Why Distration Techniques may Not Work with Your Dog

In recent years there has been a significant increase in behavioural problems in dogs. These primarily include:

•    Reactive behaviour
•    Separation anxiety
•    Resource guarding

These are among the most common issues that have hit an all-time high. Why?

Because over time we have become less in tune with our dogs.

It is common sense to know that some unwanted behaviour cannot be fixed by rewarding it. If this were a method that worked, our prisons would be empty. 
Whilst it is true that certain mild behaviour issues may be able to be resolved by techniques such as throwing food on the floor or offering treats, it will absolutely not work for all.

Think of it as putting a plaster on an axe wound. It may have some effect for a short period of time, but it will eventually fall off and leave you back where you started. It is a stop-gap, a filler and as such has no sustainability and provides no longevity for a permanent fix.
For example with dog reactivity, owners should not have to be on high alert to make sure they spot the presence of every dog first when they are out as that tension will be picked up by the dog, nor should they have to be armed with bags of high-value treats each time they step out of the door.

Reactive behaviour in dogs is more often than not, a result of underlying fear, stress, anxiety and a lack of confidence. When dogs are in this state of mind they are not hungry. The fight or flight instinct automatically shuts off the desire for food and also the olfactory senses so food distraction may not work depending on how deep the anxiety or aggression that has been triggered. Equally, when they are already fixated on another dog, you might as well eat the treat yourself. Timing is also everything. If a dog is in a particular state of mind and you offer food at the wrong time, you are simply rewarding the wrong thing and making matters worse.

Separation anxiety is another common area in which food is used in the wrong way. Licky mats, tipping tubes, and stuffed kongs may provide a short distraction but as soon as the dog is done with them the anxiety returns. Most dogs will not eat the food whilst the owner is out because they are anxious, but simply eat it when the owner returns. If dogs only see these items right before the owner leaves they will more likely become a trigger for the dog to know that it is about to be left.

Resource guarding is a massively common issue and is again treated in entirely the wrong way. Out of sheer desperation and simply not knowing what else to do, an owner will offer their dog a treat as a bargaining tool to retrieve the higher-value item the dog has taken. This may work on the one occasion but it increases the bad behaviour over time because food is offered at the wrong time.
All of these behavioural problems have one common factor, which is that they are all attached to a bigger picture. If there is no clear understanding of what causes unwanted behaviour in the first place, then there is no chance of fixing it over the long term.

This is why there is a difference between a dog trainer and a dog behaviourist. If you want to walk well, sit, stay, beg, roll over and fetch, then use as much food reward as you like and find yourself a trainer. If you are finding that this does not work or however you are faced with fear, stress, anxiety and aggression, then you need to focus on the underlying triggers. You need a behaviourist who has an understanding of the dog's psychology. A good behaviourist will be able to assess your dog and tell you then and there what is causing it, ie; what are the triggers, and what changes need to be put in place to fix it. This should never involve negative reinforcement such as shouting or causing the animal pain.

Azz Rainey is a qualified dog behaviourist who also has an initial background in training. He is able to address the underlying triggers and put in place the relevant day-to-day changes needed to turn your dog's unwanted behaviour around. 
Call or message to book a one-to-one session.

Working primarily in Oxfordshire, Swindon, Gloucester, and the surrounding areas.