A Comprehensive Technical Manual for Professionals
by James O'Heare
Aggressive Behavior in Dogs is a comprehensive technical manual, written for dog behavior professionals. It discusses understanding aggressive behavior in dogs, functionally assessing the behavior and constructing systematic behavior change programs, as well as consulting skills and case management. Comprehensive and systematic, it favors a behavioral approach. It includes an extensive glossary and functional assessment forms. Dog behavior consultants may find the companion book, The Dog Aggression Workbook, useful as an adjunct to client consultation.
Title: Aggressive Behavior in Dogs: A Comprehensive Technical Manual for Professionals
Author: James O'Heare
ISBN: 978-0-9738369-2-9
Page Count: 458
Format: Sofcover and hardcover
Features: Extensive glossary; Sample forms
Price: 3041 words per dollar; a bargain!
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication Page
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1
PREFACE 11
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 12
INTRODUCTION 13
PART 1. WORKING AGGRESSION CASES 15
CHAPTER 1. PERSPECTIVE (AGGRESSION IN CONTEXT) 17
Summing Up 19
Suggested Reading 19
Risk Factors for Dog–Dog Aggression 25
Suggested Reading 26
The Psychology of Owners of Aggressive Dogs 30
Empowering Owners and Facilitating Success 32
Basic Attending Skills 34
Minimal Encouragers (Prompts) 35
Open and Closed Questioning 35
Verbal Tracking 35
Paraphrasing 36
Mirroring 36
Summarizing 37
Competence 43
Confidentiality 44
Informed Consent 45
Assessment 46
Consultant Liability 52
Suggested Reading 55
Cognitive Approach 60
Applied Behavior Analysis Approach 60
The Approach Employed in this Manual 61
Why Do Dogs Use Aggressive Behavior? 64
Proximate Context for Behavior 67
The Normal/Abnormal Distinction 68
Operant Aggressive Behavior 70
Affective Aggression 74
Less Aroused Affiliative Signals 83
Ambivalent Affiliative/Appeasement Signals 84
Active Appeasement Signals 86
Aggressive Signals 88
Cutoff Behavior 90
Displacement Activities 91
How to Handle Aggressive Signals 91
Signal Clusters 94
Problematic Human Communication 95
Threshold Model of Aggression 96
Nature versus Nurture 99
Summing Up 99
Suggested Reading 100
Cerebral Cortex 103
Limbic System versus Cerebral Cortex 104
Neurotransmitters 105
Serotonin 105
Glutamate and GABA 106
Adrenaline and Noradrenaline 108
Cortisol 109
Distress 110
General Adaptation Syndrome 110
Acute Stress Response (Fight-or-Flight Response) 111
Chronic Stress Response (Adaptation and Exhaustion Phases) 112
Signs of Stress and Distress 112
Suggested Reading 117
CHAPTER 6. GENETIC INFLUENCES AND FINDING A COMPANION DOG 121
Adopting a Dog 123
Retrievers (e.g., Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Chesapeake Bay Retriever) 126
Spaniels (e.g., American Cocker Spaniel, English Cocker Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel) 126
Pointers (e.g., Vizsla, Weimaraner, German Shorthaired Pointer, Brittany) 127
Setters (e.g., Irish Setter, English Setter, Gordon Setter) 127
Flock Guarders (e.g., Komondor, Great Pyrenees, Kuvasz) 127
Scent Hounds (e.g., Beagle, Basset Hound, Bloodhound) 127
Sighthounds (e.g., Greyhound, Afghan, Irish Wolfhound, Whippet, Borzoi) 128
Property Guarders (e.g., Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, Boxer, Great Dane, Giant Schnauzer) 128
Draft and Rescue Dogs (e.g., Newfoundland, Saint Bernard, Bernese Mountain Dog) 129
Sled Dogs (e.g., Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Samoyed) 129
Toy Breeds (e.g., Pug, Papillon, Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier) 129
Herding Dogs (e.g., Collie, German Shepherd Dog, Shetland Sheepdog, Border Collie, Australian Shepherd) 130
Nonsporting and Rare Dogs 130
Common Mixed-Breed Dogs 130
Visiting the Shelter 138
Professional Breeder 146
Puppy Mills and Pet Shops 151
Suggested Reading 152
Neonatal Period (birth to 2 weeks) 154
Transitional Period (2–3 weeks) 155
Socialization Period (2.5–3 to 9–13 weeks, peaking at 6–8 weeks) 155
Juvenile Period (12 weeks to 6 months) 156
Adulthood (6 months to variable) 156
Seniorhood (variable onset) 156
Socialization 157
12–16 Weeks of Age 163
16 Weeks to 1 Year of Age 163
1 Year of Age On (Adulthood and Seniorhood) 164
Early Recognition and Intervention 166
Bite Inhibition Training 166
Management of Child–Dog Interactions 170
Never Tie Out a Dog 172
Avoid Aversive Stimulation 172
Puppy Kindergarten Classes 172
Training 174
NILIF, Leadership and Dominance Talk? Or Leadership Shmeadership 176
Possession Sharing 177
Handling Exercises 177
Food Bowl Exercises 178
Suggested Reading 179
CHAPTER 8. INTRODUCTION TO ASSESSING AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR 183
Prototypal Approach 184
Dimensional Approach 184
Functional Assessment 186
Summing Up 186
Suggested Reading 187
Functional Assessment 189
Time Column 199
Behavior Column 199
Antecedent Column 200
Perceived Function Column 200
Actual Consequences 200
Comments 200
Totals Row 201
Events Row 201
Date Row 201
Recording the Data 201
Interpreting the FAO Form 202
Reversal Design 205
Alternating Treatment Design 207
Functional Analysis of Consequences 209
Guidelines for Performing a Functional Analysis 211
Summing Up 213
Suggested Reading 213
Duration of the Behavior and Schedule of Reinforcement 214
Severity of Bite 215
Dog–Dog Bite Levels 217
Manageability 218
Training 218
Biddability 218
Social Motivation 218
Children, Elderly, Mobility-Impaired or Mentally Impaired Family Members 219
Size of Dog 219
Breed 219
Owner Resources (Time and Money) 220
Owner Commitment 220
Owner Compliance 220
Resident Directed Dog–Dog Aggression 220
Behavior Consultant Skill 221
Suggested Reading 221
CHAPTER 11. PRINCIPLES OF BEHAVIOR 225
Environment 226
Learning 226
Habituation 229
Respondent Extinction 229
Generalization and Discrimination 230
Respondent Conditioning Procedures 232
Overshadowing 233
Blocking 233
Sensory Preconditioning 234
Variables that Influence Respondent Conditioning 234
Temporal Relationship between CS and US 234
Contingency between CS and US 234
Number of Pairings 235
Previous Exposure to CS 235
Increasing Frequency of Behaviors 238
Intermittent Reinforcement 240
Variable Ratio 242
Fixed Interval 243
Variable Interval 243
Fixed Duration 244
Variable Duration 244
Limited Hold 244
Premack Principle 246
Differential Reinforcement of Successive Approximations to a Terminal Behavior (Shaping) 246
Negative Punishment (SP-) 248
Contingency 249
Motivating Operations 249
Individual Differences 250
Magnitude 250
Spontaneous Recovery 251
Resurgence 251
Differentiating between Extinction Bursts, Spontaneous Recovery, and Resurgence 252
Emotional Responses and Extinction 252
Resistance to Extinction 252
Aversive Stimulation and its Problematic Secondary Effects 255
Contingency 256
Magnitude 256
Learned Helplessness 257
Aggression 258
Social Disruption and Global Suppressive Effects 258
Countercontrol 259
Does Punishment “Work”? 261
Conclusion on the Use of Aversive Stimulation 265
Why Do People Use Harsh Punitive Behaviors on Dogs and What Can We Do About It? 266
Suggested Reading 273
Manipulating Motivating Operations 276
Manipulating Discriminative Stimuli 277
Manipulating Response Effort 278
Systematic Desensitization 283
Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior 288
Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior 290
Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior 290
Differential Reinforcement of Low Rate Behavior 290
Differential Reinforcement of Successive Approximations to a Terminal Behavior (Shaping) 291
Differential Reinforcement with Emphasized Extinction Trials 294
Positive Reinforcement and Negative Punishment (Time-Out from Positive Reinforcement) 296
Positive Reinforcement and Negative Reinforcement 297
Positive Reinforcement and Positive Punishment 299
Promoting Maintenance and Generalization 301
Summing Up 302
Suggested Reading 304
Rehome the Dog 313
Euthanasia 313
Behavior Change 313
Second Opinion 313
Behavior Change Programs are Derived from Functional Assessment 315
Behavior Change Programs are Consistent with the Principles of Behavior 315
Behavior Change Programs are Flexible and Realistic 315
Make the Behavior Inefficient 316
Make the Behavior Ineffective 317
Constructing a Behavior Change Program 318
Goals 319
Antecedents 319
Motivating Operations 320
Discriminative Stimuli 321
Generalization 323
Monitoring and Follow-up 323
Suggested Reading 325
CHAPTER 14. GENERAL ANTECEDENT CONTROL PROCEDURES 329
Impulse Control 330
Play 332
Exercise 333
Starting an Exercise Program 334
Exercise Guidelines and Principles 335
Types of Exercise 337
Surgical Intervention 343
Spaying Female Dogs 345
Clomipramine (Clomicalm) 350
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) 351
Suggested Reading 353
Pathophysiologically Based Aggressive Behaviors 358
“Territorial” Aggressive Behaviors 358
Guarding Behaviors 361
Object Guarding 366
Location Guarding 370
Person Guarding 373
Dog–Dog Aggressive Behavior 376
Train in Pairs 385
Train in Groups 385
Suggested Reading 387
APPENDIX 1. CANADIAN HOSPITALS INJURY REPORTING AND PREVENTION PROGRAM (CHIRPP) 389
APPENDIX 2. SAMPLE FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT INTERVIEW (FAI) 396
APPENDIX 3. RESOURCES 408
Education 408
Books 408
GLOSSARY 411
REFERENCES CITED 435
INDEX 447
"The most thorough, well-organized review of this topic. James O'Heare has taken on the virtually impossible - accurately representing, discussing and contrasting the sometimes wildly divergent points of view in applied dog behavior circles, and succeeded without sacrificing cohesion. He ultimately comes down squarely on the side of applied behavior analysis, which is where the smart money is."
Author of Oh Behave! Dogs From Pavlov to Premack to Pinker and The Culture Clash
"I just want to say a big thank you for this book. I have spent the last week unable to put this book down and now finished it - the first of many times I shall pick it up to read and refer to. It is excellent. Very clear precise step to step guide on working through this topic. The way you write makes it very easy reading and easy to understand-it is also clear that you love and understand both people and dogs very well, which is essential in this work. I feel this book is a must for all dog trainers/behaviourists book shelf and it is an excellent study book for people like myself doing a degree in canine behaviour/training."
"James O'Heare does it again! While I have always been a fan of his work, this book reigns supreme. It is written and organized extremely well. Complex information is explained clearly and consisely. Not only is this book a must read for any professional trainer, it is an incredibly powerful resource."
"James O'Heare's has outdone himself this time. I have not had his new book, Aggressive Behavior in Dogs - a Comprehensive Technical Manual for Professionals, for more than a couple of weeks or so but I already find that it has become my reference book of choice on the subject of aggression. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to any professional who treats aggressive dogs as part of their practice."
My Pet Pro
Pet Behavior Counseling and Training