Dogs Are from Neptune (2nd Edition) by Jean Donaldson

Author:Jean Donaldson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Published: 2009-10-06T08:10:00+00:00

GROWLING THERAPY

DOG

Dear Jean,

My Standard Poodle, Brett, has started accompanying me on nursing home visits. The patients adore him. The problem is that he is unhappy around the employees in white uniforms. He even growled at one that approached him on our last visit. Today he barked at a man in tennis whites.

Our obedience instructor told me Brett associates people in white with the vet (exams and shots). She advised me to go to my vet for some visits with no shots, no blood work, nothing scary, and do some clicker training. Then re-try the nursing home. What do you think?

It's certainly plausible that Brett is suspicious of white uniforms because they mean vet and shots to him. You don't mention whether he behaves fearfully there or growls at the uniformed staff, but I presume that this is the case.

There is also the possibility that he is spooked by the white-uniformed employees in the nursing home because it is an unusual picture for him. Most dogs don't require negative experiences in order to be upset by something, they just need it to be sufficiently unusual.

Given this history, I would venture that Brett will not require formal desensitization to function well around the white uniforms. I would try some active remedial socialization first (i.e., solo counter-conditioning) and, only if he doesn't improve or worsens, then go to a formal desensitization program.

I suggest you work directly. If your main goal is nursing home visits, focus on working him at the nursing home rather than at the vet. This won't solve any veterinarian fears he has, incidentally, because you're setting up a discrimination: the white coats there mean shots, the white coats here mean fun, treats and socializing. If you would also like him to be more relaxed at the vet, you can work on that as a separate enterprise.

Here's how to proceed with the nursing home:

1. There is no substitute for volume of exposure. Do a blitz, as many visits as you can during the training period. Make them extremely pleasant and have no official (people therapy) agenda other than getting Brett used to the uniforms. For the first few visits, don't attempt any contact between the dog and the staff. Simply hang out in a moderate traffic area and pour on the praise and high value treats whenever the uniforms are around. Let him sniff around and explore if he wants to. Maintain a relaxed, "good mood" demeanor yourself at all times. It is a good idea to avoid uniform-intensive areas like the nurses' station the first couple of times.

Observe him closely. How comfortable does he seem in general? How is he reacting to the uniformed passers-by? Is there anything else that spooks him: wheelchairs, gurneys, equipment, certain types of people, gaits, etc.? Take detailed notes. Also, observe the trend. From visit to visit, is he more relaxed and comfortable? Or does he seem the same or worse?

2. Rent a white uniform for a couple of days. These are available at costume stores.

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