Puppy “X”

This past Sunday I brought home from the shelter a young 3 ½ month old GSD puppy that was not doing well at all in the shelter environment. Puppy “X” - as we are calling her until it is clear that she has real chances of being a good pet - is terribly afraid of people.

Apparently she was found wondering and her dirty coat can attest for that!

It is hard to say what has transpired in her short life, but I seriously doubt that she has had much exposure to people.

Ah, the importance of positive association to people for young animals. Unfortunately, Puppy “X” is approaching the end of what it is considered to be the period of socialization (birth to 12 or 18 weeks of age) for puppies. Of course, socialization regardless of the dog’s past is a life-long endeavor. But we cannot underestimate the importance of that critical period that will determine the ability for the dog to feel comfortable or better yet, enjoy living in a “human world”.

The first few days that Puppy "X” was with me she remained in a temperature-controlled extra bathroom accompanied by classical music, and my intermittent visits to feed her and hang out. I noticed that she would “secretly” play with the toys that I left behind for her. She even appeared to be content doing just that for the rest of her life!

It is almost a week (she will be with us for three weeks total) and she is making some progress. Slowly she is coming out of her fortress of concern. She still does not think much of me (she probably kind of “hates” me :)) regardless that I am the one that feeds her meals all by hand, gives her fun stuff to do and keeps her safe. I keep reminding her that I am her ticket to a good life, but she appears not to be listening.

I can totally understand how people whom adopted a shy puppy have a difficult time bonding with them. As obnoxious and demanding as puppies can be, we want to feel their affection and be able to handle them without restrictions. One of the goals then for this pup is to welcome people's attention and being held.

I continue implementing my “plan of action” but for now, the best teachers have been Deuce and Rio. Their ability to “get” this puppy’s needs humbles me and moves me deeply. For Puppy "X” there is nothing better these days than hanging out with Deuce and Rio. Truth be said, I was feeling worried and defeated with the little effect my efforts of moving her forward were having on her, but by seeing her react as a “normal” puppy with my dogs makes me feel a bit more hopeful that she can learn (and
the learning needs to happen PRONTO) that people rock.

Deuce and Rio have more than earned their keep! They are way more than just honorary members of my team, they are the best teachers for Puppy "X”.

Starting At The Beginning

I really think of Rio as being one of the best things since sliced bread, but there is this one behavior of hers that I must nip pronto! Whenever I have training sessions here in Tesuque, both Deuce and Rio are in their crates enjoying some classical music and a chewy bone. Once my clients have left or the class ended, they come out.

Rio is quick in getting out of her crate and in a flurry of arousal, she proceeds towards the front door wanting to be let out ASAP.

There is evidence of their madness as Rio and/or Deuce crashed and broke one of our side tables as they were exiting my office on one such occasion.

The problem is that Rio’s impulsivity in wanting to meet people or dogs alike was getting her in trouble. She used to dash to people barking and howling making I am sure guests uncomfortable. Heck! I would be too if I did not know the dog.

In the past I warned people that Rio would come dashing out and for them to give her just a few seconds of sniffing them without them fully interacting with her. This worked, as she was able to regain her composure and befriend the new person after a few seconds. But I was still not satisfied as to how she was meeting new people. Rio is a poster-child of what we call in the industry a dog that “warms-up slowly”. Even though I have worked with dogs like this, I had never had such a dog.

We can label the dog all we want: dog is ambivalent or as a friend of ours mentioned recently “overwhelmed” by the initial interaction with people. Yes, it is also accurate that most herding dogs – Rio is a Cattle dog/Beagle mix - “tend” to befriend their own folks while remaining “aloof” or weary of people they don’t know.

For the most part, a majority of herding dogs that I have met fit this profile but not all. Take for example Deuce. Okay, so those are a couple of explanations for her “warming up slowly” mannerism, but having an explanation for a behavior or labeling the dog with a description does little in helping her out when these interactions are taking place.

I have been working with Rio on this new protocol, which consists of separate training plans that will culminate in Rio saying “hi” to new guests sans such pronounced impulsivity.

So, we are starting right back to the beginning- where the problem arises: Rio dashing out of my office towards the front or back door as soon as she is let out of her crate.

After a few training sessions… the new Rio, only comes out when I invite her to do so. She remains lying down in her crate until I release her. She lies down in my tiny office as we both march calmly to either the back or front door. Once again, she lies down when I ask her to and we continue to walk not run :)) either to the garage/classroom or the front of the property where the classes meet.

We have done many, many little training sessions with Rio proving to me what a quick study she is. She is so keen that I call her my three-trial dog because she learns contingencies with the same speed she used to engage when greeting people.

All these training sessions have been mock-trials with no real people to greet her. Once she has had success with these trials, I will begin to add one at a time the stimuli that causes her to lose self-control: sounds of people’s voices, the smell of other dogs, the visual of a car, person or dog.

Rio will most likely always act/react as a hot-tempered Latin (I know not very PC of me but I guess I can say that since I am Latin and rumor has it…) but what I am hoping for as a result of gaining
reinforcement for calm behaviors versus "acting out” on her impulsive nature, is that in time she will be able to respond instead of react.

The best example I can use to illustrate arousal in dogs to my clients is the one of someone with road rage. Some people have it while some people don’t. But those that do can learn to act instead of reacting to their innate impulse. They can learn to sing a tune, take a breath etc. instead of flipping someone off or running someone off the road.

Changes like this take time and the reality is that either dog or road rage subject must find an alternative (and more desirable behavior) to be worth their while. In other words: reinforcing; otherwise they will continue to greet at top-speed and continue to flip-people off because that behavior is in some way reinforcing for them.