Dog Behaviorists - Page 1

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fawndallas

by fawndallas on 17 January 2014 - 10:01

Up Front:  Please do not make derogatory remarks regarding anyone’s posts on this thread.  Keep an open mind and you just might learn something.

Are dog behaviorists the real thing or just a bunch of smoke?  Either opinion, please support. 
What makes them a dog behaviorists (experience, academics, )? 
If you are a dog behaviorist, what makes you so (if you would prefer to PM, that is ok)?
 

Hired Dog

by Hired Dog on 17 January 2014 - 10:01

Here is what I think on this subject. There are a couple of schools in the USA that offer PhD level courses on ANIMAL, not DOG behavior. That means you can study chickens and rats and whales and then somehow come out and call yourself a dog behaviorist...
As far as I am concerned, any REAL trainer who has actually trained a few dogs NEEDS and MUST be able to read and understand dog behavior if he/she is supposed to fix it by training it, end of.
These new age titles and feel good names out there and those who charge several hundred dollars an hour to tell you what any decent trainer could is BS. After 35 years of dogs, I have yet to see anything so new and revolutionary in training or behaviors that warrants these new titles.

VKGSDs

by VKGSDs on 17 January 2014 - 10:01

I think the ones that are the "real deal" are very talented with dogs AND have decades of experience working with and training dogs.  I don't really care about associate's level courses or book smarts when it comes to dog behavior.  There is one very skilled, highly recommended person about 1.5 hour from me and I would definitely send people to her but she just has *it*.  Some people are better at understanding and handling dogs innately just like some of us are born athletes or can understand advanced algebra with little instruction.  I think these sorts of dog behaviorists are few and far between though and most people would be better served consulting their local IPO club or someone who has worked with more dominant and higher drive dogs in general.  Most behavior problems are the owner, I do think it's pretty rare to see a dog whose genetics are so bad it absolutely cannot be helped or find a home anywhere.

Carlin

by Carlin on 17 January 2014 - 10:01

I consider myself somewhat of a dog behaviorist. When they behave I feed them, when they don't, they get my foot up their a@@es. :)

...just kidding. Well, half kidding anyway. They eat quite well. ;)

Sunsilver

by Sunsilver on 17 January 2014 - 10:01

What bothers me is the people that are reinventing the wheel. I studied animal behaviour extensively in university. It is common knowledge that every animal living in groups has some sort of group structure, a 'pack structure', if you will. It helps the group to survive, as the older, more experienced animals are the ones making the decisions, and actually lessens conflict, because each animal knows its role and place. Can you imagine the chaos if a human business firm had not set structure, and everyone was trying to take over the C.E.O.'s position? That's exactly why a group, tribe or pack of animals needs this sort of structure.

Now, what we know about pack structure and dominance in dogs has changed a bit over the years (sorry, but I have yet to see the proof of this...maybe I read the wrong books all those years ago) but there a those that would try to convince you the dominance theory of dog behaviour is totally wrong, and pack structure doesn't exist!

We should all expect dogs to live and play together like one big, happy family, like you see on TV (Caesar's show) and any dog that doesn't get along is labelled aggressive and kicked out of the sandbox. (That last bit is not what Caesar teaches, but it's what happens routinely in doggy daycares, and cage-free boarding facilities.)

Oh, and if you yell at your dog, or give it a harsh correction, you will scar it for life.... Roll eyes

Okay, I know the dominance theory had been overused, and used wrongly, so there's a backlash against it. But one thing I know for sure: if you do not provide leadership for your dog (especially the higher-drive, more dominant breeds) it WILL take over. And when that happens, YOU are in trouble. And you had better find a trainer that offers more than treats and clickers to help you out!

fawndallas

by fawndallas on 17 January 2014 - 12:01

What about Dog Behaviorist work (for lack of a better word) that is beyond dogs with behavior issues?  Or do Dog Behaviorist generally only work with behavior issues?

 

Two Moons

by Two Moons on 17 January 2014 - 12:01

Anyone teaching, calling themselves, or looking for a behaviorist I cannot take seriously.
Nor do I take seriously studies done by the same class of people who think a dog        facing the North Pole.

There are common predictable behaviors in all things livings, but in no way do we even begin to understand the complexity of mind.
The few people who actually have some understanding of animal behavior did not learn it in a class room.

Is it real, yes , but not the Hollywood version or some TV personality, and I don't believe it can be taught.
Most people could have a better understanding of an animals behavior simply by paying attention, well some, not really most.

Maybe only a few.

 

Two Moons

by Two Moons on 17 January 2014 - 12:01

What about Dog Behaviorist work (for lack of a better word) that is beyond dogs with behavior issues?  Or do Dog Behaviorist generally only work with behavior issues?

I haven't a clue what a Dog Behaviorist does, besides charge a fee.
Perhaps people have them confused with real dog trainers.
 

VKGSDs

by VKGSDs on 17 January 2014 - 12:01

Fawn, in my experience I think what a really good "behaviorist" is doing is actually a thorough evaluation of the dog's temperament (based on lots of experience) and then reconciling it with the owner's expectations or lack of proper training and control, hehe.

susie

by susie on 17 January 2014 - 13:01

There are people who KNOW how to handle and train a dog, and there are people who will never learn it.
A "behaviorist" is born, not made, and a good behaviorist is a good trainer, but not every trainer is a good behaviorist.
Out of my personal experience it doesn´t matter, what kind of animal we are talking about.
A lot of the best trainers /behaviorists started with training horses before they owned and trained their first dog.





 


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