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    Mental Illness in Dogs: A Guide for Trainers
    Mental Illness in Dogs: A Guide for Trainers
    Mental Illness in Dogs: A Guide for Trainers
    Ebook103 pages1 hour

    Mental Illness in Dogs: A Guide for Trainers

    By Linda Scroggins

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    About this ebook

    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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherFirst Edition Design Publishing
    Release dateJun 1, 2017
    ISBN9780578541037
    Mental Illness in Dogs: A Guide for Trainers

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      Book preview

      Mental Illness in Dogs - Linda Scroggins

      souls.

      The Realization

      Tom, my yellow lab mix puppy, with a coat the color of the sunset and cocoa brown eyes, was 5 months old when I decided to take him on a short drive to my brother’s house. I had to drop off a backpack that had been left at my house by one of my numerous nieces or nephews. Tom had not yet met my brother’s family so I decided to take him along on the ride. Upon our arrival, I parked at the curb and opened the back car door. I asked Tom to wait. This was a skill we practiced often, he was a rock star at waiting until I cued him to exit the car. But not today; Tom took off out of the car like a bottle rocket leaving an old beer can. He nearly leaped over my head. Lucky for me Tom was on a leash. Still, he threw himself into 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 only hold on hoping he had not injured himself. By the time we reached the front door Tom was drooling and yelping.

      My 10 year old niece opened the door, her eyes grew wide with surprise and she stepped back in dismay. My sweet little dog had scared her. I threw her the backpack and fled back to the car as fast as I could go. The 10 minute drive back to my house was filled with a 50 pound puppy pacing and crying in the back seat. We made it home safely. I took a deep breath, got out of the car, and again asked Tom to wait, 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 Devil had turned back into the sweet dog I knew. What had just happened? I was stunned. 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; did I just wake from a dream? Had this really happened?

      Chapter 1

      My Life With Dogs

      I grew up with dogs. My family already had a dog, Freckles the Dalmatian, when I was born. After Freckles came Snoopy the Dalmatian, followed by Ginger the shaggy terrier from the local animal shelter. After Ginger was Tara, the shepherd mix, who was around long enough to help raise the arriving grandchildren.

      Growing up in the suburban neighborhoods of the 1970s meant that kids and dogs roamed free. It was not unusual for a friend’s dog to follow us to the grassy field where we played softball, or to the local corner store where we bought our Bazooka bubble gum. In the evening, when it was near bedtime, we would open the door and let our dogs out into the dark. A little later they would arrive back at the door and be in for the night. It was the everyday routine. The only fear we had for our dogs was the peril of the dog catcher. If his truck was spotted on the street the alarm would go out, dog catcher!! We would seize our dogs and run them home to safety. Life was different for dogs back then. There were those dogs we knew to leave alone. They might bite you we were told, don’t bother them. It was not a judgment of the dog, - just good advice.

      When I became an adult and had my own home I started adding dogs to my family. Maybe falling under the heading of I would like one of each please we shared our household with a Sheltie and later two Shih Tzus and then we added in a boxer. The dogs variously came from breeders, or rescues or someone’s back yard; but, all were wonderful family pets. The boxer, Lola, became the dog who taught me about the joy of dog training. She was smart, friendly, and fun, and she loved working and going to class. Lola became the dog of my heart.

      Time marched on and the elderly Shih Tzus passed away; the children grew up and moved around the country. Lola and I found ourselves living together: a single woman with a single dog. And then came Thelma! Thelma was the first dog that came to live with me that made me raise an eyebrow and think, what is this about?

      Times had changed since my childhood dogs and it seemed the dogs had changed too. As with so many dogs possessing behavior issues, I was not Thelma’s first home. Thelma had been abandoned as a puppy and spent the first few months of her life closed in a garage with her sister. Thelma was eventually saved by a rescue group and landed in a foster home. At about 7 months of age, Thelma was adopted by my son and 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 running away from people who frightened her progressed into growling at people who frightened her. The growling grew into lunging and barking. Thelma’s young owners loved her and tirelessly worked to keep her and those around her safe.

      When Thelma was nearly two years old, both of her young owners decided to return to college. To save 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 a local 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 Thelma live a more peaceful life. Thelma grew older and I grew into a trainer. Eventually Thelma adopted me into her circle of trust and came to love me as much as she loved her young owners. The people, the dogs, and the cats lived a happy life.

      Time passed. We learned the family was going to grow and a human would be added. I was going to have a grandson! We worked hard in the months before his arrival to prepare Thelma for life with a baby and she did great! She was cautious but learned to keep her distance from the baby. Eventually the young family decided to find a house of their own. It was decided that Thelma would stay with me.

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