Appeal to All Policemen & Women who are Proud of their JOBS!

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COPY AND PRINT AND DISTRIBUTE TO YOUR LOCAL POLICE STATION ALONG WITH THE OFFENCES UNDER THE ACT WHICH I POSTED EARLIER:



APPEAL TO ALL POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE PROUD OF THEIR PROFESSION:


There have been some horrific cases of animal abuse in the news headlines. The two that immediately come to mind are :- The case where a Sundra man slowly hacked off the head of a young Husky puppy with a petrol chain saw, because it killed his pet bird. And more recently - after a truck carrying over 150 pigs jack-knifed in the Eastern Cape, a frantic mob converged, hacking at living flesh, butchering suffering animals whilst still alive.



I have been distributing copies of the offences listed under the Animal Protection Act, to police stations throughout the country – most of which I must state, have been received with enthusiasm from officers.



The public believe that police officers are lazy, corrupt, and uncaring – I DON’T.

I believe that there are a large number of police officers who wear their uniforms with pride, and go out of their way to make a difference. I am asking you to help to make a difference in another avenue of your job. You do not have to agree with the law, or agree with the contents of the Animal Protection Act. That is your right as an individual human being, in a free country. YOU DO NOT EVEN HAVE TO LIKE ANIMALS – but please consider the following:-



If you are cut – you bleed: - So do animals! If you are beaten – you bruise – So do animals!

If you are tortured – you are traumatised – So are animals! If you don’t have shelter in the winter, or shade in the sun– you will feel the cold and the heat, and you will suffer! – So do animals! If you are starved – you will die a painful death – So do animals! Animals feel and experience pain, fear, hunger, thirst and suffering! JUST LIKE US! Therefore, even if you are NOT an animal lover – perhaps you could for one minute, just put yourself in their shoes, and as a thinking, feeling, human being, feel compassion for a creature that cannot speak for itself.



The link between animal abuse, child abuse, abuse against women and especially serial killers has been clearly documented, for many years. Many serial killers started off their sick careers, by torturing and mutilating animals. Eventually these sick people progress to committing the same abuse and torture on people (often defenceless children and woman).



If one thinks that OUR children, wives, brothers, and sisters could, at some time, fall prey to such monsters, it might make us think twice, and then consider the Animal Protection Act.



I am not expecting you to become the “animal police” – that would be foolish. What I am asking is that if, in the course of your duty, you come across abuse, or obvious cruelty, (as listed under the APA) you report it immediately to the relevant SPCA. If there is an obvious emergency such as with the recent pig case – it is your duty to intervene immediately until the animal inspectors are there to take over, and it is your duty, to assist them if, and where necessary. What I am asking you to do is to respect the law, and follow it through.



I am asking you, not only to be concerned with laws for rapists/murderers and robbers, I am asking you to consider all laws, and that includes LAWS THAT PROTECT ANIMALS.



The offences listed under the animal protection act are very simple and very clear – and it must be pointed out that it is an offence not to report contraventions of the Act to the SPCA. It is also an offence for an officer not to intervene in an emergency.



Do not forget that people who abuse animals often also abuse people. This is fact! Standing up for something that is right, gives officers another reason to be proud. I would like YOU to prove the public wrong! Prove that we can be proud of ALL officers! Prove that you are willing to uphold ALL OF THE LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY. Let all South Africans work together, and make our wonderful country proud of us. Let us not hang our heads in shame because we couldn’t be bothered, or were too busy, or in too much of a hurry to make a difference!

Offences under the Animal Protection Act - Something Everyone Should Know!

OFFENCES UNDER THE ANIMAL PROTECTION ACT:


NUMBER 71 OF 1962



(Assented to 16 June 1962) (Date of Commencement: December 1962)



The term “animal” means any equine, (horse), bovine (cow or cattle), sheep, goat, pig, fowl, ostrich, dog, cat, or other domestic animal or bird, or any wild animal, wild bird or reptile which is in captivity or under the control of any person.



2. Offences in respect of animals. ---- (1) Any person who -----

a) (Obvious Cruelty) Overloads, overdrives, overrides, ill-treats, neglects, infuriates, torturers or maims, or cruelly beats, kicks, goads, or terrifies any animal; or



b) (Chaining up or confinement) Confines, chains, tethers or secures any animal unnecessarily, or under such conditions, or in such a manner or position, as to cause that animal unnecessary suffering or in any place which affords inadequate space, ventilation, light, protection, or shelter from heat, cold or weather; or



c) (Lack of food and water) Unnecessarily starves or under-feeds, or denies water or food to any animal; or



d) (Poisoning) Lays or exposes any poison or any poisoned fluid or edible matter of infectious agents, except for the destruction of vermin, or marauding domestic animals, or without taking reasonable precautions to prevent injury or disease being caused to animals ; or



e) (Neglect) Being the owner of any animal, deliberately or negligently keeps such animal in a dirty, or parasitic condition, or allows it to become infested with external parasites or fails to render, or procure, veterinary or other medical treatment or attention, whether through disease, injury, delivery of young, (pregnancy or labour) or any other cause, or fails to destroy (provide euthanasia or destroy) or cause to be destroyed, any such animal which is so seriously injured, or diseased or in such a physical condition, that to prolong its life would be cruel, and would cause such animal unnecessary suffering; or



f) (Equipment) Uses on, or attaches to any animal any equipment, appliance or vehicle, which causes, or will cause, injury to such animal, or which is loaded, used or attached in such a manner as will cause such animal to be injured, or to become diseased, or to suffer unnecessarily; or



g) (Hunting) Save for the purpose of training hounds maintained by a duly established and registered vermin club in the destruction of vermin, liberate any animal in such a manner or place as to expose it to immediate attack or danger of attack, by other animals or by wild animals, or baits or provokes any animal or incites any animal to attack another animal; or



h) Liberates any bird in such manner as to expose it to immediate attack, or danger of attack by animals, wild animals or wild birds; or



i) (Transport – including carts etc) Drives or uses any animal which is so diseased, or so injured, or in such physical condition that it is unfit to be driven, or to do any work; or



j) (Trapping) Lays any trap or other device for the purpose of capturing, or destroying, any animal, wild animal or bird, the destruction of which is not proved to be necessary, for the protection of property, or for the prevention of the spread of disease; or



k) Having laid any such trap or other device, fails either himself, or through some competent person, to inspect and clear such trap or device, at least once each day; or



l) Except under the authority of a permit issued by the magistrate of the district concerned, sells a trap, or other device, intended for the capture of any animal, including any wild animal (not being a rodent) or wild bird, to any person who is not a bona fide farmer; or



m) (Road transport) Conveys, carries, confines, secures, restrains or tethers any animal –

(i) under such conditions, or in such a manner or position, or for such a period of time, or over such a distance, as to cause that animal unnecessary suffering; or

(ii) in conditions affording inadequate shelter, light or ventilation, or in which, such animal is excessively exposed to heat, cold, weather, sun, rain, dust, exhaust gas, or noxious fumes; or

(iii) without making adequate provision for suitable food, potable water and rest, for such animal, in circumstances where it is necessary; or



n) (Poisoning) without reasonable cause administers to any animal any poisonous or injurious drug or substance; or



o) ……………….



p) (Abandonment) Being the owner of any animal, deliberately or without reasonable cause or excuse, abandons it, whether permanently or not, in circumstances likely to cause that animal unnecessary suffering; or



q) Causes, procures or assists in the commission or omission of any of the aforesaid acts or, being the owner of any animal permits the commission or omission of any such act; or



r) By wantonly or unreasonably or negligently doing or omitting to do any act or causing or procuring the commission or omission of any act, causes any unnecessary suffering to any animal; or



s) Kills any animal in contravention of a prohibition in terms of a notice published in the Gazette under section (3) three of this section,



Shall, subject to the provisions of this Act and any other law, be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or the imprisonment for a period not exceeding twelve months or to such imprisonment without the option of a fine.



ANIMAL FIGHTS:

1) Any person who -

a) Possess, keeps, imports, buys, sells, trains, breeds or has under his control, an animal for the purpose of fighting any other animal;

b) Baits, or provokes, or incites, any animal to attack another animal, or to proceed with the fighting of another animal,

c) For financial gain or a form of amusement promotes animal fights;

d) Allows any of the acts referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c) to take place on any premises, or place in his possession, or under his charge or control

e) Owns, uses or controls any premises, or place, for the purpose or partly for the purpose, of presenting animal fights on any such premises, or place, or who acts, or assists, in the management of any such premises, or place, or who receives any consideration, for the admission of any person, to any such premises or place; or

f) Is present as a spectator, at any premises, or place, where any of the acts referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c) is taking place, or where preparations are being made for such acts.



Shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exciding two years.

New council laws - advice from united for animals.

This was sent to me for distribution by “united for animals” – see the link below:

 

DON’T GIVE COUNCIL WORKERS POWER

OVER OUR ANIMALS

If you need a petty official’s permission to care for an “extra” dog or

cat – remember that it can be refused.

 

A permit system will be enforced by municipal workers who care

nothing about animals. They will be entitled to search your home

and count your animals.

 

By-laws that impose a limit on pet numbers are not about the

welfare of animals.

 

Do not give a council worker the power of life or death over your

animals. They will be able to confiscate “illegal” or “surplus”

animals and have them killed.

 

Permits, licensing and compulsory sterilisation all mean that a

certificate must be produced on demand. The certificate would

confer legality on some animals but exclude millions of others (lost

dogs, feral cats and the animals of less well-off people).

 

The “illegal’s” will likely be condemned to death.

Reject by-laws that set arbitrary limits on pet numbers. They are

unconstitutional and an infringement of our common-law rights.

Issued by United for Animals (unitedforanimals@wol.co.za)

Dog tips to teach a dog to come on command

From Daily Dog Tips

One of the greatest joys of owning a dog is to be able to go for a walk in the park and let him run, knowing he will come when you call. Dogs that do not come when called are prisoners of the leash and, if loose, a danger to themselves and others. If your dog does not come when called, you don't have a reliable dog. Below are five tips to help you teach this command to your pet:

1. Exercise. Many dogs do not come when called because they do not get enough physical exercise. When they do get the chance, they run off and make the most of it by staying out for hours at a time. Every morning your dog wakes up with plenty of energy and the need to exercise. If that energy is not used up, it will transform itself into other behaviors, the most common of which are barking, chewing, digging, and running away or not coming when called. Consider what your dog was bred to do, and that will tell you how much exercise is needed. A few turns around the backyard is not enough. You will need to participate. Also keep in mind that taking the dog for a daily walk or jog is as good for you as it is for him!

2. Be nice to your dog whenever he comes to you. One of the quickest ways to teach your dog not to come to you is to call him and then when he comes, punish or do something he perceives as unpleasant. Many dogs consider being given a bath unpleasant. When he needs  one, go get him instead of calling him to you. Another example of unintentionally teaching your dog not to come is to go for a run in the park and call him to you when it's time to go home. Repeating this sequence several times teaches the dog that fun is over! Soon, he may become reluctant to return to you when called because he is not yet ready to end the fun. You can prevent this kind of unintentional training by calling him to you several times during the outing, sometimes giving him a treat, sometimes just a pat on the head, and then letting her play again.

3. Teach your dog to come when called as soon as you bring him home, no matter how young he is. Ideally, you acquired your pet as a puppy, which is the best time to teach him to come when called. Start right away. But remember, sometime between the fourth and eighth months of age, your puppy will begin to realize that there is a big world out there.  While going through this stage, it is best to keep him on leash so that he does not learn to ignore you when you call.

4. When in doubt, keep your dog on leash. Learn to anticipate when he is likely not to come. You may be tempting fate trying to call once he has spotted a cat, another dog or a jogger. Of course, there will be times when you make a mistake and let him go just as another dog appears out of nowhere. Resist the urge to say "Come" over and over again. The more often you holler "Come," the quicker he learns to ignore you when off leash. Instead, patiently go and put him on leash. Do not get angry once you have caught him or he will become afraid of you. He will then run away when you try to catch him the next time.

5. Make sure that your dog always comes to you and lets you touch the collar before you reward with a praise or a treat. Touching the collar prevents the dog from developing the annoying habit of playing "Catch" which means coming toward you and then dancing around you, just out of reach.

 

Preventing separation anxiety in puppies

There are several ways to soothe separation anxiety in your dog in order to help him feel more secure while you are away. For the fastest results possible, apply the following practical tips:

1. Having a new puppy or a new adult dog is an enjoyable experience. It is so easy to give the new member of the family tons of love and attention. But spending all of your time with your new dog can create negative consequences, especially when you return to your normal schedule where you are out of the house all day.

Give your new dog a lot of attention, but also get him use to being alone, even when you're at home. Getting him used to your absence should be done gradually so it doesn't create a traumatic experience.

Start by going to a different room and closing the door behind you, leaving your dog by himself in another room. Do this several times every day. Next, leave him alone in the house for five minutes, then fifteen, and so on, until he is comfortable enough to be left alone for several hours at a time.

2. Being home alone should be a good experience for your dog. This can be done by linking a positive association with that of you being away. Give your dog a new toy before you leave the house. Provide him with different toys when you are home so he doesn't associate the toys with you going out and leaving him. Another strategy is to give him his favorite snack or a hollow bone filled with tasty treats that will take the dog a while to finish. These are two pleasant activities that your dog can engage in that will relieve him of the feelings of anxiety and fear.

3. Sometimes it is necessary to confine your dog when you're not home. If you must do this, be sure to create a positive association with that room. Make him feel that he is going to a fun place. Do not put your dog in a crate because this will only increase his feelings of loneliness. Instead, pick a safe room where he feels secure. And when you are home, make it a point to spend some time and play with him in that room so he can associate the area with fun.

4. Do not make the act of leaving the house a big deal and do not feel guilty about it. Ignore your dog for about ten minutes before you leave the house, and then another ten minutes upon returning home. This eliminates the excitement of you going away and coming back.

5. Another way to ease your dog's feeling of distress is by giving him enough exercise, especially before you leave the house. Taking him out for a jog or a brisk walk will make your dog feel relaxed and tired, ready for a long nap while you are gone.

 

New facebook discussion group

Hi everyone,

The Animal Behaviour Consultants of SA have launched a new discussion group – see it on facebook.

 

The first subject of discussion is the Johannesburg Dog and Cat Bylaws – should be a good one

 

Please join in the debate – all views welcome

 

Hope to see you there

Lou

NSPCA News

E-NEWSLETTER

05 MAY 2010

RESEARCH ETHICS UNIT

A warning in terms of the Animals Protection Act was issued to the owner of a domestic property where rodents were being bred. The warning related to the conditions the animals were being kept in, the lack of food and water plus health issues relating to rats, mice and hamsters. A follow-up visit is being undertaken with a view to the owner voluntarily handing the animals over to the local SPCA.

The Research Ethics Unit advised that their concerns begin at the source of animals: - how and where they are being bred including the conditions, general husbandry, sanitation, hygiene, handling and euthanasia. In this instance, the reaction was one of shock.

The whereabouts of another breeding operation has come to the attention of the Research Ethics Unit and an inspection is being organised.

 

FARM ANIMAL UNIT

We are pleased to announce the conclusion of one prosecution. Owners of the Bundu Bird and Animal Park in Charl Cilliers near Standerton were fined R2 000 and given a 2-months jail sentence suspended for 5 years. Rather than dwelling on the sentences, we prefer to emphasise that they have been found guilty and now have a criminal record. Charges were laid against them relating to the unacceptable conditions the animals were being kept in: - after we had tried to educate them to uplift the standards for over a year. They were also operating without the legally required Performing Animals Protection Act licence which relates to animals in exhibition.

Personnel from our Farm Animal Unit recently spent time in the Alexander Bay, Port Nolloth, and Springbok areas of the Northern Cape. Time was spent on community farm projects there. These projects are well intentioned but without proper mentorships or business experience, they can flounder and become problematic not only for the sponsors. It is the animals who suffer.

Whilst in these areas, the opportunity was taken to spend time on issues including breeding kennels and advice to other animal welfare organisations in the areas. There is little support in these parts of our country - no State veterinarians, very few private veterinarians and no animal welfare operations in most areas. So the more we can assist and give guidance, the better we are equipped to help the animals. This is after all our function and goal.

 

SOCIETY LIAISON UNIT- COFFEE BAY AND HOLE-IN-THE-WALL

A Senior Inspector from the NSPCA's Society Liaison Unit, accompanied by an Inspector from Mthatha SPCA spent 3 days in the Coffee Bay area of the Eastern Cape investigating reports that 18 stray dogs had been beaten to death by youths.

Evidence gathered by the team was handed over to the SAPS who have opened a docket. Several meetings were held with local leaders who called for a community meeting. Sadly there was a very poor turnout but attendees were very positive and receptive. They were pleased to learn that there were humane alternatives and that they could call on the SPCA.

Recognising that education is the key, advantage was taken of being in the area by addressing over 1500 learners at 4 different schools. Information in the form of flyers and posters were handed out at all venues and schools visited, as well as at all backpacker lodges and guest houses which the team also visited to inspect all equines used for the local horse trail industry. 14 establishments were visited. Two warnings in terms of the Animals Protection Act were issued.

A follow-up in the form of an outreach project will be conducted in the area.

Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, working together is success - Henry Ford.

 

CANADIAN SEAL SLAUGHTER

Each one of us can help stop the slaughter of baby seals in Canada by boycotting Canadian fish produce. Canadian fishermen take part in the slaughter during their off-season. The pressure on Canadian fish produce due to the international boycott is now reported to be "meaningful" according to the Humane Society International with whom we remain in contact. If you feel as strongly as we do, please be a discerning consumer by checking on or requesting to know the source of fish products. If they are from Canada, make your consumer power known by not purchasing. The lesson will be learned that cruelty does not pay.

 

ADVISORY NOTE
We have been advised of comments in the RCS Lifestyle magazine relating to pets and the eating of fish for which www.spca.org.za is quoted as the source. This web site does not exist. The comments did not originate from ourselves. We have contacted the company asking for this to be made known to their readers. We advised that our channels of communication are always open and we are willing to assist with articles on animal care.

Until next time

With best regards

Chris Kuch

Clicker article from Karen Pryor

On my Mind: Paying Kids to Learn

Last week TIME magazine ran a cover story about paying kids cash money to get better grades.

The objections to cash ‘rewards’ for schooling have been around for a long time and can lead to tremendous political uproar. There are moral objections—children should do what’s expected of them without reward. There are philosophical, theoretical, religious, and of course financial objections.

Well, this fellow at Harvard, economist Roland Fryer Jr., decided the first thing to do was to find out if paying kids to do better in school actually worked or not. Forget all the existing studies and opinions. Forget those specific schools where reinforcers, large and small, are built into the system. According to TIME, Dr. Fryer “did something education researchers almost never do: he ran a randomized experiment.” (Just think about THAT for a minute. They opine stuff and put it into the schools and they don’t TEST it?)

Anyway, Fryer persuaded four cities—New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Dallas—to set up ways to pay some groups of kids to learn (while others just did the usual learning). The experiment involved 18,000 kids and a total of $6.3 million in payouts.

Fryer left the design of the programs up to the cities; he let them pick whatever they thought would work. The results, which he shared exclusively with TIME, “represent the largest study of financial incentives in the classroom and one of the more rigorous studies ever on anything in education policy.”

City planning

New York set up a program to pay fourth-through seventh-grade children for their test grades during the school year. For great results you could get as much as $50. The money went right into a savings account.

Chicago also paid for test scores during the year. Good scores could earn up to $2,000 per year, half of which went into a savings account payable on graduation.

Washington, D.C. had a complicated system in which high school students were paid $100 every two weeks by getting perfect marks in five different areas, including attendance and good behavior.

Dallas kept it simple. Second-graders got $2 every time they read a book and passed a little computer test on it.

Then the kids all took the national MCAS tests at the end of the year, to see if their scores had improved over those of control groups who got no money.

What happened

In New York and Chicago attendance improved, morale improved, grades improved, and the kids liked the program—but the MCAS test score improvement was zero. Nil. None. Nada.

Washington, D.C. showed distinct improvement in general behavior and, presumably as a result, some improvement in reading scores, enough so the chancellor was thrilled and extended the program after the experiment was over.

And 85% of the Dallas second graders improved their reading the equivalent of five full months of extra schooling, and continued to improve the year after that.

Why the differences? Clicker trainers could tell them…

In Chicago and New York, the event being reinforced—grades on tests—was an end result, not a behavior in itself. The money, too, accumulating in savings or paid out at graduation, was seriously delayed, functioning as a positive experience but not necessarily a reinforcer. Sort of a lure; gets you hopeful and moving, and in a good mood, but doesn’t actually teach you much. Kids loved the program, and wanted to earn more; they just didn’t know how.

In D.C., most of the five behaviors (coming to school, not fighting) were things that the kids could control, and could offer deliberately. $100 every two weeks was frequent enough to actually reinforce better behavior, and a global change in behavior enabled everybody to learn more. Standardized test scores in reading went up about three months’ worth, even though nothing else in the teaching or school changed.

And in Dallas? The behavior was a clear-cut operant behavior the children could already do: read a book and answer a quiz on screen. The payoff was connected to the task and was therefore a reinforcer. MCAS reading scores improved by five months. It was as if the kids had had another half year of schooling. And it cost Dallas about $14 a kid.

What of the 15% of Dallas children who did not earn pay and did not get better? Perhaps they were the ones that couldn’t really read yet, or at least not in English. They couldn’t earn reinforcement because they just didn’t have the behavior. TIME thought so too.

My take on it

Fryer is reported as saying he doesn’t really know why it worked best in Dallas, or why 15% of the Dallas kids didn’t learn. He does know, however, that they definitely have an answer to the question, does money work; done right, cash can make a huge difference.

How exhausting—four cities, 6 million dollars, 18,000 kids—and only one school system came up with an operant behavior and a timely reinforcer. And no one noticed those fundamental facts. Makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time, doesn’t it!

Well, good for Dr. Fryer and TIME magazine. Maybe SOMEONE besides us clicker trainers will read the story and go “Oh. I see why that worked. Let’s get it going in our school.”

Our town. Our city. Our state. Our planet.

Happy clicking,

 

E-NEWSLETTER

23 APRIL 2010

EDUCATION - LAPDESK HANDOVER

We are delighted that on Friday 16 April, 120 lapdesks (valued at approximately R10 200) were handed over to the Rise and Shine Learning Centre in Alexandra for use by their 4-6 year old learners. Mrs Denise Williams (Senior Administrator) and Dr Jan Moll (Veterinarian) handed over the lapdesks to Mrs Bongiwe Mbewe (School Principal) on behalf of the sponsors, Eli Lilly and Elanco.

The Learning Centre has 150 children ranging from 9 months to 6 years old and there is not a single desk. It is hoped that the lapdesks will help to enhance the learning experience of the children which is providing a very good educational foundation. Dave Thorpe and Michelle Moll from the N SPCA were accompanied by Angela Jennett and Candice Segal, welfare educators for Sandton SPCA. Brenda Nel who had identified the needy school on behalf of the N SPCA's Education Unit also accompanied us, and was the official photographer.

Eli Lilly also provided cool drinks and snacks for the children who clearly thought this was really great and who, during the proceedings, were taught an interactive vibey song about animals.

 

WILDLIFE UNIT

The Wildlife Unit is undertaking inspections in the Western Cape this week. Facilities to be inspected include zoos, rehabilitation centres, sanctuaries, elephant-back safari operations and reptile facilities. This forms part of the Wildlife Unit's proactive monitoring function to ensure the wellbeing of captive wildlife .

 

The poetry of the earth is never dead. ~John Keats

CARTE BLANCHE CONSUMER

As you know, the SPCA movement opposes the trade of animals over the Internet. Carte Blanche's consumer programme on Thursday 15 April featured this issue and highlighted current scams. If you missed the programme, the transcript is on www.carteblanche.co.za .

 

"DOGS WANTED" ADVERTISEMENTS

We have been alerted to advertisements in publications from people who want to buy adult dogs of particular large breeds. We are aware and advise that the dogs are indeed sourced to be sold on as security dogs. We have evidence that the dogs are sent to other parts of Africa. The whole operation is legal which is why we reiterate once again: - please do not give pets away.

 

Once an animal has been handed over, it is too late to seek redress especially if there is a signed "receipt" for an amount of money given to the owner for the dog. We have been asked to "look into" the matter. We have. The operations will stop when people stop handing over pets. Things are not always as they seem and individuals who want to take an animal are not always truthful.

 

ART WORK

This is a strange request to our readers but in the past you have always come up with innovative and helpful ideas. We have received some original oil paintings as part of a deceased estate. Experts we have consulted have come up with no information on the artist Dieu Donne but tell us the works are competent yet unknown. They are oil paintings of South African scenes plus two watercolours of South African flowers. All framed. If one of you can assist us to sell them or if you have an idea that would assist us to sell them, please let us know. Many thanks

Until next time

With best regards

Chris Kuch

POISONED CUES - TIPS FOR CLICKER TRAINING

Note from Lou

Stubborn, confused, or avoidance?

A super article devised to make you think!

Taken from one of the Karen Pryor sites.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Poisoned Cues: The Case of the Stubborn Dog

By Rebecca Lynch on 04/01/2010

Filed in - Cues and Cueing

When I arrived at my client’s house last week, she was very excited to show me how well her dog Missy was doing with hand targeting. “Watch this!” Megan said as she gathered her clicker and treats. Missy was at full attention in front of her. Megan gave the cue, “touch,” and presented her hand. Missy took one look at her hand, ducked her head, and sat down to scratch. Megan tried again. Missy began sniffing the ground. Megan’s face dropped. “We’ve been practicing all week for you. Missy knows how to touch. Why is she being so stubborn?”

Was Missy being stubborn?

She had been excited to participate in the training up until the moment she heard the cue. She was fully focused on Megan and anxiously awaiting the opportunity to perform. But the moment she was given the cue, she changed her mind. And although scratching and sniffing seemed to Megan an act of defiance, I knew that Missy was actually giving stress signals. Missy was worried about touching Megan’s hand. Why was Missy worried? Just the week before, Missy was running from across the room to place her nose in Megan’s hand. What had happened?

I decided to watch Megan and Missy work together. Megan called Missy to her and asked her to sit. Missy happily placed her rear on the floor. Megan clicked, praised her dog with a pat on the head, and then gave her a treat. I had my answer. What we had was a case of a poisoned cue.

What are poisoned cues?

A cue is the “green light” that tells the dog it’s time to do a behavior. A cue can be anything that the animal can perceive: verbal, visual, environmental, a scent, a sound, or a touch. A cue can be trained—the word “sit” is a common verbal cue that means “put your rear on the ground.” Or, a cue can simply be learned from association—when I scrape the bottom of my ice cream bowl, my dogs perceive that as the cue to get up and make sad, starving, dog faces so I will let them lick the bowl.

As Karen Pryor describes in her newest book, Reaching the Animal Mind, a poisoned cue occurs when a dog associates unpleasant things with a cue. Because of these unpleasant associations, the dog will either hesitate to perform the behavior or not do it at all. We humans think of unpleasant as a reprimand or scolding, or painful, like a jerk on a prong collar. But what we think is unpleasant and what the dog thinks is unpleasant are often different. A slight tug on the leash, pulling on our dog’s collar, leaning over the dog, or, in Missy’s case, a pat on the head, can all be unpleasant.

People pat their dogs on the head every day. How can this possibly be unpleasant?

Take a moment and look around the room. Are you all alone? If you are, or if nobody’s looking, pat yourself on the forehead just above your eyes, as if you were patting a dog. Now imagine if it were somebody else’s hand. Here are these big fingers heading straight for your eyeballs and then moving around! The pat itself doesn’t feel very good, either! How would you feel if your boss patted you on the forehead every time you did something right at work? Would you start to avoid your boss? Avoid doing good things at work? Avoid work?

Once Missy realized that her owner was going to follow the nose touch with a pat on the head, Missy decided to avoid the pat by avoiding the nose touch. She was not being stubborn; she just didn’t want to be touched in that way. Poor Megan loves her dog and thought she was rewarding her dog. It was just a simple case of miscommunication.

Poisoned cues are more common than you think and are often the culprit when a dog is thought to be stubborn.

When cues go wrong

Poisoned cues are more common than you think and are often the culprit when a dog is thought to be stubborn. One of the most common cues to be poisoned is “come.” We frequently call our dogs, and then do unpleasant things to them. We call them and give them a bath. We call them and put them in their crates. We call them when they are studying the various aromas of the Great Outdoors and then make them come in where it is boring. Dogs are very smart and live their lives by the mantra “What’s in it for me?” They quickly learn that “come” equals unpleasant things. If coming to you is not more rewarding than the cool stuff outside, many dogs are going to run the other way.

Poisoned cues can be very subtle, too. Do you punctuate the cue “sit” with a light tug on the leash? Do you say your dog’s name when you are upset with him? I once had a client who frequently scolded her puppy, Sammy, using his name. She had not yet learned how to teach alternative behaviors or supervise her puppy, and was a frustrated new puppy owner. When we began training, I wanted to teach Sammy to make eye contact with his owner when she said his name. We started by clicking and rewarding when Sammy offered eye contact. Sammy was enjoying the training and doing very well at making eye contact. Then we added the cue: his name. The moment Sammy heard his name, he ran and hid under the couch. Poor Sammy thought he was in trouble every time he heard his name because of the many times he had heard, “Sammy, NO!”

When shopping for trainers, be sure to inquire about their methods of training before you sign on for classes. There are many trainers who will train a dog using positive methods, but feel that once the dog “knows” the behavior it is fine to punish the dog for not performing the behavior. Unfortunately, each of the cues taught this way will be poisoned. Not only will your dog not want to respond to the cues, but the training will become a vicious cycle—cue, no behavior, punishment, cue, no behavior, more punishment.

Poisoned cues are fairly easy to fix. All you have to do is re-teach the behavior and add a new cue.

What to do with a poisoned cue

Now that you are looking for poisoned cues around every corner, here is some good news. Poisoned cues are fairly easy to fix. All you have to do is re-teach the behavior and add a new cue. It is very important to re-teach the behavior, as you cannot just transfer a poisoned cue to a new cue. Don’t worry—your dog will remember the behavior, so re-teaching will most likely happen pretty fast. Add that new cue and know that you have put your dog at ease by throwing out the poisoned cue. Be careful not to poison the new one!

Take some time to observe your dog in different circumstances. What is its body language like when relaxed, playing with you, playing with another dog, barking at the postman, walking through the park, getting a pat on the head, etc? What body language does your dog offer that can clue you in to its emotional state during these interactions? How high is the tail? Is it wagging slowly? Fast? How is your dog holding its ears? Is the dog licking its lips? Yawning?

As for Missy, Megan re-shaped the nose touch and taught Missy the cue “nose.” Megan’s bond with her dog is even stronger than before now that she is no longer patting her dog on the head. She has learned to watch Missy’s body language. Missy is once again happily touching Megan’s hand from across the room and enjoying every part of her training.