CIDBT 4102 Common Canine Behavioural Problems

Phase 1 (Home Study)
This begins with an introduction to describe not only your experience to date, but also your hopes and aspirations for the future. We then take a look at the most common canine behaviour problems presented to a behaviourist and the effect that socialisation, habituation and training can have on the prevention of these problems and how we can raise a dog to develop in to a well-balanced member of society.

Phase 2 (Home Study)
This phase contains two real-life case studies looking at house toilet training, coprophagia, jumping up, recall problems and much more such as how to operate a consultation at the veterinary clinic, specialist centre or the clients home, handling dogs for an initial temperament assessment as well as discerning possible causes and compounding factors of the main problems presented to you. Interview skills and information gathering and canine antecedents are also covered as well as much more.

Phase 3 (Home Study)
During this phase we take a look at ‘the other end of the lead’ focusing on the human clients and their part in canine behaviour problems and solutions. Dog behaviour consultations always involve people. Regardless of your understanding of dog behaviour and your skills in dog training – the people are the channel for your information – the key to reforming their dogs’ behaviour is them and unless you understand them, can display empathy for their predicament, motivate, alter and challenge their views in addition to adapting behavioural strategies – nothing will change. We also look at various breeds and breed-predisposed behaviours. Studying the history of a chosen breed in detail and advising potential owners of the most suitable breeds for their lifestyle.

Phase 4 (Home Study)
This phase looks at the most common behavioural problems within the professional Canine Behaviour Practitioners work. Problems can be very varied, but there are certainly problems behaviours that are presented more often than others. Although no two problems presented are the same; owner’s lifestyle, breed and age of the dog, environment and owner views all play a part and must be taken into account. There is of course, no set solution to any problem which is why a wide range of knowledge is vital in canine behavioural solutions.

After a look at the causes and compounding factors as well as real life solutions for Separation Anxiety in dogs, phase four is bringing together all of your knowledge gained throughout this module and culminating in a real life case study and compiling a behavioural report prepared for a client. The report should include all of your recommendations for the successful resolution of the problem presented to you.

Some of the many topics covered:

Types of behavioural problems

• The boisterous self-pleasing dog
• The nervous dog
• The untrained dog
• Excessive barking
• Destructive Behaviour
• Mouthing and play-biting
• Recall training issues relating to dog behaviour
• Submissive Urination
• Car Sickness
• Canine and/or feline introductions
• Canine House toilet training issues
• Canine Coprophagia
• Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Behavioural Solutions and training for problematic dogs

• To recognise the various learning principles and how that applies to behaviour solutions
• Using modification / reformation techniques
• Behavioural Outcomes
• Case study analysis

Understanding the client

• Understanding owner impact on canine behaviour
• Establishing cause of the problem and how that may have been compounded by owner emotions
• Defining cause or probable cause of behavioural problem presented
• Explaining the dog behavioural solutions

Breed inherited behaviours

• The shepherding breeds
• The guarding breeds
• Terriers
• Toy dogs
• Dogs bred for a purpose
• Mental stimulation and inherited responses
• Breed selection

Breed assessment and analysis – Predisposition to behavioural traits

• To investigate breed inherited drives
• To investigate the effect that innate drives have
• Assess how breed traits affect the problem, solution and reformation methods