Protection Dog?

     A young woman was telling me a story about how wonderful her dog is to her.  She proudly stated that "[the dog] is so protective of me, he almost wouldn't let my husband in the house the other night!"  She went on to explain that her husband had gone out earlier that evening with some friends and the friends dropped him off later that night in a different vehicle.  Her dog started "...going crazy!" she explained.  "He was barking loud and running around the house.  I tried to tell him 'It's okay, Daddy's home!' but when I went to the door, he darted out and then looped around and jumped up on me to push me back into the house!"

     In working with dogs for years, I often come across people who are absurdly proud of a dog they view as "protective" who is actually displaying overt tendencies of possession, fear, or inverted dominance.  It makes me believe that there is an overall misconception of terms as they apply to canine behavior.  The reason this concerns me is that the behaviors encouraged and elicited as "protective" are often the cause for the dog to display tendencies that are unwanted or can even be dangerous to the owner or other people and animals present.

     Dogs who carry an actual title of "Protection Dog" have had years of training with experienced handlers.  In the right hands, these dogs are the least likely to "go crazy" and panic at the sight or sound of new stimuli.

     One way to distinguish if a dog is actually being "protective" is to determine if the owner was truly frightened or angry.  If so, then there was a huge chemical surge that the dog could detect, and would know was out of the ordinary.  Another point to examine is if the owner gave a command for the dog to vocalize and/or move forward towards the perceived threat.  If the dog was acting at the behest of the handler, the motions would not appear frenzied and panicked.  Obviously if the dog is physically causing any harm to the owner it is not a desirable behavior, and should not be labeled as "protective".

     I do agree that a dog can be a deterrent to a would-be burglar or robber, but there are other ways to achieve this without allowing the dog to reach a state of panic.  Teaching a dog to bark or growl on command can be useful for this.  Simply using basic obedience to send a dog several yards out (towards the threat) and sit/stay facing the stranger can be very intimidating also to a would-be aggressor.

     For more information about YOUR dog's behavior, please feel free to contact me!  pawsthenplay@gmail.com

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Tales of Tails

     Growing up, I recall being told that a wagging tail meant a happy dog.  Now I know how overly simplified that statement is.  The truth is, the tail movement is only a small part of the communication of canines.

     How rapidly the tail is moving tells the intensity of the dog.  A rapidly moving tail indicates a high energy level.  The tail (or lack thereof) can move the entire body with it (have you ever seen a boxer "Kidney Bean"?).

     The set of the tail is just as important as the quickness of movement.  A high set tail indicates a lot of confidence in the situation.  I always picture a Husky for a high set tail example.  Many people do not realize that the Husky tail can also go down far enough to tuck under it's belly.  A tail that extends straight out along the back line (perpendicular to the ground) indicates an even-tempered reaction, and is desirable.



     The tail can also twitch back and forth in a stilted motion.  When it does this it is very stiff, and almost like a metronome.  This signal of extreme annoyance and stress can be a precursor to aggression.

     When you are teaching a new concept, it is normal to see the tail slightly lower when the dog is being fully attentive and submissive.  As the dog becomes more familiar with the concept and better at performing it, the confidence will rise and with it the tail.

     The tail is only a part of the full picture.  Overall body position, vocalizations and other movements will combine to give the full story.

     Pay attention to your dog's tail next time you are interacting with them!  If when you play fetch the tail is straight up in the air like a flag and waving wildly, that may be why it is harder for them to focus on other commands right then.  The tail can give you an idea of why they are acting the way they are!

     *To learn more, please feel free to contact me

Weathering Stormi

     A topic I have seen frequently discussed is fearfulness.  It is heartbreaking to see a dog trembling and hiding, groveling and showing it's belly.  It can be terrifying to watch a sweet friend turn into a snarling beast.  All too often, posts which began to discuss this problem turn into a free-for-all bash on whomever caused the poor animal to behave this way.  None of this verbal abuse against the abuser actually helps the dog (Although it helps humans feel better).  Sometimes it is nothing that anyone has done intentionally, simply a natural tendency that the animal was born with, but had never been addressed.

     Regardless of the cause, there are ways to help correct, or at least help a dog cope with fearfulness, and prevent or manage the aggression that may result from it. 

     One case that comes to mind is an American Pit Bull Terrier named Stormi.  The details of her life before her owners saved her are mostly unknown, but there are a few things the new owners were told.  The first 6 months of Stormi's life were spent in a garage, where she had minimal contact with anyone- human or animal.  Stormi was a "leftover" from a litter bred by an amateur.  She was given to a friend, who passed her along..... until Stormi was fortunate enough to find her furever home.  

     Stormi's new people, we shall call them "Z" and "L", had a lot of work ahead of them.  "Z" laughed as she recounted the tale to me, saying "We were told she (Stormie) was already kennel trained.... we didn't realize they meant she used the bathroom IN her crate!"  It has been a wonderfully rewarding experience to watch "Z" and "L" bond with Stormi, and allow her to blossom into a sweet and affectionate compainion.

     I remember the first time I met Stormi (I already knew "Z" and "L", I helped them with their first dog) in the entrance of a petstore.  She was a wiggly blur, emanating stress and nervous energy with her hyperactive circles, lunging, and jumping. 

     Any loud noises would cause her to flatten.  She would wiggle and whine and drool excessively when offered attention or affection, often jumping up and scratching or nipping the person touching.  Sudden movements (especially from men) or new people cause a bark and lunge/dart and hide response that is so frantic "Z" does not trust herself to hold the leash.  Stormi's prey drive towards other animals put her collar buckles in danger of snapping open.

     Stormi has been through intense and consistent counter-conditioning to: fix her potty misconception (and I will be the first to nominate "Z" and "L" for sainthood for their legendary patience and consistency on this issue!), basic obedience, help socialize her safely, and most importantly, allow Stormi to trust, so she can relax and enjoy life.  Stormi's training has covered all four quadrants of Operant Conditioning and relies heavily on structure (ie. routine) within the household.  Since the day "Z" and "L" were generous enough to open their home to Stormi, they work diligently to manage Stormi's behavior, and keep her safe and comfortable.

     It is a life-long commitment.  Stormi is now an adult.  At this point, the chances that she could be successfully re-homed are slim.  She has bonded and trusts "Z" and "L", and that took quite a lot of consistency, patience, and love to accomplish.  Stormi is a part of their family. 

(Stormi can now hang out around other dogs with supervision)