Dogs and Phobias

1
Dogs and Phobias

• The critical development period
• The role of breeders and owners
• How people influence dogs
• Types of phobias seen in dogs
• Phobia Prevention
• Preparing a firework Phobic dog for Nov 5th
• Discussion on noise phobia case history
• Questions and answers

2
Dogs and Phobias

• Critical development period
• Neonatal period 0-13 days
• Fully dependant on mum, will react to
  heat/cold/smell. Eyes closed

3
Dogs and Phobias

• Awareness period 21-28 days
• By 21st day have full senses
• Nervous system fully developed
• Species identification developing (finishes
  between week 11 and 17)
• Hazard Avoidance behaviour starts to develop,
  finishing between 49 and 72 days depending on
  breed. Suspicion of new things begins to
  increase.
• Negative encounters during the awareness period
  have a profound effect for the life of the dog

4
Dogs and Phobias

• The canine socialisation period 35 49 days
• Emotionally developed and ready to learn
• Removal from mum at this stage would be
  disastrous for development of puppy
• If a puppy remains much longer than this period
  their emotional development can be hampered by
  the family group.
• Things learned during this period are retained
  and become ingrained in the dogs personality.

5
Dogs and Phobias

• Human Socialisation period 49 days to 63 days
• This is the best period in which to be taken into
  a human family and begin training to live with
  humans.
• By this time a puppy has learned discipline from
  the mother so is easier to manage.

6
Dogs and Phobias

• The role of breeders
• Breeders should ensure they research the lines
  before breeding. Nervousness can be an inherited
  behaviour.
• Breeders need to be aware of the critical
  development phases to ensure well balanced
  puppies are reared.
• Puppies need to be gradually introduced to
  handling at the appropriate development stages so
  as not to over or under stress them.
• Breeders need to keep puppies until at least 7
  weeks of age so as not to cause irreparable
  damage to their natural development and later
  integration into human society.

7
Dogs and Phobias

• The role of owners
• Owners need to ensure that they do not take on
  puppies less than 7 weeks of age (ideally 8- 9
  weeks) and ideally not older than 9 or10 weeks.
• Early socialisation and habituation is essential.
  Try to book into a puppy party at your vets and
  then go on to good puppy training classes
  (recommend APDT members). Ensure habituation
  sessions are run and advice given on how to
  introduce your puppy to new stimuli.
• Plan ahead and book your puppy in for
  vaccinations at the earliest opportunity to
  enable them to begin socialisation during the
  critical development period (ideally not later
  than 12 to 16 weeks).

8
Dogs and Phobias

• How people influence dogs
• We react differently to how members of a canine
  group would react! Would you ever see a dog do
  this if another of the group was afraid??

9
Dogs and Phobias

• How people influence dogs
• Diet
• We are responsible for our dogs diets. Many
  foods can directly contribute to anxious
  behaviours in dogs through the use of artificial
  additives and unnecessary colours.
• Adding extra protein to complete foods can affect
  important neurotransmitters actually increasing
  anxiety in some dogs.
• Feeding a food inappropriate for the age of the
  dog can also increase anxiety in some dogs. E.G.
  Working dog foods in domestic dogs or feeding
  older dogs puppy food.

10
Dogs and Phobias

• Main types of Phobias seen in dogs
• Noise phobias (fireworks, bangs, clicks, squeaks,
  TV etc)
• Phobias of unusual objects
• Phobias of dogs!
• Separation anxiety

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Dogs and Phobias

• How to prevent phobias in your dog
• Do not take on a puppy younger than 7 weeks or
  older than 9/10 weeks (unless the breeder can
  confirm they have been socialising and
  habituating your puppy).
• Dont take on a puppy which already appears
  fearful unless you are prepared to work hard to
  modify this behaviour and are prepared for
  potential consequences.
• Ensure you habituate and socialise puppies at the
  earliest opportunity in a well run class.
• Do not reinforce fearful behaviour by touching,
  cuddling, talking calmingly to your dog etc if he
  is afraid. You risk making the dog more sure that
  there is something to fear and he may enjoy the
  fuss hes getting so repeat the behaviour in the
  future. This then develops into phobia.
• React calmly in all eventualities.

12
Dogs and Phobias

• How to prepare a severely firework phobic dog for
  Nov 5th
• Ideally plan ahead and work on de-sensitising him
  with a sound effects CD and behaviour
  modification plan a few months beforehand.
• If you have run out of time for de-sensitisation
  you could try using rescue remedies or
  prescription by your vet (start a few weeks
  before Nov 5th. Short term solution only). Avoid
  tranquilisers such as ACP which inhibit learning.
• Prepare a space for your dog to hide in. Make it
  comfortable and pad it out well with blankets
  etc. Allow your dog to den without trying to get
  him out or making a fuss of him.
• Make sure all windows are shut and curtains
  pulled to muffle the noise.
• Take out your dog well before fireworks and then
  well after fireworks to ensure his fear is not
  further reinforced.

13
Dogs and Phobias

• Case Study discussion. How a phobia can be
  resolved
• Questions and Answers