M2L2 Flashcards
Mgmt
What are the 5 steps used in SA training?
1) Mgmt
2) What can the dog do now?
3) Develop a TP
4) How to carry out actual training
5) Accomodate for exceptions “what if’s of training”
Why do we start with mgmt?
With gradual exposure it’s really important we don’t expose the dog to anything that the dog can’t cope with
What does mgmt mean for SA dogs?
Not leaving them alone with longer than the dog can handle
Is mgmt easy for O to accept?
No, it’s a bombshell for most of them!
How do we help O’s accept the news about mgmt?
Repetition
Short term pain for long term gain
Will O’s be happy about mgmt?
No! For the most part they will accept it, but won’t be happy about it.
Is mgmt a challenging element of SA training?
Yes!
When does mgmt get tricky
People with unusual work schedules
People with limited funds
Dogs who have specific needs (eg don’t like strangers/others dogs)
What is the hardest part of managing separation anxiety for dog owners?
Losing spontaneity and the ability to act on a whim.
Why does management inherently limit spontaneity?
Because detailed planning is required, leaving no room for last-minute freedoms.
What do owners with dogs experiencing separation anxiety often say they miss most?
: The freedom to be spontaneous.
What misconception do owners often have about management being easier for certain groups?
They think it’s simpler for retirees or people working from home, though everyone faces challenges.
Does retirement or remote work completely eliminate the difficulties of management?
: No, even these groups struggle with evening plans or weekend activities.
Why might planning for management be considered doable but challenging?
It requires planning to the nth degree, which can feel restrictive to those valuing freedom.
What can make management particularly tricky for some owners?
Unusual work schedules, limited funds, or dogs with specific needs (e.g., dislike of strangers or other dogs).
What sacrifices do owners often make when managing separation anxiety?
A: Spending money on daycare or giving up social spontaneity.
What is a good way to descibe the level of difficulty for O’s with mgmt in SA?
It’s just differently difficult for most people
Do people get a dog budeting for full time day care?
No! of course they don’t. Don’t blame the, for this/
What is important for us as SA T when discussing mgmt with O’s?
Be sympathetic
What is the problem with O’s that point blank refuse to suspend absences?
- the dog gets no relief
- it compromises success of the TP
- waste O time and money
- Emotional stress for T, D and O
- hit to resolution rate and reviews
What happens if you turn away an individual because they refuse to suspend absences
Where do they go! We leave them with no support and at risk of going to an aversive trainer.
How should we approach the refusal of susepending absences.
Sympathetically and systematically. How do we get them for where they are to where we want them to be gradually! “can you leave them for 1 hour/1 day less”
Should we give O’s ultimatums?
No! This is unhelpful it will just push them away.
What can we do with O’s refusing to suspend absences in SA mgmt?
- Influence and persuade.
- Explain they could be wasting time and money on training and - - - they risk the T not working. Emphasize how much of a miserable situation it is for the dog. (draw on empathy) and build a relationship with your O.
Using our hierarchy of fear, how do we find out the starting step?
We use JN protocol
How is JN protocol different to the traditional approach?
Tradition - film dog while O leaves and watch for how long it takes for anxious B to appear.
JN approach - work through a series of steps, observing the dog at all times, to see where our starting rung will be
Why is Jn protocol different
Watching the dog get upset/exposure to fear seems unethical
This 1 experience adds to the dogs fear exposure. It may not be that damaging but we are trying to avoid this.
Do we classify anxiety as “mild, moderate or severe?”
No! It’s not helpful, and its almost impossible to determine.
Why do we not classify SA as mild, moderate or severe?
- it doesn’t change how to approach Bmod
- It can be misleading - B can appear severe but anxiety doesn’t match the explosiveness!
- Falsely managing O Expectations esp if say “it’s mild” and it then takes longer to resolve.
What are SA T looking at when they are cateogrising SA into mild, moderate and severe?
Extremeness of B and explosiveness of B - but this doesn’t actually indicate the elevel of anxiety
What is the max duration JN see’s through her app data about “the first step” of T?
5 minutes.
Does JN start all dogs in the same place for SA?
Yes!
What is stage 1 of the initial assesment?
Five repititions at each step/
1.1) Stand up, sit down
1.2) Move towards the door, then come back, sit down
On 5th rep come back and chat (JN observes dog throughout)
1.3) go to door, touch door, come back, sit down
1.4) Go to door, open door, close door, come back, sit down.
1.5) go to door, step out, step back, close door, come back sit down.
What is stage 2 of the initial assesment?
Adding duration (again 5 reps at each target duration)
2.1) Go out 5 secs, return.
2.2) Go out 10 secs, return.
2.3) Go out 20 secs, return.
2.4) Go out 30 secs, return.
2.5) Go out 1 minute, return
2.6) Go out 2 minutes, return
2.7) Go out 3 minutes, return
2.8) Go out 4 minutes, return
2.9) Go out 5 minutes, return.
Where do you stop in the initial assessment steps.
As soon as the dog starts to get triggered or show any symptoms of unease.
If this happens, take a break, try again and if they still “fail” this step this is your starting point for training.
Which step do all dogs go to in the initial assessment (*unless they have shown signs of anxiety)
Go to door, open, step out, come back, close door, sit down.
What type of human thearpy does JN relate SA training too?
CBT
Why is SA T like CBT rather than psychoanalysis?
Because we are solution based trainers. We want interventions that address SA not why they have SA in the first place.
A splitty assessment is pointless if training reccomendatios are ……
Lumpy!
Why should training recs be? Splitty of lumpy?
Lumpy!
Why should training rec. be lumpy?
Because O won’t follow them if they are splitty. They will quit if it’s too complicated.
What is a key element in the success or failure of a SA T program?
The O! Much of the success hinges on what the O does.
We should throw spaghetti at the wall with SA training and hope something sticks. T or F
F! Focus on one thing. Be really disicplined.
What is critical in SA TPs?
Keep it simple.
What is the Parato principle?
20& of the activity leads to 80% of the results. Less is more.
We should give the O a laundry list of things to check off in SA T? T or F.
F! Simple, focused and lumpy.
What is our focus in SA T?
Getting the O out the house, with the dog safely under threshold. Repeated as much as possible. This is the no 1 thing that will get the dog over the fear of being left.
Is repetition important in SA T?
Yes! Practicing leaving is key.
Do we have a lot to overcome when practicing leaving? and if so why, or why not?
Yes. We have a lot to overcome. Lots of dogs will have a v fearful response to being left due to lots of repeated over threshold absences in the past.
How do we combat the fear?
Repeated underthreshold, safe, absences. Go out, come back, safe.
What is the first step in the TP exercise?
Where the dog got to in the initial assessment minus a few seconds.
What do we call the starting duration?
The target duration.
How many times will the O go out at the TD?
Once only. In the last slot of the TP
If the TD is the last step of the TP what comes before?
A lot of shorter than TD absences. These are the warm up steps.
How many warm up steps should you have if the TD is short?
About 10.
Are warm up steps random durations?
Yes!
Why are warm up steps random durations?
There is some evidence that inhibitory learning/adding variation can aid in a little more learning taking place, esp in ref. to resilience.
We include randomness in warm up steps to ensure the dogs don’t learn pattern. T or F.
F! we aren’t doing DS/CC or OC where learning patterns would be a problem. This is not the reason for including randomness.
How many times does the O go out at the TD?
Once!
Why do we want the O to get out the door and return safely, as often as possible?
To increase chances of changing the association of leaving = dangerous to leaving = safe.
What should we do with warm up steps as duration increases?
Reduce the no. of steps.
What are the advantages of warm up steps?
Oppourtunity for more trials
Gives O Read on if it’s a good day to push for the TD
Do all dogs tolerate warm up steps?
No! Some will find it stressful/
Why do some dogs find warm up steps stressful?
There may a v mild anxiety not presenting? But we don’t know.
If habituation is occuring would warm up steps cause stress to the dog?
No! It shouldn’t and yet!
The more times we can get out the door safely and successfully (complete the sentence)
The better it is for our cause
Once you have completed an exercise (all steps on TP) how do we design our next TP - TD?
Only 2 options:
Push - successfuly completion (no fear)
Drop - aborted exercise (signs of anxiety)
So do we not have P D S rules for SA TP?
Solo DS has push and drop only. They are never going to show a +CER to absences.
If a dog doesn’t do well enough tp push you should stick. T or F.
F! DROP!
Should you repeat steps in your plant just because?
No! it’s inefficient. Either P or D
We are pushing in large increments. T and F. (inc why)
F! GRADUAL EXPOSURE
What is the aim of the P steps in the TP
Push just enough to increase difficulty, but not increasing the likelihood that fear will reappear. A just noticable difference.
If you are reluctant to P what should you do?
P anyway!!!
You can go for a smaller increase in duration if it makes you feel better!
Do we need to add yoyoing into our plan design?
No. This will take care of itself naturally. Dog meets criteria - P. Dog doesn’t meet criteria - D.
It’s that simple. We don’t need any artificial steps.
What is you are worrying about a P run. Should you add a D in?
NO! either give the dog the day off, or give a small incremental increase if you are worried but do P.
Will O have lots of questions about implementing the training?
Yes! They will need lots of guidance
Why do we suggest O have a dedicated SA T camera?
Becuase it makes it easier. Anything that creates friction is a disincentive for them to train
What are the first 4 steps in guiding clients in SA T?
1) Review your exercise
2) Go out for the time given
3) come back at any signs of stress
4) Take 20-60 seconds between steps, or longer if the dog needs that.
Do all dogs do well with 20 - 60 secs between steps?
No! some will need longer. Some dogs get aggitated with back to back steps and some will get too excited if the O sits down. Look at the individual dog.
What are the next 4 steps in SA T guidance for O?
5) Make your greeting neutral and natural
6) Record how your dog did
7) stop the exercise if it’s upsetting your dog
8) if you stop, try again later or tommorow.
How often should O Train?
4-5 times a week. no good research on this BUT based on how the brain works taking time off can be beneficial for processing.
Can you do multiple exercises in a day?
Y, if you are on short duration. BUT 30 mins a day is plenty. Remember the Parato principle.
Should you use food/treats?
No. Food can complicate SA T.
What are the big 3 variables that are frequently in play?
1) Time
2) Who
3) Status
What do we mean by time
Time of day, day of week, season etc etc!
This is the most common factor
What do we mean by who
Who is doing the leaving. Sole (if so whom), 2 people, whole family?
Lots of variables here
What do we mean by status?
Energy level of exercise. How sleepy is the dog.
Status of the dog has a big infulence on how well the T will go. T or F
False! This often has no bearing whatsoever. For example if a fire alarm went off when you’d run a a maration you this wouldn’t negate the response from you. It would still be triggering
Are dogs who fall asleep during training easy?
No! You need to be sure they don’t wake up and panic, wondering where everyone went.
It’s a good idea to sneak out on a dog when it is asleep. T or F
False. This is no a good idea.
O often ask why do you think he does better when ……. what can we answer?
no one actually knows. It could be that past experience is playing a part here but we don’t know for sure.
Is it cheating to train when it’s easier
no. It’s sensible, logical and leads to quick wins. In obedience training we always start with the easiest version and build from there. Its not cheating.
Do we need different training plans for different scenarios?
Yes, it is very possible. You might need different plans for different variables.
If its an easier you can have longer durations
If its harder you want easier durations
How do we prioiritse training with dogs who are sensitive to different variables?
What scenarios are importnat for the O, which scenarios are easier for the dog. Easy wins are important.
What is the training matrix?
A decision tool to help us prioiritise T exercises
Dog is okay with this factor, but it’s not a top prioirity for you.
This one could be easier to pick off. Tackle it when you need some motivation.
Dogs okay with this factor but its super important to O
This is a good place to start!
Dog struggles with this factor but its not a prioirity for the O
Come back to this later in T
Dog struggles with this factor but its super important to you
If you are up for a challange tackle this scenario first!
Where is the best place to start when looking at variables that affect training?
Start with the easiest. This is always best.
What is the order of T in relation to duration and cues?
1) Duration
2) PDQ’s
Why is working on PDQ NOT a priority?
1) It’s frustrating for O’s. No quick wins are working directly on cues first.
2) It’s not the cues that worry the dog - cues predict something the dog finds scary
3) Just because they come first, doesn’t mean we should work on them first - inefficient, time-consuming, frustrating.
If a dog didn’t like toothbrushing would we work on the cues that predicted this activity was happening first?
No! we’d work on DS/CC to toothbrush and body handling (Seperately). We are going to do the same in SA T.
How to we create a list of PDQs
Ask the O to audit their leaving routine and record any cues that the dog finds triggering.
When would we work on DS to PDQs?
When we have at least 15 mins of solid duration.
What are the 2 categories for the PDQ list?
1) Cues we can drop
2) Cues we can’t drop
What are we going to to do with cues we can’t drop?
1) Introduce one at a time
2) Introduce in a SA T session at the start of the first absence
3) record how the dog does
What if the dog falls apart when we introduce a PDQ?
Strip it back out of the training session and work on separately.
Do we just do loads of repetitions of the PDQ and if so why or why not?
No! Because this risks sensitisation. Create a DS plan and work on each step until the dog doesn’t notice.
GRADUAL EXPOSURE!
What do we often find with PDQs when bringing them back in?
We often find the dog pays no attention - because they are no longer afraid of the safe absence so the cue isn’t predicting the scary thing anymore.
What is each TP founded on?
PRogression from the last exercise. If successful P if unsuccesful D
What are the TD increment increases?
<2 mins 10% - 20%
>2mins 5% -10%
If we drop how much do we drop by?
to the last TD regardless of the amount of time the dog did, or didn’t succeed in on the last attempt.
What warm up durations should we use for under 10 secs?
1 - 5 secs
What warm up duration should we use under 1 minute
2 - 10 secs
What warm up durations should we use under 2 mins?
5 - 20 secs
What warm up durations should we use under 5 mins
5 - 30 secs
What warm up durations should we use above 5 mins
10 - 60 secs
Do P/D rules apply to warm up steps
No! only TD.
What do you do if a dog falls apart on a warm up step
Take a short break. Try again. If still fails count as a drop.
Is regression a bad thing?
No reframe as variability. As the dog gets further into training the consistency will increase.
