Monday, April 29, 2013

ACHIEVING AMAZING BONDS WITH ANIMALS

"If I can listen to what he tells me, if I can understand how it seems to him, if I can sense the emotional flavour which it has for him, then I will be releasing the portent forces of change within him"
~Carl Rogers~

 
There is an endless supply of controversy when it comes to the emotional capacity of animals, but for most people who share their lives with them the arguments are moot. It seems there is no dispute among pet owners that they believe their dog, cat, bird or any number of other animals, love them, miss them, get angry at them for one reason or another and the list goes on. It's puzzling then how many pet owners choose methods of training and behaviour modification, which include physical force, intimidation and fear based on outdated dominance theories.

More and more trainers and behaviourists have come to realize animals are more receptive to positive methods and their relationships with animals are much more rewarding when they are built on trust, patience and understanding. These relationships are strengthened and behaviour modification can be solidified with the use of positive reinforcement. It has been proven for years that animals are more likely to repeat a wanted behaviour when they are rewarded in a positive manner.

By taking the time to show an animals what is expected of them, by taking the time to try and understand their apprehensions, confusion, fears and anxieties in an empathetic manner rather than forcing upon them situations and triggers that will ultimately cause additional negative behaviours, you are building a foundation of trust and taking your relationship to an entirely different level.

A Tribute to Fatty Arbuckle's dog, Luke

The other day I was reading a conversation on a well known trainer's Facebook page regarding the use of positive reinforcement as opposed to method's based on another trainer's use of force and intimidation. Although most people agreed that positive methods were more effective, many were adamant that these methods are not always possible, especially when dealing with cases of aggression and other difficult behaviour issues. The truth of the matter is many trainers are helping animals overcome aggression and other behaviour problems with positive reinforcement. Those trainers who are unable to achieve the same results with animals, using positive methods, are maybe not reaching deep enough into their relationships with them. It is possible these particular trainers are too set in their ways to step outside their own learned behaviours, to let go of the outdated theories and methods that are holding them back from fully understanding the animals they are working with.

There are countless stories of people who have developed amazing bonds with animals, who let go of the idea of a human/animal divide and took hold of the human/animal bond instead. To say it is not possible to train an animal without using abusive or outdated methods that will do nothing but encourage additional or deeper levels of negative behaviours, is something that can only come from someone who has no interest in opening their mind.

In all of our relationships, positive reinforcement plays a role. We would not want to be in a relationship with someone who bullied us, pinned us down or kicked us, so why would our pets? I am not saying negative reinforcement does not work, that alpha rolls and other acts of "dominance" will not help you achieve the behaviour you are seeking. You likely will stop or start the behaviour you are looking for, but through fear, intimidation and physical force rather than trust, patience and understanding. The relationships we have and keep with other humans are usually people who make us feel good, who care for us and show compassion toward us, and understanding. These individuals make us laugh, hold us up when we are sad or scared and stand next to us through times of difficulty. Why should our animal companions be treated any differently?

Developing an amazing bond with your own pet or with the animals you are working with is a choice, a state of mind that forces those who seek it to step outside the box, to let go of the focus on human vs. animal and to put all they have into the patience and understanding needed to teach a being who simply speaks another language. These bonds are some of the most rewarding experiences in many peoples' lives and clearly, they are also the most rewarding for many companion animals. 

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