#behaviorist

[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.

[distantsolarsystemsandsnails]

once again i would like to alert people to the excellence that is this song. but i think to really appreciate you need to watch this live version of it first (especially because one of the most important parts, the “AY!”, isn’t in the studio version)

so here you are:

[thepuppost]

How to Safely Socialize Your Puppy with Other Dogs

Bringing a new puppy home can be an exciting time, but it’s also important to ensure that your puppy is properly socialized with other dogs. Socialization is crucial for puppies to develop into well-adjusted and happy adult dogs. However, introducing your puppy to other dogs can also come with potential risks, such as exposure to diseases or aggressive behavior. In this guide, we��ll provide you…

[another-whump-sideblog]

I'm getting whumperflies from my textbook's chapter on behaviorism. The cold, calculated way it talks about behaviors completely separate from the person doing them and the emphasis on reinforcement and punishment are just so very whumpy. Generally it uses attention as an example of reinforcement, which leads to stuff like "it's effective to avoid eye contact and conversation while restraining a patient so that misbehaving isn't unintentionally reinforced through attention." Like that's one of the whumpiest things I've ever read and it's in a psychology textbook. Imagine a whumper just completely ceasing any eye contact or conversation while Whumpee is being punished because attention is a reinforcer

Behaviorism is so fucked up

[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

[dogpixie]

woman in her late 20s bought the 2 bedroom fixer upper house next door w the help of her family (im not jealous......) (asking was 405k they paid 475k but thats not the point of this post..) and she has a large, reactive goldendoodle... NOOOO !!!! they havnt moved in yet bc it needs work first and im so worried for porys sanity :( she rly hates strange dogs esp big dogs! and its reactive too like how bad can it get... sigh...

[the-sarcastic-lexicographer]

If John Hammond had taken the time to build some basic environmental enrichment into the enclosures at his Dino park there never would have been any velociraptors in the kitchen and Phil the Dinosaur Supervisor wouldn’t be out of a job

[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

[distantsolarsystemsandsnails]

this song is now stuck in my head constantly. maybe especially because i like yelling “AY!!”

here is said youtube video:

[blujayonthewing]

I'm really glad elyss came several years before melliwyk, because mel's alignment shift from chaotic neutral to chaotic good sometimes feels a little embarrassing in an 'I can't keep my own feelings to myself for the sake of committing to the bit' sort of way, but the counterpoint to that is that elyss, steadfastly true neutral, just simply Does Not Care about anyone other than her own loved ones or anything outside her own immediate interest no matter how much I sometimes wish she would

[thepanplumbob]

cowberry-jam -> doglover-trait

[quetzalpapalotl]

My pet peeve is people using the words pavlovian and classic to describe operant conditioning. Similarly, people have no idea what positive, negative, punishment and reinforcement mean in behavioral sciences.

[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

[i-miss-breathing]

Hey fellas do you think the whole centuries long debate (you’ll see a lot in the 20th century) about animal consciousness was intentionally hinted at in Danny phantom through ghosts being considered non sentient and Sam’s love for animals or am I just insane and piecing things together for no reason in order to procrastinate my psychology homework?