Abstract
This paper examines the relevant and scholarly literature concerning operant conditioning, in general, and the extent to which it works with dogs, in particular. The paper presents the "nature versus nurture" debate and explores whether canine behaviour is determined by genetics or environmental influences.

From the Paper
"The debate over nature versus nurture as it applies to learning dates back over a hundred years. Certainly, during much of the 20th century, the distinction between learned and inherited behavior appeared much clearer than it does today. The concept that any type of behavior was either learned or merely developed without learning seemed a rationale and straightforward belief. Research based on these expectations caused some scientists to conclude that rat-killing behavior among cats, for example, is a learned behavior rather than an instinctive one, that human fears are all acquired, or that intelligence is completely the result of experience. Learning theorists were arguing at this point that most behavior is learned and that biological factors are of little or no importance."

Tags:dogs, reinforcement, nature, nurture

Abstract
The paper examines how the symptoms of fear and anxiety in canines can range the entire spectrum from mild to life-threatening conditions. The paper discusses the help that pet owners, military and police dog handlers, veterinarians and others concerned about the welfare of their animals will need when confronted with these types of conditions in their household dogs and other canines. The paper provides an overview of the problem including causes and symptoms of fear and anxiety in canines, followed by a critical analysis of the current and peer-reviewed literature concerning the pharmacological treatment of these disorders today. A summary of the research and salient findings are provided in the conclusion.

Outline:
i)Introduction
ii)Review and Discussion
Background and Overview
Causes and Symptoms of Fear and Anxiety in Canines
Pharmacological Treatment of Fear and Anxiety in Canines
Table I
iii)Conclusion
iv)References

From the Paper
"From a clinical perspective, Sher and Trull (1996) note that there are a number of naturally occurring behavior disorders that are typically treated in veterinary practices that may have relevance to a number of human conditions; these conditions include, but are not limited to, stereotypic disorders (e.g. excessive grooming), aggression, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, hyperactivity, and sleep disorders. These authors add that researchers generally use a wide variety of experimental manipulations to induce specific signs and symptoms or more complex syndromes in animals that have some similarity to human psychopathologic phenomena with the majority of these behavior disorders in animals (Sher & Trull, 1996)."

Tags:symptoms, organism, impending, death, dangerous, wild

Abstract
This paper explores canine hypothyroidism and its impact on canine behavior. The author examines research about canine hypothyroidism and its causes, symptoms and how these things ultimately impact the behavior of the dog.

From the Paper
"Pet owners often love their pets as much as if they were human. When the pet begins to act like he or she is not feeling up to par it warrants an immediate trip to the veterinarian to see what the problem is. Many dog illnesses are obvious, such as bites, infection, fever or flu, but there are also disorders or illnesses that are less obvious at first. One such disorder is canine hypothyroidism. Canine hypothyroidism is similar to human hypothyroidism in many ways. It impacts the adrenal system, it affects weight, mind and behavior in the canine just like it can in humans. One of the problems with canine hypothyroidism is that the animal cannot tell the owner what is wrong. The symptoms can go on for quite some time before anyone in the family figures out that something is wrong. Usually the first indicator is the behavior of the animal because the earlier symptoms are not something the dog can express."

Tags:thyroid, supplements, taking, medication, palette, chewable, dry, skin, coarse, hair, thinning, hair, bald, patches

Abstract
This paper examines how elements of natural canid social tendencies and their highly communicative natural behaviors account for their ability to be trained and for the particularly fulfilling relationships that characterize their modern association with humans, whether in the role of social companion or working partnership. It attempts to show how our general appreciation of the full extent to which dogs communicate in their own language is minimal in comparison to the extent of our successful exploitation of their ability to learn to understand our form(s) of communication.

From the Paper
"Dogs use their tails for many more communicative purposes than merely
wagging them to indicate their happiness. Experts still disagree as to the origins of tail wagging, with some even going so far as maintaining that it is strictly an adaptive behavior specifically for communicating with humans and virtually absent in their natural repertoire, despite much evidence that would seem to disprove that belief, conclusively.(Coren, p.105) According to Desmond Morris, the origins of tail wagging has its roots in a manifestation of ambivalence, when nursing puppies still find comfort nestled amongst littermates, while simultaneously seeking their exclusive space and control over their mother's nipple during suckling."

Tags:tail, wag, bark, scent

Abstract
This paper examines the central themes in "Carry Me Across the Water," Ethan Canin's novel of an aging man confronting his past. It also looks at the author's use of interior monologue with the story told in a series of montages.

From the Paper
" August Kleinman, the protagonist of Ethan Canin's novel titled Carry Me Across the Water is introduced as a man whose life had shown him the fruit and dirt of the world, he had killed one man and possibly a second ..."

Tags:novels, Ethan Canin, literary analysis

Abstract
This paper analyzes the novel, "Carry Me Across the Water", by Ethan Canin. The author examines the hero's quest aspects of the novel, and discusses Canin's characterization of the protagonist, August Kleinman.

Abstract
This essay is a comparative analysis of the child-parent relationships expressed in the following works: Jamaica Kincaid's "Girl," Robert Hayden's "Those Winter Sundays" and Ethan Canin's "The Year of Getting to Know Us", focusing on how children must develop and mature before they understand their parents and themselves.

From the Paper
"Relationships between parents and children are often made more complex by the fact that in addition to the strong emotional ties shared between parents and children, children are not yet developed enough to understand the full .."

Tags:communication, religion, sacrifice, intentions, bonds, family, gender

Abstract
When most people think of a hero's journey, they think of a young man. In his evocative work, "Carry Me Across the Water", author Ethan Canin begins the tale of a hero's journey with quite an old man, August Kleinman. The paper explores how the story is told through a cleverly woven series of "now" and "then" vignettes and at the end of the book, it is plain that this man is, in a very ordinary sense, a hero. The paper also examines the legendary journey that Kleinman makes in his life and compares his story to that of 'traditional' heroes from antiquity such as Odysseus and Aeneas.

I. Hero
A. Legend, Not Myth
1. Ginger
2. Isabela
B. Kleinman is Man, not God
II. The Journey
A. "Miraculous" Child
B. Maternal Training; No Advice
C. Avoiding Sirens
D. Extraordinary Strength
III. The New Land
A. Pittsburgh
B. "Yom Kipper"
IV. End of Journey
A. The Swing/Asher
B. No Advice/Asher

From the Paper
"Whether or not Kleinman took advice, then or ever, it is clear that he claimed all the lands he inhabited. He refused to maintain the Jewish pronunciation of Yom Kippur, calling it instead Yom Kipper, the way the Gentiles said it, the way his wife might have said it early on. He "bought" Isabela's loyalty after his wife's death. He brings his grandson into his landscape (the park, against his son's wishes), and teaches him a hero's ways. That the entire future of the "race," Kleinman's post-journey family, is resident in Asher is certain."

Tags:interfaith, marriage, mythic, Jewish

Abstract
This paper will list the pros and cons of specialization, describe what a SWAT team consists of, and also describe a typical canine unit.

From the Paper
"The pros and the cons of specialization help to explain why specialized police units are formed. Many people have different opinions about specialization in law enforcement. Efforts to specialize teams in larger agencies can have both positive and negative effects on the agency or department."

Tags:canine, police, specialization, swat, tactical

Abstract
This paper explains that the petite Channel Island fox, urocyon littoralis, endemic to the California Channel Islands, has become near extinction because of the invasion of non-native species, misguided conservation efforts and rampant canine distemper disease. The author points out that, in an effort to save the San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike, lanius ludovicianus mearnsi, one of the most endangered birds in the world, which is a prey of the Channel Island fox, careless conservation efforts reduced the San Clemente (one of the Channel Islands) fox so rapidly that its population then became endangered. The paper stresses that conservation is more complex than looking at a primary cause alone: For the Channel Island Fox, this means trapping and relocating golden eagles, reintroducing bald eagles, removing feral pigs, replacing exotic grasslands for native ones, and above all, monitoring the foxes. The paper is attractive with many photographs and captions.

Table of Contents:
Scorch and Sizzle
Plagued by an Epidemic
The Hitch with the Shrike
The Flying Catastrophe
Taking a Wider Glance

From the Paper
"The good news is that predator control is starting to work. Since 2004, there have been no golden eagles on the islands of San Miguel and Santa Cruz. San Miguel Island has also released ten island foxes from their captive breeding program to begin to repopulate the subspecies. In addition, all three islands now have a total of 25 resident bald eagles that have been relocated there in order to bring this native species back. The bald eagles kept the golden eagles away once before, so they may be able to do it again."

Tags:vaccines, distemper, euthanasia, eagle, complex