Whisker Therapy

 

I have to deal with the worst parts of canine and human behavior.

I see the really devastating and bad situations.

I KNOW With Certainty That Not All Dogs Growl or Give Blatant Warnings Prior to a Serious Bite.

I also KNOW that the majority of dogs’ tails are wagging right before a serious bite.

I am not sure where all of these myths surrounding dog behavior come from.

And, it frustrates me beyond words when people describe dog aggression and then say things like

“Well, he has never bitten before”

Or

“He only growls and snaps, he would never bite”

I want you to watch this video.

I think it is crucial to share this information and for people to SEE what can happen in a fraction of a second with a dog that is wagging his tail and not showing what others see as any signs of blatant aggression.

However, the signs are painfully clear.

Honestly, I feel sorry for everyone involved: mom, baby and dog.

Mom, clearly knows nothing about dog behavior. Yes, I am angry with her. How could she not see the signs? But no mother wants their baby bitten in the head by the family dog.

That is why this video is so important to watch and share; so that people can see that signs are not always blatant.

I am certain this dog has never bitten before, because he would not have been in this situation.

Clearly, I feel terrible and angry for the baby. Babies don’t know right and wrong and cannot read the nuances of dog behavior.

And, I also feel sorry for the dog.

The dog is cornered, he feels like he can’t get away.

You see him look to the left and then to the right, he is looking for an escape route. My guess is that he feels forced into staying. Which is probably why the mother is cooing to the phone and baby; she wants her photo op.

Unfortunately I have seen numerous owners make their dogs “down, stay” so that babies or toddlers can pet them. This takes away their ability to feel like they can get up and get away, which makes them feel trapped.

A trapped dog doesn’t feel like he has many options.

Would I prefer that this dog growl first? ABSOLUTELY!

But not all dogs give a blatantly aggressive display like growling, nipping, hackling etc.

And, there is, obviously, always a “first” bite.

Saying the dog has never bitten does not mean much if his behavior is showing aggression.

It is also CRUCIAL to recognize the signs of aggression!

Stiffening, looking away, tucking tail, quick tail wags, mouth drawn back and looking for an escape route are all subtle signs that aggression is on its way.

Ironically

Ironically, as mentioned before, many people even write off extreme aggressive displays.

Now, I want you to watch this video:

I can’t even begin to try and understand this video.

And, the only ones I feel sorry for are the baby and the dog.

The people should be prosecuted.

The dog could not make it clearer that he does not want to be touched by the child.

The owners have even wrapped him up in a towel, presumably because they don’t want to be scratched or bitten.

Why on earth are they not heeding his warnings?

True, he may never have bitten before…

But there is always a first time!

And, a dog that has successfully been pushed to biting a child, is an even scarier beast.

Next time he might not give so many warnings, or be nearly as tolerant, and he might bite even more severely.

Pushing this to happen, then allowing it and living with the dog is like living with a live bomb and you don’t know when it will be tripped.

It is sad, all around!

My Recommendations?

Take your dog’s aggression seriously!

Even if it is just subtle signs, respect what your dog is trying to tell you.

Learn the signs of aggression, and the subtle signs of aggression, and train your eyes to recognize them quickly because you may only have a second or two.

Never leave your baby alone with a dog.

Never force your dog to be touched by a child if he seems uncomfortable!

Only a dog happily wagging that is soliciting affection from a child should be allowed to be petted WITH the help of the dog handler or parent.

Whenever I allowed children to pet my Service Dogs, I would take their hands in my hand so that, #1, my dog was more comfortable, and, #2, the child didn’t have the opportunity to hit or pull fur.

Teach the dog to be respectful of children and vice versa; they shouldn’t be expected to romp and play together – this is usually when problems develop.

Dogs have teeth!

An incident can be devastating for everyone.

The best thing is to respect behaviors and keep it from happening.

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Is your dog possessive of his toys, bones, treats, beds, or even his favorite humans? Behaviorists refer to this as resource guarding and it can be very a serious problem. Some dogs are so intent on protecting an item that they become aggressive towards other pets or people in the home. Although the reasons behind this behavior are unclear, professional trainers have methods that can help you prevent accidental bites and rehabilitate your possessive pup.

Robin Bennett is a knowledge assessed Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and the author of All About Dog Daycare. She also co-authored two other books – Off Leash Dog Play and Knowing Dogs Staff Training. Bennett shared her theories on resource guarding and how owners can recondition their dogs away from this dangerous behavior.

“It’s hard to say why dogs guard other than the fact that they find something valuable,” she said. “WHY they find it valuable is a matter of interpretation. Some things taste good (food, treats, etc), some dogs like privacy and space and will guard locations (doors, beds, furniture), and some dogs like attention and will prevent others from coming near their favorite person.”

Resource guarders will give several warning signs before they actually snap, but they can be subtle. Before you try to take something away from your dog, watch for flattened ears, wide, staring eyes and repetitive lip licking. If these warning signs are unheeded, the dog will snarl and finally, snap.

Protecting their possessions is a natural behavior in wolves and wild dogs. Food is limited, and they often must protect their portion from opportunistic pups looking to snag a little extra meat. This mindset may have carried over to our domestic fur-friends causing them to develop object guarding behaviors throughout puppyhood and adolescence.

Many trainers believe there must also be a genetic component, but there is no definitive proof that any particular breeds are predisposed to resource guarding.

“There are breeds who are bred to guard things, but dogs that guard livestock don’t necessarily guard food,” Bennett said. “There are also dogs that will guard things from people but not from other dogs and vice versa. So I’m not sure how genetics plays into all those various situations.”

Object guarding could also be a learned behavior or something that stems from environmental factors in the dog’s life. Those that have suffered abuse, neglect, or lack of resources as strays may be more inclined to hoard them once they finally become available.

Bennett also notes that owners may inadvertently contribute to their dogs’ object guarding.

“I think the saying ‘it takes two to tango’ comes to mind here. You can probably do things to create a stronger sense that a dog needs to guard things. For instance, constantly stealing things from him, teasing him, scolding him for grabbing things, etc., might make things more valuable to him (and increase his desire to guard).”

In order to recondition a resource guarder, most trainers – including Bennett – recommend a system of exchanging valued objects for treats.

“The best way to work with a dog who guards is to practice trading objects, making the dog see that there is great value in giving things up (give something up and you get something better PLUS you get the original object back too), and avoid punishing the dog for guarding,” Bennett explains. “This is counter intuitive, but punishing the dog will only suppress his guarding behaviors which could cause him to escalate his level of aggressive response in the future. If you have a dog who guards, work with a local trainer who uses positive reinforcement methods.”

Seeking the help of a professional trainer or behaviorist is not only the best way to ensure success, it is also the safest. Because dogs that object guard can become aggressive, attempting to deal with this issue on your own is not recommended.

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While stationed in Guam on board the USS Frank Cable AS-40, Michael, a Navy machinist, was nearly killed when a boiler tank exploded. Two of his shipmates died in the blast.

Michael endured fifty surgeries and countless hours of therapy as a result of the injuries he sustained in the explosion. He lives with visible scars as well as those we cannot see, including PTSD and Depression.

On April 28, Michael joined three other disabled veterans at a very special ceremony. The four human graduates of Patriot PAWS Service Dogs‘ Spring 2017 class were joined by four dogs, each having “chosen” the veteran they would devote their lives to serving.

The event was the culmination of three years of vigorous training for the dogs and untold days of suffering for the servicemen.

“Walking into the Spring 2017 Graduation for Patriot PAWS Service Dogs, Michael was aware of the potential a service dog had to change his life. He was not prepared, however, for the incredible bond that would form with the service dog who picked him to serve,” Patriot PAWS told iHeartDogs.

Stan is a handsome and sleek chocolate lab who showed exceptional skill during his training. He quickly formed a bond with Michael, and has become a beloved member of the family.

“Michael said, ‘I wanted to take my recovery to the next level…I fought to become more independent to relieve the burden I had placed on my family, and…with the advanced training of Mr. Stan, I can now depend on him to help me with the tedious tasks that my family used to have to perform. My family can finally stand down…because I now have a buddy that loves to help and look after me!'”

Patriot PAWS participates in the Pets & Vets program through GreaterGood.org. With funds generated by your iHeartDogs purchases, worthy veterans like Michael are able to regain their independence through the invaluable assistance of a service dog.

Best of all, Stan and other specially trained pups – which can cost upwards of $20,000 are provided to our servicemen and women at no cost to them.

 

Featured Images via Facebook/Patriot Paws Service Dogs

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19 US states now have laws making it a misdemeanor offense to pass off a pet as a service animal. The movement to stop this unethical and surprisingly harmful practice has gained steam over the past few years, spurring new legislation.

Virginia enacted their law in 2016, with Colorado following suit this year. Massachusetts is currently considering a similar proposal.

“Today, any pet owner can go online and buy a vest for a dog to pass it off as a service animal to gain access to restaurants, hotels and places of business,” Representative Kimberly Ferguson, who introduced the Massachusetts bill, said. “Their animals aren’t trained and end up misbehaving in these public places, which gives real service dogs a bad name.”

According to the American Humane Association, there are 20,000 legitimate service dogs working in the U.S. They assist their handlers with a wide array of tasks from guide services to seizure detection, mobility aid and everyday chores.

Legitimate service dogs are not recorded in a national registry or required to obtain universal certification, so there is no official way to verify whether a dog is highly trained or faking it. This makes it difficult to enforce the laws.

In addition to the lack of documentation, business owners are barred from asking all but two questions of a person claiming to need a service dog: whether the dog is required because of a disability and what tasks the dog is trained to perform.

It is illegal under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to request documentation or ask the owner to reveal details of his or her disability.

Yet another problem is the growing number of emotional support animals, which are not covered by ADA laws. These dogs are intended to comfort owners suffering from anxiety or other emotional problems. Absolutely no training is required for an emotional support dog, let alone the rigorous programs completed by service dogs.

The result of the confusion is that some businesses end up allowing any pup masquerading as a service dog into their establishment for fear of violating the ADA, while others take the opposite route and ban all dogs, including those protected by the ADA.

Ken Shiotani, an attorney with the National Disability Rights Network, is glad to see so many states attempting to solve the fake service dog problem, but says the laws should be aimed at education, rather than punishment.

“We want to have a positive impact on people to help them realize that what they’ve done has this very negative effect.”

Most current laws call for fines of no greater than $500.

Fake service dogs are harmful because:

• They distract real service dogs
• They cause real service dogs and their handlers to be unfairly judged
• They are an insult to those Americans who depend upon their service dogs
• They cause undue stress for real service dog handlers
• They cost business owners money when they misbehave in public

Put it this way: Would you park in a handicapped spot or pass yourself off as a veteran?…No?…Then why would you pretend to rely on a service dog?

 

H/T to USA Today

 

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While more and more American soldiers are struggling to cope with depression, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety after returning home from service, Southwest Airlines has teamed up with a non-profit determined to help. Freedom Fur was founded with the objective to give back to the veterans who are winning the war overseas but at a disadvantage on the homefront. Returning soldiers cope with physical injuries, disabilities, and mental disorders, and Freedom Fur recognizes their need for loyal, caring support.

Dogs are widely accepted for improving a person’s overall well-being. Service dogs perform a long list of tasks for owners with physical disabilities, and pets provide comfort in a way no one else can. Freedom Fur works to connect trained dogs with veterans in need. Whether they need a seeing-eye dog to guide them through life or a furry buddy to sit on their lap while they cope with PTSD, Freedom Fur works to give veterans the opportunity to heal and move forward.

Freedom Fur trains the dogs and reaches out to veterans, but they had the logistical problem of getting their dogs where they needed to go. That’s when Southwest Airlines stepped up. Freedom Fur has partnered with the airline to connect veterans with their new dogs in a fast and efficient way. Volunteer employees from Southwest formed what’s called the Southwest Airlines Animal Transport Team, or S.W.A.T.T.. The group uses their days off to fly animals across the country to meet their new families.

The Southwest volunteers board the animals onto planes and escort them to where they need to be. At the end of the line, they have the honor of introducing a deserving veteran to a dog that has been trained to meet their needs. Members of the transport team make their own bonds with the animals, and they participate in the training process alongside trainers from an assistance dog program.

For the members of S.W.A.T.T. working on their days off is always worth it. They’re a part of an organization making real progress in the war against PTSD and veteran suicide. The dogs may do most of the work, but Freedom Fur and Southwest Airlines contribute life-saving effort.

They hope to expand and help even more veterans, but they can’t do it without help. If you’re interested in getting involved, check out their website.

Featured Image Source: Facebook/Southwest Airlines

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Filed under: Jasper, photography, Photos, Shelties, Wordless Wednesday Tagged: dog photography, Jasper, Shetland Sheepdog, Wordless Wednesday


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It’s common knowledge that obesity can shorten a dog’s life, but a little extra chub isn’t bad. In Frika’s case, it saved her life!

Frika lives in Altamonte Springs, Florida, where she and her owner, Eric Yaughn count black bears among their neighbors. During a routine pee-break in their yard, a bear appeared and took a swipe at Fricka. Eric thought he had lost her right then and there, but she survived, and they both escaped into their home with the bear just inches behind them.

Frika was rushed straight to the vet, who told Eric that had it not been for the extra bit of cushion around her middle, Fricka might not have made it! Eric told WSVN, “The vet said she’s just really hearty. She said the extra layer of fat kept the bear’s claw from tearing out her intestines.”

Of course, this doesn’t mean fattening up our dogs is going to make them invincible, but a little fluff helped Frika out! She’s all patched up and should heal just fine.

H/T: MyFox8.com

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