Dogs Have Trauma Too

Big, small, old, or young, every dog has the potential to be triggered. Just like people, they have their own unique personality, and just like people, they each experience their own traumas.

Let's take for instance, my dog Red. When I first met Red, she still had puppies by her side, and she had been in the rescue program for several months. She was being kept in the kennels because at that time, there were not enough foster homes. I have no idea what her life was like before we met but she had obviously experienced something scary at some point.

Red and her puppies came to stay at Rose Blossom Farm with me, and even though she seemed so shut down when she arrived, it didn't take her long to settle into a comfortable routine. She would not let me touch her or get too close to her at first, but if I left the front door open long enough, she would make her way inside the house each night. She was afraid of everything and had so many trust issues, but I was able to give her the space and time to slowly come around and start learning how to be a pet. She eventually slept in her open crate next to my bed every night and she ate in the same room as the other dogs, she did farm chores with me, and she sunbathed in the sand with her puppies. She was definitely making some progress.

She soon started to learn what it meant to go to adoption events, and she hated them. She was a nervous wreck and spent her time crouched in the corner of her crate, shaking and avoiding all interaction with people. It was heartbreaking to watch.

But then she got adopted! Yay! I was so happy for her. And things went well for a couple months until I got the call. Red and the other female in the household had gotten into a scuffle. I don't remember all the details, but everyone involved felt the best thing to do was to put her back into rescue.

Of course, I went and picked her up that afternoon. I tell people all the time that when we got back to the farm and she jumped out of the backseat, she took a big stretch and I swear she turned and looked at me like, "Not sure what that was all about but thanks for finally bringing me home!"

Red - Summer 2018, before she was adopted

In the following weeks, every Saturday when it was time to load the #FosterDogs up and go to PetSmart, Red would conveniently disappear into the 100-acre cow field behind the house. I would show up to the adoption event and have to inform them that Red was unavailable that day.

Now, I have fostered a lot of dogs. A LOT. I already had two dogs, Chance and Theo, and had already buried my first dog, Brahma and another #FosterFail who I affectionately named, Little White Dog. Trust me when I tell you I was really good at saying no. But I knew by that point that Red had already chosen me. Because that's what dogs do sometimes, they choose us. So, it didn't take too long before I made it official and now five years later, it's just me and her. So much has happened between then and now but for the purposes of this post, I wanted to give you some history of how our relationship came to be.

About six months after I adopted Red, I had another foster dog with puppies who were still nursing. I kept them in the barn for a couple weeks and although this new foster dog was a ginormous Anatolian Shepherd, she was a gentle giant and just as sweet as could be. When we were out and about on the farm, all the dogs got along well, and played and respected each other's space.

One evening, I couldn't find the new mama dog. Eventually, I located her under the front porch, covered in blood. I had to drag her out because she refused to move. She was definitely traumatized. I got her in the tub and started rinsing through all of her long hair, trying to find where the bleeding was coming from. After a few minutes, I noticed she didn't have any wounds at all.

Then I walked out on the front porch and saw Red, standing there in the front yard, dripping blood from her face, ears, and legs. I rushed to her and collapsed in the grass by her side. My heart was breaking. I don't know what happened but when I look back on it, I'm just so grateful they broke themselves up and Red's wounds weren't any worse. To this day, she still has a tear in her left ear from that incident.

Over the years, as Red has gained more confidence and security, she has become more attached to me, and her personality has really developed. She loves to go for car rides now, has learned to enjoy the water, and made many new friends in many different states. She'll readily chill under a bar counter or shop the farmers market with me or follow me on a hike through the woods. For the most part, she is a well-adjusted dog.

However, I've also noticed that other parts of her personality have changed, too. Like now, she becomes very assertive when a toy is being thrown, and she uses her voice more with other female dogs to establish boundaries, especially if they are her size or bigger. Could this behavior be a result of her life experiences? Possibly. Does she still have trust issues that I believe may never be resolved? That's possible, too. I mean, she's still hesitant to go through doorways, but in so many other ways, she has learned how to be my little partner in crime. She travels with me almost everywhere and tries not to let me out of her sight. She's a good girl and she does really well in most situations. She's my dog and I love her.

But, without knowing all the answers, I feel like I just need to be the most responsible pet owner I can be. I try to never put her in environments that might trigger her. I give her lots of love and attention, but I also discipline her appropriately, when it's necessary. Can I prevent her from reacting to her triggers? Not always, but as we continue to grow together, I can definitely try to minimize her triggers. I made a commitment to her, and I take responsibility for her behavior and her actions, all the while knowing there is so much about her I will never truly understand.

Do I trust her in every situation? No. But do I want her to trust me to always keep her safe? Yes, I do. Because that is my duty as her human, and I humbly accept the responsibility.

I have a slew of dog fight stories I could tell you. Big, small, old, and young dogs of all different breeds who in specific circumstances were triggered. I have a really nice scar on my right thigh from breaking up a fight between two dogs I didn't even know. Dogs are animals and when they are triggered and their instincts kick in, anything can happen. And it always happens so fast. And it can be pretty scary. And there can be very serious consequences. All dogs can be triggered, so all dog owners should act responsibly.

To wrap this up, I would like to share a video of Red and my niece, Charlotte, taken December 3, 2022. After spending the day decorating the Christmas tree, Charlotte thought it was time for Red to take a nap. As I sat next to them on the couch watching the exchange unfold, I can honestly say that in that moment, I 100% trusted my dog to be nothing but gentle, sweet, and kind...and my heart felt happy.