Sensory Deprivation and Puppy Mill Rescue Dogs

From time to time someone asks me what type of dog takes the longest to train. They expect the answer to be a specific breed. But the truth is that the most difficult dog to train is not a breed, but a group.

That group is breeding dogs that have been rescued from puppy mills.
Puppy mills are the equivalent of the sweat shops of the early industrial age.

Their goal is to turn out lots of puppies at the lowest possible cost. The way they do it is appalling.

Breeding dogs are selected and kept until they are about five years old. Then they are discarded and either destroyed or rescued by one of the rescue organizations.

A lot of people think that all these dogs need is love and occasionally it is just that simple. But most of the time it is not.

These dogs are normally kept in very small cages. They have had no meaningful contact with humans and minimal contact with other dogs. As a result they simply have no idea how to live or even survive outside of the crate or cage.

All dogs come in for an assessment before I train them. The primary reason is so that my client understands what I do and how I do it. But by looking at the dog before the owners decide to train with me, can figure out what the greatest needs are. We start by having you drop the dog’s leash as soon as you walk in the door.

What I want to see is a dog with enough confidence to leave your side, enough curiosity to explore the center, and a little bit of caution since the dog does not know who or what may be in here. With the puppy mill rescue what I usually see is a dog that just stands there with its head and back lowered.

The dog not only cannot make a decision, it literally does not know how to gather information to make decisions. It has had so little sensory input, that even an empty center with only its owners and I in the room, it does not know how to find out what it needs to know to do anything.

And so begins a very long period of working the dog to just get ready to train. I know that with time we can have a confident dog, but the problem is going to be the owner’s expectations. If they are going to train with me they will need to invest a lot of time and effort before they see much improvement.

The first thing we must do is give the dog time to learn to watch and figure out how this new world works. At the same time we cannot put any pressure on the dog. So I put the dog on a line attached to the wall. The line is a form of security and often dogs will lean against the wall to reassure themselves. Then I put a calming collar on the dog knowing that the collar puts pressure on the pressure points in its neck, calming and reassuring the dog. Finally since the dog has spent its whole life watching through a cage, I put an exercise pen in a large semi circle around the dog.

Then we just let the dog be there while I work with other dogs. Other than an occasional “you’re fine” told to the dog by its owners and myself, there is no inter action with the dog.

I ask the owner to come in with the dog whenever we have our Neighborhood Pack Sessions or on weekends when I have lots of trainings. I can never predict how long it will take to stimulate interest.

The first sign of interest in what is going on is when the puppy mill dog starts watching the other dogs and people. At first it is only an occasional glance, but gradually it begins to take an interest in what is going on. Maybe for the first time in its life, the dog is gathering information.

I know we are getting close when the dog sits and watches the entire time it is here. The dog is learning how to learn.

We wait for the magic moment when the dog barks. It is the first step into the world. Now the training can begin.

The dog is worked in short periods. All we are looking for is just a little progress. There are still weeks if not months to go, but the dog is now on its way to being normal.

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Another Lakeland Terrier

This is Joie. She is a Lakeland Terrier who started training Monday.

About two weeks ago I got an e mail from a rescue group asking for help. I replied with our standard offer. We will give a discount to rescue dogs from recognized organizations for dog’s that come in within thirty days of adoption. I also added that we will donate a free training package to any rescue Lakeland Terrier as part of our commitment to our breed.

Now Lakeland’s are rare so I was surprised to learn they had a mill rescue Lakeland. She got adopted this weekend and Jan called me on Saturday. Joie came in yesterday even though Jan had to come down from the Denver area.

Jan has a sister who lives here in Colorado Springs. Her sister, Debbie has shown Lakelands so Jan was familiar with the breed.

These rescue dogs are breeding dogs that are no longer used and are useless to the puppy mill. If they are not rescued they are put down.

The conditions for most of these puppy mill breeding dogs are horrid. Most are confined to a small cage or crate almost their entire lives. As a result they have never been socialized to people or dogs.

Usually working with this kind of a dog is a long and drawn out process. Some dogs come in to the center three or four times where all we do is let them get comfortable. There is no training, just desensitization to the environment. They not only have trouble making decisions, some of them literally do not know how to be dogs. So it can be months before we start. And sadly not all of them will make much progress.

So when Joie came in I was amazed at how confident she was. It was pretty close to a typical lesson I routinely give to dogs that have normal backgrounds. Joie and her new mom did well.

I think the reason she was so trainable so soon was one of the attributes of this breed. When they worked in England, they sometimes would get trapped and would have to wait days to be rescued. There are even stories of owners having to use explosives to get to them. To be able to lie in the cold and the dark is bred into them.

She will be back in a couple of weeks for her next lesson. She is a Lakeland, and they are the most challenging dog to train. So I am waiting for the other shoe to drop. After all she is still in the “honeymoon” phase of her relationship with her owner.

But whatever happens I’m pretty sure this dog will make it.

Doug

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PIT BULLS AND OTHER DANGEROUS DOGS KEEP ON KILLING

http://www.optuszoo.com.au/news/top/news-com-au/guide-dog-killed-in-pit-bull-attack/750059

ANOTHER innocent Guide dog killed in yet ANOTHER vicious pit bull attack.  When are pit bull owners finally going to understand that their dogs are dangerous; they pose a huge danger to society!

Pit bulls are mauling, maiming and killing people, pets, and service/guide dogs at a rate UNMATCHED by any other type of dog, and WE ARE SICK OF IT!!!!

I dont really care whos at fault, whether its the dogs or the owners; it makes no difference to me. The fact is that pit bulls are dangerous, and a lot of times, so are their owners. So dont bother with your comments about who is at fault, and comment about that "its the owners fault."  I DONT CARE!!!! The FACT is, PIT BULLS CONTINUE TO MAUL, MAIM AND KILL AND IT NEEDS TO STOP, by whatever means necessary! If the damn dogs have to be removed as pets, then so be it.  This guide dog, and NO guide or service dogs, or family pets, or children, or adults deserve to be mauled to death or eaten alive by some aggressive dog, just because its owner thinks he/she has the RIGHT to own whatever dog they want.  Well, guess what....WE HAVE RIGHTS TOO!!!! WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO FEEL AND TO BE SAFE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS! 
And were DAMNED TIRED of your vicious dogs harassing, threatening, mauling and attacking, and even KILLING our family members, our pets, and our service and guide dogs! 

It used to be easy for you who own pit bulls, but not anymore! We are going to FIGHT you! And we WILL NOT STOP until these vicious dogs are off of our city streets and are NO longer in homes as pets.  WE WILL FIGHT until its done; until we can live safer, and in more peace in our neighborhoods and can walk down the street with our children, or our dogs and guide/service dogs, without the fear of being mauled to death by your inherently vicious pit bull type dog! 

If you dont want the fight, THEN CONTROL YOUR VICIOUS ANIMALS! Put up an adequate fence, get a stronger leash, train your dogs, put them in a locked pen....do whatever you have to do to MAKE THIS STOP, or youre going to have the fight of your life on your hands! We are gathering an army of support, most of them victims, and we WILL fight you! 


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2186433/Dog-bite-hospital-admissions-rise--especially-children.html

"In the UK it is illegal to breed or own Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos and Fila Brazilieros. They were bred as aggressive fighting dogs.

It is also an offence for an owner to allow a dog of any breed to be dangerously out of control in a public place.

The Government has recognised that dog attacks is a growing problem. In 2011 police seized 1,512 illegal dogs – up from just 27 five years earlier. Meanwhile attacks on guide dogs were now running at the rate of seven a month."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2186433/Dog-bite-hospital-admissions-rise--especially-children.html#ixzz23AkD4Eoa

You CANNOT argue the FACT that pit bulls and their mixes, were bred to fight and kill, EVERYONE seems to know that except the owners of these dogs! 

These attacks are inexcusable! Unacceptable! And completely PREVENTABLE! 

You wonder why people like us want BSL?   THIS IS WHY! Because YOU pit bull owners, and owners of DANGEROUS DOGS cant seem to keep your damn killing machines under control! 

Have you ANY idea what it takes to train a service or guide dog? Have you any idea how much it costs? Do you know what kind of a bond a handler has with his/her service/guide dog?  DO YOU EVEN GIVE A DAMN?????


We Will be quiet NO MORE!!!!!!!

Join us to Walk For Victims of Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Dogs

October 27th, 2012

12 noon- 7pm

Lincoln Park, Tucson, AZ 

ITS TIME FOR THE VOICES OF THE VICTIMS TO BE HEARD!!!

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Another Pit Bull Service Dog

Okay, back to pit bull "service dogs." Without reading through my entire post first, please watch the video below, and see if you can determine whats wrong with this picture?  Even if you know absolutely nothing about service dogs, you should be able to guess a few things, that is, if you have any common sense whatsoever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suHsyoP_td0

Okay, ready to discuss?

Here goes...

First of all, the "service dog" is a pit bull type dog.  No, the ADA regs do not have any regulations that state you cannot have a pit bull as a service dog; however, common sense, and a lot of trainers will tell you that the pit bull is not the best breed of choice for a service dog.
There are a few reasons.
ONE: many, many people frown on pit bulls as they have quite the reputation for attacking, mauling and killing, which is well deserved if you ask me.  Therefore, dont expect to have a pit bull as a service dog without ever having to take a whole lot of flack for it from the general public.  Remember, a service dog is going to accompany you just about everywhere you go, that is,  if youre truly disabled and your pit bull is a REAL service dog. Dont expect that, even though it is against the law, businesses wont ask you to leave with your pit bull as there are children around and its not safe.  That happens when you have chosen a pit bull as your service dog.  Sure, that IS illegal (to ask you to leave just because your service dog is a pit bull), but it has been done, and unless you want to have a confrontation with a whole lot of business owners upon entering their business with your pit bull "service dog," choose another breed. Sure, you can get a lawyer, make a fuss and sue them, but is that really what you want to go through every time you go out with your service dog?
TWO: Most trainers will tell you that pit bulls arent the easiest dogs to train for the purpose of service work.  They were bred for the purpose of fighting in a pit, bull-baiting, and bear-baiting, and lets face it, theyre NOT on the list of the most intelligent dogs. Im not saying theyre not trainable, but theyre definitely more difficult to train.  Im not saying that Labs and Goldens are the only breeds used for service dogs, but theyre much easier to train and higher on the list of intelligent working dogs...as are GSDs (German Shepherds) and many others.  Pit Bulls are also very unpredictable. A responsible pit bull owner will tell you not to EVER trust your pit bull NOT to fight with another dog...after all, its what they were bred for; and theyll tell you to carry a break stick when you go out with your pit bull.  Now, is that what you want to have to deal with when youre out with your "service dog?"

So thats the first thing thats wrong with this video...plain and simple, that "service dog" is a pit bull.  Im willing to bet that this lady is going to catch some flack from someone at the mall, be it a manager or simply a customer that knows what pit bulls are capable of.

Another VERY important thing that is very wrong with the "service dog" in this video is that its NOT neutered! WHAT?! One of the first requirements for every training organization that Ive ever researched that trains, or helps you to train, service dogs is that the dog is spayed and/or neutered.  Why in the name of all that is holy would this handler NOT have her "service dog" neutered? Even the IAADP (The International Association of Assistance Dog Partners), which sets the standards for service dogs states, "".... Working assistance dogs are spayed and neutered to guarantee that sex drives will not interfere with their work ethic. Thus, they are eliminated from the breeding and gene pool."
Most trainers and/or training organizations will require a written document from your Vet stating that your dog is in tip top shape, spayed/neutered (and the date if available), and up to date on all required vaccinations (and the dates given). There is absolutely NO reason that the dog in this video shouldnt be neutered.  How do you think this pit bull "service dog" might react should it run into a female dog in heat? Do you think it might become uncontrollable? Aggressive? It would, at the VERY least, become very distracted and unable to perform its job! Who needs their service dog lunging to the end of its leash, become highly distracted, and possibly aggressive, when it sees or smells a female dog in heat?  Thats just good old common sense!

Last but not least, heres the thing that REALLY bothers me most about this video...the handler, which has an invisible disability (which I question anyway, just due to the fact that she chose a pit bull for a service dog), obviously hasnt been through any professional training with her "service dog." This is because any good trainer, who trains service dogs, will tell you that it is extremely dangerous to take your service dog on an escalator!! Again, why in the name of all that is holy would you put your service dog in this kind of danger, not to mention anxiety for the dog.  If you have half a brain, you know that dogs feet arent like human feet, and most of the time, they arent wearing shoes.  If youve ever seen the beginning step or ending step of an escalator you would know that its very easy for a dogs toes/feet to become trapped in the escalator when getting on or getting off.  This is why every mall you have ever been to, has elevators.  This moron chooses to put her "service dog" in danger of serious injury just to avoid having to go a few extra steps to locate the elevator.

So when you hear of someone like myself doubting that a service dog is a REAL service dog because its a pit bull, now you know why.

I still have yet to actually witness (in real life) a pit bull service dog in action.  If I ever do enter a business and witness one, you can bet Im gonna find the exit real quick.  I bet a lot of other people will too.

This? 

Or This? 

Yes, we know.....kind of says it all, doesnt it? 

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Another Guide Dog Attacked By Pit Bulls

http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/ktxl-guide-dog-attacked-in-davis-20120506,0,5844282.story

These stories are really becoming all too common.  Another Guide Dog attacked by pit bulls, while minding his own business and working with his trainer.  This dog is in training, still learning to perform his duties as a guide dog, although its questionable now whether he will be able to perform those duties after being viciously attacked by the pit bullies.

Theres someone or something attacked by these menacing type of dogs nearly every single day and its time something is done about it! More and more cities are looking into some type of pit bull ordinance and although I think thats great, I think these dogs should just be banned nationwide.  They cause nothing but trouble.  Theyre constantly attacking and killing, children, other animals, even their owners, because they were bred to fight and to kill.  Why should we allow that type of dog in peoples homes?

Pit bull owners keep saying that its about the owners and they need to be more responsible.  Well, thats great, but it isnt happening is it?  If it was happening, the number and frequency of attacks would be going down, and instead theyre going up.  I am sick and tired of seeing more and more of these attacks EVERY DAY by these types of dogs.  Its not necessary that we keep seeing this!

I dont think pit bull owners understand, nor do they care, about the time, money, blood, sweat and tears that go into training a service dog or guide dog. So many of them have been, and are being attacked by pit bulls, and a lot of times, these attacks either kill the service dog or force it into early retirement, as its no longer able to perform its duties any longer out of fear, or defensiveness.

In my opinion, if pit bull owners cant learn to play nice with their pit bulls, they should have their pit bulls taken away! These dogs are nothing but a menace to society and a danger to the public!

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Jade Goes To The Fair

We took Jade, loaded up my mobility scooter and headed off to the County Fair last night.  What a great time!

I wondered how Jade would do with all of those people around her, screaming, whistling, eating, walking, running past her, petting her when theyre not supposed to, and her being in the middle of it all.  I wonder no more.  Jade was amazing! She did such a wonderful job that I rewarded her with her own super-long, County Fair hot dog, which she LOVED, and washed down with the bottle of water I snuck in her for.

Jade used to have a thing with loud noises, and my trainer said, "We need her to be bomb-proof." Boy is she ever!  My trainer always had those "loud noise sessions" in training class and I would get so frustrated, because Jade would

get so anxious and worked up, sometimes tucking her tail so far under her belly that I couldnt even find it.  Shed start shaking and press in up against me, and Id have to take her outside to calm her down.  She would get so anxious that she would fail to perform her tasks.  I would get frustrated and discouraged, thinking, "shes never going to get over this." My trainer was great! We continued to have loud noise sessions, and my trainer would be so supportive and say, "Be patient, give her time, shell come out of it." Finally Jade started showing immense improvement, and now, she is becoming the bomb-proof dog that I want and need so badly. I wondered how shed do at the County Fair, but she amazed me once again. 

Jade was a bit stressed as we walked through the entry gate into the fair, and she looked around excitedly at all the people, the carnival rides, and games, with her eyes wide.  Soon after, I could see her face relax, and just because there were so many people, I was afraid shed be stepped on, and children were walking by patting her,  I put her on the scooter to ride with me. She loves that. 

We rode over to the concert area where Ted Nugent was playing, and found a good spot amidst the huge crowd, and Jade got off the scooter and lied down between me and my boyfriend. The music was loud, to say the least, and whenever the band would stop, people would yell and scream and whistle so loudly....Jade wasnt phased. I was pleased. At one point I dropped my phone and Jade got down to pick it up and handed it to me. She was still performing her tasks in the middle of this huge, loud, whistling and screaming crowd! I cant tell you how relieved and thankful that makes me feel! 

We walked around the fair, I rode and Jade rode with me....we stopped and played a couple of games, winning a couple stuffed toys, thanks to my boyfriends dart playing, balloon popping skills, and Jade watched him intently, never afraid.  As much as I hated those "loud noise sessions" in training, I cant thank my trainer enough for turning Jade into the best dog EVER! 

Weve also managed to tackle the defensiveness issue that Jade was having with other dogs.  My trainer invited myself and my field trainer to her class session last week.  We used about 5-6 other dogs to help Jade.  She had been getting over this defensiveness anyway, and last week I do believe we had the huge breakthrough wed been wanting. 

The trainer placed me and Jade inside a fenced pen, she was unleashed and we did some basic check-ins for review.  The other dogs then walked around us, with their handlers, again and again.  They were allowed to sniff Jade through the fence, and Jade sniffed them.  Then she would come back to me, check in and get a tasty treat.  She did great! No snarling, no teeth showing, no growling, no nothing! Jade was just her friendly old Lab self! What a great feeling! 

Then we put her back on lead and walked her around the other dogs, finally putting them all in a down/stay next to each other, while one dog would run past them all (including Jade) chasing a bone.  Jade didnt move a muscle, but just looked at me, with that beautiful smiling face, waiting for her next command.  Everyone cheered for Jade.  I was almost in tears with happiness. 

Then the trainer brought her own dog out, a little Aussie, and we place Jade in a down/stay between the Aussie and the huge Rottie that belongs to my field trainer.  The trainer made her Aussie bark, and get up, bark and growl.  Jade didnt move.  She looked at the dog then back at me, awaiting a command.  I was so happy!!!! The trainer was impressed. 

Afterward, we continued to walk Jade passed and around the Rottie for practice. Jade was so relaxed, and I could hardly believe it! They even bumped hips while passing a few times, and Jade would just keep walking or look up at me for a tasty treat. My field trainer was almost as happy as I was! She really wants Jade to excel, and that is exactly what shes doing.  These trainers are great people! 

I wish I had thought to get some photos. I will next time. 

After we were finished, the trainer pulled me aside and we talked a bit.  She talked to me about the fact that Jades defensiveness with other dogs is really about my fear of her being approached by other dogs.  She explained that the leash is not just a way of keeping your dog close to you, its a way of communicating with your dog.  Everything that I feel is transmitted down to Jade through that leash, as if it were some kind of vein that connects us. I know shes right because the only time I have seen Jade react to other dogs approaching is when I react. When I see another dog approaching her, I usually pull up on the leash, and making it tight, try to pull her away.  I am usually thinking, "Oh my god, not again!"while doing so. This is what causes Jade to react, as the trainer explained.  The trainer said, "This training isnt so much about Jade, its about you....its about getting YOU to relax when another dog is around, or  another dog approaches her....when you tense up, Jade reacts."  The trainer told me to keep practicing, as this will get easier and easier for me as time goes by.  She asked me to come up with a word I can use that will "take me to my happy place and help me relax" when in such a situation.  Sort of an "anchor" word.  Im still working on coming up with something I think might work.

If anyone has a suggestion for a good "anchor word," Im all ears. 

The reason that I tense up when Jade is approached by another dog is quite obvious if youve read my page on our attack story.  Jade was viciously attacked by a pit bull some time back, and I thought it was Jade that hadnt gotten over that, but apparently it has been me. It seems that Jade has let it go, and Im the one who hasnt.  Quite an interesting epiphany.  I will keep working on that, but its hard. If your dog has ever been attacked by another dog, especially a pit bull, you know what I mean.  I want to protect her, and never let her get hurt again, but my paranoia of her being approached by other dogs isnt doing her any favors, although I will NEVER let another pit bull anywhere near her if I can help it.  

Jade is an amazing dog, and never ceases to show me that. I was so proud of her at the fair this weekend, and she knew it.  I continued to praise her and give her a lot of love. I was also amazed at her friendliness with other dogs at training last week.  It appears we are moving past both the loud noise problem and the approaching dog issue, thanks to the wonderful trainers at Handi-dogs, Inc.! 

Jade is becoming a wonderful bomb-proof service dog! 

Jade in her sweater and booties made by me. 

I never imagined youd amaze me the way you do, sweet girl! 

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