At Contra Costa Humane Society (CCHS), we receive many calls from pet owners who were in love with their pets at first but are now looking to relinquish them for any number of reasons, including medical and behavioral concerns, a family move, birth of a baby, or other life changes.
While some of these situations can’t be avoided, many behavioral issues can be resolved. Giving up on your dog and relinquishing her is devastating for the animal and contributes to overpopulation at public shelters, which puts more dogs at risk of euthanasia. Given time, dedication, and compassion, you can help your dog stay where she wants to be – with you in a real home!
CCHS works tirelessly to decrease the number of unwanted dogs and cats and therefore the number of euthanized animals in our communities through education and service programs. Below we highlight two concerns that owners often face and provide basic suggestions for remedies.
Leash Reactivity
When on leash, some dogs bark, growl, whine, or lunge in response to seeing other dogs. This may be due to improper socialization; an earlier traumatic experience on a leash; frustration at being restrained; or simply feeling unfriendly toward a particular dog. While this behavior may be alarming and stressful for you, it is completely fixable!
Two key factors in managing leash reactivity are management and behavior modification. Management prevents situations where the dog may become reactive, while behavior modification involves changing a dog’s ingrained reactions to unfamiliar dogs. With either approach, it’s vital to not punish your dog, which can make the situation worse.
It’s critical to understand that, like humans, not all dogs will get along. We don’t like everyone we meet, why do we expect our dogs to? This simple realization can set the stage for cultivating successful interactions between your dog and other canines.
Management and behavioral strategies include walking your dog with a head collar (such as a Gentle Leader); distracting her from risky interactions with tasty treats; planning a route where you won’t encounter many other dogs; and avoiding the dog park completely.
Here’s a real-life example: Allowing your dog to stare or make direct eye contact with other dogs can lead to aggressive confrontations, as it can be interpreted as a challenge. To train your dog to stay focused on you, teach him some basic commands, such as “watch.” Once he’s learned the command, when you encounter another dog while walking, keep a safe distance away and have your dog “watch” you. Continue walking while rewarding profusely with treats and praise so your dog’s focus stays on you. A side benefit is that feeding treats in the presence of other dogs will create a positive association in your dog’s mind.
Arrival of a New Baby
Welcoming a new child to the family doesn’t have to mean saying goodbye to your pet. Your dog probably thought she was the baby of the family, so this is an adjustment for her, too!
The Humane Society of United States has these suggestions for a smooth introduction between dog and infant:
- Before your baby is born, have your dog or cat spayed or neutered, which can make them calmer and less likely to bite.
- Address any behavioral or training problems with a professional before your baby arrives.
Invite friends with infants over to the house, being sure to closely monitor all interactions. - Accustom your pet to baby-related noises and smells such as crying, mechanical swings, clanking toys, and baby powder. Make these good experiences for your dog by offering treats or playtime for positive reinforcement.
- Before baby arrives, provide your animal a safe place in the house where she can retreat as needed, such as a spare bedroom or comfy crate.
- When you come home from the hospital with your new baby, and on a regular basis thereafter, spend one-on-one time with your dog to ensure she feels secure. Allow her to enjoy supervised time with the baby (be sure to reward appropriate behavior), and maintain regular routines with your pet.
If the above management and behavior modification tips do not seem to work, please seek the help of a licensed trainer before considering giving up on your animal. Professional intervention can help keep your whole family together.
Leeann Lorono (llorono@cchumane.org) is Executive Director of Contra Costa Humane Society. She is married, has two boys in ice hockey, and enjoys the company of Oscar, a rescue dog. Chrissy Wilberg (cwilberg@cchumane.org) is Adoption Program Manager and has worked in animal welfare for 10 years. She is married and has a rescue dog, Tanner, and rescue cat, Stella. For more info on the agency’s programs and services, visit cchumane.org.
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Main article photo by: Courtesy CCHS
