“Marley and Me,” a film based on John Grogan’s life with
his loveable but unruly Labrador Retriever, is a wonderful example of
the depth of the human-animal bond. However, much of Marley’s “bad”
behavior was unknowingly created by his well meaning but poorly
prepared owners and some of it was an anxiety disorder called storm
phobia.
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) makes the following recommendations.
1) Puppies require a great deal of time, attention, and training.
Prospective owners should be well educated and prepared to begin
teaching good manners from the minute they get the puppy. Waiting
until the puppy is so large that he is uncontrollable will make the
process much more difficult.
2) Owners should enroll puppies in puppy classes as soon as
possible. This is important for the owner’s education and for
socialization of the puppy. This should be arranged before the puppy
comes home.
3) Unruly behaviors such as jumping, pulling on the leash, and
chewing household items can be prevented in the adult dog by teaching
and rewarding mannerly and appropriate behavior in growing puppies.
4) At no point was “Marley” trying to be the “alpha male of the
pack,” as claimed by the film’s dog trainer. Training does not require
“dominance” and harsh corrections. Being a good leader by training and
reinforcing desired behavior using positive reinforcement is the safest
and most effective way to train puppies. For example, kneeing Marley
in the chest to stop jumping up was potentially dangerous, completely
ineffective, and unnecessary. Simply teaching him from puppyhood to
sit for petting would have eliminated that problem.
5) Many dogs suffer from behavior problems that are unrelated
to traditional training. For example, destruction and vocalization
during storms often occurs because of the well-recognized condition of
storm phobia. This condition is very treatable by veterinarians with a
special interest or certification in animal behavior. “Most
veterinarians and veterinary behaviorists see this problem very
commonly. Treatment at an early age can alleviate stress experienced
by the family and improves the quality of life for the dog itself,”
said Dr. John Ciribassi, Immediate Past President of AVSAB and owner of
the Chicagoland Veterinary Behavior Consultants.
6) Viewers should resist the temptation to adopt a puppy or dog
based on a movie. What is on the screen is entertainment, not
reality—even if it based on a true story. Shelters were filled with
Dalmatians purchased after people saw the Disney film “101 Dalmatians”
several years ago. Once the adorable little puppies grew up into
rambunctious and destructive young adults, many owners simply dumped
them.