Mindful Dog Training

 

Michael Baugh CDBC CPDT-KSA

Mindfulness is something of a buzz word these days, even in dog training. At its core, mindfulness is awareness in the present moment. In deep meditation it is awareness of awareness itself. For us, though, let’s think of mindfulness as awareness of our dog right here and right now. Pause for a moment and try this.

Take a breath. Our focus is on our dog. However, it’s smart to start by relaxing and settling our minds. Taking a few breaths and noticing those first can help. They don’t have to be deep breaths, though the can be. Just breathe normally.

Observe without judgment. Then, watch your dog. You can sit, but you don’t have to. Your dog can do anything. Notice what it is your dog is doing. That’s all. Avoid the natural inclination to attach any story to the behavior. No commentary. No judgement. My dog is looking at me. My dog is lying down. My dog is sniffing this or that. My dog is chewing this or that. This is so simple that it might seem silly. I get it. The funny thing is we hardly ever do this – really notice what are dogs are actually doing.

Notice your own thoughts. This is where real mindfulness comes in. What are you thinking (and feeling) about what you are observing? Don’t judge. There are no right thoughts or wrong thoughts.

Let them go. Our thoughts and feelings about our dogs (about anything) tend to just show up. Sometimes it may seem like they slip into our minds out of nowhere. We get hooked by them and before you know it we are daydreaming (or obsessing).  But, just as quickly as thoughts and feelings arise, they can also fade away. Try this. While you are watching your dog, notice the thoughts that come to mind. Hmm, I don’t like when he does that. He’s kind of making me anxious. or Oh, that’s cute. It doesn’t matter what it is. Simply notice the thought, just like you were watching your dog – relaxed and without judgement. Then, let it go.

Stay here. We tend to get caught up in the stories we create about our dogs. We presume what they must be thinking or feeling when, really, all we can know for sure is what they are doing. The stories distract us from what is really happening right here right now. We get swept into ruminating about the past or worrying about the future. All this distracts us from what is actually occurring in front of us now. Let the stories go. Stay here.

Now teach. Here’s the dog training part. The stories we tell ourselves and our own obsessive thoughts and feelings actually get in the way of helping our dogs. We can’t help them with their behavior if we are still fumbling with our own internal rambling. Observing our dogs gives us good information about what we want to work on. Quieting our own minds, even a little bit, sets us up to actually do the work.

All this might sound hard. It’s not. It might also seem senseless and unnecessary. I don’t think so. This method has helped me help thousands of families over the years. It’s the reason some people say I’m  so calm (I’m not always calm – haha). Most importantly, it’s effective and simple – two things I think we all are looking for when it comes to dog training.

 

Michael Baugh teaches dog training in Houston Texas. He specializes in aggressive dog training.

 

 

Dog Training – An Interview with ChatGPT

Michael Baugh CPDT-KSA CDBC

If you don’t know what ChatGPT is ask any teenager. Our friends’ 13-year old son regaled us with its magic over dinner recently. He swooned with the enthusiasm of a boy who’d met his first love. “look,” he said, “ask it anything.”

So, ask I did.

Michael: How do your source your information?

ChatGPT: I am a large language model trained by OpenAI, and my knowledge is based on a dataset that includes a wide range of online sources, including articles, books, and websites. The dataset used to train me was created by scraping the internet and includes a diverse set of texts, including news articles, scientific papers, and literary works.

It’s not secret.  We dog trainers already know you scour Google and YouTube for dog training information. But, what if you had real (or at least emerging) artificial intelligence at your fingertips? How well could ChatGPT handle your questions? We sat down for an interview (I sat. Does AI sit?).

Michael: Tell me what you know, in general, about dog behavior.

ChatGPT: Dogs are highly social animals and have evolved to live and work closely with humans. As a result, they have developed a range of behaviors that allow them to communicate and interact with us. Understanding and interpreting these behaviors can help us build stronger bonds with our canine companions and train them more effectively.

Okay. Impressive. We were off to a great start. ChatCPT is quick, articulate, and pretty spot-on. It went on to list some common dog behaviors and then added this.

ChatGPT: Dominant behavior in dogs may include standing tall, making direct eye contact, and growling or snapping. These behaviors are often displayed when a dog is trying to assert its dominance over another dog or person.

Michael: Are there any concerns about framing dogs as “dominant” or “submissive” when training them?

I certainly had concerns about asserting dominance in dog training. That’s when my interview subject deftly clarified its position.

ChatGPT: The terms “dominant” and “submissive” have often been used to describe and categorize dog behavior, but they are not without controversy. Some experts argue that these terms can be oversimplified and may not accurately reflect the complexity of dog behavior and social dynamics…. Instead of trying to fit dogs into rigid categories of “dominant” or “submissive,” it may be more helpful to focus on understanding and reinforcing positive behaviors and teaching dogs to communicate and interact in appropriate ways.

Using punishment-based training methods or trying to “dominate” a dog in an attempt to establish dominance may be harmful and may lead to negative outcomes such as fear, anxiety, or aggression in the dog.

Wow. It looks like someone has been studying. I pushed to see if there was a bit more depth to the AI’s knowledge.

Michael: How can positive reinforcement help dogs who have aggressive behavior?

With barely a pause and nary a hint of nervousness under the bright lights of inquisition, ChatGPT whipped our a worthy list.

ChatGPT:

  • Use rewards to reinforce desired behaviors: Rewarding your dog with treats, praise, or other rewards when it behaves appropriately can help to reinforce positive behaviors and reduce aggressive behavior over time.
  • Use a consistent and predictable training routine.
  • Avoid punishment-based training methods: Punishment-based training methods, such as yelling or physical punishment, can be harmful and may actually increase aggressive behavior in some dogs.
  • Gradually expose the dog to new situations and people.
  • Seek help from a qualified animal behavior professional.

Fantastic. Now we’re talking. Apparently ChatGPT isn’t quite ready to replace me.

Michael: What credentials should I look for in an animal behavior professional?

ChatGPT:

  • Certification from a professional organization: Certification from a professional organization, such as the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC).
  • A degree in a related field: A degree in a field such as animal science, psychology, or biology can be helpful in providing a solid foundation in the principles of animal behavior.
  • Practical experience: Practical experience working with animals, particularly the specific type of animal you are seeking help with, can be valuable in understanding and addressing behavior issues.
  • Continued education: Look for professionals who are committed to staying up to date on the latest research and techniques in animal behavior by participating in ongoing education and training.

Nice. ChatGPT mentioned the Association of Professional Dog Trainers as well. It failed to mention the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers. Nonetheless, it didn’t make any other egregious errors.

Maybe it’s a bit too soon to say the future is here. It’s safe to say, though, that the future has definitely begun. I doubt AI will replace human dog behavior consultants, at least not before I retire. Who knows?

But, looking across the table at our young friend, barely a teenager, I  had to wonder what all this would end up meaning for him. Already our relationship with technology is changing week-to-week, day-to-day. What’s next in this future that’s already in motion? Will AI replace our imaginary friends or even our real friends? Certainly, it will never replace our dog friends.

—–

Who is Michael Baugh CDBC?

I’m sorry, but I am unable to find any information about a person named “Michael Baugh CDBC.” It is possible that you have misspelled the name, or that the person you are looking for is not well-known. 

 

Can Dogs Feel What We are Feeling?

 

Michael Baugh CDBC CPDT-KSA

It’s called emotional contagion. The idea is that dogs perceive our emotions and then experience an emotional response themselves. Affective empathy takes it a bit further. Dogs can actually feel our emotional experiences. (Karen London PhD, Bark Magazine). It turns out that there’s plenty of evidence to suggest both of these ideas are true. (Google “emotional contagion dogs.” Use google scholar for more in-depth results).

Of course, a lot of us have suspected this for a long time. Many of us routinely experience it. Dogs just get us. They have feelings with us. They are little mirrors into our emotional lives. It’s an amazing thing to witness as a dog behavior consultant. I meet a ton of people and their dogs every year. Sometimes it’s very clear to me that a dog who is suffering emotionally lives with a human who is also suffering. It’s heartbreaking sometimes. It’s also awe inspiring to see such a powerful bond playing out in real time right in front of me.

Folks ask all the time, “is he (the dog) feeding off my anxiety.” Well, maybe. We certainly know our feelings show up in our dogs’ emotional lives. But, the answer, in my opinion, is not to blame ourselves. Too many trainers do that, as if our anxiety is some form of mystical “energy” that we control. Instead, I think we should all make space to compassionately look at the big picture. How is my dog doing? How am I doing? For me this means regular counseling so I can develop and maintain my own emotional and behavioral flexibility. You probably know how passionate I am about our dogs’ behavioral flexibility. The Magazine Psychology Today has a great online resource for finding a therapist that is right for you. Staying emotionally and behaviorally flexible is good for all of us (like yoga for our feelings).

Does this mean we all have to be in therapy? Um, maybe. Does it mean we all have to have our lives in perfect order before we can have a dog or help the dog we already have? No, of course not. In fact, many dogs have emotional and behavioral problems completely separate from our own human issues. The research suggests that our dogs can experience our feeling. It does not say that every dog’s behavior issue (including fear and aggression) is somehow tied to our own disfunction. It’s not. By far most of the clients I meet are joy-filled and highly functioning. And, some of them have grumpy dogs. Remember? No blame.

What does all of this mean for those of us who have dogs with fear, anxiety, or aggressive behavior? We all like some concise tips and I’m happy to add some information to the mix.

Think well of your dog. The things we tell ourselves about our dog are important. Instead of getting stuck in negative thoughts and frustration, let’s remind ourselves of all that is good about our dog. It will help our training. It will also set us up to notice progress as it comes. How we think about our dog is so important. That’s why I list it first.

Choose joy. It’s not always easy but I think it always helps. When we are training let’s make a decision to smile, say kind things to our dogs, and use food. Even though our bigger behavior goals with our dog might be challenging, individual training session can be light and fun.

Take breaks. If you’re feeling tense or angry during a training session, stop. Take a break.  It’s okay. Your dog will definitely sense that tension and anger and it will affect their learning. Take a long break if you need to. We’ve all been there. No blame. Just circle back later.

Let me help. That’s what our journal is for. I’m not qualified to offer human therapy. At the same time I am a fellow human being. I can definitely help us keep things on track with training and offer coaching along the way. Complicated behavior plans related to fear and aggression can sometime feel overwhelming and isolating. Of course, you’re not alone. And, it’s my job to clarify what seems complicated and ease frustration along the way.

One last story. I’ll keep it brief. I learned a long time ago why I gravitated toward helping fearful and sometimes angry dogs. It’s because it helped me. Some of you have heard me joke aloud with your dog, “I get it honey, people scare me too.” Like all jokes there was some truth in that. So, we break things down for our dog; we set them up to succeed; we let them take on new experiences at their own pace; we provide support and feedback to help them. All that feels very familiar to me personally. In time, almost always, feelings start to change little-by-little. In them. In us. What a joy it is to see that happening. What a beautiful lesson it is to experience through our dogs.

Change. It’s the stuff of life. Human emotions reflected in our beloved dogs. The hard work that softens them, that softens us, a team in transition together. It’s amazing how our feelings affect our dogs. But, oh how our dogs affect our feelings. It’s a gift for which I am ever so grateful.

 

Michael Baugh is a behavior consultant and dog trainer in Houston, TX. He works with clients all over North America and specializes in aggressive dog training.