Jack Russell Terrier (JRT) Aggression When Blowing in Face | drsophiayin.com

[Frankiewhippet]

I want to counter condition my dog to dogs on tv, he barks like crazy when he see's them. But I can never get him below threshold to start counter conditioning. Can I use this same technique for this? does it matter if he is barking to begin with? I'd really really appreciate an answer!

[SuperBark1]

@Frankiewhippet I wouldn't use this method to counter condition to tv. I would typically reward the dog for focusing on me (first putting the dog through the Learn to Earn program), so he learns an alternate behavior. You could, however, turn the volume down low enough that it doesn't set him over threshold and reward him for sitting/looking at you, then systematically turn the volume up louder while always staying under threshold.

[supernaturalbc2009]

I just read a 2002 paper by Alexandra Semyonova which talks about the definition of aggression vs threat. This dog is displaying an inhibited bite which would, by her definition be a threat, not true aggression. If he intended to do damage, he would have. True aggression (uninhibited bite) is rare and very dysfunctional in dogs. Sad that he might have been euthanized for doing what he should because of a perceptional /definition difference. Just goes to show how far we still need to come! Donna

[sophiekliu]

@supernaturalbc2009 Unfortunately, Semyonova's "Social Organization of the Dom. Dog" is heavily imbued with personal biases and has a paucity of peer-reviewed research upon which she bases her assumptions. Her paper, in fact, is not peer-reviewed nor is it published in any reputable journal. Her purpose is to debunk the dominance theory (as popularized by Millan) by attacking the myth that aggressive acts (human acts included) are normalized phenomena in dogs' social structures.

[sophiekliu]

@supernaturalbc2009 Because of this, she PERSONALLY defines aggression as uninhibited, unprovoked acts of "violence" intended to inflict damage/death. She includes within this definition, human acts (hitting, kicking, choking, alpha-rolling). She notes that "aggressive acts" by dogs (as she has defined it) are ANTI-social and lead to ostracization - thus, she maintainns that human aggression, as well, are poor models for behavior modification and are counter-productive.

[sophiekliu]

@supernaturalbc2009 However, the reality is that ANY offensive act by a dog can be deemed aggressive, and, in the public and media eye, any act of 'aggression' (barking, growling, nipping - EVEN IF inhibited) will jeopardize the livelihood of the dog, or even an entire breed (BSL, for example). Thus, we need to realize that words are defined to serve a purpose; Semyonova defined "aggression" as she did only to reiterate that "uninhibited aggression" is anti-social and a BAD model for training.

[sophiekliu]

@supernaturalbc2009 Thus, we need to recognize that a barking, growling, nipping dog (even if inhibited) will be viewed as aggressive and WILL, if left unmodified, worsen and potentially hurt another animal or human being. We must never excuse any acts of aggression as "naturalized" or "legitimized". If we truly have the dog's well-being in mind, we will must work diligently to gently modify their behaviors in the less stressful manner possible.

[GMaria1975]

they changed dogs :ppp

[SuperBark1]

It's the same dog. He does not have an identical twin:-).

[dezinemagic1]

If only this video could be shown to everyone with a dog.

[canidkeeper11]

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! Thanks for posting!!! Love it! :)

[MrFox1956]

giving a dog a treat when he shows you his teeth?

that is rewarding bad behavior....

[SuperBark1]

If it were rewarding bad behavior his behavior would get worse. The fact is that I have changed his underlying emotional state and as a result he no longer shows is teeth or acts aggressive when I blow in his face. So when you change the emotional state that drives the "bad" behaviors, you will make the "bad" behaviors go away.

[SuperBark1]

I think you may not have watched the entire video. If it were rewarding the bad behavior, then his bad behavior would have gotten worse instead of better. 

[tatumcapital]

Nice job. My dog HATES the garbage man. Gonna try something similar...

[AuctioneerBroker]

Great video, I have a JRT/Chihuahua mix that behaves this way. I'll try your methods.  The high energy and prey drive of the JRT can be challenging. Although I have tried clicker training without success, I haven't tried the counter conditioning that is so well illustrated here. It gives me hope.

I frankly don't understand why all the excitement about dominance vs. positive training if the end result is a well behaved puppy. Clearly, your methods work.

[Lookin4aBoxToLive]

My dog doesn´t get agressive when anybody blows on him. He just gets very, VERY excited and starts running around the house and comes back...

[Lookin4aBoxToLive]

My dog doesn´t get agressive when anybody blows on him... he just gets very, VERY excited and starts running around the house and comes back...

[kiki4682]

I am very impressed!

[0oSNYPEo0]

She is rewarding the dog before he growls to get rid of negative behaviour, that behaviour can then be re-shaped into positive behaviour... am i right ?

[SuperBark1]

0lSNYPEoO: I'm actually letting him growl a little and then still giving him the treat before he has a chance to escalate. Goal was to show that even though i'm giving him treats when he growls, it's not reinforcing then growling behavior because it's changing his underlying emotional state. That's why later on when I blow in his face he just looks happy. In the later case I just give him treats because he can start to bounce around with excitement and I want to reward him before he does that.

[riv1188]

The smaller dog that was running around in the background can anyone tell me the breed I was just given that dog as a gift.

[SuperBark1]

rat terrier

[SuperBark1]

Rat terrier 

[riv1188]

The little dog that was in the back ground looks exactly like the dog my brother gave me what kind of dog is it?

[AshleaJane]

I love your work!

[jayzcc83]

OMG you are a SAINT....you saved this dog from getting euthanized....my dog bites when it comes to food..so we leave her alone when she is eating.

[doddsino]

Man, I can't stand Jack Russells, you should see my friend's. The beast is stand offish, hates everyone, and constantly has to be caged because it will often tear things up. When given a toy, it will shake it violently and tear it to pieces within minutes. I in no way provoke the dog, other than being there however I hardly ever spend time there anymore for fear of getting bit.

[gotfameseekfortune]

How wonderful to see you save a life with just a few minutes of sensible conditioning!

[Hen9207]

my jack russell is responsive and beautifully behaved... we have a fantastic bond... and I dont blow in her face or give her any treats. Silly video.

[SuperBark1]

That's good that you don't, but if someone else happens to and he doesn't like it then it would be good if he were trained to like it. For instance, obviously this dog had a history of this happening in one of his 2-3 previous households. If this behavior were not fixed, he could not be adopted out and would have to be euthanized. BTY. This dog was required to work for ALL of his food. So he didn't get a meal for free like most dogs and then treat on top of it.

[tehrenberg]

This will be my 'go to' video whenever anyone doubts the results of positive training. Beautiful done. 5* and a favorite.

[ElvisAspen]

Hello.

Thank you very much for this great video. It is such a good example, that counterconditioning works. I wish, many people would start to understand, that you have to change the emotions and not only try to eleminate symptoms. Hope this JRT finds a new home.

[Waribiki]

But isn't this just teaching the dog that face blowing = treat? She's not teaching the dog that growling gives it treats, but that face blowing gives it treats.

It's not any different from what other dog behaviourists do, is it? O_o

[SuperBark1]

Yes. This is the point. Most people (believe me get this questions all the time when I lecture at conferences as well as when dealing with individual clients or students) think you are rewarding the growling. They think about the behavior but are not considering the underlying emotional state. (e.g. they're concerned about operant conditioning and don't realize that by changing the underlying emotional state (through classical counterconditioning) they will change the resulting behavior.

[Waribiki]

Really? That's interesting. I'm not a dog-training expert at all, but even I thought this was very basic dog-training, and that every dog owner should understand this. O_o

I used this method to teach my dog to stop lunging at cars. Some would tell me that I was rewarding the lunging, but I was trying to teach her that car means treat.

(unfortunately, she found the car more interesting than the treat, so we're still working..)

[SuperBark1]

Waribiki: That means that your next step is actually to train him to perform behavior he loves and then work with him at the distance where he'll focus on those behavior rather than on the car. I have videos on my web site. drsophiayin.

[strangepixiegirl]

If this is the case, how does one encourage good behaviour? This method supposedly focuses solely on positive reinforcement, right? Well if so, when the dog does something that you find pleasing, and you reward him with a treat, isn't this again just diverting his behaviour? Therefore not showing him that it is WANTED behaviour.

Also, how on earth does "changing their underlying emotional state" by offering treats result in permanent behavioural change?

[SuperBark1]

Strangepixiegirl: No this is NOT positive reinfocement (operant conditioning) it is classical counterconditioning. How does changing the underlying emotional state result in a permanent behaivor change? Well, it having his face blown in no longer makes the dog angry or fearful but instead makes him happy, then he won't try to bite people who blow in his face.

Note if this were positive reinforcement for growling then the growling would increase. It has not, and that is the point of the video.

[ISBAILEYDEADYET]

Will the change be permanent, meaning you'll never have to condition the dog again? My JRT has all sorts of aggressive issues, but if I can take one away it'll be a start!

[SteadyHaze]

Heh..poor dog on the right wants a treat so badly...Nice video.

[SuperBark1]

Yeah, whatever rewards (attention, toy, etc) another dog is getting, he wants too:-)

[kikopup]

Thank you for this! Its going strait into my favorites. So clear and so easy to understand.

-Kikopup

[kikopup]

I stumbled across this video! And boy am I glad that I did! This video makes it so clear for the viewer to understand. Thank you again! -Kikopup

[hullshaven]

That is really amazing.

[cvnico]

coolhandcacks...Seriously...an­ybody who has a bit of experience with dog trainers or vets can SEE that she's either one of both just by observing how calm she is around the dog and how she handles him...So the only thing you've really proven is how stupid you really are!

As for the vid; it's great!! my boyfriend has actually found this and showed it to me. We really hope it will help with the problems we have with our jack russell.

Thank you very much for sharing this with the rest of us! :)

[sacdogtrainer]

coolhandcacks: Since you don't mention any specifics, apparently your issue is with positive methods? Perhaps you have never seen positive methods used to modify serious behavior problems, but as you can see, these methods are fast and effective.

This is an excellent demonstration of behavior modification. What a difference between this video and the temporary suppression of behavior seen on a certain television show. Here, you actually see a CHANGE in behavior.

[WolfOfShadows1986]

the other trainer who shall remain unnamed(lol) would never have gone for this! he would have scared the poor little guy into submission, which would have only made the behavior worse in the long run:(

i like how dr. yin used the same basic principle behind clicker training to change the dogs emotional response. every time she did something that bothered him,blowing on him, he got a treat, which reprograms it into something he likes. at the end his little tail was wagging when she blew on him:)

[StacyBS]

coolhandcacks, the term "DVM" should give you the clue that she is a veterinarian (with a specialty in behavior).

Yes, using blowing in a dog's face is a silly concern to spend time "solving", but it's a good demonstration of how to do FAST modification of an emotionally-based behavior. It neatly demonstrates a training method that's not putting dogs or people in danger. You could also do it with a dog who growls at collar-grabs, foot-handling, or other physical handling (pretty common).

[coolhandcacks]

Hi Dr. Yin, that is the most ridiculous dog training I have ever seen! What exactly are you a Doctor of? And more importantly, did you recieve your doctorate from a lucky bag?

[LeoTheHood]

Just because you dont know why it works does not make it ridiculous.

Perhaps you prefer more deadly action like when Cesar Millan is performing his "magic", with this dog he probably would have got bitten .... .. Again, he does that a lot,... wonder why

[buddbb]

thank you so much for sharing this!

[kmikurda]

Wonderful video!

[NEBCR]

hey look at that! no alpha rolling, leash popping and other aversive garbage that Millan would have done. Nice job Dr Yin!

[thantounderscore]

Also importantly, it worked and it stayed working.

[bloodyknees]

That's amazing - thank you.

[InDogsWeTrust11]

I love it! Such an excellent video!

[moxalatte]

Wonderful video. Thanks!

[citydog]

Fabulous. Thanks for this.

[hunkymonkeykaine]

5* and a fav! Now that's real training:)! CCC and R+ at it's best:)! Pawsome.

Happy Clicking!

Ashley & Kaine

[greanie]

Thank you for putting this amazing video together. What a useful video to show people who have unresolved behavior issues with their dog.

[CrueLoaf]

Great and not an 'alpha roll' to be seen!

[JustJesse197]

Fantastic!! You did an excellent job ;) ~Heather and Jesse~

[claudiahoyle]

that's counterconditioning working at its best no doubt. Thanks for the video