|
Chet Ludlow was an old fashioned dog breeder. He bred, raised, and trained Labrador retreivers for over 30 years. Whenever Chet went hunting ducks, he would take decoys, dogs ,guns, ammunition, coffee - and Vicks Vap-o-rub. If that sounds like an odd thing for an experienced duck hunter to carry with him, read on.
For the last ten thousand years, dogs have been selected for particular traits. Hounds were selected for reacting to game by chasing by sight or smell. Pointers were selected for the opposite - remaining immobile after they sensed a bird. Herding dogs were selected for chasing livestock, while guarding dogs were selected for not chasing livestock. While all this unnatural selection was going on, dogs developed some incredible specialties. From ultra-fast greyhounds to keen nosed bloodhounds, many breeds have become so specialized that training them can be difficult. That's where the "Vicks" comes in. Chet's dogs had great noses. Sometimes, while training or hunting, one of his dogs would get very interested in a strange smell - like a female in heat. Chet would produce his Vap-o-rub and smear a tiny amount on the dog's nose. Presto! No nose. Chet's idea was simple. He figured it was better to have a dog that would pay attention without the use of his nose, than to have a dog with a nose who wouldn't pay attention.
Limiting a dog's senses can be an effective way of changing behavior. If you can identify the particular sense that is triggering a behavior you can use that knowledge to good effect. For example, Billie Bob the Basset hates the sound of thunder. During the annual monsoon he is terrified by the thunder and tunnels through sheet rock with his teeth. His owners have found a way to successfully confine him to a bathroom when they are gone. They leave a radio playing to drown out the sound of the thunder. Rudy the Sheep Dog has always hated letter carriers. He has ruined several front doors while clawing his way toward Postal intruders. Rudy's owner realized that the sound of footsteps on the tile outside the door were triggering the reaction. A piece of outdoor carpet solved the problem. Chester the Lhasa Apso liked to look out the front window of the house. When he would see anyone walk by, he would fling himself viciously toward the glass. His favorite perch was on the living room sofa. His owners stopped his behavior in an instant - they moved the couch away from the window. There are two parts to any behavior. The behavior itself and the trigger that sets it off. Each of these owners were observant enough to identify a single cue that set the behavior in motion. Since the animal did not sense the right cue, the behavior didn't happen. This method can also be used in dogs that have learning difficulties. Dogs that use their eyes to chase game like Greyhounds and Afghans should be taught basic obedience away from visual distractions. Once the behaviors are taught they can be easily transferred to more visually stimulating settings. If your dog is constantly distracted by the sound of children or passing cars, you can use a portable radio to mask the offending noises. Once you have control over some basic behaviors, gradually reduce the volume of the radio. Your dog will be much more likely to pay attention despite the distractions.
Learning to control your dog's highly developed senses can be a challenge. The same ears that warn your dog of an intruder may also cause him to bark hysterically at the wind. Allowing a dog to react instinctively may inhibit learning and cause unacceptable behavior. It's up to you to tell Fido what his nose knows.
|
