Mental Illness in Dogs

Linda Scroggins

Description

Mental Illness in Dogs: A Guide for Trainers is directed to both new and experienced dog trainers and behavior consultants. The idea that dogs can be afflicted with mental illness is fairly new but growing. Author, Linda Scroggins had years of experience working with dogs with behavior issues when a little yellow dog named Tom entered her life and home. Living with a dog who had been diagnosed with mental illness was her wakeup call to the challenges families sharing their lives with these dogs face each day. The author's journey and eventual loss was the catalyst to developing a plan for all dog trainers who may come into contact with these special dogs. This book reviews the current methods for approaching treatment for these dogs by examining the humane hierarchies currently provided by professional organizations. The book highlights those dogs whose needs may cause them to fall outside the hierarchy and how proceeding with current behavior modification methods may harm dogs or worsen their illness. Mental Illness in Dogs: A Guide for Trainers suggests a new approach that focuses on a collaborative process between the dog trainer and other professionals caring for the dog.

Informations

• Publié par: First Edition Design Publishing
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 2018
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781506905402
• Langue: English

Extrait

MentalIllness in Dogs:
AGuide for Trainers


LindaScroggins RN, MSN
CBCC-KA,CPDT-KA
Mental Illness in Dogs: A Guide forTrainers
Copyright ©2017 Linda Scroggins

ISBN 978-1506-905-39-6 PRINT
ISBN 978-1506-905-40-2 EBOOK

LCCN 2017961274

November 2017

Published and Distributed by
First Edition Design Publishing, Inc.
P.O. Box 20217, Sarasota, FL34276-3217
www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com



ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of thisbook publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, ortransmitted in any form or by any means ─ electronic, mechanical, photo-copy, recording, or any other ─ except brief quotationin reviews, without the prior permission of the author or publisher.
ForTom, with all my love, peace at last.
Table of Contents

TheRealization . 1

Chapter1
MyLife with Dogs 3
TomWas Different 7

Chapter2
MentalIllness in Dogs 10
WhatDo We Mean by Mental Illness? 14
HowCan We Know A Dog Has A Mental Illness? 18

Chapter 3
How a Trainer Can Help . 22
Immediate Referral 23
ProceedWith Assessment 31
Proceed With a Behavior Modification Plan . 38
Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers 40
InternationalAssociation of Animal Behavior . 41
WhatIs LIMA? 41
LIMAIs Competence-Based . 41
PositiveReinforcement and Understanding the Learner . 42
Clarityand Consistency in Problem Solving . 42
PreventingAbuse . 43
Choiceand Control for the Learner . 43
WhatDo You Want the Animal TO Do? 43
PetProfessional Guild . 44
MinimallyAversive Contingency Planning . 46

Chapter4
ThinkingOutside the Hierarchy . 48
ACollaborative Approach . 52
EnhancedRole of the Trainer . 55
Traineras Coordinator . 56
Traineras Facilitator . 56


Chapter5
WhenNo Specialist Is Available . 60
SearchProfessional Listings 60
SpecialistConsults With General Practice Veterinarian . 61
TrainerConsults with General Practice Veterinarian . 62
Traineras Sole Provider . 63

Chapter6
ANew Business Model 65

Chapter7
QualityOf Life . 68
ForHousehold Animals 69
ForThe Human Family . 69
ForThe Professional 70

Chapter8
ClosingWords 73

Chapter9
Tom .. 75

References 76
Acknowledgements

There are very few thingsof note that are accomplished on one’s own. This book would not have happened withoutthe support of friends and family.

First and foremost, thank you to my business partner and friend,Kate Dolnick, who acted as my intrepid proofreader and editor. Always ready tolisten and offer a friendly critique. I knew I could trust you with the firstread because your heart is always kind. This comma, is for you.

Thank you to my friend Dr. Lisa Ellis, for letting me talk out myideas and giving feedback over vegan brunches.

Thank you to Dr. Colleen Koch for your encouragement and yourpatience in answering my many and varied questions. You are a gift to animalsand families in need.

For you input and support, thank you to Dr. Jan Chipperfield, youare an invaluable resource.

To my friend, Susan Fishbein for remembering everything you readand directing me to the right place for that thought or quote that would bedriving me crazy, thank you.

All my love to my kids, Stephen, Mariah, Samuel, Lauren, Sean andCharlotte, who when their mother said “I am writing a book”, every one of youresponded, “Oh cool, you can do it!” instead of “huh” and didn’t once chuckle. Atleast in my presence.

Thank you to Lori, Rhiannon and Rachel Williamson for whatevervoodoo you do that makes crazy dogs love you. You give me peace of mind.

Thank you to my friend and fellow trainer, Bill Giese, for alwaysbeing willing to act as the scary man visitor with fearful dogs, it would behard to accomplish moving forward without you.

A special and heartfelt thank you to Lori Hanlon and Pink. I donot think you realize how your early belief and trust in me changed my life.Pink was the first. You were convinced I could do this and that convinced me.You gave me courage.
As a group you have all made me the dog trainer I am today. I amforever grateful.

And thank you to all of the trainers in the St. Louis, MO areadedicated to training dogs without using pain or fear. Thank you for yourinspiration, for always being ready to answer a question, and for continuing tofight the good fight. I am so lucky to be surrounded by likeminded souls.
TheRealization



Tom, my yellow labmix puppy, with a coat the color of the sunset and cocoa brown eyes, was 5months old when I decided to take him on a short drive to my brother’s house. Ihad to drop off a backpack that had been left at my house by one of my numerousnieces or nephews. Tom had not yet met my brother’s family so I decided to takehim along on the ride. Upon our arrival, I parked at the curb and opened theback car door. I asked Tom to wait. This was a skill we practiced often, he wasa rock star at waiting until I cued him to exit the car. But not today; Tom tookoff out of the car like a bottle rocket leaving an old beer can. He nearlyleaped over my head. Lucky for me Tom was on a leash. Still, he threw himselfinto the air, landed hard on his side against the ground, then did it again.Tom barked and howled and pulled toward the front door of my brother’s house.No amount of offered food or calming words would distract him. I could onlyhold on hoping he had not injured himself. By the time we reached the frontdoor Tom was drooling and yelping.
My 10 year oldniece opened the door, her eyes grew wide with surprise and she stepped back indismay. My sweet little dog had scared her. I threw her the backpack and fledback to the car as fast as I could go. The 10 minute drive back to my house wasfilled with a 50 pound puppy pacing and crying in the back seat. We made ithome safely. I took a deep breath, got out of the car, and again asked Tom towait, which he did. Once out of the car Tom trotted to our own front door,entered the house and looked for his Great Dane pal.
The Tasmanian Devilhad turned back into the sweet dog I knew. What had just happened? I wasstunned. I watched out the window as my little dog ran and played with Bayou,my Great Dane, in the backyard. He seemed to not have a care in the world; didI just wake from a dream? Had this really happened?
Chapter 1


My Life with Dogs



I grew up withdogs. My family already had a dog, Freckles the Dalmatian, when I was born.After Freckles came Snoopy the Dalmatian, followed by Ginger the shaggy terrierfrom the local animal shelter. After Ginger was Tara, the shepherd mix, who wasaround long enough to help raise the arriving grandchildren.
Growing up in thesuburban neighborhoods of the 1970s meant that kids and dogs roamed free. Itwas not unusual for a friend’s dog to follow us to the grassy field where weplayed softball, or to the local corner store where we bought our Bazookabubble gum. In the evening, when it was near bedtime, we would open the doorand let our dogs out into the dark. A little later they would arrive back at thedoor and be in for the night. It was the everyday routine. The only fear we hadfor our dogs was the peril of the “dog catcher”. If his truck was spotted onthe street the alarm would go out, “dog catcher!!” We would seize our dogs andrun them home to safety. Life was different for dogs back then. There were thosedogs we knew to leave alone. “They might bite you” we were told, “don’t botherthem.” It was not a judgment of the dog, - just good advice.
When I became an adultand had my own home I started adding dogs to my family. Maybe falling under theheading of “I would like one of each please” we shared our household with aSheltie and later two Shih Tzus and then we added in a boxer. The dogsvariously came from breeders, or rescues or someone’s back yard; but, all werewonderful family pets. The boxer, Lola, became the dog who taught me about thejoy of dog training. She was smart, friendly, and fun, and she loved workingand going to class. Lola became the dog of my heart.
Time marched onand the elderly Shih Tzus passed away; the children grew up and moved aroundthe country. Lola and I found ourselves living together: a single woman with asingle dog. And then came Thelma! Thelma was the first dog that came to livewith me that made me raise an eyebrow and think, “what is this about?”
Times had changedsince my childhood dogs and it seemed the dogs had changed too. As with so manydogs possessing behavior issues, I was not Thelma’s first home. Thelma had beenabandoned as a puppy and spent the first few months of her life closed in agarage with her sister. Thelma was eventually saved by a rescue group andlanded in a foster home. At about 7 months of age, Thelma was adopted by my sonand daughter in law. The first time I met Thelma she tried to run away from me.Well, that was different; I was not used to that. Thelma grew up; and the runningaway from people who frightened her progressed into growling at people whofrightened her. The growling grew into lunging and barking. Thelma’s youngowners loved her and tirelessly worked to keep her and those around her safe.
When Thelma wasnearly two years old, both of her young owners decided to return to college. Tosave money they and Thelma and their 3 cats moved into my home. They joined me,my dog Lola, and my 2 cats. It was an animal paradise! In a bit of serendipity,by the time Thelma, en famile, arrived at my home, I was volunteering at alocal humane society. Through my volunteer work I met Lorraine Martinez, Ph.D.,KPA-CTP who worked for the shelter as a behavior consultant. From Dr. Martinez,I learned about management and counter conditioning. These techniques helped Thelmalive a more peaceful life. Thelma grew older and I grew into a trainer. EventuallyThelma adopted me into her circle of trust and came to love me as much as sheloved her young owners. The people, the dogs, and the cats lived a happy life.
Time passed. Welearned th