BehavioRx Case of the Month
for February 2000

The following case first appeared in January, 1998. The prognosis was "guarded" and we promised a follow-up report, which follows the original case, below.

The Rambunctious Puppy

A 15 week old female Sharpei/Rottweiler mix had been bought from a local breeder by the retired grandparents of a 4 1/2 year old boy. The kindly elders cared for the lad several days a week while his single mother worked. The idea was to train the puppy in their home, then transplant her, with all bad behavior successfully solved, to the daughter's home. To accomplish this unlikely goal a "book" was purchased when the pup was 7 weeks of age. When I was called, the folks were on the verge of taking the puppy to the local pound, where she would have suffered the "ultimate inconvenience."

Complaints were biting, barking at quests, stealing anything that moved, chewing on anything within reach, including feet, legs, hands, etc. She had also growled at and nipped the boy. This case typifies an increasing number of HelpLine calls, WWW diagnostic inquiries and programs we deal with lately. Prior to our first meeting, the following history was obtained.

Following the "book's" instructions, they immediately "treat-trained" her to a small crate, which made her extremely mouth-on-hand-happy, put the puppy in a crate in a small den, where she spent her nights and all other times when the folks were away or could not supervise her closely. This resulted in 16 1/2 hours of almost every day for the pup, spent in the confines of a small box, which prevented the pup from responding to any spontaneous exercise. Hence, when she did get out of the her little prison, she was so wound up that she was over-stimulated by her freedom and the pent-up inner drives for the exercise vital for healthy physical development.

To cope with the mouthing, the "book" instructed them to grab her by the jowls, raising her forepaws off the floor, look her in the eyes and shout "NO!" This puppy has active defense reflexes, aggressive, so she responded by growling and biting at them. The "book" also recommended they put a stub leash on her collar and yank it, lifting the puppy's forepaws off the floor, if necessary, to control unruliness or biting, etc. The pup responded to this life-threatening treatment by fighting for freedom, growling, snapping struggling. She became we so active that it took both grandparents to stuff her into her crate until she calmed down. They also showed the youngster how to jerk the stub leash, which is how he got nipped while dragging the puppy around the house and lifting her when she resisted. Needless to say, the "book" didn't have any advice on this pup's responses, so they phoned their veterinarian and we were contacted... "As our last hope."

Grandmother advised me on the phone to be prepared to be barked at, charged, and possibly bitten, by 18 pounds of out-of-control canine puppyhood when she opened the front door. I merely asked that she and Grandfather greet me happily and stand quietly until "Sharpy" settled down. When the moment came, the door opened, the folks said "Hi," and the puppy appeared from behind them, whereupon I quickly crouched down sideways to her, saying "Hi Sharpy" as she approached. The pup approached slowly. The folks said... "She's never been this way before. She isn't even barking." When Sharpy started to get mouthy with my left hand, I tossed my Bio-Sonic beanbag on the floor in front of her feet. She immediately turned away and went into another room. I advised the folks to say "Good Dog!" and head for the living room. I followed, and we weren't halfway down the hall before Sharpy had passed them, whereupon I instructed them to turn around and head back for the front door. They hadn't gone a few steps before the pup was ahead again. Two more reversals, with a Bio-Sonic distraction and praise, and Sharpy stood quizzically by the front door as we proceeded to the living room. She followed several paces to the rear.

After we had all sat down Sharpy tried most of the bossy puppy ploys. She jumped up at Grandmother, then Grandfather, then me. But each approach was greeted with the quick distraction of the Bio-Sonic device. Her responses were immediate... she stopped for an instant and we quietly praised her. After approximately eight corrections and praise Sharpy sat behind Grandmother's legs, then lay down for a snooze. Both clients were incredulous. However, when the nature of the Bio-Sonic
distraction [to the dog] was explained, a program was discussed which included the next meeting with the grandson, when we could help them control both youngsters.

As it turned out, the boy was extremely active and constantly sought everyone's attention, predictable tendencies for an overindulged only grandchild. The dog, of course, obeying its allelomimetic [act-like, be-like] tendencies, competed with the lad, racing around the house after him, nipping his ankles, etc., etc. As is usually the case, Sharpy brought herself under control after a few Bis-Sonic distractions and quiet praise, but the lad required every ounce of the grandparents' patience and perseverance.

Grandfather was the only one to use his Bio-Sonic. And he was quite effective. Grandmother's attentions were on the lad. However, serenity reigned after a few minutes and we discussed further steps in their program. A future meeting with the lad's mother is in the planning stage.

Before leaving, I asked the name of the "book" which had launched them on their wayward course with Sharpy. The clients said they forgot it, since they had given it to neighbors who had just gotten a new pup the previous week. It appeared that the neighbors were not the clients' favorite people. And, with friends like Sharpy's owners, those neighbors certainly won't ever run short of enemies.

Follow-up reports on Sharpy's fate will appear here in future months. At this points the prognosis must be guarded.

February 2000 Follow-up

Just before last Christmas Grandmother phoned to report that Sharpy was beginning to growl at the grandson and a couple of his friends. Further, Sharpy seemed always to be "nervous and edgy." The consultation revealed that the boy's mother had taken the attitude that Sharpy was probably going to be dangerous, since she no longer tolerated being handled by the children. We discovered that the "handling" consisted of trying to pick her up by the stomach, blowing air at her face, hugging her roughly, etc.

Sharpy had been spayed at 5 1/2 months and was in excellent health. While her "nervousness" could be dues to the stress of the hyper-active boy and the mother, who was generally negative toward the dog, it was apparent that the dog was probably on her way to the pound, since she mother said she "couldn't stand much more." A family consultation with mother, son and the grandparents was not possible, so we suggested the grandmother have a conference with her daughter regarding the impact on the boy if Sharpy were to be taken away. And, further, since the mother had never given the boy guidance on his treatment of Sharpy, perhaps the daughter might start teaching her son. (It should be mentioned that Sharpy behaved beautifully when grandfather was alone with her and the children.)

We also suggested that Sharpy be eased off her high-carbohydrate diet and placed on Natura's California Natural Canned mixed with the California Natural Dry Diet.

Two weeks later the grandmother phoned to report that the change in Sharpy was dramatic. The mother had started a program of training her son to be more considerate of Sharpy's rights, not the least of which was to allow her to take a nap without jumping on her in its midst. All foot races were banned in the house and physical contact was limited to gentle petting. The Natura California Natural diet had produced a calmer Sharpy, even before the behavioral program for the boy had begun. Prognosis... now optimistic.

Previous Cases

January 2000
December 1999
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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