BehavioRx Case of the Month
for December 1999

This case is a year old, but it addresses some of the problems created when people's holiday traditions aren't cherished as dearly by their dogs (especially puppies) and cats (especially kittens).

It involved the Christmas tree and those gorgeous packaged presents, with their alluring, shiny wrapping and fascinating new odors. Lets' hope it can save some headaches and heartbreaks by helping to avoid some of this holiday season's canine and feline destruction derbies.

Merry Christmas
Putting "VERY" into "Merry Christmas"

The client, married mother of three kids, called to ask how to avoid another Christmas disaster with her seventeen-month-old, neutered male Golden Retriever. 1998's Yuletide had been marred by a major, physical set-back on two fronts: 1. The dog had pulled down the Christmas tree, nearly totaling out all the decorations and light strings; 2. On viewing the wreckage after returning home, her husband lost his cool; shouted at, and angrily grabbed the dog by the neck with both hands, preparing to dragging him to the tree to punish (spank) him. The dog appeared to the wife to be terrified, (she said his eyes were bulging), and undertook one of nature's basic defensive behaviorisms, i.e;., he bit at the hands that, to him, threatened to choke the life out of him. Dad released him and spent most of Christmas eve at an emergency hospital, where his wrists were suitably stitched patched up. Christmas day was miserable, with three children crying and "Randy" barking in the back yard, as Dad tried to open presents with swollen, bandaged hands, and Mother wondered what she had done to deserve her fate. It was more than six weeks later when Randy was allowed back into the family. "He's a marvelous dog, but Fred's thinking of boarding him this Christmas, and that's just not acceptable to me."

Consultation revealed that Randy was in excellent health and had no behavior problems, except that he was still wary of Dad, lowering his head as if a little fearful when he petted the dog. Other than this, the two had patched up their relationship well.

Mrs. Mom's question was: "How can I be sure Randy won't do it again."
"You mean bite Fred?" I asked.
"No... I mean tear down the tree! I know he bit Fred out of fear."

The program involved several phases:

Phase I

Mom, Dad and the two children old enough to use it, applied the "Learn-to-Earn, No Free Lunch" program with Randy, one part of the BehavioRx Instructions, "Obedience Training Primer." They also used its non-verbal, Leadership exercise. This preceded the tree's arrival by two weeks. They all commented that Randy was much more relaxed after the first four days of the program.

Phase II

Family tradition was honored and the tree was decorated the day before Christmas eve. However, they obtained the tree, a six-footer, two days earlier. With Randy in the yard during the evening, they brought it in and stood it in its water-filled base in the traditional corner of the den. They also purchased at their local nursery two dozen lemon balm plants. These were placed in the lower branches of the tree, a few inches from the tips. Randy was then let into the house by Mom, while the family sat around chatting. Randy followed Mom into the den, noticed the tree, approach it curiously, took one whiff, turned away, and everyone happily praised him. He wagged his tail, went over the Dad and was petted. Phase II was complete and Randy did not show any further interest in the tree during the next day.

Phase III

The previous year, Randy had been in the house, watching Dad string the lights and the children bringing decorations for him to hang. Randy tried to join in, but was scolded and finally put into a bedroom. When everyone understood about the dog's tendency to "act-like, be like" its group members, (it's called allelomimetic behavior) they quickly decided to keep Randy away before they started dressing the tree. So, Mom said she would do some late shopping, and took Randy to the market with her, then left him in the yard until the decorating was completed. The presents under the tree were lightly sprayed with an XXtra dry underarm deodorant spray, which would dry Randy's tongue if he tried to pick them up. This usually causes an immediate withdrawal by most dogs.

Phase IV

Randy again followed Mom into the room, immediately noticed the tree and the presents underneath, approached, sniffed a couple of times, then turned to look at Dad. Everyone praised Randy, who wagged happily and went again to Dad for some petting. For the rest of the evening Randy showed no interest in the tree, except to glance at it a few times.

Phase V

Randy had always been left in the house when the family was out, so the clients decided it might be wise to make sure he would not pull down the tree during their absence in the ensuing twelve days of Christmas. To accomplish this, Mom, Dad and the kids all got ready to leave, went out the garage door, Mom started the car as the kids got in, and Dad sneaked around to the back yard, where he could see the tree in the den. The room lights were left on. He was armed with two of our Sonic Bean Bags* and instructed to toss one at the sliding glass door if Randy started to grab at the tree or the presents. As the car pulled away from the house, Randy returned to the den from the kitchen and headed straight for the tree. Dad thought he was about to pick up a wrapped gift, so he threw a Bean Bag. It hit the glass and, according to Dad, Randy almost jumped out of his skin, backed up, went to his throw rug by the fireplace, lay down and remained there until Mom and the kids returned twenty minutes later. Dad crept back to the garage and everyone went in together. The clients repoerted that Randy "actively ignored" the tree thereafter.

Phase VI

A Very Merry Christmas.

*Soon to be available.

Previous Cases

November 1999
October 1999
September 1999
August 1999
July 1999
June 1999
May 1999
April 1999
March 1999
February 1999
January 1999
December 1998
November 1998
October 1998
September 1998
August 1998
July 1998
June 1998
May 1998
April 1998
March 1998
February 1998
January 1998
December 1997
November 1997
October 1997
September 1997
August 1997
July 1997
June 1997
May 1997
April 1997
March 1997
February 1997
January 1997
December 1996
November 1996
October 1996

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