Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / December 2005

Why Capstar?

There's really no need to give Capstar daily.  After the initial dose, a
topical like Advantage should do the trick.

HOWEDY laura,

If we wasn't "allergic" we WOULDN'T ITCH when bitten.

Would we.

"CAPSTAR should be given orally, with or without food, on
any day when fleas are seen on the animal. No more than
one treatment should be given per day."

"If a continuous flea infestation is observed after using CAPSTAR,
the attending veterinary surgeon should be consulted for further
advice."

Of curse, your veterinarian SELLS Capstar... DON'T HE.

CAPSTAR®

Disclaimer

This information summarizes the current status of our knowledge and
may differ from the legally binding, country specific use instructions
provided with the product. Novartis Animal Health Inc. is not liable
for
damages or injury caused by the use of its products different from
those specified on the pack label.

Properties

Nitenpyram, the active ingredient of CAPSTAR, belongs to the
chemical class of neonicotinoids which bind and inhibit insect
specific nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

Nitenpyram interferes with normal nerve transmission and
leads to the death of the insect.

Nitenpyram does not inhibit acetylcholinesterase.

Unless you can CON-TROLL the ENVIRONMENT
or TRAIN her, your kat could get HURT from bein
HOWEtside.

Just like these guys:

From: Temperance (whoever@.com)
Subject: Think of my daughter's cat please.
Date: 2004-01-08 10:30:09 PST

This morning 2 year old Velcro was found run over on
the main Road. Who ever hit her knew they had hit her
or an aniaml as it was about 9am. Velcro was a beautiful
cat and at 6 months old came from a guy who mistreated
her and it took a long time to gain her trust.

She was called Velcro because she was so
clingy and would attach herself to my daughters legs.

A shame as we always thought her older cat would go first.
Now we have a sad cat missing it's friend.  I can't get the
rainbow bridge link to work so if somebody can post the
right one I would be pleased.

Thanks.

Temperance

==================

       From: Nancy Verzich (nverzich...@adelphia.net)
       Subject: My cat... Date: 2003-09-28 12:14:37 PST

       Hi everyone, I've never posted here before but have
       been lurking and reading all your posts. The post
       below was posted to another pet NG but no one replied
       and its still bothering me, 3 days later.

       I hope you don't mind me posting it here also...I am
       really sad and just wanted to get this off my chest.
       I am a cat person...always have been...but in the last
       10 yrs or so, it seems like I've sorta become "allergic"
       in a  way to them. If I even touch the fur my eyes get all
       itchy and they burn etc. So, I don't generally hold
       our cat anyway.

       Well, we got this cat about 3 months ago...just a
       plain old tiger striped stray, who was a tiny kitten
       when my 6yr old daughter found her outside. We
       aren't allowed to have pets here, but.......So anyway
       this cat became part of our family.

      I also have a 17 yr old son who is very overweight
      and has NO friends. So this cat became his best
      friend. We didn't allow the cat outside, because
      we didn't really want neighbors to see her and also,
      we didn't want the fleas in here.

       So we kept her inside. But lately, she's been sneaking
       out if my daughter didn't shut the door tight enough or
       if any of us held it open just a second too long.

       She always came back tho...so not that big of a deal.
       Today, my daughter was outside and came back in to
       get  something, and forgot to shut the door all the way.
       Of course, the cat got out. The cat was kinda weird,
       because she just RECENTLY opened up to me,
       personally....she's been loving my kids up ever since
       we got her, but she hasn't really come around to me
       until the last couple of weeks or so.

       So today, I go to the door and call her....she thinks I'm
       playing with her LOL...so she is darting out there all
       around.

       Finally she goes across the street to the neighbors
       yard, and all the way as she's crossing the street,
       I"m worrying about a car coming and hitting her...
       then, she just SAT there on the side of the road
       in the neighbors grass as the cars were passing
       and I was afriad that a car would spook her and
       she would run, but she didn't. Well, she wouldn't
       come in either, I guess she wanted to play for a while.

       About 15 minutes later I went to the door and called
       her again...this time she decided that she was going
       to come to me. She started running across the street,
       and just like in slow motion, I saw a car come down
       the street at the same time. I saw her little body go
       under the car, and I tried to cover my eyes.

       I listened for that HORRIBLE sound that you know is
       coming...but I didn't hear it....the car never even
       slowed down, it just kept going. The cat dashed up
       the street running like a maniac into the field. Every
       10 minutes or so I would go to the door and call her,
       because I knew she was scared...but at the same time
       I"m trying to cook dinner and do a hundred other things.

       So everytime I called and she didn't come, I figured ok,
       I'll try again in a few minutes. When my hubby came
       home, I told him what had happened....he figured that
       she was fine and just scared/hiding, or maybe just out
       playing.

       My son and I a few hours later decided to go and look
       for her....we found her poor little dead body in the field...
       right where I had seen her enter it at. She didn't have
       any outer "evidence" at all of gettig hit...but it obviously
       happened immediately when she got to the field because
       she was only off of the road maybe 5 feet.

       My son freaked out..she was his best friend in the
       whole world....everyone is blaming everyone else...
       my daughter's fault for leaving the door open...my
       son's fault for not going out to get the cat right when
       she first got out...MY fault for calling to her and causing
       her to run across the street...*sigh*

       I  dunno....

       All I know is that I can't get her
       out of my head......dammit. Nancy

Well folksies, everyWON should thank ed w of PETLOSS
DOT COIN and professor SCRUFF SHAKE dermer and
company for convincing folks like Nancy that kats and
dogs can't be PERIMETER TRAINED NEARLY INSTANTLY
as The Amazing Puppy Wizard teaches HIS 100% CONSISTENTLY
NEARLY INSTANTLY SUCCESSFUL FREE WWW Wits'
End Dog Training Method Manual Students all over the
Whole Wild World REPORT RIGHT HERE:

                        <{#}: ~ } >8< { ~ :{@}>
                   <{#}: ~ } >           < { ~ :{@}>
            <{#}: ~ } >                         < { ~ :{@}>
   <{#}: ~ } > http://www.tinyurl.com/7bl5u  < { ~ :{@}>
            <{#}: ~ } >                         < { ~ :{@}>
                   <{#}: ~ } >           < { ~ :{@}>
                        <{#}: ~ } >8< { ~ :{@}>

You know, the WONS THEY CALL LIARS, PAID SHILLS
and FORGERIES by The Amazing Puppy Wizard. <{} ; ~  )  >

http://physchem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/NI/nitenpyram.html:
      Toxicological data not available - treat as potentially harmful.

http://www.petplace.com/Articles/artPrinterFriendly.asp?conID=19136:
                Precautions and Side Effects
                While generally safe and effective when prescribed by
a
                veterinarian, nitenpyram can cause side effects in
some animals.

The Amazing Puppy Wizard JUST SEZ "NO!" to drugs.

You want ADVICE from the incompetents who SELL drugs?

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/98fr/112700b.htm:

  " In accordance with the freedom of information provisions of 21 CFR

part 20 and 514.11(e)(2)(ii), a summary of safety and effectiveness
data and information submitted to support approval of this application
may be seen in the Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug
Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852,
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

   Under section 512(c)(2)(F)(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (the act) (21 U.S.C. 360b(c)(2)(F)(i)), this approval
qualifies for 5 years of marketing exclusivity beginning October 20,
2000, because no active ingredient (including any ester or salt of the
drug) has been previously approved in any other application filed under

section 512(b)(1) of the act.

   The agency has determined under 21 CFR 25.33(d)(1) that this action

is of a type that does not individually or cumulatively have a
significant effect on the human environment. Therefore, neither an
environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is
required."

You're welcome.

"And Merry Christmas to you too," Bill O'Reily.

Perhaps there are better ways to CON-TROLL parasites?

LikeWIZE <{) ; ~ )  >

The Amazing Puppy Wizard <{) ; ~ )  >

Here's The Amazing Puppy Wizard's most recent post
on non toxic flea CON-TROLL methods and treatments:

Subject: Re: Excerpt: Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide
to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats

HOWEDY Jane,

Thank you for the valuable information. Dr.Pitcairn's
works are EXXXCELLENT, to say the least. In addition
to her fleating (Ouch!) tips, I recommend insect growth
regulators (IGR's) and beneficial nematodes.

For daily grooming / inspection I always have a "Q-Tip"
soaked in alcohol to quickly swab them up off the dog
and dunk it back into a small bottle of alocohol to
dispatch them.

Of curse, cleanlieness is next to G-dlieness!

Thank you again,

Yours,
The Amazing Puppy Wizard <{); ~ ) >

Jane Smith wrote:

Mon, Nov 7 2005 7:25 pm
Subject: Re: Product Warning

HOWEDY Dr. Duke,

Duke Fenton wrote:

You mean The Amazing Puppy Wizard???

SHAAAZZZAAAMMM!!!

Newsgroups: alt.religion.kibology
From: Duke Fenton <dukefen...@adelphia.net>

But you don't find it QUEER posting to a.r.k., do you?

No need to FEEL FUNNY postin to The Amazing Puppy
Wizard's 100% CONSISTENTLY NEARLY INSTANTLY
SUCCESSFUL FREE WWW Wits' End Dog Training
Method Manual Forums, Dr.

The Amazing Puppy Wizard ALWAYS PLAY FAIR <{) ;  ~ )  >

Well, you mean kinda like HOWE The Amazing Puppy Wizard
WARNS folks abHOWET UNETHICKAL veterinarians?

NO PROBLEMO, Dr.

The Amazing Puppy Wizard CAN ONLY HURT YOU if you post.

Like your puppy series shots and annual boosters and
surgical sexual and digital  mutilation, Dr. Duke?

Naaah? Sometimes they're actually HARMFUL, ain't they, Dr.

Like jerking choking shocking intimidating bribing and
crating, for EXXXAMPLE, Dr. Duke? It'd be refreshing
if a doctor was to come forward and STATE the FACTS
abHOWET those archaic methods of forced CON-TROLL.

HOWEver, it seems since they're RESPONSIBLE for 90%
of YOUR VETERINARY TREATMENT BUSINESS, it seems
most vets WON'T STOP RECOMMENDING them, will they,
doctor. At least not until The Amazing Puppy Wizard drops
the doGgamened hammer on the entire training behavior
and veterinary industries.

INDEEDY. As a RESPONSIBLE veterinary practicioner it'd
behoove you to teach folks NATURAL flea and tick CON-TROLL
kinda like HOWE The Amazing Puppy Wizard does, eh Dr. Duke?

You mean, kinda like individual SENSITIVITY to STRESS from
jerking choking shocking bribing crating and surgical sexual
and digital mutilation of critters, Dr. Duke?

You mean, like NON PHYSICAL CON-TROLL through EFFECTIVE
SCIENTIFIC and PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONING, Dr. Duke?

What would Dr. Duke SELL to his CASH CUSTOMERS, Dr.?

Kinda like HOWE david sherman's dog GOT SEIZURES from
being jerked and choked to prevent her from pickin up and
eatin CRAP on the streets of NYC and jen coffman's (a vet
tech student) dog GOT SEIZURES from her SHOCK COLLAR?

LUCKY THING dra. carla DVM or was it dra. deb former US Army
veterinarian  wrote in recommending she use a citronella spray
collar instead as THAT'S recommended by dra. catherine houpt
of Cornell <{) ; ~ )  >

RIGHT! JUST LIKE HOWE dave and jen's vets DOCUMENTED
their STRESS INDCUCED PSYCHOGENIC SEIZURES. dave
spent THOWESANDS CURING his dog who no DHOWET is
STILL IN SEIZURES if he didn't MURDER her on the avdice
of his veterinary neurologist.

That's a WIZE idea, Dr. More folks should
SUE their veterinary malpracticioners.

Thank you for your concern, Dr. Duke.

Thanks again, Dr.

Perhaps you'd care to read Dr. Pitcairn's all natural methods
of treating and preventing fleas and ticks, Dr. Duke? The
Amazing Puppy Wizard lives in Central Florida and has had
no more than a half dozen fleas and ticks between all four
dogs this entire season which is year RHOWEND, doctor.

LikeWIZE.

Are you REALLY a VETERINARIAN?

HOWE COME you won't address the ISSUES of STRESS
INDUCED AUTO-IMMUNE DIS-EASE aka The Puppy
Wizard's SYNDROME, Doctor? Does CURING 90% of your
CASH CUSTOMERS REALLY SCARE YOU THAT MUCH???

BWEEEEEEEEEEEAAHAHAHHAHAHAAAA!!!

Here, so's you can return your supply of toxic flea and
tick treatments you can copy and hand HOWET a copy
of Dr. Pitcairn's advice. Oh, bye the bye, you might wanna
copy his all natural diets and return the rest of your Eukanuba
and Science Diet dog foods (EXXXCEPT of curse for the
PRESCRIPITION diets [which you WON'T NEED soon as
you start handing HOWET their FREE COPY of The Amazing
Puppy Wizard's 100% CONSISTENTLY NEARLY INSTANTLY
SUCCESSFUL FREE WWW Wits' End Dog Training Method
Manual <{) ; ~  ) > ])

Here's the FREE MANUAL:

                  <{#}: ~ } >8< { ~ :{@}>
           <{#}: ~ } >               < { ~ :{@}>
   <{#}: ~ } >                               < { ~ :{@}>
   <{#}: ~ } >                               < { ~ :{@}>
   <{#}: ~ } >  http://www.tinyurl.com/7bl5u < { ~ :{@}>
   <{#}: ~ } >                               < { ~ :{@}>
   <{#}: ~ } >                               < { ~ :{@}>
           <{#}: ~ } >               < { ~ :{@}>
                  <{#}: ~ } >8< { ~ :{@}>

 http://www.irishdogs.ie/Information/Wits_End_Dog_Training.pdf

From: ThePuppyProp...@AniMail.Net
Date: 3 Oct 2005 03:02:20 -0700

Subject: Re: My dog has flees

HOWEDY Prophet,

Prophet wrote:

1st, You should go to The Amazing Puppy Wizard's Archives
on Google and other fine pubicly archived news group
search engines and type in the correct SPELLIN and
see what The Amazing Puppy Wizard SEZ HE DOES to live
in a flea and other parasite free environment.

2nd, DO NOT believe the professional lying dog abusing
punk thug coward mental cases who SELL training lessons
and promote unethickal veterinary practices like toxic
substances and surgical sexual mutilation which may harm
your dogs and family.

3rd, if you DON'T FIND a definive authentic Amazing
Puppy Wizard's Post then ASK HIM HOWE to accomplish
whatever your needs are.

4th, DECENT PEOPLE DO NOT POST HERE so if you see
someWON giving you contradictory information, KNOW
that they're a miserable lying dog abusing punk thug
coward and DISREGARD them. Better yet, tell them to
get the heel HOWETA The Amazing Puppy Wizard's 100%
CONSISTENTLY NEARLY INSTANTLY SUCCESSFUL FREE WWW
Wits' End Dog Training Method Manual Forums.

Here's your own FREE COPY of The Amazing Puppy Wizard's'
100% CONSISTENTLY NEARLY INSTANTLY SUCCESSFUL FREE WWW
Wits' End Dog Training Method Manual:

http://www.tinyurl.com/7bl5u

http://www.irishdogs.ie/Information/Wits_End_Dog_Training.pdf

Please study my manual using a text to speech reader.
There's a free one at http://www.ultrahal.com

If you need any additional free help call me
ANY TIME at 407-425-5092.

Commercial dog food is GARBAGE. Save your
hard earned dough and feed your dog sumpthin
you'd eat:

                    Breakfast At The Puppy Wizard's -
                             Chez du Chien -
                          Gourmet Recipies

Here's HOWE The Puppy Wizard feeds his dogs:

HOWEDY People,

Unbeknownst to yourselves, this has been a difficult
couple weeks for Your Puppy Wizard. Not to complain,
but he's been necessarily temporarily abandoned by
his Mrs.Puppy Wizard who had to attend to affairs out
of town for nine days.

Left alone, helpless and hapless to cope with domestic
and personal needs, to fend for HISSELF and his pups by
his own devices, his Mrs. Puppy Wizard HOWEver, is
considerate and foresighted enough to prepare His table
before him, in advance, and even calls to remind him to
breath, when necessary.

Your Puppy Wizard requires little from the physical realm,
existing primarily on prahana and nirvana as his staple diet.

HOWEver, HIS puppies unfortunately cannot thrive in the
physical world without the grounding effects of the evils
of wholesome food.

Mrs. Puppy Wizard prepares daily, fresh, well balanced
HOWES cooked meals. When Mrs. Puppy Wizard travels
occasionally, she prepares for the days of lean in advance,
by freezing two weeks worth of puppy chow and posting the
culinary instructions on the Puppy Wizard's coffee can, the
only physical need The Puppy Wizard requires, beyond his
internet connection and of course, his Mrs. Puppy Wizard
and puppies. But those are givens, naturally.

Mrs. Puppy Wizard prepares 2 meals a day. The following
recipe is for about a 100 pound dog:

Breakfast is half pound raw ground turkey, green
Source, and 1gram vitamin C, and a *Iams cookie
*(cause she LIKES to).

Dinner is 2 cups cooked rice, a tablespoon of rolled
oats and an ounce of hamburg. When the rice and oats
cool, add half cup pinto or similar beans, ground fine
in the food processor with equal amounts raw collard or
similar greens or your dog's favorite vegetable or cabbage,
a tablespoon or two Olive or Cannola oil, half clove garlic,
mixed with 1/2 pound raw ground turkey, a good vitamin /
mineral supplement (Green Source for People), calcium and
magnesium, 1 gram vitamin C.

Addition of table scraps is encouraged, bear in mind
salt can be dangerous. The Puppy Wizard's diet is
environmentally friendly and will not produce noxious
gasses provided the vegetable and beans are ground
finely and because the Green Source contains digestive
enzmyes.

BONE APETITE!

From: "Dr. Von" <drv...@mindspring.com>
Date: 12 Sep 2005 10:52:19 -0700
Subject: Re: Clicker Training for Dogs Newsgroups?

Jen, your request for a positive only dog training list,
needs the same answer as I give the folk who ask why I
don't have a list for what I do with biofeedback.

The method is so simple, and if you adopt it and relate
to your dog in such a positive manner you won't have any
more problems and there is no need for any more technique.

With Puppies we Ph.D. psychologists have been outflanked
by the entirely practical and effective methods described
in http://www.tinyurl.com/7bl5u.  Free download, nothing
sold, no mailing list, no distribution of your name. Free
support if needed.

With ADHD kids I provide similar information at
www.drbiofeedback.com and there is no need for
a list dealing with problems with kids.  Apply
as directed and have happy healthy doggies or
kiddies.

Not difficult.

George von Hilsheimer, Ph.D., F.R.S.H.

P.S. jerk and choke, spanking, shocking, scruff shake,
choke, chin chucks, all those negatives, denial of
affection etc. are harmful, dranging, obscenities.

You might want to consider Pavlov's typology to
understand "hard and soft dogs" - essentially he
taught that there are outward and inward responding
organisms in weak and strong nervous systems and if
you grasp this firmly you'll shape your training
methods effectively.

Punishment ALWAYS deranges behavior, and so is
recommended and given only by deranged humans.

Of course, it doesn't matter if we are talking
dogs, cats, people, sheep, even husbands.

Dr. Von

From: Mike (m.bidd...@ns.sympatico.ca)
Subject: Re: Info. on the puppy wizard?
Date: 2004-07-18 14:27:02 PST

It helped clear problems from my dogs in the
field using the can penny distraction technique.

Works like a charm.

My dogs get distracted easy from their jobs ie,
retrieving or training to find lost people, oh did
I mention that I am a Search and Rescue Team
Leader.

Sorry that slipped my mind.

I have read volumes of training books and don't
know where people get that Jerry copied others
work as I have NEVER come across his methods
before. I would like to see proof.

Just like Jerry outlined I eliminated problems one
at at time as they arose. I used to try and train to
the way I wanted them but this is backward, you
train out the problems leaving what you want left over.

Funny part is the second dog who had the same
problems as the other didn't need correcting for
some of his habits after I cleared it from the first
dog.

Seemed he learned through osmosis.

Nice side benefit there.

It nearly came to giving them up to a 3rd party
trainer as they were not performing well. The
VAST majority of working dog trainers are
agressive in their actions with the dogs.

I tried it and it didn't work and guess what I
was at my "Whits End" then someone I new
turned me onto Jerry and the rest is history.

I referred friends and families to Jerry's manual
and all have had great results. Starting puppies
out on the distraction technique is especially
good because they never develop the habit.

I had my sisters dog healing, sitting and down
stay reliably at 8-9 weeks. The first night home
following Jerrys advice we ditched the crate and
put the pup on the floor beside the bed and after
2 whimpers NOT A SOUND OUT OF THAT DOG
FOR 6 HRS! first night, that has never happened
in all my days.

Sorry, the man understands dogs its that simple.

Mike

"Ama...@DCFWatch.com" wrote:

No, the dog learned that I would hold still
the second she began to pull.  She would pull
to go where *she* wanted.

Well if she wanted to stop and go in another
direction.. say to sniff my neighbors yard..

she learned if she wanted to do it I would stop
walking and she could go.. and if there wasn't
enough slack on her lead she would just pull me.

Then when she got done doing *her* thing, she woudl
heel.. smile at me and wait for me to say "let's go"
and finish *my* thing.  I would refuse to move .. i
looked like an idiot.. freezing mid walk for minutes
waiting for *my* dog to heel and give *me* permission
to go again.

I did the treats and the let's go... she got to do her
stuff and get a cookie.. if she even wanted the cookie.

I wound up calling Jerry.. as I have a half red nose
pit and half amstaff.. who is incredibly protective..

we had a new pup on the way.. and i needed help.. i
followed petsmarts trainnign guides.. memorized them...
and they *did* work, don't get me wrong.. but only
when my pet wanted a cookie or felt the cookie was
better than what she wanted.. which was not often.

She quickly learned to ignore my commands if she
could see my hands were empty.  So I called Jerry...
he chatted me for about an hour and a half.. gave me
his link... and even when i had probs intro'ing the
pup he called me withn i5 mins of my email for help
at 10pm on a sunday night.

One.. singular.. uno family pack exercise after
the hot and cold exercise and i could zig zag
down my street.. about face .. whatever.. and
never had tension.

two men were acrossed the street and she walked right
by them... ordinarily she'd snarl and protect us.

And in two days.. my dog.. who bit the puppy if he
even looked like he was going near my husband or kids..
is nursing him every hour.. cleaning him.. rough housing
gently.. and teaching him to go potty outside..

actually watches him to make sure he doesn't go in
the house... and has milk.. which is awesome since
she's 19 months old and has never had a litter.

She also has stopped barking non stop at our neighbor's
dogs and pig.. does not bark at eveyr car that drives by
and has stopped jumping on people.  she's even starting
to ignore our cat who has lived on her dome litter box
and our window sill (literally) for over a year and a half.

She also does her commands on cue..  and doesn't look for a treat.

From: "George von Hilsheimer, Ph.D." <drv...@mindspring.com>
Subject: The Amazing Jerry's take on psychobabble
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2005 12:13:44 -0400

   You might improve the learning of folk who actually
live with and train dogs to do useful things if you
excluded everyone who uses psychobabble from your lists.

I recommend to all of you who wish to taste the flavor
of sensible animal behaviorists to read THE MISBEHAVIOR
OF ORGANISMS, Breland and Breland.

This married pair of psychologists began the long trail
of highly trained animals who are symbolized by Shamu
eating a mackrel from a girl's hand instead of eating
the much more tasty pretty girl who is exactly the size
of the natural food of killer whales, seals.  Yum!

The essay, by the way, is a chapter in B.F. Skinner's
summing up book, CUMULATIVE RECORD.  They include a
sentence which more or less says, "unless you understand
the personal history of the particular animal, and the
history of this animal's species and group, the developmental
history of the animal, you cannot effectively train the animal.

Pigs root and hen's scratch, if you try to train hens without
scratching or pigs without scratching or pigeons without pecking,
you aren't going to have much success.

A conditional reflex is one which is learned, the original
primitive reflex occurs no matter what the history of the
animal, and is hard wired.  If you train the animal to respond,
say by ringing a bell immediately before turning on a bright
light, then you've taught the animal and made his native reflex
of pupil constriction conditional upon the ringing of a bell.

Thorndyke added some terminology to this kind of training
and insisted that when you train the animal to make gross
motor responses that this learning is "instrumental", the
animal takes action and uses an instrument.

The Russian word translated as "conditional" in all other
contexts was mistranslated by Pavlov's American translator,
Horsley Gannt, as "conditioned" and so American psychology
went haring after phantasmagora.

The major theorists for the development of the language of
operant conditioning are Edward Thorndike, John Watson, and
B. F. Skinner. Their approach to behaviorism played a major
role in the development of American psychology.

They proposed that learning is the result of the application
of consequences; that is, learners begin to connect certain
responses with certain stimuli. This connection causes the
probability of the response to change (i.e., learning occurs.)

Thorndike labeled this type of learning instrumental. Using
consequences, he taught kittens to manipulate a latch (e.g.,
an instrument). Skinner renamed instrumental as "operant"
because in this learning, one is "operating" on, and is
influenced by, the environment. Where classical conditioning
illustrates S-->R learning, operant conditioning is often
viewed as R-->S learning since it is the consequence that
follows the response that influences whether the response
is likely or unlikely to occur again.

It is through operant conditioning that
voluntary responses are learned.

One should note that Russian Psychology did very well
without the operant language, and only pettifogging
university professors ought to worry about what kind
of label we attach to the learning.  Pfui!

Even Skinner understood this!

And please note if you saw the original movie, THE
MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, you saw a Chinese psychologist
who was based on Andrew Salter, CONDITIONED REFLEX
THERAPY.

Alas, Salter didn't have a Ph.D., but he basically rescued
us from the long Freudian nightmare and returned psychotherapy
to a scientific basis.  Alas, the 2nd movie didn't even cite
Salter as a source.  "...all the highest nervous activity, as
it manifests itself in the conditional reflex, consists of a
continual change of these three fundamental processes --
excitation, inhibition and disinhibition."  Ivan P. Pavlov

George von Hilsheimer, Ph.D., F.R.S.H.

What's important is, "does Shamu reliably eat
the fish and not the pretty girl?"

George von Hilsheimer, Ph.D., F.R.

From: "George von Hilsheimer, Ph.D." <drv...@mindspring.com
To: <d...@arcane-computing.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2005 5:38 PM
Subject: Doggy advice

Scott, Jerry Howe forwarded me the letter below.
I'm glad that you referred negatively to Jerry's
habit of CAPITALIZING and HOWEING everything.

I personally hate this habit of his. I think it is his
way of diluting his authority - IME he is a very modest
fellow. However, contrary to your sneer, he is very
competent at living with dogs.

I thought I'd list a series of actions which I found
on the list, folk asking advice on what to do about
dogs doing this and that, for example:

whining,
humping, hunching,
pacing,
self mutilation - paw licking, side sucking,
spinning,
prolonged barking, barking at shadows,
overstimulated barking,
fighting, bullying other dogs,
compulsive digging,
compulsive scratching,
compulsive chewing,
frantic behavior,
chasing light, chasing shadow,
stealing food,
digging in garbage can,
loosing house (toilet) training.
inappropriate fearfulness
aggression.

The thing that is fascinating to me, as an ethologist who
graduated from college 50 years ago and has spent all of
the intervening time working with animals (including the
human animal), is that you never see any of these behaviors
in wild dingoes, jackals, coyotes or wolves, you don't even
see these behaviors in hyenas (who aren't dog related).

You see these behaviors in human managed animals, especially
animals who live with neurotic hysterical humans.

As Sam Corson (Pavlov's last student) demonstrated for
nearly 50 years at Ohio University (Oxford, O.) there
is no treatment more useful for dogs than tender loving
care.

George von Hilsheimer, Ph. D., F. R. S. H., Diplomate,
Academy of Behavioral Medicine

       "Linda" <llindaleedan...@msn.com wrote in message
       news:

       I have been trying for the last 18 months to help my
       dog who became fear aggressive at 18 month of age.
       I do not know what started the problem but he came
       aggressive first with dogs and then began lunging and
       snapping at people. Until this time he loved everyone
       and could play with any dog. He was well socialized
       ad I took him with me everywhere.

       At 13 months he passed the Canine Good Citizens
       Test except he could let me leave him. I had used
       clicker training to teach him manners and tricks but
       it was not working on his aggression problem.

       I took him to vets who suggested a low protein diet,
       trainers who charged $800 to only make him worse.
       They tried to use a prong collar and he froze, urinated
       and tried to climb on my head to help him. they then
       suggested a shock collar I knew this approach was not
       working as he was becoming more aggressive.

       I took him to an animal behaviorist with Ph. D. 400 miles
       away who told me to "KEEP HIM SAFE" and read a book
       on the fearful canine. I tried another trainer who tried to
       use a nylon chock collar but it only made him worse.

       I read hundreds of books,"CULTURE CLASH", "DOG
       ARE FROM NEPTUNE", "THE OTHER END OF THE
       LEASH", ETC looking for help. We finally went to Purdue
       University Small Animal Behavior Clinic and they said he
       had fear aggression, punishment would not work, use the
       gentle leader and when out walking and he got stressed
       have the people stop until he could get in control using
       treats, and work on clicker training.

       At that point I knew more about clicker training and using
       the gentle leader than they did! Nothing was working--he
       would not come when I called him and would run away when
       I tried to catch him. I was afraid to walk him even in the
       neighborhood as we had become that "mean dog and women who
       hasn't trained her dog"

       I went to four trainers in both Michigan and Florida who
       were trainer/specialists in aggression and the last two
       were so afraid of him they could not approach him. No one
       said I should give up on him and kill him but they would
       say "You have to realize he is dangerous and you are
       responsible for him."

       *(You got LUCKY, Linda... They coulda got Sunshine
       DEAD on us. Damned near did... too.)

       As last resort I tried the internet again--I had had on
       going discussions with trainers from Triple Crown and Dr
       Meister with out any help-and I found the ad to Doggy Do
       Right and messaged Jerry to ask if this might help my dog.
       He said solving the aggression problem was EZ but I could
       not believe him even when I downloaded the manual.

       The name of the method was right I was at my Wits End.
       I had been working for 18 months!

       Using the can sound three time he came, and still comes
       from anywhere with the command-"comegoodboy" Next
       I tried the can when walking him--when he saw a dog three
       blocks away he went off-lunging and snapping-I used the
       can sound and he looked at me like uhn?

       I used it three more times and we got to the other dog-
       -the looked at me wagging his tail--the other person
       looked at me like why are shaking that can but just walked
       on by.

       When ever I try to explain about the sound people look at
       me like "you must be out of your mind"

       The results can make a believer!!!

       Three weeks since beginning the Wits End Training
       Manual program I walked him without the gentle leader
       in a busy shopping area with many dogs.

       He just seemed to not notice any one.

       When people talked to him or ask his name he would
       look at then and wag his tail and let then pet him.

       I still can not believe the change in him--we can now
       enjoy life out in public.

       If I had not found the Wits End method I know there
       was no hope for him and he would have hurt someone
       Through all this he never growled at me, guarded his
       toys or food or showed any sign of aggression with me.

       My goal is to get the message out to all dog lovers that
       dogs can be trained fast, easily and problems solved with
       out force, pain, food or anything but sound and praise!!!!

       I know most people would have given up on him a long time
       ago but he was and is my life. Solving the problem was EZ
       but only with the right approach-sound and praise.

       I know because I tried everything else and nothing worked!!!

       ================================

       From: Linda Daniel
       To: Jerry Howe
       Sent: Monday, January 06, 2003 1:06 AM
       Subject: Re: - Re: dog aggression

       Thanks for writing--I would be happy to do almost anything
       to get your approach out to dog owners as I know it would
       save so many lives.  I know at times I was so frustrated I
       thought of giving up on Sunshine but of course I never would
       have but many people would have.  The world just does not
       know you can train a dog in just a few sessions and actually
       solve problems.

       We will be here until late April and we really have no plans-
       -just to enjoy the warmth and sun of Florida, so any time
       you could meet us would be great.  I drive so I would be
       happy to come to you anytime anywhere!

       We went to Celebration today and two little poodles got
       right into his face and he just sat there--I GOT a little
       scared but he handled it just fine.--a couple of times people
       would ask his name and want to pet him and he just went
       to them tail wagging and rolled over for them rub his tummy.

       He really just is not concerned about people passing, even
       those on rollerblades!  I have always used a gentle leader
       in public but he spent most of time rubbing his face on the
       grass--today I used his collar and he was so much happier!!

       Only problem is he will stop to smell and I can not get
       stopped soon enough to keep the leash loose.  He never
       pulled ahead of me but when he gets into smelling I have
       a hard time getting him going--at times  I think he could
       smell a blade of grass for 10 minutes.

       I can never thank you enough for giving Sunshine back!!!!!

       I wrote to Purdue and told them about him being able to
       walk in a crowd with out the /gentle leader and not having
       a problem with other people and dogs.

       I told them their advice did not work. Their advice was
       to use the gentle leader at all times and when he was
       around people or dogs to have him sit and reward with
       treats--one really good suggestions was to have people
       coming toward us stop when he got stressed or aroused
       and not move until we backed away-

       - can you just see me yelling at people to stop on the street
       until I get his attention with treats.

       They also suggested the possibility of using drugs-prozac-
       but thought he was too dangerous as the drug would make
       him less fearful and then he might attack or become more
       sure of himself and become dominate aggressive. Just had
       to share their great advice with you but I am sure you have
       heard it all--even I am becoming an expert on bad advice.