High rate of reinforcement

� Placement of reward behind leg

Mayflower

� Extremely strong puller

� Had pulled down and injured staff, few would even walk her

� Extremely focused on environment, not motivated by food rewards in that setting

� Began walking a few yards back and forth in parking lot

� https://youtu.be/EVrzkcKJ9Jc

Trouble-Shooting

Troubleshooting: Using Food

� What if dog won’t take food?� Try higher value treats

� Think about other reinforcers� Does dog feel safe?

� What if dog has poor self control around food?� Use lower value treats� Don’t wear aprons – keep treats less obvious� Deliver treats on ground

� Work on “zen” games� https://youtu.be/eTn9ZJK8neQ

� https://youtu.be/8JOH81MDscY

� Think about other reinforcers

Trouble-Shooting: Frustration

� From behavior perspective, frustration is not experiencing reinforcement when expected.

� In all species, frustration can turn to aggression.

� Greatly affects ability to learn.

Free Cookies?

� Novel approach to working through frustration

� “Non-contingent reinforcement” aka free cookies

� Allow immediate access to reinforcement initially

� Only then begin asking for behavior as a criteria for reinforcement

Example: Fate at the doorway

� Asking for a sit until released, and reorienting after passing through door:

� https://youtu.be/Twa1nyEhdoA

� https://youtu.be/OOqLwfd26X4

Fate, Starting with “Free Cookies”

� Search for treats in mud room before approaching door

� No waiting at door

� Immediate treats as exits

� THEN, come back in and try with more structure

� https://youtu.be/MlAFJ7atvsw

When might this apply to shelter?

� Throwing treats into kennel to get “four on floor”

� Using spray cheese/peanut butter while harnessing

� For some dogs, working on wait at door at the end of walk initially

� Not necessarily first technique to try, and not for every dog, but worth trying for those having limited success with usual practices

� Goal is to teach alternate behaviors, but have that initial learning take place without frustration

Be Proactive –Don’t Wait for Problem to Start!

� Manage environment to set dog up for success.

� Reward behavior you want instead – feet on the ground, walking forward, etc.

� Provide incompatible behaviors – e.g., having leash biter carry a toy

� Watch for changes in body language, increase in arousal, intense focus on something in the environment.

� Redirect with a cue, food, or toy. Move away from trigger, etc.

� Ask others for space if you need it.

� “When in doubt, throw food.” J

When Things Go Wrong

� Calmly interrupt if necessary (the behavior is dangerous, destructive, self-rewarding, etc.)� Removing reinforcement is enough – no need for “NO!” or other corrections

� Change the environment

� Lower criteria for reinforcement

� Increase rate of reinforcement and/or value of reward

� Behavioral momentum: Ask for a highly likely behavior (a favorite trick, etc.) before continuing

� Ask for help/stop the walk

Why don’t I just correct the dog?

� Yes, punishment stops behavior (making it very reinforcing to the punisher)

� Progressive trainers are following science, not just “being nice” – if punishment really was a quick permanent fix, of course we’d do it

� Problems of fallout

� Confusion for learner

� Risk

Reactivity

Understanding Reactivity

� All living things are reactive – just means they respond to stimuli in environment.

� What varies are triggers and thresholds.

� Reactivity is normal dog behavior.

� But, doesn’t feel good to dog or handler.

Why are dogs reactive?

� Fear/anxiety?� Lack of socialization?� Past bad experience?� Frustration?� Genetics?� History of aversive techniques?� Combination of above? (Ambivalence,

uncertainty, conflict of not knowing)

� Regardless of the cause(s) . . . � Dogs continue to be reactive because it

WORKS. � We need to help them find new strategies and

to feel better about the situation.

What need does reactivity meet?

� Usually considered a “distance-increasing” behavior

� Barking/lunging causes the “trigger” creating the discomfort to move away

Frustrated Greeters?

� “He just wants to play so bad. He loves other dogs.”

� Being friendly with members of your species and being socially anxious are NOT mutually exclusive.

� More likely ambivalence/conflict/arousal.

� How might we contribute to this in how we train our dogs to be social around dogs?

Over-Arousal

� We often can’t know for certain the dog’s exact emotional state.

� Even social animals, when highly aroused, can make bad decisions.

What is possible?

� Genetics and early development play a role in temperament – it isn’t just “how they are raised.”

� Temperament may “set the boundaries,” but training and environment can move the line.

The Good and Bad News About Temperament

Fearful, Reactive, Easily aroused

Confident, Bold, Calm

Genetic Potential

Environmental influence

We can’t necessarily “cure” reactivity, but we can influence it with training and management.

Management:Setting the environment

� The more a behavior is practiced, the better the animal becomes at it and the more it will happen.

� “Trigger Stacking” – stressors are cumulative

� We can set our dogs up for increased success by:� Minimizing overall stress.

� Not putting them in situations they are not yet ready for and having them rehearse reactivity.

Staying “Under Threshold”

� Want to keep dogs below the threshold of exposure where they will start to react.� Early warning signs:

� Arousal increasing� Stiff body� Freezing

� Staring and unable to look away� Not taking food

� Need to reduce intensity to help dog succeed� Increase distance� Minimize visual or audible stimulation/exposure

Management On Walks

� Choose routes and times of day that are less busy. (Off site walks)

� Pick locations with good lines of sight, ability to move to the side and avoid tight passes.

� Cross streets, change directions, use parked cars/bushes/snow drifts/etc. to create visual barrier, increase lateral distance.

� Walk dog on harness or head halter� Tension on neck increases arousal.

� Double points of attachment and/or waist leashes for safety?

� Don’t be afraid to ask for space.

What do dogs need?

� Safety, predictability, and choice.

� New options.

� Gradual desensitization and counter-conditioning: Change negative associations to positive ones.

� Reactivity is a symptom of the emotion – when we change how the dog feels, we change the behavior.

Training New Options

� ”Find It”: Triggers appearing cause a fun tracking game to start. https://youtu.be/dyh_3XYp1lw

� Turn and Go: Make a quick U-turn when a trigger is too close for comfort. https://youtu.be/XDc6j6Z_9-E

� “Look At That”: Engage then disengage; take in information about the environment calmly and move on. https://youtu.be/MmYjZKYbGf8� Vera: https://youtu.be/CZgAuKTUVp0

Next Steps

Upcoming Sessions:

� Hands-On Dog Training

� NEW in June: Understanding and Working with Fear

� Contact us: angela@harmonyk9.com