ABI Newsletter, Fall 2005

I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.- Winston Churchill

Director's Corner
Gary Fortier, Ph.D

What’s in the bag? Supplies to have on hand for each and every AAT visit.
Janis G. Hammer, VMD

As many of nature's creatures now don their winter coats, so too will we slip some courses into dormancy while others take their place this winter. In January we will be offering our new classes in Animal Enrichment and the Human-Animal Bond, in addition to Animal Assisted Therapy and Animal Behavior. Our Animal Training course will return in spring (March 2006).

Many of you may be interested in the work that ABI now has underway with the Elmwood Park Zoo. We are collaborating to create enrichment modifications for their grey wolves. Enrichment devices are being designed and installed by ABI to elicit natural hunting behaviors while reducing aggression and stereotypic behaviors in the wolves. Look for the results of this study in our winter newsletter this January.

Participation in animal assisted activities, therapy, and/or education requires being prepared for the unexpected. Every AAA/T/E team should carry a “clean-up” bag (belly pack, backpack) to each and every session.  There are a number of reasons for having a clean-up bag handy.  One reason is for elimination accidents. Another reason is to have supplies handy for personal hygiene. A third reason is to provide items you pet may require for a successful session.

Our pets should be able to adjust to many different environments, but accidents occur nonetheless.  It may be due to a particular odor, a particularly stressful situation, or an unrecognized health problem.  In any case we need to clean it up and notify the person in charge.  Notification allows the facility to comply with any procedures they might have. Notification may be done verbally or in the form of an incident report, depending on the requirements for that facility. The notification process should be in place before any AAA/T/E program is instituted.

Personal hygiene, particularly hand washing is very important in preventing the spread of disease from animals to people, people to animals, and people to people. The bag should contain items that allow the client to wash their hands before and after interacting with the animal.

Other items should include what your pet needs for a successful visit.  Does you pet need to be wiped off between clients? Do you need special equipment for the population you are working with?  What you carry will depend on the type of work you do and the needs of your animal.

Below is listed what I consider to be the essentials for a complete clean-up bag:

1. Paper towels (they always come in handy!)
2. Cloth towels (for placing on a client’s lap if they are going to hold your pet or to soak up fluids)
3. Spray disinfectant (to be used on the floor, nontoxic or as recommended by the facility)
4. Waterless hand disinfectant
5. Disinfectant wipes (can be used to wipe off the coat of a pet if necessary, or other contaminated items)
6. Plastic bags
7. Pet treats (to reinforce good behavior, best to bring your own so you know what your pet is getting)
8. Extra collar or harness (things break, especially buckles)
9. Water bowl

Other items will depend on the purpose of your AAA/T/E session and may include items such as special brushes that allow those with a poor grip to brush your pet, fetch toys or a ball, and/or a double leash (to allow you and someone else to walk your pet).

Hopefully you won’t need your “bag” very often, but following Murphy’s Law, when you don’t have it is when you will need it.  So take it along for every AAA/T/E session!

Ask the Trainer

Q: My young boxer "Frasier" has been potty trained for months, but now urinates and dribbles all over the floor whenever he greets me at the door! Is this just a phase he'll get over in time?
Janet C. - Hampden, MA

A: Not necessarily Janet, it sounds like you're experiencing the joys of submissive urination. Frasier might be fully house trained, but submissive urination isn't really an "accident" or related to housebreaking. It's important to realize that submissive urination is a natural way for dogs to demonstrate that they understand you, the owner, are dominant and in charge. This is particularly true in young or shy dogs.

The problem must be approached in a positive manner due to the natural function of the behavior. Since this urination is a form of submission, punishing or disciplining your dog will only make it worse! Instead, consider the following ways to address the problem, you may want to try several approaches concurrently:

1. Since you mentioned that the problem often occurs when you arrive home, try to make this a less exciting event. When you get home, either ignore Frasier or greet him quietly after he has settled down a bit. Since bending over a dog can be a sign of dominance, crouch down and pet him calmly. Avoid prolonged eye contact during the greeting as this may also be interpreted as a sign of dominance.
2. Engage in some positive reinforcement training! This can be basic obedience, agility work, or just some fun tricks. This will develop better communication between you and your dog, making Frasier more at ease and less anxious to demonstrate his submisiveness.
3. You can start rewarding Frasier for not urinating during his greeting, using treats and/or a conditioned reinforcer. Gradually lenghten the amount of time he must avoid urinating to receive reinforcement.
4. Don't use babytalk with Frasier, it might increase his excitement and make the problem worse.
5. Finally, if the difficulty continues, you should take him to his vet to ensure that the urination isn't related to a medical problem.

Funny as it sounds, your dog is peeing at you as a sign of respect! A positive, encouraging approach to training is the best way to teach him acceptable alternatives.