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The Dog Whisperer Phenomenon: Two very different Dog Whisperers

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:38:05 +0100

The Dog Whisperer Phenomenon: Two very different Dog Whisperers

“Practices such as physically confronting aggressive dogs and using of choke collars for fearful dogs are outrageous by even the most diluted dog training standards. A profession that has been making steady gains in its professionalism, technical sophistication and humane standards has been greatly set back. I have long been deeply troubled by the popularity of Mr. Millan as so many will emulate him. To co-opt a word like ‘whispering’ for arcane, violent and technically unsound practice is unconscionable.”
Jean Donaldson,
Director, SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers, San Francisco.

While I have touched on the subject before in other posts and articles, I have decided to write an article that deals with this topic more thoroughly due to the current interest brought about by the “Dog Whisperer” TV series, the numerous questions I get from clients about it and the rise in local trainers who have jumped on the band-wagon, adopting the name and principles of the show and in some cases claiming some personal connection with the star.

While the vast majority of dog owners are familiar with Cesar Millan’s TV show, few know that another dog trainer actually used the title Dog Whisperer five years before the show was produced. Paul Owens, a dog trainer who later subtitled his book “A Compassionate Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training” wrote “The Dog Whisperer” and “The Puppy Whisperer” in 1999. Owens is an official member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and is endorsed by The National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI).

True to the title and subtitle of the books, Owens advocates gentle, non-confrontational, positive training techniques. This is in stark contrast to Millan’s hands-on, forceful and highly confrontational interactions with dogs. And this is not the only area where these two dog whisperers differ. Millan bases his approach to dealing with dogs on “dominance theory”, the idea that all dog behaviour problems stem from dogs attempting to dominate their owners as a result of owners being weak and indulgent. Owens on the other hand, taking into account actual research into wolf and canine behaviour, concurs with the numerous behaviourists and trainers who have long discarded “dominance theory” as an outdated and unsubstantiated belief. In a section of “The Dog Whisperer” headed “The Dominance Myth” (p. 100 - 105) Owens says the following:

“For many years concepts about hierarchy in the canine world led to the idea that one dog in the pack is the top ranking “alpha dog” and that that dog is dominant in all situations. In recent years this concept has been researched extensively by leading animal behaviourists who now consider it to be outdated and simplistic. Still, the perception that dogs look up to the alpha in the pack as some sort of tyrannical dictator and that humans should take on this role has been perpetuated by the authors of many mainstream dog training books and trainers on television.”

Owens then goes on to quote David L Mech, “one of the world’s leading experts on pack behaviour in wild wolves” as saying: “In natural wolf packs the alpha male or female are merely…. the parents of the pack and dominance contests with other wolves are rare, if they exist at all.”

Owens continues: “So the question arises, why do some trainers seem to get almost miraculous results … through what they call “dominance training”? The truth is, it isn’t miraculous nor is it related to dominance. The results are due to using physical force in order to suppress behaviours, which is done by using positive punishment and physically forcing dogs into fearful situations until they “shut down”…. Calling this dominance training is simply incorrect and its practise can be dangerous for both dogs and humans, especially when aggression is involved. Its pure abuse when used with fearful dogs.”

So, it is clear that the original “Dog Whisperer” is in fact firmly opposed to the methods and ideology of the TV celebrity of the same name. Yet, despite Millan’s own admission that he has no qualifications as a behaviourist or dog trainer, dog owners all over the world unquestioningly follow Millan’s approach, while ignoring or dismissing the warnings of the numerous qualified experts in the field like Paul Owens.

So why is the second Dog Whisperer so popular and why do dog owners believe whatever he says? Well, it is actually pretty obvious: Millan has his own TV programme which is designed, edited and produced to paint him as a hero and saviour of dogs. That kind of marketing and Millan’s own natural charming, charismatic and slightly exotic personality is very hard to argue with and the average dog owner is unlikely to see through it. However, those with a good knowledge of canine behaviour and training techniques are actually quite quick to see past the drama and sensationalism of the show to the rather ugly truth that Millan is using antiquated theories and brute force to suppress behaviours rather than resolve them.

Probably one of the hottest debates in the dog training world at the moment is between Cesar fans and qualified, positive trainers and behaviourists. The fans insist that Cesar is a hero and that professionals in the field who criticise his methods are intolerant and envious of his success. The qualified professionals insist that Cesar is undoing years of progress in the dog training world and actually putting humans and dogs at risk. As I firmly fall into the latter camp (as does the original dog whisperer), I would like to address some of the most common questions and criticisms that Cesar fans raise with positive trainers like myself:

1. Question: We have spared the rod with children and look where that has gotten us. If we use positive training techniques our dogs won’t really respect us and we will have to bribe them to do what we want. Answer: Dogs are not human beings. Unlike children, dogs are not moral and they do not know right and wrong. Dogs don’t deliberately defy us or do things to cause us distress. We therefore cannot always compare methods of raising or training children, who are able to reason and who will often choose to go their own way regardless of what they know to be right or wrong, to methods for training and raising dogs. Also, what is often called “respect” is simply fear. The dog may listen because he fears his owner. Healthy relationships are not based on fear. Positive training techniques are not by default permissive. Positive training creates dogs that enjoy complying with their owners requests and who trust their owners. Trust is a vital ingredient in any healthy relationship.

2. Question: The man gets results - how can you argue with that? Answer: People believe that because they usually see a much quieter dog at the end of the episode the dog has been cured. However, quietness is not necessarily a sign that the dog is mentally healthy or that the behaviour itself has improved. When a dog is repeatedly exposed to a threatening stimulus and both fight and flight options are removed (e.g. the dog is rolled on its side and pinned to the ground) the dog will eventually just “shut down” and stop reacting. This does not mean that the dog has improved, but that its mental state has deteriorated to such a point that it has given up using normal behavioural patterns to escape a threat. This non-responsiveness is frequently seen in rescued dogs that have been the victims of ongoing abuse. They know that nothing they do will get them out of the situation and so they enter a passive state known as “learned helplessness”. In other cases, the treatment protocol often involves keeping the dog on a very tight choker with virtually no play on the leash. The dog is therefore being physically forced to comply or physically prevented from engaging in the problem behaviour. The behaviour itself has not been modified in any way. As a behaviourist who is always interested in seeing how problem behaviours can be tackled, I have also found that Cesar often tends to side-step the problem altogether and instead focuses on another issue which he obviously feels he can handle better. In one case an issue of separation anxiety (the very reason the owner is reported to have contacted him) is ignored while the owner is taught how to dominate her dog more effectively. At the end of the show the dog is supposedly cured, yet all we see is a dog walking on a tight lead and no indication of whether the dog is actually coping when left alone at home. (DVD “Difficult Cases”)

3. Your dog should listen to you, because you are the leader and this is what Cesar shows us how to do. Answer: I have already mentioned “dominance” theory in my introduction so it should be clear by now that the idea of a “dominant alpha” dog is not supported by any modern research into dog or wolf behaviour. Erroneous dominance theory has been used to support some rather unpleasant dog training methods including “the alpha roll”, pinching dogs with pliers, poking them, holding their muzzles closed and denying them all attention or affection. Dominance theory can be extremely detrimental to human-dog relationships as it creates a false and negative perception of how dogs operate in the family and the home. For those more interested in the subject, the study “Dominance in domestic dogs - useful construct or bad habit?” by John W. S. Bradshaw, Emily J. Blackwell and Rachel A. Casey Journal of Veterinary Behaviour: Clinical Applications and Research, Volume 4, Issue 3, Pages 109-144 (May-June 2009) would be well worth reading. To view the press release about the study go to http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2009/6361.html

4. Question: Those who criticise Cesar don’t deal with Red Zone dogs or would have such dogs put down. Answer: The term “red zone” is not a scientific concept. Cesar seems to use it to describe the state a dog enters when reacting aggressively to a perceived threat. The dramatic music and the careful filming help to create drama and thrill the viewers as the dog “enters the red zone”. There is nothing mysterious or particularly fascinating about the aggression these so-called “red-zone” dogs are displaying. The only difference is that most dog trainers don’t intentionally push the dogs they work with into heightened displays of aggression as Cesar does. Cesar regularly pins frightened or agitated dogs to the ground, hangs them by slip collars and even kicks them. (And before anyone objects and says they have never seen this - yes, I have watched the programme and these are actual cases I have witnessed and not just hearsay.) If you remove the option of escape and physically attack a dog, you are very likely to get a violent reaction! The idea that positive trainers would put aggressive dogs down rather than rehabilitate them is complete nonsense. Numerous positive trainers work in rescue organisations, dedicating their lives to rehabilitating dogs with very serious problems. There are many extremely effective positive methods which can be SAFELY used on dogs with aggression problems with excellent results.

5. Question: Why can’t positive trainers just admit that different methods work for different dogs? Answer: Most modern trainers and behaviourists do admit that there are different ways to train dogs and that some methods work better with some dogs and some work better with others (For example, we may choose to train with toys or food, to use the “all or none” method, lure-reward training or clicker training.) However, most modern trainers also agree that using physical force and psychological intimidation to train dogs is unnecessary, inappropriate and potentially dangerous for dogs and humans. Would positive trainers really be acting in good conscience if they supported or turned a blind eye to practises they sincerely believe are dangerous?

6. Question: Positive trainers don’t really understand what Cesar is doing and misinterpret it as cruel: Answer: The methods used on the Dog Whisperer are not something new to the dog training world. There is nothing ingenious or innovative about them. They are methods that were used decades ago around the world, before more accurate research improved our understanding of dog behaviour and effective training techniques. Many positive trainers were originally taught these methods and practised them themselves. The programme may occasionally disguise the practises in some new-age terminology, but anyone with a basic understanding of how animals learn can spot the underlying tactics, i.e. positive punishment, flooding and negative reinforcement, very easily.

7. Question: Why do positive trainers get so upset by the Dog Whisperer? Answer: Most positive trainers and behaviourists see their job as educating dog owners in order to improve the lives of people and their dogs. The belief is that when humans understand how dogs learn, what they need and what is normal behaviour for them, people and dogs will be able to live together more harmoniously, dogs will have fuller lives and less behavioural problems and people will have greater pleasure from owning dogs. The safety of humans and dogs is also a priority - dogs that bite humans don’t have a very good life-expectancy! So, over the last few decades huge strides have been made in the field of dog training and animal behaviour in regards to developing safe, kind and effective methods of training and behaviour modification based on modern research. The results have been that training has become accessible to all sorts of people and dogs, that dogs are generally treated with more understanding and that owners are increasingly finding more intelligent and kinder ways of dealing with problems rather than resorting to brute force. Then, along comes the “Dog Whisperer” and overnight millions of dog owners around the world are being told that the “old” methods which we have spent years dismantling are the way to deal with dogs. The dominance myth is resurrected and brute force is encouraged. To make matters worse, the programme appears on the National Geographic channel which gives it an air of credibility which the general public cannot argue with. To say that this is frustrating for those of us who have devoted our careers to the good of people and their dogs is an understatement. Perhaps a good comparison would be how qualified doctors would feel if a reality TV medical programme encouraged the use of drugs and treatments now known by those in the medical field to be very harmful to people. Unfortunately Hollywood seems to be more powerful than science and unless a person is actually a professional in the field, it is hard to see the truth.

However, it will be interesting to see how things develop. Due to pressure from American Humane, an organisation whose aim is to protect the rights of people and animals and who attempted to petition National Geographic to remove his programme from the air, Cesar agreed to attend a symposium on animal welfare. He has also sought the advice of respected animal behaviourist and dog trainer Dr Ian Dunbar (amongst others) for a new book on dog training called “Cesar’s Rules”(a snippet of this can be seen on You-tube with Dunbar clearly stating that he himself takes a “non-contact” approach to dog training). I have also been told that in some more recent episodes Cesar has started to explain his actions in such a way as to try and convince people that he is not hurting a dog when he touches it. So one has to wonder if he is starting to feel the pressure and therefore beginning to change his ways? American Humane Association Board Member, Steve Dale, made a comment that sums it up rather well: “All dog trainers evolve. My hope is that Millan is evolving and eventually will catch up with everyone else.” Dale, Steve (July 14th, 2010). “Dog Whisperer Has His Good, and Bad Points”. Tribune Media Service.

For more information on the topic see the following links:

http://www.spokanimal.org/Newsletter9-06forweb.pdf

Statement by the Centre of Applied Pet Ethology: http://www.coape.org/awsn_statement.html

Story of a Rescue Dog 8: The Final

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:30:56 +0100

By Dido Panagiotopoulos

"I was a feral dog living in the veld and then under a grandstand at a school. This is the story of my rehabilitation, as told by Dido, my forever mom:"

It is now just over three months since I met and adopted Dini. I have worked intensively with him overcoming his instability and insecurities. The seaside holiday was a huge turning point. Cesar Millan always says how dogs love to move as a pack/ migrate as a pack - well this seems particularly apt in Dini's case, and our holiday to the seaside really helped him bond with us. He also finally was getting enough exercise to be absolutely exhausted and rid of any neurotic energy. Just after 6am every morning I took them along the beach from Port Edward for a long 2 hour walk. I was anxious about Dini's recalls but he always came back... eventually (LOL!)! He was awestruck by the sea and from a dog who was terrified of water he became a guy who would run along the beach dodging in coming waves. He would also skip along the edge of the rocks where the waves were breaking and gave us plenty of grey hair as he hopped skipped and jumped after crabs and seagulls over the sharp edges of rocks and shells. Cesar also says you don't get the dog you want but the dog you NEED... well I learnt a huge amount about myself!, and about learning to LET GO! Adrienne, the behaviorist helping us said to me I didn't want a (another) velcro dog)...actually, I really did... but there was no way Dini would be it! Walking I never had to worry about my other three... but Dini has such a curious free spirit , so I had to learn to LET GO and remind myself he had lived and served free and feral. Before Dini I would never have classed myself as a neurotic over-protective "parent" now I knew I was and had to reel myself in constantly. Read more...

Dini found dassies on a vertical cliff face - he lost all hearing and eventually we left him and continued our walk... one of the hardest things I'd faced. Felt like forever when he eventually found us and I'm not sure who looked the most grateful, him or me! But I know I could have stood at the wall for hours calling his name and it would just have fallen of deaf ears - his focus was entirely absorbed in those dassies! The greatest thing that Adrienne had taught me was to ignore him (rather than get grumpy, frustrated and hysterical... just walk away)... and OMG IT WORKS... the worst thing in the world for a dog is to feel ignored! Dini spent the rest of the walk keeping a close eye on us and would circle back regularly!

Nothing was easy with Dini - none of the usual methods worked. To teach him to sit I had to physically bend his back legs until they collapsed and then reward the sit - he was either up or down.... Now Dini sits at every opportunity! Dini also is more likely to take food rewards (sometimes though he takes them, out of respect/ acceptance and just spits them out...). He has to be the most affectionate dog I know - certainly towards me and Nick... we need to work on the licking thing! You cannot help but feel it was worth it when you see the adoration in his eyes! Thank you Penny and Heidi of the Dog Training Academy, for your patience and allowing Dini to work at his own pace - simply attending classes was invaluable in him learning to listen and obey simple commands - and he has started enjoying doggy school - even though he is the "special" kid in the corner LOL!

Dini now can be brushed with the soft rubber brush and hand glove and actually will lie there and (almost) enjoy it. He has been groomed twice now and we still visit our fantastic parlor (D-tail) very regularly. His dog aggression is far less and I have learnt he looks to me for backing... once again, I need to change direction and walk away, or run past... If I pay any attention, try to interfere or worse still stacy behind him - he sees it as back-up and is more likely to act like a bristling, stiff-tailed aggro little wooligan! Much more now the tendency is to "Leave It!" and just move on... he still is a bit of a bully towards insecure dogs - particularly black standard poodles (go figure...) And he most definitely is worse on leash than off - on leash he probably feels trapped (doesn't have the same choice of fight or flight... plus feels that he has back-up on the ned of the line and possibly also feels a need to protect me as well as himself. That said, on neighborhood walks, he walks beautifully on lead now... a bit of pulling around the fence barkers but no lunging or barking or reactiveness!. Dini has never tried to run away from us and when he jumps through a palisade fence to go investigate something on the other side, if I run away from him, he very quickly jumps back and follows. He now knows I AM THE PACK LEADER and he is a content and happy follower - no longer the feral escape artist that originally got him banished into kennels because he was impossible to handle in a home situation.

On Sunday we did a pack walk at Kyalami with about 50 dogs of all different sorts, big and small from Rotties, retrievers and GSD's to a yorkie, maltese and Italian greyhound... Dini did not have a single altercation (although still got completely ADHD and overexcited at one point - like a kid at Christmas LOL). In my psychology and education studies I learnt that the two greatest gifts you can give a child are boundaries and space (roots and wings)...roots so that he develops a sense of belonging and self confidence, and then wings so he can fly - venture into the world confident to explore but with a strong support group and sense of belonging... Finally the feral dog formerly known as Boo can enjoy freedom and can fly, safe in the knowledge he truly belongs and has a home and pack to come home to! He now has BOUNDARIES and ROOTS, not just wings and space...

Dini is now highly adoptable and would be an asset to any pack and home. This whole process has taught me that there is such an urgent need for rehabilitation foster homes, so that problem rescues can first learn HOW TO BE A DOG, a family member and a pack member. I wish there were halfway homes or rehab centres that could do this and am convinced there would be far less abandonment and returns of rescue or problem dogs. AND yes it is as much about educating owners about their own expectations, misconceptions and behaviours.

I have learnt so much about patience, compassion, fair consistent leadership and so very much about myself. Thankyou Dini for enriching my life and teaching me so much about myself!

Story of a Rescue Dog - Part 7

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:51:09 +0100

By Dido Panagiotopoulos

"I was a feral dog living in the veld and then under a grandstand at a school. This is the story of my rehabilitation, as told by Dido, my forever mom:"

Things were progressing nicely, but so very slowly... and it wasn't so much that I was impatient as that there was a deadline - Dini had to improve his recalls or he would not be allowed off leash on the beach - and how SAD would that be! He had to have his injections (they were due plus we were off to KZN where Rabies is even more rampant than here). And he had to be properly groomed because he would be in and out of the wind, sea and sand and had to be cropped and Frontlined. I promised myself that no matter how traumatic grooming was, he would never again get matted! Read more...

Sunday night also gave us our first Thunder Storm with Dini. Just our luck, it happened in the wee hours of the night :-( He was petrified! How had he survived feral? We knew enough not to feed into his insecurity by coddling him, but that to rather show that we were calm, unafraid and oblivious to the bright flashes and rumbling. Unfortunately one of the other pack members (Cyclops) is also afraid of thunder... Rescue Remedy did virtually nothing to help Dini (it works pretty well with Cyclops) so I gave Dini a Melatonin capsule (which works out to the the correct amount for his weight (PLEASE remember with homeopathic meds the correct amount is crucial and in fact it is ignorant to believe that because it is homeopathic it can do no harm - always better to consult a homeopathic vet or vet before administering anything to your pet, or at least do your research into the correct dosage for herbal and homeopathic remedies!!!). The Melatonin did help more, but still he only relaxed when he got into our bed and lay under the duvet next to us shivering. We did not cuddle him or talk to him but let him find his safe spot where he could stop panting, pacing and just settle down - admittedly too, we just wanted to catch a couple of Z's. The next day I crate trained him and the crate became his hideyhole and safe haven. It is a soft crate and his bed is now inside - he loves it there. We do not sip up the crate, but cover it with a black bath sheet during storms to at least black out the lightening flashes. Apparently one could wash his bedding (and the towel) with anti-static which would also help.

The vet visit landed up being the first mix up. I walked Dini 5km to the vet, to help take off some of his neurotic anxiety and burn off some energy. I had already desensitized him to a cloth muzzle (putting it on him only when he was completely relaxed... and he had never had an issue with it). I carried this with me and only put it on him when the vet was able to see us (remember to be very careful in using a muzzle and the type you use - a cloth muzzle cannot be worn for long since it constricts the mouth and nose and prevents the dog from cooling itself by panting - PLEASE if you need to use a muzzle, do your research on the types and appropriate uses of a muzzle as a tool). The curve ball happened when the vet, Dr Elshove, we had meeted and greeted with was unavailable (because he had to attend to an emergency surgery). I was reticent about having the shots done by a vet neither of us had met, but the receptionists all raved about him, and were quite right. He was calm and careful and made the visit as quick as possible. The shots were traumatic and Dini really fought, but as soon as they were done he calmed right down and even allowed the good Doc to pat him farewell. After the walk home, he was tired, mellow and relaxed (slept the rest of the afternoon). I have always thought that adrenaline is toxic and can poison the system and that by exercising Dini (his most favorite activity in the world!) we would help that adrenaline in his system dissipate quickly.

The next hurdle would be the grooming, so on the Thursday before we left I organized with my friend Jen and her two dogs (Tess and Bobby) to do a long walk early at Emmarentia Dam, before dropping the dogs of at the parlor. It was to be a very BAD day, right from the start. Whether Dini picked up on any anxiety from me regarding the grooming or if it was my excitement about leaving for the sea early the next morning, I cannot say. But Dini was a Wooligan right from the beginning of the walk. He was over excited, not walking nicely on leash. And here it was entirely my fault for trying something new, I put him and Gumby in harnesses and linked them together with a connector (my thinking was that Gumby is so calm and laid back (a therapy dog, noggal) that he would be a calming influence and good role model, and allow Dini at least a little freedom, in that he wouldn't need to be tethered to me and could do the doggy sniffing and tree-peeing with his brother). Massive failure... Gumby just plonked his bum down and refused to walk with the increasingly hyper, happy and frustrated Dini (this despite him having led several dogs around the puppy agility/ obstacle course at Paws for People training school). Dini loves Bobby (a Collie Pointer cross) who is 18months old, and really just wanted to chase and play with him... but as we know, Dini gets completely over-excited and loses the plot - also he is not the best speaker of Dog - so he sends off the wrong signals. Added to the mix we have Tess, a fear-reactive rescue who (although about 7/8years old) still has many of the same issues as Dini (from not being the best listener to not being the best communicator). So halfway through the walk Dini was all fired up and starting to bark excitedly and incessantly at Bobby, while Bobby was trying to elicit a game with Tess... Tess wasn't very keen to play with Bobby and Dini's neurotic excitement eventually made her snap and before we knew it, Dini and Tess were embroiled in a dogfight (with him clearly the underdog and squealing). We separated them very quickly and no damage was done. From then on it became a rule that whenever Dini would start any yipping or yapping he'd get put on lead. People would think I was over-reacting but we had witnessed how quickly his vocalizations would escalate into complete over-excitement!. He is only allowed off-leash when he is calm and most importantly self -controlled!. If he can't control himself then I need to take control of him, it's simple.

At the parlor, I went in with Gumby, Jumpies and Dini (Cyclops had, had a cut the day Dini had a previous half shave/ desensitization session). Perhaps the upside of Dini having been such a wooligan on the walk was that I no longer was consumed with pity or sympathy and so I agreed to hand him over (muzzled) to the ladies at the back. Jumpies and Gumby are so calm they don't even have a lead on when they get groomed and so were there to set a good example and be a support group. I sat in the front and played with Naomi's various foster babies (she fosters kittens and puppies for Fora). D-Tail Grooming Parlour is in Wilro Park Shopping Centre, Mimosa Street 011 768 5582. They have been outstanding with all my dogs and are happy to help in the desensitization process and Naomi and her husband are involved in animal fostering and also do pet sitting for people when they go on holiday. They did such a wonderful job when I first got Gumby and he was a township matted filthy terrier... although he didn't seem overly anxious about the parlor they did such a great job he LOVES going there and in fact is a huge fan of any pampering or grooming (and on his Paws for People visits the kids are forever brushing him, plaiting his ears etc)

The howling from the back was enough to break even my COLD cold heart LOL, but Naomi kept popping back and reassuring me he was just putting on the PAWformance of his life and was not being hurt in any way. They worked quickly and efficiently and managed to complete the entire job from snout to toenails. I almost burst into tears when I saw him. He was SO DIFFERENT and BEAUTIFUL!!. He came and sat in the front of the shop with me and proceeded to lap up half a bowl of water and gobble down an entire packet of Woolies doggy dried chicken treats... and then tried to roll himself all over the couch before giving the parrot Voeltjie the eye, investigating every product in the whole shop, having a peek in the premature Yorkie pup's basket and meeting and greeting everyone who came in and and out the shop (all while we waited for Jumpies and Gumby to be finished)... None the worse for his grooming despite acting although it was a near death experience!!!

Having had a day which in a way was the WORST DAY since I'd got Dini (what with his misbehavior and fight at the park) to this NEW Dini and knowing that the next morning at Sparrow's... we'd be heading off to the sea... It felt asthough we'd been blessed with a clean slate and another opportunity to turn things around! Interestingly, the style of cut they'd given Dini made him totally look like a proper member of our Pana Pack... Hi-ho, Hi-Ho, it's off to the sea we go!!!!

...to be continued...

Story of a Rescue Dog - Part 6

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:49:10 +0100

By Dido Panagiotopoulos

"I was a feral dog living in the veld and then under a grandstand at a school. This is the story of my rehabilitation, as told by Dido, my forever mom:"

We embarked on a very busy (continuous and systematic) schedule of desensitization and acclimatization for Dini. Up early for an hour or two walk - mostly on lead on the roads but with a couple of walks a week at Emmarentia Dam or on our pack walking friend Jen's plot, where Dini would be allowed times off lead. We were afraid he would try and slip through palisade fencing and through trial and error learnt Houdini proof methods of walking him so that he would not go MIA or AWOL...Read more...

On lead I used both a half check collar (as the failsafe) and a gentle leader (or head Halti) which is like a harness used on a horse and the lead attaches under the chin. The Gentle leader was new to me and I cannot rave about it enough! It controls the dog gently and redirects him without any tugging and whereas if just on a collar (or worse still, harness) Dini would drag me around, spluttering and choking himself until he would develop a nasty rasping cough which lasted days... Because Dini is very agile he did manage to slip out of the gentle leader by lying on the ground and using his front paws to pull the back head strap over his head and so the Half check collar was the extra safety precaution. The problem with the head harness is that it is not all that common, and people then think you have your dog in a muzzle (I made sure that I got him an inconspicuous black one so that he didn't give the wrong impression... shame!)

The dog can still bark, eat, drink... basically do everything with his mouth (including bite) with the gentle leader - it's purpose is to redirect the dog - draw his attention away from confrontational face-off's with other dogs either by helping him change direction and walk away, or by making him look at me. On lead Dini was much more aggro than off... but even off, he didn't speak the best "dog" and often would head straight towards a dog head thrust forward and tail stiffly up (not a very welcoming approach).

The next thing we did (and this had three purposes - making it so he couldn't fit through or under palisade fencing, to slow him down and finally to help drain some of his excess hyperactive energy) we put him in a doggy backpack with weights in! I used some old sandbag type weights one would velcro around one's wrists or ankles, and simply put one in each pocket of the backpack. It was so sweet how the same dog it first took an age to put a simple collar and leash onto him at the kennels when I brought him home the first time, but now he stood patiently to have his whole ensemble put on - happily aware it meant an outing! I also made it a habit from day 1 that he would only be allowed into the car on lead and would remain on lead throughout the trip. Also he would (like the rest of my pack) learn to wait (until MY say-so) to jump both in and out the car!

Dini most definitely made me see things through new eyes too. You would think that because he'd been feral he'd have had MORE life experience and be more knowledgeable and aware of his surroundings and environment, but in fact the opposite was true. Dini in the beginning was terrified of water. He still only drinks out of the very edge of a water bowl, not the middle. He now LOVES the water but still does not go out of his depth. He shocked and terrified us when on a walk he ran onto the water lily pads and disappeared from sight, and then did not pop back up. Without thinking I ran straight in after him up to my tits in water trying to scoop him up out of this dense water lily forest. My walking buddy Jen also jumped in. Finally there was a splashing and Dini emerged at the edge... He did not swim out, he'd done some hippo maneuver at the bottom of the dam to get out... There he was looking so proud of himself. looking down on usand there we were hysterical drowned rats (complete with sodden shoes and clothing, treats that were now porridge, water-logged remotes (and in my case even a tazer)... dripping and laughing! The UDA (unbalanced dogs anonymous) had just reached a new high (or low?)... not only did we need lots of tissues and treats but it seemed we needed Buoyancy devices too!

Apart from the daily long exercise, we went to D-tail dog parlor almost 5 times a week... we just walked in and spent time walking through the parlor. We'd spend increasingly long periods there, meeting and greeting more people (both staff and clients) and experiencing the weird and wonderful noises (buzzing of razors was Dini's worst!) and smells (shampoo, hot air from the blow dryers and of course all the assorted doggy and kitty smells!). At first we literally would walk in and out. By about the second or third week we would walk up to the parlor (3km straight uphill!) plus we'd go when it was getting hotter and later in the morning... and Dini would get a bath, which he found surprisingly enjoyable. Evodia who bathed him was calm, confident and firm, yet still gentle and kind with him - and he was fine - but still would not allow any grooming instruments... nor would he tolerate the toweling dry - he squealed in protest! It was fine to walk him home wet because it kept him cool! I would still be doing the homework with the huge assortment of grooming instruments I had by now acquired... hoping they'd become familiar and non-threatening to him.

I also took him up to Florida vet at least weekly, where he could also wait in the waiting room and then walk through into the consulting rooms. Once again starting off with just walking through, until I could let him meet and greet the receptionist and staff and pick him up on a vet table and do a vet check. He let me check just about anything and touch him everywhere except his teeth. We also did a couple of social visits with the vet - just to familiarize him (and obviously make the vet aware of his story!) I cannot stress how important it is to have a caring vet who will take the time to help in this kind of process - you know if he is willing to take a couple of minutes out of his busy schedule to meet and greet, that he will be a compassionate and understanding vet - and that he isn't just in it for his own enrichment! Once again the sights and smells and noises inside a busy vet practice are all things that Dini needed to become more relaxed with - and of course this is all the more difficult because many of the animals there are themselves ill, injured and stressed! But vet checks are VITAL and as with the grooming, they were going to remain part of the rest of Dini's life and so he would have to eventually get used to them! Dini was due for his shots before we left on holiday... what was to be his first holiday to the seaside...

...to be continued...

Story of a Rescue Dog - Part 5

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:47:32 +0100

By Dido Panagiotopoulos

"I was a feral dog living in the veld and then under a grandstand at a school. This is the story of my rehabilitation, as told by Dido, my forever mom:"

After the traumatic grooming saga I realized that it was time to seriously undertake a consistent, continuous, compassionate program of systematic desensitization. Unfortunately Dini's fears are deep-seated and all encompassing. Human tools are invariably seen as instruments of torture, whether it's a comb to a broom. A plastic bag fluttering on a branch or walking past an electric box (presumably the buzz inside?) would cause him to jump out of his skin. Read more...

At first it felt overwhelming to know where to start... if the whole world is a big and scary place, where the heck do you even begin? Rather than straight forward training, this was about developing coping and life skills. So it is most important to address the issues he'd be facing most regularly in his life, and especially issues that could mean the difference between life and death. In terms of the most urgent matters, I had to address Dini's fear of water (because we have a swimming pool he needed to know how to swim and where to get out if he fell in... without panicking (insert image 1) and then of course his recalls - to keep him out of danger as much as to keep him out of mischief (obviously we didn't want him living up to his name Houdini and go MIA or AWOL). Dini quickly developed a love for water although he still has the strangest behavior with regards to drinking, and always laps water at the very edge preferably with his nose squished on the edge of the bowl and his tongue dipping in...go figure! In terms of general life skills, the top of my list was meeting and greeting other people and dogs; bathing and grooming (he's a long-haired dog who loves to run through the veld and collect mud, burrs, blackjacks etc) and vet visits. As time would pass new issues and concerns would arise that would need addressing, but for now that was it.

Time to solicit some expert help! I am pretty well-read, but because I have been blessed with more balanced dogs, I do not have the experience to deal with such an insecure, neurotic guy... and also I felt it was important to do it right FIRST TIME, rather than have to undo training or conditioning which did not have desired effect or result (as well meaning as it may have been). Lindy, the sweetheart who gave Dini his first shave put me onto Adrienne Hawkins, Behaviourist in training (currently doing the Advanced Ethology at the Ethology Academy, ady@talkingdog.co.za ) who came over to evaluate us. When I say evaluate us, I mean not just Dini, but the pack. I think it is one's inclination to isolate a "sick" member of the family and try and treat him, whereas this approach makes such sense, since the pack functions as a whole, and the pack dynamic and energy affects him as much as he affects it! It was a wonderful approach that aims far more at INTERGRATING the "problem child" than treating him in isolation which would make him even more of an outcast. Dini's disadvantage is a very poor food drive - as thin as he is! His advantage though is an eagerness to please. I learnt I had to be less lax about house rules and discipline (and structure). Everything had to focus on keeping a calm controlled energy. When arriving home, everyone was to be ignored. Turn away from anyone trying to jump up. Carry on about your business (pack away your shopping etc) and then greet the calm, relaxed pack members only when they are in that chilled state). WOW! Revolutionary stuff! No more over excited dogs nipping each other or bowling each other over to try and get preference, instead it's the dog who lies down calmly and is mellow who gets the first hello. Honestly that already made a huge difference! Next was letting the pack exercise their own discipline too. Dini tends to get over-excited and just go "bos" and I was interfering each time one of the others would try to discipline him (obviously one needs to step in if the discipline from the other dog is extreme and it is likely to escalate into a fight or someone may get injured)... but I was wrong in defending Dini's unbalanced neurotic state and should let the others tell him that such behavior isn't tolerated and that he must calm down. I also discovered that the Pack order I had thought existed and had been enforcing all these years may not in fact BE the natural pack order... will be interesting to see where that goes (naturally though I will remain alpha B!tch LOL! )

And yes, it is all about positive reinforcement and building confidence, discipline is about structure, not punishment or breaking a dog down - that is essential to remember (even more so with an insecure dog). So when you do a recall - tons of praise, love, treats, so that eventually he learns there is more fulfilling, exciting, rewarding stuff happening with mom than out there in the big wide world. First you reward him for just coming, then you touch and hold his collar every time he comes. Sometimes he gets put back on the leash, sometimes the reward is letting him loose again. The reward doesn't always have to be food - in Dini's case praise and then freedom is anyway worth way more than food. Yes,, this particular issue is still a work in progress and I'm still trying to to figure out how to be more enticing than a wild hare or guinea fowl! It was obvious too from Dini's history that he was used to people chasing him and trying to catch him (which became a game) and from the get go, I promised myself I would never EVER chase Dini (any idea how difficult that is as your newly adopted child disappears over the far horizon???) I did however find doing the complete opposite highly effective - call out for him (loudly and clearly and preferably only once) and if he doesn't return RUN in the opposite direction! It has also worked changing direction regularly and not following the same route, so that you are not following him, but he is following YOU and having to keep an eye on you, rather than just sprinting ahead up the trail, safe in the knowledge you will follow. Remember you are the pack leader and he is the follower! Yes, I know this is all pretty obvious stuff... we KNOW it, but do we DO it (especially when we are tired, frustrated or simply panicking?). There goes (fear-aggressive, reactive) Dini, sprinting up the path heading happily straight for Boerbul who is straining on his leash...mummy's impulse is to run to the rescue, BUT best strategy is to shout loudly for Dini and change direction or do a U-turn. When Dini realizes he neither needs to protect mum and pack NOR does he have mum and pack as backup, he swiftly turns tail and runs back along the track to mum... recall successful and crisis averted!

Ady also taught me that it is all about slow, steady repetitive conditioning NOT pushing boundaries and limits, but working from within them. A well-respected Comrades Marathon Coach always went on about approaching training and the race itself by breaking it down into bitable bits and chewable chunks... and this was exactly what I would have to do for Dini so that he wouldn't choke. For example, Dini's grooming issue... Dini could not tolerate a comb/brush or any grooming implement. So first he'd have to learn to share space with them... in the same room, then closer and closer until they share his favorite spot (in our case it was our bed and the couches... if he wanted to lie in luxury, it would have to be next the brush). Impatience and "flooding" brings no rewards (especially with a dog like Dini). Early on when I did think he was relaxed and had been stroking him I held his collar and tried few gentle strokes with a soft rubber brush - he projectile vomited as soon as I finished. I knew I had to go back to basics. Nothing succeeds like success... imagine my elation after many days had elapsed and I was finally able to stroke Dini with a big (face) powder puff and the back of a pair of scissors. Dogs also have role models, and who better to be good role models to Dini than the other calm, obedient dogs. My others love grooming, and especially the rubber massage brush. Dini would learn to emulate the others in order to get praise and rewards (treats)...as well as just to belong. AND, bonus... I had my own bona fide registered Paws for People Therapy dog, GUMBY! Who better to teach Dini there is nothing to fear (other than fear itself) (Insert Image 2) We regularly feed Dini treats off the brush now too, so he not only associates it with something safe, but will come to associate it with something pleasurable. As with the recalls, the grooming issue is a work in progress! We humans are entirely too impatient... there is no deadline to learning or growth, it is a continual process... and having now adopted Dini, he has a lifetime to become the happy, content, well-adjusted dog he will finally be.

Story of a Rescue Dog - Part 4

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:45:30 +0100

Story of a Rescue Dog 4: Epic Failure

By Dido Panagiotopoulos

"I was a feral dog living in the veld and then under a grandstand at a school. This is the story of my rehabilitation, as told by Dido, my forever mom:"

It was Monday beginning of a new week and day four (or rather three and a half) with our foster fur baby Dini.... Despite being beyond exhausted (after the grooming ordeal the day before) I took the pack down to Ruimsig for an hour of laps. Nothing like exercise to clear the head and create calm and balance! At this stage Dini remained on leash at all times. Already he would stand happily waiting for me to put on his half check collar and leash. He was not allowed into the garage or car without it, so it had already come to symbolize OUTINGS... and one thing about Dini, he loves to EXPLORE... he is an adventurer, curious by nature. I had never had a foster before who had literally explored every leaf and blade of grass in the garden...no buried bone had remained uncovered! Read more...

I had slowly become aware that my aim to rehabilitate and rehome Dini in two short weeks was an impossible task. He had far too many issues (mainly fear and anxiety based and mainly as a result of a lack of socialization and exposure to... well, to pretty much everything). We can only guess at his history and past and as much as I would give to know what his story was, I cannot change that. We live in the here-and-now and I can only change his present, and hope that his present good, nurturing, consistent experiences would help him be able to find a fantastic home where he could fulfill his destiny to become a great dog with a stress-free life. Unfortunately most of his fears were unrealistic and he would over-react to everything. A fluttering plastic bag on a tree at the park would cause him to jump out of his skin. A dog bark would cause him to bristle with anticipation. Another dog would cause him to lunge and snap. Something falling or raised voices, would cause him to flee... it seemed endless... and worse, unpredictable!

On this walk I decided to start with some leash manners... his little 10.6kg could drag my lard arse around the field at speed... that had to stop! I was the leader and he had to become the follower... after all if I was his protector and provider, the least he could do in return was show a little respect and a few manners, right?! Difficult job because on the one hand I really wanted him to use some of that endless store of energy he has and then on the other hand I wanted him to be calm and walk nicely on lead. My others are fantastic, Cyclops is my velcro dog, he is always at my side, Jumpies and Gumby are a little fat and less fit so they are normally in my shadow... and all off-leash. I embarked on some very quick walking with Dini, not using commands but changing direction rapidly forcing him to concentrate on me and my legs... he responded quickly and without all the outside distractions he was focused and enjoying it. Another pitfall I discovered which was completely new to me, was Dini has zero food drive, so treating as a reward was really not working very well. Fortunately he was eager to please and seemed to crave praise even more than food. I believe we both found it an invigorating and bonding experience. We also managed to conquer his fear of the big concrete block with the place to connect a fire engine hose to it which was in the middle of the field. I remembered how he'd first approached me and Gumby (at our first meeting) and so we made consecutively tighter circles around the hydrant until we were at it... a few sniffs later, he pee'd on it and claimed ownership of it. He never even seemed to notice it again on subsequent walks - it was okay, meant to be there and non-threatening.

After the walk I went to a petstore nearby to get a Pheromone Calming Collar, a Preventic tick collar... and landed up buying a flat collar and engraved tag with his name and our contact numbers on it (he is an escape artist after all!) When I got home, hubby was there and asked what the ladies from ARRF had thought about Dini's new haircut. Then he said he didn't think Dini should keep sleeping on our bed because it would be really hard for him when he goes back to the kennels after two weeks. Needless to say I was very quiet. Then he said that we cannot possibly keep him and that he'd have to cancel our mid-October beach holiday if I was going to keep him and that NOBODY has FOUR dogs. To that I reminded him the Dini was really skinny and that Gumby was now on a very strict diet and that they would all fit into the back of my Suzuki SX2... and the reason that no one had four dogs was because they all have TWO KIDS and two dogs!!! Hubby, darling hubby, then replied that in THAT case, Dini had definitely begin sleeping in his own bed, starting from tonight!

First there was Gumby, the CLAW foster kid who became pack member and now it's Dini. Actually thinking back, it took about three days for us to change from foster home to forever home in Gumby's case too... as Tony, Cora's (from CLAW) husband always said: as soon as they get a (new) name, you know they are going to stay! Well here's my new bumper sticker with Gumby on the left and Dini on the right!

Story of a Rescue Dog - Part 3

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:44:10 +0100

By Dido Panagiotopoulos

"I was a feral dog living in the veld and then under a grandstand at a school. This is the story of my rehabilitation, as told by Dido, my forever mom:"

Time for the matted dreadlocks to go! I called another rescuer friend, who had recently begun her own mobile dog grooming business. Despite her hectic schedule (of work and family commitments), Lindy came to our rescue and agreed to groom Dini on a Sunday morning. Hubby and I had managed (fairly easily) to bath Dini, but I was horrified to find out that I could not bring any grooming tool even close to him - not a brush (of any kind... baby brush, rubber brush, hand glove) nor scissors, and a razor just freaked him out completely. If one tried to hold him and use any tool, he would snap at you - out of terror, however, and not to aggressively inflict harm...simply a defensive reaction. Read more...

I realized that I would have to get the vet to prescribe something in order for us to possibly groom him. The vet (who shall remain nameless as a result of his less-than-impressive help) had me weigh Dini, and then took many tedious minutes to get within range to put a stethoscope to Dini's chest to hear his heart! Half an hour and almost R200 later, I left with an R11.00 syringe of ACP, which I was to squirt into his mouth half an hour before the grooming was to commence! I started to dose Dini with Rescue Remedy as well.

Early Sunday morning, I took the pack to Ruimisg for an hour of brisk walking, to try and take the edge off for Dini. At home, I squirted the ACP syringe into his mouth. He managed to spit some of it out, but within minutes he was staggering like a drunkard! To be completely honest, I think the whole grooming experience was as traumatic for Dini as it was for all of us trying to do the job! It was three and a half hours of hell! Between myself and hubby, who has run 10 Comrades Marathons and took part in Iron Man 5 times (and who weighs around a 100 kg), we struggled to hold this little 10,6kg drugged dog! He was literally fighting for his life. In truth, it felt although we were inflicting horrific abuse, rather than helping him. He would struggle, squirm, snap then finally stop, absolutely exhausted...then we would shave and cut as kindly, calmly and carefully as possible, until the next brutal struggle. This went on for three and a half long exhausting hours. I was shredded by his nails and we were all kaput. It was a funky, chunky cut, but it was a huge improvement. (In fact, Lindy had successfully removed over a kilo of matted fur!). We couldn't even begin to think of cutting his tail, face or horribly embedded burrs stuck deep inside his paws. Lindy earned my lifelong respect for how calmly and compassionately she groomed Dini. You can contact Lindy on 082 701 9682 - she has a soft spot for rescue animals, and offers excellent specials on the first grooming of a newly adopted rescue animal (there must be proof of adoption from the shelter).

The road to transformation from Boo to Dini had begun...and things had begun looking up!

Important Note: Subsequently, I found out that the sedative ACP (Acepromazine) should never have been prescribed and used! It is a 'pre-med' and should not be used as a sedative for grooming. It does not, in fact, lessen the fear, it just paralyses or slows down the response to the fear. It does nothing to relax the dog - it makes him dopey and lethargic, but with the loss of control and feeling unable to fight back or flee, he is more traumatized. ACP is not an anti-anxiety drug and not an analgesic - it neither relaxes the dog, nor numbs any pain (physical or emotional). So, under the effect of ACP, the dog still has fight and flight, fear and anxiety response, but cannot physically respond or react to his feelings. He may appear calm and relaxed, but is in fact lucid and having intense emotional reactions to the trauma of the experience, and because ACP is a dissociative drug, it may in fact prevent the dog from fully understanding what is happening, plus he is being immobilized, thereby actually increasing the fear! And, this is apart from the various possible medical complications and side-effects! There are newer more preferable and effective medications such as Diazepam (Valium) and Alprazolam (Xanax). PLEASE be aware of this!

Story of a Rescue Dog - Part 2

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:51:50 +0100

By Dido Panagiotopoulos

"I was a feral dog living in the veld and then under a grandstand at a school. I was under a year old when I was rescued by ARRF and was put into Linber Kennels because I was a terrible escape artiste. My trust issues and fears could not be properly addressed, and I needed to be socialized and learn to be a part of a family, and the Pana pack decided to foster me... This is the story of my rehabilitation, as told by Dido, my forever mom:"

Having not slept a wink that Thursday night, I spent the morning plotting how to get my hubby to let me foster Boo. We have a small house and garden... and the PAWfect "pack" including Cyclops, Jumpies and Gumby. Fortunately both my hubby and I are WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) type people, so at lunch time I eventually called him to say I wanted to fetch Boo and foster him for two weeks to help socialize him and familiarize him with family life. He agreed, but emphasized that this was a 2 WEEK FOSTER arrangement. I was in total agreement. And we both meant it (at the time...) Read more...

I called and spoke to Sonja and Patti of AARF, they were thrilled I wanted to foster Boo. I found out that Boo had in fact been rescued the previous year (October 2010). He was spotted living under a grandstand at a school in Krugersdorp living off sandwich crusts and tuckshop tidbits. He was being teased and taunted by the children.

It took a couple of weeks, with daily feeding to finally capture Boo. Boo was groomed, vaccinated, neutered and microchipped. Sonja then tried to foster him, but he was impossible. He became a renowned escape artist, and took to tearing up cushions and things around her home when he was left alone. It was difficult because Sonja has a pack of around 20 ARRF rescues at home... Boo hadn't been socialized nor did he have manners... and worst of all was his escape antics. After rugby tackling Boo across a lane in a nearby highway, after one of Boo's escapes Sonja realized he would be far safer in the boarding kennels they house some of the ARRF rescues. There he remained from early in 2011.

The Kennels are great kennels, but being in kennels will never be the same as living in a home... and Boo was not learning any manners or becoming socialized or learning any manners... He wasn't getting the individual time and care, rehabilitation and socialization her needed. He'd be let out into the main enclosure to run around and exercise himself for a couple of hours a day, but it was unstructured and just encouraged his individualism and independent spirit... he had no idea what it means to be a part of a family or pack.

So on Friday the 26th of August, Gumby and I went through to fetch Boo. I didn't want to traumatize him in the departure and after backing into his cage and giving no touch, no talk, no eye contact it proceeded to take me about twenty minutes to put the half check collar and lead on. I loaded him up into the car with Gumby... he refused to sit with Gumby in the back so I let him sit on the front seat (something one should NEVER do with ones pets of course!!!).

Because my pack are used to fosters, I do not take particular care with the introduction. (One should ideally introduce new members to the pack in a safe neutral territory such as a fenced off park, or simply go for a walk on leash next to one another up the street or something). I just drove into the garage (and carefully made sure the garage door was closed). I kept Dini on leash for the initial meeting with Cyclops and Jumpies, who were oddly disinterested, and more keen to welcome me home.

I had spoken to a friend (dog trainer and behaviorist) Penny and she suggested keeping Boo on an umbilical leash, so that he would be with me most of the time, and to reward him for any eye contact and interaction. I needed to show him that being with me (us) was way more entertaining and fulfilling than being alone and having to occupy himself. He had to learn trust and that I would be his protector and provider.

Penny and I also discussed renaming him. Sonja had told me about running after Boo on his regular escapades shouting "Boooo, Boo, Boo" and that sounded to much like a dog barking. I wanted to call him Harry, as in Harry Houdini... Penny suggested Dini because it has short "friendly" vowels in.

Penny pointed out that long vowel sounds (as in his name Boo) are often long, deep and tend to be more negative like NOOOooooo or the way many people teach their dogs to lie with the "dOOOoooown" command. When naming a dog one should rather use short vowels or sibilant sounds (hissing sounds like "s")...maybe now we all know why dogs learn to SIT before they DOWN :-) So it was that Boo was rechristened Dini... and I was looking forward to a time when he would no longer be a feral escape artist (or Houdini) and I'd be able to ask "Who Dini?" And he'd respond to a recall and say "Me Dini"

The next thing we urgently needed to address was Dini's Rasta look...

To be continued....

Story of a Rescue Dog Part 1

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:52:06 +0100

By Dido Panagiotopoulos

"I was a feral dog living in the veld and then under a grandstand at a school. I was under a year old when I was rescued by ARRF. I was put into Linber Kennels because I was a terrible escape artiste. I was at Linber Kennels from February till the end of August. My trust issues and fears could not be properly addressed, and I needed to be socialized and learn to be a part of a family, and the Pana pack decided to foster me... this lasted all of three days and then they put in a formal adoption request. I have so many issues and require loads of patience, systematic desensitization, exercise, consistent fair reinforcement, etc so that I can meet the world and learn to trust and understand her inhabitants and ways. I am quick to learn, eager to please and can't wait to be a balanced, relaxed member of the family. This is the story of my rehabilitation, as told by Dido, my forever mom:"

Browsing on Facebook I spotted a little guy who looked very much like my special CLAW rescue, Gumby, who went from township rescue to beloved Paws for People Therapy Dog. I then realized that even after several months this dog called Boo, hadn't been adopted and I thought I just have to network this guy and help him find a home. So I found out from AARF where he was, to go and take some new piccies of him... after all a picture speaks a thousand words, right? On Thursday the 25th of August I went through to the kennels in Krugersdorp where he was now living and met Boo. Read more...

Boo was very skittish... Gumby and I walked into the big central exercise pen, where Boo had been put... no touch, no talk, no eye contact. We just walked to a shady spot near a tree stump and sat down quietly. Boo yapped neurotically then ran up and down the fence a few times and finally circled closer and closer towards us. Finally, from the back he slipped his muzzle under my elbow against my side. I rewarded him with an oxtail chewy. He took this and headed off to munch away - this calmed him down immensely and I could start snapping pics.

When Gumby wanted to meet and greet him, he became quite cocky and aggressive (despite the fear and need to protect his chewy, he was still curious though... a good sign). Also it was great to meet a male dog who had no desire to hump Gumby (poor Gumby seems to exude some irresistible pheromone, even neutered males try to jump his bones at the first opportunity).

Boo was hyperactive and spent much time running up and down the fence and then lunging at a resident GSD on the other side of the fence. Living as a feral dog he clearly had learned to be independent and self-reliant. When he caught a big yellow stuffed toy bone I threw for him, he ran off throwing it for himself, "killing" it (violently shaking it), tearing around the perimeter of the enclosure with it, throwing it, dive bombing on top of it. It was joyful exuberant play... but not soliciting any kind of interaction either from me or Gumby.

Finally hot and exhausted, he came and settled nearby us and took a nap in the shade of the stump.

It was quite a mission to capture him to put him back in his kennel. In his personal kennel run, he would jump up on one side wall and bark at the the Corgi next door or the other side wall to bark at the two cocker-rottie pups on the other side... his energy seemed endless! Despite being borderline neurotic (actually looking at him, he probably is a borderline collie too) he also displayed a huge joie de vivre too.

Gumby and I went home to make him an advertorial website, emailer and put his pics up on Facebook... the introductory picture was the collar with this plea.

Clearly my good work hadn't been completed... I did not sleep a wink that night...

To be continued...