Pack Therapy!
- Liz R. Kover
- Jun 23, 2016
- 2 min read
Dogs need other dogs. Certainly, we humans provide for them, the bulk of what they require and desire. Our interspecies relationship is remarkable and magical! But we cannot offer them the particular kind of social interaction and communication they experience among social groupings of their own kind! This canine-canine connection might be more important for some dogs than others. For Fred, I can tell you that relationships with his dog friends are just as integral to WHO HE IS, as my human friendships are to who I am.
Fred always had the spirit of a highly social butterfly. That spirit is coming back to life, and expanding as he evolves beyond his insecurities and anxiety. His defenses are coming down; he is feeling more and more comfortable and confident as he regains trust. This has taken, and will continue to take, a lot of vigilance, understanding, awareness of his signals letting me know he's uneasy or needs me to step in and advocate for him. It takes a lot of keen observation, and management... of the way he spends his time and where he is in space relative to other dogs in any given moment. But wow, how amazing it is to watch Fred spread his wings again, and start taking these little flights here and there...realizing each time a little bit more, how strong and capable he is of handling himself..."using his words" (as Jen Gray would say 😉) to tell the other dogs he needs space, rather than growl at them, warding them off with defense mechanisms he constructed when he felt unsafe. Each time he has successful interactions with other dogs, he gains more trust -- in other dogs, in himself, in me, and in the world around him. I am SO PROUD of him, my heart almost can't handle it. Way to go Fred, and here's to the "power of the pack"!
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