It feels like every other day there is a story in my newsfeed about a
serious dog attack, ending in a combination of a fatality, serious
disfigurement, hospitalisation and a dog being put to sleep (I hate the term
destroyed, it should never be used to describe the ending of a sentient beings
life). I'm starting to feel that the media have got it in for dogs, although
working in the canine industry, as a holistic dog groomer, I know there is also an
increase in injuries in grooming salons.
So, let's put this into some context, and this is where my previous self
as a Data Manager gets her geek on.
- There are 2 million more dogs in the UK over the last year, but the rise of attacks outpaces the growth in population.
- Alder Hay Hospital saw cases triple after the first lockdown.
- West Midland Police recorded 800 dog attacks in 2020, which was a 3-year high.
- The Canine & Feline Behaviour Association reported a 54% increase in dog attacks from 2020 -2021.
- Top Hospitalisation by dog bites in England 2020-21 were in the age bracket 50-59 (1275 cases), then 0-9 (1104 cases).
- Between 2013 and 2019 death by dog attacks ranged from zero (2018), to 5 (2015).
- According to Wikipedia (don't worry I have tutted and rolled my eyes for you) so far this year there have been 7 fatalities due to dog attacks.
- In 2018 the highest amount of dog attacks in a commercial setting was in animal related services (vets, groomers, kennels, day care or training), with 78% of the incidences.
Ok so there obviously real cause for concern here, are dogs revolting against their human oppressors? Are some dogs just bad dogs? Are some breeds just dangerous? No, of course not. Or are we part of the problem? In my opinion yes, definitely. Don't all jump on your soap boxes quite yet, give me a chance to explain. I am in no way saying that any of the people who have been killed or injured in dog attacks deserved it or knowingly caused it. I am talking on more general terms about the understanding of canine behaviour and training methods used.
How many times have you heard the following?
You've got to show them who is boss
You need to show them you are the alpha dog
You need to assert your authority by being dominant
Cesar Millan, he's your man when it comes to training
Let me tell you categorically, YOU DON'T, AND HE'S NOT! And it is not
just me that thinks this. Victoria Stilwell believes that the drastic
increase in attacks is down to confrontational dominance-based training
methods, which is backed up by a recent study conducted for the Journal of Applied
Animal Behaviour.
But have you heard of these, and understand what they mean?
Autonomic Nervous System
Sympathetic state
Triggers
Trigger stacking
Calming signals
No, that's what I thought (for those smarty pants that have,
unfortunately there is no prize, but knowledge is its own reward). Unless you
have studied a canine behaviour qualification, or like me studied at the
Holistic Grooming Academy and a member of other canine related educational
hubs, I'm not sure how you would have.
Stilwell attributes the reason for most cases of aggression is to make
the perceived threat go away, and the intension is not to harm. So, when
confronted with dominance based training methods this has a counterproductive
effect, acting as a stimulant and therefore sustaining the stress whilst
suppressing the dogs emotions. She warns that although suppression of a dog’s
emotions works quickly (which is why dominance based techniques are considered
to get results) the increase in the stress hormones cortisol will take a long
time to leave the body, therefore taking the dog a long time to recover.
Stilwell says “punishment, confrontation, and other unpleasant methods…in turn
increases the likelihood that the dog will aggress again in the future".
There are other factors that can affect aggression:
Testosterone levels in males from 18m – 2 yrs
Pain and other medical reasons
Idiopathic aggression - linked to epilepsy
So, what can we do to educate ourselves on the topic? Good question, here are a few starting points.
For the dog owner:
Holistic Grooming At Home (holisticgroomingacademy.com)
Read books by Victoria Stilwell, look her up on-line and learn positive training methods
Follow the debate on dog attacks and read the recommendations from the report below
For the dog groomer:
Study the full Holistic Grooming Diploma, just study the units that interest you, or become a member
All Courses - The Holistic Grooming Academy
Read books from the founder of the Holistic Grooming Academy
Read books by Sue Williamson
Join Sue's educational hub, Facebook group or pay for individual webinars
On-line training from Veterinarian Sophie Bell
Canine Health & Welfare In The Groom Room
(animalloveonline.co.uk)
For children:
Makes a great present
Children's
Picture Books | I Can Be A Dog Detective!
Coming soon a children's course from the Holistic Grooming Academy
Learn To Groom My Dog - for Children
(holisticgroomingacademy.com)
On-line educational resource for children
Signing off for now but with my spy glass at the ready to
investigate another dog related mystery
Wag-Wagatha Christie 🔎🐾
References
Bell, S., Canine Health & Welfare In The Groom Room - Animal Love Pet First-Aid (animalloveonline.co.uk) [Accessed June 18, 2022].
Green, A., 2010. Dog attack
& dog bite statistics (the lies). Dog News. Available at:
https://www.dognews.co.uk/dog-attack-dog-bite-statistics-the-lies/ [Accessed
May 21, 2022].
James, E. & Carr, J., 2022. UK dog attack crisis sparked by Lockdown 'Impulse Buys' as Maulings Double. The Sun. Available at: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/18129006/britains-dog-death-epidemic-caused-lockdown/ [Accessed May 22, 2022].
Mattinson, P., 2021. Negative
reinforcement in dog training. The Happy Puppy Site. Available at:
https://thehappypuppysite.com/negative-reinforcement-in-dog-training/ [Accessed
May 23, 2022].
Oxley, J.A., Christley, R.
& Westgarth, C., 2017. Contexts and consequences of dog bite incidents. Journal
of Veterinary Behavior. Available at:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787817301168 [Accessed
May 21, 2022].
Stewart, C., 2022. Dog bite
victims in England 2020/21, by age. Statista. Available at:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/297523/dog-bite-victims-occurances-in-england-by-age/
[Accessed May 21, 2022].
Stilwell, V., 2013. How to
train your dog positively, Ten Speed Press.
Stilwell, V., 2019. The
secret language of dogs: Unlocking the canine mind for a happier pet,
London: Hamlyn, an imprint of Octopus Publishing Group.
Williamson, S, 2021. Taking
the Grrr out of the Grooming Salon 2nd ed., Amazon.
unknown, unknown, 2021. Deaths and hospitalisations following a dog bite from 1981 to 2019. Deaths and hospitalisations following a dog bite from 1981 to 2019 - Office for National Statistics. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/freedomofinformationfoi/deathsandhospitalisationsfollowingadogbitefrom1981to2019 [Accessed May 21, 2022].
Usborne, S., 2021. Dog-bite
Britain: The problem with the pandemic puppy explosion. The Guardian.
Available at:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/apr/15/dog-bite-britain-the-problem-with-the-pandemic-puppy-explosion
[Accessed May 21, 2022].
Zickmann, S., 2021. The
Magic of Holistic Grooming, Unknown, Unknown: Amazon.
