The Power of Chicken!

I met with a client this week whose dogs are anxious and hyper-vigilant, one out in public spaces and one at home with guests.  Neither dog is a bite risk per se, but both might snap if they felt cornered or threatened.  This was a new client, so I'm definitely a stranger to these dogs.  I asked the owner to have the dogs on leash for my arrival, and I'd take it from there.  

I ignored both dogs, directing my attention to the owner at the beginning of the appointment.  As I did so, one dog actively sniffed me, the other stood behind the owner and barked.  I asked the owner not to assign any attention to the barking behavior and focus on talking to me.  I began asking the curious dog to do simple behaviors like touch my fingers, sit, and turn in a circle. I rewarded these verbally and with a treat. Funny, he wasn't trying to jump on me anymore, nor was he grabbing my sleeve, two things the owner had hoped to correct but had had little success doing in the past.  The other dog was watching this and the second he stopped barking, I tossed a treat behind him.  He looked a bit taken aback at first, and then surreptitiously went over to see what I'd tossed.  He took the treat off the floor and as his head came up, I tossed another.  This went on for about a minute as I gradually tossed the treats closer to me.  Everything about this dog changed.  He went from anxious to interested.  He went from hiding behind his owner to boldly sitting in front of me, waiting to see what I'd do next.  I then proceeded to toss treats intermittently as we moved around with the owner showing me where her dogs sleep, eat, etc. When we moved out to the yard, a spot where both dogs normally patrol the fence line barking at the neighbor's dogs, the owner was surprised to see that her dogs could easily be called away from that activity and redirected by simply tossing treats in another direction.  

Next, we took each dog separately for a short walk. I often advise owners with multiple dogs to walk their dogs separately, particularly if one or more of the dogs are anxious or reactive when on leash.  Working with one dog at a time is easier on the owner AND the dogs.  You certainly don't want your calm dog picking up on or reinforcing the anxious dog's behaviors; this is a real risk as dogs do engage in observational learning.  It's also true that you want your dogs to enjoy their walks and those pack walks may be less than enjoyable if one or more of the dogs is too anxious to sniff, explore, and do dog stuff.  

One of my client's dogs is a puller on leash.  She thought this was because he was headstrong.  Truly, it wasn't so much that he was headstrong as it was that walks were something to get over with quickly so he could go home and not feel hyper-vigilant and anxious.  I had the owner slow her pace, give him a little more leash, and I began dropping treats for him to sniff and find. It was slow going at first as he's so used to never looking down and speeding along at warp 11.  Once he figured out that slowing down would pay off, I introduced the go sniff command with treats dropped near things I thought would be good to sniff.  Within about 5 minutes, he was walking calmly, not pulling, and looking around/sniffing the ground as we circled the block.  He even peed on a pile of leaves, something he's never done on a walk the whole time the owner has had this dog!  

We took the barker out next.  Normally, he barks intermittently through out the entire walk. He also doesn't sniff or explore.  He doesn't pull on leash so much as he darts around, barking and hiding behind the owner.  For this dog, I tossed a few treats on the ground at the start of our walk, just as a reminder to pay attention to me.  We started walking and as the owner was telling me which houses were most triggering for her dog, I preemptively dropped my hand and her dog took a treat right from my hand.  We walked right past dogs barking in the window with her dog giving them one glance and then returning his focus to me and the treats. He only startled once when a UPS truck drove past us; he was able, however, to let it go and return his focus to the "game" of when-will-that-new-lady-drop-a-treat-again.

The power of chicken, you ask?  Nah, though that's what the owner thought. She wanted to know what treats I was using so she could get them too.  You guys, it's not about the brand of treat per se, it's about the delivery.  I never bribed, cajoled, begged, or inadvertently reinforced any behavior I didn't want to see happening again.  My focus was on the dog, shaping calm, enjoyable behaviors using treats.  I wasn't using those treats to distract her dogs, rather I was using them to motivate her dogs.  She sheepishly admitted that she hadn't used treats in a long time and a trainer she'd worked with told her that the dogs were "too old to need treats to be obedient."  You already know how I feel about nonsense like that.  Everybody likes to get paid regardless of age or capability.  Rewards are a fundamental part of any relationship; if the relationship isn't rewarding, why stick around?  

Part of the problem with these two dogs was that the owner had made the mistaken assumption that training stopped once her dogs weren't puppies anymore.  Learning happens for a lifetime, so you need to be ready to reinforce what you like seeing and redirect from what you don't. While I do love a good training class, these two dogs didn't need classes, they needed structure and consistency and rewards at home. They needed to be gently guided into making better choices. They needed to be separated from each other so that they didn't constantly feed off of each other's anxiety.  They also needed to be trained together, particularly in the backyard, so that nuisance barking, digging, etc. could be curbed and that energy could be redirected to more appropriate tasks.

Using treats doesn't have to be bribery or a crutch.  Rather, using treats is a form of commerce for our pets.  It's a way of capturing their attention and shaping the behaviors you want to see.  For example, barking is a normal dog behavior, so it isn't that we don't want them to bark at all, we just want them to bark at the important stuff (important to us, that is) and stop barking when we ask. If you have treats in your pocket when your dog is barking, you are on the right track!  Whistle, clap your hands, stomp your feet, whatever it takes for them to stop barking for a millisecond and look at you.  Say "Yay!" and toss a treat away from the direction that they are barking (make sure they see you do the toss).  As soon as they've picked up that treat, ask for a simple behavior that runs counter to barking and vigilance (sit, down, shake, etc.), and give them another treat.  Now that you have their undivided attention, send them off on another task (go find your toy, for example) and you are all set.  This doesn't mean they won't bark again at the window when someone walks by, it simply means that they will understand that doing so has consequences.  They were good consequences, desirable to the dog and to you.  

Now, before anyone comes at me with "this is going to make my dog fat," let's be reasonable here.  If you are using treats to reinforce behaviors you like, you can just as easily use their kibble to do so.  You can also feed your dog the majority of their food/calories during training.  You can also just simply substitute calories in their daily allotment, meaning feed them less to counterbalance the treats you are using for training.  It's really not complicated and I don't want anyone to use "too many calories" as an excuse for not having snacks for their dogs in their pocket.  Dogs do not need to eat from a bowl; working for their food is a much more natural, brain-challenging, anti-anxiety activity.

Just to be clear. I am NOT saying that food is love.  What I am saying is that everyone likes to get paid for a job well-done.  Don't bribe your dogs, pay them.  Pay them with food, love, and activities they enjoy. You know, the stuff that makes for a good relationship.

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

My daughter's smooth collie, Westley, has situational anxiety.  There are several ways we keep that anxiety in check, everything from tricks training to nose work.  This is him giving me a big dramatic bow as he sees me putting treats in my pocket as I head out the backdoor to work with him.  He's ready to work AND ready to get paid!

Coaches, Cheerleaders, and Advocates!

I worked with a couple of different clients this week who told me I was better than any coach they'd ever had.  I got such a kick out of this as I've never really thought of myself as a coach, per se.  I'm more of a cheerleader, rooting my clients on to make the best of their relationships with their pets.  And I'm definitely an animal advocate, educating people on the science behind the behavior, why animals behave the way they do, and how we can improve their lives.  But a coach?  How cool is that! It got me to thinking about what it takes to be an effective coach, and I realized that the most effective coaches I know provide solid guidance while also being cheerleaders and advocates for their students.  

It's true; a lot of what I do is educate pet owners.  Yes, I work with their pets directly, and I'm certainly hands on, where appropriate, but most of what I do is teaching people.  These two clients loved that I gently guided them and then cheered them on as they gained confidence and made breakthroughs in working with their anxious pets. Here's the thing:  I love cheering folks on.  I love to see their faces light up when they get reinforced too.  Maybe I should start carrying people treats in my pocket as well as those dog treats.  You see, people need reinforcement just as much as their pets do.  They need to know what they are doing is the right thing; that they are helping their animals become less anxious; that they are providing the best experiences and enrichment activities that will enhance their relationships with their pets. 

Sure, there have been times when I've wanted to holler "ACK!  You're doing it all wrong!" But that kind of response/reinforcement (punishment is reinforcement, after all, just not the kind any of us enjoy) isn't going to help my clients or their pets, though it might make me feel better in the moment.  Pet owners come to me for guidance on serious behavior problems.  Most of them have already beaten themselves up pretty bad over what is going on, feeling like they must have done something wrong to end up in this spot.  A lot have even had friends and family tell them that they "screwed up."  Not helpful, to say the least.  No wonder these folks need a coach! 

So, I'm going to continue to get excited when my clients use the techniques and tools I've given them. I'm going to continue to cheer them on in their pursuit of harmony in their home.  And I'm definitely going to continue to use science and rock solid methodologies in the treatment of behavior problems so I can continue to advocate on behalf of those who have no voice, but rely on us to help them...our pets.

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

My collie team waiting for their "coach" to give them their next "play!" 

Choosing to Celebrate

Years ago, my dear friend, Trish, and I threw a birthday party for our dogs. Our dogs were brothers and we invited their littermates, previous litter half siblings, and a bunch of other collies. We invited people who loved collies, loved our dogs, and loved the things that we loved.  Goofy things like doggie goody bags, a soccer ball pinata filled with dog cookies, cut apples, and cut carrots, and dogs bobbing for apples in a wading pool.  There was a little agility course, just for fun, with hula hoops for jumping through, or just hula-hooping.  Trish grilled for the humans (yes, there were hotdogs for the dogs as well) and we sang happy birthday to our dogs as they turned a year old.  While I know there are some who would look upon that party as a ridiculous endeavor, I treasure those memories.  You see, that was our first collie and he died at a young age.  He didn't get a lot of birthdays, so I'm glad we celebrated that one.  And I am grateful for my friends and family who showed up that day and had a great time.

I've always celebrated the birthdays of my pets, even when they were rescues with unknown birthdates.  We just picked a date that seemed right, and that was that.  My pets didn't care (obviously); they were just happy to be celebrated, regardless of the day.  And that's the point.  Dogs do enjoy being celebrated.  They may not know what the fuss is about, but they like the attention, the treats, and the gifts.  Dogs are terminal toddlers; even the boxes and packaging are a gift to them!

This week we are celebrating Desi's 12th birthday.  This is a milestone in our home as none of our collies have lived this long.  We are grateful for every day with him and happy to celebrate his special day.  This year, he'll get to celebrate twice, once when his buddy Westley can be here, and once on the actual day.  Why not celebrate twice?  Getting to 12 years of age when you're a big dog is a big deal!  

I'm guessing if you've read this far, you're trying to figure out why I've told you all of this, and here's why.  Even if you don't view your pets as family members, or you don't celebrate their birthdays, you need to be kind to those of us who do.  While you may feel it's silly or frivolous, it's important to us.  I have clients who will sheepishly tell me when I arrive for an appointment that it's their pet's birthday. I always get excited and ask if we should sing them happy birthday and ask if they will be celebrating later.  I know that for my clients with their special needs pets, anxious pets, etc., reaching these milestones is a big deal.  By all means, let's celebrate!

So, by all means, celebrate those milestones with your pets. Post the pictures of their parties and gifts.  Don't shy away from doing so on my account.  Those are exactly the kinds of posts I like to see in my social media feeds; dogs and cats being celebrated and enjoyed for just being themselves.  

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

Happy 12th  Birthday, Desi!  

Enjoying his cake, his buddies, and the love of his family

When Time Isn't On Your Side

I met with a client over the weekend who is feeling quite desperate.  She has two dogs, both with fairly significant behavior problems.  She's been working with a dog trainer on and off for over 6 months, but she doesn't feel that they are making any headway, beyond basic obedience skills.  She's feeling a lot of pressure to do something (maybe even return one of the dogs to the breeder) because she has family coming to stay in both November and December and her dogs aren't going to do well with new people in their home. Her veterinarian suggested working with me as the issues she's having aren't about obedience per se, but about anxiety.

Animals, just like people, experience anxiety.  Some animals are more anxious than others, whether due to genetics, experience, or a combination of the two. Anxiety cannot be erased, but it can be managed, if you know what triggers your pet's anxiety and make changes to reduce or remove those triggers.  Some of the pets I see have multiple triggers and experience anxiety even when home alone with their owners.  For these pets, therapeutic intervention in the form of daily medication is often needed to control serotonin levels in their brains, promoting a more stabilized mood and thus less anxiety overall.

As you may have already guessed, treating anxiety in our pets isn't about short term solutions or quick fixes, but about making those long term changes that will result in a more content and stable animal as a result.  Some of those changes may be difficult for the humans involved; some may even be impossible to do.  You still need to consider those changes, however, in order to understand what it will take to keep that animal safe and improve their quality of life.  Let me give you an example.

If your dog is anxious about meeting new people, hiding behind you perhaps, or maybe even blustering and barking and rearing up when approached by anyone he doesn't know, then it's up to you to control those encounters with new people, even minimizing them so that the fearful/anxious behavior doesn't get continually repeated and thus reinforced. If it's just occurring on walks, you can change when and where you walk, while working on strategies that increase your dog's confidence.  If, however, that stranger anxiety occurs in your home when guests visit, then you will obviously have to make some significant changes in order to keep your dog safe and under threshold when you have visitors.  If those visitors are coming next month and planning to stay at your house, then you may need to either ask those guests to stay elsewhere, board your dog (if possible), etc.  What you don't want to do is "wing it," assuming that you can just put your dog in another room or crate him with the guests there.  That might work as a short term solution for guests coming for a 3 hour party, but it most certainly isn't going to work, and will likely create more anxiety for your dog, if you try to do that while guests stay with you for a week.  

Anxiety will take longer than a month to get a handle on.  And it isn't going to go away just because your veterinarian prescribed Prozac for your dog.  Prozac and other medications of that kind are supportive, not curative. Treating anxiety takes work and an understanding that there will be setbacks along the way.  You have to remain compassionate (and retain your sense of humor) and be persistent in your pursuit of relief for your anxious dog. I find it helpful to give my clients an action list of things they can do right now, things they can do preemptively to help reduce anxiety in the future, and goals to work toward. That way, they have more realistic expectations for what it will take to help their pet going forward.

I do understand that treating a pet for anxiety isn't easy and that it can be frustrating.  I cannot, however, make the process go any quicker for you and your pet.  If it is the case that you simply cannot provide the time and care needed to treat your pet's anxiety, that's okay!  This doesn't make you a failure, a horrible person, or selfish. It just means you aren't equipped to take on a pet with extra needs.  The time to decide that, however, is not the week before you have guests coming to stay with you.  Re-homing a pet, particularly one with anxiety, takes time to find a good match, that is one that won't cause your pet added stress and anxiety.

We humans can be so hard on each other, judging each other harshly, whether that's about our own coping abilities and handling of daily stressors, or that of our beloved pets.  Until you've lived with, cared for, or yourself had to manage anxiety in a loved one (furred or otherwise), you really need to refrain from offering platitudes and quick fixes.  Ask how you can help.  That's what I do.

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

My granddog, Westley, is a pretty happy dog most of the time, but he does suffer from situational anxiety.  He has noise sensitivities and he will anticipate stressors (like garbage trucks coming even though it isn't garbage day) which can cause him to be anxious in the absence of an obvious stressor.  Consequently, Westley takes a tincture of CBD made for dogs on days when his anxiety cannot be adequately managed with mental and physical exercise alone. Westley is not alone in being a dog with noise sensitivities. I meet them all the time!

Room to Breathe

I worked with a half dozen clients over the weekend who all had the same complaint; why can't they get other dog owners in their community to understand the concept of personal space?  You see they each had a dog who would react negatively when another dog passed by them in close proximity. Each of these dogs was different; for two, their reactivity came from a place of fear, one had previous negative experiences while on leash, one never saw another dog up close so had a lack of socialization, and one was experiencing outright aggression with unknown origin.  Nonetheless, each of the owners was experiencing a great deal of frustration any time they took their dog for a walk.  One client told me that she was literally afraid to walk her dog in her own neighborhood as more than one neighbor had told her she had no business taking her dog outside the house!  Another client said she was so embarrassed by her dog's behavior that she only walked him late at night when there weren't other people around.  I found all of their stories to be heartbreaking.

Even if a dog has been deemed dangerous as defined by the law, an owner still has the right in most states to take that dog outside of their home, as long as the dog is leashed and muzzled, so this notion that people whose dogs are reactive or aggressive shouldn't be out in public is a fallacy.  Obviously, if your dog is aggressive toward people or other dogs, you should be using a muzzle when you walk them, even if you walk at off peak hours in off peak areas.  Muzzle training is easy and a very effective way to prevent a bite.  Basket muzzles can be worn comfortably for extended periods of time, allowing the dogs wearing them to still sniff, explore, drink water, take treats, and exercise.  

Now, for dogs who are reactive and just need more space to feel comfortable in public spaces, we as their caretakers need to make that known.  I know that there are flags you can add to your leash, as well as embroidered leashes that state that your dog needs space, however these are often ignored by people, particularly children.  Better to adopt a strategy that helps your dog succeed by being proactive and moving out of the way when you need to, crossing the street, bringing your dog behind you or at your side, etc.  And as much as you might like to be one of those dog owners who can walk down a busy sidewalk with your dog, don't be tempted to do it; just because you have the right to walk your dog in public, doesn't mean you should put her, yourself, and other dog owners in a precarious position.  There are techniques that you can learn to help your reactive dog become more tolerant and even ignore other dogs, all you need to do is ask for help!

While dogs do need physical exercise, there is no hard and fast rule that says that has to come in the form of daily walks.  You can use a flirt pole to exercise your dog, set up an agility course in your yard, or even in your house using furniture, or play a rousing game of fetch.  Balance that physical exercise with mental exercise so that your dog truly feels "spent."  Mental exercise can mean a bone or bullystick, but better still to offer an interactive puzzle toy or some other task for your dog to do independent of you.  If you like dog training classes, your reactive dog still has options!  You will need to think about something like nosework for her instead of a traditional group class.  Nosework classes, by design, have each dog and handler working in the training space one at a time.  In between sessions, dogs are crated or outside of the training area, allowing those whose dogs are reactive to remain at a safe distance, below their threshold.

One of those clients this weekend said she felt like she was walking around in her neighborhood with a scarlet "A" on her chest for her aggressive dog. I told her to start thinking of it as an "A" for awesome as she is making great strides in getting a solid handle on her dog's aggression, taking time to watch him and understand his triggers so that she can better manage his behavior.  We're still muzzle training him as well, but he is doing quite well overall, as are the other handful of leash reactive dogs I'm working with right now.

Progress takes patience and consistency and a willingness to learn new techniques. I'm grateful to those clients who let me guide them on their journey.  As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

Not all dogs love other dogs and that's okay.

How to Walk a Senior Dog

I had a wonderful appointment over the weekend with a client and her senior dog.  Her veterinarian had suggested she meet with me to specifically discuss how to help her senior dog get the most out of their daily exercise. When the owner told me this, I found it fascinating!  I'd never had a vet recommend me for that before.  When I met with the client, it became quite clear why her veterinarian had suggested the meeting.  This senior dog was having a really hard time on leash and the owner was quite frustrated.  Neither of them were enjoying their walks and quality of life was becoming an issue.

We started our appointment at the owner's home.  I wanted to observe her with her dog and get a better idea of their relationship.  After just a few minutes it was clear that her dog is starting to experience some of the early signs of canine cognitive dysfunction, basically senility in a dog.  Her dog was doing some pacing throughout the day and having accidents in her house which she attributed to the dog not getting out for walks enough. However, when she gets the leash out for walks, her dog often hides or avoids putting the leash on. For senior dogs, regardless of size, I prefer a harness over leashing them to a collar. Senior dogs often have joint pain, arthritis, disc disease, etc., so leashes pulling at their neck can be uncomfortable.  In addition, a lot of senior dogs have failing vision, so if they stumble or lose their footing, getting yanked at their neck can be disconcerting to say the least.  A body harness works great, or even an easy walk style harness will do.  Next, you want to make sure your leash is 6-8 feet in length.  You need enough leash to give your meandering, senior dog room to safely sniff and explore, even if they are lagging behind you on that walk.  While the quality of the walk (i.e. how much they are allowed to sniff and explore) is top priority for all dogs, really emphasizing that the purpose of the walk for a senior dog IS to sniff, explore, and stretch their legs, NOT walk a specific distance or meet a certain amount of time outdoors.  Senior dogs do not need to walk as far, nor be out for as long as they did when they were younger.  What they need is an opportunity to take in the smells at their own pace. If you let them sniff, they fill their brains with all of that information, and are quite satisfied when they get home, ready for a well-deserved nap.

I had brought a harness with me to our appointment and I gently put the harness on my client's dog, telling the dog how wonderful he was and giving him treats for letting me do so.  He wagged his tail and smiled with an almost toothless grin.  His owner indicated that he's never just stood there when she leashed him up and I reminded her that I wasn't attaching a collar to his neck, but rather gently putting a harness around his shoulders and upper body, while rubbing those areas as well; plus, I was giving him treats, something she'd not done in years!  Once we attached the 8 foot leash, we headed out the door...and stopped.  The owner was at the end of her driveway before she realized that we were still on the doorstep!  You see, her dog had stopped to look around, so I had stopped too.  His nose was in the air and he was sniffing away, eyes closed, face to the sun.  I did the same and remarked to him that the sun felt good.  The owner came back and asked what on earth we were doing and I told her we were enjoying our walk.  She laughed and said, "But you haven't gone 10 steps yet!"  This is when I reminded her that this was her dog's walk, not mine.  I was letting him set the pace.  We slowly made our way across the lawn with her dog sniffing all the way.  The owner indicated she usually headed straight for her driveway as her dog could "take forever just sniffing his own front lawn!" Time for a gentle reminder that this is the whole reason we were outside; this walk was for her dog's enjoyment, and not something to just check off of her to-do list.  I talked to her dog as he stopped to sniff some flowers, as he pawed at some leaves, and as he avidly sniffed the crack in the sidewalk.  I pointed out how lovely her neighbor's roses were, the dead snake her dog had found in the bushes, and asked her if she'd seen the grass poking up through that crack in the sidewalk.  She'd seen none of these things. She'd missed the hummingbirds, the cat hiding in the bushes, and the half eaten bag of chips we'd found as we walked.  It took us 15 minutes to walk a block and a half.  At this point, I could see her dog was really slowing down.  He was sniffing still, but not as much, and his gait was getting awkward; he even stumbled a couple of times in spite of our slow pace.  It was time to head home.  It took us almost 30 minutes to get back home.  We had to stop a lot.  I offered her dog a few treats and some love on those pit stops, but we made it home.  The owner was flustered.  How in the world could her dog get any exercise out of that walk?  She felt like she wanted to scream and just haul him home.

I took off the harness at his water dish and gave him a few pats.  Within minutes of getting home, he was passed out at our feet.  At this point, I reviewed the walk, breaking it down from her elderly dog's point of view.  All of the joy in that walk came from sniffing on a loose leash.  Quality over quantity.  For the humans on these walks, I can only suggest that you try to enjoy them as well.  Try sniffing the air, the flowers, etc.  Look around, take it all in.  Slow down and just watch what's going on around you.  Don't talk on your phone or mindlessly scroll through your social media feeds.  Stay present.  Talk to your dog.  Pet them.  Get excited about the things they get excited about.  Fake it until you feel the joy in these moments for real.  Bottom line?  That dog won't live forever and every day with your senior dog is a gift. Don't waste it.  

I love all of Alexandra Horowitz's books and recommend them frequently to clients looking to better understand their dogs.  I'll leave you with a quote from her book, Being a Dog: Following the Dog Into a World of Smell:  "Take a breath (through the nose, please)...By following the dog's lead, we can learn from him about what we are missing--some of which is beyond our ability to sense, and some of which we simply need a guide to see."

Let your dogs be your guides.  Excellent advice.  

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

My Desi is a senior dog too; he will be 12 next month.  

His walks have gotten markedly shorter in length and less frequent,

 but he still enjoys a good sniff in the company of his family.

We Really Don't Deserve Dogs

Last week, I blogged about behaviors by humans that dogs don't really love, but many put up with, in the name of keeping the peace and pleasing those humans (and increasing their social media followers!). Several people messaged me saying that we really don't deserve dogs and I think that's worth discussing further.

Dogs and humans have been co-evolving for over 30,000 years. I've referred to this as a symbiotic relationship, but it truly does go deeper than that.  They are such an important part of human society around the world.

"Coevolution entails biological influences among species, and reciprocal entanglements between culture and biology "(Durham, W.H. 1991 Coevolution. Stanford University Press). 

"Dog-human coevolution is based on intimate cooperation..." (Ellen, R. 1999 Categories of Animality and Canine Abuse. Anthropos 94:57-68).

Dogs are marvels of adaptation.  Biologists define adaptation as "the mechanism by which organisms adjust to new environments or to changes in their current environment." And just think of all of the environments that dogs have adapted to living and thriving in.  We see dogs living in high-rise apartments, navigating elevators to get outside to relieve themselves.  We see dogs guiding blind humans so that they can safely move from place to place. We see herding dogs responding to whistle notes and moving livestock accordingly. We see street dogs confidently approaching unfamiliar humans in the hopes of a handout for themselves or other pack members.  And, yes, we see dogs on sofas and in handbags, wearing expensive collars, nail polish, sunglasses, and booties.  As they say, "it's a living."

The fact that any dog can be dropped into one of these environments and thrive is stunning.  While it may not be ideal by the standards of some, I've seen a Malamute living in a studio apartment and a Chihuahua living in a 15,000 square foot home.  While it might seem that those two dogs would have been happier if they'd switched living environments, the truth is that both of those dogs were quite content and thriving right where they were.  They'd adapted to their circumstances and found their joy.

For me, the epitome of the human-animal bond are the stories of the dogs and their human handlers working in the aftermath of 9/11.  Dogs working tirelessly alongside their handlers searching for survivors, searching for bodies, providing comfort, and doing so at their own peril. The story of the two guide dogs, leading their humans and others to safety, as the towers were crumbling down, gets me every single time.  As do all of the stories of the 300 dogs who brought closure, relief, and comfort to the people around them.  Truly the best examples of adaptation, cooperation, and coevolution.

So, yes, I guess you can say we don't deserve dogs, but we should try to be worthy of their companionship and tireless assistance.  We must help them find joy and purpose in every day as their lives are short and we are all that they have.

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

Three generations of service dogs at CCI, Canine Companions for Independence.