April and Wally's Story
This week’s blog post was written by one of Behavior United’s clients. April Glasser has done a wonderful job with her rescue Coonhound, Wally. I hope you enjoy reading about April and Wally’s journey. This was written before the pandemic. I asked April if she would like to make any amendments since the pandemic. She said, “ Life is still pretty much the same for us dealing with Wally and his anxiety. We have better tools and techniques in our toolbox, and each day is a new adventure with the potential for successes and challenges.”
April and Wally’s Story
I had 2 beagles and walked them 2-3 times a day because my fenced yard was not fully escape-proof and the beagles are stealthy. In July 2019, I adopted Wally, a rescued coonhound. At first, he was a bit fearful on our group walks. I hoped he’d adjust in time and kept walking all the dogs together to build cohesion among the pack. On a few walks, other dogs were reactive to us. Wally responded in kind, and so our cycle of leash reactivity began.
It soon became evident that Wally didn't enjoy walks because he was terrified of the new sights and sounds. I didn't enjoy walks because of his reactivity, especially when his pack mates decided to join in (the downside of that pack cohesion I sought). I knew Wally's fear and anxiety could spiral out of control if not addressed promptly and sought guidance from veterinarians and a professional trainer.
Through this, I’ve learned more about how Wally experiences the world and how I can make it less stressful. While a knock at the door and Wally's reaction is a temporary annoyance to me, it's life or death to him. Because he feels the same about any sound that resembles a knock at the door, I use placemats on all tables and try to gently place cups, glasses, remote controls, cell phones, etc. to avoid making knocking sounds. When I’m away, I stream calming music on You Tube to drown out potentially frightening sounds.
We try to limit outside time to our yard with human supervision to avoid exposure to unknown dogs and people, have a buffer from noises on the street, and provide human intervention in any escape attempts. When we do go for walks, it’s when we're unlikely to encounter other dog walkers. If someone else is home, I walk Wally alone to give him my full attention. But if no one else is home and we HAVE to go for a walk (like now when we’re having a new deck and fence installed), I take all 3 dogs at once (and lots of meatballs) because Wally gets very scared if the pack is separated and one of his people isn’t there to provide reassurance. I have leashes in one hand and meatballs in the other, ready to help Wally cope with the world around us. When a trigger approaches, I ask Wally to “watch me” and feed until the trigger gone. If the approaching trigger is another dog, we do a “U-turn” because he’s not ready for a close encounter and if his pack mates join in his meltdown, mayhem will ensue.
At home, we help Wally burn off his stress in acceptable ways with toys, nose games, and training sessions. His crate and the room it's in are a refuge where only good things happen. No other dogs, nail trimming, ear cleaning, or dispensing of medication (unless concealed inside a delicious treat) is allowed in Wally's room. If he’s feeling stressed or wants to avoid something that’s happening, Wally goes to the door of his room and waits to be let in. We also ask him to hang out there when company is expected until everyone has arrived, which makes for calmer introductions to new people.
We have a ways to go, but understanding the sources of Wally's anxiety and making changes to our daily routine and habits to help him cope has improved the quality of life for all humans and dogs in our home.