Don't Dump The Dog

Don't Dump The Dog, by Randy Grim

reviewed by Pam Green, 2013, 2014

Don't Dump the Dog by Randy Grim is about the common reasons people return dogs to shelters (or reasons they dump a dog into a shelter in the first place), mostly dog behavior but really the ignorance of people as to how to prevent or cure such behaviors. Grim runs a shelter, Stray Rescue, in St Louis , MS, that is mostly stray and feral dogs.

He writes with a great deal of (mostly sarcastic) humor as well as a lot of exasperation with human stupidity. Each chapter begins with a letter or e-mail from an adopter as to why the dog is not working out and why they want to return the dog. Then there's the reply Grim would like to send but refrains (I might add that my own censored replies would be at least as biting, my frustration at least as great). Then there is the discussion of the problem and how to prevent or cure it.

In between chapters are "Quick Fix" advice consisting of the "dumping excuse" and Randy's "quick fix" reply.. My favorite is probably Excuse "my boyfriend doesn't like my dog" and the response "dump the boyfriend", advice I have given on many occasions.

I rather like his humor (similar enough to my own) and may steal a few of his lines for future use when appropriate. I suspect other rescue workers will have similar reactions.

Randy's behavior advice is pretty good. (I do have some annotations of my own of course, mostly adding details.). Some people might object to his occasional use of "startle" tactics such as the penny can (one I'd think most dogs would rapidly habituate to and ignore) and occasional use of mild aversives. but most of the advice is based on desensitization, counter-conditioning, reinforcing more desirable behavior, and so on, all of which are very kindly techniques utilizing positive reinforcement and positive associations. There's emphasis on teaching the dog to relax , trust, and enjoy. His discussion of why you don't do alpha rolls and other physically hostile behaviors is quite good and quite picturesque : don't do these things unless you like spending time in the ER. I think most of us would find plenty of bits here that we'd use when we talk to normal people with a dog "problem".

Many of the problems he deals with are based in fear, not surprising as he deals with feral dogs and abused dogs (including dogs rescued from the dog fighting situation). For fear issues, Nicole Wilde's Help for Your Fearful Dog is a more detailed exposition, but lacks the humor and the primary orientation to rescue work

List of chapters and problems discussed

• Foreward , by Loretta Swit (she believes in teaching via humor)
• Introduction (about his feral and stray dog rescue)
• ADD Dogs (highly active dogs who need more exercise and how to provide exercise)
• The Escape Artist (really about complaints from neighbors, also about training a good recall)
• Dogs who "play" when you're away (destructiveness due to separation anxiety)
• Shuuut Up ! (barking)
• The Turd Eaters (coprophagia)
• Cujo in the Dog Park (dog-aggressive dogs who must be taught to relax around other dogs so they can be walked on leash, with clear warning that these dogs will never be trustworthy safe off leash or able to play nice at the dog park These dogs are ofen super great with people, but not good with other dogs.)
• Dogs Who You-Know-What in the House ( urinattion issues : housebreaking , marking, and submissive urination. does not discuss incontinence, ie involuntary urination, which is really a veterinary issue not a behavioral one.)
• Dogs Who Lick Baby Snot (a variety of issues re dogs and babies, including dogs getting into the dirty diapers, how to teach dog to associate baby with good things therefore love baby, and the advice that some people really shouldn't have children. This is also the chapter where the can of pennies system is discussed.)
• Bullies with an Attitude (dogs whose owners complain the dog is "dominant"or "dominance aggressive", sometimes a problem that owner is a domineering bully who shouldn't have dogs (or children or spouse) but sometimes the dog really is the bossy type (note : I've had several bossy dogs and love them, but I do keep the upper paw with them). This is the chapter where Randy advises against methods like Alpha Roll "unlessyou like visiting emergency rooms". plus a good discussion of wolf and dog heirarchy and pack leadership as "family" with the leader as the calm benevolent parent who "has nothing to prove" and who controls and doles out resources. He outlines his version of Nothing in Life is Free. He also advises to allow dogs to eat their dinner undisturbed once you have given it to the dog, a view I heartily endorse)
• Cowardly Lions (timid dogs, abused dogs; distinguishing fear-based self-defensive "aggression" from confident "dominance" aggression.. hot dogs to counter-condition fearful to to relax and feel happy. notes on feral and abandoned dogs
• Allergy Season (advise to people allergic to dogs)
• Scardy Cats (feral dogs, dogs afraid of people.)
• I Love Old Dogs (appreciating senior dogs and ttaking good care of them.. including my own favorite wish about the karma of those who abandon their old dog.)
• To Crate or Not to Crate ("your dog's haven and your ticket to sanity". how to do it correctly.)
• Affordable Strays (what to do when you find a stray dog, especially how to place the dog if you can't keep it. trying to avoid sending dog to shelter where he may be killed. also a bit about affording vet care.)
• Aterword: Randy on a Soapbox ("this is a life we're talking about". deal with your problems rather than dumping the dog off to be killed.)

Randy's explanations are given in everyday language and down to earth examples. So it's a good book for ordinary dog owners, because it will make sense to them. Mostly he avoids the technical language one would address to behaviorists and trainers, language that doesn't tend to resonate well with normal people.

This is a good book for dog owners and adopters as much as for shelter and rescue workers. The message is not to get rid of your dog but to be willing to work on those ordinary (and not so ordinary) problems.

• Stray Rescue , in St Louis, MO, http://www.strayrescue.org. compatible with older browsers ; a bit slow over dial-up
• Book Review of "Help for Your Fearful Dog", by Nicole Wilde, reviewed byPam Green