Threshold
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| Over threshold |
So I went to the blog and found it very informative, it is always
good to review the language of behavior modification. A term that comes up
often in dog training today is threshold, your dog is either above, below or at
threshold. But what exactly does that term mean. According to James O’Heare in The
Canine Aggression Workbook, “The stress threshold is the upper limit point
at which stress surpasses the dog’s stress tolerance.” It goes onto say that each dog has different
limits and that it is thought by some researchers to be an inherited trait with
some individuals calmer at birth than others. The other side of that coin is
the dogs that are guided by their fight or flight reflex which can inhibit
previous learned impulse control, as O’Heare states, “it suspends rationality.”
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| Under threshold |
Further research lead me to Handbook of Applied Dog behavior and
Training Volume Two by Steven Lindsay, it seems that although threshold
levels are inherited, threshold levels are also influenced by events. Traumatic
or influencing events, also referred to as setting events, trigger the over
threshold response that establishes a fight, flight or freeze reaction
resulting in a predisposition to that reaction to similar events later on. This
predisposition to over react can be varied however through training and
behavior modification. If you looked at the above mentioned blog you will get a
quick review of some of the options available to dog caretakers whose
companions over react.
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At threshold, seems like Buddy could go over threshold
in regards to his new toy. |
That makes sense and I’m sure you have experienced your own dog going
over threshold and not able to respond to you rather only able to respond to
the event such as a rabbit, another dog or a person. My home is relatively
peaceful and so my new dog Buddy is below threshold while we are here together
but once the UPS truck pulls up all bets are off. Even though he is over
threshold and does not respond to his name I do not feel threatened by him. But
that is not true at toenail trimming time, put the trimmer to his toenail, and
he will try to bite. He is five years old [I have had him for six weeks] and
over the years his fear of toenail trimming has spiraled, he is quick to react
with significant anger until the trimming has stopped. I’ll be working to
desensitize his feelings about nail trimming to help reduce his stress
threshold and manage his black nails.
Buddy is also a reactive barker, he is after all part
dachshund. I am following the advice of Leslie McDevitt in the book Control
Unleashed doing mat work with him, playing Whiplash Turn Around and
practicing Leave it to name a few of the activities we are working on in our
home and around the yard. This practice will help Buddy make more rational
decisions when stressed and choose to react more calmly. Plus the fact he is
adorable!
