Carole.T on Sun Mar 13, 2011 6:45 pm
Hi Chris,
Thanks for asking re: Collie.
I visted the owner & her daughter (daughter is the 'target' mainly), plus the grandmother and the dog boarder (as they both share day boarding the dog the 4 days per week the owner is at work). On each occassion I visited while all involved were there, or when the dog was actually being boarded with the gran or dog boarder. So, it was good to see the dog in all the relevent environments and how each person may be either backing up any good training/behaviour work or negating it!!
It is a difficult one, the dog has bitten 4 times over the past couple of years, he can create puncture wounds. I have told the owner the prognosis is guarded in as much as (I believe and from what I was told);
They got the BC from a working farm while on holiday, as it seems, an impulse buy.
The puppy was 6 weeks old when they bought it.
The daughter has been a mix of over-indulgent and rough play with the dog from a puppy, and still speaks to him as if he was a puppy and tries to hug him, although he is now a mature/maturing 2&half year old young man! She is in her 20s.
The owner lets the dog sleep on her bed (ok in my opinion IF no behaviour problems with the dog/the dog gets off - just impractical really) and this dog guards the owner/bed from the daughter.
The dog has a VERY high prey/object fixation, even on bones laying on the grass in the dog boarder's garden and he has a very low threshold when anyone physically tries to interrupt this fixation. Though he can be very responsive to clear verbal commands.
If you ever met the dog, he displays very submissive body language, is very submissive to other dogs. The dog boarder took him out with my dog one day when she was 'dog walking' my dog, and both got on fine.
Lots of management needs introducing, environmental changes, elevating daughter to No2 then equal to 'mum' for the dog, practical training exercises etc.
She is doing the best she can in her circumstances and it is handy that I only live a few minutes from all parties. I gave her a 'Report' and Training/Behaviour suggestions. But she knows that I will not carry on further involvement until she has seen her vet to check for any problems with the dog's eyes (it seem mainly when he is approached from the right hand side of his head, it triggers a bite) and hips (had bilateral hip surgery about 14 months ago and he 'grumbles' when lifted into the car, or is slower getting up & down after long walks).
She knows what options she has about who she may choose to continue with (and I am happy for her to choose an APBC, but I would like to 'sit' in being as I have already had dealings, so confidentiality would not be a problem. The owner is happy whith this).
So, after ending up earning about £2 an hour on reflection (!) I am awaiting feedback after her visit to the vet. I get the impression that she is not bothered by the fact that I do not have the BSc required by the APBC people, but prefers to continue with some-one she knows, to save potentially confusing the situation and dog. She is aware that these incidents may always be possible (a First generation working farm BC, probably no bite inhibition learnt from its dam, siblings etc) but she wants to do her best for the dog.
Thank you about "not putting yourself down" - but when the local APBC/BSc Behaviourists write in the local paper and on their websites things like:
1)You need a Degree to carry out Dog Training.
2)You shouldn't agree for anyone who isn't a member of the APBC treat your dog ("as this is like letting a veterinary nurse operate on your dog").
3)You can only have a Clinical Behaviourist deal with Behaviour problems and will only be referred to a 'Clinical Behaviourist' by your vet.
Well, it does make you think how 'non-degree' and no doubt good/talented Trainers & Behaviourists can ever get cases to gain the experinece nowadays!?
Sorry to rant on, but I think that you are right potentially about how some 'highly qualified' professionals deal with the clients. One of my previous clients chose not to go back to the 'APBC' lady as "She didn't have a good rapport" and they did not like the way they were 'told' what to do. My dog boarder friend told me that one of her vets was not impressed with the APBC Behaviourist the head Vet had agreed to refer cases to, but she (the vet) had to because of the APBC connection.
We shall see.
Regards
Carole