Understanding a Behavior Problem is Key to Solving It

Today a woman contacted me about a behavior issue she was having with her Beagle named Belle.
Belle it seems, had been in mourning since the recent death of her litter sister, Anna who lost her fight with cancer..
Since Anna's death,Belle had become a chronic barker. So much so that two dog trainers had already been consulted. One trainer had the horrible suggestion of crating her and when she barked, to spray her with water. The other trainer said it was a breed trait and the only way to stop her was to purchase an electronic shock bark collar. And the vet said she was in mourning for Anna and wanted to treat her with anti-anxiety drugs, most likely Prozac or Diazepam.
“Does she bark when you are with her?” I asked.
“No, only when she goes out in the yard or when I go to work”, she replied.
“Is it a repetitive woof that goes on and on and on without ever changing?”At which point I woofed in an attempt to imitate a dog.
“That is exactly how she sounds!” the woman said.
And lastly I asked, “ Since Anna's death, does she follow you around the house sticking right with you?”
“Like I was glue!”
“Belle is deaf.” I told her.

The woman was very quiet as my words sunk in. Then she said that Belle had stopped coming when she called her. She thought it was stubborness.
She had also noticed that she could walk up on her when she was asleep without waking her. The vet said it was because she was barking herself into exhaustion.
No, I told her, it was from deafness...
Anna had been her hearing aid dog. The two litter sisters had been inseparable all their lives. As they got older, Belle depended on Anna to hear commands to come and to initiate barking if the 'bogeyman' made a noise outside. Belle then followed suit. But on her own, Belle was lost. Older dogs who are hearing impaired quite often bark incessantly when they are alone, even if it is just to go outside for a potty run. Since they know that they can't hear an approaching threat, they take proactive measures and bark...and bark...and bark...and bark.
Belle wasn't 'in mourning', but she was insecure now that Anna was gone, and her owner was going to have to take measures to provide the old girl with a sense of security...
We discussed a few options.
She said Belle was very active, with no signs of arthritis at all, so I suggested she get up earlier and take a long walk with Belle in the mornings.
Feeding her main meal in the morning (instead of at night) just before her owner goes to work will bring on relaxation and sleep. Dogs feel more secure when their tummy is full.

I gave her directions for using Bach Rescue Remedy, 4 drops in purified or spring water in her water bowl at all times, every day to just give her a general sense of well being and help alleviate fear.
Bach Rescue Remedy is actually five flower essences that work in harmony together. Those are Clematis, Rock Rose, Star of Bethlehem, Impatiens and Cherry Plum And I suggested 4 drops of the Flower Essence Heather, which is often given for dogs who whine or bark when left alone.
Her niece will come by during the day and check on Belle and at bedtime, she will be sleeping upstairs in the master bedroom instead of downstairs alone.
I don't think anything will really be the magic bullet as Belle has never before been alone in her entire life of 13 years. That is hard enough for a dog to adjust to without also coping with age related deafness. But her owner feels better already, now that she understands the underlying cause of the behavior. Her frustration with Belle has been replaced with compassion...and that makes it easier for everyone to cope.

How Reputable are Private Rescues?

These days it seems every city and small town has more than its' share of private rescues. The not for profit groups sprang up a couple of decades ago when local shelters began to be overwhelmed with abandoned pets. For the most part, they are staffed by devoted selfless animal lovers who often donate their own cash in addition to their time and households. Many of us have been there, done that, many are still doing it. But the past few days a couple of stories reached my ears that reminded me that all is not always what it seems when it comes to private rescue groups.

Last nite, my friends Becky and James, both professional dog trainers told me of a woman who had contacted a local rescue to adopt a dog. She wanted a big dog, one who was friendly but whose size could ward away burglars to help her and her daughter stay safe. Her daughter was expecting a baby.

The rescue told her they had the perfect dog in a pit bull mix. The woman paid two hundred fifty dollars cash in adoption fees to the girl who was fostering the dog and signed a contract saying if she couldn't keep him he would be returned to the rescue group.

She then enrolled him in a training class with Becky and James.

The dog was highly aggressive in a schizo sort of way. One moment he was fine, the next he didn't know who you were and went viscously beserk.

Now James and Becky have done oodles of retraining for local shelters in a effort to make homeless dogs more adoptable so they have seen many aggressive dogs. After two weeks it was ascertained that this dog was never going to be safe around two women and a baby.

The new owner called the rescue group and was told sorry, they can't do anything about it. They did not take the dog back even though they made the new adoptive owner sign a contract stating they wanted the dog back if she couldn't keep it.

Nor did they offer to refund any money, or even trade the dog for another homeless pup.

Exasperated, the adoptive owner euthanized the dog....

Also this week, a friend of mine rescued a tuxedo cat hoping to foster it until a suitable home could be found. Her own cat would not accept him so she contacted several rescue groups who said they were full....she put an ad on Craigslist hoping a family would adopt him when she was contacted by a 501K not for profit rescue group in a nearby small town. They said they would find him a home provided that she take him to a specific vet and pay for all his shots and vetting...which she did.

This was a sweet deal for the vet ( who employs the husband of the head of the rescue group) and a sweet deal for the rescue group as they get to keep all the adoption fee ( one hundred dollars) but not a sweet deal for the cat who was already up on his shots and had to have them twice. Everyone knows the havoc over -vaccinating does to pets....

These two stories reminded me that when you contact local rescues, check them out thoroughly, both of the rescue groups I mentioned advertise on Petfinders.com. I am certain that the majority of private rescue groups are reputable, but not every single one will be.

Don't let anyone rush you into adopting a pet you aren't sure is right for you and your family, only you can answer that question. The saddest dogs I ever rescued were the repeats...be sure that the one you choose will be the one you keep for that pets' lifetime.

P.S. the dog in the pic is Ruby, she is not the pit mix in the story, Ruby is sweet, well mannered and in foster care waiting on a special someone to adopt her.