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Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

  • 1.  Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 03-31-2024 01:30 PM

    Hi 😊 

    In people, we know that traumatic experiences early in life have the potential to have lasting impacts on our health. Research and experiences with animals indicates that traumatic experiences impact them as well. How can we reduce the potentially negative impact of the shelter environment?  

    On Wednesday, April 3 at 11 am PT/2 pm ET we heard from @Bobbie Bhambree, Consultant and Director of Education at Behavior Vets and @Ferdie Yau, Director of Shelter & Community Outreach at Behavior Vets, who discussed resilience - the ability to bounce back and recover from stress. How do we build resilience in shelter dogs who are living in a challenging and frequently stressful environment? 
     

    Watch the recording here

    This thread has been created so that we have a place to discuss and ask questions about this topic now and after the Camp Maddie event. 

    Sheila


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    Sheila Segurson, DVM, DACVB
    Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist
    Director of Community Solutions
    Maddie's Fund
    Pleasanton CA
    9258608284
    ------------------------------



  • 2.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-01-2024 07:59 AM

    Thanks, @Sheila Segurson (she/her)! We are really looking forward to sharing fun ways we can interact with shelter dogs that can be more beneficial for their mental health than most would think. 

    Ferdie



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    Ferdie Yau
    Behavior Consultant
    Ferdie Yau
    NY
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 12:03 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat:

    "In the video with bruno, can the closed mouth be misunderstood as a slight freeze instead of decompression? how do you differentiate for staff/vols?"



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  • 4.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 12:23 PM

    I'd start teaching consent test petting to all staff and volunteers. It's a great way to sharpen your understanding of canine body language and start to have two-way communication with dogs. https://eileenanddogs.com/blog/2012/08/29/does-your-dog-really-want-to-be-petted/



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    Ferdie Yau
    Behavior Consultant
    Ferdie Yau
    NY
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 12:24 PM

    I'd start teaching consent test petting to all staff and volunteers. It's a great way to sharpen your understanding of canine body language and start to have two-way communication with dogs. https://eileenanddogs.com/blog/2012/08/29/does-your-dog-really-want-to-be-petted/



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    Ferdie Yau
    Behavior Consultant
    Ferdie Yau
    NY
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 12:03 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat:

    "What about the kind of flirt poles that attach to the ground? Is it better to use the handheld ones?"



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  • 7.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 12:27 PM

    I've never used flirt poles that attach to the ground (except for cats). I can be more mobile with handheld ones. 



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    Ferdie Yau
    Behavior Consultant
    Ferdie Yau
    NY
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 12:04 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat:

    "What about getting out a dog that retreats to the back of the kennel? Lots of anxiety."
    "How would you work with dogs that are hiding under the kuranda beds?"



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    Maddie's Fund
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  • 9.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 12:37 PM

    I would take it very slow. It really depends in the individual - I've had success with some dogs by quietly sitting in the kennel (but this obviously has risks so not for everyone or dog).

    If you can get the dog out, try to bring the dog to a quieter environment and let them sniff. I would even attach a long line to them so they have more distance from me. 

    Teach pattern games. Superbowls game or LATTE can be a start for many fearful dogs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inyXqmpcxZE 

    Social support from a helper dog may be needed for some who struggle to bond with humans. https://youtu.be/lZ5LHZxqq4I 

    Consider behavior medications if you are not seeing much change. 

    Place in a foster home for at least temporary relief from the shelter. 

    I try my best to help the dog feel safe and reduce stress before I start a behavior plan. This can take a lot of time depending on the individual. 



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    Ferdie Yau
    Behavior Consultant
    Ferdie Yau
    NY
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    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 12:05 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat:

    "Is there something like this but for cats in shelter?"



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    Maddie's University
    Maddie's Fund
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    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 12:41 PM

    We've been more focused on dogs, but the framework can be applied to cats. https://journal.iaabcfoundation.org/the-resilience-rainbow/

    It was based on research from multiple species, including humans suffering from PTSD.  I don't do much cat training (especially for behavior) these days but you can take the basic framework and think about how to apply it to cats. Feel free to contact me privately (ferdie@behaviorvets.com) and we can discuss in more detail. (But I think I'll need to get our cat expert involved. )



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    Ferdie Yau
    Behavior Consultant
    Ferdie Yau
    NY
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    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 12:05 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat:

    "Is there an accepted way to measure resilience indicators, such as behavioral definitions within the rainbow?"



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    Maddie's Fund
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  • 13.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 12:47 PM

    This is something we are developing behind the scenes. Hopefully, you can join us for the workshops and we will dive into more detail about how to use the Resilience Framework Assessment and Therapeutic tool. For now, you can take the framework and determine areas where the animal's needs are not being met. Then target areas you need to work. 

    In general, we are looking for behavior problems to become less frequent, less intense, and an ability to recover faster through the use of pattern games and other activities that can help with decompression (simple thing to do: take the dog on a sniffari). 



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    Ferdie Yau
    Behavior Consultant
    Ferdie Yau
    NY
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    Original Message


  • 14.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 12:06 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat:

    "How long did you work with Henry until he was available for adoption?"



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    Maddie's University
    Maddie's Fund
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    Original Message


  • 15.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 12:49 PM

    Henry was with us for about 6-7 months. We hit the lottery with his adopter. A very kind woman who had experience with anxious dogs asked for our most fearful and anxious dog. It was a perfect match!



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    Ferdie Yau
    Behavior Consultant
    Ferdie Yau
    NY
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    Original Message


  • 16.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 12:06 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat:

    "How do you know what meds to start the dogs on with higher stress? I feel like dogs that are already worked up don't properly respond to fear free type meds such as trazadone and gabapentin"



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    Maddie's Fund
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    Original Message


  • 17.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 12:51 PM

    This is a question for a veterinary behaviorist (I'm not a doctor). I hope you can find one in your area. If not, check out https://avsab.org/ to find a local veterinarian who is interested in behavior. Not all vets are comfortable prescribing behavior meds. 



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    Ferdie Yau
    Behavior Consultant
    Ferdie Yau
    NY
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    Original Message


  • 18.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 12:07 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat:

    "Do you have to let the dog play/get energy out before taking out to 'WATCH THE WORLD'?"



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    Maddie's University
    Maddie's Fund
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    Original Message


  • 19.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 12:56 PM

    It can help but not always necessary. Again (the most common trainer response), it depends on the dog. I generally have a consistent routine for my behavior shelter dogs:

    1. Start with a walk/hike/play outdoors. Let them sniff. Field trips preferred. 
    2. Find a brief moment to do some World Watching (if they have been taught the skill).
    3. Play/train back at the shelter. Work on relaxation exercises towards the end. 
    4. Enrichment in kennel.

    Some steps might be skipped depending on time. There's never enough.



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    Ferdie Yau
    Behavior Consultant
    Ferdie Yau
    NY
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 20.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 12:07 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat:

    "There seems to be a lot of overlap in the model domains (maybe I am wrong). For example, if mental is included in mental and physical health, then is that not very similar to something like decompression and completing the cycle, and I assume agency? My question is, how were these seven domains identified as being critical to resilience?"



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    Maddie's Fund
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  • 21.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 01:07 PM

    I think it @Bobbie Bhambree can give more insight to this question. Dr. Kathy Murphy and Bobbie created this framework by taking Dr. Murphy's knowledge of behavior and neuroscience and combining it with Bobbie's real-world experience as a practitioner. Many of the domains overlap and we recognize that. These were the 7 domains that consistently came up as being most practical in the real world. For me, the first I had heard of building resilience in dogs was from Dr. Patricia McConnell in 2015(?). She identified 4 requirements for building resilience: Safety and security, social support, agency, healthy and balance internal physiology (mental and physical health). Dr. Murphy and Bobbie added decompression (helping the individual relax as soon as they experience an increase in stress), completing the stress cycle (bring the individual back to a physiological baseline), and predictability. We are sure there are more ways to help build resilience beyond the 7 domains identified in the Resilience Rainbow. In short, it was a combination of peer-reviewed research and experience with applied behavior training.



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    Ferdie Yau
    Behavior Consultant
    Ferdie Yau
    NY
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 22.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-04-2024 08:29 PM

    This is a great question! To add to @Ferdie Yau's response, if you read the article we wrote, it covers the differences between the domains as well as how they are all linked. There are likely more domains that help build and support resilience--these are the 7 that we kept coming back to in the work we have been doing these past few years. Here is the link to the article: https://journal.iaabcfoundation.org/the-resilience-rainbow/



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    Bobbie Bhambree
    Director of Education
    Behavior Vets
    NJ
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    Original Message


  • 23.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 12:08 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat:

    "Could you do an enrichment circle for agency? Letting the dog choose what activity to participate in?"



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  • 24.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 01:15 PM

    YES! YES! YES! The framework has a lot of room for your own creativity. It's not a recipe. I think what's important is having a strong understanding of behavior, learning theory, canine body language and then applying it to the individual in front of you. It's a science and an art. And I love it when you and the learner make up your own games. Here's an example of using enrichment for b-mod (domains: agency, social support, decompression, safety & security)



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    Ferdie Yau
    Behavior Consultant
    Ferdie Yau
    NY
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    Original Message


  • 25.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 12:09 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat:

    "I have a dog that was surrendered due to his owner passing. he is shut down, pancakes when trying to be walked, and is not treat motivated.  He is now in foster, but still same issues.  He is now on meds...what else can we do for him?"



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    Maddie's University
    Maddie's Fund
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    Original Message


  • 26.  RE: Building resilience in shelter dogs discussion (Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2)

    Posted 04-03-2024 01:27 PM

    My first question is what motivates the dog? For a dog with this profile, "not treat motivated" probably means he is too stressed/overwhelmed. All animals are motivated by food or else they'd starve to death. What other reinforcers can you use (social interaction, toy/play, access to a helper dog)? 

    The puzzle is how can you create a sense of safety and security with him? Can we start with a simple relax on a mat exercise in a safe room (I like to use Nan Arthur's relaxation or Suzanne Clothier's really real relaxation for most dogs to start)? In my experience, I've started with a simple relax on a mat exercise using food. Then I work on doing it in different locations using the same mat inside the home. Perhaps we eventually work on world watching from inside the house looking out the door. I've had success working on relax on a mat inside a car and then I can create a mobile safe zone. Then I can do some world watching from the safety of the car in outdoor environments. When the individual is ready, I might see if he is willing to explore a little but we'll return home or to the car if he panics. Then practice some more relaxation. 

    The goal is to help him gather new information about the environment from a safe zone. I'd try to start with something like this. If he is pancaking on the ground, then he is overwhelmed in that environment. 



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    Ferdie Yau
    Behavior Consultant
    Ferdie Yau
    NY
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


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