Furry Four Paws

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

The Power of Routine

What do we know to help Shawn on her journey?

We know that Shawn was born in the junkyard about seven months ago. Up until last week, there is no indication she had ever been touched by a human. By all accounts, she had spent her life as a feral puppy.

This means experiences with human behavior, body language, and movement has been unpredictable and limited. Shawn has never experienced pet dog comforts like regular food, clean water, daily walks, novel stimuli in the context of a home, play, socialization, training, or toys.

This means Shawn will be overstimulated by small changes in her routine and environment, which in turn means it is our responsibility to create a stable and controlled set of actions to show her that human behavior is predictable. This also means she is a novice learner. The act of "set activity + experiment + practice = learning" is new to her. We will have to 'teach her how to learn' by creating a predictable environment where she feels safe to take risks.

We can expect Shawn to begin interacting with her environment around days 3-5. We can expect that shortly thereafter, she will begin experimenting with vocalizations and body language to learn "what works" to get what she wants: excessive barking, jumping, body blocking, licking, mouthing, and nipping.

We know our plan to help Shawn will consist of contact only that is part of daily care routine: feeding, cleaning, and quiet sitting. We know to avoid high-energy body language and verbalizations such as fast walking, exaggerated arm movements, shouting, high-pitched voices. We know that forcing interaction with Shawn if she cowers, moves with head down, or changes positions to remain the farthest distance from the caretaker will break what little bond of trust we have achieved.

We also know we must keep our own human emotions in check. We need to recognize our tendency to empathize and put human emotions on a dog. We have to realize our human want to touch, hold, and maintain eye contact and understand that this is the opposite of what a dog naturally wants. This means being aware that dogs often see hugs as restraint, touches from above as a sign of aggression or dominance, and direct eye contact as "staring down". As difficult as it can be to restrain ourselves from putting our human emotions on Shawn, we have to meet our need to show her affection in ways she will understand: establish a routine, provide daily care, allow her to observe normal human behavior, and share the same space without touch unless she initiates it.

It all goes back to the most important piece of training advice ever given to me. "Do not underestimate the power of routine."-- Julie Castaneda, CPDT-KA

Monday, January 2, 2012

Shawn's Journey Video (Part I)

Here is a link chronicling the first week of Shawn's Journey.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Playing Pigmalion

There is a lot to learn about the stray and feral dogs in Detroit like Shawn, the 6-8 month old female shepherd mix rescued from a junkyard this week. The animal rescue community has a want to shelter and protect these dogs. The dogs have a need to be understood as a species. These wants and needs rarely get met without conflict and compromise.

What is significant from a behavioral perspective is that these dogs do not 'need' rescuing. They are doing what dogs do -- surviving. They have found a source of food and have ample shelter in abandoned lots and buildings. It is our human need to keep them away from cars and unscrupulous people that pushes us to "rescue". It's important to view from the dog's perspective that we are taking them from a world they know and are successful at navigating and putting them in a world they know very little about with a set of seemingly unnecessary rules.

In some cases, exposing a stray who has spent years on the street to the daily life of a socialized companion is a comedy of errors. It can be a series of misadventures and comedy like Dr. Henry Higgins teaching Eliza Doolittle proper manners and speaking skills in the musical My Fair Lady.

In other cases, it is a long and difficult journey full of frustration and fear. And sadly, in some cases, the dog is incapable of adapting to our world. In our effort to "rescue", we have created a terrorized creature who is unable to interact with its environment. The decision must then be made: is it more humane to let an animal live in abject fear or opt for euthanasia?

Shawn's Journey is a Facebook page that Shawn's foster created to chronicle Shawn's transition from "junkyard dog" to wherever this journey takes her. Occasionally, you will see my behavior and training notes in the comments on this page to help others understand the science and methodology behind Shawn's training plan.

This is the real story behind rehabilitating dogs like Shawn, the repetition, patience, tedious progression, and series of little victories that signal a breakthrough.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Detroit's Dog Problem

Earlier this Fall, an owner of a junkyard asked for help in removing a group of feral dogs from his property. He was reluctant to ask Detroit Animal Control due to their policies. After weeks of planning and acquiring necessary equipment and supplies, volunteers from four suburban Detroit rescues came together today to begin this rescue. The first dog rescued from this situation is Shawn, a 6-8 month old female shepherd mix.

Detroit has a significant stray and feral dog population. Conservative estimates put 15,000 of these dogs within city limits, however estimates have ranged as high as 100,000.

Current laws and ordinances in Detroit make it difficult for Metro-Detroit dog rescues to act effectively as a group to tackle this issue. Dogs and other companion animals are considered property by law. Stray animals are to be treated like any lost item of value: turned over to law enforcement so the owner can locate and collect them. Unlike a lost wallet or watch that should be held for six months before considered abandoned, the maintenance of these animals require daily care and financial resources. Animals are held for a mandatory four business day "stray hold". If the animal's owner comes to retrieve it, the owner must pay an impound fee to release an unlicensed animal. The fate of uncollected animals is determined by space constraints, available resources, and a seemingly arbitrary set of policies determined by the shelter manager on duty.

These laws were enacted to protect owned dogs from being stolen and to hold owners of unlicensed animals responsible for letting an animal run at large. The assumptions behind these laws are that most animals are owned and their owners have an interest in finding them.

As the years pass and the stray problem in Detroit gets worse, this approach becomes complicated. A significant percentage of dogs are not (and have never been) owned animals. Some feral packs have become a public nuisance by raiding garbages and dumpsters, roaming the streets, becoming territorial of the abandoned houses they use as shelter. Some dogs end up acting on their predatory instincts for acquiring food and hunt small animals, including cats and small dogs. A few of these individual dogs are truly dangerous to humans and anti-social. These dogs have learned that humans are unpredictable, hurtful, unsafe creatures. When met with stress, they conclude their best option is to fight.

With each news story about the incompetency and policies of the Detroit Animal Control, Detroit citizens become more aware of the lack of resources they have for humane solutions. Metro Detroit animal rescues can only act when requested by the property owner and few have the resources to safely trap, secure, assess, and potentially rehabilitate a stray or feral dog. Rescuers themselves are unsure of their jurisdiction, rights, and limits under the law in their abilities to respond when requested.

The animal welfare community is seeking people who live within Detroit city limits to become active in addressing this issue with City Council. Interested parties can contact Save Ace: Advocates for Change and Education

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Heartbreak and Goodbye

In 2008, a friend adopted Gus from a local rescue. He had been from a puppy mill and they told her he was 6 months old. He was still extremely matted and in need of grooming care. By all accounts given by the foster, Gus had not had any human contact while in the puppy mill other than for vetting and being moved to mate. I was new to working with dogs and offered to help with training and socialization.

At the first vet appointment, the vet reassessed his age, estimating he was 2 to 4 years old. It was obvious that he had been extremely under-socialized, and responded to stress by shutting down completely. It took over three months just to get Gus to eat food out of my hand.

I started working with my friend on socializing Gus. She worked with him on an umbilical lead (a leash that clipped to him and her belt loop at the top) and lots of positive reinforcement for choosing to interact with her. They were making progress until she had a baby. We worked with a fake baby doll to try to help Gus get familiar with new sounds and new movements and new rules like not being able to be on the couch or on the bed if the baby was being held. Once the baby was born, the change in routine made him decompensate and return to his original behavior of hiding under beds and not interacting, defecating and urinating everywhere in the house, biting/nipping at anyone who tried to approach him.

We made the decision that Gus would come to live with me and my husband and our two dogs until perhaps the baby got old enough or the routine was more stable for Gus. My friend, like many in Southeast Michigan, had a series of financial set backs, so my husband and I agreed to assume custody of Gus.

While in my care the past two years, Gus had made headway in terms of bonding with me and accepted my touch and nervously accepts initiation of play or sometimes initiates snuggle sessions. However, he has not bonded with any other human being. I frequently travel and he decompensated each time, reverting back to hiding under beds and couches, urinating and defecating everywhere, and not interacting with my husband or any other human being, and biting. When I returned from any travel longer than a day or two, Gus and I had to start back at umbilical lead training and rebuild a large portion of the training we had worked on. This happened each and every time I left.

I tried everything I could think of to bring him farther along with socialization with humans: Progressive desensitization and counter-conditioning to anxiety inducing stimuli, crate training, bonding exercises, umbilical lead training, maintaining a set routine. I had established strict protocols for strangers who want to try interacting with him so that all interactions with strangers are positive and predictable. I had even tried a few weeks of daily herbal treatment, aromatherapy, flower essences, massage and acupuncture (horrible failure). When all that failed, I contacted my vet to discuss psychotropic medication with the goal of getting his anxiety reduced to the point counter-conditioning exercises could be reinforced and then the medication tapered off while repeating the exercises. However, the medication only made him drowsy and we had to avoid prolonged use due to the side effects on his liver.

I consulted another trainer, who recommended euthanasia. Unhappy with that answer, I consulted a veterinary behavior specialist who recommended the same course of medication we had already tried.

At this point, I wanted to find a suitable environment where he could thrive as a dog instead of living as a prisoner in his world of constant fear and anxiety. Gus gets along very well with other dogs. Watching Gus interact with my dogs, I observed that he appeared to be a "normal" dog for a few moments in time. I truly felt that the best situation for him was one where he could interact with dogs as much as he likes and not be forced to interact with humans if he didn't want to.

I started searching for sanctuary placement, but every reputable sanctuary was reporting that they were filled to capacity with permanent resident dogs. I looked for possible homes that would have less activity than ours. A home where his bonded person would not travel, did not have a lot of new people coming over constantly, had an established routine, and was willing to put in the time to help with some of Gus' behavioral issues and tolerate his toileting habits.

While searching for this home, Gus began to deteriorate further. He began biting again, defecating and urinating in the house again. He even began to redirect biting at people he interacted with on a regular basis. On Friday, Gus got frightened by something. We aren't sure what. He attacked Nugget, our 7-month old kitten, in the face. Nugget was immediately taken to urgent care and then an opthamology specialist where it was determined he had retinal detachment and permanent loss of sight in his left eye.

While waiting for updates in Nashville while my husband was at the vet's, all I kept thinking is how Nugget could have been one of my friend's children. And I can't help feeling I have failed.

I made the call to my vet.

It is 30 degrees and raining.

Gus will be buried by his first non-dog friend, Orange Cat.

He will be watched over by the Chestnut Angels

Rest now, little friend. Relax the muscles behind your shoulders and in your hips that are always tense. You have nothing to be afraid of now.

8 Sad Lessons I've Learned From Gus

Note:

It is with the heaviest of hearts that I write this list of things I've learned from three years with Gus, a 5-7 year old Silky Terrier puppy mill rescue.

1. The Absence of a Behavior is a Behavior:

I am not sure where this phrase originated, but the first time I heard it was on a criminal case involving 200 pit bulls in October of 2010. Renowned dog trainer Julie Castaneda was explaining to me that while it is normal for a dog to be emotionally flooded after a stressful event, there should be a certain point within 3 to 5 days of established routine when the dog begins to interact with its environment again. That response may be something we don't like to see such as fear, reactivity to humans or dogs, or hyperarousal, however it is still a response. Lack of response means the dog has little to no ability to self-soothe or process stress. When Gus came home, he did not move for almost a week unless picked up, did not eat or drink, urinate or defecate for four days.

2. Redirected Aggression is a Problem Regardless of the Size of Dog:

For three years, I have made the rationalization that although Gus has bitten out of fear or redirected a fear bite on another person or dog that it was somehow, "Not as big of an issue," because he was only ten pounds. However, last week Gus got frightened by something. We aren't sure what. He attacked Nugget, our 7-month old kitten, in the face. Nugget was immediately taken to urgent care and then an opthamology specialist where it was determined he had retinal detachment and permanent loss of sight in his left eye. Small dogs can still do big damage.

3. Critical Socialization Periods Are Truly Critical

Gus was a puppy mill rescue. This means he was in a sensory deprived environment for anywhere from two to four years, only being handled when being moved to mate or be vetted. This set Gus up for being fearful of everything: people, new objects, new environments.

4. Understanding the Function of Different Parts of the Brain is Key to Understanding "The Why?"

So many times I asked myself, "Why is Gus like this?" After all, a canine brain includes all structures of the human brain. (With exception of the Broca's area that gives humans and primates the ability to form speech and communicate in a language.) I began to study how interactions activate the basal ganglia (set of actions in response to stimulus), amygdala (fight or flight), and the hippocampus (storing memories). I studied the limbic system, starting to understand the myriad ways synapses are influenced by the release of adrenaline, epinephren, cortisol, dopamine, and seratonin. I could begin to see how Gus' brain was malfunctioning, how lack of stimulus and an over-active fear response solidified set of learned behaviors through neuromuscular facilitation and classic conditioning.

5. Sometimes Understanding "The Why?" Still Doesn't Help

I understood developmentally why Gus was like he was: bonded only to me, unable to accept touch, unable to respond appropriately to change in environment or sudden movement. He has all clinical signs of Separation Distress Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Repetitive Behavior, and Neophobia. Understanding this gave me clues to things to try to desensitize his reaction to new objects or people or counter-condition a set of behaviors he had learned when exposed to something he viewed as a negative. Behavioral modification can only help so much when there is true, deep, psychological trauma and developmental issues.

6. There Are Worse Things Than Death

Being terrorized by daily interactions and not having the abilities to self-soothe or respond to normal stress cycles is a horror I can't imagine living. Gus has been in that place mentally for the majority of five to seven years depending on his age. Two of those years have been in my care.

7. These Experiences Will Help Many, Many More Dogs

When Gus came into my life, I was just beginning to study dog training and behavior as a profession rather than a hobby. The frustration that initiated research, reading, and studying, gave me a knowledge base that has already helped all the rescue dogs I work with. The trial and error has given me a toolbox of methods to use to help fearful dogs that are not as permanently and deeply damaged as Gus.

8. I Will Always Spread Awareness About Puppy Mills

This skill set came at a very high price. I will always have a part of me that feels I failed Gus. That I didn't do enough. The reality is the first person who failed Gus and permanently altered his brain chemistry was the puppy miller who bred him and kept him confined in unsanitary, understimulating kennel with no human interaction for years. YEARS. And I will never stop educating and advocating for these dogs. Learn about puppy mills here.