On Behalf of the animals

………………………. Thank you to RDog Post Park for presenting the 8th annual Cause for Paws fundraising...

To all those with compassion for animals,

The Animal Behaviour program at the Oakville and District Humane Society began in August of 2007 when myself, Genevieve Reisinger, came on board with much enthusiasm. I have taken my fairly extensive background in animal, predominantly canine, behaviour since the age of 12, through university and until now, to develop a program that I believe to be progressing quite well. I am also very excited to continue to expand upon what we already have.

In my experience working with dogs and other animals in several different humane societies and animal shelters, I believe our program to be the best in our general area. The dogs that come to spend their time at the Oakville & District Humane Society while going through a life transition have come into a doggie rehab center for body mind and soul.

Our animal behaviour program considers the dog’s welfare and underlying emotions from the moment he steps paw in our front/or back door to the moment he walks out. This means that both stays and those surrendered by their owner are welcomed in a very considerate manner. The dog’s initial emotional needs are met by the choice of kennel & room they are set up in, the way they are handled, the interactions they are offered and the toys and food that can comfort them while they try to settle in. For those who are surrendered, the program begins to work for the dogs before they even come in. This means that the current family has a chance to get information and support to help prevent the need for them to surrender their animal in the first place. Should the family come to the conclusion that their home is absolutely not suitable for their pet, I will then greet the family and the dog in a way that helps the dog to adjust as soon as their paws hit the shelter ground. At this point, the dog is given a chance to meet me, their soon to be main handler, and the grounds on safe and comfortable terms. Along with this first advantage, I will then go over the dog’s filled out history sheet with the previous owner(s) to get as much additional information as possible. This is a great aid in setting up the best possible training and rehabilitation program for this particular dog. Once the dog has had the chance to settle in and has so graciously allowed us to assess him for his general safety, temperament and state of mind, I am now ready to set up an individual training and behavioural modification plan. Part of this plan involves selecting mentally stimulating toys and games appropriate for the dog in question. These dog-specific plans are designed to best help each dog improve and begin to feel at home –home before HOME.

Some dogs are able to start greeting the Oakville public shortly after their assessment while their training program is in motion while others will require a more extensive behaviour modification plan preparing them for the adoption room. Sometimes other means of adoption outside of our adoption room are considered. Once a plan is in motion, the dog is monitored for progress.

All of our dog walking volunteers and staff members are carefully trained by myself to understand canine behaviour, body language and obedience training. Once the volunteers and staff have been trained, they are off to walk and assist with the training of the dogs. Some dogs require more experienced handlers. For these dogs, those who are interested and have had a chance to work with the less challenging dogs for a little while are offered further training which is sometimes even dog and case specific.

My work is not finished here, I must now prepare the adoption staff to handle the public with their specific questions about the dog they are falling in love with and are preparing to take home as their forever companion. Myself and these fabulous staff members have spent much time discussing as many behavioural topics as possible. Prior to a dog becoming available for adoption I put together a complete write up on the dog canality, likes and dislikes including any pertinent behavioural information. Prior to the adoption meeting with the applicant, I typically discuss the dog in detail with the adoption staff. This allows them an opportunity to ask me any questions so that they are prepared to discuss this particular dog’s behavioural needs. Following this, should the applicant wish to discuss the dog’s behaviour further, they are welcome to make an appointment with me call or e-mail me. Should the dog be one that has a more difficult case, I will be sure to be available during their adoption meeting to discuss things with them in person. Occasionally behavioural literature will be sent home with the applicants for them to read and absorb.

The adoption is finalized! At this point, I will now specially prepare a package of information tailored to the individual needs of the dog that is going home. Depending on the dog, should it be one that will require my personal one-on-one assistance, private in-house appointments will be set up.

The dog is home and settling in! Follow up calls are made to assure that all is going well. Should any behavioural concerns arise at this point or should the new family call us/me themselves, I will do my best to help them over the phone or via e-mail. Should their concern be something that must be handled with one-on-one attention, I will either refer them to a trusted dog trainer/behaviourist (several options are generally given) or if the adoption is recent, I will likely offer them 1 or 2 private sessions with myself. In any case, the new family is always reminded that the Oakville and District Humane Society and I are here as a continued support.

Overall, I feel as though the animal behaviour program at the Oakville and District Humane Society is certainly one of the best programs available for shelter dogs. It is also quite amazing to think of all the dogs who were originally destined to live part of their life in a shelter and have had their destiny turned around for the better instead. With a little bit of help, the human-dog relationship can once again be rekindled! For those who truly do need to join the ODHS family for a while, now more than ever, they are set up for success from the moment they arrive. Although their final destination is unknown, one thing is known for sure, their current stay at the ODHS will be tailored just for them; mind, body and soul.

PATRICK'S STORY

Part hound, part goof, Patrick came to the shelter as a stray puppy. A big dog, his good looks weren't enough to outweigh his rough play. In a four-month period he was considered and rejected by 10 potential owners. At the root of the problem was his habit of jumping up on people and "mouthing" them -- sometimes hard enough to cause bruises. His high energy level made him too excited to make a good first impression. When Genevieve arrived on the scene, she removed him from the adoption room and set up a training program that included meeting lots of new people in order to calm him down naturally. Using treats, she painstakingly taught him to obey the command to settle and stay. Genevieve put together a team to work with him, including a staff member and six seasoned volunteers. They gradually introduced him to challenging situations, like behaving in stores and meeting other dogs on leash.

Patrick began to improve.

About four months into the intense training, a couple arrived at the shelter looking for an energetic dog that would go running with them and fit in with their very active lifestyle.

"Patrick greeted this couple and their dog beautifully. He turned out to be the perfect pet for them because he has so much energy and such a high mental capacity. This is a great Cinderella story."

JASMINE’S STORY

My gorgeous Jasmine is a beautiful lab/spaniel mix or something of that kind who was unfortunate enough to have been raised in a small room with something like 60 other dogs. Poor Jasmine is part of a story of around 80 or so other labs and lab mixes rescued by the Peterborough shelter from a terrible situation. The Oakville and District Humane Society were able to help out with 6 of those poor dogs, Jasmine being the one in the worst condition mentally. She was so very fearful of humans and had obviously had no reason to trust one until arriving at the ODHS. As soon as I saw her, I knew it was going to take plenty of time and plenty of patience to get through to her. My first meetings with Jasmine in her kennel were simply me sitting on the concrete floor while reading a book and offering – tossing mostly – her rollover bits with every motion she made in my direction. With every visit, she would come a little closer and offer me friendlier body postures and softer facial expressions. Finally we got into touching and going for walks on which she would dance around me playfully, still not wanting any contact though. It was all fun from a distance. I had become safe, but not exactly trusted 100% yet. Over time and much patience and classical conditioning, I was finally able to pat and then finally hug Jasmine. I then became trusted and at this point obedience training was now possible. With Jasmine no longer afraid of my hands moving around her body, she quickly learned ‘sit’, ‘down’, ‘stand’, ‘watch me’ – a tough one as this requires eye to eye contact, and a few other obedience tricks. The one thing that I had not been able to curb as yet was Jasmines fear of strangers greeting her at her kennel. Her response to new people at her kennel door was not pretty and therefore making Jasmine inappropriate for our adoption room. However, with all this amazing progress, Jasmine was now clearly likely to warm up to people in general and could maybe live a happy life under the right circumstances. Knowing this, we were now able to contact rescue clubs in hopes of finding Jasmine a foster home from where she could hopefully find her forever home. Luckily, she did get her chance as Speaking of Dogs Rescue club took Jasmine in and found her forever home for her only 2 weeks later. Now this is one of my favourite stories as anywhere else Jasmine may not have had the chance to adjust and grow in the amazing way that she did.

GARTH’S STORY

These poor dogs were so frightened of their surrounding sounds and activities in the new human world that neither of them knew what it was like to be wearing a collar, never mind the terror of being dragged around by a leash attached to this collar. As a result, it was a challenge to even get them out of their kennels. Luckily, I had my new training harnesses ready at hand. On went these amazing harnesses and out came these dogs.

One by one I worked with them, adjusting them to walking on leash and dealing with the outside world in the fairly quiet back pen and back area of the shelter. Slowly, with the help of lots of food, patience and classical conditioning all four of these dogs became more confident. Trace was, by far, the most confident and a beautiful large black lab, therefore adopted first. Next was faith, a petite black lab, a little more shy than Trace but still a little more bold than Carrie and Garth. Carrie was adopted by very nice couple who were looking for a quiet and affectionate companion. All three of these first adopted labs were given a complimentary visit from me to help them get off to the right start!

Garth, well Garth was a little more challenging as his fears of the world topped that of both his sisters and his brother. He had a way of refusing to move forward if he did not feel comfortable with a new person or with a new environmental change. Finally a very quiet, patient lady with a very big heart and desire to find someone who truly needed her love and attention came along with her family, husband and two adult children. Upon first sight of Garth and hearing his story, she fell in-love.

As this wonderful lady had no experience with a dog like Garth, naturally I was a little nervous. Seeing the patience and will in her eyes, I decided to work with her. We started by having her learn more about reading and understanding canine body language so that she could understand what Garth was telling her. Next, this devoted lady came to the shelter to visit Garth in a quiet room. All she did for the first few visits was sit at a desk and read a book with a big bag of rollover – Garth’s favourite – next to her. She was instructed to offer this rollover, piece by piece, to Garth with every initiative he took to move in her direction. Once she got started with this, Garth figured out quite quickly that friendly human meant food and food meant attention from friendly human. After a few quiet visits in this room, Garth’s new mom was able to take him out for a walk. Shortly after that, the rest of Garth’s new family came out with mom and Garth for several short walks. Once life with these new humans became a little less scary for Garth, Garth went home! Home he was, but done with me he was not. I came by for several visits to help Garth and his new family settle in and cope with the difficulties of having an under-socialized, human cautious dog in their home. Garth has now been home since the end of June 2008 and is progressing fantastically, now ready to start attending obedience classes with other dogs and new people surrounding him. Garth’s family and myself are still in touch on a regular basis. I am so very proud of Garth and his hard work to become a social and happy young man!

GARTH’S STORY

Garth came into the Oakville and District Humane Society with three Labrador Retriever siblings, Trace (black male), Carrie (chocolate female), Faith (black female) and several barn cats. As these poor dogs had spent their lives sheltered in a barn away from the human world until their arrival at the ODHS, they were extremely under-socialized to the world.
These poor dogs were so frightened of their surrounding sounds and activities in the new human world that neither of them knew what it was like to be wearing a collar, never mind the terror of being dragged around by a leash attached to this collar. As a result, it was a challenge to even get them out of their kennels. Luckily, I had my new training harnesses ready at hand. On went these amazing harnesses and out came these dogs.
One by one I worked with them, adjusting them to walking on leash and dealing with the outside world in the fairly quiet back pen and back area of the shelter. Slowly, with the help of lots of food, patience and classical conditioning all four of these dogs became more confident. Trace was, by far, the most confident and a beautiful large black lab, therefore adopted first. Next was faith, a petite black lab, a little more shy than Trace but still a little more bold than Carrie and Garth. Carrie was adopted by very nice couple who were looking for a quiet and affectionate companion. All three of these first adopted labs were given a complimentary visit from me to help them get off to the right start!
Garth, well Garth was a little more challenging as his fears of the world topped that of both his sisters and his brother. He had a way of refusing to move forward if he did not feel comfortable with a new person or with a new environmental change. Finally a very quiet, patient lady with a very big heart and desire to find someone who truly needed her love and attention came along with her family, husband and two adult children. Upon first sight of Garth and hearing his story, she fell in-love.
As this wonderful lady had no experience with a dog like Garth, naturally I was a little nervous. Seeing the patience and will in her eyes, I decided to work with her. We started by having her learn more about reading and understanding canine body language so that she could understand what Garth was telling her. Next, this devoted lady came to the shelter to visit Garth in a quiet room. All she did for the first few visits was sit at a desk and read a book with a big bag of rollover – Garth’s favourite – next to her. She was instructed to offer this rollover, piece by piece, to Garth with every initiative he took to move in her direction. Once she got started with this, Garth figured out quite quickly that friendly human meant food and food meant attention from friendly human. After a few quiet visits in this room, Garth’s new mom was able to take him out for a walk. Shortly after that, the rest of Garth’s new family came out with mom and Garth for several short walks. Once life with these new humans became a little less scary for Garth, Garth went home! Home he was, but done with me he was not. I came by for several visits to help Garth and his new family settle in and cope with the difficulties of having an under-socialized, human cautious dog in their home. Garth has now been home since the end of June 2008 and is progressing fantastically, now ready to start attending obedience classes with other dogs and new people surrounding him. Garth’s family and myself are still in touch on a regular basis. I am so very proud of Garth and his hard work to become a social and happy young man!

From Patrick, Garth, Jasmine, myself and many other of the Oakville and District Humane Society Super Dogs,

Thank you to the R-Dog Group who helped to make this all possible.

Genevieve Reisinger

Animal Behaviour Coordinator

Oakville & District Humane Society