Training Ignorance

Over the years I’ve encountered a lot of training ignorance even from some professionals who I expected to know better.

This morning I had a good chuckle (thanks Mary, I mean you) over the attempt to clarify the improper use of the term, behavioralist.

Look it up, there is no such term.

The correct reference is behaviorist.

However, popular use of the term is growing and it has been irritating me for more than 15 years.

Imagine my chagrin when I found the same amount of searches for both terms.

Eesh!

Believe it or not, I first heard it used by a zoological expert and I was stunned because despite his unique qualifications, he was certainly not very sophisticated on certain levels.

Now I seldom get in to discussions over such things but today, in this realm, it seems to reflect the disturbing trend of ignorance when it comes to training and behavior.

In case you are not familiar with the term:

Ignorance: the state or fact of being ignorant : lack of knowledge, education, or awareness

Ignorant: destitute of knowledge or education ; also : lacking knowledge or comprehension of the thing specified

Now it doesn’t accomplish much to argue with those who are ignorant and who are not interested in changing that fact.

Some people cling on to archaic belief systems (or things they are comfortable with), while others are simply too lazy to investigate or experiment–or even, god forbid, to try something new.

Then there are those outside of the training and behavior field who think they know about training (and the terms from the field) because they watch X reality television show or have read a few books or perhaps belong to a hobbyist group.

Any way I look at it, it makes me cringe because they perpetuate that ignorance.

Take the whole “positive training” marketing ploy.

Uh, people–all training involves BOTH positive and negative but if it makes you feel better to believe such crap, go ahead but like I said, it just makes me shake my head in disbelief.

I remember when a colleague in the UK published a book that had the title, “Never Say No.”

Are you kidding me? I thought he lost his mind but gave him the benefit of the doubt since someone in the publishing house probably thought it was a great title.

Perhaps, but also a great misleading concept.

Now, as you might guess, this week I’ve been a bit frustrated because I’ve been observing people who are too set in their patterns to make any changes for the long term.

Changes that would make a great difference in not only their lives but also in the lives of the animals within their charge and the people who may eventually adopt them.

To me it seems like a waste because it takes such little effort to bump it to the next level where it would benefit everyone.

However, it is too much work because is requires a change in thinking and a change in habits.

It is a mindset and practice I will never understand because it is based in the same sort of ignorance that using the wrong terms or tools is.

So, care to explain this trend to me and other readers? Go ahead, hit the comments.

Are you stupid or something?

forrest gump dogs

One of the movies I never tire of watching is Forrest Gump. It is such an illustration of a lot of different lessons about living life. It is also full of little witticisms and humor used while presenting them.

When Forrest is asked, “Are you stupid or something?”

He replies, “Stupid is as stupid does.”

Over this last week, this particular question and answer circulated through my head in an endless loop as I pondered people’s individual choices for animal management, since I find them sorely lacking.

When asked about these choices, people make excuses.

Many know better but they fail to take action to make savvy choices for the benefit of their animals. Some are ignorant of what those better choices are.

But when someone knows better, it is something I have never understood. I mean, if you love your animal you should want to make the best choices right?

And, most animals will love you the same either way–so there isn’t much of a risk of losing their affection. But despite that, people get the wrong ideas in their heads.

Let me give you an example from an animal hobbyist who told me that I should write about the dangers to animals in the home, such as leaving a table lamp on because a pet could knock it over.

It sounded bizarre to me.

Why? Because the person failed to put away toxic cleaning materials and drugs but was worried about table lamps.

When I discovered toxic cleaning material in the toilet bowl that animals had access to, well, it made me crazy.

Not so crazy that I was rude, but I found it odd that I had to call her attention to the issue since the household dangers to pets she was more specifically worried about was table lamps!

If there are animal safety concerns, animals should be confined or the house should be animal proofed.

And when you have animals in a household, there are additional steps you can take such as using non-toxic cleaning products.

Try as I might to give the article topic serious consideration, I felt it was hypocritical. The risks are always there but do you live your life in fear of such things? Or, do you take conscious actions?

Sadly, most people don’t take conscious actions. It is one of the reasons animal behaviorists and animal trainers have so much work.

I remember the client who had a problem with a cat eliminating in the bathtub, my solution included a number of steps including a veterinary medical exam and temporary confinement–which included closing the door to the bathroom to prevent access.

The person was irritated because he wanted a different answer. Behavior solutions are not rocket science but since most animal behavior and training is common sense and follow through–people fail miserably.

Then, there was the animal management experience I had this week. I traveled to help out a rescue group.

During my integration, I heard a lot of different things but I found that the actual problem was not with the animals but with the people managing them.

Big surprise there (sarcasm in case you missed that), it always is.

For example, every day prior to my taking over, there were indoor accidents.

However, while I was onsite in charge, there were no accidents at all.

Next, animal aggression that was reported to me was nipped (so to speak) by simple management of the animals.

The people escalated the situation because it was not being handled or anticipated. I watched several low level escalations happen because people were not paying attention to what they were doing and how they were integrating the animals.

One of the things I am known for is for being forthright. It isn’t always pretty but after 35 years in the field and a degree in animal training in management, people don’t hire me to pussy foot around.

In fact, those who have worked with me often “bond” in odd ways.

Not too long ago, I found students comparing notes on whether or not I had shot them with a 60cc syringe yet.

Believe it or not, much to my chagrin and amusement, it was a badge of honor!

Of course, I do use humor to lighten things up and the water stream is used to interrupt behavior but instead of using it on the animals, I use it more on the human students–and that is a story on its own.

Anyway, the truth is that animal management problems are actually human problems, or rather the human failure to manage problems.

Perhaps it is time to break out my syringe on these people…

I’ll be ranting on this a little bit more but wonder what animal behavior challenges you face and if you are the problem or the solution. Let us know in the comments.