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Save a Dog’s Life | Karyn Garvin | TEDxTucson


thank you

thank you I’d like to begin with the question do I

I’d like to begin with the question do I

I’d like to begin with the question do I have any dog lovers in the audience it

have any dog lovers in the audience it

have any dog lovers in the audience it was because of my love for dogs that I

was because of my love for dogs that I

was because of my love for dogs that I began my career in 1978 typically if a

began my career in 1978 typically if a

began my career in 1978 typically if a dog’s owner calls in for help with their

dog’s owner calls in for help with their

dog’s owner calls in for help with their dog usually they’re having an issue with

dog usually they’re having an issue with

dog usually they’re having an issue with their dog and that’s my job

their dog and that’s my job

their dog and that’s my job it’s always been my job to determine why

it’s always been my job to determine why

it’s always been my job to determine why a particular dog is behaving a certain

a particular dog is behaving a certain

a particular dog is behaving a certain way and then to come up with solutions

way and then to come up with solutions

way and then to come up with solutions that work for that dog as well as that

that work for that dog as well as that

that work for that dog as well as that dog’s owner now I have another question

dog’s owner now I have another question

dog’s owner now I have another question for the audience how many of you have

for the audience how many of you have

for the audience how many of you have heard of a condition referred to as

heard of a condition referred to as

heard of a condition referred to as separation anxiety and dogs show of

separation anxiety and dogs show of

separation anxiety and dogs show of hands well look around you that’s a lot

hands well look around you that’s a lot

hands well look around you that’s a lot of hands final question

of hands final question

of hands final question how many of you have heard of a

how many of you have heard of a

how many of you have heard of a condition referred to as containment

condition referred to as containment

condition referred to as containment phobia in dogs look around you very few

phobia in dogs look around you very few

phobia in dogs look around you very few hands and this is a huge problem when a

hands and this is a huge problem when a

hands and this is a huge problem when a dog’s behavior is misdiagnosed there’s

dog’s behavior is misdiagnosed there’s

dog’s behavior is misdiagnosed there’s no cure and when dog behaviors

no cure and when dog behaviors

no cure and when dog behaviors interpreted the wrong way

interpreted the wrong way

interpreted the wrong way dogs are given away today is about

dogs are given away today is about

dogs are given away today is about giving you new insights into these two

giving you new insights into these two

giving you new insights into these two conditions so that together we can save

conditions so that together we can save

conditions so that together we can save a dog’s life I’d like to begin with a

a dog’s life I’d like to begin with a

a dog’s life I’d like to begin with a story about Aaron and Michael and their

story about Aaron and Michael and their

story about Aaron and Michael and their dog

dog

dog Ava now in many ways Ava was the perfect

Ava now in many ways Ava was the perfect

Ava now in many ways Ava was the perfect dog she’s great with people she’s superb

dog she’s great with people she’s superb

dog she’s great with people she’s superb with her children obedient but Aaron and

with her children obedient but Aaron and

with her children obedient but Aaron and Michael called in because Ava could be

Michael called in because Ava could be

Michael called in because Ava could be very destructive whenever she was left

very destructive whenever she was left

very destructive whenever she was left home alone I remember on our first

home alone I remember on our first

home alone I remember on our first appointment together how they recalled

appointment together how they recalled

appointment together how they recalled that from the time she was a puppy they

that from the time she was a puppy they

that from the time she was a puppy they nicknamed

nicknamed

nicknamed her there Houdini dog if ever they tried

her there Houdini dog if ever they tried

her there Houdini dog if ever they tried to confine Ava in the kitchen with a

to confine Ava in the kitchen with a

to confine Ava in the kitchen with a baby gate just for housebreaking

baby gate just for housebreaking

baby gate just for housebreaking purposes that little Ava she would just

purposes that little Ava she would just

purposes that little Ava she would just scramble right over the gate at that

scramble right over the gate at that

scramble right over the gate at that point in time they thought she just

point in time they thought she just

point in time they thought she just wanted to be with him but as time went

wanted to be with him but as time went

wanted to be with him but as time went on and they had to go to work they

on and they had to go to work they

on and they had to go to work they decided well let’s leave Ava out in the

decided well let’s leave Ava out in the

decided well let’s leave Ava out in the yard they had a big beautiful safe

yard they had a big beautiful safe

yard they had a big beautiful safe Walden backyard but they noticed when

Walden backyard but they noticed when

Walden backyard but they noticed when they came home from work these horrible

they came home from work these horrible

they came home from work these horrible scratch marks by the back door and as

scratch marks by the back door and as

scratch marks by the back door and as time went on they saw the same kind of

time went on they saw the same kind of

time went on they saw the same kind of scratching that the side gate but she

scratching that the side gate but she

scratching that the side gate but she was also digging it looked as though she

was also digging it looked as though she

was also digging it looked as though she was digging trying to get out well

was digging trying to get out well

was digging trying to get out well Michael fix the gate but as Ava grew

Michael fix the gate but as Ava grew

Michael fix the gate but as Ava grew clever Ava she discovered she could jump

clever Ava she discovered she could jump

clever Ava she discovered she could jump the wall but she didn’t go anywhere

the wall but she didn’t go anywhere

the wall but she didn’t go anywhere as a matter of fact Aaron and Michael be

as a matter of fact Aaron and Michael be

as a matter of fact Aaron and Michael be coming home from work and there’d be Ava

coming home from work and there’d be Ava

coming home from work and there’d be Ava sitting on the front porch waiting for

sitting on the front porch waiting for

sitting on the front porch waiting for him but it was at this point in time

him but it was at this point in time

him but it was at this point in time they realized they had to start leaving

they realized they had to start leaving

they realized they had to start leaving her indoors so they decided to try the

her indoors so they decided to try the

her indoors so they decided to try the crate and then this is what they came

crate and then this is what they came

crate and then this is what they came home to this is Ava’s plastic crate

home to this is Ava’s plastic crate

home to this is Ava’s plastic crate after one day

after one day

after one day well Michael they loved her dog Michael

well Michael they loved her dog Michael

well Michael they loved her dog Michael went out and bought Ava a beautiful pen

went out and bought Ava a beautiful pen

went out and bought Ava a beautiful pen where she had more room she could see

where she had more room she could see

where she had more room she could see out everywhere this pen was so big he

out everywhere this pen was so big he

out everywhere this pen was so big he needed to keep it on the back porch

needed to keep it on the back porch

needed to keep it on the back porch right well Ava was determined to get out

right well Ava was determined to get out

right well Ava was determined to get out of this pen also and they came home to

of this pen also and they came home to

of this pen also and they came home to this Ava not only figured out how to

this Ava not only figured out how to

this Ava not only figured out how to dislocate the bars

dislocate the bars

dislocate the bars she also dislocated her foot in the

she also dislocated her foot in the

she also dislocated her foot in the process now what are they gonna do they

process now what are they gonna do they

process now what are they gonna do they can’t let Ava continue to hurt this

can’t let Ava continue to hurt this

can’t let Ava continue to hurt this herself so they decided okay well we

herself so they decided okay well we

herself so they decided okay well we have to leave her indoors let’s try the

have to leave her indoors let’s try the

have to leave her indoors let’s try the laundry room

laundry room

laundry room yeah the laundry room big save she can’t

yeah the laundry room big save she can’t

yeah the laundry room big save she can’t escape the laundry room

escape the laundry room

escape the laundry room and then this is what they came home to

clever a thought within a matter of days

clever a thought within a matter of days she discovered how to open the laundry

she discovered how to open the laundry

she discovered how to open the laundry room door with that lover door handle

room door with that lover door handle

room door with that lover door handle and she managed to escape into the

and she managed to escape into the

and she managed to escape into the garage and this is what they came home

garage and this is what they came home

garage and this is what they came home to ava thought she might be able to get

to ava thought she might be able to get

to ava thought she might be able to get out the garage door

out the garage door

out the garage door well they replaced the lever door handle

well they replaced the lever door handle

well they replaced the lever door handle this is what the door knob still looks

this is what the door knob still looks

this is what the door knob still looks like now and by the way during her

like now and by the way during her

like now and by the way during her excursions trying to escape the house

excursions trying to escape the house

excursions trying to escape the house she also slipped into the boys bedroom

she also slipped into the boys bedroom

she also slipped into the boys bedroom tried to go out through the window but

tried to go out through the window but

tried to go out through the window but now I ask you have you ever

have you ever heard of a dog behaving

have you ever heard of a dog behaving like this one I bet some of you have and

like this one I bet some of you have and

like this one I bet some of you have and here’s the deal

here’s the deal

here’s the deal ava has containment phobia behavior

ava has containment phobia behavior

ava has containment phobia behavior never lies

never lies

never lies now containment phobia could be defined

now containment phobia could be defined

now containment phobia could be defined as an extreme fear of being trapped

as an extreme fear of being trapped

as an extreme fear of being trapped feeling confined well what about the

feeling confined well what about the

feeling confined well what about the analogy that many of us have heard that

analogy that many of us have heard that

analogy that many of us have heard that the crate for a dog is just like a den

the crate for a dog is just like a den

the crate for a dog is just like a den is for wolf well here’s the big

is for wolf well here’s the big

is for wolf well here’s the big difference

difference

difference a wolf’s den has an open-door policy a

a wolf’s den has an open-door policy a

a wolf’s den has an open-door policy a wolf can come and go at will in the

wolf can come and go at will in the

wolf can come and go at will in the heart of a wolf to be trapped would be

heart of a wolf to be trapped would be

heart of a wolf to be trapped would be life-threatening

life-threatening

life-threatening this is a survival instinct and aren’t

this is a survival instinct and aren’t

this is a survival instinct and aren’t all dogs all breeds descendants of the

all dogs all breeds descendants of the

all dogs all breeds descendants of the wolf they share the same DNA truly that

wolf they share the same DNA truly that

wolf they share the same DNA truly that analogy you could no more put a wild

analogy you could no more put a wild

analogy you could no more put a wild wolf and a crate then you could stick me

wolf and a crate then you could stick me

wolf and a crate then you could stick me in a dress it’s not happening

in a dress it’s not happening

in a dress it’s not happening now here’s the problem the problem is

now here’s the problem the problem is

now here’s the problem the problem is that containment phobia is almost always

that containment phobia is almost always

that containment phobia is almost always misdiagnosed as separation anxiety the

misdiagnosed as separation anxiety the

misdiagnosed as separation anxiety the one thing that these two conditions have

one thing that these two conditions have

one thing that these two conditions have in common the one thing that has clouded

in common the one thing that has clouded

in common the one thing that has clouded the thinking of the multitudes is that

the thinking of the multitudes is that

the thinking of the multitudes is that in both cases the destructive behavior

in both cases the destructive behavior

in both cases the destructive behavior occurs when their owners are gone really

occurs when their owners are gone really

occurs when their owners are gone really folks on our egos something if it

folks on our egos something if it

folks on our egos something if it happens when I’m gone it must be about

happens when I’m gone it must be about

happens when I’m gone it must be about me now I don’t want to get off the topic

me now I don’t want to get off the topic

me now I don’t want to get off the topic here but I do have to share that I could

here but I do have to share that I could

here but I do have to share that I could list at least 18 more reasons in

list at least 18 more reasons in

list at least 18 more reasons in addition to these two for why dogs might

addition to these two for why dogs might

addition to these two for why dogs might behave destructively when their owners

behave destructively when their owners

behave destructively when their owners are gone but separation anxiety became a

are gone but separation anxiety became a

are gone but separation anxiety became a very popular catch-all phrase don’t get

very popular catch-all phrase don’t get

very popular catch-all phrase don’t get me wrong

me wrong

me wrong separation anxiety does exist and it

separation anxiety does exist and it

separation anxiety does exist and it could be horribly traumatic for dogs as

could be horribly traumatic for dogs as

could be horribly traumatic for dogs as well did you know that the term was

well did you know that the term was

well did you know that the term was first used to describe the feelings of

first used to describe the feelings of

first used to describe the feelings of loss and anxiety for people we can thank

loss and anxiety for people we can thank

loss and anxiety for people we can thank this gentleman John Bowlby for first

this gentleman John Bowlby for first

this gentleman John Bowlby for first coining the term in 1969 he published

coining the term in 1969 he published

coining the term in 1969 he published what he called the attachment theory he

what he called the attachment theory he

what he called the attachment theory he proved that human beings that we come

proved that human beings that we come

proved that human beings that we come into the world pre-programmed to form

into the world pre-programmed to form

into the world pre-programmed to form attachments with one another it’s in our

attachments with one another it’s in our

attachments with one another it’s in our DNA

DNA

DNA it’s a survival instinct and he used the

it’s a survival instinct and he used the

it’s a survival instinct and he used the words like if a human being if suddenly

words like if a human being if suddenly

words like if a human being if suddenly we were missing a relationship that we

we were missing a relationship that we

we were missing a relationship that we had counted on maybe the death of a

had counted on maybe the death of a

had counted on maybe the death of a loved one we would experience anxiety

loved one we would experience anxiety

loved one we would experience anxiety about being separated that’s where the

about being separated that’s where the

about being separated that’s where the words came from and aren’t dogs social

words came from and aren’t dogs social

words came from and aren’t dogs social creatures right that’s why they’re

creatures right that’s why they’re

creatures right that’s why they’re called pack animals they also come into

called pack animals they also come into

called pack animals they also come into the world pre-programmed to form

the world pre-programmed to form

the world pre-programmed to form attachments with one another and that’s

attachments with one another and that’s

attachments with one another and that’s what separation anxiety would feel like

what separation anxiety would feel like

what separation anxiety would feel like for a dog it’d be like oh my owners gone

for a dog it’d be like oh my owners gone

for a dog it’d be like oh my owners gone like hey being left alone so you can see

like hey being left alone so you can see

like hey being left alone so you can see the difference separation anxiety is

the difference separation anxiety is

the difference separation anxiety is more relationship based where

more relationship based where

more relationship based where containment phobia is about being

containment phobia is about being

containment phobia is about being confined now I’d like to share a picture

confined now I’d like to share a picture

confined now I’d like to share a picture of two dogs that recently went through a

of two dogs that recently went through a

of two dogs that recently went through a bout with separation anxiety me Howie

bout with separation anxiety me Howie

bout with separation anxiety me Howie and Cooper Howie and Cooper had never

and Cooper Howie and Cooper had never

and Cooper Howie and Cooper had never been destructive before but their owners

been destructive before but their owners

been destructive before but their owners were married recently and they went off

were married recently and they went off

were married recently and they went off on their honeymoon Howie and Cooper had

on their honeymoon Howie and Cooper had

on their honeymoon Howie and Cooper had never had their owners leave for days

never had their owners leave for days

never had their owners leave for days nor had they ever had a house sitter

nor had they ever had a house sitter

nor had they ever had a house sitter even house sitters have to step out and

even house sitters have to step out and

even house sitters have to step out and this is what the house sitter came home

this is what the house sitter came home

this is what the house sitter came home to they managed to get into the office

to they managed to get into the office

to they managed to get into the office closet and pull out everything and

closet and pull out everything and

closet and pull out everything and destroy it and when they were done

destroy it and when they were done

destroy it and when they were done venting their frustrations there they

venting their frustrations there they

venting their frustrations there they went to the couch

so these are the pictures that were

so these are the pictures that were texted to the newlyweds on their

texted to the newlyweds on their

texted to the newlyweds on their honeymoon once again behavior never lies

honeymoon once again behavior never lies

honeymoon once again behavior never lies you can see the difference in these two

you can see the difference in these two

you can see the difference in these two conditions by what the dog chooses to

conditions by what the dog chooses to

conditions by what the dog chooses to destroy all of Ava’s destruction was in

destroy all of Ava’s destruction was in

destroy all of Ava’s destruction was in relationship to being confined and

relationship to being confined and

relationship to being confined and needing to escape Howie and Cooper on

needing to escape Howie and Cooper on

needing to escape Howie and Cooper on the other hand they vented their

the other hand they vented their

the other hand they vented their frustrations on stuff in the house right

frustrations on stuff in the house right

frustrations on stuff in the house right so the solutions to these two things

so the solutions to these two things

so the solutions to these two things with Ava the solution biggest solution

with Ava the solution biggest solution

with Ava the solution biggest solution was in providing her with a dog door

was in providing her with a dog door

was in providing her with a dog door right now

right now

right now Ava didn’t feel confined like that wolf

Ava didn’t feel confined like that wolf

Ava didn’t feel confined like that wolf she had freedom of movement she could

she had freedom of movement she could

she had freedom of movement she could come and go at will for Ava we also

come and go at will for Ava we also

come and go at will for Ava we also needed to install an electronic fence

needed to install an electronic fence

needed to install an electronic fence system on the wall to stop her from

system on the wall to stop her from

system on the wall to stop her from jumping the fence but really you’ll be

jumping the fence but really you’ll be

jumping the fence but really you’ll be happy to know that these two things in

happy to know that these two things in

happy to know that these two things in addition to a little training even her

addition to a little training even her

addition to a little training even her family are living happily ever after

family are living happily ever after

family are living happily ever after Howie and Cooper with separation anxiety

Howie and Cooper with separation anxiety

Howie and Cooper with separation anxiety the solutions are going to be more

the solutions are going to be more

the solutions are going to be more relationship based sometimes it’s in

relationship based sometimes it’s in

relationship based sometimes it’s in teaching the dog as well as the dog’s

teaching the dog as well as the dog’s

teaching the dog as well as the dog’s owner to be a little bit more

owner to be a little bit more

owner to be a little bit more independent of than each other even when

independent of than each other even when

independent of than each other even when they are together but basically with

they are together but basically with

they are together but basically with separation anxiety since its

separation anxiety since its

separation anxiety since its relationship based every relationships

relationship based every relationships

relationship based every relationships different and so the solutions are also

different and so the solutions are also

different and so the solutions are also going to vary accordingly now remember

going to vary accordingly now remember

going to vary accordingly now remember how at the very beginning I said

how at the very beginning I said

how at the very beginning I said something about dogs being given away

something about dogs being given away

something about dogs being given away it’s estimated that 3.9 million dogs

it’s estimated that 3.9 million dogs

it’s estimated that 3.9 million dogs will enter our shelters and that’s just

will enter our shelters and that’s just

will enter our shelters and that’s just this year nationwide now the good news

this year nationwide now the good news

this year nationwide now the good news is more than half of those dogs will

is more than half of those dogs will

is more than half of those dogs will find their forever home here’s the bad

find their forever home here’s the bad

find their forever home here’s the bad news

news

news it’s estimated that 1.2

it’s estimated that 1.2

it’s estimated that 1.2 million dogs will be killed in our

million dogs will be killed in our

million dogs will be killed in our shelters that’s killing 3287 dogs every

shelters that’s killing 3287 dogs every

shelters that’s killing 3287 dogs every day it’s also estimated that somewhere

day it’s also estimated that somewhere

day it’s also estimated that somewhere between 10 to 20% of our entire dog

between 10 to 20% of our entire dog

between 10 to 20% of our entire dog population will suffer from some level

population will suffer from some level

population will suffer from some level of containment phobia and these dogs are

of containment phobia and these dogs are

of containment phobia and these dogs are much more likely to end up in our

much more likely to end up in our

much more likely to end up in our shelters let me be very clear

shelters let me be very clear

shelters let me be very clear I am here to recruit you in sharing what

I am here to recruit you in sharing what

I am here to recruit you in sharing what you’ve learned about these two different

you’ve learned about these two different

you’ve learned about these two different very different conditions and dogs you

very different conditions and dogs you

very different conditions and dogs you may be chatting online you may be

may be chatting online you may be

may be chatting online you may be talking to a co-worker but I know one

talking to a co-worker but I know one

talking to a co-worker but I know one day you’re gonna hear about a dog owner

day you’re gonna hear about a dog owner

day you’re gonna hear about a dog owner who’s very troubled and their dog’s been

who’s very troubled and their dog’s been

who’s very troubled and their dog’s been diagnosed with separation anxiety but

diagnosed with separation anxiety but

diagnosed with separation anxiety but you recognize the difference you hear

you recognize the difference you hear

you recognize the difference you hear the tell-tale signs of containment

the tell-tale signs of containment

the tell-tale signs of containment phobia sure its destructive when they’re

phobia sure its destructive when they’re

phobia sure its destructive when they’re gone but it’s destroying window

gone but it’s destroying window

gone but it’s destroying window coverings door frames it won’t be crated

coverings door frames it won’t be crated

coverings door frames it won’t be crated they’re calling it a Houdini dog you

they’re calling it a Houdini dog you

they’re calling it a Houdini dog you could make the difference I sincerely

could make the difference I sincerely

could make the difference I sincerely believe that together we could save

believe that together we could save

believe that together we could save hundreds and thousands of dogs lives as

hundreds and thousands of dogs lives as

hundreds and thousands of dogs lives as well as the very troubled hearts of all

well as the very troubled hearts of all

well as the very troubled hearts of all those people that love them thank you

those people that love them thank you

those people that love them thank you [Applause]

”

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