a basic concept of the dog
Answers
Before implementing low stress handling (LSH) in practice, we must first explore the science behind behavioral responses and learning in animals. Fundamental to understanding how behaviors develop is a solid grasp of classical conditioning. This is the traditional “Pavlov’s dog concept” where dogs learn to anticipate food and salivate at the sound of a bell, after this bell has been repeatedly paired with this same bell. The response elicited from classical conditioning is an involuntary, emotional response. This response can be a positive (pleasant) emotion, or a negative (fear-eliciting) emotion.
How does this apply to low stress handling? Unfamiliar smells, sounds, and sights, and potentially threatening pets and people assault our patients the moment they enter or care. We perform unpleasant, sometimes painful procedures, often by force. A single such experience can condition a negative emotional response where the animal learns to fear us. This learned fear can result in fidgeting, attempts to flee, and/or aggression at subsequent visits.
- to mark
- to bite
Positive
- to love masters
- to protect masters