Our sweet dog Molly deals with a host of anxieties: storms, fireworks, other dogs, bicycles, trailers, car rides, groomer and vet visits, etc. The good news: What can’t be avoided can be managed. Communication is a big part of it.
When this photo was taken, she was freshly groomed and knew we were going home. Before we even left home, though, I had pictured her calmly riding in the back seat and me walking her into the shop. I pictured her standing strong while her longtime groomer bathed, rinsed and trimmed her long hair, and her feeling more comfortable as a result. I pictured us going home and walking in the door.
“Maybe you’ll even see Aunt Jody,” I’d told her as we set out. Molly’s ears perked up at her much-loved dog sitter’s name.
The key: I pictured Molly coping despite being afraid. I reminded her I wouldn’t take her anywhere that wasn’t safe.
Was she still anxious and wanting to have the whole thing over with? Yes. Did she have that panicked, betrayed reaction we’ve all seen when animals don’t understand what’s happening? No.
Unavoidable challenges can be great opportunities to build your animal’s confidence and trust. Whether he struggles with nail trims, hoof work, trailering or separation anxiety, animal communication — your own and/or with help from me — eases the way for both of you. Your farrier, vet, sitter or other carer will appreciate it, too!
A University of California study gives scientific credence to what we’ve known all along: Dogs get jealous.
The 2014 study by Christine R. Harris and Caroline Prouvost found that when their owners displayed affection toward an animatronic stuffed dog that barked, whined, and wagged its tail, the dogs snapped at and pushed against the stuffed dog and tried to get between it and their human.
The 36 dogs were videotaped at their homes while their owners ignored them and interacted with a series of three objects: the stuffed dog, a children’s book, and a plastic jack-o-lantern.
The study looked only at small-breed dogs such as corgis, pugs, and dachshunds, apparently so the dogs would be easier to control if things got out of hand. One of my favorite sayings is, “The smaller the dog, the bigger the attitude,” but I’ve seen dogs of every size, breed, and temperament get their noses out of joint over having to compete for a human’s attention.
The dogs in this study were much more miffed by the stuffed dog, and more specifically the human’s interactions with it, than they were by the person reading aloud from the book or showering attention on the pumpkin.
Being ignored in favor of an inanimate object is one thing. The interaction with something so doglike that its butt had to be sniffed (which 86 percent of the dogs in the study did) made the difference. The study was published in PLOS One, a peer-reviewed online scientific journal.
So, how much of a problem is canine jealousy? Relatively little snapping was reported on the part of the dogs in this study. Since dogs are not inclined to hold grudges, it’s reasonable to assume that the next time you encounter the phrase “jealous rage,” it will not apply to a dog’s behavior.
Still, there is an important reminder here for maintaining a more just and happy household: There’s no substitute for one-on-one time.
If a friend’s dog is staying with us, Molly — our golden retriever/German shepherd/collie rescue with her share of issues — is fine with sharing her space and toys. But if my partner or I pet the guest dog, Molly wedges herself between us. This is when I make sure Molly gets just as much attention and lap time (yes, my 60-pound dog thinks she’s a lapdog) as she normally does. This makes her feel more secure and lets the visitor know where he stands.
It’s also not unusual for animals to feel threatened by the arrival of a new four-legged family member. Every time an animal joins or leaves a household or herd, that small civilization shifts. The rules and hierarchies are reset.
This is especially true for cats, whose independence and territorial nature does not preclude forming strong bonds with other animals and humans. Spending some one-on-one time, even if it’s just a few minutes a day of play, walking, or snuggling, with each animal will help everyone (including you) feel fully loved and appreciated.
Of course, thanks to the power of the canine nose, a potential rival need not be present to merit suspicion. When I go home after an in-person animal Reiki session or my rounds at Summit Equestrian Center, I can count on a thorough sniff-over from Molly. She gathers all kinds of data about where I’ve been and with whom.
While she doesn’t entirely approve, generally within a few minutes she’s ready to move on to something else — going outside, angling for a treat, or making sure the UPS man knows the premises are protected. I still make sure she knows that even though I have been out working with other dogs (and cats, horses, pigs, sheep, etc.), I am happy to see her.
Like our previous dog, Ellie, Molly also has a knack for coming into the room and settling beside me when I’m sending distant Reiki energy to an animal, especially another dog. She doesn’t mind … but she doesn’t want to be left out, either. Fortunately, there is always enough Reiki to go around.
After being fed at 4 p.m. sharp (or preferably before), Lucy the black tortie settles into a chair to supervise my yoga practice. If I have the nerve to still be sitting in said chair, she sits and looks at me. Time to get moving.
Around 8:30, I can count on our younger cat to pace around pointedly until I follow her to the room where her bowls and litter box are kept. I give her a bedtime snack of three or four kibbles. We say our prayers and goodnight.
Our shepherd mix, whose anxiety casts the world as predictably unpredictable, knows she gets a dental treat at 7 p.m. If it’s not forthcoming by, say, 6:55, she will follow me around, panting, until she gets it.
Most of our animal friends expect certain things to happen at certain times with certain humans — comings, goings, feeding, walks, turnout, rides, bedtime. (Some animals I work with know when it’s time for my Reiki rounds, too!) Departures may be tolerated, but not especially welcomed.
According to this Brain Pickings article, routine contains everyday chaos while ritual imbues the mundane with the magical. With animals, I think those distinctions blur. Rescues in particular find magic in the most basic daily happenings. Over the last 15 months, they’ve dealt with disrupted routines along with us. Perhaps they’ve found magic in helping us develop new ways to contain our chaos.
Variety may be the spice of life, but routines and rituals add different spices — cinnamon, perhaps, or turmeric — to sustain us in an unsteady world. Like a good stretch, or bedtime prayers and purrs, they affirm that God is good and life, even in some small way, still makes sense.
All Creatures 