Thursday, March 31, 2011

Crate Training at Misha May #3: destruction, house training, anxiety, do...

K is being crate trained because he is destructive when left alone. He is destructive because he is an anxious puppy with no previous experience living in a home, having been free and wild in Afghanistan. I have to help him resolve and heal his anxiety as he learns that a crate is safe. We began slowly at his speed allowing him free choice to enter and relax, and exit as needed. Dogs with severe anxiety should not be crated and left alone, because they can hurt themsleves in their desperation to escape and find their people. I use a large size crate for any size dog because it can give a sense of a home rather than a cage. The dog inside may or may not want the wire crate covered with a sheet for some privacy, warmth or rest. Other friendly dogs can walk by and they all have a chance to meet. This is helpful if you are alone and aren't absolutely certain of the reaction. I move the dogs by quickly at first and then let them linger if no reactions occur. If I am using a crate for housetraining, however, it needs to be a smaller size to avoid encouraging the dog to relieve himself, and then having enough space to avoid it. We want the crate to discourage the dog from soiling his space with his belongings and food inside. No matter what we might be using a crate for, there should always be a positive association created so that the dog will willingly enter and relax, having a safe haven or behavior management tool when needed.

Crate Training at Misha May #2: K relaxes after breakfast

After eating breakfast, K relaxes. I drop treats into his crate when I walk by - not every time, but randomly. Instead of getting over excited expecting a treat each time, he remains calm, certain that I will return and some kind of good thing will happen!I greet him quietly or not at all - again to help him stay relaxed and low-key. Anxiety is all about allowing the damaged nervous system to avoid panicked arousal, with the energy focused on healing. He is able to learn new behaviors because he is calm. He learns to relax because we have been buildling his 'being alone' and 'liking my crate' muscles according to what he can handle.

Crate Training at Misha May #1: K gets breakfast

K, rescued from Afghanistan and in training with Misha May, has learned to like a crate filled with his bed and toys and snacks. He had previously been too anxious and worried to even go in one. He associated being in a crate with being trapped or restricted, perhaps even in danger. We started very slowly but he is now willing to go right in to eat his breakfast or play or hang out. He is calm when the door closes and can spend up to 30 minutes with no problem. I am able to leave the room and he doesn't panic.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Misha May & CPR for Canines #9: K helps the class understand the choking...

K relaxes while Eric shows the class where he would help a choking dog. This was just one topic covered during a very informative and comprehensive 4 hour class held at Doggie Pause Dog Daycare in Englewood, CO. Find out the next class date and / or sign up for our newsletter at www.mishamayfoundation.org.

Misha May & CPR for Canines #8: what to do about choking

Eric stated that there was a far better chance that we would need to know about choking than CPR. He showed us techniques to use on both small and big dogs. This was just one topic covered during a very informative and comprehensive 4 hour class held at Doggie Pause Dog Daycare in Englewood, CO. Find out the next class date and / or sign up for our newsletter at www.mishamayfoundation.org.

Misha May & CPR for Canines #7: wrapping an injured tail

Eric showed the class a superb way to wrap an injured tail so that the bandage would be sure to remain on. This was just one topic covered during a very informative and comprehensive 4 hour class held at Doggie Pause Dog Daycare in Englewood, CO. Find out the next class date and / or sign up for our newsletter at www.mishamayfoundation.org.

Misha May & CPR for Canines #6: finding a dog's pulse

K enjoys being the model as class participants practice finding a dog's pulse. While performing CPR, one must ascertain through breath and pulse if the dog has been revived yet or not. This was just one topic covered during a very informative and comprehensive 4 hour class held at Doggie Pause Dog Daycare in Englewood, CO. Find out the next class date and / or sign up for our newsletter at www.mishamayfoundation.org.

Misha May & CPR for Canines #5: Doug & Patricia perform CPR with K's help!



Doug practices administering CPR to the canine mannequin, followed by Patricia. K, who is really fascinated with all of the canine models and mannequins, joins in.
This was just one topic covered during a very informative and comprehensive 4 hour class held at Doggie Pause Dog Daycare in Englewood, CO. Find out the next class date and / or sign up for our newsletter at www.mishamayfoundation.org.

Misha May & CPR for Canines #4: Eric prepares students to administer CPR...

Eric Roth, of CPR and First Aid for Canines, prepares the participants for their hands-on application of CPR technique. Each student was allowed time to perform CPR, alternating between breath and compression. The exercise not only increased the skill level of the participants, but their confidence level as well. This was just one topic covered during a very informative and comprehensive 4 hour class held at Doggie Pause Dog Daycare in Englewood, CO. Find out the next class date and / or sign up for our newsletter at www.mishamayfoundation.org.

Misha May & CPR for Canines #3: Eric demonstrates CPR for dogs



Eric Roth, of CPR and First Aid for Canines, demonstrates to Misha May class participants how to administer CPR to a dog. He discussed the circumstances during which this would be advisable, the duration possible, and the urgency of transporting the dog to your vet as soon as possible.

This was just one topic covered during a very informative and comprehensive 4 hour class held at Doggie Pause Dog Daycare in Englewood, CO. Find out the next class date and / or sign up for our newsletter at www.mishamayfoundation.org.

Misha May & CPR for Canines #2: K helps Eric create a muzzle



Eric Roth, of CPR and First Aid for Canines, with assistannt K, demonstrates to Misha May class participants how to create a muzzle if you don't have one. A muzzle comes in very handy when trying help a sick or injured dog no matter how nice the dog might be under ordinary circumstances.

This was just one topic covered during a very informative and comprehensive 4 hour class held at Doggie Pause Dog Daycare in Englewood, CO. Find out the next class date and/or sign up for our newsletter at www.mishamayfoundation.org.

Misha May & CPR for Canines #1: how to create an emergency muzzle



Eric Roth, of CPR and First Aid for Canines, demonstrates to Misha May class participants how to create a muzzle if you don't have one. A muzzle comes in very handy when trying help a sick or injured dog no matter how nice the dog might be under ordinary circumstances.

This was just one topic covered during a very informative and comprehensive 4 hour class held at Doggie Pause Dog Daycare in Englewood, CO. Find out the next class date and/or sign up for our newsletter at www.mishamayfoundation.org.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Misha May's Grey puts his heart into playing!



Grey was rescued several years ago from a local shelter. He needed rare expensive heart surgery which neither his owners nor the shelter could/would provide. Fortunately Misha May was able to assemble a team of veterinarians and donors who made it happen.

Grey has been happily adopted for several years. Many of us see him and his family often.

Every time we see his beauty and grace; every time we see his happy life in a caring home; every time we think of what could have become of him - we are so grateful to have been a part of his story and others like it.

So many sweet animals find themselves in precarious situations through no fault of their own. The answer is not to dispose of them in shelters but to work harder to get them the medical care or behavior training they need to live within human society. Misha May's goal, through rescue and education, is to render the shelter system unnecessary, except for its founding purpose, which was to reunite lost dogs with owners. And every now and again there might be a truly dangerous dog who is a public menace.......every now and again, not daily.

Friday, March 11, 2011

K, the Afghani dog, has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Resource Guarding and Separation Anxiety. That makes total sense to me.

By Lorraine May, M.A.
Executive Director, Founder and Director of Education
The Misha May Foundation
Mutts In SMART Homes Always

I received a call from a fellow trainer on March 10, 2011 to refer K to The Misha May Foundation’s Mutts in SMART Homes Always education program where we specialize in rehabilitating dogs utilizing holistic methods. K is lucky to have been brought to the USA from Afghanistan by a family who loves him, but he is having trouble adjusting to his new life.

K is described as a beautiful 10 month old neutered male, possibly a Shepherd or Hound mix. He does very well with people. His interactions with other dogs have been mixed.

K’s family has tried everything they can think of to help him. They took him to their trusted veterinarian, hired a reputable professional trainer with a positive approach, and redesigned aspects of their home. But during their absences, K has severely damaged the home and garage in his need to reach his people. Fortunately, he has not injured himself which often is the case.

K is a typical dog with separation anxiety in that he is wonderful when his people are around, but panics when they leave. K has many of the symptoms of the Separation Anxiety syndrome: lost control of bowels and bladder, vocalization and extreme drooling, and dramatic escape attempts with devastating destruction. In order to change this problem, he needs to learn 2 main things:

1) These people will return.
2) It can be safe and fun to spend time alone.

Separation Anxiety has a very specific protocol and cure. The prognosis is generally good, if, and it is a very big if, the dog can be attended to and not have another panic attack. This is very difficult for the average person who has a job and a life. That is where I come in since this is my job and my life!

One can reasonably compare Separation Anxiety to a human experiencing a panic attack. The panic takes over while the power to choose or control is lost. Humans can learn to self-soothe using reassuring self-talk and effective cues.

Dogs need humans to manage their situation while their damaged nervous systems heal. Because they are unable to cope with their terror and panic, each consecutive attack can do more damage. As the nervous system calms down, the dog can learn that his people will return and that it can be safe and fun to spend time alone.

K will be entering our program initially for 30 days with continuing evaluations. His rehabilitation will include Separation Anxiety protocol as well as integrated training with the family.

I am looking forward to meeting K and his family. I will keep you updated here.