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3. Socializing feral dogs

Another important component of socializing feral dogs is isolation from other dogs.

•  I do this for at least 21 days. 
• When I'm working with my shy dog, I crate or put resident dogs in another room. 
• Shy dogs often bond to other dogs, so when they're isolated, it forces them to bond to humans. 
• This is a must do!

2. Socializing feral dogs

Once you've begun to train the shy dog to a leash and she's fairly cooperative, tie her onto your belt. I use a horse lead rope (bought at a feed barn or farm general store) Be sure the dog is securely attached to your lead and belt. Often, I'll use a second lead too, in case she slips the first lead.

Attaching the dog will force her to follow you around the house and overcome her fears. She'll hear noises, see new things and eventually become familiar with the safety and comforts inside a home.

• Praise her when she shows curiosity. 
• Praise her when she follows you.
• Praise her when she makes eye contact.
• In addition to praise, offer high value treats. Make it fun to be with you!
• Continue to pet her under the chin to raise her head (and instill confidence). 
• Once there's trust, pet her all over. Praise her when she relaxes.

1. Socializing feral/shy dogs

 Street dogs can be socialized… read how to do it safely:

• If the dog has been trapped, keep her in the trap and go directly to a vet's office or shelter. Remove the dog inside a contained room or kennel.
• Spay, vaccinate and vet the dog before taking it home. While the dog is anesthetized, have the vet place a harness, leash and martingale collar with ID tags on the dog.
• Transport the dog in a sturdy crate. Load and unload her in a contained area. 
• Keep the harness, collar and lead on her at all times. Never remove the lead from the collar.
• Use an escape proof 10x10' kennel to socialize shy dogs. The kennel must have a dig proof floor, reinforced wire and a tarp on top. 
• Don't leave a shy dog outside in a kennel unattended. 
• If you don't have a kennel, use a room inside a house to contain the dog. Place pee pads on the floor. Offer a full-time water bowl.
• Hand feed the dog. Offer high value food (liver treats, canned food, bacon…) She may not eat for several days. Keep a full time water bowl out for the dog.
• Praise any eye contact the dog makes with you.
• When you pet the dog, stroke her under the chin. This hand movement is less threatening than petting atop the head.
• 
  
• LEASH/RECALL TRAINING: 
• Once you evaluate the dog and find that she isn't aggressive, begin to leash train her. 
• Using the attached leash on the dog, softly call her and reel her in. She'll resist, so you'll need to drag her to you. Praise her as you pull her in. Really praise her when she is right next to you. Offer a high value treat while she's next to you. Pet under the chin.
• Do this leash exercise over and over while calling her to you. 
• As you reel her in by leash, this exercise begins to break her pattern of flight. This is the first huge step in socializing a shy dog!
• More tips to follow…….

This is a Martingale Collar (or Premier)….. it's a no-slip collar! It tightens if the dog tries to slip her head out of the collar while you have her on a lead. I use it for all shy or feral dogs. Often, I use two martingale collars! If I drop one leash, I've got a second one attached to a collar, so the dog doesn't escape. Always have a PLAN A, B and C for the containment of shy dogs!

                                                www.RUFFTALES.com

CATCHING FERAL DOGS, OPTIONS:

As the economy declines, stray dogs increase. The 'no kill' shelter movement has impacted the stray population too. Shelters make it difficult for owners to surrender pets, so owners abandon their pets in remote areas. What should you do if you notice strays?

• First, set up a feeding station (wet smelly food and kibble in a bucket. Put the bucket inside a cake pan of water to keep ants out). The feeding station trains the dog to STAY in the area. 
• Contact your local animal control and ask them to humanely trap the dog. 
• If animal control isn't effective, borrow or buy your own dog trap (see my trapping tips, Dec 2010).     Listed below are other capture options:

• Move the feeding station into a contained yard or shed, gradually training the dog to enter an area where she can be safely captured. 
• Hand feed the dog and attract her into a car or home.
• Provide a dog house (with hay for warmth). Leave food inside the doghouse to train her to use it. When the dog is sleeping inside the doghouse, quietly sneak up and tip the doghouse up, so the door is above her. Place a piece of plywood over the door to contain her.
• Consult with your vet on a powerful sedative for chemical capture of the dog. Euthasol (used in a half dose) has been most effective in my chemical capture of ferals.
• Once you capture the dog, haul the trap (with dog inside) to a shelter or vet where they can safely remove and sedate her for sterilization and vaccinations. Bring a harness, ID tag and martingale (no slip collar) to attach to the dog while she's sedated. These tools will help you socialize her. 

Are you trying to place a dog in a new home? A thorough adoption application and interview are important screening tools. (use my adoption application in the menu bar)

• I look for someone with a good pet history of neutered pets, flea and heart worm preventatives, indoor homes and a lifetime commitment.
• Vet your dog first (spay/neuter, shots, worm) and ask an appropriate adoption fee that covers your expenses. Free dogs have no value, so the higher adoption fee usually assures a better quality home. 
• Advertise on your Facebook page, on Petfinder.com or in your local newspaper. Go to my rescue page (on this blog) for a good adoption application! 
• Don't be afraid to say "no, it's not a good match," if you don't approve the potential adopter. 
• With a good picture and bio of the dog, the right adopter will come along!

"Evil flourishes when good men do nothing." Anonymous

What's the best way to be a good dog owner? NEVER GIVE YOUR DOG A CHANCE TO BE BAD! This tip has assured my dog's safety and good behavior over the years. For example....

Does your dog escape your yard? TIP: Don't leave him outside unattended. Crate him safely in the house while you're gone!
Your dog doesn't come when he's called? TIP: Always keep him safely attached to a leash. Train him for recall.
Your dogs don't get along? TIP: Keep them apart until a trainer can be consulted.

Remember, good dogs are made, not born...

"Practice kindness toward animals, for he who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals"  ~ Immanuel Kant

(www.rufftales.com)

Bubbles

Highway dogs don't get second chances. When I saw Bubbles on the Highway 71 median, Christmas eve, I said a short prayer for our safety. The cars never seemed to notice a 40 pound dog scrounging for food on the highway. I pulled onto the frontage road that paralleled the highway, so Bubbles could see me. When I called to her, the skinny blue dog left the highway and came toward me. Ever so gently, she approached, as I reached out to her with a handful of treats. She hesitated at first. When she began to eat gently from my hand, I quietly slipped a lead over her neck. She was safe!


We rapidly had her spayed and I named her 'Bubbles.'  She's a young Blue Lacey mixed with pure joy! She adores everyone that she meets. She recently found her forever home with a young woman in Bastrop County. They'll be best friends forever.

DOG TRAPPING BAIT FOODS

Stray animals are common after disasters. Many pets are scared and won't come to strangers. Live traps are life savers for strays. The following are good bait foods for trapping dogs or cats... (Oily/smelly foods are best!) 

smelly bait foods

• tunafish in oil 
• canned cat food
• bacon (and bacon grease soaked biscuits) 
• bbq brisquit 
• sardines/canned fish
• deboned fried chicken
• deviled eggs 

FEEDING STATION FOR TRAPPING STRAYS

feeding station

Devastating Texas wildfires separated many animals from their homes. If you see a stray dog in your area, try to coax it into your yard. If she's friendly, take her to your local shelter, where she'll be reunited with her owner. If the dog is shy, set up a feeding station to provide food/water until you can get a live trap to catch the dog. Call your local shelter to borrow a trap or obtain one online. See the December 2010 posting for 'Dog trapping' tips...