K9 behavior basics: a manual for proven success in operational service dog training PDF
Preview K9 behavior basics: a manual for proven success in operational service dog training
K9 BEHAVIOR BASICS Other titles in the K9 Professional Training series K9 Search and Rescue, 2nd ed. K9 Schutzhund Training, 2nd ed. (Coming in 2014) Other K9 titles from Brush Education Aggression Control Decoys and Aggression K9 Complete Care K9 Explosive Detection K9 Fraud! K9 Offi cer’s Manual K9 Personal Protection K9 Professional Tracking K9 Scent Detection K9 Suspect Discrimination K9 Working Breeds Police Offi cer’s Guide to K9 Searches K9 BEHAVIOR BASICS A Manual for Proven Success in Operational Service Dog Training Second edition Dr. Resi Gerritsen Ruud Haak Simon Prins K9 Professional Training series Copyright © 2013 Resi Gerritsen, Ruud Haak and Simon Prins 13 14 15 16 17 5 4 3 2 1 Excerpts from this publication may be reproduced under licence from Access Copyright, or with the express written permission of Brush Education Inc., or under licence from a collective management organization in your territory. All rights are otherwise reserved and no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or trans- mitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanic, photocopying, digital copying, scanning, recording or otherwise, except as specifi cally authorized. Brush Education Inc. www.brusheducation.ca [email protected] Printed and manufactured in Canada Ebook edition available at Amazon, Kobo, and other e-retailers. Editorial: Lauri Seidlitz, Leslie Vermeer Cover design: John Luckhurst; Cover photo: Kelly Nelson/Shutterstock Book interior design: Carol Dragich, Dragich Design Illustrations: Sandra Hamel Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Gerritsen, Resi, author K9 behavior basics: a manual for proven success in operational service dog training / Dr. Resi Gerritsen, Ruud Haak and Simon Prins.—Second edition. (K9 professional training) Originally published: Calgary: Detselig Enterprises, 2010. Includes bibliographical refer- ences. Issued in print and electronic formats. ISBN 978-1-55059-451-5 (pbk.). 1. Service dogs—Behavior. 2. Service dogs—Training. 3. Search dogs—Training. 4. Rescue dogs—Training. I. Haak, Ruud, author II. Prins, Simon, 1967-, author III. Title. SF428.2.G473 2013 636.73 C2013-903631-8 C2013-903632-6 Produced with the assistance of the Government of Alberta, Alberta Multimedia Devel- opment Fund. We also acknowledge the fi nancial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund for our publishing activities. Contents Introduction ...................................................................................... vii 1 Operational Service Dogs ................................................................. 1 2 Ancestor Wolf..................................................................................... 27 3 Basic Concepts in Dog Behavior ................................................... 43 4 Developmental Stages and Behavior .......................................... 65 5 Expressions, Gestures, and Signals .............................................. 81 6 Reading Your Dog ........................................................................... 109 7 Operant Conditioning: Development and Basic Principles .......................................................................................... 127 8 Physical Punishment in Dog Training ........................................ 169 9 Training Service Dogs Using Operant Conditioning ............. 195 Bibliography .................................................................................... 233 About the Authors ..........................................................................2 37 This page left intentionally blank Introduction The dog has been a loyal companion of humankind for thousands of years. This companionship has not always meant a comfortable and peaceful life for the dog, however. In living together, humans took control. From wolves (the fi rst dogs), humans selected ani- mals with suitable traits and domesticated them. Our dogs today have a great willingness to adapt to their cir- cumstances and the rules of the pack, which now includes the human family. They are a pleasant animal, able to live close to hu- mans. From the wolf they received qualities such as watchfulness, loyalty, and submissive behavior, which are also the source of their popularity as pets and K9s. In this book we meet the wolf, the domestic dog’s ancestor. We become acquainted with its behavior and see how and why this animal was domesticated. From that foundation, we take a closer look at dog behavior and communication signals. These are fundamental to understanding how dogs play and learn, and it is important for every K9 handler to understand these behaviors. Af- ter all, if we understand the behavior of dogs, we can more easily raise and train them. It is a pleasure to have a K9 as a reliable companion in service. For a successful team, the parties at both ends of the leash must VIII INTRODUCTION trust each other. For this trust to develop, it is essential for us to recognize and correctly interpret the dog’s expressions, gestures, and signals. In this book we explain them. We then explain operant conditioning, a successful method of K9 training that can be used for all kinds of special-service dogs, such as search and detection, patrol, remote guided camera, and attack dogs. We fi rst describe the history and development of op- erant conditioning training with animals and how the training works, and then, of course, we provide practical techniques in how this method can be employed. As a K9 handler, you are privileged to know what is going on in the dog’s mind and to predict its behavior. After reading this book, you will have a better understanding of that special animal: your K9. —Resi Gerritsen, Ruud Haak, and Simon Prins Disclaimer While the contents of this book are based on substantial experience and expertise, working with dogs involves inherent risks, especially in dangerous settings and situ- ations. Anyone using approaches described in this book does so entirely at their own risk and both the author and publisher disclaim any liability for any injuries or other damage that may be sustained. This page left intentionally blank
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