Pet care: Finding the path to canine wellbeing

Last in a series.

As Scott slowly recovered from distemper, he began to eat on his own and even play. It was a huge relief; my best friend was going to be OK. To my parents, though, he was “a dog.” They were right.

We love our pets like little people in furry suits, so shouldn’t they comport themselves like good children? Canine brains are hardwired differently. Scott was genetically programmed to point and retrieve birds with mental focus, along with a generous helping of physical stamina. Confined to the kitchen and only allowed outside on-leash to prevent damage to the suburban landscaping, he was a fish out of water. Maybe I should have raised guppies instead. Not!

I was clueless, and, sadly, so were my parents. Scott’s house soiling and woodwork chewing were “bad behaviors.” I did my best. We tugged on chew toys together and played ball outside, but none of that was a substitute for the work he really needed.

Unwanted behaviors certainly need to change, but like any disorder, it’s the underlying cause that merits serious attention. Corrections and aversive punishments don’t solve confusion, especially for a pet floundering in a barren environment. Our three-bedroom, 1½-bath house in the burbs didn’t feel contrived to us, but it wasn’t a great fit for a dog who would have thrived in open fields working for a bird hunter.

I did what I could to bring out the best. I gave Scott scrap lumber to chew. I told him he was good when he relieved himself outside. But the poor guy was not set up to succeed. His child leader wasn’t either.

Well-intentioned pet lovers shouldn’t feel guilty for their mistakes. We do what we can with what we know at the time. There is almost always a path to well-being. Back in the dark ages of my youth, there was no credible research; veterinary behavior medicine didn’t exist. But even then, Scott’s intensity could have been shifted to “junior handler” obedience classes and even competition. It’s 2025. Search my website, drjeffnichol.com, for help.

For help with behavior problems, you can sign up for a Zoom group conference at drjeffnichol.com

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