RESCUE  FROM  A  MAN'S  PERSPECTIVE  

Okay guys – listen up! We’re talking about dog rehabilitation, but first, let me give you some background on myself. I was a rough & tough cop for almost thirty years. The majority of that time was spent working “specialized assignments.” That means that for most of my career, I spent my days hanging with some really bad, violent people. I took on the persona of a “bad guy” to fit into whatever group I was infiltrating. I’ve been stabbed, shot at and beaten up (by cops) just to “fit in” with the “bad guys” in order to gain their trust.

So, how does a guy who spent the majority of his life pretending to be a “bad ass” end up rehabilitating small dogs? Well, for starters, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for the elderly, children and animals. As my wife got into animal rescue and began bringing home rescued dogs that were on the “kill” list, I’d watch them closely.

Dogs are amazing animals. Their sole goal in life is to please and to love unconditionally. But when they’ve been neglected or abused, their own fear blocks out these goals and you end up with an abused, aggressive, people-feared animal. All of the love is there. It’s just covered up by fear and trepidation. The very definition of rehabilitation is:

“To restore to good health or useful life, as through therapy and education.”

So, how does one do that? Well, I’m no expert in dog psychology, but the first thing I do is observe the dog’s behavior. Is his tail down between his legs? Does he growl at either people or other dogs? Is he food aggressive? Child aggressive? Does he urinate uncontrollably or shake when it’s a warm day? Does he run and find a “hiding place”? Does he “freeze” when other dogs approach him?

If you’ve ever played poker, you’ve learned to watch for “tells” from your opponent. “Tells” are little signals that most players give without realizing it. They may shuffle their cards when they have a bad hand. Or scratch their nose when their hand is a winner. These examples are exaggerated, but you get the idea.

Well, it’s the same for dogs. By merely observing their “tells,” you can learn a lot about their specific problem and begin to rehabilitate them accordingly. The two most important things that you’ll need are Patience and Time!!  For some, it’s offering them “treats” in order to gain their trust. For others, it’s simply a matter of holding them, stroking them gently and letting them relax as they feel your calming energy. Still others will react if we simply ignore them and let them come to us on their own terms. Each and every rescue dog has his/her own fears and it’s up to us more intelligent humans to analyze those fears and change the animal’s behavior.

Of all of the dogs that my wife has brought home from rescue, most I can re-hab in a day or two. The most current dog she brought home was lying in my lap within 90 minutes and even offering his belly to me for a good scratching (a dog who rolls over and offers his most vulnerable body part – his belly, is a completely trusting and submissive dog). He’s telling me, “Okay, I trust you.” For the rest of the evening, whenever I moved, he followed me throughout the house. When I would sit down, he would jump up on my lap and curl up. I created a “safe zone” for him and he responded accordingly.

I can’t say that everything about dog rehabilitation is easy. I have been working one dog that have yet to trust me totally. But, after studying their individual histories, it’s not surprising. A young, ten-year-old boy who always wore a baseball cap abused one. Well, the first time I saw the first dog, I was wearing a baseball cap and he reacted in the only way he knew how. The cap had triggered the abuse he had suffered at the hands of the young boy.

Dogs are always a “work in progress” and unlike us, ‘live in the moment’ their entire lives. The important thing to remember is to not give up or get frustrated.  NEVER yell or scream at the dog. This defeats the whole purpose of rehabilitation. Weeks of proper rehabilitation can be erased with one loud scolding. Use a calm voice whenever you command the dog. And be consistent with your language. Keep the commands short: “Come” “Sit” “Stay” “Down”

As I said at the beginning, I’m not a dog psychologist. I’m just a guy who loves animals and wants to give dogs the best life possible. Remember, their sole goal in life is to give unconditional love and to please their owners. If you’re interested in rehabilitating a dog, you need to understand something. Dog rehabilitation is as much of a commitment (if not more) as owning a dog outright.

But if you make that commitment, you’ll find it a very rewarding and noble accomplishment. If you need any pointers or have any questions, there are several books on the market about dog rehabilitation that you can purchase at bookstores or online.

Good luck and Welcome to the “Pack!”

©2008 Paul G. Nelson (www.paulgnelson.com) All rights reserved.
Special Note: Paul Nelson is the President of TLC

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