By Zazie Todd, PhD
Many Canis familiaris trainers who rely on using reward-based methods experience passionately almost the importance of using humane methods that don’t drive shock collars, dominance, pack ‘theory’, or whatsoever cast of positive punishment, because they know aversive methods have got risks for dogs.
What are the best ways to counteract this form of misleading information?
This is a query that preoccupies me (and many of you, I know) because it is such an of import 1 for creature welfare. I’ve written earlier almost the many factors that influence people’s pick of Canis familiaris grooming methods (Todd, 2018) in addition to inwards this postal service I desire to aspect at some of those factors inwards to a greater extent than detail.
The importance of social norms inwards Canis familiaris training
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 social psychological approach called the theory of planned behaviour tells us that 1 of the factors that influences people’s behaviour is their perception of social norms. That is, the ways nosotros think fellowship inwards full general believes people should behave.
When it comes to Canis familiaris training, many of us have got the belief that dogs should locomote treated amongst kindness, that our pets are treasured creatures who deserve to have got choices inwards life in addition to to locomote trained inwards ways that volition supply joy in addition to enrichment.
At least, that’s how regular readers of this weblog feel. That’s 1 of the reasons I experience privileged to have got such amazing readers. (Thank you!!).
But when nosotros aspect at wider society, nosotros tin run into that some people have got quite dissimilar perceptions of social norms to a greater extent than or less Canis familiaris training.
When nosotros run into TV programs demonstrating the work of daze collars in addition to alpha rolls, bookstores selling dog grooming books that promote punishment-based approaches, in addition to random meshing people (or fifty-fifty celebrities or veterinarians) recommending trainers who work aversive methods, nosotros tin run into a rattling dissimilar form of social norm existence created.
One way to counteract this is merely to spread (and proceed on spreading) expert character information almost the best ways to prepare dogs, effectively in addition to amongst kindness.
But the way social media is designed tin sometimes experience similar it is working against us. Algorithms that promote posts that have a lot of comments tin brand controversial posts spread similar wildfire, which way that sometimes arguing against things on Facebook powerfulness backfire.
At the same time, it is of import for in that location to locomote voices of argue in addition to humanity, so the pick to engage or non is a personal 1 every time. Social psychologists know that fifty-fifty 1 dissimilar vocalism inwards a body of body of water of similar opinions tin brand a difference.
Lewandosky et al (2017) write,
"People should locomote encouraged to brand their voices heard, non precisely to straight persuade, but also to influence people's perceptions of norms in addition to the prevalence of opinions, so that false-consensus effects practise non arise. Even a few dissenting voices tin shift the perceived social norm (i.e., the perceived hit of acceptable views), thus legitimizing opposition in addition to encouraging evidence-based discourse."We tin pose those social media algorithms to expert work when nosotros run into cloth nosotros like. Positively reinforce the writer yesteryear leaving a dainty comment, in addition to and then 1 time again yesteryear sharing the post, in addition to we’re telling those algorithms that this is the form of content nosotros desire to run into to a greater extent than of.
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| Stick to positive messages that volition reinforce social norms that it is of import to process dogs amongst kindness. Photo: Rohappy/Shutterstock |
Countering misinformation almost Canis familiaris training
Sadly the basis is total of erroneous information almost dogs (and many other topics too).
The job is that countering misinformation is a tricky thing to practise (Chan et al., 2017; Lewandowsky et al., 2017; Schwartz et al., 2016). We oftentimes take heed these days that countering arguments amongst facts won’t alter people’s minds. Actually it’s form of complicated, in addition to something nosotros demand to a greater extent than enquiry on (if whatsoever communications scholars would similar to convey on the Canis familiaris grooming world, there’s enough of cloth here).
But 1 actually of import thing to hollo upwards is that repeating misinformation – fifty-fifty inwards monastic tell to right it – tin have got a dissimilar number to the 1 intended, inwards work because it causes that misinformation to experience to a greater extent than familiar in addition to gives it the illusion of truth. This is called the illusory truth effect: repeating lies makes them look to a greater extent than true.
This is 1 argue debunking simulated information tin backfire.
If yous must repeat the misinformation, at to the lowest degree preface it amongst a alert (e.g. “Some people withal believe inwards the outdated notion that…”). And in addition to then give some right information to convey its house (e.g. “Your Canis familiaris is growling because she is afraid”, lift the body linguistic communication signals that demonstrate this, tell them what to practise to brand things better).
Schwarz et al. (2016) write,
"Overall, behavioral enquiry shows that oftentimes the best strategy inwards the create practise against misinformation is to pigment a bright in addition to easily understood addition of the true message 1 wishes to impart instead of drawing farther attending to simulated information."
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| Tug is some other Canis familiaris grooming theme where there's been a lot of misinformation, but it's a peachy game to play amongst your Canis familiaris (and a expert thought to permit them win). Photo: Jasmin Awad/Shutterstock |
Setting the agenda in addition to sticking to it
Another argue non to repeat misinformation becomes obvious when nosotros think almost how Canis familiaris trainers verbalise almost punishment. One of the problems amongst using penalisation to prepare dogs is that it solely teaches a Canis familiaris what non to do; it doesn’t instruct them what to practise instead.
Similarly, if nosotros proceed repeating misinformation inwards monastic tell to right it, nosotros are non spending that fourth dimension teaching people what they should know instead.
Don’t permit aversive trainers ready the agenda.
We desire to proceed the conversation on our terms, in addition to that way talking almost the benefits of reward-based grooming in addition to the technicalities of how to practise it (because it is complicated in addition to people oftentimes demand coaching to practise a peachy chore of it).
Now perhaps you’re thinking that I linked to posts on authorization in addition to penalisation in addition to so on at the top of this article. Yes, I’ll pose my hands up, I have got written on those topics (although non necessarily inwards the way you’d expect).
In my defence, I pass most of my fourth dimension writing almost evidence-based ways to tending for our pets. Luckily for me, this is where my interests lie.
If someone actually wants to acquire into an argument, ship them to the scientific discipline to discovery out for themselves. You’ll discovery a listing of scientific articles on Canis familiaris training on my website.
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| This is precisely oculus candy, but photos aid people remain engaged amongst posts. Photo: Lisjatina/Shutterstock |
Being incorrect tin sometimes locomote an identity threat
Sometimes people are rattling invested inwards ideas that are incorrect (that they don’t know are wrong).
Imagine someone has been told yesteryear a Canis familiaris trainer that inwards monastic tell to locomote a expert Canis familiaris owner, they must follow some form of outdated method of Canis familiaris training.
Because the individual loves their dog, in addition to because they trust their Canis familiaris trainer, their ain beliefs almost existence a expert Canis familiaris possessor powerfulness locomote tied inwards to using the methods the trainer recommended.
In this case, when nosotros tell someone that the thought is wrong, it’s possible they volition perceive it equally a threat to their ain beliefs almost existence a expert Canis familiaris possessor – inwards other words, a threat to their identity.
This tin sometimes brand them hang on to that thought fifty-fifty harder. So again, telling them the thought is incorrect may have got the contrary number to the 1 intended.
It's ameliorate to pose cognitive endeavour into right ideas non misinformation
If the individual in addition to then comes upwards amongst reasons why they think their thought is right after all, psychology tells us the watch volition probable decease fifty-fifty to a greater extent than entrenched. When people think almost reasons for the misinformation, it tin arrive harder for them to alter their minds. Chan et al (2017) institute that,
"people who generate arguments supporting misinformation struggle to later on query in addition to alter their initial attitudes in addition to beliefs."If people are going to pose cognitive endeavour into agreement something, it's best to encourage them to pose that endeavour into thinking almost the right ideas rather than the incorrect ones.
I think this thought volition resonate amongst Canis familiaris trainers, because we're used to telling people how of import it is for the behaviours nosotros desire to locomote rehearsed many times, in addition to to take away the opportunities for the incorrect behaviour to locomote rehearsed. So there's an analogy that makes sense here.
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| We desire people to pose cognitive endeavour into the right ideas, non into misinformation. Photo: ra2studio/Shutterstock |
Research also shows that it is of import to back upwards people in addition to build their confidence inwards using positive reinforcement if they are to work it inwards the futurity (Willams in addition to Blackwell, 2019).
Education makes a difference
Helping people to sympathize why something is the example tin aid to counteract misinformation.
For Canis familiaris lovers, this includes helping people to evaluate the credentials of Canis familiaris trainers so that they tin choose a expert trainer. It way talking almost the benefits of reward-based grooming methods, in addition to how nosotros know that they are humane in addition to effective.
It way talking almost cooperative veterinary care, low-stress handling, in addition to Fear Free vet clinics. (One of the many things I beloved almost Fear Free is that Fear Free vets know the importance of referring to reward-based trainers).
And it way finding ways to engage people in addition to encourage them to participate, such equally yesteryear scrutinizing claims or quest questions, equally good equally helping people trouble-shoot whatsoever issues they are having (such equally helping them sympathize the demand to work good Canis familiaris grooming treats instead of kibble).
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| Photo: anetapics/Shutterstock |
Spreading the expert news
Misinformation tin locomote difficult to counter, in addition to it takes valuable fourth dimension in addition to resources away from spreading the messages that nosotros practise desire to acquire across. This is why it is so of import to locomote positive almost reward-based Canis familiaris grooming in addition to expert creature welfare.
It’s 1 of the reasons I similar to part peachy posts yesteryear others inwards my monthly newsletter, in addition to to hash out expert books inwards the Animal Book Club.
There are many people producing peachy content almost dogs (and cats). Every fourth dimension nosotros part these articles, nosotros are helping to contribute to a perceived social norm that the handling of animals should locomote humane in addition to inwards business amongst principles of expert creature welfare. (And nosotros are encouraging those trainers in addition to authors to create to a greater extent than such cloth too).
When TV companies or other organizations promote Canis familiaris trainers who work outdated methods, nosotros tin permit them know why that's a problem.
Other tactics nosotros tin work include recommending (or giving) expert Canis familiaris grooming books to friends when they acquire a novel Canis familiaris or are having issues amongst their pet. And nosotros tin merely verbalise almost what we’ve learned almost how to prepare our dogs, the struggles we’ve faced, in addition to the resolutions we’ve found.
Changing behaviour isn’t precisely almost individuals; it’s also almost edifice a fellowship that supports in addition to encourages people to bear inwards expert ways. There are many ways to practise so, in addition to I would similar to give thank yous you for what yous are doing to promote good creature welfare.
It matters to every Canis familiaris or other creature inwards our lives, because it affects their welfare. Dog grooming should locomote fun in addition to brand dogs happy.
Happier pets way happier people. It’s a peachy thing to aim for.
Summary
- Repeating misinformation (e.g. almost dominance) tin arrive look familiar in addition to hence true.
- If yous must repeat it, give a alert almost it first, in addition to and then supply novel information to convey its place.
- Even a few voices tin brand a divergence to the perception of social norms.
- Focus on the message yous desire to acquire across, in addition to tell or write it equally clearly equally possible.
- Help educate people on how to evaluate Canis familiaris trainers’ credentials in addition to information almost Canis familiaris training.
- Comment on in addition to part expert character information to arrive accessible to people in addition to to present that the misinformation is non the norm.
If you're interested inwards this topic, yous powerfulness similar to know that I presented a webinar for the Pet Professional Guild entitled Debunk, Support Science, or Tell a Story? How to Communicate almost Dog Training in addition to Animal Welfare on Tuesday 16th July. The recording is available for purchase.
What practise yous think are the best ways to instruct people almost Canis familiaris grooming methods?
What practise yous think are the best ways to instruct people almost Canis familiaris grooming methods?
is opened upwards to everyone in addition to supported yesteryear creature lovers similar you. If yous similar what yous see, perhaps buy me a java on Ko-fi?
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Zazie Todd, PhD, is the writer of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy
. She is the founder of the pop weblog , where she writes almost everything from grooming methods to the human-canine relationship. She also writes a column for Psychology Today in addition to has received the prestigious Captain Haggerty Award for Best Training Article inwards 2017. Todd lives inwards Maple Ridge, BC, amongst her husband, 1 dog, in addition to 2 cats.Useful links:
- Check out what the Animal Book Club is reading this month
- Get merch
- Support me on Ko-fi
- Visit my Amazon store
References
Chan, M. P. S., Jones, C. R., Hall Jamieson, K., & Albarracin, D. (2017). Debunking: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 meta-analysis of the psychological efficacy of messages countering misinformation. Psychological science, 28(11), 1531-1546. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797617714579
Lewandowsky, S., Ecker, U. K., & Cook, J. (2017). Beyond misinformation: Understanding in addition to coping amongst the “post-truth” era. Journal of Applied Research inwards Memory in addition to Cognition, 6(4), 353-369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmac.2017.07.008
Schwarz, N., Newman, E., & Leach, W. (2016). Making the truth stick & the myths fade: Lessons from cognitive psychology. Behavioral Science & Policy, 2(1), 85-95. 10.1353/bsp.2016.0009
Todd, Z. (2018). Barriers to the adoption of humane Canis familiaris grooming methods. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 25, 28-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2018.03.004
Williams, E. J., & Blackwell, E. (2019). Managing the Risk of Aggressive Dog Behavior: Investigating the Influence of Owner Threat in addition to Efficacy Perceptions. Risk Analysis. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.13336
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