Speak! Jennifer McCarthy's Blog: January 2011 Archives

January 2011

To Be Animal...

Posted by jennifer on January 24, 2011.

To be animal, to understand what makes a human detached from its own comrades of mammals, you have to live it, you have to breathe it and essentially, "Be wild"...

Years ago, I had asked the most fundamental question that every human being seeks on the planet: Why am I here and what am I supposed to be doing.

I had worked in almost every aspect of the dog business, grew up riding horses, scuba dove and lived on boats all over the Caribbean but my most extreme hurdle was not in understanding the animals. It was the human psychology behind the issues & problems that I was faced with on a daily basis.

I couldn't wrap my head around one thing: How and why do humans think they are no different from a dog, cat, wolf or horse? Sure, we have more developed brains but is that a good thing? As far as I knew, the human race was facing many issues including over population, global warming and war to name a few. I saw wolves develop similar family systems in the wild and survive the ice age. We are still a new species to some animals and I had a feeling that some of them knew that. It seems that wolves had us from the beginning, they used us to get food and here we have the domestic dog. This basic and simplistic way of living for some species worked-they had survived when others had died off and in some terms, it made them wiser.

Most humans don't go around thinking every day in simplistic terms. We get to work, pay the bills and purchase what we need to eat, wear, live under and travel in. Rarely does a person hunt on foot, study a herd, live outside and wear what he kills & will eat.

I decided to head out to Colorado to work with wolves and detach from society as much as possible to study the interactions between my dogs & horses, cattle and wildlife high up in the mountains above Boulder. This extreme way of living taught me more in my career and in life than I had ever anticipated. I wanted to know what it was like to live life on the food chain without a gun and be to some extent, an animal in the wild.

Once removed from the ongoings of society, you let go of a lot of facades. What was once important became non-essential. I began to process a raw, more substantial outlook on life that didn't revolve around material things or complex social interactions.

I saw how much we are all sold products of someone else's life-things that other humans make as an impression of their ideas but not based upon who we are as people. Certain human issues became less important and I became focussed on studying and learning from my comrades in the forest.

Animals live life in the same way people do at fundamental levels. They experience joy, heart ache, depression, sadness, loneliness, happiness and excitement to name a few. Some are social creatures that like to have fun and play games but all struggle to survive. They eat, rest, sleep, travel, work, play and have families. I found more "humanness" in the woods than I found animal or maybe I was finding more animal in all of us as humans.

As my journey continued, I saw acts of tolerance between different species, I saw kindness and forgiving and I saw what makes life worth living to all of us on planet earth. This experience as animal, has me convinced that I learned more about being a human from other mammals. We can learn more from other species because they are our comrades. We should not deny the fact that we are one of them.

My journey continues to this day and as I seek to find answers in helping humans and animals co-exist, I only find myself going farther in search of my true purpose.

From the eastern shores of Africa to the reefs off the coast of Australia to the most remote corners of Yellowstone, I continue to gain more knowledge, grow more as a person and become increasingly skilled with what I do to share with anyone who needs help or is interested in listening.

To relate this all back to your pet has great significance because I believe in not speaking from a human perspective but a perspective of your pet. What other species teach me breaks way to a new understanding of working with one as an equal, not as a greater species which harbors great compassion and understanding for domestic pets and their human owners.

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Group Classes For The Aggressive Dog

Posted by jennifer on January 23, 2011.

This weekend over 40 people will have attended another one of their group classes. While most trainers would insist to not bring these fearful, volital, dominant dogs into a group class environment, I say bring them on.
It was a goal of mine to construct a course that would economically appeal to clients who's dogs suffer from this type of behavioral problem that could not afford private sessions. With a strong emphasis on safety, a required classroom course to start things off with an in- depth look at dog & human psychology, equipment and techniques (to name a few), the aggression class was born.
This weekend, relief came from an owner as her prior fearful dog met a number of people without growling, biting or snarling. A dog who was put on the defense by going after people submitted in an act of surrender and a German Shepherd who had never been socialized met Elvis & Lola for the first time successfully.
These small steps are big miracles for both the owner & dog to move forward in a healthier direction.
If your dog suffers from aggression in any form, don't wait to get help as these problems usually get worse. If you can't afford private sessions, are about to euthanize or get rid of your dog, aggression classes are a great way to address these hard core issues and get help to living a more peaceful & enjoyable life with your best friend :-)

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Yavapai Humane Society Training Program: 16 Dogs, 16 Volunteers, 16 Adoptions, 1 Simple Concept

Posted by jennifer on January 6, 2011.

On Nov. 16th, 2010, 16 dogs from the Yavapai Humane Society in Prescott, Arizona and 16 volunteers & staff entered their first 6 week basic obedience course. Seven weeks later, all 16 dogs who may have otherwise been euthanized or deemed un-adoptable were placed in homes and graduated.

On Dec. 21st, 10 more dogs and volunteers entered the next series of classes. By week 3, students dropped their leashes, turned around and walked away from their dogs. The dogs have now completing the down stay.

For half the class, I ask the human students if they did their homework. I'm not referring to just practicing with their dog, the volunteers are asked to bring in 2 facts about their breed or breeds of dog they are working with. This information can not only help the volunteer to understand different breeds but also give them valuable information they can then pass along to the new owner.

The forth class we start a marketing campaign. I urge them to take their dogs to the streets, in front of grocery stores, to adoption events to show off their skills. One volunteer even posted flyers of her dog on her car windows!

The volunteers have an emotional interest in the dog and the dog re-gains trust in a person again.
When someone spots a shelter dog doing re-fined obedience training, you have to stop and ask "Where did you get your dog?", "How long have you been working with her?" and the list goes on.

I started this by believing that every volunteer & staff member could be a dog trainer. Their hard work, dedication and compassion for these animals has shed light that they are capable of transforming a potentially abused, stray or abandoned dog into a wonder dog.

These animals are using their minds, releasing stress, receiving enrichment and exercise and building a re-newed trust.

Many thanks go out to every volunteer & staff member that has dedicated themselves to this simple training program. With their help, we are able to place dogs in homes quicker and give them a chance at staying there. The added benefit is that each new owner is allowed to attend one of my basic obedience classes for free!

To donate to the Yavapai Humane Society in support of this program, please visit: www.crowdrise.com/jennifermccarthy

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