Sunny Saints St. Bernard Rescue

Dog Aggression, Kids, and Harmony in Your Home

Expert Advice We Can Never Hear Too Often

Even the seemingly best-behaved and submissive dogs can surprise their owners at times, and the surprise is not always welcome.  This is the case with unexpected aggression.  My son is home from college for the summer, and my normally quiet, uneventful home is temporarily turned into a summertime beach retreat for young adults stopping by to borrow a surfboard or looking for a turkey sandwich.  Friends know they are welcome, and sometimes just walk in unannounced, which was fine.  In the past.

Since last November, we have acquired two Saint Bernards, in addition to our 10-year-old aussie mix.  They have had to acclimate to my son coming home on occasional weekends, and now, during summer, anywhere from 1 to 15 kids stopping over to visit daily.  The dogs have done relatively well, and I’ve somewhat managed to shield them from the stress, but this week, Sunny Saint Beni had enough.  Jack, a very nice, polite, 19-year-old has been the target of Beni’s irritation and aggressive barking.  Not just once, but three times.  We know now this should have been nipped in the bud.  Behavior: unacceptable. This should have happened only once, but, alas, I am the de facto dog trainer in this house, and, not home to correct the behavior, no one else dealt with the situation immediately.  Bad move.

I’ve read that this form of aggression can be the dog trying to assert his place and prominence on the family totem pole.  We’ve all heard about the “packleader,” and how the rest of the family,  including dogs, have their spot in the pecking order.  This is so true.  If you want harmony and balance in your family with the dog, and to avoid a potentially dangerous situation, you must heed the experts’ advice.

I recommend an article, “My Dog is Dog Aggressive. What Can I Do About This Aggression?” by Ed Frawley. Mr. Frawley says one of the major reasons for aggression is “rank drive” within the dog pack. It gave me a lot to think about, in terms of how I rate as the packleader, and learning how to “read” my dog.  He says this natural instinct is extremely powerful, and affects how the dog interacts within the family structure. If the dog is aggressive toward a particular person, that dog should never be left alone in the home with that person, and should always be on a leash, even in the home. This is so the packleader is able to make an immediate correction, and let the dog know, that, under no circumstances, is aggression to be tolerated. This is a must for any household with smaller children as well.

It’s not easy knowing that my front door can’t be the always-revolving door as in the past, but I now have the know-how to deal with it. I thought I knew a lot about dogs, but I realize I’m still learning every day. Time to share this information with the rest of the family.

As always, Sunny Saints would love to hear your thoughts.

-Jen Geller

Congratulations to the Munoz Family on their adoption of Tabetha, this weekend. In many cases, it takes time for the family and the Saint to settle in, and get to know each other.  In this case, Tabetha’s quite sure of where she fits in, and knows this is her forever home.  Here is what the Munoz Family reports after the first day:

Thank you Kim!!!  The cats will take a bit of work but the evening went without a hitch. The kids distracted her so much last night that she ended up sleeping in the middle of all the rooms keeping us safe then she jumped from each room and then went back to her post.  I need to share a story with you.  Of course, we took Tabetha to run our morning routine today, so off we went and dropped off Lily at school, and noticed Tabetha's angst when Lily left the car but reassured her that she would see Lily again,  and off we went to the park.  While at the park, she enjoyed a great walk and to my surprise chased a little bunny into the bushes... BOY is she STRONG!!  

Before circling the park again, I decided to drop off thekids in the playground area while we walked a big circle around the playground. Tabetha and I were maybe 10 feet away from the kids when she noticed that they weren't following us.  She stopped and looked at me like "Hey, I think we forgot those 2 monkeys climbing and hanging off the bars."  Again reassured her and proceeded to walk a few more steps.  This time she pulled on the leash, looked at me again while DIGGING HER FEET into the ground and refused to move!!!!!  I thought, well maybe, she just wants to walk on the other side of the park (a new area).  So I allowed her to lead and to my surprise she glanced back at me and trotted  straight to the kids, smelled each one, wagged her tail and looked at me like "Hey lady, I'm not going anywhere without my kids!"

I LOVE HER EVEN MORE and look forward to the lifetime of years that we'll be sharing together.  So in answer to your question she is doing great!  :)  Although she cried when the 2 little ones were dropped off at the Boys & Girls club but I reassured her and went back home where I treated her with fresh water, her morning breakfast, her treat (as it’s a MUST) and a good tummy rub and tons of hugs and kisses.

Hubby and I love her dearly and so do the kids.  We are blessed and appreciate you having found her for us.  I'll send pics so you can share them with everyone! Bug me ANYTIME!!!   We'll be life long friends thanks to our Saints and will be sure to attend as many organizations to help get the word out about you, all the wonderful people at Sunny Saints and to get these pups into good homes. You folks are amazing and are lucky to have you there to save these gentle giants.

Did you ever use the Heimlich maneuver on someone choking on a hard candy?  Well, choking is not reserved just for people, but dogs as well.

Case in point:  This morning, Sunny Saint Beni started choking and gagging, leaving a trail of spit-up and who-knows-what-else stomach content all over the wood floor. After two minutes of choking, gagging and being herded out the back door, out of Beni’s mouth popped a plastic water bottle cap … the simple, round variety abundant in many of our homes.

Your kids may be older, or grown up and moved on, but if you have dogs, there’s still strong argument for carefulness and supervision in your household.  Here’s a few things to be aware of:

• Kids toys:  Dogs can sniff, chew and swallow anything laying on the floor.  In the case of St. Bernards, we know there’s nothing they can’t reach! Keep the stuffed animals and Barbie dolls, and toys with a million parts out of reach, especially when no one is watching.
  
  
• Rubber balls, tennis balls and golf balls.  Tennis balls and golf balls have been known to lodge in the throats of some giant breeds, and rubber balls can be chewed into small bits and cause choking.
  
  
• A personal unfavorite is rawhide!  This popular treat becomes soggy and super flexible after a while, expands, and can lodge in the throat.  A better bet for your dog is bully sticks, which are made from the meat, not hide, of a cow.
  
  
• Rocks, sticks, bottle caps, any little thing. Remember going through the toddler  phase with kids?  Get back into that mindset with your dogs.              
  

The Humane Society of the United States of America has a list of common household dangers for pets, which goes beyond just choking hazards, listing toxic and poisonous substances as well, which your Saint can get into.  Prevention is always best, but just in case, you may want to read up on doggie first aid and emergency advice at How to Give First Aid to Your Dog, or Choking in Dogs.

The ultimate in preparedness, if you have a few hours on the weekend, is to attend a Pet First Aid class given by the American Red Cross.  A quick glance at the schedule by the Red Cross’ Orange County and Inland Empire chapter shows Pet First Aid classes scheduled on a regular basis, one sure to fit your schedule. Check the chapter nearest you. According to the Red Cross, the course offers information and advice pet owners can trust. From basic pet owner responsibilities, like spaying, neutering and administering medications to managing breathing or cardiac emergencies and preparing for disasters, the class also includes managing urgent care situations, such as car accidents; wounds; electrical shock; and eye, foot and ear injuries. Choose from three course offerings including Dog First Aid, Cat First Aid, and Cat and Dog First Aid.

Day-trippin’ or weekend get-aways?  Summer says it’s time to hit the road with your furry friends. Where are you headed?  Whether you’re a local or  a welcome visitor, here’s a sampling of some tried and true So. Cal. get-a-ways sent in by Sunny Saints supporters.
  
If you live near, or are visiting the San Diego area, Fiesta Island Dog Beach needs to be on your list. It’s the largest leash-free beach for dogs down south, providing nearly 100 acres of romping grounds. Bordering the calm waters of Mission Bay, it may be a great chance to introduce your Saint to the water!

Want to spend the day at the beach with your dog, but prefer something on a smaller scale?  If you are willing to take a short, relatively rugged hike from the bluffs to the beach below, San Onofre State Park, straddling the San Diego/Orange County line, is your place. Dogs are allowed (on leash) on trails one and six. If you time your visit right, you may just have a beautiful, desolate beach all to yourself. A cup of coffee, a chuckit and tennis ball may make for a perfect morning. If you’re staying longer, take an umbrella for sun protection for you and your Saint’s pink skin. On the down side, unfortunately, the state’s budget woes have hiked the price of admission to our state parks to $15 per day, or about $200 for an annual pass.

Is your Saint more of the “let’s do lunch” type?  Head north on the coast again, to the quaint town of Seal Beach, to the River’s End Café. Right on the sand, this establishment offers dog-friendly, outdoor dining.  A Sunny Saint supporter also strongly recommends 2nd Street in Belmont Shore (Long Beach), noting that almost all of 2nd Street is dog-friendly, including Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ and La Creperie Café.

If you’re not fitting into that Saint-kini, and lunch is just not on your menu, head upwards to the local mountains.  Big Bear Lake’s Alpine Pedal Path is an easy 3.5 mile-long trail that follows the lake on it’s north side.  There are picnic areas for lunch, and plenty of shoreline for your Saint to dip his feet.  If you are staying overnight, several of our Sunny Saints recommend the Golden Bear Cottages in Big Bear Lake because they appreciate the pet-friendly cabins with the fenced-in yards.

There are plenty of “dog-friendly” resources and websites available, but it’s always better to hear what’s good from a friend. Do you have a favorite spot?  Let us know!  And if you’re gone overnight, are there any especially Saint-friendly places to stay? Please, don’t forget those “insider tips” that can really make or break an outing.

If you are planning on introducing a new dog into your life, either as a foster, a new family member or even at the dog park  -  Check out the free webinar at www.aspcapro.org.  It is available live on July 12, 2012 at noon Pacific Time.  All you need to do is sign up and they will send a link to you.  If you attend, you can ask the presenter questions during the seminar  about your situations.  If you cannot attend live, the webinar will be posted on their site within 24 hours.

They have many webinars at no cost to educate you about the animals in your life.