What do you mean you need to learn about tact?

There were a few people who first misunderstood when I told them I was going to a class on TACT.  They took it to mean tact.  And for better or worse there were people who weren't surprised when they thought that I was going to learn about the latter.  Boy will they be disappointed! 

Touch Associated Clicker Training (TACT) is a new protocol from Julie Robitaille that helps rehabilitate reactive, shy, and aggressive dogs using clicker training, learning theory and massage therapy.  I first learned about the program when reading the Facebook page for Dogs In Need Of Space (DINOS).  DINOS is a wonderful community I discovered a few months ago that allows people with reactive dogs to share stories, ask questions, and offer support to owners of reactive dogs.  As soon as I saw that TACT was created by Emma Parson's teaching assistant, Julie, I was on board. 

Admittedly I was nervous about going because I am not a professional dog trainer.  And if I'm to be totally honest I didn't previously think of myself as a trainer either.  Sure, I train Abby.  But I had previously classified myself as her owner and did not necessarily think of myself as her trainer.  I was pleasantly surprised to discover that although there were professional trainers and recent Karen Pryor graduates, there were also fellow owners, vet technicians, and animal massage therapists to name a few.  The idea behind TACT came from Julie's work in massaging canines.  She had clients who would want her to work on their dogs but they were worried.  Given the dog's reactivity the owner did not feel as if this was possible.  What began as Julie asking them to still come to her booth so she could click and treat dogs for entering, looking at her, walking towards her, etc. transcended into protocols aimed at giving repetition and structure to the interaction reactive dogs had with strangers. 

So much of this program seemed similar to the Protocols for Relaxation that Abby and I have used previously in the sense that you start with very small steps and build from there, increasing the difficulty as the dog is comfortable with it.  Additionally the Relaxation Protocol has a very ritualized series of movements that you do while the dog is in a default down or default sit.  TACT is very similar in how it builds the predictability of this protocol and later adds distance or challenges.  But additionally what I liked about TACT was that it builds the idea of generalization and applying this to other environments and other strangers.   

The seminar showed actual footage from private lessons between Julie and one particular dog, Finch.  There were points of Finch's story that reminded me so much of Abby - the alarm barking at strangers and other dogs, hackles raised.  There have been plenty of times where Abby has done this, even with people she sees regularly in our condo development.  But then there are other times where Abby bounds happily over to people to greet them and give them hugs and kisses.  Although Abby's reactivity seems relatively low these days which I credit in part to her not doing daycare anymore, it is something I am always mindful of.  The seminar was great at explaining Displacement Behaviors and how to identify them and has given me some criteria for identifying when Abby is at or beyond threshold.  Beyond that it has given me a series of protocols that we can work on, as well as some Foundation and Emergency Behaviors that we can use for situations where we see things that could trigger Abby to move past her threshold.  It also left me feeling empowered and believing that Abby and I have a relationship where I am also her trainer and handler. 

For those who are interested in checking out TACT but don't have the ability to attend a seminar, Julie has a comprehensive 5-disc set available for purchase on Clean Run.  The DVDs are 5.5 hours long and walk you through an introduction to clicker training, the TACT protocol, and massage therapy techniques.  I highly recommend them! 

Sometimes if it's not one thing, it's another

What is it about April?  It was just last April when our girlie started to kick off with a whole host of GI issues centered around diarrhea.  Bloodwork, ultrasounds, and nutritionist consults left us feeling rather frustrated and convinced that we would not get to the root of Abby's problems.  After an attempt at Purina OM that left us feeling like the food was not working, we tried moving Abby to Hill's Prescription I/D canned food.  This food has left Abby having solid stools, but the issue of Abby burping up is one that has continued to perplex us.  Now I should state that Abby doesn't burp up all the time, and certainly it didn't seem to be something that bothered her when it happened.  But within the past few weeks I've noticed that this burping seems to take her by surprise, and literally she can't control it.  There is no purging associated with it, and it certainly doesn't seem to be a vomit situation.  But all of a sudden Abby could be walking or just laying down and suddenly it just comes out of her. 

There's two different theories that I have about this problem.  The first is that this problem didn't occur until she changed to canned food.  If I had to think of what is different, that certainly would be it.  But at the same time, not only did her GI issues kick off in April, but her latent fear reactivity kicked off around the same time.  In June we brought Abby to see a vet behaviorist and we increased her Clomicalm slightly from a half tablet twice daily to three quarters of a tablet twice daily.  One side effect listed on Clomicalm is vomiting.  I would be doing a disservice to Abby if I didn't at least consider that this was a possibility.  However, one of these hypotheses is easier to test than the other.  So I'm adding a bit of dry Hill's I/D to her food and I hope to transition her over to at least a 50/50 ratio to see if this improves.  If not then I may need to investigate options for helping her with this.  Currently I've been giving her a 10 mg tablet of Pepcid half an hour before each meal and I've not noticed any improvement.  Hopefully the dry food will do the trick. 

I am really excited and nervous to say that in two weeks I will be attending the TACT Seminar that Emma Parsons and Julie Robitaille will be presenting.  I hope that it will give me another tool in my wheelhouse to work with some of Abby's reactivity, to reshape how she views situations, and to help us both feel more confident in stressful situations.  I have to admit I'm nervous.  I will be in with dog trainers, people you hire to help you with the problems you have.  But I felt inspired after talking with our trainer about this, who told me that I am a dog trainer with a very small audience. 

And finally I leave you with one other link if you are feeling so inclined.  On June 10, 2012, we will be going to the NHSPCA Paws Walk in Stratham, NH.  It seems like just yesterday it was May 29, 2010 and we were at their facility looking at their available dogs to see if we could find one.  My husband will tell you that he knew we were going home with a dog that day.  I will tell you that I never envisioned my life changing in the way that it did that day.  I don't like to think of Abby as a rescue.  The question of whether she is or not in my mind has always been a touchy one.  It isn't that succinct.  And beyond that, the presumption is that we saved her when really the opposite is true.  She saved us.  Each and every day I am completely amazed by her, and I feel so lucky that she has come into our lives.  We feel so blessed to have her, and the least that we can do on that day is walk in support of an organization that has enabled us to welcome Abby home.  She was meant to be ours.  So I know that times are tough and everyone is stretched thin.  If you are able to donate, we would be so thrilled by your support.  And if you are free on June 10th and wish to walk with us, we would love the company.  Here is the link to my donation page.