Choice and Control
Today was a really enjoyable day! I dropped the kids to school, went on a trail run, voted in the local council elections, cleaned out the fish tank and the cat litter tray and got to work on my laptop. It may not sound that exciting, but there were two things that made this day particularly enjoyable:
Choice and Control - I got to decide what to do, and when to do it. Whether you are a parent/carer, run a business, or are an employee, there's pressure to get things done at certain times. Maybe that's so you don't miss an important deadline, or so that you feed the kids at appropriate intervals to avoid meltdowns! That can mean that you don't get to choose what you do and when you do it. But today, I got to choose!
Positive Reinforcement - I posted about my new Cat Scratching Post Infographic (view or download it here) and got some fabulous feedback. (Thank you, it means a lot!)
These two facets of life enhance animal welfare too. However, our pets are really limited in the amount of choice and control they have over their daily lives. Think about whether your pet can choose what to eat, when to eat it, where they would like to go, what they would like to do, at what time, with whom... in most cases, they don't get a lot of choice. So, here are some suggestions on how we might incorporate more choice and control into the lives of our pets:
Let the Dog Lead the Walk
Now, obviously, you are in charge when it comes to safety. Apart from that, try a walk where you let your dog lead, at their own pace, and in whichever direction they choose. If they want to sniff a bush for a couple of minutes, then stand there and wait. Don't get out your phone, just practice some mindfulness, do some stretches, smile at the neighbours, or sing a song. Too often when we take the dog out, it's all about us getting to some arbitrary destination and back again in a certain time. Letting the dog choose gives them enormous satisfaction, with very little effort on our part.
Open the Crate
In a previous blog I talked about crates and how to use them. Dogs kept in crates have significantly reduced options. They do not have freedom to choose where to be, what to do, and in some cases haven't even got access to food or water. If you have a puppy or dog who is still learning the house rules, then use a secure waterproof, puppy-proof area, like an X-pen, playpen, bathroom or kitchen. They should have access to food, water, an appropriate toileting location, a bed (or OPEN crate) to rest in, and some interactive toys or chews. Work on housetraining whenever you are around to supervise, with the ultimate aim being that your dog can have safe, free-roaming access to indoors (and/or outdoors) spaces while you are not there.
Teach a solid recall
Once you can trust that your dog will come back if you need them to, then there is so much off-leash fun to be had. Dogs can choose to go at their own pace, which might be super slow or super fast. They can choose when and how to interact with other sociable dogs, or play, or swim, or fetch (or NOT to fetch!). And the beautiful exuberance of zoomies is pure joy. Long line leashes can be used to increase freedom where being off-leash is not appropriate.
Offer choices around food acquisition
The choices you can provide will vary depending on the individual animal and also other animals within the household. Consider suggestions like:
Provide some of their food in an interactive toy, and some in a bowl, at the same time. You may find it interesting to see which they choose first!
Let them choose whether to eat straight away, or come back to it later. If your pet likes to graze on food during the day, then have food available ad-lib, rather than set mealtimes. Or do both!
Have food available as reinforcers for training, but also have some of the same food freely accessible in a bowl during the session.
Learn to read body language
This is a foundation skill when interacting with any species. You can read more about reading dog body language here. If you understand body language you will be able to 'ask' the animal whether they are comfortable with an interaction. For example, watch closely (or even better, record on video) when you pat your dog - do they look away, lip lick, or put their ears back when you go to pat them on the head? Do they lean into you when you stroke their shoulder? Do they back up to you for a back-scratch? If an animal looks uncomfortable or chooses to move away during an interaction, then giving them time and space allows them to feel more in control.
Teach a 'start button' behaviour
You can teach a 'chin rest' or maybe introduce 'The Bucket Game' for cooperative care. Both of these behaviours can be used to gain ongoing consent for procedures. For example, the dog is taught to rest their chin on a chair for grooming. If they want the grooming to stop, they learn that they just have to lift their head, somewhat like raising your hand to ask for a pause at the dentist's office. When the dog is comfortable and ready to proceed, they rest their chin again. If the animal can control when a procedure stops, it reduces their anxiety and increases their enthusiasm for taking part.
A 'start button' may be as simple as telling children that if they want to interact with (pat or play with) the family dog, then they need to call it over first. If the dog chooses not to come, then that's an indicator that they don't want to interact at that moment, and that choice should be respected. This is a good way to ensure that dogs are comfortable with the children, and of reducing the likelihood of a bite due to an unwanted approach.
Install a pet flap
Being able to access a safe outdoors area at will increases independence. The animal can choose whether they want to be indoors or outdoors, toilet when they would like to, choose whether to lie in the sun or shade, and are able to access more neighbourhood information (this can be good or bad, depending on the animal's level of anxiety or reactivity).
Try preference testing
When you go to play with your dog, offer two toys and see which one they most feel like playing with at that moment. Is it always the same favourite? Or does it vary?
Provide two or more different resting places. Does your dog like to sleep in the same place while you are away as when you are present? Does your cat follow the sunshine during the day? Does your anxious pet know that they have a safe, quiet place that they can access at any time (even if they don't need to use it often)?
Provide outlets for species specific behaviours
Many behaviours that humans find problematic are actually normal behaviours for a particular species. Providing them with a suitable way to exercise that behaviour increases the chance that animal will make good choices. Does your cat have suitable options for scratching posts? If your dog enjoys digging, have you established his own personal digging pit? Do your chickens have somewhere they can use as a dust bath?
Choice and control are limited in the lives of our pets. We can increase their welfare and enjoyment of life by recognising this and providing opportunities for choice and control wherever possible.
Dr Jen
Dr Jen Nesbitt-Hawes is a behaviour vet (Member of the ANZCVS Veterinary Behaviour Chapter), and runs Pet Perspective - a business dedicated to providing behaviour educational materials for pet professionals and their clients. Please see www.petperspective.com.au for more information.
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