Canine Cognitive Behavior Therapy

What is Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy provides the subject with skills, tools, insights, and hands-on exercises to effectively work through emotional issues leading to behaviors considered unwanted, unacceptable, or unnecessary. Psychotherapeutic practices recognize the impact of individual perception, emotions, and feelings, and thus aims to reset brain patterns leading to unhealthy thoughts causing anxiety, fear, or negative thought patterns. 

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

CBT is one of many psychotherapeutic practices. The scientifically proven methodology is designed to address the reason for the behavior, such as inability to process, cognitive dissonance, reliance on routines, and/or learned behavior that may cause fear, anxiety, anger, and other emotions that then lead to behaviors believed by the subject to be necessary to achieve their personal goal. (This goal can include, but is not limited to, remaining safe, keeping subjects at bay, getting attention, maintaining one’s happiness, protection, preventing change, retaining a tangible object, making a point/getting one’s way (yes, dogs do this), acquiring an object, or managing a situation or subject.)

How does CBT address behaviors?

The first step in a program is to establish exercises that increase bond, develop communication, harness cognition, and allow us to read the dog. The focus is not on teaching the dog, but rather, learning what is important to each dog, their level of cognition (which is not the same as their level of training), and their goal. 

CBT addresses behaviors by establishing exercises which induce processing and allow for decision making. These cognitive exercises practice resetting brain activity to overcome emotions, leading to thought patterns that drive behaviors. 

CBT focuses on the cause of the behaviors in the present time (ie – inability to process, cognitive dissonance etc), not on the underlying reason (ie – lack of socialization, abuse, etc). 

Canine CBT by Billie Groom is the only method in canine education and behavioral practices that acknowledges
the impact of cognition and emotions on behavior, induces processing
and decision making, and recognizes intrinsic motivation. 

Which behaviors does CCBT address?

It is common for trainers to specialize in a certain behavior using Conditioning methods, (application and approach varies), or for their websites to list the variety of unwanted behaviors they can address.

The question should not be “which behaviors”, but rather, which method is best for which behavior? The answer lies in the motivation driving the behavior!

I will use a human example: The unwanted behavior is eating too much and making unhealthy eating choices: 

If the person: 

• does not know an apple is a better choice than a bag of potato chips, 

• wants to lose weight but lacks the motivation, 

then Conditioning Methods (Positive Reinforcement strategies) are commonly most effective.

If the person: 

• see’s absolutely no reason to change their habits as they feel this behavior is working in their favor.

• is routine driven and finds change challenging

• is eating out of stress, trauma, and/or an emotional challenge

then Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (or other forms of psychotherapy) is commonly most effective.

In Summary: CCBT addresses the same issues as all other methods. 

There is “no one right method.” 

When is it recommended to apply CCBT?

Certified CCBT Psychotherapists can effectively work with all dogs over the age of six months, irrelevant of the specific behavior, as long as:  

1. the behavior is stemming from an emotion (anxiety, fear, excitement, stress, curiosity, helplessness)

2. the behavior is an automatic reaction, learned behavior, or a habit 

3. the dog knows “right from wrong” and is choosing to do the unwanted behavior
   ,AND/OR

4. the dog employs cognitive skills to perform the behavior

A CBT consultant provides exercises and mechanisms to aid in making better choices. The subject can self-regulate their actions by regulating their thought patterns and recognizing their emotions. They feel better emotionally, psychologically, and physically, and these intrinsic rewards provide the motivation to continue.

Why do dogs need to be over six months old for CCBT to be effective?

Good question! 

1. During puppyhood behaviors commonly are the result of not knowing right from wrong, thus operant conditioning (non-harmful forms of) are effective. Many dogs know right from wrong, and simply choose to do a behavior considered unacceptable, or the dog may consider the behavior, based on perception and emotions in the moment, to be acceptable, necessary, and “right”.

2. During adolescence (6 – 24 months), the brain is still in a process of maturation and most brain areas undergo mayor changes in connectivity and function. Cognitive capacities emerge but are still under construction. All together, these processes lead to behaviors commonly described as unpredictable, reactive, “bratty”, defiant, or even aggressive, thus requiring methods that respect emotions and induce processing.

3. Adolescent dogs, whether they have had conventional/positive puppyhoods, traumatized pasts, or unconventional puppyhoods, employ cognitive skills to a higher level resulting in change in behaviors. It is essential to employ methods that harness these skills, provide autonomy and agency, and encourage decision making. 

How does CBT differ from Conditioning methods?

CBT, Operant Conditioning, and Counterconditioning are all scientifically proven methodologies. They have different intents, platforms, approaches, and goals, and therefore should be applied in accordance with these factors. 

Operant conditioning is designed to teach right from wrong behavior using reactive reinforcements. Operant conditioning assumes the subject does not know right from wrong and is eager to learn and do the right behavior, given the right reinforcement. With puppies, this is commonly accurate, making Operant Conditioning the best method (when applied non-harmfully) during puppyhood. Operant conditioning can continue to be effective into adolescence and adulthood, but has also proven to be limiting, ineffective and even counterproductive. 

Counterconditioning aims to change perception of the stimuli to change behavior. The main tools are association (associating a negative to a positive) and desensitization (repetition of the stimuli and associative element) to change perception of the stimuli causing behaviors. For this reason, the stimulus needs to be present, and the subject must associate the positive with the negative. Counterconditioning recognizes preconceived thought patterns driving behavior (as opposed to starting with “a clean slate”), it is a conditioning method that aims to recondition behaviors, working in a reactive state to change perception of the stimulus, and focuses on the behavior.  

CBT works under the assumption the behavior is the result of an emotion and/or a decision based on a number of factors. For this reason, behaviors are not considered right or wrong, thus there is no need for reactive reinforcements. This does not mean CBT simply removes the reinforcement!  CBT follows a completely different set of practices and principles. 

CBT takes a proactive approach, meaning it proactively prevents thought patterns that lead to emotions causing behaviors. CBT achieves this by developing exercises that practice resetting the brain in situations that are positive and non-stressful. These exercises induce processing and decision making, which is then self-applied (due to intrinsic motivation) during more challenging times thus preventing the emotion and ultimately, the behavior. 

Why do we need CCBT in mainstream canine education and behavioral practices?

As with humans, we change and adapt the way in which we parent, teach, rehabilitate, interact, and communicate depending on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, age (brain development), individual personalities, history/upbringing, experiences, and simply the preference of the canine! The approaches and practices we employ with dogs should change and develop throughout the life stages of the dog, and as our lives, as caregivers, change. 

Animal welfare is in a volatile state. Dogs are being euthanized and surrendered at an alarming rate, with behavioral/lifestyle issues being a main contributor. It is vital that trainers, behaviorists, veterinarians and other experts are equipped to provide pet parents, shelters and rescue organizations with the necessary skills and tools to make impactful changes.  

How can YOU be part of the sustainable solution?

By advancing your knowledge, you will increase your impact! 

The ICP Diploma program is an intensive program providing you with the skills and tools to incorporate CCBT into your area of expertise, profession, volunteer work, and/or areas of interest. The other courses offered by the ICP instructors support the diploma program and enhance your skills to more efficiently reach your goals.