06/18/2024
Decompression
-What is decompression?
-Why does decompression occur?
-What problems occur during decompression/what does it look like?
-How long should I expect it to last?
-How do I minimize behaviors?
-How best can I prepare?
What is decompression?
Decompression is the expression used to describe a period of behavioral adjustment when a dogs environment changes. This could be after moving from a shelter or kennel setting to a home, from one foster home to the next, or when a drastic change occurs in the household such as the addition or loss of a family member or pet or moving to a new home with the family unit. To a degree this also can happen when coming home from boarding or board and train situations.
Why does decompression occur?
Dogs are creatures of habit, they find comfort in routine and structure. By having a predictable environment they understand whatās expected of them and what to expect from their handlers and environment (whether good or bad). They lack the intellectual ability to understand that they have been adopted or that they arenāt moving foster homes immediately again or that the handler is ever coming back each time they leave a room until a new routine and predictable sequence of events has been established to be reliable over time.
What does decompression look like/what behaviors can occur?
Behaviors can range in spectrum, some dogs are more resilient than others and bounce back quickly, some internalize and then show stress in subtle ways, some are more theatrical in nature as a defense mechanism. Each dog is an individual however the common theme is the unstable out of character behavior that lasts until a pattern of reliability in the environment and predictability in the environment occur. Examples include barking and general upset in crate, destroying things in crate, barrier reactivity, leash reactivity, guarding of a safe spot or person, guarding of valuable resources like food and water bowls or feeding areas. Fear aggression, growling and snapping. Inability to settle or relax. The behaviors can also displace when you correct one and emerge as another. Separation anxiety from the known handler or first point of contact, or from the most calm confident handler.
How long should I expect this to last?
Again each dog is an individual and have different resiliency levels and thresholds so each dog will be different. As a general rule we say at least 3/4 weeks to see improvement and 3-6 months to see integration.
How do I minimize behaviors?
Day 0-7 from obtaining the dog, bring dog home to a quiet spot in the home out of the main path of the house traffic and away from other animals, this should be the dogs decompression area that is itās āsafe placeā. Spend time with the dog here engaging in calming behaviors and hand feeding meals for calm behavior and commands. The dog should remain on a leash and a martingale collar while being outside of the crate or kennel at all times so you can help the dog make appropriate choices and prevent barrier failures.
During the first 7 days the dog should only be handled by the primary handler or handlers and be walked in the yard or potty area on lead slowly and allowed to sniff everything for as long as possible. This is relaxing to the dog and mental stimulation will help wear out the dog. Try to set a predictable routine from day 0. Time doesnāt matter as much as sequencing of events such as potty break, breakfast, sniff walk, play session/training session and quiet down time, potty walk, training/play session quiet time, sniff walk, dinner, potty walk and quiet bonding time and then bed. The more predicament you can be in sequence the faster trust is gained and stability is established. During these initial days the dog should not meet any other family members outside the home or friends, the dog shouldnāt leave the property to go places other than the vet and the dog should not meet other animals inside the home. The focus should be on establishing routine and trust and establishing boundaries such as dog is not allowed in certain areas or not allowed to jump on people etc and structure being built in such as sitting and waiting to go through door ways or being calm and rewarding calm, working for food and affection.
Day 7-14 the dog should have expanded access inside the home within reason on leash. Start working on holding down stays while the handler needs to accomplish tasks such as washing dishes or cleaning or folding laundry. Walks can be expanded through the neighborhood while training good leash manners and handler focus through food lures or toy lures avoiding strangers and strange animals. If other training tools are needed to maintain control in these situations consult MAD training department for appropriate selection and application. Training sessions should be reinforcing basic obedience and manners, rewarding good choices. Each dog is an individual and must be trained as such. Dog could be crated and rotated with other animals to allow more out of safe place time on leash or dragging a leash to maintain control and correct bad choices without confrontation. Supervised interaction with other household family members while building rapport in a positive manner such as rewarding for basic commands or play sessions.
Days 14-21
We begin to walk household dogs with decompressing dog during walks without allowing them to get close enough to touch, they may struggle to get at one another, they may be reactive to one another initially, walk, reset them to their position for walks and walk until they are no longer looking at one another rand struggling to get toward one another, allow them to sniff where each other potty, slowly and carefully allow more leash slack to allow them to sniff one anotherās rear ends, avoid face to face contact, watch body language closely for fear or aggression. Only allow sniffs to last 3-15 seconds and then separate and praise. This should occur on each walk. During home time dogs should still be crated and rotated being out together for walks and if all is going well potty breaks together with close supervision and the ability to separate if needed rapidly. Such as a garden hose turned on and ready to blast at offenders face. Also dogs dragging leashes and an additional handler present. Dogs can also work during training sessions in near one another but under separate handlers control.
Days 21-28
During these days we focus primarily on integrating the household animals for brief positive sessions and expanding the time they are out together in the home while the decompressing dog is leashed and monitored at all times. During these days, behavior positive, decompressing dog can begin to go on positive low stress outings if appropriate such as driving to a hiking trail to hike or a training center to attend a training class with handler. During these days, behavior positive, decompressing dog can begin to meet members outside the immediate household during walks or outings if appropriate. Instruct others to ignore dog and walk side by side with handler while handler maintains control of dog rewarding neutrality or positive reactions.
Remember this is a general guideline and each dog is different and will adapt based on their prior life experiences and resilience level.
How best can I prepare?
Learning about the basics of dog training will go a long way. Trainers like Grisha Strewart, Robert Cabral, Nathan Schoemer all have free YouTube libraries where you can learn marker words and how to use them, reward frequency schedules and the 4 quadrants of dog training. Understanding what counter conditioning means and desensitization means will also help.
Make sure you have a room or quiet calm low distraction area for your decompressing dog to be separated to for a month or longer with a heavy duty crate and appropriate toys. Having things such as lick mats and kongs or other similar toys that can be filled with kibble or veggies and meat or peanut butter or baby food or plain Greek yogurt and fruit and then frozen that can be given during quiet times to help make an positive association and to help release endorphins and give the dog something to do. Snuffle mats and puzzle feeders are also great mental stimulation tools. Outward hound makes some great ones. Making sure you have multiple leashes, long lines, and collars available in case something happens to one is also wise. Having a radio or tv in the quiet area where you can play classical music which has been proven to help calm animals and will help deaden the sound outside the room as a white noise agent for the decompressing dog. Having a multitude of chews and treats on hand to occupy or reward when needed. Have a digestive upset supplement on hand in case the dog has stress intestinal issues the first few days. Use the time before the dog leaves the home to find a good trainer with lots of verified working dog experience that holds classes or sessions near you. Classes are a great way to build a bond with your new dog and work on handler focus in a high distraction environment. And last but not least having money set aside for extra food or equipment should you need it such as prong collars or muzzles or crates, when you foster you are responsible for purchasing anything you need outside oh heart worm prevention and flea and tick prevention and vet care.
