Melissa Hoyer Webboard User Reg: 05-09-2005
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Exactly.
Specifically, he would not walk beyond a certain point on the sidewalk. He would throw a fit, panic and try to return home. This was after being attacked by another dog and being so frightened that he expressed his anal glands. This moment changed him, and he was a fearful dog to begin with.
We spent quite a bit of time going one sidewalk block at a time following BAT protocol. The trigger was just leaving our property. Upon seeing calming signal, I'd verbally mark and return home (for a treat or better yet, some fun play). Eventually, I required him to make eye contact and hold it as his "calming signal".
I didn't find BAT to be as effective as other methods, except in this situation...though it was somewhat helpful with his reactivity with other dogs.
Teaching him to focus on me and creating new responses to triggers is what worked best.
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
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Melissa, this is exactly what I was trying to say (only I was saying it less succinctly ).... that BAT is a wonderful tool for a dog who is overwhelmingly frightened/panicked ... but that its usefulness for most of the rest of the reactivity spectrum is, IMHO, limited by its focus on the trigger.
Jodi Moen Webboard User Reg: 12-28-2010
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Just to chime in quickly, I've been using BAT with Amber for a year or two now. From my own perspective , in Amber's case it has been extremely helpful in helping her to realize she's not going to be trapped when she sees a dog, which has reduced her anxiety to the point that she can think past "dog! OMG DOG!" To be able to focus on me more. I've never gotten the feeling its meant to replace training, more to be used as an adjunct to that training. Of course I could be way off base.
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Jodi Moen Webboard User Reg: 12-28-2010
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Duane, that's something I never even thought of, Amber is not going to be a guard dog, definitely does not have the desire for it so I've been working BAT with her primarily for being in public. I would hazard to guess that any BAT work would not so much make her non-reactive as allowing her to think before reacting. But that's jmo.
My animals are not "like" family, they ARE family.
Kiersten Lippman Webboard User Reg: 09-28-2009
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What about when you want the dog to watch the trigger, but stay in the heel position? For example, we run into homeless or drunk people at night on the trail sometimes. I don't want my dog to rush and bark at them, but I do want her to stay by my side and watch them. In this case, I don't want her to focus on me with eye contact. But I do want her to focus on me in terms of listening for my commands.
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
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Kiersten, I don't think this fits in with BAT protocol at all .... one of the primary ideas of BAT being that the dog looks and then chooses to disengage (look away).
Duane Hull Webboard User Reg: 09-23-2011
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I was thinking the same as Connie. I think this would be more of a training target. You can teach a "watch him" command that keeps the dog alert, similar to what is done in K9 training.
If the dog is reactive to people, I'm not sure that you can desensitize him to a desired point. If he is reactive, you may never be able to get him to obey if he is focused on the trigger.
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
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Actually, I just returned to the computer to add what Duane said ..... I think that a reactive dog is not the right candidate for a focus command when the focus object is his reactivity trigger.
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Re: Anyone familiar with BAT?
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).... that BAT is a wonderful tool for a dog who is overwhelmingly frightened/panicked ... but that its usefulness for most of the rest of the reactivity spectrum is, IMHO, limited by its focus on the trigger.
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