Have you ever worked with someone who seemed to always be on edge? Chances are good that at some point during the workday they snap on someone, they are liable to get overly stressed out at the smallest change, and tend to tire you out with endless rants about everything that's wrong with their situation? I think most of us can call someone to mind that fits this criteria or displays similar behaviors. I have a former co-worker who comes to mind for me, and she was very stressful for me to work with because I always felt it my duty to listen sympathetically and take the frustration when directed at me, maybe some of you can relate. Thankfully though, when I encounter such a personality in my work with dogs, I feel no such duty.
Mister is my most recent example of such a personality. When I met him he greeted me with a stiff stance and the high-volume equivalent to a human's cursing me out. His owner explained that he was riled up by the recent presence of the post-man, as well as the other dog's barking, not to mention me walking up the driveway. Every little stimulus seemed to set him more and more off-balance. It wasn't long before I learned that he had no idea what a slip-leash was and he decided immediately that he hated it and the hand at the end of it (who knew my hand needed a few holes in it? #dogtrainerproblems). Over the next few hours I heard an incredible amount of growling, played numerous silly games of "no you cant make me move right now", and generally put him through just about everything he said he didn't want to do (which was basically everything).
I fell for Mister the second I began working with him and I know that sending him off to his next home will be tough, which is not usually a problem for me. He is a challenging dog, but responsive and highly intelligent. He is probably one of the greatest dogs I've worked with.
So if Mister is such a great dog, how did he get this way? Well I almost stumbled upon the root of the problem by accident when I called him "Mister Anger Management" after he went after another one of my dogs. Mister was in some ways neglected, some ways spoiled, some ways mistreated... His people had fantastic intentions and I adore them, but they simply were not a fit for him and the result was frustration-fueled anger.
Mister's frustration ran so deep that he began to lash out, verbally and physically. In dogs, in hormonal teens, and in businessmen, just like with over-worked farm hands and underpaid waitresses, frustration destroys happiness. It leads to accidentally lashing out, pent up anger, and the feeling of exhaustion and heat of activity all at once. Poor Mister was so relieved when he began to figure out that all I wanted was for him to surrender to my leadership with relaxation. When he realized that all the other dogs in his new pack were happy because they were pleasantly calm and willing to pay attention to me, he quickly began to give things up. first it was the irrational red-zone he would enter each time I touched his feet. Next, the need to aggressively horde toys and food from the other dogs. Third, walking in front of everyone else... and so on.
The thing about frustration is that is stems from having strong needs or compulsions not being met - the term "hangry" comes to mind. Mister had the need to be led. he had the need to travel. he had the need to have a balanced pack. When he was living without enough exercise and unbalanced housemates all being managed by passive owners, his frustration escalated until he lashed out with scary and dangerous behaviors. This happens all the time. It's the reason Cesar Milan stresses exercise with each and every client, the reason many trainers are huge advocates of neutering male dogs. When you remove these frustrations stemming from the need to travel, mate, etc., it makes the dogs much more relaxed and capable of being balanced companions.
Mister's frustration levels are still too high but then again its only been 24 hours since we first met. I urge all readers, however, to take a look at their lives and the lives of their dogs. Where are you building up frustration, and how is it bringing you or others down? Mister isn't the only one around here whose frustration has led to lashing out, unhappiness, and anxiety for others. Just like Mister's anxiety began to bring down his parent's morale and was in serious risk of injuring others, your frustration doesn't just affect you, there are ripples. Find the source, workout, and release your human equivalent of Mister's no feet touching and toy hoarding. Happiness is worth the extra work for you and your dog.
Mister is my most recent example of such a personality. When I met him he greeted me with a stiff stance and the high-volume equivalent to a human's cursing me out. His owner explained that he was riled up by the recent presence of the post-man, as well as the other dog's barking, not to mention me walking up the driveway. Every little stimulus seemed to set him more and more off-balance. It wasn't long before I learned that he had no idea what a slip-leash was and he decided immediately that he hated it and the hand at the end of it (who knew my hand needed a few holes in it? #dogtrainerproblems). Over the next few hours I heard an incredible amount of growling, played numerous silly games of "no you cant make me move right now", and generally put him through just about everything he said he didn't want to do (which was basically everything).
I fell for Mister the second I began working with him and I know that sending him off to his next home will be tough, which is not usually a problem for me. He is a challenging dog, but responsive and highly intelligent. He is probably one of the greatest dogs I've worked with.
So if Mister is such a great dog, how did he get this way? Well I almost stumbled upon the root of the problem by accident when I called him "Mister Anger Management" after he went after another one of my dogs. Mister was in some ways neglected, some ways spoiled, some ways mistreated... His people had fantastic intentions and I adore them, but they simply were not a fit for him and the result was frustration-fueled anger.
Mister's frustration ran so deep that he began to lash out, verbally and physically. In dogs, in hormonal teens, and in businessmen, just like with over-worked farm hands and underpaid waitresses, frustration destroys happiness. It leads to accidentally lashing out, pent up anger, and the feeling of exhaustion and heat of activity all at once. Poor Mister was so relieved when he began to figure out that all I wanted was for him to surrender to my leadership with relaxation. When he realized that all the other dogs in his new pack were happy because they were pleasantly calm and willing to pay attention to me, he quickly began to give things up. first it was the irrational red-zone he would enter each time I touched his feet. Next, the need to aggressively horde toys and food from the other dogs. Third, walking in front of everyone else... and so on.
The thing about frustration is that is stems from having strong needs or compulsions not being met - the term "hangry" comes to mind. Mister had the need to be led. he had the need to travel. he had the need to have a balanced pack. When he was living without enough exercise and unbalanced housemates all being managed by passive owners, his frustration escalated until he lashed out with scary and dangerous behaviors. This happens all the time. It's the reason Cesar Milan stresses exercise with each and every client, the reason many trainers are huge advocates of neutering male dogs. When you remove these frustrations stemming from the need to travel, mate, etc., it makes the dogs much more relaxed and capable of being balanced companions.
Mister's frustration levels are still too high but then again its only been 24 hours since we first met. I urge all readers, however, to take a look at their lives and the lives of their dogs. Where are you building up frustration, and how is it bringing you or others down? Mister isn't the only one around here whose frustration has led to lashing out, unhappiness, and anxiety for others. Just like Mister's anxiety began to bring down his parent's morale and was in serious risk of injuring others, your frustration doesn't just affect you, there are ripples. Find the source, workout, and release your human equivalent of Mister's no feet touching and toy hoarding. Happiness is worth the extra work for you and your dog.
