Your Dog And Setting Boundaries With People

It is important to define and choose the appropriate physical and emotional boundaries you will enforce when people interact with your dog. Some things are going to be OK, some things are not going to be OK. A couple of examples...

It is not OK for someone to hurt your dog: a physical boundary.

It is also not OK for someone to terrorize your dog: an emotional boundary.

When working with students, I help them to figure out and choose appropriate boundaries for their dogs, especially if kids are involved. 

It is better to define your boundaries in advance instead of reacting as a surprise with fear, anger, or passive acceptance of things that shouldn't be done to your dog. 

People who don't respect or know boundaries are going to be magnetically drawn to situations and people who don't choose, set and enforce reasonable boundaries. You can't afford to smoke these people out by letting them transgress first, and then react afterwards. It is then too late, and the harm is already done. 

For children, they have to be taught boundaries with the dog. They don't know boundaries instinctively, without instruction and experience. Boundaries must be modeled by the parents or dog owners, enumerated at an age appropriate manner, described, practiced and enforced. This concept is also going to be true of some adults. Many adults have little to no experience with dogs, and they need your help to know what to do and what not to do. If they don't know the boundaries you have chosen, you must assume they will cross those lines.

Therefore, what physical boundaries are you going to set? Who can touch your dog or enter your territory? When, where, how, and why? And what emotional boundaries are you going to set? What range of emotions are acceptable for people to evoke from your dog, and what ranges are unacceptable? And of those emotions and in what circumstances are these emotional states acceptable to be triggered and to what intensity?

Your Traumas And Your Dog

The traumas you have experienced can influence how you raise your dog. For example, if you were raised in a harsh environment, you might decide to not train your dog to have good manners. But then your dog becomes out of control or even dangerous. 

Dogs can't train themselves. If you find that you have an aversion to setting boundaries for your dog, avoiding training and necessary rule enforcement, then your dog's misbehavior isn't going to get any better through neglect. For many dogs, you can't postpone the training forever. In some cases, your dog might even become dangerous to you or someone else. 

Be honest with yourself if you are going through this and seek a good therapist. There is no shame in getting help. Then have your therapist coordinate with your dog trainer to develop a healthy and workable program that is good for you and good for your dog.

Who To Vote For Today?

 Who would P’Nut the Squirrel want you to vote for? 

Dog Rescue-aholics

I have met a number of Dog Rescue-aholics... 

Like a lot of good things, people can take rescue work too far, often as an escape from other things that have hurt them. I've seen people do it to avoid their terrible marriages, or run from other past traumas. I've seen it break up marriages; cause kids to be neglected; cause people to start hoarding dogs; and some going broke from running up the credit cards until bankruptcy and then having to dump the dogs in their care on others. Substance abuse can also be a part of this. All balance of life goes out the door when dog rescue becomes an addiction. There is a lot to get addicted to: You can get addicted to the pain. You can get addicted to the rescuing. You can get addicted to the attention. You can get addicted to the dog rescue culture and its social rules.

I think there might be a role for an AA for pet rescue to get some people off their rat running wheels. I think this phenomenon is a lot more common than many might realize. If you fear you are going down this route, it is time to become honest about it and get help. You can't keep hiding what is happening to you because at some point it is all going to come crashing down. It doesn't have to be that way. Don't let shame keep you from getting help. Tell the truth to someone. If you need a therapist, then do that. There are ways to do rescue in a way that doesn't cause you to drown. 

Another Inflation Disaster: Surge In Dog Veterinarian Prices

Maine and Georgia experienced a 20% surge in vet care pricing within a year, with this trend now spreading to other states like California.

Inflation is slamming all pets across the country. Blame the federal government mismanagement of the economy. This is a major reason why shelters are overflowing with pets… many people are being priced out of owning them… 

Dogs And Social Unrest

I have no idea how the next few days will play out politically. What I do have is an idea about your pets... stay away from protests and trouble. I see no good outcome for a dog in the event of a riot or intense protest. 

If the turmoil is coming to your neighborhood, then consider how to keep your dog safe... lock doors, gates, have extra supplies, and such. When people are in a frenzy you and your dog are not safe. Stay or go? I have no idea for you since every situation is different.

We were always taught to stay away from trouble. I still practice that in my life. I don't go looking for trouble, and I recommend that you don't go looking for trouble. But sometimes trouble can come your way even if you don't want any part of it. Encourage your friends to also avoid trouble and troublemaking. Trouble doesn't solve anything. 

Blessed are the peacemakers. Plan accordingly.

Loose Dogs On Holidays

Borough officials said three pit bulls, two adults and a puppy, got loose from a row house on Ormond at about 5:40 p.m., just before the borough’s Halloween celebrations were about to start.

If you note, I warned about watching your pets over Halloween. Lots of dogs escape during holidays because people aren’t monitoring them at the door. It can also be tricky to get your dog back inside once your dog has escaped. Many people get angry at their dogs and the dogs play keep away… actually the novel situation and the owner’s hostility makes the dog afraid to come or go back into the home. 

 

This is why training matters. If you have established a good relationship with your dog, you monitor your dog at escape points, you have trained your dog in front of your home, and you can keep your emotions in check during emergencies, then you have a good chance of preventing these types of accidents… regardless of the breed. 

 

Next big holidays are Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Years.

 

Are. You. Ready? 

It Was NOT Necessary For NY To Kill Peanut The Pet Squirrel

According to Longo, at least six officers from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) came to his door, seizing Peanut and another of his unconventional pets, Fred the raccoon. 

This is political dishonest nonsense. Or as some would say, BS. There was no need to do this. SIX OFFICERS? To get a squirrel? This was to make a political point about the power of a government agency and to allow them to strut around as if they were doing something important. There was no rabies risk AT ALL. And alternative licensing or housing could have been arranged.

 

Other options were available. Now everyone hates the DEC and it’s officers. 

Interesting Study: Shelter Staff Wellbeing Survey

The demands of animal  shelter  work  can  take  a  toll  on  staff   well-being. The  years  following  the  coronavirus  pandemic  have  been  especially  demanding  as  shelters  struggle to navigate a series of  unprecedented challenges, including pandemic-related restrictions, the shortage of  veterinary professionals, adoptions not keeping pace with increasing animal admissions (especially of  dogs), the expiration of  eviction moratoriums, and rising inflation. These factors create a context that is potentially deleterious to the well-being of shelter staff. 

 

Shelter work is traumatic. The better the shelter is run, the better the outcomes for the dogs, staff and volunteers. And the better outcome for the public.

Dogs And Addiction

People who are addicted to anything are putting themselves in a position to neglect their dogs.

There is professional help for all addictions. Plan accordingly...