Then there were 9

How I changed over the years, and why I believe in Positive Training methods Why Romanian Rescue is my passion.

Then there were 9

In January 2014, I came across some photos on a social network. I have seen lots and lots of photos shared with my friends. Not one day goes past without seeing images of cruelty, videos that tear at one’s heart, images that I will never forget.

I couldn’t watch with the sound on, my eyes were bombarded with enough horror.

There was something about that little face, cocooned in wire, in a filthy, dark, prison cell. No food or water. A cruel death was around the corner. Death was much better than living, for that little face.

What was it about that face that touched me, why was I drawn to those eyes?

I returned time and time again to look at that photo. I asked myself that question time and time again. There were so many other faces, different sizes, shapes, colours, ages, but why that face?

Then it came to me……… that face was looking into my soul, those eyes burrowed deep into my heart.

That realisation was the start of a long journey ………

There was a sea of little faces behind the wire, 10 little faces in all.

Some were too scared to show their faces all they knew was fear. Their bodies were shaking, too afraid to make eye contact.

Some drank in the love like the first drops of rain on an arid desert floor. Seeking human contact, needing touch and love a kind hand and a soft voice.

All these little faces were given a name.

Pebble Stone, full of life, little chap.

Mutley, a beautiful black and white collie, labelled as aggressive. A big notice outside her kennel door.

Harri bo. a handsome lad with beautiful eyes.

Skooby- a small cute little fella, with the biggest ears.

Blue jangles- with one blue eye. Poor blue, so scared he just wanted to disappear.

Spangle- full of life, fun and mischief.

Phoebe yellow- a sweet little girl, with ears she needed to grow into.

Abi - a very beautiful slender girl. who only wanted to please.

Gracie- a pure bundle of joy

Milly moo, the wooliest coat and the kindest eyes, that melted my heart.

What a difference giving these little faces a name made, they all got their own new collar.

NOW they belonged. They all had an identity.

These 10 little faces were given life that day.

These ten lucky dogs were kept safe from the fear of death. The shelter manager, (Shelter is not the word I would use) promised they would be safe.

Ten people just like me had fallen for each one of these beautiful animals, and promised to help fund for their care, food and vet costs. In a few months’ time, our now very much loved and wanted dogs would be home.

I asked myself, how could I love Milly moo already? I couldn’t answer.

All I knew was I did, with all my heart. There were nine other people who felt the same about their chosen one.

Everything seemed so simple now, just a matter of time. Although they were still in the public shelter, they were all safe from death. They were going to get food and water. Health checks by a vet and treatment. Things were looking good. They were taken from the dark, dank indoor kennels and moved to the outside kennels. Their life just got so much better.

Or so we all thought.

Poor little Pebble stone wasn’t there one day. Even though he had his new collar, been promised a home, had someone that wanted to love him so much.

We heard he had died. No reason given. One day he was well, full of life, and the next he was gone.

That was the day the ten became nine.

This sent ripples of fear and uncertainty through us all. They all needed out from there, not tomorrow but now. Every minute that ticked by could have meant death.

A Vet in Arid was found. He offered to take all of our dogs to his clinic. Take care of all their medical needs. Assess their temperament. The most important part he played was to show them love and affection.

The dogs had all their inoculations. They were all micro chipped. Each little one had their own passport.

They were coming home.

Looking back on past years. I came across something I had written back in 2014.

That was when I brought my first Romanian rescue home. I wrote about her story, the before she came over and the after. Ending the weekly journal after I visited the shelter where she had been kept. I was always being told that I should turn the journal into a book.

Needless to say, I never did.

What got me as I read back those weeks' writings, was just how far I had come. I cringe at some of the things I did then. Nothing drastic, nothing harsh, but I just wish I knew then what I know now. I would have done things differently. Bringing that scared dog home set me off on my own journey of learning. I have always believed in kind methods, even when back in the day when I competed in obedience with my collies, I used half check collars and slip leads. Also making my dog's do things (no choice). This was the norm back then

My dog's were always rewarded when they got it right. I loved my dogs very much. I learned from trainers that I believed, knew everything. I never questioned the methods, (I don’t think there were any other methods known at the time). But they didn’t sit right with me. Dog's emotions or feelings were never really taken into account. Dogs were praised and rewarded and the training methods had actually really advanced since Mary Whitehouse (showing my age now)

but I always thought there must be another way. I was not comfortable with how things were taught. I would work out how to get the best from my dog's. Mutual respect and working as a team.

All around me was talk of pack leader, dominance etc. etc. .I knew nothing about

aversive,

negative and

positive reinforcement,

counter conditioning,

desensitisation,

Operant conditioning

Dog's trigger stacking,

How little things can affect a dog's behaviour. I don’t think many people did back then.

Back to more recent times. Bringing this scared anxious girl home, knowing full well that I was solely responsible for her happiness and well being. I was so worried about getting it wrong. Even with all my experience, this was different.

This is what I mean by change. I studied hard to learn about dog's emotions, how do dog's learn, subtle body language and what it means. All the technical stuff mentioned above. Roma was a fantastic teacher.

There was so much information available out there. There are so many scientifically proven studies about why positive reinforcement works. About being able to change a dog's emotions. Understanding what emotion is behind that behaviour. Rather than stopping a behaviour by using fear, pain or discomfort, (punishment). That never sorts the underlying cause, just puts a sticky bandage over it.

This is why I specialise in anxious nervous dog's, I believe in my methods and I have seen fantastic results in the dog's that I work with. I understand why they behave certain ways, and how difficult it can be when you are a pet parent of a dog that finds the world a scary place. I know, I have had four rescues over the years, each one with different struggles.

Will I ever get that book written ?.........Never say Never

Categories: : Anxious/nervous dogs, Reactivity, Romanian Rescue