Many of my clients are blessed with dogs that are just wired right. They were adopted from a reputable breeder or local shelter in to homes where owner/guardian recognizes the puppy brain development period is short and critical lasting just between 8 weeks and 5.5 months (according to extensive research conducted by Dr. Ian Dunbar and other re-known scientists). These people attend all puppy training sessions and graduate with no issue.These same owners have dedicated time out to train their pups, to ensure they learn the world is safe, practice alone time, crate training and are reward only for good behavior while all bad behavior is ignored.
Then there are a few of my other clients who adopt a dog online without any knowledge of the pet history other than it was born from a Ferrell bitch. Extensive research shows cortisol levels shoot up when dogs are stressed and there is evidence that suggests this hormone affects the developing puppies brains in a bad way. It causes poor wiring so to speak in their brains. Its not to say all pups born of ferrel dogs will develop brain/behavior problems but that the probability is high. We see abnormal behavior in 8,9, 10 week old pups demonstrating high anxiety, severe guarding behavior, exposed teeth, stiffing their bodies, growling. The hair on your neck goes straight up and your gut just says this just aint right. Sure guarding is a normal behavior among most species, don't you recall letting your sibling know not to touch "your things"? We learn to share. Sharing is a learned behavior and so too it is in the canine world. It is when this behavior escalates to aggressive biting, when the pups eyes glaze over. This behavior suggests there is a problem.
So to resolve a situation as just described we are seeing more and more Vets prescribe pharmacological drugs including anti psychotic, anti depressants. I have to say there are dogs that do quiet well with these meds and actually need them to stay alive but not all dogs need the dogs. Not all dogs that are anxious, fearful and nervous require synthetic chemicals and medicine. Some but not all.
Hiring a DVM Behaviorist to evaluate and test a crazed/assertive/mal adjusted dog would be ideal however they are not only expensive but few and far between. Julie Shaw, CVT has been proposing the advent of a team working together to treat the "whole" dog both body and mind. Forming a team that includes DVM, Vet Tech and qualified Certified Trainer to collectively provide a treatment plan and work together to successfully execute the plan until they arrive at a solution that works for dog and their person(s).
Providing a treatment plan that includes Behavior Adjustment Training along with allowing the body to help heal on its own with the inclusion of a balanced healthy diet, exercise, natural remedies ( Dr. Bach Flower Essence and Therapeutic Essential Oils ) is a start. Observing behavior over a period of a few weeks then reevaluating if necessary and if required then adjusting by adding, subtracting or changing to include medicine. Sounds good doesn't it? It doesn't always produce a natural solution but it does allow care takers try the natural route first which just feels better.
Our culture is still so quick to remedy solutions quickly with popping a pill buying a pinch or prong collar, slapping something on and expecting quick results. Taking time to stop and think through a solution then allowing it to unfold is often times a better path. Sure remedies take time but isn't it worth taking a few more minutes, days or weeks to find a solution that is healthier for your pet or your body for that matter? We have become so conditioned to quick, synthetic solutions that natural solution seem almost false. We have forgotten natures gift. Nature offers strong, potent and safe solutions for our pets and our bodies. We just need to have belief and courage again.
Then there are a few of my other clients who adopt a dog online without any knowledge of the pet history other than it was born from a Ferrell bitch. Extensive research shows cortisol levels shoot up when dogs are stressed and there is evidence that suggests this hormone affects the developing puppies brains in a bad way. It causes poor wiring so to speak in their brains. Its not to say all pups born of ferrel dogs will develop brain/behavior problems but that the probability is high. We see abnormal behavior in 8,9, 10 week old pups demonstrating high anxiety, severe guarding behavior, exposed teeth, stiffing their bodies, growling. The hair on your neck goes straight up and your gut just says this just aint right. Sure guarding is a normal behavior among most species, don't you recall letting your sibling know not to touch "your things"? We learn to share. Sharing is a learned behavior and so too it is in the canine world. It is when this behavior escalates to aggressive biting, when the pups eyes glaze over. This behavior suggests there is a problem.
So to resolve a situation as just described we are seeing more and more Vets prescribe pharmacological drugs including anti psychotic, anti depressants. I have to say there are dogs that do quiet well with these meds and actually need them to stay alive but not all dogs need the dogs. Not all dogs that are anxious, fearful and nervous require synthetic chemicals and medicine. Some but not all.
Hiring a DVM Behaviorist to evaluate and test a crazed/assertive/mal adjusted dog would be ideal however they are not only expensive but few and far between. Julie Shaw, CVT has been proposing the advent of a team working together to treat the "whole" dog both body and mind. Forming a team that includes DVM, Vet Tech and qualified Certified Trainer to collectively provide a treatment plan and work together to successfully execute the plan until they arrive at a solution that works for dog and their person(s).
Providing a treatment plan that includes Behavior Adjustment Training along with allowing the body to help heal on its own with the inclusion of a balanced healthy diet, exercise, natural remedies ( Dr. Bach Flower Essence and Therapeutic Essential Oils ) is a start. Observing behavior over a period of a few weeks then reevaluating if necessary and if required then adjusting by adding, subtracting or changing to include medicine. Sounds good doesn't it? It doesn't always produce a natural solution but it does allow care takers try the natural route first which just feels better.
Our culture is still so quick to remedy solutions quickly with popping a pill buying a pinch or prong collar, slapping something on and expecting quick results. Taking time to stop and think through a solution then allowing it to unfold is often times a better path. Sure remedies take time but isn't it worth taking a few more minutes, days or weeks to find a solution that is healthier for your pet or your body for that matter? We have become so conditioned to quick, synthetic solutions that natural solution seem almost false. We have forgotten natures gift. Nature offers strong, potent and safe solutions for our pets and our bodies. We just need to have belief and courage again.
RSS Feed
