Speak! Jennifer McCarthy's Blog

Animal Behavior & Autism: A New Perspective

Posted by jennifer on September 3, 2010 in Arizona.

I feel so blessed to be a part of a young man's life who, at age 11, happens to be autistic. Autism doesn't define Culley, rather he'd like to tell you that he's passionate about his lego collection, loves to play games and is great at repeating any commercial he sees, one time, from start to finish. He is compassionate, caring, funny, intelligent and is on his way to greatness.

Although autism is a spectrum disorder, I have had the amazing opportunity to try what I know from animals to break into his world. So far, it seems to be working.
I'm by no means a therapist or an expert on autism but someone who has seen animals overcome all the odds from tremendous fear to debilitating stories of abuse, neglect and the list goes on.

These non-human animals suffer in a world we can't even imagine. They can't talk, they can't express their feelings. It is only through acting out, acting scared or simply breaking down to not exist in this world any more that we may pay attention.

Culley is a brave soul and has to face his fears daily. What may be an easy and fun trip to see a movie, is torture to him-the loud noise, the anxiety of the darkness, just the thought of attempting to go to the movie theatre is met by anger, fear, tantrums and even tears.

With no skills to fall back on, I can only rely on what I know from domestic creatures and what they have so graciously taught me.

Lately, I've found that these skills not only work for Culley's case but he is doing things with a greater ease and less fear.

These are some of the techniques that can be translated from dogs, wolves & horses to humans with the disorder as well as there are also things I've brought from the autism community to suffering animals.

1) No rules apply. Each person is individual and you must be creative in finding what works so long as that doesn't injure, harm, etc.

2) Use lots of enthusiasm! I would rather see 15 minuets of intensity, enjoyment and praise when owners practice with their dogs than an hour of not being fully present in the interactions.

3) Break it up in small steps for rewards. Instead of training a dog for a movie to jump out of a car, retrieve a newspaper and sit on a park bench, you would break each of these things up into smaller steps for rewards. At the end, give a big reward and lots of excitement, praise, etc!

4) Allow the ability to make decisions. It's Culley's choice if he wants to get in the car to drive to the movie theatre or not. If he does, he gets a star. If he passes, I get to try instead which would allow me to have the possibility to obtain a star. The first one to 10 stars wins and gets a new lego toy! He always has the opportunity to make a good decision such as other animals do in facing their fears.

5) Create space. The more physical space for someone to move around and breathe, the better. Often feeling "caged in" and triggered by space, animals get a sense of relief from a larger area. When I say "animals" I am referring to non-humans however, we must not forget that we are ALL animals-not greater nor less than any another species.

6) Always be calm and patient. The art of healing is time. I don't wear a watch when I spend time with a dog who is suffering or fearful. Don't try to "make" an autistic person do anything they don't want to do.Have patience and the mind set that you have all the time in the world to go through a tantrum for the person to get another chance at whatever is difficult. Stay with them through the experience but don't leave until they can get to the other side. Always leave when the person is calm. Don't reward the meltdown by leaving.

7) Using meditation or a form of spirituality and exercise is key to coming in on a grounded, calm level. You must always be present in you first to allow a person or animal to heal and grow.

8) Lights, noise and extra sensory perception may be high in dogs and in autism cases-as dogs have much more developed hearing than we do. Consider using headphones, etc., to help with these outside obstacles.

9) Establish boundaries and rules to create a secure environment based on leadership, friendship, love and trust.

10) Allow non-humans to teach where you cannot. Horses are amazing healers and dogs provide reduced heart rates, security and unconditional love. Chose a calm breed such as a mellow Golden Retriever. Encourage animal interaction as much as possible as animals feel more acutely in extra-sensory areas, this gift can allow the right dog to break through to your child where you cannot. In later years, walking the dog and becoming more active around an animal builds confidence, trust and stability that everything is going to be all right.

As time goes on, I will be posting more information on the subject as I enjoy more interactions hanging out with the fastest lego builder in the West and my new, amazing friend-Culley. I'm so grateful for all he is teaching me and look forward to many more accomplishments and fun days to come!

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How Your Thoughts Can Affect Your Relationship With Animals...

Posted by jennifer on September 1, 2010 in At Home,K-9 Ranch Training Center- Boulder, Colorado,Nature / Colorado,Training & Behavior Tips.

Some of the characteristics to the human brain are meant to problem solve, create, think and sometimes over think. We can obsess in our thoughts, try to control situations when in reality, we have no control, we can analyze and carry around garbage from the past that no longer serves us.
All of these things-I have learned over the years, can be detrimental to working in co-operation with pets and other non-human animals. For example, if I see a client who has an aggressive dog and I am in fear, anger or any emotion that heightens my awareness from an equal level when I walk in the door, this could immediately trigger an attack.
A practice I have learned is to meditate and leave all my thoughts outside the door. If I have a hard time letting go of a thought, a good thing to visualize is placing that topic of thoughts onto an object to be picked up at a later point.
I have had to do some drastic things in order to maintain results-some of which include working with human beings that have all sorts of things going on only to see this mirrored in their pet.
Sometimes, it is helpful to detach owner and dog while an owner can write down all their thoughts, fear, anger and obsessions and release this in a ceremonious fashion in the woods where it is to be left for good or picked up later before they are ready to handle the leash.
At other times, I find myself teaching breathing techniques to lower the heart rate of a person who is fearful of walking her aggressive dog. This also is a fundamental thing I have learned in researching sharks.
Once these thoughts are released, you can now come from a much healthier platform and your best friend will respond much more efficiently. Animals are much more in tune and sensitive than you may realize and all operate instinctively off their owners.
If you are having a bad day or something isn't right in your life, look to your dog, cat, horse, etc., and they'll honestly let you know something is wrong.
Once you look within to fixing yourself first, your dog is the easy part!
Best Wishes From the Ranch,
Jennifer

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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ONE HOUR WOLF-DOG SPECIAL...

Posted by jennifer on August 8, 2010 in Career,Dog & Wolf News / Issues,Mission Wolf,Press,Site News and Updates,Yellowstone National Park Wolf Expedition.

Hello Friends,
Please visit: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/dog-whisperer/4523/Overview for more upcoming information on my work with wolf-dogs on the emmy-nominated show, "The Dog Whisperer". This special episode will be airing soon so tune in here or the Nat. Geo. website for more information!
Woof & Howl,
Jennifer

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Free Dog 101 Seminar at Healthy Spot: West Hollywood!

Posted by jennifer on July 29, 2010 in Dog & Wolf News / Issues,Los Angeles Base,Scoop in LA,Training & Behavior Tips.

"Free Dog 101 Seminar w/ Q&A - THE WOLF WOMAN Jennifer McCarthy

Who is afraid of the big, bad wolf? Not this lady. Jennifer McCarthy is a world class celebrity dog trainer that has done extensive work with wolves. She is widely regarded as a leader in the field research with wolves. You can call her a leader of pack!

We are excited to WELCOME Jennifer McCarthy to our West Hollywood Healthy Spot location for a special FREE one night engagement.The Wolf Woman will be presenting her Dog 101 lecture and Q&A session Tuesday night, August 17th at 7pm

This is your opportunity to learn and ask one of the very best in the industry about your canine companion. It promises to be a wild night out. Come join us!"

To access Healthy Spot's website, visit: www.healthyspotonline.com

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Gorongosa...

Posted by jennifer on July 21, 2010 in Africa,Nature / Colorado,Travel,Yellowstone National Park Wolf Expedition.

My time at Gorongosa was one of the best times of my life. I intend to go back as more animals are re-introduced. I toured the re-introduction pen for Hyenas which will be there soon as well as the area for Zebras, etc. to be transported to the area after all studies are completed. To put my experience in words and pictures would not be doing Gorongosa justice. The people I met, the stories of war, survival and the resilient hope I saw in people's eyes was nothing short of amazing. And to think this was- at one time, the most abundant game area in all of Africa.

I heard about the restoration project going on there at a premiere party in Denver for their National Geographic Special- "Africa's Lost Eden". When I heard the story, I immediately thought of the wolf re-introduction project in Yellowstone that very well changed not only the ecology, people's perception of how important keystone predators are but also the huge advances that were made with the Trophic Cascade, etc.
The idea of an area going through these changes with so many species not only fascinated me but I wanted to be a part of it. Something told me I had to go to Africa...

This trip has not only given me more knowledge of such amazing creatures, the landscape and people that have a love/hate relationship with nature but it has changed me not only professionally but personally.
I felt that by connecting with people living in such poverty, sitting down and eating corn with them and their struggles to put food on the table for their family that it gave me a different perspective. I understood why so many had come to a last resort and went trecking into the park and poaching an animal to survive- they had nothing to eat. On the flip side, I had dinner with Carlos Lopes Pereira, Gorongosa's Director of Conservation. A man I have much respect for given the huge task in front of him. (By the way, Carlos is a former canine handler and used Belgian Malinois to de-mine many areas of the park.) He talked to me about the other poachers- the ones making money by killing an Elephant for it's tusks and killing Rhino's for their horns. These animals were killed for money- left to die. Carlos's first task was to secure the park from poachers which employed a local task force of guards patrolling the perimeter every 10 or so meters but sometimes the poachers would still get in. One poacher even lost his pants somewhere in the bush that were left behind as he was chased off, so there is a pantless poacher somewhere in or outside Gorongosa National Park incase you happen to spot him. Overall however, poaching has signifigantly decreased since protecting the area but it is still an issue that the park faces weekly.

The problems Gorongosa faces are all but similar to management in Yellowstone. Monitoring behavior patterns and keeping close tabs on animals that may not be used to cars driving off at any little sign of an elephant charge or something similar but the bottom line is this- Of the few animals that did survive the brutal civil war, they did so through adaptation. The crocs. are so scared of humans that they immediately run for the water. Not only are the animals in trauma recovery but the people too. Some had lost 6-7 family members per family. I met one man who survived for 24 hrs. in the river with the crocodiles by breathing through some sort of reed stick like a straw as to not get shot by the enemy.

Since the park has had a second chance thanks to American philanthropist, Gregory Carr, The Carr Foundation and the Government of Mozambique, things are only looking up. I visited a school and clinic that was built in one of the nearby local communities. I shook the hand of the Dr. and nurses that were excited to have us visit and I saw that over 400 local people in the nearby towns now were employed for the park and had steady jobs.

My hope here is that once more animals will be re-introduced, there will be no fences surronding Gorongosa and that the people and animals can learn to live peacefully. I hope that poachers can find other means of making money and I hope that studies are done as this park emerges back to what it used to be- Africa's first Serengeti so that we may continue to learn, preserve and protect what is important for generations to come.

I have every inkling of going back for a longer period of time after more animals are re-introduced and I hope to raise awareness and support for this important cause. This is like our Yellowstone but with only a portion of the wildlife- so far.

Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world and I think I may have seen only one or two Americans the whole time I was there. The war is now over though and the beaches are beautiful. I also swam with two whale sharks and visited the largest research area for whale sharks in the world.
The hotels have opened their doors and slowly, new ones are being built. This gem of a country is on it's way to hitting the world stage and I'm proud to say that Gorongosa will be a part of that.

On a bad note, I did fracture my ankle in Africa at the end of my trip including a severe sprain, torn tissues, etc. I am on the mend but will be back running with the wolves and training man's best friend very soon. For now, here are a few pictures with more available shortly at: www.http://www.photoshelter.com/c/jennifermccarthy.com. These images are also available for purchase through that site. I will also be posting links to organizations to donate to Gorongosa National Park very soon...

This is an ungulate we thought may have been poached. Upon further inspection, it died in a fight by another animal's horn...

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