Rescue Tails / From Bites to Besties

Contributed by the Florida Keys SPCA Staff

Devo was a senior Min Pin mix, irresistibly cute with oversized stand-up ears. He was also a canine pessimist. When it came to humans, Devo expected the worst! Life is a powerful teacher and, like us, dogs form a life view in response to their experiences. Devo had learned two things: humans weren’t trustworthy, and his teeth paired with dramatic defensive displays were his most effective arsenal to make scary things go away.

When Devo arrived after his owner passed, we assumed he lost a lifelong home. Later we heard he’d only been in that home a few months. We had no additional history. No next of kin came forward, so Devo became ours. Even at just 7 pounds, Devo was formidable. When approached, he would throw himself at the kennel door with teeth flashing. He meant business and would use those teeth if pushed. Any invasion of his personal space was perceived as a threat. An outreached hand was like an incoming missile that needed to be taken out. Rearranging his blankets was not tolerated, leashing had to be strategic if at all, and petting was out of the question! Devo had rules about everything. He tolerated a few people, but most staff members didn’t make the list.

Some may think a dog like Devo just needs to be shown who’s boss. Nothing could be further from the truth. Devo, like many other dogs, may have been unintentionally “taught” that biting was his only option. In his past, he may have growled in response to fear or discomfort. For dogs, growling is a normal and less “costly” way of communicating than biting and fighting. When this appropriate warning growl is issued by a dog and heeded by others, the dog’s need to escalate disappears, and physical aggression can be AVOIDED! But if a dog is punished for growling, and that option is removed, the dog may be forced to escalate its defense, going directly to a bite. Although biting is not abnormal behavior and is always possible with any dog, we can reduce the likelihood of it happening by heeding the warning.

Our work with Devo involved two effective ways to decrease biting: helping him feel better about things that made him uncomfortable and initially avoiding situations he couldn’t handle. But most importantly, the work was about building a relationship based on consistency, respect, choice, and fun—all ingredients that build optimism. Ironically, the less we asked of Devo, the more he gave. The more we respected his boundaries, the more he lowered them. As his trust grew, his behavior improved and his defensive outlook on life began to shift.

Yet, Devo had a long way to go. He still needed a home. Adopter meets with Devo went one of two ways. Most people want a friendly, easy-to-manage dog. Devo wasn’t. Other people were vetoed by Devo. After an initial sniff or two, he would sit by the door, making it clear the meet was over. (We never violated our agreement of respect, always allowing him to leave an interaction if he chose.) Then we met Chalea. What she wanted from a dog was secondary to what a dog needed from her. That’s rare! Devo liked her and the more she told us about her last dog, life, and outlook, we thought she might be the person  he needed. We showed her safe-management strategies, what a quick learner Devo was, and how much fun he could be. She was ready! We packed his things and held our breath as they walked away. We said a few prayers, all of which have been answered and even more based on the many updates and pictures Chalea has shared.

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