Notice how quiet this ward is?
Having a partner (or two) to work with neighboring dogs in shelters can help create a quieter, more peaceful environment that promotes a sense of safety and predictability in many dogs.
It's also highly encouraged for the safety of the handlers themselves, especially when working with higher-risk cases in these stressful environments.
I am always grateful to work with such incredible teams who are truly invested in the welfare of these animals 💕
Meet them where they are.
To those who never give up.
Who never stop fighting.
Who make the sacrifice and carry the burdens the rest of society has placed upon them.
To those who refuse to turn a blind eye.
And give so much of themselves every single day
Even when there is no finish line in sight.
We stand with you.
This is the story of Ace.
Ace was pulled by @thepittycommittee from a high-kill shelter in Southern California.
He arrived at the shelter underweight, with cysts, flystrike, terrible skin, and open sores on his neck from living his chained with a tight collar.
Ace was loved by volunteers, his rescue group, his fosters and pet sitters.
But when Ace started seeing trainer's for work on his dog reactivity, things took a turn for the worse.
The Pitty Committee contacted us for a Hail Mary. They still believed in Ace, and they needed help.
And we said yes.
The following weeks we embarked on such an incredible journey of transformation. There was so much to unpack, but we were there to support him every step of the way.
And he was able to enjoy being a dog again.
@rescuedace has been living with his family for over a year now. The journey continues, and it is a beautiful testament to what we can achieve together when we lead with kindness.
And I still get to wake up every morning and see his face to help remind me why we will always continue fighting for these underdogs.
We have been leaning heavily into our reading body language modules because it is incredibly important to establish a strong foundation on what dogs are communicating to us and the world around them.
Lower-level signals are especially important to identify because they can prevent our dogs from unnecessarily exceeding threshold and escalating to a bite.
The things to focus on in this particular clip are:
Context: It was my first time ever interacting with this dog.
Environment: The dog was removed from its kennel and is immediately in view of other dogs in an animal shelter.
Body Language:
- Flagging tail. Stiff and in an upright position.
- Stiff body. Not loose or fluid.
- Ears shifting as body remains tense.
- Dog disengages after being very still.
- Very slow, tense movements (could also be an indication of physical pain or discomfort).
The precursors to aggressive behaviors often look like this if the dogs are pressured or pushed past their point of comfort. It is our diligence and duty to recognize the early signs and grant our dogs the space and agency they are asking for.
Loading signs can be subtle. Take it slow, for your sake and for theirs ❤
Repost from @caninedecoded
I am thrilled for my upcoming interview with Dr. Melanie on the @caninedecoded podcast!
We will be discussing our work with shelter dogs and some of the hardest challenges we face in the industry.
Let us know what questions or topics you would like for us to touch on below ⬇️
This technique is by far my favorite management tool for removing a slip lead off of a shelter dog that exhibits fear, aggression, or touch sensitivities.
Slip leads are some of the most common leash types used in the shelter industry because of the sheer number of dogs coming in without collars or harnesses. They also afford some measure of safety when moving a dog from one area to another (they do not require the handler to place a collar or harness on a dog and clip a leash, which the dog may not be comfortable with a stranger doing just yet). Reaching into confined spaces (the kennel) to remove a leash when the dog is already giving signs of uneasiness or discomfort can be quite challenging, and risky.
1) Loosen the tab
2) Clip a leash to the o-ring of the slip lead. I always do this outside and after the dog has had time outside of their kennel to eliminate, play, exercise, decompress, and we have had some time to establish some trust and safety. I wait for a time where the dog is giving me signals that it is feeling comfortable and relaxed.
3) Toss some treats inside of the kennel to guide the dog back in.
4) Drop the slip lead (while still holding the clip leash) and calmly but quickly close the kennel door behind the dog as they enter.
5) Gently use the clip leash to pull the slip lead over and off of the dog's head.
Fostering Saves Lives
Ask your local shelters about fostering today!
Handling Tip for Shelter Volunteers
Here's an easy trick I like to use when walking reactive dogs down those tight corridors. It's an excellent way to keep the nose and focus on the ground and prevent fence/cage fighting!
