More Issues

Obsessions/Fixations

It's important that I share as much as I can about issues. We love our dogs, we want them to be stable and live happy lives with us.

There will be a recipe at the end of the post.

Unreleased energy causes so many problems. Fixation and obsession come from pent up energy. Your dog can obsess over anything from a tennis ball to the cat. It's not good for your dog and is not natural behavior. 

A fixation is wasted energy. Dogs need to be shown how to channel this energy so they can be balanced and calm-submissive. Owners who run and walk their dogs on a regular basis help the dog drain energy. Many owners believe that if they open the back door and your dog gets to run in the yard that will be enough. Or the dog may be fixated on a squirrel and chase it around. Your dog may spend the day obsessing over that squirrel up the tree. All her energy is concentrated on that squirrel. It's not a healthy state of mind. Your dog has tense energy, using only her eyes and ears.

If you give a command to a dog in a fixated mode she will not respond. When you take your dog to the dog park and your dog runs back and forth, back and forth, compulsively chasing a smaller dog , it's not playing. This is fixation. It may not come to a bite this time, but a fixation like this is serious because it can escalate into a bad situation very quickly. Play that includes growling is not okay because it can escalate to a bite.

Another fixation  is when a dog obsesses or fixates on a toy or activity. Have you ever met a dog who goes insane over a tennis ball, begging you to throw it again and again and again?  Many dog owners think they can substitute playing fetch instead of a walk. Yes playing is exercise, but not the kind that drains mental energy. The are both important activities. Mental drain is very important for the anxious and excited mind of a dog. Playing catch is excitement, a walk is calm submission.

One big problem is, owners often see fixations as "cute" or "funny". Or they say "she just loves that ball so much". But the truth is, this is not a healthy state of mind. A fixation is like an addiction in a human, and can be just as dangerous. Some dogs can become so fixated on an object that they will bite or attack the dog or person who tries to take that object away form them. If this happens, watch out, you could be heading for trouble.

Never give anything to a dog if they are not calm-submissive. This is how a fixated dog becomes normal. He never gets anything in an unstable state of mind. Dogs with fixations try our patience. Most owners try to reason verbally with their dog when they are in a fixated mind on that tennis ball.
The orders from you get more excited. "No, leave it. Leave it. Leave it. Leave it". This only creates more excitement to an unstable mind. Now you are frustrated at the dog so you make the decision to grab the dog and pull the object away. The dog will see this as unstable energy and the fixation only gets worse. Patience is a virtue when it comes to a fixated mind. We owe it to our dogs to practice consistency and patience in order for them to become balanced and live a happier life.

Phobias

A dog can develop a phobia of just about anything. From a hose, stairs, shinny floors, loud noises, certain people, other dogs, children, bikes, and so on. Phobias are fears that the dog has not been able to move past. If a dog's mind isn't allowed to move forward after a fear incident, that fear can become a phobia. In the wild animals learn from fear. How to avoid a trap, a cat learns not to play with snakes. They experience the fear, learn from it, and move on with life. We create phobias for them by the way we react to their fears. WE KEEP THEM STUCK.

Even if we don't know the cause of a dog's phobia we can intensify it by giving affection at the wrong time. When a child is afraid we comfort and give affection to them. That is for the human mind. When a dog is afraid and we comfort her, we are strengthening the fear. The correct response to a dog's phobia's is to show leadership. First drain the dog's energy. If a dog is tired out and relaxed, she is much less likely to be phobic, and much more responsive to a strong pack leader who can help her move past her fears.

Low Self-Esteem

Self-esteem in a dog, relates to energy, dominance, and submission. Dogs with low self-esteem are submissive, weak-energy, weak-minded dogs who suffer from fears, panic, or phobias. They often exhibit anxiety. They may show fear-aggressive behavior, or may simply be extremely shy.

Dogs with low self-esteem can also develop obsessions, but in a different way than a dominant, energetic dog. Dogs with low self-esteem are stuck in their insecurity. Instead of fight or flight, they freeze up. They'll hide, not move, and shake. They just can't move forward. They won't get better on their own: they need our help.

Dogs with low self-esteem are desperately looking for a pack leader. They need to be told what to do, sometimes that's the only way they can relax. Such dogs respond well to rules, boundaries, and limitations. They need strong guidance.

One more thing about self-esteem.
A dominant dog's self-esteem shouldn't be too high either. In nature only the pack leader can strut around with his tail up and chest out. Becoming pack leader over a dominant dog means taking her down a bit. That does not mean in a physical abusive manner, or humiliating her in any way. Your dog won't get mad at you for taking the lead, she will be relieved.

Apples are great for your dog/dogs. You can give them raw pieces of apple as a snack. This recipe brings out the great apple flavor with honey. No dog can resist. Have fun.

AUTUMN APPLE CRISPS

1 1/2 c. oat flour
1 1/2 c. brown rice flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. applesauce (unsweetened)
1/2 c. rolled oats (not instant)
1 tbsp honey
1 egg
1/2 c. water

Preheat oven to 350. Combine all ingredients together (not water yet). Add water slowly and mix until a dough forms. If too dry add more water, too wet, add a bit more flour. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4" thickness. Use an apple cutter or a knife and cut into shapes. Use parchment paper on cookie sheet. Place the cookies close together, they don't grow while cooking.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Treat your dog when he is being good. Your pal for life.