Alpha Dog Theory

Much has been written about canine social structure and how it relates to dog behavior.  The concept of alpha dominance originally came from studies of wolf packs in the 1940s.  The findings of these studies trickled down to the domestic dog arena and found their way into dog training techniques.  Dominance exercises, such as the alpha roll, were recommended to prevent aggression and other behavior problems.

 People began to challenge the alpha dominance theory on a number of fronts.  Is wolf behavior really indicative of that seen in domestic dogs?  Were the alpha rolls initiated by the higher ranking wolf, or were they actually an appeasement ritual offered voluntarily by the subordinate wolf?  Was the wolf behavior really exhibiting dominance, or does the wolf pack operate on something closer to a parent/child type of relationship?

The fact is that dogs are not wolves.  Breeding of domestic dogs through time has generally increased their sociability and playfulness while decreasing fear and aggression, making them less and less like their wild cousins. Additionally, there is little evidence to suggest that dominance exercises did anything to stem the development of aggressive behavior.

More recent studies have shown that alpha behavior does not necessarily mean physically dominant behavior.  True pack leaders do not need to rely on physical aggression to maintain their positions in the hierarchy.  They have earned the respect of the lesser dogs and need only to exhibit their calm, confident behavior to keep order within the pack. 

My beagle mutt, Tootsie Roll, was one of those natural alpha dogs.  In the 18½ years that she was with our family, our little dog pack included three other dogs.  Through that entire 18½ year period, Tootsie Roll was always recognized as the pack leader (after the humans, of course).  It always amazed me that this sweet, loving dog would be the widely accepted leader of the pack.  After reading more about pack cultures, I came to identify in Tootsie Roll, actions that others have attributed to the “natural alpha dog”; her confident stance, staring down of usurpers, a rare soft growl.

There were occasional challenges to Tootsie’s position.  Most often these came from Valentine, our other beagle mutt.  Even in old age, Tootsie’s calm assertiveness would prevail over Valentine’s feeble attempts to unseat her, and the social hierarchy never changed.  We lost Tootsie Roll two years ago, but I will never cease to be amazed at the dynamics we saw exhibited in our little pack while she was with us.  To the end, she maintained her top dog status.

Peripheral Vestibular Syndrome

Several years ago, it was my pleasure to pet sit for Hannah, a very sweet 12 year old, 90 pound, mixed-breed dog.  It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see a large, 12 year old dog be a little unsteady on her feet.  After all, in people years, she was probably well into her 80’s or early 90’s.  But Hannah was even more wobbly than one might expect because she had developed peripheral vestibular syndrome. 

Peripheral vestibular syndrome appears to be caused by an inflammation in the nerves connecting the inner ear to the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance and spatial orientation.  It more commonly occurs in older dogs, and thus is sometimes referred to as geriatric vestibular syndrome, but it can occur in middle aged dogs as well.  While in appearance the disease is very frightening, the good news is that the problem is usually temporary, lasting anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

Symptoms of peripheral vestibular syndrome include the following:

·         Sudden loss of balance (the most common symptom)
·         Head tilt to one side
·         Circling
·         Vomiting
·         Eyes drifting from side to side or up and down
·         Facial muscles sagging or twitching
·         Trouble eating or drinking due to dizziness

The occurrence of this disease is very disconcerting to pets and pet parents alike because it can come on so rapidly and seemingly, just out of the blue.  Your dog can appear perfectly happy and feeling well when suddenly, for no apparent reason, will fall over and have difficulty standing up again.  This is made even more upsetting if some of the other symptoms begin to emerge.

The nature and sudden appearance of the symptoms lead some owners to fear that their dog has either had a stroke or has been poisoned.  If your dog exhibits any of these symptoms, you should consult with your veterinarian immediately.  The vet will be able to determine if your dog has peripheral vestibular syndrome, or if the symptoms are the result of something else, such as a stroke, poisoning, brain tumor, head trauma or inner ear infection. 

Unfortunately, time is the only cure for peripheral vestibular syndrome, and as mentioned previously, most dogs fully recover from the illness within a few weeks.  Some vets may prescribe antibiotics if they suspect the dog has an infection.  Motion sickness medication might also be prescribed to ease the dizziness being felt by the dog. 

What you can do is to keep in mind that this is a very troubling and confusing experience for your dog.  Soothing, calm attention and lots of TLC can go a long way toward making your pet feel better while recovering from the disease.  If nausea is keeping your dog from eating and drinking, try giving easy-to-eat food and water by hand. 

Through it all, remember that in most cases the disease will clear up by itself.  Infrequently, some dogs do not recover fully and may continue to have residual problems, such as a head tilt.  As you can always count on with a dog, they are usually able to adjust to these remaining issues and go right back to being their normal, contented selves.

"I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren't certain we knew better." - George Bird Evans, "Troubles with Bird Dogs"

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS)

Just like us, dogs go through many changes as they age.  There will be a graying around the muzzle, they may need more sleep, the step is not as quick as it used to be.  With some dogs, you may also see significant behavioral changes.  Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) is caused by physical and chemical changes that affect brain function in older dogs.  Although not identical, pathological changes in the brains of dogs with CDS are similar to those seen in human Alzheimer patients. 

Dogs with CDS may show behavioral changes such as confusion and forgetfulness, and may be less responsive to their owners.  Advances in veterinary medicine have made it possible for our companion animals to be with us longer, which is a wonderful thing.  However, these advances have increased the population of geriatric pets, resulting in more dogs with CDS, and requiring us pet parents to become more knowledgeable about the syndrome.

The classic signs of CDS in old dogs include:

·         Reduced activity

·         Changes in sleeping patterns

·         Reduced responsiveness to people

·         Lack of interest in surroundings

·         Confusion, disorientation

·         Pacing, wandering

·         Inability to recognize familiar people

·         Increased thirst

·         Excessive panting

·         Difficulty eating or reduced interest in food

·         Loss of bladder and bowel control

·         Difficulty navigating their environment

There are a few things that may help dogs with CDS.  Studies have shown an improvement in most dogs within one month of starting to receive L-Deprenyl (Anipryl).  CDS is often associated with the depletion of dopamine, and this drug works by helping to prolong dopamine activity and by reducing the amounts of free radicals in the brain.  Dietary changes may also help to alleviate CDS.  Therapeutic diets containing antioxidants, mitochondrial cofactors, and omega-3 fatty acids are recommended.

Environmental stimulation in conjunction with dietary change, is good for elderly canines.  You CAN teach an old dog new tricks, and you should, to keep your dog’s mind working.  We’ve all experienced or heard stories about older dogs becoming more lively with the introduction of a puppy into the household.  Use caution with that because a very old dog might not adjust well to such a dramatic change.

Finally, the best things we can give our old dogs are love and understanding.  Learning about CDS will help us to understand why our old dog has changed.  And, love will help everyone to get through a difficult period in our friend’s life.

Heart Dog

One of my pet sitting clients recently referred to one of her dogs as being her “Heart Dog”.  As she defined it, a Heart Dog is that one dog in your life with whom you have an especially close bond.  It immediately struck me because of all the dogs, cats and horses who have been members of our family, my Sosa is definitely my Heart Dog. 

Sosa came into my life ten years ago as a one year old terrier mutt who needed a home.  He showed up at the barn where I kept my horse at the time, in the company of a horse trader, who had some story about the dog being from Puerto Rico and in need of a home.  Sosa took a shining to me, and by the time I left that day, he was following my every step.  I decided to take the little guy home to see if he would fit with our then family of two beagle mutts and a cat.  He did.

My mission then became to learn what I could about how he had spent the first year of his life.  Could the horse trader’s story about Puerto Rico be true?  If you know anything about horse traders, you know not to believe everything a horse trader tells you.  But, the little dog was wearing a collar with a Puerto Rican rabies tag hanging from it.  Hmmm. 

The horse trader gave me the name and phone number of the woman from whom he had gotten the little terrier. She confirmed that Sosa had indeed come from Puerto Rico, thanks to a rescue group there called Save A Sato, http://www.saveasato.org/.  This group of dedicated volunteers is committed to easing the suffering of Puerto Rico’s homeless and abused animals.  They took in my little Sato (slang for street dog), gave him medical care, food and shelter, and flew him via American Airlines to a rescue group in our area. 

Sosa attached himself to my side that day ten years ago, and he remains my constant companion.  Other people are ok, and he likes my husband well enough, but I alone, am his person.  Sosa has stolen my heart like no other pet that came before or after him.  As I look into his graying muzzle, I sometimes worry about the day that he will leave me.  But, I just remind myself to take a page from our canine friends - be in the moment and enjoy every moment I can spend with my Heart Dog.