Bite Prevention Dogs Bite and so do Cats
Bite Prevention: Dogs Bite (and so do Cats) Carolinas. Unite Wednesday Nov. 20 th 2: 15 pm Presented by: Pat Miller, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA Peaceable Paws LLC Fairplay, MD www. peaceablepaws. com
Bite Prevention, Part I: Understanding How Animals Think & Learn Behavioral Definitions • Operant Conditioning: Subject’s behavior is deliberate, based on expected consequences. Subject has some control (operates on) the environment. (Sit, down, roll over) Skinner ie: Dog/Cat acts on the environment • Classical Conditioning: Subject’s behavior is triggered by predetermined responses, based on prior association, not under subject’s control. (fear, aggression) Pavlov • ie: Environment acts on the dog/cat
Classical Conditioning Exercise YIKES! mmmmm… Awesome!!!!! YAY!!!!! GROSS… Love it Blecchhhhhhh Gag me!!! Cool Beans!!!!!
Operant Conditioning Behavioral Definitions • Positive: Something is added • Negative: Something is taken away • Reinforcement: Increases behavior Punishers and • Punishment: reinforcers are defined Decreases behavior by the receiver!!!!!
How Animals Think & Learn The 4 Principles of Operant Conditioning 1. Positive Reinforcement: Dog/Cat’s behavior makes a good thing happen; behavior increases. 2. Positive Punishment: Dog/Cat’s behavior makes a bad thing happen; behavior decreases 3. Negative Punishment: Dog/Cat’s behavior makes a good thing go away; behavior decreases
Busting Dog Behavior Myths n Dogs aren’t waiting for the first n n n opportunity to overthrow the government Dominance is a relationship, not a personality trait It’s about deference, not dominance Dogs don’t have a strict linear hierarchy The highest ranking member of the social group doesn’t always go first The high ranking member doesn’t always eat first n Dogs don’t steal n Don’t don’t feel guilty n Dogs are not stubborn, sneaky, n n devious, conniving, stupid, etc. Dogs don’t “blow you off” Dogs are not Lassie – they just learn to do what works to get the good stuff Dogs don’t do things out of spite or malice Dogs aren’t “eager to please” humans. A Dog’s Philosophy of Life: What’s in it for me, right now?
Debunking Cat Behavior Myths n Cats *can* be trained n Cats *are* a social species n You don’t have to give up your cat if you get pregnant n Outdoor cats *can* learn to live indoors n A cat doesn’t always land on her feet n A purring cat isn’t always happy n Cats don’t steal the breath from babies n Calico cats can be male n And oh yes, cats *can* learn to use the toilet! A Cat’s Philosophy of Life: What’s in it for me, right now? (and how can I get it with the least effort? )
Let’s Talk About Aggression n Behavior of greatest n n n concern Misunderstood behaviors Most likely to lead to animal’s death Seeing more than in the past? Most aggression is natural/normal behavior, not pathological Exacerbated by today’s unfortunate emphasis on dominance Due to lack of understanding, society today is intolerant of agonistic/aggressive behavior
Fatal dog incidents in US: 2012 Last Update: 11/23/12 n n n n 2000 – 19 2001 – 23 2002 – 15 2003 – 26 2004 – 22 2005 – 28 2006 – 31 2007 – 33 2008 – 25 2009 – 33 2010 – 28 2011 – 31 2012 - 33 DOG FATALITIES 1965 - PRESENT Texas 81 (25. 7 m pop) California 73 (35. 7) Florida 43 (19. 1) Georgia 40 (9. 8) Alaska 31 (. 7) Michigan 32 (9. 8) New York 27 (19. 4) Pennsylvania 10 (12. 8) Virginia 8 (8. 1) Minnesota 7 (5. 4) Illinois 9 (12. 8) South Carolina 7 (4. 6) North Carolina 9 (9. 6) Arizona 5 (6. 5) Tennessee 5 (6. 4) Mississippi 5 (3. 0) Nevada 5 (2. 7) Alabama 5 (4. 9) Indiana 4 (6. 6) Oklahoma 5 (3. 8) New Mexico 5 (2. 1) Ohio 4 (11. 6) Washington 3 (6. 8) Iowa 3 (3. 1) West Virginia 3 (1. 8) New Jersey 2 (8. 8) Louisiana 2 (4. 6) Kentucky 2 (4. 3) Connecticut 2 (3. 6) Oregon 2 (3. 9) Missouri 1 (6. 2) Massachusetts 1 (6. 6) Arkansas 1 (3. 0) Wisconsin 1 (5. 8) Maine 1 (1. 3) Nebraska 1 (1. 8) Delaware 1 (. 9) Kansas 1 MD – 5. 8; CO – 5. 2; IA – 3. 2; UT – 2. 8; Average 2000 -2005 – 21 fatalities per year Average 2008 -2012 – 30 fatalities per year
Fatal Dog Attacks in California as Compared to Other Selected Risks: Snapshot of California: n n n n Fatal dog attacks: 4 ATV-related fatalities: 53 Bicycle-related fatalities: 135 Persons drowned in tubs or swimming pools: Alcohol-related traffic fatalities: 1, 769 All traffic fatalities (alcohol & non): 4, 333 Tobacco-related deaths: 37, 800 Year 2005 180 Furthermore, according to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services: In 2005, one hundred and forty (140)* California children died as a result of maltreatment (abuse or neglect).
Jean Donaldson’s Bite Thresholds (adapted from “The Culture Clash”) Bite Threshold BITE B GROWL Resource Guarding Thunder Men w/ Beards Kids BITE A
Bite Prevention Part II: Understanding Canine and Feline Body Language
Body Parts • Eyes • Ears • Mouth • Tail • Body Position • Fur • Whole Picture/Conclusion
Canine n n n Signs of a Happy Dog Signs that indicate that the dog is receptive to attention or wants to play: panting, relaxed, happy expression body position relaxed lying with one paw tucked under enthusiastic tail wag tail thumping on floor play bow (front end down; rear end up; tail wagging)
Signs of Arousal These signs indicate that the dog is interested in something, or trying to decide on a course of action and is not receptive to attention and include: n ears forward n mouth closed n eyes intense n body rolled forward n body tense n tail high (may/may not be wagging) n slow deliberate tail wag n This is the type of posture we see in a dog who wants to chase a squirrel, confront an intruder or is getting ready to chase a ball. He is intensely focused and ready for action. He does not want to be hugged or petted at this time.
Signs of Imminent Bite If these signs occur, cease all interaction with dog, look away and give dog the opportunity to leave, do not approach, do not make eye contact, do not talk to the dog. If you are touching the dog, stop and move your hands slowly away. If you are taking something from the dog, let go of it. It is better for him to keep it than for you or a child to get bitten. If you are bending over the dog, slowly straighten up and look away. n dog freezes - becomes suddenly stiff n dog stands with front legs splayed, head low, looking at you n dog curls lip to show teeth
Calm, Relaxed Alert
Offensively Aggressive Defensively Aggressive
Stressed Fearful
Appeasing Playful
What is This Dog Telling You?
Feline n 1. Tummy Display: When a cat is content and relaxed, she may stretch out and roll over. In other situations, when a cat feels cornered and cannot escape, this pose -- followed by fully extended claws and sharp teeth -- may be highly defensive, indicating that she is prepared to fight. n 2. The Fluttering Blink: When a cat greets another cat or a person with slow, languid blinks, it's communicating affection. In the feline world, closing one’s eyes in the presence of another is the ultimate sign of trust. n 3. Classic Halloween Pose: One of the most accurate barometers of a cat’s mood is its tail. When held high, it communicates confidence. Curled around another cat’s tail or human legs, it signals friendliness. Tucked below or between the legs, it signals insecurity or anxiousness. The upright bottle-brush tail is an unequivocal sign that a cat is feeling threatened. When combined with the arched back, upright hair along the spine, and unsheathed claws, the stance is a dead giveaway that you should back off.
n 4. The Direct Stare: Most cats find direct eye contact threatening. The more fearful the cat, the wider its pupils expand. When dilated, the pupils take in as much visual information as possible. This bug-eyed, saucer look signals that a cat is very frightened and wants to retreat. In an aroused or angry cat, the pupils may become narrowed or constricted to focus more effectively on detail. n 5. Stalking: Cats are a predatory species, so when they see something move (a mouse, cat toy, or human hand), they are programmed to pursue it. If the prey is your hand, a freeze will interrupt the stalking pattern. n 6. Audio Cues: Cats may have adapted their meows to manipulate people in order to get their needs met. Cats don’t do much meowing to other cats. Meows may have evolved as an attention-getting device to express greetings, approval, demands for food, and more. n Purring usually signals contentment. It can also be a comfort-seeking behavior when the cat is recovering from illness or close to death. n High-pitched gurgling or chatting indicates friendliness. n Growling, hissing, or spitting are emphatic warnings to stay away -- at least until the cat has calmed down. n Caterwauling or yowling is a very loud, guttural sound that cats (especially males that have not been neutered) make when threatened by other cats. This sound is common in deaf cats. n
Feline
What is This Cat Telling You?
Canine and Feline Body Language Videos
Stay Safe!!!
Recommended Resources Books n The Other End of the Leash by Patricia Mc. Connell n Canine Behavior by Barbara Handelman n Dog Language; an Encyclopedia of Canine Behavior by Roger Abrantes n Inside of a Dog; What Dogs Smell, See and Know by Alexandra Horowitz n Dog Sense by John Bradshaw n The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller n Positive Perspectives by Pat Miller DVDs n The Language of Dogs by Sarah Kalnajs n Real Solutions to Canine Behavior Problems by Pat Miller
About Pat Miller is a certified dog training and behavior professional, a board member of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, past president of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, member of APDT, APDTA, MAAAPPT, IAABC, and owner of Peaceable Paws, LLC, located on an 80 -acre campus in Fairplay, Maryland. Prior to establishing Peaceable Paws in 1996 in Monterey, California, Miller worked for 20 years at the Marin Humane Society in Novato, California, and trained her own dogs for obedience and herding. She titled two of the first dogs in the world in Rally obedience, and has done agility and canine freestyle “just for fun. ” Her Scottish Terrier can ride a skateboard, push a shopping cart, say his prayers, salute, and play an electronic keyboard. Miller is Training Editor for The Whole Dog Journal (WDJ), and a regular contributor to WDJ and several other publications. She has published 6 books, and a 5 -booklet behavior series, and 3 DVDs on dog behavior and training. Miller and her husband, Paul, a lifetime animal welfare and protection professional, share their home with four dogs, three-and-a-half cats, six horses, four chickens, and a pot-bellied pig (plus several equine boarders).
Pat Miller, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA Peaceable Paws, LLC Fairplay, MD www. peaceablepaws. com 301 -582 -9420
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