#Dog Behaviorist

[darkwood-sleddog]

https://scitechdaily.com/dogs-can-talk-study-confirms-dogs-intentionally-use-soundboards-to-communicate/

Saw this and wondered about your thoughts on it. I remember reading awhile back your post(s) about it and Clever Hans and everything.

I haven't read the study myself yet, so I don't have opinions/information beyond that.

I personally don't think this study proves button dogs are doing anything new or surprising or beyond Clever Hans-like behaviors.

First off, the study is self-reported and the sample size is not very large, meaning that the dogs are not in a laboratory environment where we can be sure they are getting the same type of instruction and that anything that might lean the study towards Clever Hans effect is mitigated (we even have to try to purposefully mitigate Clever Hans effect in Human behavioral studies btw).

Clever Hans effect is not imitation, much in the way the study describes that dogs are not imitating their owners. It's not like the horse was imitating his handler stomping at the ground, the horse who was known as Clever Hans used his knowledge of human body language to anticipate the correct answer and would stop pawing at the ground when this body language was achieved. A big part of "Clever Hans Effect" is the fact that this body language, by the humans involved, is not consciously done. We all display things unconsciously from a body language perspective and domestic mammals like dogs and horses, who have been bred to work alongside humans for a very long time, are excellent at decoding this. The horse didn't understand math in the same way these button dogs in all likely hood only understand that the combination of these particular sounds give them something they desire. I can ask my dog to sit and they'll get a treat, which is rewarding. So the next time they hear "sit" they are anticipating a reward and performing the behavior that produces the reward. They do not understand the word "sit" in the context of the English language. I can change that word to any human language or any word I want and they'll still perform the behavior as long as that sound (+potential hand signal) + reward is associated with the behavior on a consistent basis.

The study goes on to say that the dogs can string two-word combinations together to communicate. It's well known that dogs can be taught quite a few words and combinations of words/commands even without buttons, so this is not surprising (my dogs know that Gee (turn right) is different from Gee Over (get to the right side of the trail for example).

The study observes that most button communication from dogs dealt with essential needs such as "outside" + "potty" or "outside" + "play". These are already needs and desires that dogs (attempt to) communicate with their owners on a daily basis, the only difference between somebody relying on buttons for this communication vs somebody who is not is that a majority of pet owners are not well versed in dog body language and may be ignorant of or misinterpret what their dog is trying to communicate. I personally think there is a huge problem with expecting dogs to communicate in a distinctly human-like way that has not been proven to be more accurate than basic commands + body language while us as humans might place little or no value in the communication styles of dogs themselves.

What the study does not do is prove that button using dogs are describing dreams, emotions, or anything beyond their immediate needs. These concepts are peddled heavily by the most popular animal button communication influences such as Hunger for Words and Bunny the Dog, etc. It is THIS aspect peddled by dog button people that irks me the most (in addition to some of the ableist language towards non speaking people these people have pushed..) because it is simply not true that their dogs can describe dreams they had or how the dog feels about their new baby. It is not scientifically proven. Button for potty? Cool, I love that if it works for you. I don't need a button like that for my dogs because I understand their body language differences between outside + potty and outside + play, but I know some people might need a tool like this for clarity or ease. Buttons to describe dreams and desires beyond a dog's immediate needs? I'm suspicious and comparing you to Koko the Gorilla's handler who did the same thing (non-scientific attributing of emotions given to the animal they care for in a non-accurate way).

The study says it would love to find out if they can attribute button use to dreams, complex emotions, past & future events, etc. But how can you possibly, in good faith, know you're being accurate with this when we cannot even guarantee an absence of Clever Hans Effect in human behavior studies? When we have not even been able to identify these things in a non-button study? How do you identify if it is happening correctly within button using dogs if you can't identify if it is happening within normal dog behavior?

and finally, the study lists four individuals associated with the study and NONE of them are animal behaviorists or have backgrounds in DOG cognition and behavior. One of those four people is associated with the brand of buttons used. This alone flaws the study enough for me to discount it.

[eqan]

i did not have dewey being diagnosed with dog adhd on my 2024 bingo card but here we are

[fadinggentlemenduck]

We got our dog when she was 6 months old from a neighbour of relative's relative - it wasn't an official place to get a dog from but the guy wasn't able to take care of over ten dogs

Our puppy was a bit anxious but after like a moth she got used to everything

However when we moved (she was around 5 years old) it had gotten bad and now after my sister and her boyfriend moved with her it's even worse

Maybe she's not scared of storms and fireworks but she panics when radiator clicks, when you turn on electric stove, when wind blows and when rain falls on roller shutter casing (not sure if I wrote it right)

She's trying to hide in small spaces (in a wardrobe, under a desk, in a bed, under a bed, on someone's laps, under armchair) but it usually works for around half a minute, she pants, she scratches every surface she can see, follows everyone around

We tried laying with her, taking her on our laps, letting her hide where she wants (and giving her new options) sometimes like how they are sometimes with blankets, giving her calming meds recommended by vet (and probably more I can't remember right now) and most of the time nothing works (sometimes something will but not 100% of the time) and it's so tiring both for her and for us

I don't want to give up but I have no idea what to do

[mandana-the-service-pup]

Practicing our skills. I’m so happy I’m working with a behavior consult. The exercises are the same but the subtle changes she makes during our meetings have made such a huge difference. I would honestly recommend it to every SD team at some point. Even if you work with a trainer regularly it’s so nice to smooth out those peculiarities you just can’t seem to shake.

[cowboyjimkirk]

this dog. refuses to go on walks, play frisbee, and go to daycare. just stands still and will not be moved. an actual Aussie mix who refuses to exercise

[thepanplumbob]

cowberry-jam -> doglover-trait

[theasylumchild]

Saw the cutest shoes in the window of a store. Went in. Saw they were $285. Decided to spend that money on a dog behaviorist instead

[ri5k]

dogs are more psychologically and emotionally similar to humans than any other animal. in this sense it is an error to overemphasize breed when it comes to personality, because dogs are individuals primarily shaped by environment. yes, certain instincts are in-built for a generality of a breed (by far the most consistent and prevalent example being herding), but an individual dog will have unique fears, habits, likes and dislikes, quirks, temperament, physicality. this is missing from most discussions on the topic but it is well-understood by animal behaviorists. there is no particular behavior that all members of a breed display, and there is no monolithic personality that automatically applies to all members of a breed, full stop.

[lettersiarrange]

7) There may be other dogs around who are dog reactive. Dogs who are afraid of other dogs and see them as potential threats still need to go on walks and aren't necessarily dangerous to humans. A dog owner might be working very hard to get their anti-social dog used to being around other dogs, and all of that progress could be ruined by a "friendly" dog bounding up to another dog who does not see them as a friend.

Everyone else talked about outdoor cats, it's time for me to talk about offleash dogs

[phoenixdogtrainings]

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[ivyfox-illustration]

BASIC Watercolor logo, Pet logo from Photo, Dog logo, breeder logo, Pet Drawing, Custom Pet Cartoon, kennel logo, dog trainer logo Your favourite breed art print - head or body conformation - groomer gift - Other Breeds Available - dog breeder gift - regional specialty or national specialty prize gift idea Artwork by Ivy Fox Illustration Follow Ivy Fox Illustration on social media https://m.facebook.com/IvyFox.illustration/ https://www.instagram.com/ivyfox.illustration/ Find your dog breed: Personalized Pet Portraits: https://ivyfoxillustrates.etsy.com/ My website: https://ivyfoxillustration.com/ Art Prints Merch Original PaintingsCustom logo design! Printing options are available (on puppy go-home bags, canvas, shirts, mugs prints, ect)! 🎨 I also offer custom marketing packages and can do dog/stud ads, litter announcements. digital/social media banners, photography for local people, ect. When I begin your drawing, you will receive a rough concept sketch, which you can approve or suggest revisions to. and a colored/finished product. I can work from separate images together if you don’t have good ones of the pets together. **If you are ordering your digital drawing as a print, you will get a separate tracking number later once I have sent it out.** (Digital files will be delivered via Facebook or Etsy messages - or whichever social platform the details of the commission have been discussed at length.) Contact Email: IvyFoxIllustration@ gmail(dot)com ———— Tags and other miscellaneous info: ———— Ivy Fox Illustration Ivy Fox dog art Museum of the Dog American Kennel Club Showsight - Where Champions Are Celebrated American Dog Fancier InfoDog Best In Show The Canine Chronicle AKC Gazette best pet portrait artist watercolor fine art unique art Akc meet the breeds Westminster kennel club dog show national dog show crufts grooming intergroom superzoo petquest groom expo dog sports well bred dogs purebred preservation breeders ethical breeders breeder of merit akc grand champion Ch – Champion of Record – earned by gaining 15 points in conformation wins. Points awarded is determined by the number of other entries the winning dog defeats. A dog must win at least two majors (by winning at two different shows under two different judges where there are enough entries defeated to equal 3-5 points by the AKC point system. OTCh – Obedience Trial Champion To earn an obedience title, the dog must have a passing score of 50% of possible points or better, and an overall passing score at three different competitions under three different judges. CD – Companion Dog (First Level Obedience Competition, basic obedience exercises) CDX – Companion Dog Excellent (Intermediate Level Obedience Competition, more advanced obedience work) UD – Utility Dog (Advanced Level Obedience Competition, difficult obedience work, including hand signals) UDX – The highest obedience degree AKC presently awards TRACKING TD – Tracking Dog TDX – Tracking Dog Excellent VST – Variable Surface Tracking HERDING HIC – Herding Instinct Certificate HT – Herding Tested PT – PreTrial Tested HS – Herding Started HI – Herding Intermediate HX – Herding Excellent HCh – Herding Champion AGILITY NA – Novice Agility OA – Open Agility AX – Agility Excellent MX – Master Agility Excellent NAJ – Novice Agility Jumper OAJ – Open Agility Jumper EAJ – Excellent Agility Jumper AKC Unofficial Titles CGC – Canine Good Citizen ROM – Register of Merit – A dog or bitch must earn a number of points specified by the DPCA rules, and also meet the numbers of champion and major pointed progeny required by DPCA. The requirements for bitches are less than the requirements for the dogs because males have the opportunity to produce a far larger number of offspring. ROMC – Canadian ROM ROM/C – designates that the dog has earned an American and a Canadian ROM. TT – Temperament Tested TC – Temperament Certified AOE – Award of Excellence-A dog must meet qualifications in conformation, obedience, and also be OFA´d to earn this award. New competitions are being added and rules for competitions change, for the most up to date rules and regulations, check with the AKC and the DPCA. Miscellaneous American titles often seen on pedigrees and in advertising. BIS – Best in Show at an All-Breed Show in conformation. BISS – Best in Show Specialty (where only dogs of the same breed are competing in conformation) BOB – Best of Breed BOS – Best Opposite Sex BOW – Best of Winners (best between Winners Dog and Winners Bitch in breed conformation class competition) WD – Winners Dog – the winning dog overall of the regular classes of his sex. WB – Winners Bitch – the winning bitch overall of the regular classes of her sex. RWD/RWB – Runner up to the winners dog and bitch, if the winner becomes ineligible for the award then the runner up will receive the points awarded from that show. Special – A dog that is already a Champion that is competing for Best of Breed only. A Champion cannot compete in the classes where points are earned (because a Champion has already earned them!) RTD – Registered Therapy Dog TD I- Dog has passed Therapy Dog International´s testing HEALTH CERTIFICATIONS OVC – Ontario Veterinary College OVC Hip Certification – A dog may be preliminary screened at a younger age, but will not receive a certification unless the dog is at least 18 months old. It was told to me by a tech in the radiology department of OVC that they consider hips to either be bad, in which case they are rated on a scale from 0 – 4, with 4 being the worse, or they are “good” in which case the animal will receive a certification number (if 18 months or older. Therefore they do not follow the U.S. rating system which includes “FAIR”, Good, Excellent”. Their exact words were “the hips are either GOOD or they are NOT. OFA – Orthopedic Foundation for Animals OFA Hip Certifications – dogs within a specified range of normal hip x-rays are certified OFA-Excellent, Good, or Fair OFA – Elbow Certification – Certified by OFA for normal elbows on x-ray, only one grade recognized as normal. Check with OFA for proper procedures and positioning for hip and elbow x-rays. A dog may be preliminary screened at a younger age, but will not receive a certification unless the dog is at least 24 months old. OFA is also now doing certifications for other canine health concerns such as normal thyroid levels, check with OFA for accurate data and rules concerning these. CERF – Canine Eye Registry Foundation-dog is certified to have normal eyes. Re-certification must be done annually. vWD – Von Willebrands Disease free-meaning the dog has been tested and found free of vWD, a bleeding disorder, vWD free ratings also are often given with a percentage listed. For the best information on Von Willebrand´s Disease, contact Dr Jean Dodds, who is the leading research specialist in blood disorders. Dog show prize idea

[eqan]

i get the idea but i can’t quite get behind the people on instagram acting like their dog being reactive is some devastating life event that makes them “grieve” the dog they wanted. your dog is fine. you can still do amazing things with your dog. having a reactive dog doesn’t mean you can’t take them on hikes, out in public, etc. muzzle train. put the extra work in to counter-condition their reactivity. i’ve had reactive dogs my entire adult life and it never stopped us from kayaking, hiking, going to breweries, out to eat on patios, and to family events (i’ve taken milo to family christmas gatherings with no issues). it’s different if your dog is aggressive, but just having a reactive dog is not the end of a fun life together. it’s harder, but you don’t have to “grieve” anything. yike

[cesium-sheep]

it's kinda weird to hear someone talking about like "I realized I was doing this because someone else said something and I decided I didn't want to be that person" and it's like. can't relate. it is weird how many experiences are presented as normal human behavior that I super can't relate to. like. I'm just me and there are specific behaviors that I've changed but no one behavior is Me, idk. but other people always talk about how straightforward I am like they're surprised. but eg yelling vs not yelling in an argument, or phrasing a question in one way vs another, that's not. changing ~who I am~.

[keenekanine]

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[pawsensedogs]

Pawsense

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Address: Dallas, Texas, USA

Pawsense is a premier Dog Enrichment Center based in Dallas, Texas, specializing in Fear Free Training, boarding, adoption consultation, and nutrition consultation. Established in 2019, Pawsense is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for pets and their owners, emphasizing the importance of pet safety and security in all services offered. 

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[altarboysalteredboys]

animals are so perfect. i was playing with my dog and leaned down at the same time she jumped up and she slammed her whole skull into my nose and when i yelled and sat down on the ground she immediately dropped play mode and came to sit on my lap until i calmed down