BehavioRx Case of the Month
for May 2003

Being a Leader instead of a Food Source

A single woman in her twenties, "Candy," complained that her 6 month-old, intact male Golden Retriever had started to growl at other dogs who approached them when they went to a community off-leash dog play park. It started about two weeks before contacting us. At first she had scolded "Max," but that didn't work. So she tried reassuring him that approaching dogs were "OK"... another unsuccessful step. She then tried click-treating when dogs approached, but that seemed to escalate his aggression. The problem was serious enough that Candy had to keep Max on his leash at the play park, for fear he would attack another dog.

Max was in excellent health and Candy had no plans to neuter him, since she planned to show and breed him. In consultation we discovered that Max was a top performer at his obedience class and graduated with "honors." He would rarely take his eyes off Candy. The problem started shortly after graduation, which was when they started going to the park.

Candy was quick to appreciate that the play park social atmosphere was a totally different from the disciplined routines at training classes. She had done all her
home work between classes at home in the back yard and during neighborhood walks, when they rarely encountered strange dogs. She also admitted she was nervous about strange dogs at the park who often approached at high speed, inviting play.

We asked if she had been taught how to wean Max off the treats and clicks, since they both stimulate the dog's alimentary reflexes and can induce hunger and possible food-guarding, especially of her, since she was his "portable food bowl.". The answer was in the negative, but Candy quickly recognized the sense in using a program that would change her symbolism with Max from food source to emotional Leader.

Max was outgoing and friendly with human adults and children, having been socialized as a puppy with Candy's brother's and sister's large families. This was to be a great advantage when arranging meetings between Candy, Max and other friendly dogs and their friendly owners.

The BehavioRx Systems off-leash Leadership program, "Obedience Training - a Primer," was instituted, first around the house and yard, then during neighborhood walks, on-leash. Luckily, some new neighbors moved in with a friendly Great Dane just a week after Candy started her no-food/leadership program. Candy and Max met "Norman" and his owners quite by accident one evening while returning home from a walk. Candy had studied and rehearsed her "Overprotective" remedial techniques, including the "Jolly Routine," in her back yard, so she put it into action with Norman and his owners. She reported that Max and Norman both regarded her happy laughter as she took a position alongside Norman's owners as a genuine invitation to be jolly, themselves. The dogs were into a tail-wagging, nose-to-nose greeting ritual with no negative movements or sounds. A few minutes later they were playing in Norman's new front yard. Candy, Max, Norman and his owners took several neighborhood walks together during the next week and encountered several strange dogs, all with positive, friendly meetings.

The first trip to the dog play-park was arranged so that Candy and Max were first to arrive, allowing Candy to get relaxed and ready for other arrivals. The first
off-leash park meeting was with a Miniature Dachshund... the first one Max had ever met. We were convinced that Candy had genuinely grasped the spirit of the Jolly Routine when she told us she had knelt alongside the Mini-Dachsie to apply her laughs and giggles. Her confidence soared as the little female jumped to greet Max, who actually sat down for make things easier for her.

During the following four weeks, Max suffered only one set-back, which was not his or Candy's fault; a man with a very large mix-breed male, on leash, had approached while his dog was growling and barking at all the other dogs in the park. Candy handled it well, even though Max seemed to tense up: She clapped her hands once, laughed, turned away from the aggressive dog and walked way, followed by an off-leash Max. She is thrilled with her new leadership role with her dog. And, according to Max's happy behavior, so is he.

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