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Look at the Whole Dog When Looking at Problems
The other day I did a consultation for a lady (Kim) with two older dogs. One of the dogs, Lena, a fourteen-year-old spaniel mix, was routinely getting beat up by Kim’s other dog, Ella, a nine- year-old Jack Russell Terrier. The dogs had lived together in harmony for years. However, now Ella was constantly attacking Lena and Kim was very worried. I sat down on the couch in Kim’s house and asked to see the dogs. Lena was already in the house but Kim had started keeping Ella outside.
Although hesitant to have the two dogs together, she did as I asked. The dogs ignored each other as I got the once over with their cold noses.
As Kim and I talked, the dogs finally got enough sniffs to satisfy themselves and each went to separate places in the room and started chewing on bones. I had noticed that Ella, the Jack Russell was very assertive and confident -- a typical Jack Russell Terrier. Lena, on the other hand, seemed more soft and submissive. I remarked that it appeared that Ella was in charge and Kim stated that usually, this was the case. Lena almost always gave into what Ella wanted but lately, hadn’t been giving in. Kim thought that Lena’s lack of giving in might be the reason for the fights.
We talked some more and pretty soon, Ella, tired of her own bone, decided to go investigate what Lena had.
I watched as Ella approached Lena, and growling, demanded Lena let her have the bone. Lena didn’t budge, and in fact, looked oblivious to Ella’s presence.
Too oblivious, I decided.
Quickly calling Ella to me, I asked Kim to take her back outside. I then went over to Lena and crouching next to her, took her bone. She acted surprised, but compliant. I gave her back her bone and taking my palm, brought it sharply up against the side of her face, as if to smack her, but without touching her. No reaction. I did the same thing on the other side with the same result. I then took my hand and brought it straight toward her nose. Lena startled, and looked at me as if to say, “Why’d you do that? As soon as she was preoccupied once again with the bone, I clapped my hands together loudly. No reaction. Getting up I went into the kitchen, brought out a large metal pan and dropped it on the linoleum floor of the dining room a few feet away. Nothing. Lena continued chewing her bone, oblivious to what was going on around her.
Lena appeared to be completely deaf and almost totally blind. She wasn’t reacting to Ella’s threats because she could neither see nor hear them.
Next week: How we brought harmony back to the household.
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