Canine Emotions: Navigating Reactive Behaviour and Negative Bias
The Evolution of Reactive Behaviour
In the grand theatre of evolution, every species has developed mechanisms to navigate the challenges of their environment. Dogs, our cherished companions, are no exception. Their reactive behaviour is not a mere whim but a deeply ingrained response, a relic from their wild ancestors. Understanding this behaviour requires us to journey back in time, to the days when survival hinged on swift reactions to threats. This evolutionary perspective offers a compassionate lens, reminding us that what we see today is a culmination of millennia of survival instincts.
The Symphony of Coping Strategy
Every creature has its own coping strategy. For dogs, this strategy is a blend of instinct, experience, and learning. When faced with stimuli that evoke fear or uncertainty, they resort to behaviours that have historically kept them safe. It's akin to an age-old dance, choreographed by nature and refined by individual experiences. Recognising this allows us to approach our canine companions with empathy, appreciating the emotional tapestry that drives their actions.
Training and Socialisation: The First Steps to Harmony
The early days of a pup's life are pivotal. Training and socialisation lay the foundation for their future interactions. A dog introduced to varied stimuli, with positive reinforcement, learns to navigate the world with confidence. Conversely, a lack of exposure can heighten their negative bias, making them wary of the unfamiliar. As guardians of these gentle souls, our role is to guide them, ensuring that their early experiences are positive, nurturing, and holistic.
The Intricacies of Negative Bias
Life, in all its unpredictability, has taught every species to be cautious. The negative bias in dogs is a manifestation of this caution. It's not a sign of inherent aggression but a protective shield, a response to potential threats, real or perceived. By understanding this bias, we can approach situations with sensitivity, ensuring our dogs feel safe, understood, and valued.
The Human-Canine Bond: A Dance of Emotions
Our emotions and actions resonate deeply with our dogs. This bond, built over countless shared moments, influences their behaviour. A calm, positive environment nurtures their confidence, while stress can heighten their reactivity. By being attuned to their emotions and needs, we not only strengthen our bond but also empower them to navigate the world with grace and assurance.
Empowering Choices: The Path to Resilience
Embark on a Transformative Journey
Canine Reactive Behaviour - CPD Accredited Advanced Certificate
Understanding the nuances of canine behaviour is a journey of discovery. If you wish to delve deeper, to truly comprehend the intricacies of Reactive Behaviour, we invite you to join our online course - 'Canine Reactive Behaviour - CPD Accredited Advanced Certificate'. Dive into a world of knowledge, empathy, and understanding.
Recent Posts From The Dog Blog
Follow Us
Exclusive News & Offers
Canine Principles
#Dog Skills For Humans
-
Canine Principles is a trading name of
CANINE PRINCIPLES LTDRegistered Company Number 11458645VAT Registration Number: GB300008875CPD Provider Registered Number: 60082The CPD Standards Office
Sit! Stay! Wait!
Remember To Enrol On
Your FREE Course
Loose Lead Walking
Help Centre
Qualifications Canine Principles is an AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group recognised centre and has been approved to deliver AIM Qualifications. AIM Are an awarding body recognised by Ofqual.
Each qualification carries an 8 digit qualification number that can be referenced against the existing qualification framework.
CPD courses are accredited by the CPD Standards Office.
Enrolled courses can be accessed anytime via the student dashboard. Once you are logged in to you account, select your course and you will be taken directly to the learning materials.
Online elements require an internet connection and suitable device.
Course(s) not showing on dashboard
Skill-Hub courses are only available while there is an active subscription. Check your account to show the most recent payments and membership expiry.
Occasionally, students have more than one account as they have signed up for a free course or newsletter with a different email. Contact us using the form to solve this issue.
Email not recognised
Check all spelling is correct. Check the email account for previous correspondence from Canine Principles. If everything seems normal, contact us using the form to solve this issue.
Password Reset
You can manage your password here.
Manage subscription
You can manage your subscription settings directly from your student account page.
The 3 day free trial requires credit/debit card details to begin. Your card will be billed automatically when the trial expires and every month subsequently.
You can manage your subscription here.
Self-paced - All CPD Diploma Courses, CPD Certificate Courses, Workshops, Webinars and Self Study Courses are completely self-paced learning with no deadlines for assessments or completion.
Qualifications - All regulated qualifications inherit a 2 year registration period. The cost of registration is included with initial enrolment. When the 2 year registration period expires, students may re-register for an registration fee. Fees vary by course. Please contact us for details.
Students are also encouraged to support each other through built in student community and private Facebook Study Group. where discussions and new information are shared daily.
Ask Us A Question
Student Guidelines
Welcome to Canine Principles
Each individual has their own strengths, weaknesses and acquired skills that will help or hinder in their study. This guide is intended as an example of best practice that can easily be included in your current study routine.
In 2014, A University of Illinois Study, led by Dr. Chuck Hillman, found that as little as 20 minutes of exercise can lead to better cognition and memory, and higher scores on tests and examinations. This is great news for dog owners and something that you can definitely take advantage of as a daily walker.
Limit Distractions
Distractions can easily break our train of thought or pull us away from study all together. Find a suitable place to study that is conducive to learning. Set some time aside, ask for some privacy and turn off your phone.
Stay Hydrated
Dehydration contributes towards fatigue and poor memory. A 2012 study, conducted by the universities of East London and Westminster, found that results improved by an average of 10% when students kept hydrated throughout exams.
Read Out Loud
In 2015, Professor Victor Boucher of the University of Montreal completed research that suggested you are 50% more likely to remember information that has been read aloud than reading to yourself. You can either find a quiet place to read aloud to yourself or read directly to a friend or family member.
Teach as You Go
A step beyond reading aloud is to describe the lesson to somebody else. Try and make the subject understood and invite questions. If you don’t have the answer to the question, you have a new area of understanding to explore and study which will help to further your knowledge in a given subject.
Make Notes and Diagrams
Keep a pen and paper close to hand and be ready to note down specific areas of interest. Even if you are not artistic, a quick diagram that only you understand is a great aid to the memory and allows you to process the information in a different way.
Research
Even when you feel that you have fully understood a subject from the course material, take some time to research further by looking online, reading books or talking to others who are involved in the subject. The study group is a great place to meet like minded people who are also learning new topics.
Review
Going back over previous course topics and modules, with the benefit of newly acquired knowledge, can help us to understand the connection between subjects. If we only focus on one subject in isolation, the connection may never be made.
Create Flash Cards
Flashcards are a great way to test your knowledge. Write a subject on one side of the card and then explain the subject on the opposite side. You can either draw the cards randomly and test your own knowledge or ask a friend to help.
Assessments will begin by advising the maximum possible score for each section and how this score can be achieved. Every module has an overall pass mark of 80%. Whilst the pass score is 80%, any assessment that scores below this will be returned with constructive feedback. Feedback is intended to describe where further marks can be achieved. You can re-submit a revised assessment to improve your score.
Assessments that score between 80% and 100% will also be returned with feedback, however, there will be no further grading as the threshold for passing the module has been met.
Each assessment will be marked and returned within 3 - 5 days of receipt by your tutor. If you have submitted an assessment and have not received any correspondence within 4 days, contact us here, via email or the study group to confirm the assessment has been received.
When you choose to include external research as part of your assessment, it is important that the work is clearly referenced. If you have previously studied at a higher level, you will be aware that there are many ways to reference your research. For the purpose of Canine Principles assessments, we are happy for you to include your references at the end of each answer.
References from online research can be included as a link to the source of the information: