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’twas a Lean Year

Sunday, January 10th, 2010

When I started this little blog in 2009, our rescue work averaged about 10-12 rescue placements each year, over 10 years.

Then, when  2009 came to a close, we had only made two regular rescue placements, plus three dogs that came from the family of breeder who passed on.  It was a lean year, a very lean year for our small rescue.  That might be a good thing, especially given the past year’s economic picture.  I had gotten specific requests to help place dogs due to a foreclosure or lost job.  However, in both cases, the dog owners decided to deal with the issue all on their own and I didn’t hear anything further after a couple of phone calls.

In 2008, we helped place 23 dogs, with  784 days of dogs in residence with a club member.   (It was an exceptional year with 10 dogs from one source.)  In 2007, we helped place 12 dogs, with 99 days in residence with a club member.  In 2006, we helped with 12 dogs, with 174 days in residence.  For 2009, we had just 5 dogs, but with 147 days in residence.  While the dog count is low,  the days in residence is very high due to issues with placing some dogs.

So, where are the dogs we used to get?  I have  ideas about it but I certainly don’t know  for sure, I just know that we have seen a lot fewer dogs.  I think that with the easy access of the information on the web, a lot of small Rescue groups are setting up and operating and picking up dogs I might normally hear about.  In some cases, I think that there are some rescue groups which use these small dogs as a source of income. Small dogs are easier to place and they generally demand less space and money.  So, if they can get these dogs, dogs in limited supply and of a desirabilia size,  they can sell them at a good price and make a tidy profit.   Without disparaging their motives, if they get the little guys placed, that is fine with me.  The truth is, we are a very small rescue group which just happens to work through a breed club.  With strong support of our club members, we don’t have to be overly concerned about the money, the club supports us. We do work to be good stewards of our mission and the funds donated for that purpose but our goal is to get a dog in the right home so he doesn’t come back, it is not to make a profit.  In fact, over the last couple of years we have been able to donate sizable amounts to other Cairn Rescue operations which were suddenly overwhelmed by a  influx of dogs needing care and placement.

I really can’t complain, I do have limited space, plus, there is the introductions to our pack, a pack of 3 resident neutered males, that all incoming Rescues have to deal with.  When we get the dogs, there is always that sorting out that takes time.  Some times it is sorting out the issues that might have bedeviled a dog that got turned back, some times it is simply sorting through the people who have recently expressed an interest in adopting a Rescue dog.  Those run the gamut.  Here is one entire request I got,  I trashed it immediately:  “Do you have any youngins available for adoption?”   No location, no phone number, just an e-mail address and no response from me.  Others speak eloquently of the dog they lost or the dog they remember or simply ask for the opportunity to take on one of these little guys. I keep records of them all and I review them when I have to place a dog.

Even in a lean year, as we get the dogs, we  sort them out, sort out the adopters and eventually we do get the hard to place dogs in a new home.  Here is the 2nd dog we placed in 2009, “Corky”.   Duncan McCorkscrew, 30 months old,  was an indirect casualty of the economy.   He was purchased from  a pet store on the coast, probably taken from his mother at too young an age.  Anyway, although he had his quirks, probably related to his early separation from his mother,  he was getting along with the family who loved him.

Duncan McCorkscrew, aka Corky

Duncan McCorkscrew, aka Corky

Then, things changed, the daughter of the owner who to come back home to live with with her parents, with two small children,(3.5 yrs. and 14 mos),.  It was not going to be a good mix. An untenable situation would develop and a decision would have to be made.

The issue of separation from the mother dog too soon was probably the seat of the problems.  Experienced breeders  told me that somewhere around the 9-10 week, the mother dog teaches her pups some socialization skills, plus young dogs in their play with each other, learn to set boundaries, they learn what hurts and what not to do to each other.  When a pup is removed early, there is a risk that these skills are shortchanged.  Another thing, that all well schooled dogs seem to innately understand,   is that a small child is different from the other two legs, so the dogs should manage the issue appropriately when a very small child is around.

Corky didn’t seem to know the difference or remember the difference, so after the youngest child apparently woke him up or disturbed him, Corky was found over the crying child, with his paw on the child’s chest growling.  This is a typical corrective action by an alpha bitch on a younger dog but Corky should have realized he was not dealing with a dog.  It appears that he didn’t hurt the child but he didn’t have the information or experience to behave correctly.  That alone meant someone had to be removed from this living situation.  Even though Corky had been there 2 years, it was an obvious but heartbreaking/tearful choice, Corky needed a new home, and very soon.

Then, there were other issues which the owners had lived with, Corky exhibited passive aggressive behavior at times.  He would challenge the owners and then roll over to say “I’m sorry” on correction but then would repeat the behavior because he won that particular battle.  He also decided that he could growl and snap to get his way.  Then there was that one plain old pyscho behavior, for whatever reason, it seemed be be triggered by someone or some thing  touching near his right flank.  He would spin around, growl and attack his tail until it surrendered.  When he was in that mode, that place, after the Evil Tail,  he would sound terrible but all of this noise and energy was directed at his tail, not at anyone in the room.

So, we brought Corky onboard.  His issues had to be sorted out.  The child issue was simple enough, we would not adopt him to anyone who had the potential of having very young visitors.  Should any show up to visit, constant surveillance would short cut any issues.  The passive aggressive issue was demonstrated when I approached him and he would want to let me know he was there by nipping at my pants leg.  Any correction, and he would be on his back in a full “I’m sorry” position but then he would immediately would return.  The Little Hardhead knew what he was doing.  The retraining started by ignoring him completely, then refusing any contact if he tried initiate it, contact was only allowed when I was ready, never when he asked for it.  If he rolled over, he was ignored.  In time, he became a little more tentative in his approach and he soon realized the pants nipping was not allowed. If it happened, a backward glance and a growl would stop it cold.  He always knew exactly what he was doing,  as soon as he realized that he was no longer getting his way, no longer in charge, that behavior diminished.

The matter of growling and snapping when he was not happy was the most serious issue.  However, it is not uncommon, I dealt with by immediate correction if he started to growl. He was told immediately and firmly that it was not acceptable, a stern look and rigid body language helped deliver the message that I did not like or want that behavior.  With all of the other corrections going on at the same time, he was in full retreat from his wayward ways,  he soon dropped most of that behavior.   He was starting to realize that someone else, not him, made the rules.  The change happened because was made clear that he was not in charge.  Added to that was the pressure from the other three dogs who had little time for his nonsense, he soon realized he was #4 in a pack of 4.

Now, the Evil Tail issue, when in the full “Kill the Tail” mode, Corky would literally be in a tight circle, attached to the base of his tail.  You could pick him, he might growl and sound terrible but his concern was the Evil Tail, the growl was for the tail.  He could be that way for a period of time.  I called a vet school and talked to them, not knowing for sure what was going on.  With a potential of a $400+ bill just for any future consultation, I passed and went to my local vet.  He listened, tried to elicit the behavior but couldn’t.   Still, the vet said he had seen a similar behavior in a dog that had a serious flea infestation, any tickling or itching in the area triggered the response.  While Corky never had an infestation that we were aware of, we treated it that way.  From then on, we just avoided touching him in right hind quarter area.  If he was seen digging at his hip, his head was physically moved away and he was held until he gave up his attempts to kill the tail.  In time, it started to work, his attacks on the Evil Tail diminished, although they didn’t disappear completely

OK, the first phase of sorting out was under control, next came the second sort, the sorting of potential adopters. There were conditions set  for this future adopter,  #1 - no children, #2 – previous ownership of a Cairn, and  #3 – a willingness to take full control of this little guy.  He was very young but it was clear to me, that he would exert control if any owner didn’t take over. If the owner took over, Corky would respond and Corky would be happy.  He just wanted a real pack leader and consistent expectations.

Potential adopters with small children, those who wanted only females, Those whose response suggested a less than iron will, were all scratched from this potential list.  I sent out e-mails to recent inquirers who might fit the requirements,  no responses.  I started looking deeper into my list of past potential adopters. Nothing jumped out. At that point, it seemed like I was out of viable options, I moved onto Plan B.  Actually, I got there by mistake.  I had a previous rescuer whose mother had expressed a strong interest in getting a Cairn. I forgot the she had already gone out and picked up one.  So, I fired up a note to original adopter suggesting that Corky might fill his mother’s need. He responded that his mother didn’t need a Cairn but he might have a spot for new partner for his current Cairn.

So, Corky went off to live with another rescue Cairn with owners committed to taking charge of this little bundle of energy. Corky was only our 2nd placement for the year and we were into October. He was off to a 5 acre lot, full of trees, in the country, with another Cairn.  The day before Corky left, 3 more Cairns would show up but that is another story, a story with 3 tails.

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“He has papers”

Monday, March 30th, 2009

On occasion, some one will drop off a dog and say, “She has papers.”  I will ask if they have contacted the breeder, it usually turns out they were never in contact with a breeder, but rather with just the seller.  For most of these people, the puppy sellers, the puppy is a way to make a buck, just a commodity.  Giving the new owner a certificate or other paperwork that shows the puppy as being registered with some group makes the puppy more valuable, or so it seems.  Actually, the papers don’t do that, the parentage, the lines the puppy comes from, the pedigree makes the puppy more valuable.

If you Google “Dog Registry”, you will find many sites to get “papers” for a dog.  Some are breed specific, some are for breeds or variants not recognized by AKC.  Some serve a purpose for their breed or group beyond a registration.  Some are just a place to buy papers.  Those are sites that will gladly take your money so you can say your dog has “papers”.

At it’s core, AKC, The American Kennel Club, is simply a dog registry.  But AKC is much more than that, and because their registration has enforceable guidelines, there is a specific value to being in their registry.  In addition to the registry, they serve the dog world with a variety of services.  They put on a very wide range of events, including most large, recognized dog shows.  They offer you much more that a place to get “papers”.  However, even those who are in the business of selling dogs for a profit can register litters with AKC if they meet the requirements.

So, AKC registration does not give your dog special powers.  Even though the person selling the dog uses tones that suggest the AKC papers are as valuable as an original Gutenberg Bible, they aren’t.  However, having a dog registered with AKC will give you the chance to look at their pedigree, their heritage, to see what kind of stock the puppy comes from.  Ideally, you will want to see a recurring line of Champions in the line.  Not every dog in the line needs to be a champion, but there should be a number of them back through the generations if you expect your dog to represent the breed, to measure up to the standard the judges use to evaluate dogs.  Some dogs in the line won’t be a Champion, there may be some variation from the standard that is not genetic, something in  their makeup that does not affect their ability to parent a  quality pup.  There are some excellent dogs that just don’t show well.  There are also some champions that later show less than desirable traits.  Having a dog with “papers” and quality in the pedigree will increase your chances of having a good dog.  Just having “papers’ is just a talking point.

Champ as a young guy.

Champ as a young guy.

Just short of 3 months into the new year, we finally have a new rescue in residence.  “Champ” comes with “papers”.   But when the young lady, Lydia, who had to surrender him handed me a sheaf of materials, she never mentioned that he had “papers”.   She was only concerned that she had to give up a great and loving dog.  “Champ”, AKC registered,  (Does that make him an AKC Champion?), is here but he probably won’t be here too long.  All indications are that he comes from a very good place and the decision to release him to rescue is a good one.  That is, he isn’t being released because he is or has a significant problem.  On first glance, there is one issue to deal with, and it is obvious to the untrained eye.  This young man comes in at 27#, my guess is that he will trim down to a 18-19#.

So, his origins, it looks like he came from a local puppy seller, that is someone who sells puppies to make money.  Lydia has had him since 8 weeks old.  He is now 5 1/2 yrs. old.  He is active, eager, healthy and full of himself.   He came to us because Lydia got a new job and, after 9 months of looking, she has not been able to find a place with a yard that fits her budget as a school teacher on the Peninsula.   She did not feel it was right to keep this young guy in an apartment all day.

One side benefit for me, we have a dog next door that is a young female herding dog.  She is a constant barker.  My guys just ignore her when she barks.  She doesn’t ignore me, as soon as I drive up, I hear the greeting bark.  If I go outside, I hear a bark.  If I open the back door, I hear a bark. If I try to work in the back yard, I hear a bark.  That constant bark bugs me, I know she is just a dog so I don’t yell back but the new dog in the pack, Champ, is willing to give her a piece of his mind.  He seems to be working very hard to impress me and to win my  approval.

Day 1- the Biggest Loser candidate

Day 1- the Biggest Loser candidate

We started Champ’s diet with his first meal.  You need to understand that when you have a dog that is a food hound, who eats anything moving, if you cut back his volume, he will go after anything edible around.  If the other dogs are eating at the same time, he is likely to go after the other dogs’ food if he finishes first.  So, his menu is designed to give him a minimal amount of “good” food and a good bit of filler so he does not finish before his pack mates.  His diet is 1/8 cup of kibble, two large tablespoons of canned pumpkin, two large tablespoons of non-fat cottage cheese, a large handful of dry rice krispies, and a  number of raw carrots.  When he faced that dish the first time last night, he  wasn’t sure.  He immediately pulled two small carrots and spit them off to the side but as he advanced through his meal, he found a large carrot which he happily chewed up.  By tonight, he will be eating all of it.  He’s a dog, he will eat anything.

Champ will be fed once a day, just like my guys, in the evening .  He will get a half of a large dog biscuit when he gets up in the morning and then a strip of dried chicken breast when he goes into his crate at night.  He will start to drop off those pounds quickly.  Right now, his shoulders look like they belong to a pit bull. Last night, those shoulders made getting through the smaller dog door a challenge.  My guys all slip through it easily.   He will soon be able to get through it without a struggle.  He will eventually look less like the broad shouldered pit bull and more like a slender whippet, with short legs, a harsh coat, a short upright tail, and “papers”.

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“I have this dog…”

Thursday, March 12th, 2009

It is time for me to be getting those calls again.  The one that start with “I have this dog…” They come all the time, it is just that right now, things have been too quiet and I am expecting the flood gates to open up.  I already wrote about a lot of the reasons we get the calls . Now, when they do start, what happens next?  Well, I start asking questions.

Why? and I  hope the caller is truthful about why he is surrendering the dog. Most are, some conveniently leave things out and some just out and out lie about the reason.
Where are you? I’ve gotten calls for help from Colorado and from Oregon.  My travel budget won’t stretch that far.  I offer other sources of help.
Where did you get the dog? Typically it will be from a pet store or someone whose name I don’t recognize as a breeder.  I always tell them that a responsible breeder will want the dog back, no matter how old.  They seldom have a name, much less a number.  If they have a name, I tell them to call.  Most take a pass on calling.

Do you have a picture of the dog? That gallery of NotaCairns that I have collected will be posted at some point.  I do explain why I am interested only in purebred Cairns. So, I want more than just a clue or an uninformed guess that this dog is not just a close relation to the breed.  Some people in some kennels seem to think that if their dogs have a high percentage of the things that define a Cairn, then they are Cairns.  Anyway, this little guy doesn’t have to be perfect.  Let me restate that, if he is a Cairn, he is perfect. This little guy doesn’t need to be a candidate for the show ring.  A picture will give me a strong clue.  Better yet, if there is a club member around, I try to get an personal appraisal.

Is the dog fixed or spayed? We will take care of it if the dog is intact.  No rescue dogs go out without that correction being made.
Are there any health or behavior issues? Again, I am hoping that I will get an honest and complete answer.  I want to know the issues, they are  not normally a reason to reject the dog.  About the only reason I won’t take a dog into rescue is active aggression towards people, this is not fear aggression where a dog is cornered and knows no other way out of a situation, it is “I’m in charge, I bite.”  People aggressive dogs who do not have very specific training will need to be put down.  I don’t have the facility or the training to work with a people aggressive dog.  Also, the club really can not take the risk of placing a dog with a history of people aggression.  I have had that conversation on occasion with the owner of that rare, bad dog.  And health? we don’t want to fund a hopeless situation either.   I have had to have that conversation on occasion, too.  But those are subjects for future posts.

All the while I am talking to the person with the dog and making notes, I am trying to sort out logistics.  Do I have a slot for the dog?  What will it take to get the dog? What is my wife’s schedule today? What is my schedule this week? What is the phase of the moon?  What color makes a dog happy? How much gas is in the truck?  On and on.

If it seems that we are going to get the dog, I ask them to bring as much vet/medical information they can get.  Some dogs supposedly have “papers”, I have seen them on about 3% of the dogs we’ve handled.  Next is the pickup.  I do warn them that if I think the dog is not a purebred Cairn, I won’t take it.

If possible, we will meet in a public park or place where my alpha, Riley, can meet the new boy.  There are fewer issues if  the new boy doesn’t just show up in “their” home.  With a pass by the boss, the other dogs will be OK with the decision.  Still, there are other times when it is simply a “go and get” and they are just dumped together.

Once I get a dog, there are things I am going to evaluate. Some issues are to find out compatability issues, some issues are simply information so I can share as much information as possible with prospective adopters.

How does he get along with my dogs.  Dealing with three male dogs with curious noses can be a bit overwhelming at first.  Still, it is amazing when these guys see another Cairn, they seem to recognize him as a relation, not just another dog.  We have seldom had issues at first.  That is due in large part because the new boy is in a new place and doesn’t know his place in the pack yet.
Does he get along with cats? We have a cat here from time to time and that is a deal breaker for many people looking for a Cairn.  Any of them can be trained to accept a cat with a little diligence and training but if I don’t see the prey drive kick in immediately, it is a positive thing.
How is he on leash? Some of these guys have never seen a leash. Some have zero leash training, some assume they are training as sled dogs and simply run and pull.
How is he around other dogs, especially big, black dogs when he is on a leash? This is, again, a behavior that can be trained out if it is an issue.  I just want to know if it is present.  The big, black dog issue seems to be pretty common with Cairns.
Does he bark excessively? For the most part, that has not been my experience with Cairns.  I have had a couple of examples of bitches who incessantly patrolled the fence line, especially if the evil dog next door was close by.
How is he with strangers? around children? I don’t offer my grand children to the dogs but one young lady is always happy to play with the dogs so I let her go out under my supervision.  Dogs that come from a sedentary lifestyle sometimes have issues with active kids and high pitched voices.
How does he eat? I am less worried about what he eats or what kind of food came with him.  I want to know if he needs to control his dish, or if he is a gulper that will challenge the slower dogs around.  In cases where I think there is an issue, I will feed him and slowly move between him and his dish and separate him from his food. He may not like it but I expect him to simply stand back and look up.  Also, I want to know if he is ready to accept the new alpha.  He will learn immediately that he is served last, usually that his is the 4th dish down.  After the 2nd or 3rd day, all of the rescues usually understand the routine and just wait, albeit excitedly,to be served last.  Unless there is a health issue or a very young dog, he will eat when my dogs eat and what my dogs eat.
Is he housebroken? This is not always clear because my guys don’t come inside until after my dinner.  My guys all come in wearing belly bands, just in case, but I will be watching the new kid closely.
Is he possessive about toys? Food and toys are the biggest issues that cause dog fights.  I want him to understand that I control the toys and fights are not OK. If necessary, I may remove a toy from him to see how he reacts.
In general, how does the pack interact? Dogs can settle dog issues but I don’t want a pattern of uncorrected stare downs. The old man has the rank of alpha and I will insist on that.  Any serious challenges will be addressed and corrected.  These are smart little dogs and they understand a lot faster than we expect if we give them the clues.

If the dog has not had regular vet care or a recent visit, that is, within 6 months, he will get an early appointment.  I want no surprises when I place a dog.  All shots will be brought up to date as necessary, and spay or neuter if needed.  If a dog has had recent care and I have the paper work, we mayl skip much of the vet check.  I will usually microchip dogs these days.

Finally, I want to do this over a period of 10 days to 2 weeks.  Why that amount of time?.  When a dog comes into rescue, a new place and a new situation, he will be on his best behavior, he is unsure of his rank and his new home.  He will want to find that 2 legged alpha and stay close.  He will do this for some time. He wants the assurance and the protection from the 2 legged alpha.   It is possible, due to the stress of the change, you won’t see the true character of the new boy until he has been around for more than a week, so we want to see him for about 10 days to 2 weeks.

The, if  he passes muster, and most do and if I have my information, and I have my best guess about his behavior, it is time for me to make that phone call and say, “I have this dog…”

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