Ditch the Bowl
I’m thrilled to have seen the hashtag #ditchthebowl blaze a trail across social media in recent months. One of the easiest ways we can ensure we are setting our dogs up for success is by redistributing their daily food allowance. We have a large amount of food that we feed our dogs every day and it’s often wasted in a couple of big chunks. Spreading it out throughout the day gives us the ability to frequently reinforce good choices, provide enriching activities to stimulate problem solving skills, create opportunities for mental exercise, and to set up solid preventative strategies to keep dogs out of mischief. There are also some wonderful health benefits to spreading their food out rather than having a few heavy meals. Some ideas for ditching the bowl: 

• The night before, prepare 4-6 Kong toys and put them in the freezer. This is particularly helpful for nippy puppies. I also love using frozen stuffed Kongs for when company comes over and there is a fearful or reactive dog in the house. If your dog eats raw or wet food you can stuff them with their regular food, if your dog eats a kibble based diet you will need to add a binding agent. Tinned food, mashed bananas, and nut butter are all appropriate choices to bind the kibble together. Watch our Kong Stuffing video here: https://youtu.be/Q8yYnqSM33g 
• Bring a meal on your walk. Kibble meals can be tossed into a bag or pouch, wet or raw food can be watered down a bit and placed into squeeze tubes. As you walk, feed little bits to your dog. This will help your dog focus on you, helps with dogs who pull, helps with socialization and confidence building, and helps dogs learn to disengage from distractions and triggers. When working with triggers and distractions, begin feeding as soon as you see your dog notice the stimuli; don’t wait to see what their reaction is. Be proactive! 
• Bring your dog's meals with you on walks to play games like Check In, Check Out and to boost loose leash walking skills. 
• Puzzle toys and games can be used to add enrichment and mental exercise and can be filled with your dog’s meals rather than treats. 
• Create a large snuffle experience by tossing kibble or dry treats into a grassy patch on a walk (but be prepared to be there awhile!). 
• Reserve a few handfuls (or a squeeze tube) for using as rewards when practicing new skills and behaviours. 
• Lay out a trail of kibbles throughout the house or yard for your dog to follow. You can also freeze wet or raw food in ice cube trays to play this game outside. 

We will often refer to this program when working with dogs who are struggling with impulse control, arousal concerns and some anxiety issues. It is an excellent program to follow and is well worth trying with your own dog! 
When we use this program at DOGWIT we have some variations on the basic set up as so much has been learned in the animal behaviour world since the program came out in 1997! Before you get started, it is helpful to ensure you have a "Yes!" Reward Marker (a word that lets your dog know that food is on the way) and a solid skill such as a Sit or a Down. Having these already trained will help set your dog up to be successful with the program. 
You'll see the program is divided into 14 daily task sheets. It is important to build on success and move through the tasks at a pace that is appropriate for your dog. If they struggle with a task, see if you can break it up into smaller bits so that they can work up to it. Don't push through it; the goal isn't to make it through the program in 14 days, it's to help your dog learn to relax despite distractions, outside stimuli and sometimes odd situations.
At the start of each task, ask your dog for a Sit. Be sure to "Yes" and reward the Sit behaviour. After each task is complete, again use your reward marker and deliver the food reinforcer to your dog. For example, the first task is "Sit for 5 seconds". Give the cue "Sit", then mark the behaviour and reward when your dog complies. Count to 5, then mark the behaviour and reward. If your dog stands up before the 5 seconds are complete, just say "whoops!" and set it up again. "Sit", "Yes", Reward. Then begin counting again, but maybe only to 3 this time. Work up to the full 5 seconds and help your dog to get it right; you are on the same team after all! 
It can be wise to pair this protocol with the Ditch The Bowl program. Utilizing your dog's regular (as well as some surprise extra tasty goodies mixed in) can keep your dog's calorie count in check, can spread out their meal so that they are not gulping it down, and can add enrichment to your dog's life. 

Protocol for Relaxation
By Dr. Karen L. Overall
Clinical Behavioural Medicine for Small Animals, 1997.
This program is the foundation for all other behaviour modification programs. Its purpose is to teach the dog to sit and stay while relaxing in a variety of circumstances. The circumstances change from very reassuring ones with you pre- sent to potentially more stressful ones when you are absent. The purpose of the program is not to teach the dog to sit; sitting (or lying down, if the dog is more comfortable) is only a tool. The goals of the program are to teach the dog to relax, to defer to you, to enjoy earning a salary for an appropriate, desirable behaviour, and to develop, as a foundation, a pattern of behaviours that allow the dog to cooperate with future behaviour modification (generally desensitization and counter conditioning). This protocol acts as a foundation for teaching the dog context-specific appropriate behaviour. The focus is to teach the dog to rely on you for all the cues as to the appropriateness of its behaviour so that it can then learn not to react inappropriately.

PROTOCOL TASK SHEETS
The task is listed on the left. To the right is a space for your comments about the degree of difficulty of the task for the dog, how many times it had to be repeated, or other questionable behaviours that appeared during the task. You should discuss these with your veterinarian at the reexamination appointment.
Remember after each task to verbally praise the dog and reward it with a treat for perfect performance before going on to the next task. Each set of exercises is designed for a day or a block of time. Warm-up and cool-down periods are provided.
At the first sign of any anxiety /lips retracted, pupils dilated, head lowered, ears pulled down and back, trembling, scanning/, return to an exercise with which the dog is more comfortable or break down the exercise that produced these behaviours into smaller steps.

Day 1: Dog's Task
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you take 1 step back and return
Sit while you take 2 steps back and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you take 1 step back and return
Sit while you take 1 step back and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you take 2 steps back and return
Sit while you take 2 steps back and return
Sit for 15 seconds
Sit while you take 2 steps back and return
Sit while you clap your hands softly once
Sit while you take 3 steps back and return
Sit while you count out loud to 10
Sit while you clap your hands softly once
Sit while you count out loud to 20
Sit while you take 3 steps to the right and return
Sit while you clap your hands softly twice
Sit for 3 seconds
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit while you take 1 step back and return
Sit for 3 seconds
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit for 3 seconds

Day 2: Dog's Task
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you take 1 step back and return
Sit while you take 3 steps back and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you take 3 steps to the right and return
Sit while you take 3 steps to the left and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you take 3 steps to the right and clap your hands
Sit while you take 3 steps to the left and clap your hands
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you walk one fourth of the way around the dog to the right
Sit while you take 4 steps back and return
Sit while you walk one fourth of the way around the dog to the left
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you take 5 steps back from the dog, clapping your hands, and return
Sit while you walk halfway around the dog to the right and return
Sit while you walk halfway around the dog to the left and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you jog quietly in place for 3 seconds
Sit while you jog quietly in place for 5 seconds
Sit while you jog quietly in place for 10 seconds
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you jog one fourth of the way around the dog to the right and return
Sit while you jog one fourth of the way around the dog to the left and return
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you take 1 step back and return
Sit while you take 3 steps back and return
Sit while you take 1 step to the right and return
Sit while you take 1 step to the left and return
Sit while you take 2 steps back and return
Sit while you take 2 steps to the right and return
Sit while you take 2 steps to the left and return

Day 3: Dog's Task
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 15 seconds
Sit while you take 2 steps backward and return
Sit while you jog 5 steps backward from the dog and return
Sit while you walk halfway around the dog to the right and return
Sit while you walk halfway around the dog to the left and return
Sit while you take 10 steps backward and return
Sit for 15 seconds
Sit while you take 10 steps to the left and return
Sit while you take 10 steps to the right and return
Sit for 20 seconds
Sit while you walk halfway around the dog to the right, clapping your hands, and return
Sit for 20 seconds
Sit while you walk halfway around the dog to the left, clapping your hands, and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you jog 10 steps to the right and return
Sit while you job 10 steps to the left and return
Sit while you jog in place for 10 seconds
Sit for 15 seconds
Sit while you jog in place for 20 seconds
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you jog backward 5 steps and return
Sit while you jog to the right 5 steps and return
Sit while you jog to the left 5 steps and return
Sit for 5 seconds while you clap your hands
Sit for 10 seconds while you clap your hands
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 5 seconds

Day 4: Dog's Task
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you jog backward 5 steps and return
Sit for 20 seconds
Sit while you jog halfway around the dog to the right and return
Sit while you jog halfway around the dog to the left and return
Sit while you move three fourths of the way around the dog to the right and return
Sit while you move three fourths of the way around the dog to the left and return
Sit while you jog backward 5 steps, clapping your hands, and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you clap your hands for 20 seconds
Sit while you move quickly backward 10 steps and return
Sit while you move quickly 15 steps backward and return
Sit for 20 seconds
Sit while you jog halfway around the dog to the right and return
Sit while you jog halfway around the dog to the left and return
Sit while you walk quickly 15 steps to the left and return
Sit while you walk quickly 15 steps to the right and return
Sit for 20 seconds
Sit while you move three fourths of the way around the dog to the right and return
Sit while you move three fourths of the way around the dog to the left and return
Sit while you walk all the way around the dog
Sit while you walk approximately 20 steps to an entrance and return
Sit while you walk approximately 20 steps to an entrance, clapping your hands, and return Sit while you walk around the dog, quietly clapping your hands, and then return
Sit for 20 seconds
Sit while you jog quickly around the dog
Sit for 20 seconds
Sit for 10 seconds while you clap your hands

Day 5: Dog's Task
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit for 15 seconds
Sit while you walk quickly 15 steps to the right and return
Sit while you walk quickly 15 steps to the left and return
Sit while you walk approximately 20 steps to an entrance and return
Sit while you walk approximately 20 steps to an entrance, clapping your hands, and return
Sit for 20 seconds
Sit while you walk around the dog, clapping your hands
Sit for 20 seconds
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you walk quickly backward, clapping your hands, and return
Sit while you walk approximately 20 steps to an entrance and return
Sit while you walk approximately 20 steps to an entrance, clapping your hands, and return
Sit while you go to an entrance and just touch the doorknob or wall and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you walk quickly backward, clapping your hands, and return
Sit while you walk approximately 20 steps to an entrance and return
Sit while you walk approximately 20 steps to an entrance, clapping your hands, and return
Sit while you go to an entrance and just touch the doorknob or wall and return
Sit for 20 seconds
Sit while you walk approximately 20 steps to an entrance, clapping your hands, and return
Sit while you go to an entrance and just touch the doorknob or wall and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while the doorknob is touched or you move into entryway and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 15 seconds while you clap your hands
Sit for 10 seconds while you jog in place
Sit for 5 seconds

Day 6: Dog's Task
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 20 seconds while you jog back and forth in front of the dog
Sit for 15 seconds
Sit while you walk approximately 20 steps to an entrance and return
Sit while you walk quickly backward, clapping your hands, and return
Sit while you go to an entrance and just touch the doorknob or wall and return
Sit for 20 seconds while jogging
Sit while you walk around the dog
Sit while you walk around the dog, clapping your hands
Sit for 15 seconds
Sit for 20 seconds
Sit for 30 seconds
Sit while you walk quickly backward, clapping your hands, and return
Sit while you go to an entrance and just touch the doorknob or wall and return
Sit while you open the door or go into the entranceway for 5 seconds and return
Sit while you open the door or go into the entranceway for 10 seconds and return
Sit for 30 seconds
Sit while you walk quickly backward, clapping your hands, and return
Sit while you go to an entrance and just touch the doorknob or wall and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you go through the door or the entranceway and return
Sit while you go through the door or the entranceway, clapping your hands, and return
Sit while you open the door or go though the entranceway for 10 seconds and return
Sit for 30 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view for 5 seconds and return
Sit for 20 seconds
Sit for 10 seconds while you clap your hands
Sit for 5 seconds

Day 7: Dog's Task
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 20 seconds while you clap your hands
Sit while you take 10 steps backward and return
Sit while you walk around the dog
Sit while you go through the door or the entranceway and then return
Sit while you go through the door or the entranceway, clapping your hands, and return
Sit while you open the door or go through the entranceway for 10 seconds and return
Sit for 30 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view for 5 seconds and return
Sit while you go through the door or the entranceway and return
Sit while you go through the door or the entranceway, clapping your hands, and return
Sit while you open the door or go through the entranceway for 10 seconds and return
Sit for 30 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view for 10 seconds and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 15 seconds and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 15 seconds
Sit for 5 seconds while you clap your hands
Sit while you jog in place for 10 seconds
Sit while you jog three fourths of the way to the right and return
Sit while you jog three fourths of the way to the left and return
Sit while you go through the door or the entranceway, clapping your hands, and return
Sit while you open the door or go through the entranceway for 10 seconds and return
Sit for 30 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view for 15 seconds and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 5 seconds

Day 8: Dog's Task
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 15 seconds while you jog and clap your hands
Sit while you back up 15 steps and return
Sit while you circle the dog and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 20 seconds and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 25 seconds and return
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit for 5 seconds while you sit in a chair (placed 5 feet from the dog)
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit for 15 seconds while you jog and clap your hands
Sit while you back up 15 steps and return
Sit while you circle the dog and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 20 seconds and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 30 seconds and return
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit while you circle the dog and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 20 seconds and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 25 seconds and return
Sit for 5 seconds while you sit in a chair near the dog
Sit while you disappear from view for 10 seconds, sit in a chair for 5 seconds, and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 20 seconds while you jog and clap your hands
Sit for 15 seconds while you run around the dog
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 5 seconds while you turn around
Sit for 5 seconds while you sit in a chair near the dog
Sit while you disappear from view for 10 seconds, sit in a chair for 5 seconds, and return
Sit for 10 seconds

Day 9: Dog's Task
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit for 10 seconds while you turn around
Sit for 5 seconds while you jog
Sit while you walk around the dog
Sit while you jog around the dog
Sit while you jog around the dog, clapping your hands
Sit while you jog twice around the dog
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 15 seconds while you clap your hands
Sit for 20 seconds
Sit while you move three fourths of the way around the dog to the right and return
Sit while you move three fourths of the way around the dog to the left and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 10 seconds and return
Sit while you circle the dog and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 20 seconds and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 25 seconds and return
Sit for 5 seconds while you sit in a chair near the dog
Sit while you disappear from view for 10 seconds, sit in a chair for 5 seconds, and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you bend down and touch your toes
Sit while you stretch your arms
Sit while you stretch your arms and jump once
Sit while you touch your toes 5 times
Sit while you stretch your arms and jump 3 times
Sit for 15 seconds
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 5 seconds

Day 10: Dog's Task
Sit for 5 seconds while you clap
Sit for 10 seconds while you touch your toes
Sit for 15 seconds while you sit in a chair
Sit while you walk quickly 15 steps to the right and return
Sit while you walk quickly 15 steps to the left and return
Sit while you walk approximately 20 steps to an entrance and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 5 seconds and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 10 seconds and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 15 seconds and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit while you walk quickly 15 steps to the right and return
Sit while you walk quickly 15 steps to the left and return
Sit while you approximately 20 steps to an entrance and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 5 seconds and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 10 seconds and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 15 seconds and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 5 seconds, knock softly on the wall, and return
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view for 5 seconds and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 10 seconds and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 15 seconds and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 5 seconds, knock softly on the wall, and return
Sit while you disappear from view, knock quickly but softly on the wall, and return
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view for 10 seconds, knock softly on the wall, and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 5 seconds

Day 11: Dog's Task
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view, knock quickly but softly on the wall, and return
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view for 10 seconds, knock softly on the wall, and return
Sit for 30 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view, ring the doorbell, and immediately return
Sit while you disappear from view, ring the doorbell, wait 2 seconds, and return
Sit for 30 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view, ring the doorbell, and immediately return
Sit while you disappear from view, ring the doorbell, wait 5 seconds, and return
Sit for 30 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view, ring the doorbell, and immediately return
Sit while you disappear from view, ring the doorbell, wait 10 seconds, and return
Sit for 5 seconds while you jog around the dog
Sit while you walk around the dog
Sit while you jog around the dog
Sit while you jog around the dog, clapping your hands
Sit while you jog twice around the dog
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 15 seconds while you clap your hands
Sit for 20 seconds
Sit while you move three fourths of the way around the dog to the right and return
Sit while you move three fourths of the way around the dog to the left and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 10 seconds and return
Sit while you circle the dog and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 5 seconds

Day 12: Dog's Task
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 5 seconds while you clap your hands
Sit for 15 seconds
Sit for 20 seconds while you hum
Sit while you disappear from view for 20 seconds and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 25 seconds and return
Sit for 5 seconds while you sit in a chair near the dog
Sit while you disappear from view for 10 seconds, sit in a chair for 5 seconds, and return
Sit for 15 seconds
Sit for 20 seconds while you hum
Sit while you disappear from view for 20 seconds and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 25 seconds and return
Sit while you move three fourths of the way around the dog to the right and return
Sit while you move three fourths of the way around the dog to the left and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 10 seconds and return
Sit while you circle the dog and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view, knock quickly but softly on the wall, and return
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view for 10 seconds, knock softly on the wall, and return
Sit for 30 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view, ring the doorbell, and immediately return
Sit while you disappear from view, ring the doorbell, wait 2 seconds, and return
Sit for 30 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view, say "hello," and return
Sit while you disappear from view, say "hello," wait 3 seconds, and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 5 seconds and return

Day 13: Dog's Task
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit for 15 seconds while you hum
Sit for 15 seconds while you clap your hands and hum
Sit while you disappear from view for 20 seconds and return
Sit while you disappear from view for 25 seconds and return
Sit for 5 seconds while you sit in a chair near the dog
Sit while you disappear from view for 10 seconds, sit in a chair for 5 seconds, and return
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view, knock quickly but softly on the wall, and return
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view for 10 seconds, knock softly on the wall, and return
Sit for 30 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view, ring the doorbell, and immediately return
Sit while you disappear from view, ring the doorbell, wait 2 seconds, and return
Sit for 30 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view, say "hello," wait 5 seconds, and return
Sit while you disappear from view, knock or ring the doorbell, say "hello," wait 5 seconds, and return
Sit for 30 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view, say "hello," wait 5 seconds, and return
Sit while you disappear from view, knock or ring the doorbell, say "hello," wait 5 seconds, and return
Sit for 20 seconds while you hum
Sit for 15 seconds while you clap your hands
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit while you jog around the dog
Sit for 10 seconds while you clap your hands and hum
Sit for 5 seconds while you jog in place
Sit while you jog around the dog, humming

Day 14: Dog's Task
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 5 seconds while you clap your hands and hum
Sit while you run around the dog
Sit while you walk back and forth to the door
Sit while you leave the room, quickly knock or ring the doorbell, and return
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 5 seconds while you clap your hands and hum
Sit while you run around the dog
Sit while you walk back and forth to the door
Sit while you leave the room, quickly knock or ring the doorbell, and return
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view for 10 seconds, knock softly on the wall, and return
Sit for 30 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view, ring the doorbell, and immediately return
Sit while you disappear from view, ring the doorbell, wait 2 seconds, and return
Sit for 30 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view, say "hello," wait 5 seconds, and return
Sit while you disappear from view, knock or ring the doorbell, say "hello," wait 10 seconds, and return
Sit for 30 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view, say "hello," wait 10 seconds, and return
Sit while you disappear from view, knock or ring the doorbell, say "hello," wait 10 seconds, and return
Sit for 20 seconds while you hum
Sit for 20 seconds
Sit for 5 seconds

Day 15: Dog's Task
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit for 15 seconds while you clap your hands and hum
Sit while you disappear from view, knock or ring the doorbell, say "hello," talk for 10 seconds, and return
Sit for 20 seconds while you hum
Sit while you disappear from view, say "hello," invite the imaginary person in, wait 5 seconds, and return
Sit for 10 seconds
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit while you disappear from view, say "hello," invite the imaginary person in, wait 10 seconds, and return
Sit while you disappear from view, say "hello," talk (as if to someone) for 5 seconds, and return
Sit for 5 seconds while you clap your hands and hum
Sit while you run around the dog
Sit while you walk back and forth to the door
Sit while you leave the room, quickly knock or ring the doorbell, and return
Sit for 5 seconds
Sit while you leave the room, knock or ring the doorbell for 3 seconds, and return
Sit while you leave the room and knock or ring the doorbell for 5 seconds, and return
Sit while you leave the room and talk for 3 seconds to people who are not there
Sit while you leave the room and talk for 5 seconds to people who are not there
Sit while you leave the room and talk for 10 seconds to people who are not there
Sit while you run around the dog
Sit for 10 seconds while you sit in a chair
Sit for 30 seconds while you sit in a chair
Sit for 15 seconds while you clap your hands and jog
Sit for 5 seconds

For Future Repetitions
• Repeat all tasks in different locations
• Repeat all tasks with all family members
• Repeat all tasks with only every second or third task being rewarded with a treat (Remember to continue to mark the behaviour and add praise/pets!)
• Repeat with only intermittent treat reinforcement. (Remember to continue to mark the behaviour and add praise/pets!)

Imagine you live on a planet where the dominant species is far more intellectually sophisticated than human beings but often keeps humans as companion animals. They are called the Gorns. They communicate with each other via a complex combination of telepathy, eye movements and high-pitched squeaks, all completely unintelligible and unlearnable by humans, whose brains are prepared for verbal language acquisition only. What humans sometimes learn is the meaning of individual sounds by repeated association with things of relevance to them. The Gorns and humans bond strongly but there are many Gorn rules which humans must try to assimilate with limited information and usually high stakes.
You are one of the lucky humans who lives with the Gorns in their dwelling. Many other humans are chained to small cabanas in the yard. They have become so socially starved that they cannot control their emotions when a Gorn goes near them. Because of this behaviour, the Gorns agree that they could never be House-Humans. They are too excitable.
The dwelling you share with your Gorn family is filled with numerous water-filled porcelain bowls, complete with flushers. Everytime you try to urinate in one, though, any nearby Gorn attacks you. You learn to only use the toilet when there are no Gorns present. Sometimes they come home and stuff your head down the toilet for no apparent reason. You hate this and start sucking up to the Gorns when they come home to try to stave this off, but they view this as increasing evidence of your guilt of some unknown act.
You are also punished for watching videos, reading certain books, talking to other human beings, eating pizza or cheesecake, writing letters. These are all considered behavior problems by the Gorns. To avoid going crazy, once again you wait until they are not around to try doing anything you wish to do. While they are around, you sit quietly, staring straight ahead. Because they witness this good behaviour you are so obviously capable of, they attribute to "spite" the video watching and other transgressions which occur when you are alone. Obviously you resent being left alone, they figure. You are walked several times a day and left crossword puzzle books to do (you have never used them because you hate crosswords; the Gorns think you're ignoring them out of revenge).
Worst of all, you like them. They are, after all, often nice to you. But when you smile at them, they punish you, likewise for shaking hands. If you apologize, they punish you again. You have not seen another human since you were a small child. When you see one on the street you are curious, excited and sometimes afraid. You really don't know how to act. So, the Gorn you live with keeps you away from other humans. Your social skills never develop.
Finally, you are brought to "training" school. A large part of the training consists of having your air briefly cut off by a metal chain around your neck. They are sure you understand every squeak and telepathic communication they make because sometimes you seem to get it right. You are guessing and hate the training. You feel pretty stressed out a lot of the time. One day, you see a Gorn approaching with the training collar in hand. You have PMS, a sore neck, and you just don't feel up to the baffling coercion about to ensue. You tell them in your sternest voice to please leave you alone and go away. The Gorns are shocked by this unprovoked aggressive behaviour. They thought you had a good temperament.
They put you in one of their vehicles and take you for a drive. You watch the attractive planetary landscape going by and wonder where you are going. The vehicle stops, you are led into a building filled with the smell of human sweat and excrement. Humans are everywhere in small cages. Some are nervous, some depressed, most watch the goings on from their prisons. Your Gorns, with whom you have lived your entire life, hand you over to strangers who drag you to a small room. You are terrified and yell to your Gorn family to help you. They turn and walk out the door of the building. You are held down and given a lethal injection. It is, after all, the humane way to do it.