Passive Training @ Silverwalk Hounds
Many dogs who come to Silverwalk have sketchy or unknown histories. Of the four last dogs to arrive, two, the Girls, Coonhound mixes and yes, they are sisters, are owner - surrenders. After many tears and not letting them go to hunters in his area (he adopted them at 5 weeks old and now cancer prevents him from caring for his Girls), Sheba and Rockie are here at Silverwalk thanks to Carolyn Jordan of National Great Pyrenees Rescue (BTW, if you remember Snowman, the GP who was here last year, he is adopted!).
Minnie the Chow aka Un-hound, was left in a heart stick pound in TN. Heart stick is a terrible way to be killed. With much support and delivery right to Panera here in Cape, Minnie, 12 years old with probable hip dysplasia and heart-worm positive, is making her way among the hounds. We don't know WHY she was left there. Some negative comments were left on her Facebook thread; sometimes, life throws a bad curve, and you do only what you think you can do. Sometimes, owners are cads. Bottom line: she is safe at Silverwalk thanks to the interventions and donations of several people, will see Dr. Seiler again this week for Xrays of her hips, and is doing better on her Deramaxx and glucosamine/chondroitin.
Jumper nka Juniper (is that OK, Alice?) came to Silverwalk from Safe Harbor. I saw him out there and casually mentioned to Alice, so, if you need the room, I'll take him at Silverwalk. Boom - he is here. Not thrilled with being in a crate, won't stay on my lap but will jump up on my chair and settle himself next to me on the right. Cutie pie, looks like a Puggle with the Beagle side dominant.
I start passive training with all dogs when they arrive. As you read above, all have varying backgrounds, all have different ages and medical conditions so each needs space to show me and the Pack who they are aside from being surrendered or lost from a family somewhere on their way to Silverwalk.
- Anytime a new dog comes to Silverwalk, I first let them be. I don't expect anything beyond not hurting other dogs or myself - they go in and out as they watch and learn from the other dogs, and I watch and learn about them.
- I watch their interactions with the pack: with whom do they contend/play, and who does well with whom.
- Particularly with the Girls, I had an adjustment curve. It's been a long time (relatively speaking) since I brought in two larger dogs who essentially are puppies (16 months old). Oy, vey! I had to step back, keep them at distance (didn't know how they would do in the house and they were presented to me as "bonded"). After a few days of watching, adjusting, intervening only when necessary for general peace, I started to ask for more.
- They both now go into their crates at mealtimes. I did not actively train them for this; they learned over days this was how they were fed and they got no food outside their crates. Hounds love food so there you go.
- They are not terrifically bonded and are adoptable separately but are house trained as well as couch savers - they will prevent your couch from levitating.
- Minnie and Juniper also know the food will be in their crates and Juniper follows suit, though I need to leave his door open (Minnie has some food guarding issues so she is crated before the food is distributed; most go into their crates as I distribute their bowls).
- Because of watching and observing, I learned Minnie needs to be put up first so others can be fed safely.
I strongly believe in letting dogs be dogs first; only after they are comfortable in their skin here do I start asking with more formal training.
When you add a new pet to your home, consider passive training, especially if you have another dog or cat to lead the way for the newbie. Your observations and conclusions by letting that dog learn to just be a dog will serve you all well.
Respond to this blog
Posting a comment requires a subscription.