The case of Penny. In early March of 2014 I was asked by Texas Husky Rescue, of Carrollton, Texas, to help with a few severe case behavior dogs they had rescued. This group of Siberian Huskies came to them from Oklahoma where they were seized more than a year before from a mostly feral condition. The Humane Society, in Tulsa, had housed the dogs for a period of about one year with no progress forward in behavior. The group of about 9 dogs were named after songs and characters in songs of the Beatles. Known as the Beatles group, several had fairly feral, extreme fearful behaviors. I met with a group of Fosters, at one of their residences during a recent time period. I organized them and showed them certain actions and procedures to help them to relax the dogs and relate better to them. I showed them how to be able to do very gentle, but firm leash work to help to communicate to the dogs that human intention was not to harm them. I was able to take two of the most fearful/distant dogs and get them relaxed near me, massaging and even get them enjoying the temporary interaction. Two of the more severe dogs of the Beatles group were not making progress and were being Boarded rather than in foster situations, due to their fearfulness and one being more self confident but very wary of humans. Self confident, meaning sure of herself, and therefore problematic in wanting to be in charge of and control interactions. This dog was certainly the more dominant of the Beatles group than others, and gave bumps, verbals and other corrections when she disagreed with the behaviors of the others in the group. Some in the rescue thought she might be the mother of some of the group as well. Eleanor had some reserve, but would use her teeth on dogs and, on rare occasions, humans. The other dog was a severe fearful, younger female, Penny Lane. To work with this group of dogs, I decided that routine and structure, while controlling their movements and access (escape proof) was the best initial step for these dogs. A calm and controlled environment, that allowed virtually constant interaction from humans, would provide an environment for these dogs to study human actions and behaviors, becoming more comfortable. I asked my friend and professional dog trainer, Amy Felts, if she would assist me with these two, by including them in her home facility, with her other Board and Train dogs. We discussed procedures and protocols that Amy would do on a routine and daily basis. Pairing a more confident dog, with a very fearful dog would help to calm the fearful dog sooner in most cases. In some cases the fearful dog relies heavily on the more confident dog, shunning the interaction with humans or even other dogs in the territory. This tends to create separate packs, or social groups, which creates more tension in a single territory. Predators of differing social groups do not share territory. In Pennys case, it was a bit of both. She relied on Eleanor (Ellie) during the time that Ellie was at Amys place. However, she also, slowly became more and more accustomed to people coming and going to the point where she would even trot past them, or use her nose to go up to them if they were sitting for a long while. This process took several months. Initially, I simply went to sit with them, while they were Crated, both staying toward or at the back of the crate. I would crawl in far enough, over time, to touch, massage and even groom them of undercoat. Once I went and simply played Classical Guitar for them for about 30 minutes before letting them out in the small yard with Amy and I. I took some of my personal pack of 5 dogs to work with them. The first time, I simply had them all in a small yard together, allowing Ellie and Penny to see my dogs trust me implicitly. Very quickly I began to take them on walks with my pack, around the local neighborhood, then to various stores and shops like Home Depot, and furniture store and Half Price Books. With Amys structure, consistency and foundational work, and my more intense socialization methods, Ellie was able to be within arms length, petting her, outside, and be quite relaxed and comfortable laying near me. Ellie was interacting with Amy well enough for Ellie to go to a Foster. That was two months of work. The day Ellie went to Foster, Rigby, a 3 year old Beatles group male, took her place for another two months of calm composed work, testing, mild movements forward, similar interactions, signals and methods. Rigby was less fearful than Oenny, but less self confident than Ellie. Rigby went to a Foster after two months. About a week later, on another trip to work with Penny at Amys, I took her with my pack out for more socialization and a lunch on the dining deck of a close by Restaurant. Amy joined the pack and I for a relaxing lunch. On the way back, I decided it was time that Penny come to my house to be influenced by my pack. I think Amy was sad to see her companion of more than 4 months leave. The first two weeks of Pennys Boarding at Amys, Penny would urinate and deficate all over herself, in the crate, so great was her terror. Amy was a bit beside herself, wondering what she had gotten herself in to. Then the change began, slowly but surely. Routine and structure allowing predictability. Predictability, without threat, creates less tension, and the ability to begin to trust situations, not necessarily another species, until later. Penny had become familiar with, and trusting of my pack enough to be happy to see them. I work very hard with my pack to create a balanced pack that knows its job. Their job is to help me rehabilitate other dogs, influencing them to become well adjusted, trusting and calm. It takes me about 2 to 3 years to teach each one of my dogs what I expect of them, and what to do in each situation. As I tell my clients, a dog always knows how to be a dog. However, there are many actions and personalities involved in the pack, the dynamics, and client dogs. The ability of my dogs to be able to communicate the proper signals and stances is key to how each client dog reacts and trusts, or does not trust. Penny came to my house and was released off leash, into my house. I have never Kenneled or crated a dog in my life, in my house. I give rules and expectations, in ways that dogs can understand. Because I am consistent, do not use human primate chatter (talking), and present a composed demeanor no matter what, dogs quickly become comfortable of the environment. Penny followed the pack through the back door, doggie door, and became comfortable with the back yard. I go outside when the pack goes, and they go outside when I say so, and move outside. We are one pack, and I am a part of it. I lead, they follow, not by dominance, but by leadership in the way that they understand. New dogs look to my dogs for indications of expectations. My dogs look to me. Hence, new dogs, within a day, look to me for direction and leadership without issue. Penny, being a more uncertain personality, followed my pack easily. Still fearful of humans she was tentative, but relished the new freedom, and to be part of a structured, but different routine that allowed her more interactions and choices, within a safe and controlled environment.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 21:54:12 +0000
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