Instructor: Ellen Lindell, DVM
Course Details
This class will introduce the concept of mental illness in dogs while keeping the performance dog in mind. You will become familiar with some common behavioral diseases as well as physical diseases, diets and medications that affect behavior. Though there will be an overview of treatment, if you are concerned that your dog suffers from a behavioral disease, please discuss his or her behavior with your own veterinarian or contact a veterinary behaviorist. See course syllabus for details regarding topics.
Please note: This class will run at bronze and silver only.
Registration
There are no scheduled sessions for this class at this time. We update our schedule frequently, so please
subscribe to our mailing list for notifications.
Registration will begin at 9:00 AM Pacific Time.
For answers to commonly asked questions see our FAQ page.
Enrollment limits: Gold: no gold students for this class, Silver: 25 students, Bronze: unlimited.
If you are interested in a bronze level subscription, you can sign up at any time during the registration period.
Syllabus
Week One
Overview—Define normal behavior
- i) Learning—motivation, reinforcement exposure
- ii) Effect of experience
- iii) Cognition
- iv) Is aggression normal?
- v) Is fear normal?
Week Two
Physical diseases and medications that affect behavior
- vi) Pain – aggression, reduced compliance
- vii) Corticosteroids—anxiety, aggression
- viii)Cushings disease—anxiety
- ix) Sensory deficits—impact communication and learning, depth perception
- x) Central nervous system disease—cognitive deficits, change motivation
Week Three & Four
Behavioral diseases that affect performance—2 weeks
- Social conflict related aggression
- Affects bond with owner, trust, willingness to accept communication
- Reduces training options—physical handling, use of treats and toys
- Generalized anxiety
- Context specific anxiety
- Fear of noises, novelty
- Social anxiety, fear of people or dogs
- Impulsivity
- Hyperarousal
- Confinement related anxiety
- Separation related distress / hyperattachment
Week Five
Medications used to treat behavioral disease
- General categories of medications
- Event medications
- Chronic medications
Week Six
Assessment and Treatment of behavioral diseases in performance dogs
- Can he be cured aka Will I be able to compete with my dog?
- So many professionals—who is qualified? What is a behaviorist?
- Treatment options – behavior modification
- Treatment options—medication - Safety, Efficacy, Ethics
Prerequisites and Equipment