Hiding from life’s problems is a good strategy
Koko’s fear of the backyard and its airborne threats were making her crazy. Unlike most humans, dogs are denning creatures. They find security in a snug enclosure. This girl’s well-meaning people had put her in a wire crate which, unfortunately, felt like a cage to her.
There’s an easy fix for this common error. I advised Jan and Marty to use a sheet to cover the top and all sides of the crate except the bottom 4 to 5 inches of the door. Now Koko would have a secure lair where she could peek at the world while taking refuge from any storm, real or imagined. Only the element of choice was missing.
Dog crates can trigger panic. A creature who thrashes and bites the bars while frantically trying to escape is sending an obvious message. Some freak-outs are less dramatic. Nobody should feel trapped. The solution is to never close the crate door.
Koko still needed to relieve herself. Sadly, every time her folks tried enticing her into the backyard, the site of past celestial horrors, she balked and trembled. The front yard, on the other hand, had never been associated with aerial monsters (balloons and lighting and fireworks, oh my!). A dog door provided unfettered access to this safe space. Wow. Another choice.
But if Koko’s fears were triggered in the front yard our best laid plans would collapse, forcing the whole family to move underground and live like moles. To avoid this inconvenience, I advised a bathroom break prior to early morning balloon theatrics and Independence Day explosions. Pet parent addiction to a weather app would also serve Koko well.
Beyond simple kindness there was a physical consideration: “If you don’t use it, you lose it.” If Koko’s brain were never again exposed to her fear triggers, or if she could sidestep the worst parts, her unhealthy neural circuits would weaken from disuse. Significant changes in her brain anatomy wouldn’t happen overnight but Jan and Marty were committed. Koko is better now, but she’ll always need careful management.
Next week: Nudging, pacing, paw-wringing.
For help with behavior problems, you can sign up for a Zoom group conference on my website, drjeffnichol.com.
Dr. Jeff Nichol is a residency trained veterinary behaviorist. He provides consultations in person and in groups by Zoom (drjeffnichol.com). Each week he shares a blog and a video to help bring out the best in pets and their people. Sign up at no charge at drjeffnichol.com. Email pet questions to drjeffnichol@ drjeffnichol.com or by mail to 4000 Montgomery NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87109.