My “Review of the Thundershirt” video highlights the natural progression of someone seeking of change outside the relational boundary lines established by Nature. The news reporter who is also the owner of the dog featured in the story admits to trying to solve her dog's behavior issues with various agents ranging from favorite toys to medications to no avail. The thundershirt was the newest attempt to solve her dog's issues resulting from stress and anxiety from storms. I have encountered many dog owners who have cycled through the same pattern. Relationally dogs establish certain connections which branch from the relationship. While the tightness of the shirt nudges the dog's decision making process within the follower script however it does not hold for long. This attempt to change of course of behavior ultimately washes out when the dog makes the connection that the person isn't really changing. The shirt separate and apart from the owner does not represent anything meaningful.
Stress and anxiety are the common behavioral issues which exposes the Achilles heal of learning based ideology. It is not naturalistic for a dog to hold the lead role within the dog and human relationship while the owner is controlling various aspects of the relationship. Those who promote this view of the relationship are trying to have their cake and eat it too so to speak. Nature has the last word as behavior issues and problems begin to escalate. In the end no one is happy including the dog. It is impossible to redefine what has already been established from the beginning. In my videos, books and articles I discuss the issue of response and influence and why many are being deceived into making assumptions about relational change which simply are not always true. The fact is if behavior is not diminishing and stress and anxiety is not lifting off the dog than relational change is not happening. Physical response is not always representative of a like minded state the way it is being marketing by many behaviorists and trainers. The solution via the relational model is to effect meaningful change through what are defined as “follower moments”. These represent the building blocks which influence not only the moment they are taking holding but the overall decision making process of the dog. |