The "Magic" of Negative Punishment

I know we talk about Positive Reinforcement all the time, but that doesn't mean that we don't use a form of punishment. Negative Punishment is the Yin to the others Yang.

Positive Reinforcement increases the chances of a behavior happening again by adding something good or fun - a treat, toy, a chance to run outside, a walk in the park, or play time with other dogs.

When we want a behavior to go away, we want a technique that won't cause fear or intimidation - hence Negative Punishment. It takes no force to use, and can be accomplished by any family member - young or old. The method is simple: Don't touch, talk or speak to the pet when its being naughty. By avoiding acknowledgement, you'll giving a quiet yet obvious message: I don't like this so I'm shutting down.

This technique in action: Your dog plops his saliva slicked tennis ball in your lap. You respond by standing up and letting the ball jettison onto the floor (no touch), while keeping your eyes on the TV program you were watching (no talk) and munching on your popcorn (no speak). Your pet may respond by dropping the ball in your lap a few more times, then gives up for lack of success. Once he's sitting or lying down (action you like) grab the ball and toss it for him ( positive reinforcement). He's make the link of action and reaction for each situation.

Using these techniques you can successfully teach your dog good habits and eliminating bad ones in a what that will reinforce trust.

Nobody's Perfect

I’d like to dispel any skewed visions of how *awesomely behaved* my pets are since I work for the Behavior Service. When I sit down in the exam room with a client to discuss behavior modification, I often share my personal training challenges I’ve experienced with my own pets. It gives them perspective; after all, we aren’t training gods.  Nay, we‘re mere mortals with pets who can create mayhem and foolishness in our lives too. This often eases tension, because there’s less fear of judgment from the situation they’re facing.

I’ve yet to meet a trainer or Behaviorist who can (truthfully) proclaim that their pet is “perfect” in every way. That type of animal is as rare as a fabled unicorn. Though I adore my pets, they all have their own quirks.  Personally, I own a Beagle (insinkerator) who’s so devoted to all things “food” that he’s managed to get into child-locked trash cans and unscrewed the lid on his bear-container-like food receptacle (he looked like a hippo after the feeding frenzy). I kid you not, if he had an opposable thumb, I’d be hosed. He’d be building a drone to assist him in food acquisition from elevated surfaces, much to my dismay. 

After a long day, I occasionally feel my dogs are like the cobblers children who run around shoeless; they can be rude little beasts begging at the table, but hey, that indulgence isn’t going to kill anyone, so why not? We’re not immune from feeling tired and, frankly, lazy. The good thing is that we have the knowledge and skills to tweak things to set it all right again…when compelled.

The reason our advice works so well is because we don’t live our client’s lives. We aren’t suffering from the frustration, fear and anger that the owners are faced with each day. With our perspective, we’re emotionally removed and able to lend an objective eye to resolve the conflict. We can’t be totally devoid of emotion though. The fact that we’ve been down similar paths with our own pets provides a font of empathy, so we understand the emotions that put up road blocks to progress. Many times it’s not just the pet’s behavior causing a disconnect; it’s also the owner’s feelings of shame, failure or judgment that keeps people from seeking appropriate help in the first place. 

We’re real people who love and understand animals, but we’re not immune from having pets that make poor choices. The next time your dog does something that drives you crazy, please think of me walking into the house to find pickle juice, coffee grounds and the dregs of several days of who-knows-what all over my carpet with a Beagle happily wagging his tail in greeting. Oh, and don’t forget the part where I walk out the front door again, counting to ten to avoid a barrage of NC-17 language that’s dying to roll off my tongue.

Dissecting Disobedience

When I bring up dog ownership, do you think of Lassie trotting obediently next to his boy Timmy? Many envision dogs as heroic, selfless and loyal canine companions who stick by your side, hanging on your every word for the opportunity to serve. In reality, dogs can be all of those things, but they also can be fearful, aggressive, and taxing. Dogs aren't robots. They have thoughts and feelings that may not be congruent with our own, and are often seen as unimportant because we’re “in charge”. If a dog doesn't plop himself on the floor within seconds of being asked to “down”, it’s commonly misconstrued as insubordination at the very least.

This brings me to a question posed by a student yesterday: “So, if you only train with positive reinforcement, what do you do when your dog won’t do what you ask?” It’s an honest question, and one often posed by those who use punishment in order to ensure their dog knows blowing them off has consequences. Before you reach for your choke chain, consider an even better question: “Why wouldn't your dog do what you ask?” The reasons can be many:

•  Medical: He has arthritis in his hips and sitting is uncomfortable or even painful
• Distraction: he just learned how to sit while in the house, but now you expect him to do it outside with tons of distractions…and he’s not up to it yet.
• Confusion: He doesn't understand what you’re asking for since normally you use a hand signal for sit, and today you’re using a verbal command, which he never connected to the action.
• Fear: Another dog’s walking down the street and he’s too anxious to be able to follow instructions.
• Arousal: Just like with fear, if your dog sees their FAVORITE person coming down the street, he may be too excited to follow directions.
• He’s just not feeling it: Yes, this does happen – but isn't as typical as you think.

So, to answer the question: If my dog doesn't obey, I may:  ignore him –so as to not reward blowing me off, realize he’s over his threshold and get him out of the situation, offer a better resource for following the command, try again in a less distracting circumstance, determine if he seems painful, or work on training drills so that I know he understands what I’m asking of him. Don’t just assume he’s being a twit.

Seeing disobedience as an opportunity rather than an insult will only enhance your relationship and offer better results in the future. Using positive methods prevents you from making knee-jerk reactions which can harm your relationship, create more problems in the future. 

For the Birds

Recently, our own Dr. Liz Stelow DACVB offered a talk on avian behavior for the UC Davis Behavior Club, which I felt deserved recapping. The talk mainly focused on Parrots, since they are the most frequent fliers of our Service. 

Many popular birds we keep as pets (more pointedly Macaws, Conures and Cockatoos) are NOT domesticated animals. A domesticated animal is member of those species that have, through generations of selective breeding, become notably different from their wild ancestors to benefit humans.

Most large parrots are either wild caught (illegally) or only a generation or so from being wild. Many owners prefer to get their birds as babies, in order to establish a firmer bond. The problem with this practice is that they would normally spend a couple years with their parents learning natural behaviors and methods for coping with stress. In a human home, they don’t receive this sort of training.

Many people don’t understand these beautiful birds’ needs. They’re social animals that call to each other loudly in the morning and evening. They spend their days searching and obtaining food, flying, and preening. They are typically tropical and need their beauty sleep – at least 12 hours of darkness and rest. In a human environment, we’re not too hot on the vocalizing. We also forget their needs for beauty sleep and place their cages in the middle of high traffic rooms that have *maybe* 8 hours of peace and quiet during the night. Food is offered in bowls, so work isn’t required. Birds are caged and their wings are clipped to prevent destruction of the environment. They don’t have a flock, so many face a life of close bonds with maybe one or more people…and no mating possibilities. Since parrot species are long lived, owners must consider the future of their pet if it ends up outlasting them or the novelty wears off.  Lastly, many owners accidentally feed too many seeds and not enough good greens, fruits and grains such birds would find in the wild, in addition to a quality pelleted diet.

Human interaction can also be a problem. If an owner spends their time sharing food, petting and showering with their bird – their pet is going to get the wrong idea. These birds can become aggressive to other household members since they are seen as a rival.

Training as important with birds as it is with a dog. These are very intelligent animals that need to have their brains challenged on a regular basis. Training is a great brain exercise and often builds bonds with birds, but so many fail to realize its importance.

What is the ideal lifestyle for a captive bird?

•         Expect vocalization. It can be minimized by not rewarding it with attention. Using Nothing in Life is Free works with dogs and birds.
•         Offering companionship with other birds is ideal, but this can turn into an arranged marriage that doesn't pan out.
•      Offer new toys – GRADUALLY. Most birds are fearful of new things, so introduction of the new item may have to start from across the room, and then get closer over weeks.
•         Variable climbing surfaces, toys, perches and an ability to have a flight area is enriching.
•         Make eating an activity by using food puzzle, foraging surfaces and so on. Start off simple since some birds have never had to work for their food!
•         Talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s ideal dietary needs.
•         Have training time each day. Get creative and your bird will blossom.
•         Typically, don’t pet your bird below the shoulders since it can be otherwise be misinterpreted as a marriage proposal.
•         Have a quiet, dark area to provide your pet with 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
•         Keep your home a comfortable temperature appropriate for your avian companion.

Need a good resource for how to make a better life for your bird? Check out Behavior of Exotic Pets – edited by Valarie V. Tynes. This book is a good resource. Making an appointment with a veterinarian who specializes in avian medicine can also be exceedingly helpful in ensuring you’re keeping your pet happy and healthy. A good place to find such a person is the Association of Avian Veterinarians.. If your looking for fun training ideas for your bird, check out Melinda Johnson's Clicker Training for Birds.