A Winter's Tale - perfect for a cold day...and a bit about socialization and problem solving

I have just finished another excellent book entitled, "The Cruelest Miles" by Gay Salisbury and Laney Salisbury.  It is the fascinating, well researched book about the heroic race of sled dogs and their amazing people who took serum from Anchorage to Nome Alaska during the outbreak of diptheria in 1925.

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G just doesn't quite describe this book.  Story after story of heroic men and dogs who braved the coldest temperatures on earth -89 to -100 degrees below zero with windchill and white out blizzard conditions.  With deep icey cravaces and breaks where water pushed up through the ice - danger lurked at every turn.  It was up to the lead dog to keep the entire team safe.  The stories are indeed legendary!  Here is a description about the blizzards these men experienced from the words of a famous musher named Scotty Allan.

"you don't know whether to pray, curse or cry.  You generally do all three together.  But after a while the blizzard becomes a hated thing with a personality.  You get that back to the wall feeling, and like a man in the heat of battle, you forget to feel afraid.  You grow to glory in the fight..."  "A blizzard attacks a Musher by causing confusion.  His eyelids freeze shut, his face is pounded by snowy blasts every way he turns, and he loses his sense of direction.  You can't see, you can't lay hands on it.  You can only feel it."  

Allan once claimed that nine of  ten dogs would turn tail and run in the face of a blizzard.  The fearless ones were prized throughout the Seward Peninsula and these brave few could inspire an entire team.  These were the leaders the mushers depended upon for their very lives.

Scotty Allan left behind a vivid description of a particular trip mushing during a blizzard.  His team was enveloped in "air thick as smoke with whirling snow.  Gritty as salt it was, and stinging in like splinters of steel.  It baked into my furs and into the coats of my dogs until we were encased in snow crusts solid as ice.  The din deafened me.  I couldn't hear, couldn't see and couldn't breathe."  Every fifteen minutes, Allan stopped his team and crawled up the gang line, putting a hand on each dog to check his condition.  The young dogs were whining and trying to bury themselves beneath the snow (to keep warm), but every time Allan reached the front of the team, he found his leader, Baldy, "sturdy and brave as a little polar bear...a small brave bit of life in that vast, storm swept waste...I'd melt the ice away from his face and hug him and then fumble back to the sled.  I was so darned proud and happy over that pup I just couldn't find the words to tell him what I thought of him," Allan said.

I read these stories with awe and wonder (and at times tears at the courage of the big and good heart of a dog).  During this diptheria outbreak in Nome in 1925, the only dependable mode of travel in such harsh, unrelenting conditions were the dogs and the mushers who spurred them on.  Words escape me as I try to describe their brave hearts in the face of certain death, if they let down their guard for just a second or they picked the wrong lead dog they could plunge into an icy death in an instant.

 In 1925,  planes were on stand by, but these were planes with open cockpits.  Stories were told of brave pilots who froze to death in place or engines that would just stop and cut out because they froze up.  Because of this the Governor of Alaska would not allow the pilots to try to fly in the serum.  He was afraid to lose plane, pilot and life saving serum. There was no other way to get the serum to Nome but by sled dog.  And that's what they did, the dogs and brave men saved the entire community.

I have one last story to share.  The bit about socialization and problem solving...

I encourage and teach my students everyday that socialziation isn't just about dogs meeting, greeting and playing with other dogs.  Socialization is so much more about allowing our dogs to use their five senses.  To explore the world around them, to live life...travel and see, hear, smell, taste and touch the world around them.  This is what makes a wonderfully social and well behaved dog!  I thought this next story explains this concept perfectly and from the words of Leonard Seppala himself.  When all was said and done Seppala and his lead dog, Togo (pictured above) traveled over 261 miles during the serum run.  Again, amazing!

Seppala was famous for crossing the Norton Sound when frozen.  It was very dangerous as the powerful water could push up through the ice at a moments notice, creating fissures that could suck an entire team right down into the icy waters.  These fissures would create ice flows and a team could get stuck on an ice floe and be carried out to sea...

Once Seppala was out on the Sound with his lead dog Togo when an northeast gale whipped up.  They were flying along at top speed and almost to the shore when Togo heard the crack.  He ignored Seppala's command to 'haw'.  And just at that point Togo reared up and somersaulted back onto his teammates.  Seppala shouted angrily and ran up to Togo to see what was the matter.  As he neared, he saw why Togo had stopped.  No more than six feet ahead was an open channel of water.  They were on an ice floe, drifting out to sea.  There was no escape.  Togo had saved their lives by disobeying his master.

But now what to do.  Seppala curled up with his dogs, conserved his strength and warmth and hoped for a shift in the wind to bring them back to shore.

Several hours later his dogs sensed a change and started to whimper and howl.  Togo himself gave a short yelp.  The wind was beginning to turn in their favor and was heading back to the shoreline. They drifted 9 more hours until they could finally see the shoreline ahead.  When they were about 5 feet from shore, Seppala threw Togo to land.  Seppala reported later that, "Togo seemed to understand what he had to do."  Once on the other side Togo dug in and tried to pull the ice floe to shore.  Unfortunately the line snapped and fell into the water.  Seppala was speechless.  They had just been given a death sentence.   And here's the part I want you to hear...

They say animals have the ability to find solutions to problems, it's called 'adaptive intelligence'.  The icy lead separating Togo from Seppala was keeping him from his reward; reuniting with his master and his team.  Togo had been born and bred a sled dog and it was part of his instinct (his default) now, like always, to pull.  From an early age he had been exposed to an amazing array of daily challenges that had improved his ability to learn and in some cases to problem solve!  He had traveled over varied terrain in summer and winter and had spent most of his entire day for the past twelve years watching and working with Seppala as the team traveled out in the gold fields and to towns across Alaska.

As Seppala stood staring in disbelief at Togo, the dog dove into the water, snapped the line into his mouth and stuggled back out onto the shore.  Holding the line tighly in his jaws, Togo rolled over the line "until it was twice looped about his shoulders" and began to pull.  The floe started to move again and Togo continued to pull until it was close enough for Seppala and his teammates to jump safely across.

Bear with me as I dry my tears and take a moment to gather myself...

This my friends is what I have been talking about.  The conversation...the story never has to end...it grows deeper and more meaningful with each passing year of living and working together...man/woman and dog!

I will end here.  I highly recommend this beautiful story.  You won't regret spending a few hours snuggled up with this one.

As always...Happy Trails!  And I do mean trails...blaze a new trail with your dog...grow in communication, trust and understanding and write your story...and then bravely tell it to the world!

Only you can write your dog's story...

...and I can give you the tools to make it a good one!

I sometimes hear this phrase when meeting with a new client and their dog.  "This is the ______ fill in the blank - dumbest - most obstinate - stubborn - dog I have ever met."  I don't take offense nor do I judge the person when I hear these statements.  I am hearing loud of clear that things are out of balance and communication is just not happening.  I realize I am needed and I am happy to reply, "I can help!"

There are often a myriad of reasons why the person has come to this conclusion.  As I help them sort things out and start communicating, behaviors generally turn around.  But, I  might add, only if the human part of the equation is willing to think another way or, as I like to say, write another story.

We often write a story about our dogs.  We are quite good at it really.  But here's the thing...your dog will live up to the story you are telling.  They will meet the bar.  Once we have our mind made up, we don't realize the body language cues we are giving to our dog.  We also don't realize that our dogs can not understand our phrases, "don't do that", "now see you are all wound up", "stop it, just stop it."

Here are a few good suggestions as you start on your journey of communicating with your new dog.  Whatever you are feeling or projecting about your dog try hard not to.  Instead, try this - if you don't like what your dog is doing, think about what you would like your dog to do.  Start a new conversation.  I don't like what you are doing_____________ fill in the blank, so I will ask you to do this.  That's were our communication foundation comes in.  Building a foundation of understanding takes time and you have to start at the beginning.  A   B   C....then words sit, down, stay and then concepts (sentences).  You come when I call you and walk by my side and ignore the other dog and "leave it" when I ask...etc.  The conversation can go on and on and on...

Often times, about 98% of the time, when someone starts the conversation in this way I have described above, they free feed their dog. The dog's food bowl is always full.  It's a smorgasboard that they can come and eat whenever it pleases them.  This is huge in the thought process of a dog.  Food is very important to them. This nice human provides me food always and I have to do nothing in exchange.  I have a nice home, water and food - "what do I need this human for?"  Interesting thought, yes?

My first suggestion is to feed your dog twice a day.  And when you do, ask your dog to do something in exchange for their food. By feeding 2 times everyday it gives you an opportunity to communicate with your dog.  It gives you an opportunity to do some training.  When my students say it's been a busy week and they didn't have time to train, I ask them, "did you feed your dog?"  Of course, the answer is, "yes".  Then I can gently remind them they had two wonderful opportunities to communicate and train with their dog!  I will also share other easy peasy ways to incorporate training into your everyday routines...while drying your hair, while preparing dinner.  Training can be incorporated in your schedule each and every day.  Just ask me, I can help!  :)

But here's your free tip for this beautiful Friday!  Food is a great motivator, don't waste this opportunity you have every day - two times daily - seven days a week to ask your dog to engage with you and earn his food.  They will love it and you will love the results.

For example, I ask for a sit - either by visual or verbal cue, sometimes a down - I switch it up.  As I progress in my training, I have my dogs sit and wait and place the food bowl down and then give them their "release cue" to enjoy their food.  Sometimes I ask for sit ups, sit/down -sit/down.  Or touch and touch to stand. You get the picture and you can get quite creative.  I don't know if you ever saw the video of several labs sitting in a row with their bowls in front of them while the man recites a prayer.  At the very end of the prayer he says their "release word" and they dig in!  It's fun and it's a great way to communicate with your dog.

If you have read my blog you know that dogs do get us.  They understand our social gestures and our intentions.  If you feel your dog is stupid...he'll live up to it.  If you feel he is the smartest dog on the planet...guess what...he'll live up to it!

Dogs are amazing, intelligent creatures.  We just have to ask to receive.  If you don't like what your dog is doing...you have to know what you want your dog to do!

If you need help laying that communication foundation, call me.  I can help!

In the meantime, Happy Trails!

We Speak the Same Language - An evening with Dr. Temple Grandin

I attended a lecture last evening with Dr. Temple Grandin entitled, "Understanding Animal Behavior and Reducing Stress."  I can tell you I was anticipating this event for weeks, so excited to see someone in person that I have admired from a far for years!  The day of the lecture, I told my husband that I felt as though it was Christmas day.

From the moment we arrived, an hour and 1/2 early just to get a seat in the room Dr. Grandin would be speaking, I felt something good was about to happen.  I am thankful we arrived early as there were two other rooms full of people hearing and seeing Dr. Grandin via wireless remote tv. 

As Dr Grandin began speaking and sharing all her research about understanding the behavior of animals I felt right at home.  I kept nodding my head in agreement and writing down all the good information as fast as my fingers would allow.  I had the overwhelming sense of oh my, we speak the same language...I get her...I get this - I 'see' what she is saying!

Allow me to share a few of the highlights.  Concepts I too have experienced and observed over my lifetime of living and working with dogs and horses.

Animal's thinking process is sensory based and not word based!  They think in visuals, in pictures.  And this is why I teach my students to use visual cues mostly and stop talking, talking so much. Also, I encourage my students to be proactive, be aware of their environment and watch for things that might cause a reaction from their dog or pony 'before' they have opportunity to rehearse an unwanted behavior. See what they see!

Animals can and do make specific visual history, auditory and touch associations.  They are hyper-specific.  Case in point, Dr. Grandin worked with a horse that was afraid of black hats.  White hats were fine, but bring out a black hat and he reacted and became visibly frightened.  Animal fear is very specific.  My pony, Beauty, when she first arrived at my home was afraid of coats that made a shooshing/crackling sound.  She told me very clearly that that noise frightened her.  Why?  Think about it...  Someone who wore a black hat or a swooshing crackling coat did something that frightened them.  Yes, my friends - they do tell us, if you have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Dr. Grandin said that Fear is a proper scientific term.  Animal memories are very specific and they do feel fear.  How do we know this.  Dr. Gregory Burnes of Emory University did a study and found out that "Yes, animals do really have and experience emotions."  

A few imporant points from his study;  Animals have Emotions

~Fear response was measured on a dog in the Amygdala part of the brain during an MRI

~Rage and Anger was seen in the Hypothalmus part of the brain during the same procedure above.

~We can measure true pain and we see separation anxiety in dogs a great deal.  How would we see these behaviors if the dog was void of emotions?

~Prozac works on dogs, on the same part of the brain it works on humans.

~Dogs seek our companionship and invite us to play.  They seek out sex and are caring toward not only us (service and therapy dogs for example) but also form friendships among themselves and with other animals.

As we see from the examples above, animals can be frightened by something they heard or saw and they do remember.  Scary items are usually sight and or hearing related.  What is the dog, the horse seeing, what is he hearing that is bothering him?  We need to see the full picture.  Remember animals and autistic children/people see in pictures. 

Fear is a true expression - not agitation - but animals feel true fear.   And, it's important to note, after a fear response it can take an animal up to 20 to 30 minutes to calm down from this fearful state.

Electronic stimulation elicits behavorial signs of fear (Davis 1992).  And a study done on electronic collars finds that they also are associated with signs of pain and fear (Elseviar 2007).  On a personal note, I don't use these devices and never have. Interesting, as I was waiting in line to have my book (pictured above) signed and meet Dr. Grandin, I had the happy privilege to speak with a vet student who has a great interest in the study of behavorial science. She shared with me that they still see dogs come into the clinic with tracheal collapse from use of both chain chokes and prong collars.  She is adamantly against both, not just for the physcial harm they cause, but also for the very obvious studies of the mental harm they cause as well.  Yay, for her. Although, we both agreed these tools can be used to get instant results, the far reaching implications of their use is far worse than the moment of apparent 'result' that has been seen.  Often these tools encourage the very behaviors we sought to eliminate.  In the long run, they do not work!  We speak the same language too!

We also discussed the interesting work that Dr. Grandin shared in that dog's do understand categories.  For instance, what happens when I am on leash and what happens when I am off leash.  Animal brains can and do make and understand categories.  Which is why it is important to me, as a trainer, that we build trust while working on lead with our dogs, as opposed to the old way of dominating - snatching and jerking a dog around on lead.   I have observed time after time that these same dogs who are dominated while on lead and have experienced harsh corrections, when off lead are outta there!  They understand that when they are off the leash they can get away to avoid this harsh and sometimes frightening treatment by the human!  

And finally two more very interesting points.  Dogs do look to people to help them problem solve.  Yes, oh yes they do!  And when they do we have to be a kind and fair leader.  They are looking to you, they want your input and help.  Let's help them in a positive constructive way.  A way that builds value with you, so that when they are off leash the most normal thing in the world for them will be to check in with you (as opposed to running off)!

Dr. Grandin helps build and design facilities for cows, pigs, horses and dogs that are less stressful for them.  The exciting work she shared with us about dogs and kennels is this;

you can have the most fancy schmancy kennel in the world but if dogs don't get exercise for at least 45 minutes everyday they will be noisy barkers and the environment will be chaotic, overwhelming and stressful. 

YES, this is true with our dogs in our homes.  We provide the most beautiful kennels for our dogs - indoor living areas, outdoor fenced in yards and yet we have problems with our dogs - separation anxiety, obsessive licking behaviors and chewing things up to name a few.  Why is this?  Simply a lack of exercise and mental stimulation. Something I preach constantly.  Now I can say Dr. Grandin says so too!  

Dr. Grandin ended her lecture with something that I have said many times and even shared on this blog a couple years ago.  Why did we not experience separation anxiety with our dogs in the 60's and 70's?  Simply because our dogs were allowed to accompany us in life.  Our dogs went swimming at the pond, ran along with us when we went on a trail ride with horses, roamed the neighborhoods and kids and neighbors looked out for them.  They were a very real part of our lives.  Now, we have stringent leash laws and specific places only dogs can hang out (that aren't always safe).  Dogs need exercise and mental stimulation.  The best way to socialize your dog is to allow them to live life...to travel with you, blaze new trails and explore the world around them.  As I say, allow your dog to use her five senses!  

I am so thankful to have had the wonderful privilege of hearing Dr. Grandin speak and share her years of studies and experiences.  I was thrilled to meet her and have her sign my book.  As I was sharing this information with my daughter, she said, "Mom, you understand this because you have decades of field experience."  I suppose this is why Dr. Grandin resonated with me, why I felt so comfortable and could see what she was saying.  I have experienced and observed her studies in my real life's work with dogs and horses over many years.

I feel a renewed sense of continuing this good work I have started. I feel encouraged to continue on the path I have been on.  Teaching people how to understand that awesome, wonderful, intelligent creature that is on the other end of their lead!

Thank you Dr. Temple Grandin!  And until next time...Happy Trails!