Courses and Workshops
Please contact Susanne Wigforss at SW Föredrag & Kurser (see Contact) for further information or check the bottom of this page.
The psychology of the dog
- and the dog owner...
About leadership, teachership and plain and simple friendship.
The concept of leadership is misunderstood and misused and I give details about the criticism from several modern ethologists of that concept. For instance, among pack animals in the wild there are no observations of a rank order based on aggressive power demonstrations.
In the speech I suggest that we nullify terms like leadership and rank order-based dominating learning, and exchange them for “teachership”. Instead of trying to be leaders, we shall examine ourselves as teachers. I point out the mistakes most of us do when training our dogs, and several in the audience will recognize themselves – but with a laughter.
And then we turn to situations in everyday life, where we are more just friends with our dogs. But even in that role we tend to create problems for our dogs, in spite of actually trying to prevent unruly behavior. Sometimes by just giving attention to the very behaviors we want to get rid of.
Drive and motivation
A weekend seminar
Here we elucidate common problems you meet when training dogs in all kinds of work and in competitions. We analyze different causes to why training does not succeed, especially when it comes to the concepts of drive and motivation.
We discuss which processes that are involved in drive, both in the brain and in the endocrine system. This deep analysis gives us knowledge of how we may work to keep up the energy of a dog so it can keep performing effectively for a long time.
With motivation means the willingness to perform and is crucial for how the dog succeeds in training and work. If we can keep the motivation of the dog on a high level, the training will be successful. If not, failure is just around the corner. We can do a lot to motivate the dog, but unfortunately many of the things we do reduce the motivation instead. This is the reason why we have to learn how motivation works, both physiologically and psychologically.
In most dogs the motivation diminishes with time, so inspite training, the performance follows a declining graph. There are many things that explain this phenomenon, which are important to know. Also we must know that different things compete for theattention and motivation of the dog, like diffrent dishes in a can menu tempt you, but you can only choose one. This means that we have to learn how to analyze what is motivating the performance of a dog in a given situation. It may be that a dogs’ a need to get to know a new dog on the training site is stronger than the willingness to track a person.
Why dogs fail in different tasks is the number one goal of this seminar. Conseqently we discuss factors that interfere with and ruin learning and performance. Wev also look at diffrent problematic behaviors, especially aggression, since that can ruin the career of a working or competing dog. Since the most common causes behind problem behaviors, directly or indirectly, are hormonal disturbances and pain, we discuss how to analyze a dog in this respect.
In the seminar we sometimes will go a bit deep into some physiological and psychological facts, for instance how the brain works, to elucidate the mechanisms behind drive and motivation. However, you don’t need any special previous knowledge in biology and psychology to follow the seminar.
About Stress
A one-day seminar about Stress
Stress is the musketeer of the body – and its’potential enemy.
Stress is something that is supposed to help individuals overcome problems that they meet with. When needed, the body becomes physically stronger and the mind more alert and sharp. This process demands a lot of energy, though, so the cost is high. For that reason it is essential that the stress reaction is short and is followed by a period of recovery.
A problem in the society of today is all the different stress factors. Nor people or dogs are prepared for this by their nature, so stress will lead to effects in body and mind that could be unwholesome. Prolonged stress, or a traumatic experience, will change the individual socially, psychologically and physiologically and lead to behavior problems and illnesses.
In the speech I will discuss stress from several aspects. In general, there are two types of physiological reactions, although combined, namely the endocrine stress and the processes in the brain. The endocrine stress is based on the reactions in some of the hormone producing glands, like the adrenals. The stress reactions in the brain are based on several systems to maintain the equilibrium of the organism.
To be able to manage stress in dogs it is imperative to know the most common factors that stress dogs. We will discuss over- and under-stimulation as well as feeling of insecurity and learned helplessness. Besides this we will discuss different therapeutic strategies, both those that are psychological, medical and those based on natural supplements.
This seminar is open for anyone with interest in canine behavior and no special previous training is necessary. Most of the facts and terms will be presented in an easy-to-understand way.
The AlfaSyndrome
A one-day seminar
In 1922, the Norwegian sociologist, professor Thorleif Schjelderup-Ebbe, published an experimental study that showed a strict and linear rank order among chicken at feeding time. This was the starting point of what decades later became one of the cores of social biology.
The interest of the rank order concept grew rapidly, and biologists, and later ethologists, presupposed that the strict dominance order was valid in all animal groups. Later this assumption uncritically was accepted in the dog community, and advices on how to be a top dog, an alpha, became more and more frequent.
The ”Alpha role” is stressed today in dog training and the role of the leader is over-emphasized and misinterpreted. By picturing a pack as a human society, where low status and rank is negative and high status and rank is positive and desirable, the dog becomes a careerist, all the time struggling for a high position in the group. Consequently the dog ownership becomes a fight for positions.
The dominance order was convenient for those who advocated a strict control in the upbringing and training of dogs. Actually, many became "hard liners" because they uncritically accepted the dominance order theory. Strict control and punishments were legalized by the need to be the alpha in relation to ones’ dog – if not, the dog could advance socially and become the top dog in the
family, with severe consequences.
In our days, lack of leadership has become the most frequent diagnosis concerning behavioral problems in dogs. And consistently the recommended therapy is: Improve your status as a leader. If you take a close look at it, this is just a paraphrase for being violent to the dog. It is just other words
for control and punishments. And it works, because you always get a result when you intimidate a dog.
At first it was accepted to expose dogs for physical violence, as it was to treat children the same way. But in a modern world, violence became unethical. Since authoritarian persons still had the need for control, the new, psychological way to suppress a dog was a suitable alternative, and it soon became popular.
In order to keep the dog in its’ place and prevail as the top dog, without resorting to physical violence, some odd advises started to spread, like:
• don’t let the dog walk first out through the door
• don’t let the dog eat its’ meal before you eat yours
• punish severely all protests, like growling and the like
Modern biologists studying animal behavior emphasize the peaceful relations in free-living animal groups, which are constructive and have an important survival value. They stress that aggression is seldom seen and it is not a way to establish rank relations in the group.
The natural behavior of dogs, are characterized by peace and cooperation. The relations are horizontal, not vertical. Dogs are no careerists, seeking higher status. When you raise your voice and become angry at your dog, it obeys. Yes, but not because you are more of a leader, but because it gets scared for the consequences of disobeying.
These and other topics of the seminar show that today there are enough scientific results to say that we do not have to watch out for ourselves as "Alphas".
The old dog
A one-day seminar
A dogs‘ life is short, too short most of us would say. Of course we must see to it, that our dogs get as long a life as possible and as good as possible quality of life. They give us so very much that, in the end, we always owe them a lot. It is important to understand that we don’t have so much time to repay them for their loyalty and for everything they give to us.
Unfortunately, many dog owners tend to forget that, depending on other priorities and the older dogs do not protest, they adjust. So they lie still, waiting for their turn to get some attention, while the human traffic is hastily driving by…
When dogs come into their middle age, both mind and body start to change. It is the age related process we call "growing old". It starts as sub clinical changes, almost impossible to detect. One or several senses, for instance hearing, is not as sharp as before. Muscles become a bit stiff, especially in the mornings. The skin and hair condition is not quite as it was when the dog was young. Some breed diseases start to show its‘ symptoms and the immune system is not as efficient as at younger age. Also the mind start to change in many dogs, but it is a bit to early to see it, since the brain is so flexible.
After a while the small changes in the body gradually develop into perceptible symptoms. Soon one thing leads to another: deficient immunity, infections, and tumors. Decline in the production of some hormones lays the foundation for temperament changes, often indolence, apathy and even depression. Too little exercise leads to bad physical condition, future heart problems, and less good functioning of several other internal organs.
Soon you also see the social, emotional and mental changes which are linked to the aging process: the dog gets a little bit less social, a bit more introvert, less playful and less motivated to do things.
If one does nothing, but lets the dog to itself, it will grow old rapidly. The good thing, though, is that there is so much one can do. Through simple observations and exercises you may not only prolong the life of your dog, you also prolong its’ youth and quality of life.
Learn in this seminar how you could care for your friend on four legs both physically and psychologically to counteract the aging process and give more years to life, and more life to the years.
It is in your hands to give your best friend a happy life all the way.
About the seminars
Time
One day or two, 09.00 – 17.00.
Number of participants
The seminars may take from around 35 to 75 people, and the organizer decides the number.
Previous knowledge
The seminars are open for everyone without restrictions.
Dogs no
the seminars are all theoretical (the premises should however permit dogs, for those who cannot leave their dogs at home or in a day-care. No dog should be kept in a car! Please inform thoroughly!)
Seminar premises should be big enough to allow good ventilation. A few dogs should be alowed inside. Close to coffee etc.
Seminar material the organizer makes copies of relevant papers, if nothing else is said, and makes diplomas.
A/V-equipment
Power point projector and a PC may be needed, as also a DVD-player, and perhaps an over-head projector (as a back up). A hands-free microphone and good speakers are necessay if the audience is bigger than 35 people.
Fee
My claim is 1500:- euros for a one day seminar and 3 000:- euros for a two day seminar, plus travel- and hotel costs.
References
There are several references from different countries available.
Miscellaneous
Every participant should have name tags and a sign with name, readable from where I stand. Also, if there are many copies, a file with all the papers already in, is recommended.
Please contact Susanne Wigforss at SW Föredrag & Kurser (see Contact) for further information and bookings.