Pit Bulls, American Staffordshire Terriers, ...

This week's horrific mauling of a 6 year old girl by two Pit Bulls started an avalanche of emotional discussions. Most of the time they came down to only two rather extreme opinions - either people wanted to ban the dogs or they insisted that Pits (or similar breeds) are very loving and sweet.

In my opinion there are some genetic breed traits that need to be taken into consideration when you are interested in the breed, like their immense jaw power. I also always point out to potential adopters/owners that they will have to deal with people's perception and scrutiny no matter if justified or not. With the exception of a small percentage of dogs that come from lines that have solely been bred for their aggressive genetics, I truly believe that it is still predominantly the owner, who creates behaviors!

Bella, a American Staffordshire Terrier (AmStaff), is a great example. She was bought from a breeder (I use this term loosely). A few weeks later the owner realized that she didn't want the commitment a dog requires. She went to the shelter and surrendered Bella, even though the staff had informed her that Mecklenburg County law forbids them to adopt out Pits to the public and that they area kill shelter. Bella was disposed of like an unwanted pair of shoes. Shelters don't have the resources to screen adopters and in the attempt to avoid that 'fighting breeds' get into the wrong hands, the law only allows approved registered rescue groups to pull them.

In Bella's case time was precious. Because Bella was surrendered by the owner, she only had 24 hrs. The shelter staff was fond of her and contacted several rescue groups. A race against time started and we were desperately looking for a foster home. A non-member of Carolina P.A.W.S. offered to foster Bella. He came with the recommendation of a previous adopter and had already a Pit Bull. Bella was enjoying live - she could do pretty much whatever she wanted. (Bad idea for any puppy, but in particular for a strong breed puppy.) A few weeks later she got loose and ended up being picked up by Animal Control in York. We went to get her and decided that Bella had to go to a new foster home. We were able to convince a good friend of mine who lives in the neighborhood to take her in. Bella had developed a few bad habits that we didnt appreciate and her new foster mom started working on her obedience and manners immediately. Whenever it was possible I took Bella along to training sessions or to my house, while her foster mom was at work. This was bootcamp for the little AmStaff girl! Given the breed's bad reputation combined with the pure strength, the bar was set higher for Bella than other foster dogs. After more than a month of intensive training, she flourished and we couldn't have been happier with her. There was never a worry, when we passed playgrounds and small children 'attacked' us. We never worried about taking her along to parks and public places. Although difficult for a young dog, I never worried about taking her along to a nursing home. Bella ended up being adopted by a wonderful couple, who understands the importance of rules and boundaries. But, don't worry, she also gets lots and lots of cuddles and is getting pampered.

When Bella first arrived at her second foster home, we saw glimpses of her trying to "protect" everything and everybody. At only eight months, it was worrying and absolutely not permissible. When she left to go to her forever home, she was a content and well balanced dog. Nevertheless, I'm convinced that Bella would have turned out very differently, if she would have been left to her own devices without all the training.

Diva – against all the odds!

Everyone who knows me, knows how passionate I'm about dogs and that I have been active in rescue work for a number of years.

I usually try to stay away from asking for donations, but Diva has a special place in my heart and I would like to... ask for your help.

 

Diva was first rescued from an area shelter a couple of years ago. She was scared and timid and spent the first two days just sitting in the room staring at the ceiling. With lots of TLC from her foster parents she learned to trust people again.

Diva was then adopted by a young family and her story should have stopped here with "and they lived happily ever after." Some family issues arose, through no fault of Diva's, and she was returned after 9 months.

Abandoned twice now, she didn't understand what was going on and went back into her shell. Her foster parents knew that it would be a lot of work to get her out of it yet again, but were willing to do so. At the same time though they also found out that the foster dad was suffering from cancer and had to start his own battle soon.

 

Carolina P.A.W.S. (www.Carolinapaws.com) had gotten involved in the "New Leash on Life" program at Brown Creek Correctional Institution in the meantime. I oversee this program for CPAWS and also go to the prison once a week as a volunteer trainer to work with the inmates and their dogs. When I had a new class to fill in September, I thought that Diva would be a great project and very rewarding challenge for the inmate handlers. The first couple of weeks were pretty tough for her as well as her two designated trainers. By the end of the 8-week program, Diva was a different dog. I couldn't have been happier or prouder! She also had a home lined up - a couple of empty nesters with plenty of time to devote to her. I thought that now "and they lived happily ever after" would come true for her!

Unbelievably, but once again she wouldn't get this lucky. The couple took her home and within the first hour of Diva being in the new surroundings left the front door open. Naturally, she bolted through the door and then panicked because she had no idea where she was. Volunteers went looking for her, hanging up flyers, talking to people, ... Three days later we receive a phone call that she has been picked up by the York shelter and that she is in urgent need of veterinary care. [To my astonishment, the couple who had adopted her didn't inquire about her well being at all, but asked us to send them a replacement dog!!!] We picked her up and after consulting with our regular vet we ended up at Carolina Veterinary Specialists. Her exam showed several fractures on her pelvis and a fully broken front leg. We were faced with the decision to go ahead and have the surgery done or have her euthanized. The surgeon predicted that she would get 95% of her mobility back with a great quality of life. There was no way that CPAWS would be able to finance the surgery and we decided to raise funds for Diva.

In terms of all the orthopedics the surgery was a great success and she came to my house for rehab. Within only a couple of days, she was moving around and developed more and more into a social butterfly!! After all she had gone through "and they lived happily ever after" seemed finally to come true for her.

Several days later, Diva started having issues with swallowing solid food. Within a couple of days it became so bad that she was not even able to drink water. She was literally starving to death in front of a full food bowl. During her surgery she had an aspiration and the acid had burned her esophagus. The scar tissue was growing and completely closed off her esophagus and a temporary feeding tube needed to be implanted into her stomach. We once again were faced with the decision of euthanizing or not. We wanted to give her another chance. She had hung in there trough everything and even though all her pain she had never been happier or more outgoing in her life!

Since then she had three balloon angioplasties with moderate to great success. She started 2011 with eating her first meal on her own!

 

The last couple of months have been an emotional roller coaster for everyone involved. It's hard to understand that a "side effect" of a successful surgery could potentially kill her. Of course besides the physical and emotional toll on us from taking care of her, feeding her through the tube, going back and forth to the vets, ... this has built up a massive vet bill, with which help is needed.

[Juergen and I take care of the majority of her food, transportation, and pretty much everything else involved in her in home care (feedings, administering medication, cleaning...)]

 

Carolina P.A.W.S. is an all volunteer organization. Please know that 100% of your donations to the Diva fund go towards her bills. Please also know that your donation is tax deductible and some employers also offer donation matching.

There are different ways to donate - look for the most convenient one for you.

 

PAYPAL - Diva Fund:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=NVEBXFEJ28VUW

 

Send check:

Carolina P.A.W.S.

P.O. Box 242861

Charlotte, NC 28224

 

Call in with credit card:

Carolina Veterinary Specialists

(704) 504-9608

Pet: Diva

Owner: Carolina Pet Adoption and Welfare Society (Carolina P.A.W.S.)

Reemergence

The last few months just flew by and I have no clue where the time went. There is definitely not a lack of topics to write about.

• use of shock collars
• timing of praise/correction
• Charlotte allow dogs to come to restaurants (patio)
• allergies are flying high
• mental stimulation games for dogs made easy
• getting the new training facilty ready
• group classes
• specialty classes
• ...

Maybe, that's the problem. Outside of dog training mode, I tend to think things over way too much and become indecisive. I guess I need to teach myself the timing of decisions - the same way I do in dog training with praise/correction.

Bootcamp

A question I get asked on a regular basis is:

Do you offer bootcamp for dogs?

This is a simple question, one would think. There are two ways to reply "yes" or "no." My answer to that is "no, but ..." Principally I don't offer bootcamp, but as with everything in life there are exceptions.

It is very appealing to a lot of dog owners if they don't have to spend the time that is needed for all the repetition work; The owner gets fast results; ...

On the other hand though there are things that are less appealing. The owner has no control over the training methods used; Or, the dog comes back performing perfectly for the trainer, but blows the owner off; ...

It doesn't matter how much you adore your dog, you create a stronger bond when you work with him. Not only does the dog have the sense of accomplishment every time he does something right, but he learns to trust you and to feel safe. However, everyone who owns a dog has at least once experienced the feeling of utter frustration, when it seems like your dog is just not getting it. Handing over the dog to someone else seems like the only way to go at that point in time.

To me it is very important that the owners at least start out with the training. There are a lot little things that can be implemented easily into your daily life without taking too much time. Having the dog sit and wait for his food. Call the dog randomly during the day and give him a treat and let him go. Deciding where your dog should lay down and when he should do that. ... Dogs enjoy to know what it is that is expected from them. Your benefit is that you gain your dog's respect and he sees you as the leader. If difficulties persist with certain behaviors even after a fair amount of efforts from the owner, then I offer "bootcamp" for the dog at my house. I prefer the term pack training though. Having always at least my own two dogs at the house I can use them to help me with the training. The dog observes their behaviors and trusts me faster, because he sees that my dogs fully trust me. Once the trust is established I can start with working on the unwanted behaviors!

What is the right breed for me?

20 years ago it was fairly easy to read up on a breed and get the dog that suited you the most. Unfortunately, in our consumer-driven world things have changed tremendously and it is becoming harder and harder. Instead of a breed being in careful, dedicated hands, popular dogs end up with "breeders" that do no testing, and don't really care to preserve, maintain or improve the integrity of the breed. They just breed for money, flooding the breed in question with poor specimens and genetic disasters. This creates behavioral and health issues that used to be unknown to the specific breed.  

Two of the most popular family dogs have been and are Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers. They are gentle, intelligent and family-friendly. Because of their aptitude to please their masters, they excel as guide dogs for the blind, as part of search-and-rescue teams or in law enforcement. From joint and bone problems, to eye diseases, to heart disease, to cancer, they can now be risky in the health department. Behavioral trait changes – a number of Labs and Goldens are developing aggression issues. 

German Shepherd Dogs have been in the Top 5 of the most popular breeds for decades. The AKC describes them as a breed that is approachable, direct and fearless, with a strong, muscular body. Energetic and fun-loving, the breed is very fond of children once a relationship is established. Sounds like a dream come true, doesn't it? Health problems that are accentuated by over breeding range from hip and elbow dysplasia, to Panosteitis, to pyotraumatic dermatitis and skin allergies. Behavioral issues – timid and shy GSDs are showing up more and more, a trait that can make them unpredictable.  

Designer/Hybrid breeds (Labradoodle, Goldendoodle, Cock-a-poo, Pek-a-poo, Schnoodle, Puggle, …) have neurotic tendencies, as they were bred for looks, color and coat and often not for mental stability. One of the first designer breeds was the Labradoodle. The particular purpose in mind for this hybrid was the Labrador Retrievers' superior performance as a service dog, and the Poodles' non-shedding, non-allergenic coat. This combination produces a great guide dog for people with allergies. It works quite well in theory, but due to the nature of genetics, it's not always a 'sure thing'!  

When you decide to go ahead and buy a purebred puppy. Do your homework! It is hard to find a responsible breeder that practices selective breeding, but it is worth your time and money. Keep in mind, that you can potentially save a lot of money in the long run, as the chances of arising health issues are smaller. Additionally, although a dog's behavior is heavily depending on his upbringing and environmental influences, genetics still play a role in it. You could potentially save money there, as chances are you don't need my help as much! J
J

   

3 Steps to Success

Have you ever wondered if you are on the right track with your training? Is it too late? Is it working?  

Teaching a dog a new behavior can be quite an exercise in patience and at times it can be hard to stick with the work. Let's say for the last couple of years your dog has been pulling on the leash. Walking Fido has become a chore instead of being fun. Your shoulder is hurting. Your dream of sitting at a coffee shop reading the newspaper, sipping on a cappuccino and having a croissant while Fido is lying at your feet has evaporated. Frustrating? Yes! Is it too late to make your dream come true? No!

Fido won't be too thrilled at first. He doesn't understand what's going on and that is frustrating. But once he understands what you ask from him, he will be one proud dog. Getting from frustration to proud dog, Fido will go through 3 different steps. 

1. Fight
   
2. Avoidance
   
3. Acceptance
   

It can take anywhere from an hour to several days or weeks going through these sequences, but don't give up. For a lot of dog owners witnessing the first stage, fight, is quite unnerving. Keep calm and don't get frustrated, you know what the reward will be at the end! The second stage, avoidance, is trickier – often people are tempted to think that they are done. Keep going! The final stage, acceptance, is when your dog gives you the behaviors for which you were working so hard. You have arrived!

Separation Anxiety

Separation Anxiety is a big challenge not only for the owner but also for the dog. It's completely unnerving when you bring a new puppy home and he cries the moment you put him in a crate to leave. It's upsetting and discouraging when you adopt a dog with the intention to provide him with a new loving family and he goes into an absolute state of panic when you leave him at home.

As the name already indicates, it is a disorder that will leave your dog with worries that are out of proportion to the situation. Some of the milder symptoms are a little crying and barking, but it can also turn into severe panting, drooling, chewing, destructive behavior, stomach/intestinal problems, …

The medical description of anxiety is below. Although it is describing human anxiety it can easily translated into "dog" talk.

Main Entry: anx·i·ety
Pronunciation: a[ng]-'zI-&t-E
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural –eties

1
a: a painful or apprehensive uneasiness of mind usually over an impending or anticipated ill
b: a cause of anxiety

2:
an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs (as sweating, tension, and increased pulse), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with it
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.

Although I address every case individually there are some general things that can help you to avoid or work on separation anxiety.

- Tire out your dog physically as well as mentally before you leave
- Play with your dog close to the crate
- Have special treats (bones, rawhide, selected toys) that your dog can have only in the crate even when you are home (when you are home leave the gate open)
- Leave very calmly, like you would just walk into another room (no teary good-byes)
- When you return go to the crate open the gate and don't pay any attention to your dog until he has calmed down (no excited hellos)
- Boost your dogs confidence, by teaching him a number of commands. Every time he does it right he has a sense of accomplishment!
- DON'T CUDDLE YOUR DOG OR CONSOLE HIM! If you do, you tell your dog that he was right to be anxious and you validate the fear. Be positive and upbeat instead and tell him that everything is fine and that he can get over it.

As with most things a blog post, can't do the complexity of the topic full justice. I hope though, that it will be helpful.

The Good * The Bad * The Ugly

The Good

Last week I received great updates on a couple of former foster dogs and A New Leash on Life graduates. They are doing well in their new homes and the parents couldn't be any happier.

The Bad

Sometimes you have to walk away from a dog you see at the shelter, due to lack of resources. (no foster home available, no money available for medical treatments, ...) In those cases, I always hope that somebody else is able to rescue that dog.

The Ugly

Today is an ugly day. We have a dog that can't be trusted anymore. An incident happened Monday evening and he displayed determination and unwillingness to back off from his aggressive behavior. His foster mom (a dog trainer as well) and I went through the event over and over again and decided very heavy-hearted that we couldn't adopt him out to anybody with a good conscience. As we can't figure out the triggers, he is now a ticking time bomb. The worst part is that he could be fine for a week, a month or for a couple of years. We recommended that the best thing to do would be to humanely euthanize him. We didn't want to bring him to the shelter, where he probably would be put down and he would be alone. I got all my courage together and told his foster mom that I would come along Tuesday afternoon. As with any organization, rescue group, ... there is politics. Politics in this case meant that Ivan's fate was still the same, but was delayed by two days. So instead of Tuesday afternoon, his appointment is now this afternoon at 5pm.

I thought I couldn't feel any crappier - but I can. It certainly doesn't help that he is a gorgeous young animal that is physically perfectly healthy. This morning I went over to his foster mom's as we get together on a weekly basis to work with our own dogs and the fosters. And there he was!!!! Looking happy and being nice!!!! For nothing in the world would I have been able to go over to him. I felt like a Judas - how could I possibly kiss him, when I will be one of them who will accompany him to his death bed?!?!?!?!? Just don't ask me how his foster mom is able to stand it!

Immediately when I came home, I started lighting white candles for him and will light a couple new ones when I will leave to go to the vet - hopefully he will have a good passing.

Ivan - R.I.P.

Quote from Caesar Millan

"Improving your dog's behavior is like staying on a diet. You only see results if you stick with it for a LONG time."

A friend sent me this quote recently. I had always compared it with raising children, but I think I will use Caesar Millan's quote more often in the future. :)

Good and quickly seldom meet

When we finally agreed to meet a dog that was in need of a new home, we liked that he was nearly a year old. We didn’t want to deal with puppy training, and I have to admit I felt bad for him. We already envisioned walking with our dogs to the coffee shop, playing fetch with them, both of them having a companion to play and run, etc. We should have known better - the mixture of anticipation and excitement can be quite deceiving! Welcoming any new dog, puppy or adult, turns everyone’s life upside-down.
We did end up having to deal with puppy ‘stuff’! Of course, it went by faster than it would have with a younger puppy, nevertheless at times I questioned (tearfully) our decision. I had something like buyer’s remorse. We did overcome that obstacle once we stopped babying him and feeling sorry for him. We explained to him the rules of our house and that there were no freebies. As he is not paying our mortgage he has to earn his treats, our affection, privileges (e.g. freedom around the house) and food with good behavior. Besides the mental part we also provided him with plenty of exercise – as we all know, a tired dog is a good dog. At last, everyone is happy!