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Volume 11 No. 3, July-September 2008
Nothing is more beautiful than the loveliness of woods before sunrise. ~George Washington Carver
A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in. ~Greek Proverb
When trying to change a behavior problem it is important to see things from the animal’s perspective and use behavior modification techniques that are nonviolent. I have of late been recommending Jan Fennell’s book, The Dog Listener, because it combines these two aspects quite well for dealing with dogs. Her approach is far more clever than Caesar Milan’s. Rather than trying to be tougher than your dog she has you outwitting him by thinking and acting as a dog would. All animals naturally prefer to solve things without a fight whenever possible. I believe that wrestling your dog to the ground and holding him down will only create more aggression not less. Jan observed wolf packs to determine the best ways that a human can achieve a nonviolent leadership status with a dog. When she works with an aggressive dog she makes sure he has some kind of exit so he does not feel trapped. Then she uses a technique of ignoring the dog while at the same time giving calming signals that allows the dog to realize that there is no reason to be alarmed. In essence, she tells the dog that she is taking control of the situation, that she is in charge, and that the dog no longer has any responsibility. Jan works extensively with aggressive dogs that everyone else has given up on, and relates several case studies in her book of how well the technique worked with these highly reactive dogs.
 I’ve tried her techniques for simpler bad behaviors like jumping and separation anxiety. Her recommendation for a jumping dog is again to ignore him. Don’t tell him to get down, don’t look at him. Just act as if he is not there and keep turning away and walking away from him. You will be amazed at how well this works. Once he calms down you can turn to him and ask him to sit. Once he sits, you can pat him, but if he starts to jump again go back to ignoring him until he settles. My dog Bear used to run at top speed and launch himself onto people. Now he still runs at top speed to them but I tell them to ignore him and turn away. Once he gets up the visitors he now is more likely to immediately sit so he can get a pat. Bear also had a habit of barking when I left him and getting very excited when I got home. I still tell him where I am going and when I will return. Then about five minutes before I leave, I completely ignore him and leave without touching him, looking at him, or saying goodbye. When I return I also completely ignore him for the first five minutes. After that I greet him and give him hugs and treats. Jan says that dogs who have separation anxiety are not fearful for themselves. Rather, when you are away, they are acting as if they are the alpha dog and alphas are supposed to know what other pack members are doing and where they are. When your dog thinks he is the leader he will be very stressed when you, his subordinate, go AWOL. But if he thinks you are the leader then it won’t stress him out. Leaders can go and do whatever they want without having to check with anyone.
Jan has a number of similar, subtle nonviolent techniques, culled from watching the behavior of wolves in a pack. When you start thinking like a dog and using these nonviolent solutions you will find your dog gets calmer, happier, and much better adjusted. Your dog will be thrilled that you finally learned how to think like he does! Make sure to get the version of Jan’s book that has the 30-day program for training your dog. I think you’ll be happy with the results.
There have been two mallard ducks living for several years around the office where I work. The pair was named Fred and Ethyl by my coworkers. Ethyl was limping last summer and apparently not doing well. This year she was doing worse. She had been sleeping in the dirt under the bushes near our building. People had been feeding the birds. First Ethyl would eat, and then when Fred had seen to it that she had enough, he would eat. One afternoon someone came in and said they thought there was a dead bird in the corner of the courtyard. Sure enough, Ethyl had died. Fred sat diligently by her side guarding her. We called a wildlife group to come pick her up. While my coworker went to get a plastic bag and box in which to put her body, I sat with Fred and talked with him. I told him how handsome he was, and how wonderful and loving he had been to Ethyl. I told him how great it was that he had cared for her and guarded her and watched over her. I told him that her spirit had left her body and gone back to God and that he didn’t have to worry any longer. I told him that he could go off and find another mate if he wanted. I thanked him again and again. He then stood up, stretched out his neck, stretched his wings, stretched his legs and walked a bit away. He came back and walked back around to Ethyl, to check again to see how she was, and then he walked away again. My coworker came with the box and the bag, and as I proceeded to gently put Ethyl in the bag, Fred spread his wings and flew away, not just a short distance, but totally away. My coworker and I could see that he was relieved that Ethyl was in good hands and that he could now be on his way. I’m still crying. It was both sad, but also totally joyous to see this wonderful bird feel his pride in caring for his mate and the trust in us to take care of her.
Christie Barbour
 Because of intuitive communication, Trinity and I have bonded quicker than we would have. Things didn't go so well when I first got him, but we completely turned over a new leaf when we started our conversations. He has contacted me in times of need, and I know I'm talking to him.
One time, I was talking to him at night, and all of a sudden, he felt like he wanted to go into a ball. I asked what was wrong, and he said he was running up the hill, slipped on the ice, and scraped his leg in the back, and got a cut on the front. The next morning, I went out and he was correct. He had a small scrape on his back leg and a tiny cut on his front leg.
Becky Staden
I am delighted with the shift I am seeing in my relationship with Lila, my black standard poodle. The undercurrent of frustration seems to have vanished on both sides, and we are communicating with mutual respect. It is so evident that she appreciates the clear explanations and image-messaging that you suggested. Lila is noticeably less stressed and even more affectionate. And she is responding much better to cats and kids. I've been sending her clear pictures of what will happen when I leave on a trip - this is making the whole separation-thing easier for us both.
Andy Blair
An Engineer’s Guide to Cats
Why not to use plastic bags..
Go to Oceana’s website to ban shark finning and other actions to save our oceans
Sign a petition at Care 2’s site
I believe that the more we can manifest for the good, the more we will see good things happening. So along with your action to help the animals and the earth, spend some time each day manifesting. Here is what I do.
Find a quiet place to sit. Out loud or in your head state an intention, such as - every country goes sustainable – or, - people’s attitudes toward animals become more and more humane. State your intention as if it is in the process of happening. Then go to the endpoint, by which I mean, imagine that what you have intended is actually coming to pass. How would things be? How would you feel? Imagine it in as much detail and reality as possible. Then pray - ask your angels, guides etc, to help make this come about.
"To paraphrase what Abraham Lincoln said about General Grant, find out what Dennis Kucinich is drinking and send a case to every member of Congress. Send two to Nancy Pelosi. Maybe she can keep one of them on the table."
~Letter to Editor, LA Times
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