Comments on: Rent a Dog! http://happytailsspa-blog.com/2007/12/23/rent-a-dog/ Insights, Inspirations & Ideas for Pet-Related Business Owners Sat, 22 Nov 2008 07:17:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Kevin http://happytailsspa-blog.com/2007/12/23/rent-a-dog/#comment-107 Kevin Thu, 10 Jan 2008 22:40:04 +0000 http://happytailsspa-blog.com/?p=43#comment-107 Hey Casey, thanks, that sheds a lot of light on the subject, You are absolutely correct it's so easy to look at dogs as a commodity..hey here's a great business opportunity...and forget that they are living creatures with millions of years of evolution build into their genes. All the best Kevin Hey Casey,
thanks, that sheds a lot of light on the subject, You are absolutely correct it’s so easy to look at dogs as a commodity..hey here’s a great business opportunity…and forget that they are living creatures with millions of years of evolution build into their genes.

All the best

Kevin

]]> By: Casey Scott http://happytailsspa-blog.com/2007/12/23/rent-a-dog/#comment-103 Casey Scott Thu, 10 Jan 2008 04:32:35 +0000 http://happytailsspa-blog.com/?p=43#comment-103 I have studied canine behavior at the Canine Behavior Academy in Marin, CA. I have also worked with many "problem" dogs through the local humane society as well as in private behavioral consults. My personal opinion on this new venture is that while any dog that is loved by a human being (or many human beings) is a lucky dog, being moved around from "owner" to "owner" is a bad idea. My reasoning for this is that when a dog is put into an unfamiliar environment it is extremely stressful on the animal. Generally it takes at least a week for even the most mellow dog to settle down enough to start exhibiting his or her true personality. When first brought into a new home owners may notice the more obvious signs of stress: whining, shaking/shivering, bolting for the door, listlessness, lethargy and so on. Educated dog owners will also notice the subtle signs of stress: lots of lip licking, yawning, excessive shedding and "whale eye". Of course, once the dog got used to that specific home those symptoms of stress would most likely subside. But what about the next home? And the next? At some point the dog will not be able to deal with these stress levels and may develop serious behavioral issues later in his or her life. Then what will happen to the dog? You guessed it-it will be put up for adoption because it's no longer useful to the company. Hopefully it will go to a shelter that has a behavioral program in place so that he or she has a chance of being rehabilitated. I not, the dog would be euthanised. There are a few types of dog personalities that may be able to adjust to numerous environments and people, with no real "home base". However, finding dogs with that kind of temperment and resilience is extremely difficult. I sincerely hope that this woman realizes the disasterous effects that her business may have on the dogs she is planning on renting for her own profit. I would strongly recommend that she speak to a canine behaviorist in her area to re-evaluate her plan. I have studied canine behavior at the Canine Behavior Academy in Marin, CA. I have also worked with many “problem” dogs through the local humane society as well as in private behavioral consults.

My personal opinion on this new venture is that while any dog that is loved by a human being (or many human beings) is a lucky dog, being moved around from “owner” to “owner” is a bad idea. My reasoning for this is that when a dog is put into an unfamiliar environment it is extremely stressful on the animal.

Generally it takes at least a week for even the most mellow dog to settle down enough to start exhibiting his or her true personality. When first brought into a new home owners may notice the more obvious signs of stress: whining, shaking/shivering, bolting for the door, listlessness, lethargy and so on. Educated dog owners will also notice the subtle signs of stress: lots of lip licking, yawning, excessive shedding and “whale eye”. Of course, once the dog got used to that specific home those symptoms of stress would most likely subside. But what about the next home? And the next?

At some point the dog will not be able to deal with these stress levels and may develop serious behavioral issues later in his or her life. Then what will happen to the dog? You guessed it-it will be put up for adoption because it’s no longer useful to the company. Hopefully it will go to a shelter that has a behavioral program in place so that he or she has a chance of being rehabilitated. I not, the dog would be euthanised.

There are a few types of dog personalities that may be able to adjust to numerous environments and people, with no real “home base”. However, finding dogs with that kind of temperment and resilience is extremely difficult.

I sincerely hope that this woman realizes the disasterous effects that her business may have on the dogs she is planning on renting for her own profit. I would strongly recommend that she speak to a canine behaviorist in her area to re-evaluate her plan.

]]> By: Kevin http://happytailsspa-blog.com/2007/12/23/rent-a-dog/#comment-84 Kevin Fri, 28 Dec 2007 20:47:50 +0000 http://happytailsspa-blog.com/?p=43#comment-84 I'm not so sure about the ill effects of this, perhaps when viewed from the human perspective it sounds cruel however if you look at this from the position of a dog, basically a modified wolf, then surely their ancestry is one of wondering from place to place with no fixed home. I appreciate that they are pack animals and this concept seems to regularly rupture the pack but maybe the dog has a larger capacity for connection than we give him credit for... maybe he just appreciates being loved no matter how many humans do the loving...and who knows all the new stimulii might be good for a dog. I'm not sure that this is cut and dried as you suggest...any canine behavioural therapists out there who can offer more insight into this question? I’m not so sure about the ill effects of this, perhaps when viewed from the human perspective it sounds cruel however if you look at this from the position of a dog, basically a modified wolf, then surely their ancestry is one of wondering from place to place with no fixed home. I appreciate that they are pack animals and this concept seems to regularly rupture the pack but maybe the dog has a larger capacity for connection than we give him credit for… maybe he just appreciates being loved no matter how many humans do the loving…and who knows all the new stimulii might be good for a dog. I’m not sure that this is cut and dried as you suggest…any canine behavioural therapists out there who can offer more insight into this question?

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