Monday 9 March 2009

Behandla två vanligt beteende problem i valpar


Treating two common behavior problems in puppies

Professionals are occasionally faced with puppies that are extremely fearful or assertive. Here are special handling techniques owners will need to integrate such puppies into their homes.

Fearfulness

These puppies are extremely afraid of multiple stimuli. Their reactions include hiding, shaking, running away, and whining. If disciplined harshly with physical reprimands, neck shakes, or extremely loud noises, these puppies may growl or bite. In some of these puppies, fearfulness may have a genetic component, which could be revealed by investigating the puppy's family history. Early experience may also contribute to fearfulness.

I tell owners to handle these puppies gently and avoid loud noises, quick movements, and harsh reprimands. Owners should encourage appropriate behaviors with positive reinforcement. And these puppies often benefit from puppy classes in which positive reinforcement is used. Such training often instills confidence in these dogs. I advise owners to expose a fearful puppy to many new circumstances in a positive manner by using a soft tone of voice and food rewards. Don't reward fearful behavior with a change in vocal intonation or body contact (e.g. petting the puppy and saying "it's OK"). Instead, owners should try using an upbeat, happy voice and encourage the puppy to relax.

Using the Gentle leader/Promise head cellar will often give owners of these puppies control and will decrease the puppies' fear. When the behavior is extreme and no change is seen by 4 to 6 months of age, intervention by a veterinary behaviorist or applied animal behaviorist is recommended. Without early intervention, fear aggression may develop.

Assertiveness

Assertive puppies often show extreme play behaviors with aggressive components such as play biting, jumping, and stealing. These puppies are difficult to control and may engage in attention-seeking behaviors such as barking at owners or pawing them. When owners attempt to physically restrain these dogs, they may be met with fierce resistance and possibly aggression.

Owners need to begin training these puppies immediately. Harsh confrontational methods, however, often backfire. Assertive puppies often take a confrontation as a challenge and escalate their defiance. They may, for example, strongly resist attempts to use submission training postures. In these puppies, lure-reward methods of training can be beneficial?

Owners should avoid getting into a fighting match with these puppies. Withdrawing attention, leaving a room, and using loud noise distracters leg. airhorns) can help control exuberant play. Vigorous exercise (20 minutes twice a day) can help channel energy into an appropriate activity. Owners should encourage games such as fetch and discourage games such as tug of war. They shouldn't encourage inappropriate play, such as wrestling, with these puppies.

Leashing the puppy helps eliminate unwanted behaviors. A Gentle Leader/Promise head collar with a 70-ft lead will provide additional control while the owner is home and awake.z Handfeeding is often useful in assertive puppies that guard their food. Or the owner can make the puppy sit and wait for its food and then place the bowl down with a small amount food. Once the puppy has eaten that, the owner can pick up the bowl and repeat.

Assertive behavior can quickly get out of hand in large-breed puppies. Early behavioral intervention with qualified behaviorists may be needed to give the owner control and avoid aggression and injury.

(REFERENCES Dunbar, L: How to Teach a New Dog Old Tricks. James arid Kenneth Publishers, Oakland, Calif, 1991)


First impressions are everything

A young puppy is easily intimidated, especially on its first office visit. When frightened, it may respond with growling, snapping, and, in some situations, with urination and defecation. Each frightening experience may create fears that become more profound with each visit.

Veterinarians and staff should strive to make a puppy's first visit as stress-free as possible. To accomplish this, be aware of nonthreatening and friendly ways to interact with new puppies. First of all, allow the puppy to come to you. Encourage approach by using a soft tone of voice, beckoning with your hand, and even offering a delectable food treat. Once the puppy comes to you, gently touch it. Avoid reaching out and grabbing a puppy because you might startle it. If a puppy seems to resist efforts to restrain and examine it, offer another food treat. Try smearing some baby food on the exam table. While the puppy licks it off, it may stand quietly for a heart and lung examination. When examining the head, face, and ears, give food treats. During each step of the examination, use food treats, a gentle voice, and praise to let the puppy know that it is behaving correctly and need not fear the exam or you.

What should you do when faced with a growling or biting puppy? Professionals often think that such a puppy is being dominant, so they try to control it. Most often, however, the behavior is motivated by fear, not a desire to be dominant. When fear is the motivation, yelling at the puppy or snuffing its neck will increase the dog's fear. If the event is traumatic enough, it can leave a lasting negative impression on the puppy. If a puppy is truly intractable, try offering food or smearing baby food on the table. If the puppy won't eat, try shifting locations, perhaps to the floor. If attempts at calming the puppy are unsuccessful, consider stopping the examination and suggesting the owner return on another day when the puppy is calmer. Your goal is to make veterinary visits fun and non threatening. By showing your concern far both the medical and behavioral welfare of their new pet, you will impress your client. When the client returns and brings the puppy into the waiting room, provide some play time and food treats. Use the time you spend playing with the puppy to discuss health and behavioral issues with the owner. By taking these steps, you help the puppy and its owner build a lifelong association of pleasant experiences with your veterinary clinic.

Naturally if a puppy is ill, medical needs take precedence, and you must proceed with the examination. Use good judgment about when it is best to proceed and when it is best to wait. Remember, you never get a second chance to make a first impression!



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