Helping fearful dogs
I'm participating in Blog-a-thon 2011 to help raise money for homeless animals at the Nebraska Humane Society. Click here to donate! The first step toward helping a newly rehomed dog is to provide them with an environment where they can feel safe. What this means will vary from dog to dog. Some dogs settle in just nicely once they know where the treats come from ...
Sometimes something seems like a good idea, at the time, and then when it comes time for follow through, I have to question my judgement. This doesn't mean that what I chose to do wasn't worth doing, or that I regret making the decision, but I do have to ask myself, "What were you thinking?!" I'm participating in Blog-a-thon 2011 to help raise money for ...
When a dog is afraid there is a rise of stress hormones in their bodies and brains. These hormones help the dog prepare to save their lives. They may stand stock still, flee if they can, beg for mercy or tell you in no uncertain terms, no means no. These are all responses to fear. These same hormones, if circulating in their systems routinely, can ...
Years ago when my husband worked at a Boys & Girls Club he came home one evening and shared his day with me. The adventure of the day occurred when one of the kids attending an after school arts & crafts program became upset and shut herself inside a locker. The little girl, living with her mother and brothers in a hotel room to escape ...
I've come to the conclusion that I have very similar feelings about competitive obedience as I do about beauty pageants. It's not that the women in the competition are not beautiful or clever or don't look stunning in a bathing suit wearing heels. That they can walk so elegantly in those heels has always been a source of envy to me. That they have the ...
In Costa Rica there is a saying; 'Poco a poco la hormiga se come el coco'- bit by bit the ant eats the coconut. I use it often in relation to my fearful dog Sunny. In November Sunny will have been with us for 6 years. He's not the same dog he was when he first arrived but no one would have any trouble identifying ...
Obsessive compulsive disorder is considered an anxiety disorder in people which can be triggered by traumatic events. There can be a genetic component to OCD. This video was taken while I was volunteering at Camp Katrina in 2005 after the hurricanes. This dog had been rescued from the New Orleans area and sent to the Every Dog Needs A Home Sanctuary in Gamaliel AR, via ...
Scientists working with lab rats discovered that by providing rats with an enriched environment there was a thickening of their cortices. This is a good thing. An enriched environment for a rat might consist of mazes, toys, and novel objects. Things and activities that provided the rats with the opportunity to 'think'. But scientists also discovered that regardless of how enriching an environment they could ...
Scientists who have studied fear in animals have come up with four responses, one or more of which are common, in one form or another, to organisms ranging from bacteria to humans. 1. Withdrawal, avoidance, flee 2. Immobilization, freeze-up 3. Submission, appeasement 4. Aggression When working with our fearful dogs it's important to keep in mind that these responses do not necessarily indicate the 'level' ...
Every dog should know how to catch treats! [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bsssrskNWM?rel=0] Treat tossing encourages eye contact, attention, name recognition and good spirits.
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