"Positive" Bias?

As most of you know, we are what is referred to as "Balanced" trainers.  This means that we use both reward and correction - much like real life - to explain to dogs what we want and to encourage and enforce positive behaviour.

A properly fitted chain collar,
also known as "choke chain,"
"check chain" or "training collar"

Last night I was enjoying a live online interview and simultaneous chat about emergency care when one of the listeners/chatters started to rant on and on about how horrible and cruel "choke chains" and "traditional methods" were to dogs.  Of course, it only took a few minutes before several members were on board and were immediately decrying prong collars and e-collar use as well.

Their reasoning?  They claim that "traditional" methods (whatever that means) are inhumane and that clicker training is vastly superior in every way.

The facts, however, do not support this.

Not only are "check chains," "choke chains" or "training collars" (all the same thing, in case you were wondering) safe, but flat buckle collars, head halters and front lead harnesses all share an equal potential for causing physical harm.

Pay close attention to a few things in this video, which is actually a sales video for the Walk Your Dog With Love front clip harness.  First, pay attention to the dog's behaviour in the house - it's quite obvious that training has not been attempted here.  Second, watch the leash and the high level of tension involved - the dog has not stopped pulling!  Finally, watch the dog's gait while walking, and the position his front legs take when he finally comes to a sit.  Look comfortable to you?

The reality is that check chains distribute pressure equally around the entire neck - unlike other devices.  Flat collars place all the pressure directly on the trachea.  Head halters can do damage to dogs eyes and muzzle, and put all of the pressure on the neck and spinal cord.  Front lead harnesses alter a dog's natural gait and while their long-term usage has not yet been properly studied, one can imagine how this would cause a negative effect - not to mention the exceptionally low level of control these products provide.  One trainer even commented that she could identify a dog wearing a front lead harness from as far away as she could tell it was a dog she was looking at, simply by the altered gait.

Observe this dog pulling on his leash.
Note that all of the contact pressure
is on the very front of the neck

It is important to remember that check chains be used ONLY for correction, and not for punishment.  Yes, there is a difference! Punishing a dog is pointless.  Beating a dog, screaming at a dog, hanging a dog - all of these are punishments in the eyes of human beings.  After all, our parents punished us all the time, be it with chores or grounding or the ever popular "sit there and think about what you did!"  The problem is that even as children we have an ability to reason that greatly exceeds that of our canine companions.  The dog does not understand punishment - heck, the dog does not understand a correction if given after the fact.

A quick "pop" on the leash is all that is required.  The dog ideally should not move - we are not trying to knock the dog over.  What you are going for is the equivalent of a strong tap on the shoulder.  The leash should ALWAYS be slack, and corrections should be precise and clean.  To learn how to give a proper leash correction, please contact a knowledgeable trainer.  It is important that said trainer doesn't simply use a check chain, but also knows how to use one properly (this is not to say you can't choose to use another tool - but if your trainer lacks the basic skills to properly use a check chain, you need to keep looking).  If you can watch the trainer work with a client and the corrections seem excessive or overly strong-handed, walk away.

This "pop" instructs the dog that what he is doing that exact second is unwanted.

Dog walking done right! Notice the
leash is slack and there is no tension
in either dog or walker

"Purely positive" or clicker trainers would have you believe that the correct response is a verbal "ah-ah" or simply ignoring the behaviour.  This is fine if the offender is a sweet, stable dog who is sensitive enough to consider this a correction - however, if you are faced with a determined breed or individual, who is say... constantly eating things on the walk or greeting Grandma at the door by using his 80lbs to rear up and look her in the face just long enough to get a good hold and go in for an epic hump - well then, things are a bit different, aren't they?

The trouble here is that the behaviour ITSELF is rewarding.  The dog ENJOYS jumping up and humping Grandma.  The dog is REWARDED every time he manages to snag a snack off the sidewalk.  Some dogs have issues controlling their natural instincts, such as herding dogs chasing and nipping, gundogs being destructive, terriers doing whatever they please and hounds enjoying the sound of their own voice just for the hell of it.

Herding dogs were put to the test in one study which proved
that positive training was ineffective against intrinsically
rewarding behaviours. The stance and stare you see here is
pure instinct, and therefore unlikely to be altered using
positive reinforcement

Ignoring this behaviour is not going to make it go away.  To the contrary, it's likely to get increasingly worse.  In fact, the creators of modern "positive" dog training eventually wrote a paper stating that their original conclusions were incorrect - and that operant conditioning broke down readily in the face of instinctual behaviours.  In other words, it wasn't the magical method they first thought.  Of course, you'll never read that little tidbit in a manual on clicker training, will you?

Their other go-to move is "management."  Meaning that Rover has to be put in another room when Grandma comes in, or wears a muzzle on his walks to stop him from eating garbage, or isn't allowed in the yard unattended for fear he/she will dig a hole under the fence or bark until the neighbours complain.

What does this do?  First of all, it teaches the dog NOTHING.  Secondly, it instills frustration.  Third, you are left with a dog who could potentially do any one of these things if not "managed" correctly 100% of the time.

All this to avoid a correction?

I always recommend that dog owners learn to use tools on themselves before using them on the dog.  This gives the owner a full and complete understanding of the varying levels of correction, regardless of the tool.  Again, please seek out professional advice if you need assistance learning any tools' proper use.

This is a VERY dangerous situation - the dog
could injure the woman in several ways,
including simply knocking her over

The dog who greets guests inappropriately for example can instead meet them wearing a check chain and dragging the leash (under supervision at all times!).  When Rover goes to jump on Grandma, a simple foot on the leash will prevent the jump and provide an immediate and perfectly timed correction.  The dog quickly learns to avoid the correction and instead offers another behaviour - sitting, for example.  We like sitting, so we also keep a bowl of treats by the door for guests to reward Rover for appropriate behaviour.  Within a few days we have a dog who looks forward to a knock at the door because with it will come a reward.  At this point, a verbal "ah-ah" is usually enough to remind Rover what the appropriate behaviour is - followed of course by a reward for performing the correct behaviour.

The point is that not only are check chains an appropriate tool when used properly, they are actually superior to flat buckle collars for training purposes (although ALL dogs should wear a flat buckle collar on which to display their license, ID tag and Rabies tag).  Do they have the potential to be abused?  Sure!  But so does ANY tool.

Note the halter digging in to one side of the
dog's face. When dogs pull on head halters
intently, this effect is magnified, sometimes
actually making contact with the eye itself
or wearing away the hair underneath the eye

 Head halters for example can actually cause scarring on the muzzle and around the eyes.  It can also lead to soft tissue damage simply by just standing there.  That's right - you're standing on the sidewalk with the leash in your hand when suddenly Rover bolts after a squirrel.  His head is whipped to one side as his muzzle is pulled back first.  His neck then bends sharply, while his forward propulsion swings his back end around in front of him.  There is a reason that horse people don't tether or tie down horses - many rescues want the practice banned, in fact.  This type of action while tethered by the muzzle is almost guaranteed to cause injury.  Think about sprinting a few yards - and then realizing your nose is tied to your stationary friend's arm.  Imagine the physical movements that would follow, and see if you think you would survive such an event without injury.

That's not to say that head halters don't have their place.  When dealing with dogs who are simply unmanageable any other way (particularly lunging dogs or difficult dogs with physically restricted owners) they can be a godsend.  They can allow you the ability to manage the dog WHILE you train it.  Keep in mind, however, that head halters are NOT training tools, they are management tools.  As soon as you remove the head halter, the dog's behaviour will continue unless measures have been taken to instill proper behaviour and the dog understands correction.  Note that a correction can NOT be given on a head halter.  If your trainer attempts to jerk on your dog's lead while wearing a halter, WALK AWAY.

Any trainer  who recommends a particular device and then refuses to try anything else if that tool does not work for that dog is NOT a very well-rounded trainer.  Great trainers understand all methods, not just the "how" but the "why" as well.  Great trainers understand the proper use of all available tools, or are willing to direct you to a trainer who does (there is nothing wrong with simply admitting you don't know!).  Great trainers use what works best for the dog in front of them.

With the appropriate tools and professional guidance
this could be you before you know it!

I have never had a client come to me with a difficult case after seeing a balanced trainer.  Every client who has come to me as a second, third or last resort after using previous trainers all had one thing in common - that trainer was stuck with a methodology that didn't allow for their particular type of dog, and could not provide a solution, only management techniques.  While there are certainly some cases that (for many reasons) will only allow for a management-type solution, these cases are incredibly rare.

Clickers and purely positive methods certainly have their place, and sure there are dogs who will respond well to this kind of training.  However, for a professional trainer to condemn a dog to "management" simply because they are unwilling to apply fair, well timed correction or look outside their own methodology for an answer is what I consider the definition of cruel.  Seek out a trainer who understands many methods and techniques, and you are much more likely to find a solution to your dog's behaviour troubles.

For a full and complete explanation of "balanced training" methods, please check out this .pdf created by Laura G White of Cinnstar Retrievers.

Also, please remember - NEVER leave a dog unattended wearing any kind of training collar.  Every dog should wear a flat collar on which to keep their tags and other important information.  To reduce the potential for injury, make sure this collar is also properly fitted - you should be able to fit two comfortably under the collar.  Too tight can restrict circulation and cause hair loss, too loose and it may get caught on something and cause an injury.

Fiona The Mongrel Purebred (aka What Will Crufts Think of Fiona?)

[caption id="attachment_53" align="aligncenter" width="276" caption="CH Shandowns Rapid Transit, the German Shorthaired Pointer that sired the very first litter of the LUA/NUA Dalmatian Project"][/caption]

An interesting blog post arrived in my inbox this morning from the Pedigree Dogs Exposed blog run by Jemima Harrison.  Harrison, as many of you already know, was the driving force behind the shocking documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed which delved into the dark secrets contained within pedigree dog breeding. (The documentary can be viewed here.  It is an hour in length, and it contains some very disturbing images that many dog lovers may find difficult to watch.  However, it is an eye opening look into the world behind purebred dogs and just what that world considers acceptable.)

She explored many breeds and the negative effects that our breeding practices have had on these dogs (not surprising considering many breeds started with only a handful of individuals - or less!) including Bulldogs, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Boxers, German Shepherd Dogs, and the star of today's post, the Dalmatian.

[caption id="attachment_56" align="alignleft" width="207" caption="Gr. Ch. Stocklore Forrest Can O Pee, a LUA/NUA Dalmatian"][/caption]

Let's first take a look at the history of the Dalmatian.  No, no, the REAL history.  As much as I would love to get into why the many fantasy backgrounds provided about each breed contain holes of logic and fact large enough to drive dog show caravans through, I'll let Terrierman explain the general idea for those of you who are interested.  I also recommend taking a look at his articles regarding Fiona, the LUA Project and pedigree breeding in general.

As for the real history of the Dalmatian, theories have been surmised for ages about the dog's original purpose.  The FCI recognized the Republic of Croatia as the origin of the Dalmatian - however, the breed became what it is today during it's time in England.  Once again, it would be reasonable to state that the Dalmatian was born of the English Dog Show Circuit.  Breed enthusiasts also claim that the Dalmatian has existed for thousands of years as a pure breed - which is backed by nothing but fiction and imagination.

Dalmatians first appeared in dogs shows in 1862 (in England) and were presented as a "guard dog and companion to the nomads of Dalmatia."  This seems unlikely given the dog's colouring.  As breed historians will tell you, dogs used for guarding humans are almost exclusively black, grey or brindle in colour.  After all, it would be fairly difficult for a dog with a white coat and black spots to get the jump on an intruder.  This is not to say they don't make good guard dogs, but it goes against common sense to create a dog for this purpose and then make it stick out like a Holstein in a field.

[caption id="attachment_57" align="alignright" width="268" caption="UKC Ch. Stocklore Squire of Britannia, another beautiful LUA/NUA Dalmatian"][/caption]

So other stories were concocted - Dalmatians in fire houses and running as carriage dogs.  Dalmatians as ratters,retrievers and guard dogs.  While they may very well have been used for these purposes, this is certainly not why the breed was created - and it is not used for these purposes today either, aside from the stereotypical Dalmatian firehouse mascot.  The real truth is simple - they looked interesting.

Sadly, the same standards that ensure the "ideal coat pattern" also bring with them hearing issues that leave 30% of dogs with some level of hearing loss.  In fact, it is surmised that initial reports about the Dalmatian being difficult to train or slow to learn were actually caused by early breeders failing to recognize that they were pumping out deaf puppies.

The standard is pretty clear world wide that the coat of the Dalmatian should be white with black or liver spots - and these spots should be evenly spread (2-3 cm apart) and plentiful.  However, a large patch of colour anywhere on the body is a serious fault.  The Dalmatian is born white and gains its coloured spots as it grows, unlike these "patches" of colour which are visible at birth.  While colour patches are a major fault in the show ring, these patches also decrease the potential that these dogs have hearing issues.

From the American Kennel Club's standard for the Dalmatian:

Patches are a disqualification. A patch is a solid mass of black or liver hair containing no white hair. It is appreciably larger than a normal sized spot. Patches are a dense, brilliant color with sharply defined, smooth edges. Patches are present at birth. Large color masses formed by intermingled or overlapping spots are not patches. Such masses should indicate individual spots by uneven edges and/or white hairs scattered throughout the mass.

Read that again - the same colour patches that are considered a disqualification in the show ring also help to ensure that these dogs have proper hearing function.

[caption id="attachment_58" align="alignleft" width="247" caption="A Dalmatian with a "patch." This dog would automatically be disqualified in the show ring - and yet has a lower chance of having hereditary hearing issues.*"][/caption]

So the question must be, why have the breed clubs not changed the standard?  By all accounts breeders should be selecting FOR these patches.  This topic is addressed on numerous Dalmatian websites, and the general consensus is that breeding for patches would result in some dogs turning out with excessive patching - making them "not true Dalmatians by the breed standard."  You read that right - a dog with 100% "pure" Dalmatian blood but an excess of colour would NOT be considered a "true Dalmatian."  Some individuals surmise that selecting for patches may actually create a BLACK Dalmatian (oh, the HORROR!).

If that's the argument - that blood line doesn't matter if the dog does not conform to the standard... what the hell is the problem with Fiona?

Fiona's beginnings started 15 generations ago** in 1973 when Dr. Robert Schaible began the Dalmatian Outcross Project, also known as Low Uric Acid Dalmatians (LUA Dals) or Normal Uric Acid Dalmatians (NUA Dals).  Their website can be found here.

For an in depth look into the Backcross Project and a quick primer on the genetics involved, check this out.  From the Dalmatian Club of Canada (who is pushing its members to support this project!!):

At the US National Specialty 2005 more than 260 Dalmatians were ultra-sounded and they found that: “The results for males were 26% no detectable sediment for calculi (stones); 27 % sediment less than 1 mm and 47% calculi (stones) one to three millimeters or larger.
For females, the results were 72 percent had no sediment: 17% sediment; 11% calculi one to three millimeters: and 0 percent calculi three millimeters or larger.” Dogs in Canada September 2005 Vol 97 No. 1

Dalmatians have long suffered with a genetic disorder that causes an excess of Uric Acid.  From the LUA/NUA website:

Dr. Robert Schaible conducted the breeding in an effort to address the Dalmatian fixed genetic defect that affects uric acid metabolism and that may lead to increased urinary uric acid, urate crystals, urinary bladder aggregate formation, stones, urinary tract obstruction and even death.

AKC registered Dalmatians were used in subsequent matings of the progeny of the original Dalmatian-Pointer cross.  The first three matings, termed “backcrosses”, yielded progeny generally distributed as ½ Low Uric Acid (LUA) and ½ High Uric Acid (HUA). LUA and HUA backcrosses were initially distinguished by a ten-fold difference in their urinary uric acid to creatinine ratios in spot urine samples. Today DNA analysis is done to identify the specific single gene that has been discovered and is thought to control normal canine uric acid metabolism, residing on canine chromosome number three.

The breeding program is now termed the “Dalmatian Low Uric Acid Project” and is presently at the 14th generation from the original cross.  The progeny have 99.98% AKC registered Dalmatians in their pedigrees and on parentage analysis. Their DNA is 99.8% the same as AKC registered Dalmatians.  These facts suggest that the LUA/HUA Descendants cannot be distinguished genetically from AKC registered Dalmatians.

[caption id="attachment_60" align="alignright" width="255" caption="A visual comparison of the urine from an LUA/NUA Dalmatian on the left and what fanciers consider a "purebred" Dalmatian on the right.  Both samples have been chilled on ice - the sediment in the sample on the right is easily apparent."][/caption]

So here we have a group of Dalmatians who no longer suffer from a potentially deadly and certainly painful genetic disorder.  Dalmatians afflicted with HUA (High Uric Acid) require a lifetime of treatment and sometimes even surgical alteration to allow their bladders to drain properly.  For an explanation of this surgical mutilation, you can take a look here.

This group of LUA/NUA Dalmatians also appear both physically and genetically to be... Dalmatians.  So why are the breed clubs and Dalmatian breeders so furious that Fiona is allowed in the ring?

I suppose I should properly introduce the lovely Miss Fiona, aka Grand Champion Fiacre's First and Foremost.  (You can check out her and other NUA Dalmatians at the Normal Uric Acid Dalmatians Blog on blogspot.)

[caption id="attachment_51" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="This stunning Dalmatian known as "Fiona" is being hailed as both a saviour as well as a mongrel imposter by breeders everywhere, but particularly in the UK"][/caption]

Fiona was imported to the UK from Nevada by a Dalmatian breeder Mrs. Julie Evans.  She is three years old and is NOT a carrier for HUA.  Mrs. Evans is committed to doing what it takes to preserve her favourite breed, and believes that by introducing LUA/NUA Dalmatians into the breed that the dogs will be healthier and happier in the long run.  Breed purists disagree.

Paul Heaton, a dalmatian breeder from Liversedge, West Yorkshire, said: ‘It is pretty unethical to allow this dog in a pedigree show. As far as I’m concerned it is an illegal entrant and makes a mockery of the dalmatian breed.

‘This is a dog that is not pure-bred. This is a mongrel. You can’t cross a dalmatian with a pointer and say it’s a dalmatian. This is unethical and I’d be disgusted if the dog won.’ Anne Harcraft, a breeder from Sheffield, agreed.

'The dog is unpure and I do not think it should be shown with pedigrees,’ she said. ‘I would be really miffed if it won.’

Ok, first let's look at the fact that those "pedigrees" are not worth the paper they are written on.  In fact, in the past there have been instances of registered litters involving pedigree dogs previously sold by the breeder and then registered as parents of future litters (despite never having been bred).

“It is relatively easy to falsify parentage as registrations are taken on trust”. – James Skinner, The Kennel Club.

[caption id="attachment_61" align="alignleft" width="263" caption="Fiona was inspected by several Kennel Club judges before being permitted to register as a Dalmatian."][/caption]

Journalists, critics and flat-out frauds have, in the past, registered litters from deceased dogs, a litter of cats, and shelter mutts as pedigreed dogs.

Pedigree dogs require three things to be identified as a purebred.  A registered dog, a registered bitch, and an identifier (usually a tattoo).  This means that obtaining false Kennel Club records is as easy as filling out a form.  All you need is the registration number of two purebred dogs (one male, one female).  They don't have to be intact, or even alive for that matter.  Or, in theory one could tattoo any animal with the alphanumeric identifier and then proceed to register its progeny.  When this became apparent, news organizations all over the world began to question the validity of "purebred" dogs.  The most popular headline online was "Pedigree Fraud Casts Doubt Over Every Single Pedigree Dog Alive Today."

[caption id="attachment_62" align="alignright" width="261" caption="Ch. Robinwood Rain Storm at Sea, another stunning LUA/NUA Dalmatian"][/caption]

So how did we get to the point where "purity" became more important than health?  When did "purity" become more important than genetic diversity, function or overall wellbeing?  Except in the case of form, of course - form is only more important than purity if the form doesn't involve a disqualifying fault according to the breed standard.  After all, a black Dalmatian wouldn't be a Dalmatian, according to many breeders.†

I, for one, will be watching Crufts this year for one reason only.  That reason has four legs, lots of adorable spots and is known as "Fiona."  If she wins, or even places, she will have proven to the world that the backcross projects are not only doable, they are in everyone's interest - particularly the dogs that the people standing in the way claim to love.

The world of purebred dogs is shrinking, and a large part of this is due to the poor genetic condition of most breeds.  This obsession with "purity" is coming at the expense of health and well being, particularly in breeds like the Dalmatian.  The Dalmatian Backcross Project has proven that these issues can be addressed by improving the genetic health of the breed without changing the breed itself.  Let's hope that Fiona's success can be an inspiration to those behind the Boxer Outcross Project and the dozens of other breed clubs who have considered it but fear the traditionalist backlash.

* photo by Andrea Schwartz, via flickr

** I've found it difficult to determine what generation of backcross Fiona is.  Some reports put her at 12th, others as high as 15th.

† I should point out that this is not uncommon - the same feelings are held toward Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies born without a ridge.  They are considered so undesired that several breeders had an issue with removing an endorsement for euthanizing ridgeless puppies from the Ridgeback Club's website.  This, despite the fact that scientists now know that the ridge is caused by a spinal defect that is detrimental to the breed.  Of course, when asked by Ms. Harrison about the issue, one breeder stated quite dramatically that when Ridgebacks were used to hunt lions the ridged dogs were far more successful.  Of course, to that I say - show me a Ridgeback hunting a lion today.  Even if it were true (which it is not) what is more important as a pet dog who will NEVER hunt lions?  Lion hunting ability, or health?
Edited to add: It should also be noted that ALL breeds were originally crossbreeds (or at least cross-types).  Oh, and just in case Fiona doesn't make a big enough splash in 2011 - she's already qualified for Crufts 2012!!

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Update!

Unfortunately, Fiona was completely overlooked at Crufts this year.  No matter, she's already qualified for next year and the biggest hurdle - acceptance by the Kennel Club - has already been passed.  LUA/NUA Dalmatians will continue to be a part of the breed and will eventually become the norm.  After all, if you were a Dalmatian puppy buyer and your choices were between a dog who stood a 30-50% chance of developing a bladder full of sludge and a dog who had ZERO chance of having this occur - which would you choose?

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="226" caption="Meet Ch Dalmark The Shaded Moon at Nospar JW, the Best of Breed winner Crufts 2011"][/caption]