The Landscape Within

After a brutally, impossibly hot summer in Bakersfield, the relief of autumn has finally settled in. I could not be more grateful for this, as exercising outdoors during summertime in Bakersfield is probably a lot like dancing in an aluminum suit across the surface of the sun, wearing a hat made of fire. 

With the change in weather, I've been able to get out and do the things that I not only love, but which sustain my physical and psychological wellbeing. It is amazing to me how much my perspective changes with one good workout. Doesn't matter what kind of workout really (though rollerblading is REALLY FUN), just one session of moving the body, elevating the heart rate, and sweating out the frustration and stress of daily life as a human being. 

Any given landscape simply looks a thousand times better WHEN I AM MOVING THROUGH IT than when I am sitting in it, stagnating. Physical movement biochemically adjusts the "internal landscape" of my brain and body chemistry, such that the world outside becomes more enticing, engaging, and empowering than it is otherwise able to be. 

A Whisper To A Scream

Liz R. Kover

Professor Amy Cook

LIF 580

August 15th, 2014

A Whisper To A Scream:

Contradictions and Curiosities in the War Against Cesar Millan

“All the scientist creates in a fact is the language in which he enunciates it.”

– Henri Poincare

Any positive reinforcement trainer will tell you that ‘you kill more bees with honey than vinegar’. In other words, offer positive feedback and watch desirable behavior increase in frequency; sling mud and you’ll see what is undesirable rise up. I wonder then, why the behavioral experts who so vehemently disapprove of Cesar Millan would attempt to “train him out of ” his ways using punishment as their go-to method. If saving dogs from (perceived) harm is truly the mission of the movement against “dog whispering”, why not employ methods that are strictly positive in dealing with the perceived problem? Could eliciting a response of ‘learned helplessness’ be the real goal? Attempt to break the spirit of a successful “newcomer” by claiming he is reviving disproven, antiquated ways from the dark recesses of history when in fact, he is bringing to light something that before him had yet to be illuminated? There are millions upon millions of people who proclaim that life for them and their dogs has changed for the better in light of Cesar Millan’s teachings and techniques. It seems very insulting to assume that all of these people simply “don’t know better”, or have blindly bought into the devious scam of an illusionist. I see something altogether different, and that is an historical pattern of “schools of thought” vying for the position of Pack Leader within academic circles.

While Cesar Millan is the present focal point of controversy, the debate between behaviorism - and ideologies that threaten to reveal its limitations - is long-standing. Modern day positive reinforcement dog training evolved from Skinnerian roots, and has changed very little at the core of its ideology. Skinner maintained that “behavior is shaped and maintained by its consequences”, and that as the consequences contingent on behavior are investigated, more and more “they are taking over the explanatory functions previously assigned to personalities, states of mind, feelings, traits of character, purposes, and intentions” (Chomsky, 1971). Skinner’s confidence that scientific inquiry into behavior would continue to strip away the existence of autonomous intention seemed unshakable. Until he attempted to cram the dynamic innateness of language acquisition into a Skinner box, at which point the foundation of his logic began to crack. Actually, the logic itself isn’t flawed; the fallacy is in professing that logic alone explains the “internal state” that Cesar Millan refers to as, simply, energy. “Dogs use energy to communicate. Energy is what I call beingness. It is who and what we are in every moment” (Cesar’s Way, web).

            Inarguably, B.F. Skinner sought to eradicate words like “beingness” and “energy” from the vernacular he so carefully ascribed to behavior. These words implied the existence of emotional states in both human and animal, which would not fit inside the confines of laboratory conditions. A ‘technology of behavior is available’, Skinner argued, which would more successfully reduce the aversive consequences of behavior…and maximize the achievements of which the (human) organism is capable. But the “defenders of freedom oppose its use” (Skinner, p. 125). Undoubtedly Skinner would’ve seen Cesar Millan as a defender of freedom – as do I, which is why his principles ring so true.

            When the intellectual quandary of language acquisition arose, Skinner grasped desperately to keep the abstractions of “beingness” under a tightly closed lid. But alas, Nature is messy and spills over. Try as science might to contain it, the vast scope of “freedom and dignity” that arises innately from within the experience of living, behaving, and “being” will always be one step ahead of our ability to objectively explain it. And, just as the science of cognitive psychology evolved to bring internal states of mentalism into the realm of scientific validity, the emerging, interdisciplinary science of Anthrozoology aims to understand both human and animal behavior in context of how “human beingness” relates to, affects, and is in part defined by, the beingness of other animal species. The human-canine relationship is at the heart of this developing field. According to the Animals & Society Institute, Human-Animal Studies (HAS) is a rapidly growing interdisciplinary field that examines the complex and multidimensional relationships between humans and other animals. HAS comprises work in several disciplines in the social sciences (sociology, anthropology, psychology, political science) the humanities (history, literary criticism, philosophy, geography), and the natural sciences (ethology, veterinary medicine, animal welfare science, and comparative psychology) (http://www.animalsandsociety.org/pages/human-animal-studies). Being that the modern science of dog behavior is so focused on the co-evolutionary influence our respective species have upon one another, I imagine that what critics today claim are wrong or “anecdotal observations” of Cesar Millan’s about the influence of a person’s energy on the behavior of his dog, are actually the scientific data of tomorrow.

           

Any whose contributions to a well-established field challenge its hard-won tenure in the “lay consciousness” faces severe opposition. One such revolutionary is Dr. Jane Goodall. In 1960, Jane was in her early twenties when the man known as the father of anthropology, Louis Leakey, selected her and two other young women with no formal education – Dian Fossey and Beruti Galdikas - to venture to Africa, observe apes in the wild, and report back on what they saw.  Leakey chose these three specifically for the absence of academia’s influence, which kept them unbiased, and unlikely to have expectations related to a predetermined hypothesis.

The successful objectification of behavioral observation was not merely a breakthrough in a field, it marked the foundation for a field of its kind to exist in the first place. It is not surprising then that when Jane Goodall - a young woman who had never heard the word ethology when she unwittingly helped to reshape it - was inserted into the Ph.D. program in ethology at Cambridge University in the early sixties, she was ridiculed and cast out by the academic elite. Said Jane, “It was a bit shocking to be told I had done everything wrong. Everything.” (David Quammen, National Geographic Magazine, 2010).  She writes in National Geographic Magazine, “I believed that having a degree of empathy for my subjects could help me detect slight changes in their mood or attitudes and provide insights into their complex social processes. I think time has proved me right.”

Critics accused Jane Goodall of scientific sacrilege for her heart-centered approach, by which she ascribed personalities to wild chimpanzees, and wrote about the exchanges of energy between them and her as they accepted her into their community across species boundaries. But it was exactly who she was and how she did her work that led to her allowance into the chimpanzee colony by its patriarch, whom she called David Greybeard. And it was because of her acceptance into their world that “the definition of man” is what it is today. Jane Goodall may not have had the “seal of approval” from the academic elite back then, but in trusting instinct to inform intellect, she understood more than could be expressed in the confining language of science.

Dr. Goodall’s work was instrumental in shifting paradigms away from the mechanics of animal behavior to the far “messier” internal dimensions of animal life and relationships. As Cesar Millan explains dogs’ behavior in the context of their unique canine-human-family-packs, Dr. Goodall exposed chimpanzee behavior as seen in the interrelationships of one wild chimpanzee colony. Similarly, Cesar Millan explains dogs’ behavior as being inextricably interrelated with their “packs” - or modern day social groups comprised of human family members and other animals.

Behaviorism states that it is an animal’s environment that predicts its behavior, but “positive reinforcement training” does not take into account the role of other dogs and “family members” on the behavior of each individual in the group.

So much of the anti-Cesar Millan rhetoric boils down to semantics. For example, people jump all over his use of the word “alpha”. Simply stated, the alpha male or female is the member of a group of social animals that holds the highest rank. This is what CM means when he talks about a pack, and about holding the leadership role within your pack. If human beings aren’t the “alpha” members in a family pack that involves both people and pets, everyone is in trouble. The animal in this position within the social system may have preferential access to mates, food or space. The term was popularized with regard to the gray wolf by L. David Mech in 1970, (and later disavowed by Mech himself, who said his observations of captive wolf groups comprised of unrelated members wouldn’t accurately reflect the behavior of wild wolves or domesticated dogs). What he discovered instead was that the alpha members of a wolf pack are a breeding pair, and they and their offspring form a pack. Mech said of gray wolves, “In our experience, the most usual context of dominance behavior in free-ranging wolves is that of parent to offspring” (Mech, David and Cluff, Dean, Prolonged Intensive Dominance Behavior Between Gray Wolves, 2010). That being said, Cesar Millan’s metaphor of dog+human family members = pack makes perfect sense.  

            A study from 2008 out of the U. of Florida suggests that wolves outperform dogs in following human social cues under certain conditions. “Although earlier studies suggested that wolves could not follow even simple cues such as tapping or proximal pointing, later research indicated that highly socialized hand-reared wolves could find food under easier conditions, such as when a container indicating the correct location was touched by a human (Udell, Dorey and Clive, Wolves outperform dogs in following human social cues, Animal Behaviour, 2008). While this does not prove that wolves and dogs are “the same”, it does suggest a correlation between the effects of environment and rearing conditions on canines – wolves and dogs alike – which might imply that the social structure comprised of a human-canine family, or “interdependent interspecies pack” must be analyzed by a different set of guidelines altogether than wild wolves, captive wolves, wild domesticated dogs or domesticated dogs as independent groups. Because humans and dogs have co-evolved since the “caveman hunted alongside the wolf”, our respective evolutionary paths have been inextricably linked and undeniably one has influenced the other in fundamental ways. It only makes sense that CM’s metaphor of people-and-dog-family-pack will be the hybrid human-canine social structure that Anthrozoologists will soon define in scientific terms.

Contrary to the misinformed claims that CM is a domineering authoritarian overseer of his pack, he teaches us about calm-assertive leadership. Any regular viewer of Dog Whisperer knows that e-collars, alpha rolls and dominance plays in response to aggressive dogs in attack mode comprise a very small percentage of CM’s dealings with dogs. According to the infamous bell curve, there will always be extreme cases on either end of a spectrum, and while 100% positive methods will work in 96% of cases, those fringe 4% will require the use of alternative methods. In response to misrepresentations about his “signature methods”, CM and the producers of Dog Whisperer did a show-by-show breakdown, watching hundreds of hours of television and counting when a particular technique was used in any given episode. They examined in detail 317 separate cases of problem dog behavior across 140 episodes, and charted which of CM’s dog rehabilitation methods and tools were used across the board.

Critics may be surprised to learn that CM never once introduced a prong collar, introduced a choke chain in only 1% of cases and an e-collar in 3% of cases. In 17% of cases, the owners chose to use a prong collar. Cesar teaches that any and all of these items are tools which, if used correctly, can be effective. But that it is the energy with which we communicate calm-assertive leadership to our dogs that makes the real difference. Calm-assertive leadership was discussed in 98% of episodes, discussion of body language in 91% of episodes, the importance of exercise in 72% of episodes, the power of using other dogs to help balance the troubled dog’s energy – or what CM calls the “power of the pack” was covered in 63% of episodes, and positive reinforcement was used in 67% of episodes!

Those who misunderstand CM claim that CM looks at dogs as though they are “in an ego-driven race to become the leaders of the free-world”, and that “it is only when we misinterpret canine behavior that we start to think dogs must be trying to achieve a higher rank than us.” (Stilwell, Train Your Dog Positively, p.21). CM teaches that dogs must respect humans as “pack leaders” in order to maintain structure in a household. Whether one is a mother or father, the President of the United States, a dog trainer, or a dog’s human guardians, leadership qualities are obviously qualities one should procure and project to those who depend on them for guidance, protection and direction. “To positively influence your dog’s behavior, you must always begin by being a positive, confident, calm and assertive human. This is the definition of true leadership” (Cesar’s Rules).

 Let us look at the terminology CM uses for which he is so harshly criticized in terms of parenting. Three themes can be identified in assessments of parenting style over the past 50 years (Skinner, Johnson & Snyder, 2005). The first tenet of a motivational relationship between parent and child is love and affection. Many who denounce CM and call him cruel are very wrong in their estimation that he withholds affection. He simply instructs people to give affection at the appropriate times, so as to reinforce a calm state of mind. This is akin in positive reinforcement to ignoring behavior that is undesirable while giving attention to that which is desirable.

The second theme is parent provision of structure. Referred to in work on discipline and authoritarian parenting, this theme suggests that clear and consistent expectations and limit setting are advantageous to children, especially in terms of their internalization of rules and the development of self-efficacy (Skinner, Johnson and Snyder, Six Dimensions of Parenting: A Motivational Model, Parenting: Science and Practice, V. 5, No. 2, April-June, 2005). CM says the role of the pack leader is to set “rules, boundaries and limitations”. Dogs need to know that their pack leader is clearly setting the rules, boundaries and limitations for their life both inside and outside the house. - Anger, aggression, or abuse toward the dog will not establish you as pack leader; an angry, aggressive leader is not in control. Calm-assertive energy and daily, consistent leadership behavior will make enforcing the rules easier (Cesar Millan, Be The Pack Leader).
In preeminent positive reinforcement trainer Dr. Sophia Yin’s “Program for developing leadership in humans and impulse control in dogs”, Dr. Yin says “you gain leadership by controlling all the resources that motivate the pet and requiring the pet willingly work for play, treats and pets instead of getting them for free” (Yin, Teaching Fido to Learn, loc 44 of 370/kindle book). Here, Dr. Yin uses terminology that alludes to an alpha wolf or other animal playing a dominant role in a group who controls the resources, and therefore creates order among pack members. Patricia McConnell says “the key is to understand that dogs will work to get something they want…make obedience relevant to life, so that your dog begins to learn: “Oh I see, the way to control my environment and get what I want is to do what she asks.” Cesar says essentially the same thing: “Waiting is another way that pack leaders assert their position. Puppies wait to eat, and adult dogs wait until the pack leader wants them to travel. Waiting is a form of psychological work for the dog. Domestication means dogs don’t need to hunt for food, but they can still work for it. Establish your position as pack leader by asking your dog to work” (Cesar Millan, Be The Pack Leader). CM talks about the critical importance of being the pack leader precisely so that your dog will not feel responsible for creating order out of chaos, and will understand what is expected of him, so that he can work to earn the resources you control.

The third theme is that of autonomy support, suggesting that better developmental outcomes accrue if parents (pack leaders) interact with children (dogs) in ways that do not compromise their freedom of expression or intrinsic motivation (Skinner, Johnson and Snyder, Six Dimensions of Parenting: A Motivational Model, Parenting: Science and Practice, V. 5, No. 2, April-June, 2005). While many dog trainers focus only on conditioning responses to human cues, CM stresses the importance of fulfilling your dog’s needs on the “animal” level, as well as the breed-specific level. Meaning, if you have a herding dog, that dog is hard-wired for running and corralling animals; it is in his blood. If you do not live on a farm with a flock of sheep, you will need to fulfill your dog’s genetically-ingrained needs by providing some outlet through which he can honor the “herding energy” within him. If it is not actual herding, he will likely suggest the dog does agility training. CM works with a lot of German shepherds, highly intelligent working dogs that need jobs in order to be fulfilled. When they are not fulfilled, and are therefore what CM calls imbalanced, they will redirect their energy counterproductively, into activities like digging, barking excessively, or fixating on shadows. CM says “Breeds were created for different reasons – some dogs were bred as companions, some as herders, and some as protectors. But each was bred to draw out and focus on desired instincts to create dogs that excelled at particular tasks. Although the animal and species aspect of dogs are common to all of them, breed can sometimes affect behavior, and it is also sometimes necessary to consider breed when working with a dog, whether just for training, by giving them an appropriate job, or in rehabilitation (Cesar Millan, Short Guide to a Happy Dog).

I relate these ideas of CM’s to the idea of encouraging individuality and freedom of expression in one’s children. In the parenting literature, support for autonomy extends beyond allowing children freedom of choice and expression to communicating genuine respect and deference, and encouraging children to actively discover, explore, and articulate their own views, goals and preferences (Skinner, Johnson, Snyder, 2005). Most importantly, labels like “positive” or “high quality” parenting typically include parenting that is not only warm but also high in structure and autonomy support. And an optimal parenting style (e.g. authoritative) is one that combines high structure and high autonomy support (Skinner, Johnson, Snyder, 2005). All of this being said, I believe most experts in parenting in concert with experts in canine behavior (in the context of a wolf pack being akin to a family group, with the mother and father wolf its leaders) would agree with CM’s formula for balance, fulfillment and pack leadership.

To hone Cesar’s methods, one must learn precisely that which cannot be taught in a classroom. Rather, becoming a calm-assertive pack leader begins with a long, hard look in the mirror. It involves taking daily inventory of what energy you are projecting, not only to your dog, but to the world. It is more a spiritual practice with daily mistakes born of simply “being human”, while always striving to maintain balance, and get better at your job as guide, teacher, parent and trainer. It is something that must be brought to life from within a person’s conscious mind, a form of controlling one’s own behavior in order to see positive effects in the outward behavior of one’s dog. I, for one, begin again each morning with the goal of calm-assertive, self-assured, effective and efficient leadership in mind. And I end each day reflecting on where I’ve grown, and where I still need work. Ultimately, as human beings, our very best is all we can do. And luckily for us, our dogs see in us the pack leader we should all see in ourselves.

A Dog's Life...A Life's Work

When one thinks of a dog's life, one typically envisions a mutt stretched out in a sunny spot on the living room floor taking an afternoon nap; a happy-go-lucky puppy with her tongue hanging out as she enjoys the wind in her face on a car ride; a bounding buddy happily chasing a ball. These simple things indeed represent the joy of a dog's day-to-day existence, and they are sublime. 

That being said, balance is key in everyone's life - human and dog alike. Imagine a life with all work and no play, or all rest and no work. A part of us remains unfulfilled when any of the fundamental elements of a well-rounded life are missing. 

Considering the countless horror stories we encounter in dog rescue, we know it is a blessing when dogs have loving homes where they are well-fed, played with amply, and well-rested. Thank GOD for that. But when, in addition, dogs are given the opportunity to WORK, miracles happen. 

Like humans, dogs have so much to give. Not "merely" unconditional love and nonjudgmental partnership (as if that weren't enough), but potential to reach the implications of higher expectations. By having a job and doing it well, dogs are given the opening to become empowered, be productive, and feel proud! It is our role in their lives not only to love and feed them, but to believe in their potential, and foster its growth. 

The two fine gentlemen pictured here are a perfect example of partners that will fulfill their own and one another's great potential by working together.

Tyler is on the left, his gorgeous one year-old German shepherd, Aries, is on the right. Tyler returned not long ago from serving our country overseas. While I don't know details about what Tyler experienced, I can see in his eyes and feel from his heart that it was painful. Aries was surrendered to the shelter by a family that adopted him as a rambunctious puppy, then failed to teach him how to behave and gave up on him as though he had somehow failed them. Inherent in their relationship is the chance for both of these wonderful guys to see what they are truly made of, which is GOOD STUFF! By bringing out Aries' potential as a service dog, Tyler's potential as a calm, confident pack leader will naturally emerge. And my own potential as a teacher and facilitator will also expand! Aries and Tyler have already made tremendous progress together in only a few sessions, so I can only imagine how far they'll go.

How do you and your dogs bring out the potential for greatness in one another? 

Dog Speed and God Bless -

Liz

Dogs, Kids, and Learning: A Comparative Exploration

*  Please excuse the non-MLA citing of references. I have yet to edit them. 

While anthropomorphism can be a slippery slope to unrealistic comparisons between humans and animals, to deny the similarities between the ways in which dogs and children learn would be intellectually dishonest. And in doing so we would miss an opportunity to better understand the minds of two animals that have co-evolved alongside one another for the mutual benefit of both species over many thousands of years. Because dogs’ and humans’ respective evolutionary paths have become so inextricably intertwined, it makes sense that many of the mechanisms for learning in one would be reflected somehow in the other.

One of the most influential contributors to the modern school of “dog teaching” is Bonnie Bergin. Dr. Bergin is renowned for creating assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities and mobility issues. Not only was Bonnie ahead of her time in believing dogs could be trained to complete such complex tasks as opening doors and turning lights on and off; she saw in dogs the cognitive capacity to think and solve complex problems; to piece together information and truly learn. For a human child’s learning and behavior to be deeply influenced by an adult person’s thoughts, feelings and communicated sentiments makes sense. What researchers are discovering today is that dogs are influenced by their human trainers in the same way children are.    

In Bonnie Bergin’s book, Teach Your Dog To Read, Bonnie states “If she doesn’t catch on at first, never laugh at her or show disappointment. Frustration, anger and disappointment, just like praise, can serve as reinforcers” (Bergin, 2006). An encouraging attitude or spirit is key with regard to learning in both dogs and children. According to prominent voices in child learning and development, encouragement is a key concept in promoting and activating “psychological hardiness” in individuals (Griffith & Powers, 1984).

Because dogs and humans are both highly social animals, social learning theory applies to both species respectively. There is also research into the theory that social learning in domestic dogs has been heavily influenced by dogs’ co-evolution with humans. In other words, dogs learn from their own canine social groups as well as from their human group or “pack” members. Social learning can reduce the costs (e.g. time, effort, risk) involved in the acquisition of resources or new skills (Mersmann, Dorit et al., 2011). Furthermore, the capability to use information provided by others is a prerequisite for the evolution of culture (Mersmann, Dorit, et al., 2011). One context in which information is passed between members of a social group is play, and the benefits of play are very evident in the learning processes of both children and dogs. A study on children living in Mother Teresa’s Orphanage in Dehli, India, looked at the effects of daily playtime on orphans’ psychomotor and social development over a thirty day period, as compared to a group that received only the minimum of care as in feeding and bathing, but were denied social interaction. As hypothesized, the children who were able to play each day, even for a short time, became more active, responsive and independent (Taneja, et al., 2002).

Similar studies in shelter dogs show congruent results. Aimee Sadler is a veteran animal trainer who specializes in dogs’ behavioral problems. Aside from working with private clients, she helps shelters form playgroups as a way of socializing dogs, and ultimately making them more adoptable. Sadler states, “Play groups are a natural way for dogs to blow off steam and counteract the stresses of shelter life. Through group interactions, dogs teach each other how to behave, addressing such problems as resource guarding, dog-on-dog aggression, and on-leash reactivity” (Animal Sheltering, November/December 2011). The playgroups provide much needed and sorely lacking stimulation in the areas of physical exercise, mental engagement and stress relief. And perhaps most importantly, carefully structured playtime provides the foundation for social learning among dogs, many of whom have never been properly introduced or otherwise interacted with other dogs, which is a fundamental reason dogs end up in shelters to begin with. Furthermore, watching dogs play is a major learning opportunity for human caregivers, and seeing different dogs’ social skills and play styles helps them make better adoptive matches. In summary, giving kids and dogs a chance to thrive and learn from their peers in social situations is just as critical to health and well-being as is eating and sleeping.

Another intriguing area of study in a world evolving at warp speed is the application of technology to enhance learning processes, or enable entirely new ones. Children naturally explore and learn about their environments through inquiry, and computer technologies offer an accessible vehicle for extending the domain and range of this inquiry (Wang, et al., 2009). Researchers from Mount Saint Mary College and University of Virginia conducted experiments to look at early childhood education software and its effects on inquiry-based learning and complex problem solving. In essence, inquiry-based “teaching” is the allowance by teachers of their students to ask questions, encouragement to be inquisitive and explore the world around them, and learn how to ask even more complex questions. In controlled experiments like this one, technology was used to present problem contexts pertinent to the inquiry subject matter and guide learners into encountering complex domains that are productive for learning (Reiser, 2004).

Because we also live in a world where humans’ relationships with dogs are evolving at the “speed of life”, new technologies are emerging that will enhance those relationships. Not only are there whimsical smart phone apps that allow dogs and cats to take photos of themselves, but some highly innovative technologies are being designed with the goal of empowering assistance dogs to do their jobs more efficiently. One such project is discussed in research coming out of The Open University in London.

With the objective in mind of easing diabetic alert dogs’ stress when their human partners fall unconscious, an emerging field called Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI’s) aim is to design canine-friendly technological interfaces for working dogs. When training a dog to perform a command or set of commands, setting the dog up for success is critical to the dog’s ability to learn the task at hand and perform it effectively. It is unfair to set a dog up to fail, such as when we ask him to do something that he must face with an automatic disadvantage. One type of potentially stressful task that assistance dogs face is assisting their humans in using technologies that were not designed for them, but rather for humans. For example, mobility service dogs learn how to execute tasks such as opening doors, loading laundry machines and pressing elevators or button-operated doors. And they are often performing such tasks at a deficit because their own physical capabilities are very different from those of the human users for which the tools were intended (Robinson, et al., 2014). The research team from The Open University is working on building a prototype for an intelligent canine user alarm interface, which would not only alert outside sources for help in emergency situations, but also give feedback to the dog by interpreting sensory information or the dogs’ body language. The researchers concluded that an effective system will make it clear to the dog not only how he can interact with the system, but also when he has interacted with the system successfully (Robinson, et al., 2014).

The Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness (2008) reports innovative training utilizing an advanced GPS system through the collaboration between Leader Dogs for the Blind and a tech company called HumanWare. The device gives audible, step-by-step directions for a programmed route, and notifies the user of upcoming streets and landmarks (Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, November 2008).

Not only do proper social conditions and technology helps kids and dogs learn, exercise does a mind good as much as it does a body. From the crisis of inactivity that has befallen both children and pet dogs, comes research from the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois. Researchers there are looking at the positive effect aerobic exercise has on children’s learning and memory capabilities. Poor physical health in and of itself is bad. Worse still it represents a person’s health in its entirety. And according to this and other studies of its kind, poor physical health effects cognitive health negatively. In children, lower amounts of fitness have been related to decreased cognitive function for tasks requiring perception, memory, and cognitive control as well as lower academic achievement (Raine, LB, et al., 2013).  

While – to my knowledge – there are no studies at present to determine whether or not a dog’s physical fitness correlates with their cognitive function, it only makes sense to assume that it does. There is, however, plenty of anecdotal and some scientific evidence to suggest that exercise has a marked positive effect on dogs’ behavior; and that dogs who engage in physical activity regularly are less likely to be destructive and suffer from psychological and emotional barriers to well-being than more sedentary dogs. Experts at The Behavior Clinic at Cummings School of Medicine, Tufts University, advise that “A tired dog is a happy dog”, and suggests providing exercise and environmental enrichment to stimulate the dog both physically and mentally is critical to over all health and functionality. Aerobic exercise stimulates the production of serotonin in the brain, a neurotransmitter that helps to stabilize mood and produce feelings of contentment, which can help relax an otherwise anxious or aggressive dog (vet.tufts.edu, 2014). They also remind us that a fat dog is not a happy dog, but one whose health is at serious risk.

The further we travel in our co-evolutionary journey, the more dogs and humans learn about the world -- in our respective ways that are species-specific; and as a reflection of ourselves in one another. 

A Rebuttal to Cesar Millan's Critics

The more I absorb Cesar Millan’s teachings, the more shocked I am at the aggressive barrage of insults aimed at him at any given time. This is my response to the claim that Cesar Millan has “set dog training back 20 years”, as noted by Dr. Nicolas Dodman, Professor and Head, Section of Animal Behavior, Director of Behavior Clinic, Tufts University - Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Dodman’s credentials are impressive; there’s no denying that. In fact, most of the professionals with negative things to say about Cesar have multiple degrees of higher learning following their names. At first glance, this would seem to imply that Cesar might actually be doing something harmful in his work with dogs, considering that all these experts agree on as much. But after further investigating their claims, I’ve noted that these naysayers don’t simply disagree with Cesar’s methods. They attack him personally. One such character is Ian Dunbar, a positive-reinforcement based dog trainer who calls himself the Anti-Cesar Millan. There is also an entire Facebook page dedicated to Anti Cesar Millan “fans”.

Cesar’s critics claim this is because of their concern for dogs, but I’m not buying it. Disagreeing with someone’s training style is one thing. But when one feels the need to attack another’s character, there is a personal vendetta playing out. And really, this type of emotionally charged mud slinging does nothing to create a sensible argument for consideration. Notice that Cesar Millan does not have to drag others’ practices through the dirt in order to justify or promote his own. Cesar’s way stands on its own merit, and his positive influence on the world’s dogs and people speaks for itself.

I suspect that Cesar’s doubters are defensive, because despite the daunting nature of their educational credits and expertise – valid though they may be - I imagine they might lack the primal, intuitive connection with dogs that Cesar so naturally embodies. Because Cesar has manifested his incredible Life’s Work without the preordained authority granted by degrees of higher education, perhaps his success threatens Dr. Dunbar, and others like him, whose perceived self-importance and prestige may be based on their impressive titles. But then, all great revolutionaries are confronted with the backlash of bruised Egos. Such is why the oppositional movement attempting to discount Cesar’s methods as “inhumane” and “abusive” – though ludicrous - comes as no surprise.

Another example of a “refuted revolutionary” in the world of human-animal relationships, (and another great hero of mine), is Jane Goodall. Along with fellow famed primatologists, Dianne Fossey who studied gorillas, and Beruti Geldikas who studied orangutans, Jane was chosen for her mission in part because of her lack of a traditional education. At that time, animal behavior curriculum was based on the robotic “reward/punishment” system of B.F.Skinner, who believed that animals were not sentient, living beings, but lifeless machines that functioned solely on a black and white, cause and effect basis. Louis Leakey –the Father of Anthropology – specifically chose the three women because (a) They were female, and would thus bring a different, more organic and empathetic perception to the study of animal behavior, than what (for example) watching lab rats push levers for cocaine could offer; and (b) Because their minds had not yet been inundated with the accepted academic philosophy of the times, which left their minds open to learning about the animals’ natural state of being through untainted observation.

Given the freedom to connect with chimpanzees instinctually and spiritually, rather than methodologically, Jane Goodall shifted the whole world’s comprehension of what Great Apes actually are, and who we (human beings) are in their reflection. Just as Cesar does, Ms. Goodall faced violent opposition from people whose belief systems and schools of thought were threatened by her work, and its implications for the future of their field.

I believe what might truly upset Cesar’s critics is that his methods involve something more organic, intangible, and difficult to master than typical training methods. Cesar’s way involves leadership based on humility and hard-won confidence, rather than systematic control of an animal’s behavior through practicing quantifiable steps. Cesar’s way involves his unique life experience, his particular energetic aura, his ability to influence dogs’ behavior without the aid of food or conditioning, and the conscious practice of Instinctual Intelligence, which he has cultivated by tapping into his Inner Animal, using it as his primary form of education. To hone Cesar’s methods, one must learn precisely that which cannot be taught in a classroom. It is something that must be brought to life from within a person’s higher consciousness.

Cesar is spearheading an inevitable revolution. And the higher truth will overcome the weakening belief systems of the disappearing present. Eventually, the old ways will die out, just as useless appendages evolve out of a species over time. And as they do, the climate will turn from one of hostile opposition, to one that enables the Whisperer within us all to be recognized, and to thrive.

Shedding the Weight

The obesity crisis is a heavy burden for both human and canine populations to bear. Research into how best to tackle the problem is emerging from scientists in varying disciplines. Currently, the American Kennel Club's Canine Health Foundation is funding a study called The Reciprocal Impact of a Healthy and Active Lifestyle on the Physical and Mental Well-Being of Dogs and Their Owners: Physical Activity and Walking (PAW).

The study's abstract reads: While it is well established that an active lifestyle and healthy diet can control obesity, there is a paucity of research that has considered the full spectrum of human-dog interactions that contribute to the physical and mental health of a dog and its owner. It is likely that a dog's health, behavior, and overall well-being are affected by their owner's lifestyle, including their social interactions and activity level. Dr. Richards believes that in the absence of an active and interactive lifestyle, physical stress, psychological stress and behavior problems likely occur in dogs. Dr. Richards believes that this, in turn, contributes to the documented 47% of owners who report surrender of their dog to an animal shelter because of behavior problems. Dr. Richards will conduct a novel three-month dog walking intervention, with a follow-up at three months and six months post intervention. She believes that increased dog walking will improve the health, behavior, and psychological well-being of dogs and their owners. The results of this study would provide general recommendations for new dog owners, as well as contribute to the standard of care for dogs maintained in laboratories and shelters.

Dr. Richards, Ph.D., RN, is an assistant professor at Purdue School of Nursing. She and her team are part of a growing community of researchers looking at the mutual benefits of exercise shared between people and their dogs. The focal point of Dr. Richards’ work, is that while a person’s unhealthy lifestyle choices affects his or her dog negatively, one’s healthy lifestyle choices can also mean increased wellbeing for one’s pets. She seems to believe – and I couldn’t agree more -- that to combat obesity in both people and dogs, we must look only as far as the human-canine companion bond, and how to use it in turning a counterproductive feedback loop into a productive one.

Dr. Richards’ current study, The Reciprocal Impact of a Healthy and Active Lifestyle on the Physical and Mental Well-Being of Dogs and Their Owners, builds on her previous work, including the studies: Dog ownership and physical activity: a review of the evidence, and Development and psychometric testing of the Dogs And WalkinG Survey, which examines the use of an instrument to track “the individual and interpersonal correlates of dog walking”.

Dr. Richards’ research adds to the growing evidence that dogs – as exercise partners – provide the kind of emotional and social support that keeps people motivated in their practice of getting and staying fit. Other studies similar to hers are the PPET Study (People and Pets Exercising Together) out of the Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Wellness Institute in Chicago, where researchers charted the difference in weight loss over a year-long period between individuals exercising (walking) with a dog, versus those going it alone. And the Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound project, out of the Research Center on Human Animal Interaction (ReCHAI), at the University of Missouri, Columbia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. In this program, overweight participants walk shelter dogs for the benefits that exercise provides for all. These studies’ common goal is to prove that there is great potential in the human-canine bond for enhanced quality of life, physical fitness, psychological, social and emotional health.

These articles will be of great use to me as I develop my Master's thesis project at Bergin University of Canine Studies (formerly the Assistance Dog Institute), which is to create a fitness-related assistance dog. Dr. Richards’ studies, and others like hers, are helping pave the way for my own unique contribution to the service dog world. And for this, I could not be more thrilled or grateful.

A New F.A.D. in Service Dog Training

My Letter of Intent for Bergin University's MS Program

Envision this. Bill, an American male in his early 40’s, has struggled with weight issues all his life. Bill is depressed and uses junk food as an emotional anesthetic. He gets up in the morning feeling dread, and comes home from work each night with fast food to the empty calories of Reality TV. Bill is crippled by a lack of motivation to do better for himself. His negative, sedentary lifestyle has become a disability with which he needs serious help.

Now, imagine this. Bill has decided to stop the downward spiral; he has qualified for a Fitness Assistance Dog through Frisky Fitness Assistance Dogs, Inc. Today is his first day of a two-week long Frisky Fitness Boot Camp. Here, he will be paired with a specially trained, athletically inclined service dog, whose job it is to help Bill get active, move forward, become balanced, and learn a healthier way of being.

The Fitness Assistance Dog’s training takes advantage of her boundless energy, her primal need to migrate, and her evolved instinct to connect with a human partner. Bill’s dog is trained to heel at varying speeds from walking to sprinting (without planting or pulling). She is trained to hike, climb, and run alongside rollerblades, a bike and a skateboard. To help with motivation, she is trained to fetch her leash, bring it to Bill and nudge him until he gets up and takes her for a walk. She behaves as a perfect unobtrusive helpmate around all manner of gym equipment. Not only is Bill’s dog trained to perform physical actions that motivate him and enable his physical activity. But in keeping with the curriculum from FF Boot Camp through a continuing online class, Bill feels a sense of community, and stays motivated as he works toward positive lifestyle and weight loss goals.

Bill is empowered by having confronted his lifelong battle with emotional eating. With this special dog by his side, Bill processes his feelings honestly and productively during long walks and runs. Bill now wakes up to the happy nudge of his dog, prodding him with the leash in her mouth saying Let’s go! There is life to be lived and we don’t want to miss a minute of it! Because of his early successes with weight loss during Boot Camp, Bill is now eating better and taking pride in his appearance. He is more confident, and so takes more risks in getting out and meeting people. He ends each day feeling proud of himself, and thankful for the exercise partner who never skips a day, and always helps Bill in his resolve to keep going.

To create this brand new type of assistance dog -- with the amazing Bonnie Bergin’s guidance – is going to be the opportunity of a lifetime and a dream come true. I will study part-time on the Bergin campus in Santa Rosa, while living and working on full-time experiential research in Bakersfield. My goal is to proactively address the health epidemic of obesity and all its manifestations within individuals, families, communities, and society as a whole. For these and countless other reasons, I cannot wait to begin my Master of Science program in Canine Life Sciences at Bergin University of Canine Studies. 

Dog Speed,

Liz R. Kover