I’ve been somewhat distracted by my COAPE coursework, as I get my teeth into the final module. Writing up of two case studies from the shelter I volunteer at. Case studies sounds so clinical, they are both such lovely dogs needing homes that can offer them the right mix of emotional and practical support.
It’s not often a dog ends up in a shelter without needing some support, be it through training, behaviour, or veterinary care. These symptoms are very often why they ended up there in the first place. I haven’t yet met a dog I didn’t want to bring home, but I have Zeke who has raging adolescent hormones, so that would not be fair on anyone right now.
As part understanding behaviour, we are taught to look at what the dog might have been originally bred to do. I appreciate sometimes there are a mix of breeds in some dogs, but it really does help to understand why they do what they do. I won’t go into all of that now (it’s a whole module!), but I want to tell you about a great book on COAPE’s book list.
Written by Desmond Morris it’s called ‘Dogs. The Ultimate Dictionary of over 1,000 dog breeds’. The clue is in the title, and it gives a fascinating history, including pictures of what the dogs should look like. For example, the Boxer has a completely different facial structure. As do the brach breeds, a time when they could breathe!
If you translate the above to its most fundamental, first understanding what a dog needs and how you can meet those needs, might just mean happier dogs and happier people.
Until next time
Jen
