Nature over Nurture
Good intentions don’t always guarantee success. That was the case with Linda, Annie and a dog named Peggy Sue.
Linda and Annie were both avid animal lovers and shared their home with several birds and dogs, all rescued adoptees.
Their passion was nurturing these deserving animals back to health and happiness in their loving home.
Linda and Annie’s newest adoptee was an adorable Schnauzer who had been rescued from a puppy mill. Her life in the puppy mill was misery and abuse; she was confined to a cage and bred to bear one litter after another and that was the entirety of her life experience.
Linda and Annie brought her home knowing she needed lots of work but believing with patience, love and positive socialization, she could become a wonderful addition to their family. They named her Peggy Sue.
The first days were completely overwhelming for Peggy Sue, so many new things all at once; stairs, couch, carpet, furniture, even grass and dirt. So many new textures, smells and possibilities after a life in a metal cage, Peggy Sue was thrilled!
Linda and Annie introduced her to the other family dogs and birds and began the task of house training. Everything was going well, Linda and Annie had so much experience with rescues, Peggy Sue could not have asked for better guides into her new life.
Several months went by and Annie called me with heartbreaking news. They had lost one of their birds, a Cockatoo who had been with them for many years had been killed by Peggy Sue.
Linda and Annie were devastated by the loss of their cherished companion. They had both worked very hard acclimating Peggy Sue to her new home and teaching her the rules. But Peggy Sue had been relentless in harassing their birds.
Reprimanding her helped when they were home, but they had to be able to trust her when they were not.
They tried gates which she scaled. They tried crating her away from the family as punishment. They tried every trick in the book, but Peggy Sue could not be trained out of her fixation on the birds.
It all came to a head when the cockatoo let himself out of his cage and Peggy Sue was there to see it. She went after him and he died instantly.
Linda asked me to communicate with Peggy Sue to try and find out why she persisted in this behavior and what could be done to train her to stop.
When I connected to Peggy Sue, she showed me a feeling like a zap, a sort of electrical charge that flooded her senses when she saw the birds or any animal smaller than her. Once she felt that charge, instinct took over and training went out the window. It was so overpowering, she really had no control, nor could she comprehend why she was being punished for it. To Peggy Sue’s mind, she was doing what nature demanded that she do and therefore was correct in her actions. She really didn’t understand being reprimanded for behavior that felt completely ‘right’ to her.
As Peggy Sue had spent so much time in a puppy mill, she had too much to digest all at once. Just going from a life in a cage to life in a home was enough for most dogs; but Peggy Sue had such a strong prey drive that it was too much to learn to control her instincts as well as how to make all the other adjustments to life with a family.
“Can she be broken of this?” Annie Asked.
I suggested an animal behaviorist. They might be able to give some instruction on how to deprogram Peggy Sue. But this was an expense they could not pursue and there was no guarantee it would work.
I also felt so much tension in the once happy house; everyone was now walking on eggshells.
Linda no longer trusted Peggy Sue and was still angered over the loss of the cockatoo. Linda simply could not overcome that right away.
I also felt that Annie and Linda’s relationship was suffering. They were both torn to pieces over their loss and did not want to risk harm coming to another bird. Everyone’s nerves were frazzled, even the other dogs.
Annie was both heartbroken from the loss of the bird and at the thought of failure with Peggy Sue.
I let Annie know that they had giving her all they could. They had saved Peggy Sue from a miserable existence and with love had transformed her into a well mannered dog that would be someone’s perfect companion. Peggy Sue was just not right for their household.
She would be better in a home by herself or with one other dog, but no small animals. Peggy Sue’s sweet and loving nature could really shine through if she wasn’t forced to constantly deny her instincts.
The stress for everyone in the house and especially Peggy Sue had reached a critical stage. The best option for all was for Peggy Sue to be re-homed.
The decision to let an animal companion go to another home, even knowing that it will be better for the animal is one of the hardest decisions an animal owner can face. It’s also one of the toughest things I have to tell a client.
But sometimes it really is the best decision, best for the family and best for the animal.
Linda and Annie were heartbroken by their losses. But they know they gave Peggy Sue a new life and that she will be happier in a different setting, one without so many temptations to overcome. And their household will be less stressed without the fear of harm coming to another bird. Annie and Linda did everything right for Peggy Sue, but sometimes it just was not meant to be.
Good intentions don’t always guarantee success. That was the case with Linda, Annie and a dog named Peggy Sue.
Linda and Annie were both avid animal lovers and shared their home with several birds and dogs, all rescued adoptees.
Their passion was nurturing these deserving animals back to health and happiness in their loving home.
Linda and Annie’s newest adoptee was an adorable Schnauzer who had been rescued from a puppy mill. Her life in the puppy mill was misery and abuse; she was confined to a cage and bred to bear one litter after another and that was the entirety of her life experience.
Linda and Annie brought her home knowing she needed lots of work but believing with patience, love and positive socialization, she could become a wonderful addition to their family. They named her Peggy Sue.
The first days were completely overwhelming for Peggy Sue, so many new things all at once; stairs, couch, carpet, furniture, even grass and dirt. So many new textures, smells and possibilities after a life in a metal cage, Peggy Sue was thrilled!
Linda and Annie introduced her to the other family dogs and birds and began the task of house training. Everything was going well, Linda and Annie had so much experience with rescues, Peggy Sue could not have asked for better guides into her new life.
Several months went by and Annie called me with heartbreaking news. They had lost one of their birds, a Cockatoo who had been with them for many years had been killed by Peggy Sue.
Linda and Annie were devastated by the loss of their cherished companion. They had both worked very hard acclimating Peggy Sue to her new home and teaching her the rules. But Peggy Sue had been relentless in harassing their birds.
Reprimanding her helped when they were home, but they had to be able to trust her when they were not.
They tried gates which she scaled. They tried crating her away from the family as punishment. They tried every trick in the book, but Peggy Sue could not be trained out of her fixation on the birds.
It all came to a head when the cockatoo let himself out of his cage and Peggy Sue was there to see it. She went after him and he died instantly.
Linda asked me to communicate with Peggy Sue to try and find out why she persisted in this behavior and what could be done to train her to stop.
When I connected to Peggy Sue, she showed me a feeling like a zap, a sort of electrical charge that flooded her senses when she saw the birds or any animal smaller than her. Once she felt that charge, instinct took over and training went out the window. It was so overpowering, she really had no control, nor could she comprehend why she was being punished for it. To Peggy Sue’s mind, she was doing what nature demanded that she do and therefore was correct in her actions. She really didn’t understand being reprimanded for behavior that felt completely ‘right’ to her.
As Peggy Sue had spent so much time in a puppy mill, she had too much to digest all at once. Just going from a life in a cage to life in a home was enough for most dogs; but Peggy Sue had such a strong prey drive that it was too much to learn to control her instincts as well as how to make all the other adjustments to life with a family.
“Can she be broken of this?” Annie Asked.
I suggested an animal behaviorist. They might be able to give some instruction on how to deprogram Peggy Sue. But this was an expense they could not pursue and there was no guarantee it would work.
I also felt so much tension in the once happy house; everyone was now walking on eggshells.
Linda no longer trusted Peggy Sue and was still angered over the loss of the cockatoo. Linda simply could not overcome that right away.
I also felt that Annie and Linda’s relationship was suffering. They were both torn to pieces over their loss and did not want to risk harm coming to another bird. Everyone’s nerves were frazzled, even the other dogs.
Annie was both heartbroken from the loss of the bird and at the thought of failure with Peggy Sue.
I let Annie know that they had giving her all they could. They had saved Peggy Sue from a miserable existence and with love had transformed her into a well mannered dog that would be someone’s perfect companion. Peggy Sue was just not right for their household.
She would be better in a home by herself or with one other dog, but no small animals. Peggy Sue’s sweet and loving nature could really shine through if she wasn’t forced to constantly deny her instincts.
The stress for everyone in the house and especially Peggy Sue had reached a critical stage. The best option for all was for Peggy Sue to be re-homed.
The decision to let an animal companion go to another home, even knowing that it will be better for the animal is one of the hardest decisions an animal owner can face. It’s also one of the toughest things I have to tell a client.
But sometimes it really is the best decision, best for the family and best for the animal.
Linda and Annie were heartbroken by their losses. But they know they gave Peggy Sue a new life and that she will be happier in a different setting, one without so many temptations to overcome. And their household will be less stressed without the fear of harm coming to another bird. Annie and Linda did everything right for Peggy Sue, but sometimes it just was not meant to be.
Peggy Sue was placed in a loving home with one other dog. She has adjusted very well to her new owners and house mate. The new owners realize they are truly blessed to have Peggy Sue as part of their lives. She is a very well trained and loving companion.
