One of the most challenging aspects of behavior counseling is in overcoming the bias of the human perspective. The average pet owner, quite naturally, draws from his or her own knowledge and experiences when observing the animal’s behavior and deciding on what modifications should work when the behavior is unacceptable. If the owner is lucky, undesirable behaviors are successfully modified.
Too often, though, the acceptable results may end up being only short-lived, or the desired results may not be attained at all. In fact, imposing humanism on our pets can potentially enhance other, even less desirable behaviors. Then also the pet owner may reject the counselor’s advice due to emotional hang-ups. A humorous example of misplaced emotions is the response of a typical male owner when presented with the task of neutering his male dog.
Artificial dens, commonly called (airline) crates or cages, provide a secure environment for our pets; however, many pet owners absolutely refuse to use them as a training tool due to predispositions based purely on human perspective and emotion. The common notion is that the crate is likened to a jail cell. Instead, the human perspective should compare the crate to a house, condo or apartment. Better yet, I recommend looking at the cage as the pet’s own room in the house.
Similar to human children, puppies should initially be constrained within their “baby beds” or their “playpens,” until they are older and responsible enough to be allowed greater unsupervised freedoms in the house. Then, at night, children are sent to their rooms for bedtime. Thinking in human terms, at what age does mom kick the kid out of her own bed and make him or her sleep in separate accommodations?
The good news is that, like the baby bed and playpen, the dog will mature beyond the need for constant crating. Internationally known behaviorist, Ian Dunbar, has stated that every tool, of which the crate is one, is introduced with the understanding that it will at some point in time be phased out. The degree to which the crate is removed from the environment depends on the individual animal and situation. Many learn to use it as a den of security all their lives.
When introducing older pets to a new family or home, a crate can significantly enhance the transition, reducing the stress of the life change, because it acts as a den of stability in a world suddenly filled with change. Consider that dogs reach an emotional maturity equal to an 18-month-old human. Even as adults, they are emotionally on the level of a toddler. And we wonder why baby-talking works so well with them? Bearing that in mind, would you adopt or foster a youngster, relatively unknown to you and immediately allow him or her free reign in your home? Please say no . . . thank you!
Gradually allowing the dog/puppy (insert toddler or child if it helps perspective) more freedom as he or she earns it is a reasonable program. The people who concern me are the new puppy owners who are shocked that the dog, after two weeks, still will not automatically go to the door and announce when the bathroom urge hits. I guess their children spoke flawless English at six weeks of age, used the potty by themselves before learning to walk and did quantum physics at a year of age. The good news, however, is what takes humans a few years to learn, the puppies can pretty well accomplish in weeks with good, consistent, positively reinforced training from us. “But he/she doesn’t want to . . . .” are the watchwords of a permissive pet owner. If parents acquiesced to their children, no family would ever leave Disney World! When we are introducing something new, balking is normal for a pet when confronting that for which he or she has no prior experience or familiarity. To say that dogs are historically den animals, however, true, does not reassure the unfamiliar pup that entering can be a good thing. As with anything else, we introduce the crate gradually, as a place where he or she is rewarded positively with special toys and chews. When owners plan to bring their cats to my kennel, I suggest placing the traveling crate near the food and water area and actually feeding the cat inside it for about a week before the check-in date. When the travel day arrives, the cat will be much easier to catch and contain. Then, while the cat vacations with me, I prefer to leave the carrier in the accommodation as a secure hiding place. So, when the vacation is over, kitty easily loads up for that traumatic car ride home, with only a minimum of trepidation.
It is not easy for us to think in canine or feline terms. It is even tougher when our emotions cloud our perspective even more. Remembering that whatever tools are used will not be required as extensively, or maybe at all, once the pet has been trained to do the right things, should bolster our confidence enough to overcome our inhibitions so as to do the right things for our pets.
