At A Walk in the Park, we pride ourselves on providing a nurturing and enriching environment for your furry friends. This month, we want to share an important concept that significantly influences our training and daycare protocols: Conditional (or Conditioned) Emotional Response (CER).
What is a Conditional Emotional Response?
Dogs, like all animals and humans, learn through association. This learning process is known as classical conditioning. A classic example of this is Pavlov's experiment, where he rang a bell before feeding his dogs. Initially, the bell was meaningless to the dogs, but after repeated pairings with food, the dogs began to drool at the sound of the bell alone, associating it with the food they were about to receive.
We observe similar patterns in everyday situations:
● Excitement: When you pick up a leash, your dog may jump up excitedly, anticipating a walk.
● Fear: When you pick up nail clippers, a dog that has experienced discomfort during nail trims might tuck its tail and try to escape.
Our Approach to Positive Associations
At our daycare, we are keenly aware of these associations and strive to create positive experiences to encourage desired behaviors while minimizing unwanted ones. One significant change we made is shifting from lobby drop-offs and pick-ups to curbside service. Here's why:
● Stress Reduction: The lobby can be a stressful place for dogs, especially when they are on a lead and unable to move freely. Some dogs might get frustrated or anxious in close proximity to other dogs. This can lead to reactive behavior, which we aim to avoid.
● Positive Experiences: With curbside pick-up, we reduce stress and create a better experience for the dogs. To make the transition smoother for the handlers and dogs, we use a simple game. Throughout the day, we practice reaching for the dog's collar, then reward with a tasty treat. This way, the dogs learn to associate being reached for and leashed with something positive.
Managing High Arousal Moments
Arrival and departure times are high arousal moments for dogs:
● Arrival: Excitement and a bit of apprehension as they meet other dogs.
● Departure: Anticipation of seeing their owners or going for a car ride.
Constant high arousal without breaks can lead to stress and negative associations with the daycare environment. By closing the lobby during the day, we create a calm environment where dogs can focus on playing and learning without the added stress of constant comings and goings.
Encouraging Positive Behavior
We recommend enrichment activities and training games to keep dogs engaged and mentally stimulated. These activities encourage dogs to use their problem-solving skills, which reduces stress and promotes positive emotional responses.
The Importance of Routine Grooming
Classical conditioning also applies to grooming. Regular grooming sessions prevent the build-up of negative associations. Waiting too long between sessions can lead to uncomfortable experiences for both the dog and the groomer, since it will be harder to brush out the coat and remove matted fur. If this happens repeatedly, the dog can get a very negative association with the grooming process, potentially requiring sedation for grooming in extreme cases.
Intentional Reinforcement
Behavior is constantly being reinforced, either intentionally by us or unintentionally by the environment. If we are not intentional in our actions, we might end up reinforcing unwanted behaviors. At A Walk in the Park, we are dedicated to creating a positive, enriching environment for your dogs, ensuring they enjoy their time with us and develop good behaviors.
If you have any questions about your dog’s behavior or need any help, please reach out to us, email us at training@awitp.net. We can give you advice and if some training sessions might help, we have our rolling Basic Life Skills classes and we do day training where we work on developing the skills and behaviors for your dog while he is staying with us.
Thank you for trusting us with your beloved pets. We look forward to continuing to provide a happy and healthy environment for them to thrive in.
Warm regards,
The Team at A Walk in the Park