Blue-Eyed Syndrome

BLUE-EYED SYNDROME:

That’s just my name for it. Other people have different names. It’s my name for when a dog really explodes crazily if you ask it do something it doesn’t want to do. It uses unnatural, extreme aggression. Its eyes go wide and pop out slightly. The irises really dilate fully and have a flat bluish sheen to them.

It’s an extremely traumatic condition for the dog to live with. It’s very traumatic for everyone who lives with it. It’s very exhausting because you never know when it will explode. You get no normal dog warning before it explodes at an extreme level of aggression.

Each explosion of aggression shakes your nerves to the core. The sound it makes during an aggressive outburst triggers our most primitive instincts of fear and terror. Most people back away from the dog and feel numb. It’s like a grenade exploded without warning. The dog is left alone. This is the reaction the dog wants. The freedom to do exactly what it wants. It cannot help this. The dog’s brain is broken.

Why does it happen? Chemical or electrical connections in the dog’s brain aren’t linking.

What’s not working? If the dog loses some points to another dog or human, its brain should pass on an immediate and instinctive message saying: “So give in calmly.” This message doesn’t get received. The dog fights the instinct on a very primitive level and explodes out with an attack instead.

Why is this such a problem? The safety mechanism in the dog’s brain is not working. It has lost the ability to fit naturally into a pack or communicate properly with another dog. It will only do things it wants to. Until huge breakthrough’s are made, it can’t be fixed in dogs. The message is being stopped on some neural pathway. Sedatives don’t fix the problem, they just lessen the explosion.

What do other dogs think of it? They really dislike the unpredictable explosions of aggression. They are confused when the Blue-Eyed Syndrome dog doesn’t follow the point system. They are confused by the smells it gives off. They think it’s broken. Aggressive broken dogs completely destroy the fragile harmony of a pack.

Dominant lead dogs will attack the Blue-Eyed Syndrome dog to get it to submit to the natural laws of the Dog World. When it won’t submit, a big, long fight ensues. This dominant dog may be in your pack or a neighbor’s dog or a dog down in the park. Every opportunity afterwards, the dominant dog will try to attack it. It may try to kill it. Neither dog will back down.

More submissive dogs will just tend to ignore it more. They get slow depression from the situation. They lose their natural zest for life.

What’s the main problem of a pack living with a Blue-Eyed Syndrome dog?  Strong undercurrents of tension never leave the pack and keep growing. The home is no longer a safe zone. Creeping depression settles in although no one is really aware until it gradually gets so bad, it can no longer be ignored.

The humans start to have swirling undercurrents of friction over it. The other dogs stop trusting your leadership skills as much. It’s very exhausting and depressing living with this sort of dog, even if everyone is trying to pretend the problem doesn’t exist. The dog usually ‘works on’ one human to keep it alive and part of the pack. The dog can pull an incredible amount of heartstrings to cause guilt at making the final decision. I believe it may release smells over time around that person to make a powerful bond on a chemical level.

My advice is: This situation can’t be fixed. You can live with it, accommodate it but those explosions will keep happening the moment the Blue-Eyed Syndrome dog doesn’t want to do something. Especially if someone forces the issue. It usually gets worse as the dog gets older, not better.

The dog may bite people in the household. It may cause a fight down in the park. It may bite people like vet staff and groomers. It’s an unfair situation to thrust on your other dogs in the household. A child may try to pat it when you are not looking. I believe the most humane and safest thing is to put the poor dog to sleep. There are so many beautiful rescue dogs needing a home who will bring so much joy and happiness into your life.

But note – before you adopt another dog, give your own dogs a well-earned holiday. Let your pack heal and unite again. Wait till everyone is looking relaxed, young and fun again!

If you see me check for it. How do I do it?

Before I begin, I will deliberately win a lot of points to earn the right to handle the dog or even just sit near it. I do everything in my power to make it easy for the dog.

Then I handle the dog or sit near it. The dog will either react with Blue-Eyed Syndrome or not.

I test a few times to see how it reacts. We have rests in between these tests. I also load up my point score re-earning the right to act like a leader around it. I use calming signals to see if it communicates properly according to the Dog World.

I do the test outside in natural sunlight as well to look for that flat blue sheen in the wide iris when the dog is reacting very strongly.

I deliberately push the dog’s tolerance of being handled to see how bad the level of aggression and protest noise is. (It’s usually very loud, primitive sounding and tears at your nerves.) I would only suggest you do this if you are very experienced or you could get extremely injured. I also recommend you know your calming signals to bring the dog back down from that traumatic explosion of aggression.

If the dog doesn’t show Blue-Eyed Syndrome, I look for physical injuries. I keep loading up my points as a leader and work on teaching the dog to trust humans again.

If the dog does show Blue-Eyed Syndrome, then it’s time to talk to the owner.

I’m going to get the dog put to sleep. Am I a bad, selfish person making this decision? No. I think you’re being truly sensible.

We all work so hard these days and live with incredible amounts of stress that we really need to decompress when we get home. A dog like this (through no fault of its own) turns your serene, happy home into a tension zone as everyone is waiting for the next explosion of aggression.

You are creating toxins in your body living with that unpredictable, slow-burning stress. It is like living with a hairy grenade that can explode at any moment. Dogs like this can make you very sick in the long run. They can wreck relationships. They can make your other dogs grow old before their time. The toxins build up in your organs and your dogs’ organs. These toxins are heavy and hard to get out. If you’re already carrying around lots of heavy toxins, hours of walking in nice surroundings or swimming will help push them through your body. Drink liters of icy pure rainwater/ spring water. It will take months to completely get rid of the last traces of toxins but it’s worth it.

I believe after you put the dog to sleep and come to terms with your guilt, you won’t believe how different your household will be in a few weeks time. It will be like a heavy load has been lifted off everyone’s shoulders. You will have a light step in your feet. You will wake up looking forward to going out in public with your other dogs. You will feel years younger. So will your dogs.

Why will you feel better? You will no longer be living with a hairy grenade. One that leaves a big emotional mess every time it explodes. A mess you have to keep cleaning up. A mess that leaves toxins that sticks to your mind and body for hours, even days or weeks afterwards. Can you feel that soft, heavy, sick feeling you’re starting to carry around in your gut? This is the reason I really recommend you say a final goodbye. It is simply too unhealthy for you to continue living with this dog.

One positive thing a dog with Blue-Eyed Syndrome can teach us is this: They show us how much respect any dog wants in its personal space. People who have lived with a dog with Blue-Eyed Syndrome are usually very respectful and wise about dog’s personal space for the rest of their life. Blue-Eyed Syndrome dogs are incredible teachers in their own way.

On the last day: wake up with the thought, “Today I am saving my pack from getting toxically sick.” If you keep saying this aloud and inside your head, you will have a smell all the dogs in your household will understand.

It’s a noble leader smell.

Your other dogs may look sad and depressed during this situation. This is not the case. This is the correct, polite manners in the Dog World for this kind of situation. They are showing full, polite submissive manners to a leader making a big, tough decision. They are doing everything they can to not distract you.

If they glance at you, raise your chin slightly. Reassure them by sleepily closing your eyes and say, “Good dog. You’re OK.”

Turn your head away and ignore all your dogs to help switch them off. Calmly ignore the Blue-Eyed Syndrome dog.

Let your dogs act in this polite way otherwise you will confuse them. Don’t try to “jolly” them out of it. This would distress and confuse them. On the last day, get through the day as calmly as possible.

Do it step by step. “Now we are ringing the vet to arrange the visit and warn them.” “Now we are getting a leash on.” “Now we are arriving at the vets.” “Now we are walking in the room.” The vet may need to muzzle and sedate the dog.

Afterwards have a shower and go for a walk in the fresh air to cleanse out your system. Have videos to distract you that night. Get your routine back to normal as soon as possible. Lots of walks on leashes will help everyone relax again and unite and re-bond. Routine and exercise really reassures dogs that the pack is safe again.

Will my other dogs hate me or think I’m a murderer? No. They’ll think you’re a strong, worthy leader who takes care of big, tough problems. They are glad you are there to take care of those big problems.

Dogs instinctively admire strong leaders. They are drawn to them. It’s a safe zone around a strong leader. That’s why I want you to replace every guilty or sad thought you might have with, “Today I am saving my pack from getting toxically sick.”

You will give off the most reassuring smell possible. Your movements, attitude and behaviour will reflect this noble thought.

Will my dogs be sad afterwards? Your dogs may look sad but they are actually showing extreme polite dog manners. This is a natural instinct in the Dog World that is triggered by serious Life and Death situations. Mother Nature put this instinct in dogs to lower the chaos. It creates a reassuring calming chemical in the dog. Don’t try to interfere. Your dogs will know when to stop showing such extreme politeness.

What should I do if I see it? Act aloof and calm. Don’t try to jolly the dog. Ignore the dog as much as possible in a calm way. Pretend it’s not there. Still win your points in a calm way. If your dog looks at you, slowly close your eyes and look away and ignore it.

How should I go about my day? Think calm thoughts about pleasant things so you smell calm and pleasant. Try to do your ordinary life in a normal way, but very calmly. Minimize any drama.

Make a strong daily routine for everything. The small things (like how you put the leashes on before a walk). The big things (how you serve food at dinner time). Don’t make the dogs the central issue of your world. Put another thing first. Your hobby. Your job. Something with not much emotional energy. Take that laser human focus off the dogs and they will find this very reassuring. It will help them return to normal as fast as possible.

Beware: The Blue-Eyed Syndrome dog may go very quiet and behave extremely well on its last day. It might behave better than it ever has before. Don’t give in. The dog will not stay like this. The dogs in your household can just smell the ‘death thought’ smell and are reacting. It’s a very strong, powerful smell.

Afterwards: Don’t keep beating yourself up for making the tough decision. It’s part of the responsibility of being a pack leader. It’s your sacred duty to keep the whole pack healthy, happy, relaxed and harmonious.

You are helping the other dogs in your pack: One individual member can’t mess up the pack. If you shirk your duty making the tough decisions, everyone suffers. Another dog in your pack may feel forced to take over dealing with the situation and this is extremely unfair and emotionally draining on the dog. They age very quickly. They suffer depression.

After the Blue-Eyed Syndrome dog is gone, you may like to cleanse your house in some way that’s meaningful to you. There will be toxins everywhere. Cleanse the environment and create a new, happier smell.

It’s time to step up and do your sacred duty. Well done on your courage. Go save your pack and yourself. Everyone needs you healthy and happy. A happy leader means a happy pack.

Does your Greyhound ever turn its head away from visitors or kids?

Does your Greyhound ever turn its head away from visitors or kids?

If you see your Greyhound turn its head right away from someone, it’s saying in Dog Language: ‘Please go away.’ If its nose is almost touching its side, it’s saying: ‘Please go away…please…I’m begging you…’

Your Greyhound might say this to visitors and children. You don’t want this sort of misunderstanding to end in a growl or a nip – so help your stressed dog out. Ask the human to leave it alone and pretend it doesn’t exist or put the dog in a safe room where no children can annoy it.

All dogs use this polite signal but Greyhounds usually say it more elegantly than any other breed!

Follow more conversations with Greyhounds @dreadlockdogman

Why little dogs love sitting on your lap…

Why little dogs love sitting on your lap…

Little dogs love sitting on your lap because there is a basic rule in the Dog World: If you can sit or lie on it – you own it! Dogs win enormous amounts of points from sitting on your lap. It’s the fastest way to elevate a small dog to the Boss job – whether they want it or not!

If your dog is well behaved and sits on your lap – then I have no problem with it. However…if you have a little dog who’s become an aggressive, hissy-fit throwing megalomaniac – then it’s time to dethrone the little emperor.

Insight: Small, aggressive, yappy dogs are stressed personalities. They have been forced to take on a big job that they can’t cope with. All that aggression is a symptom that your little dog is carrying too much responsibility on its tiny shoulders. It’s like it’s having one long nervous breakdown.

Shy little dogs really can’t handle being the Boss – so if you have a really anxious small dog, stopping it from curling up on your lap will really help.

Remember: Sitting or lying on a human lap is like a drug for most dogs – even though they hate the responsibility of being Boss once they get the job – they LOVE the high of winning those wonderfully megalomaniac lap points!

Solution: Give your little dog a raised cushion or mat in an unobtrusive place near you – but not where it will feel too important. Have it totally exhausted during the transition period. Clip on a leash so it can’t stray far from its new cushion. Act bored and sleepy and ignore your dog. Yawn and look away if it protests and increase the exercise the next day. The more points you win in other areas of your dog’s life will really help dethrone this little emperor.

EXTRA TIP: If you have a small dog who dislikes going on your lap then WOW! You have an extremely wise, sweet natured dog with natural impeccable manners! If it looks at you on its mat, simply close your eyes sleepily for a second. This is a lovely, polite way to say ‘thank you’ in the Dog World.

Please don’t stare at your dog all the time.

Please don’t stare at your dog all the time.

In the culture of the Dog World, it’s extremely rude to stare at another dog all the time. In our human culture it’s similar to standing toe-to-toe facing someone, yelling non-stop.

Solution: Start thinking your eyes are like powerful spotlights. If you stare intently, they become like laser beams. If your eyes sweep calmly and bored over your dog, it’s much easier to cope with.

Insight: Dogs will react to staring in different ways, just as people do. Hyperactive dogs get switched on and go wildly active. The longer you stare, the more hyperactive they get. Wise dogs think you’re an ignorant yobbo and wander off and turn their back to you and go to sleep. Some dogs are more stressed and anxiously keep closing their eyes hoping you’ll listen to their polite signal and look away.

Apology time: If you catch yourself staring intently at your dog and its uncomfortable, simply look away in a bored way, sleepily closing your eyes. Your dog will love you for giving it such a polite dog apology! Remember – if you want a civilized dog – you need to learn some manners of the Dog World!

Are your feet always pointing at your dog?

Are your feet always pointing at your dog?

It’s very bad manners in the Dog World to always have your feet pointing in the direction of another dog. This is because it’s seen as a bit confrontational. Unfortunately, most humans are fascinated by their dogs and sit or stand with their toes constantly following their dogs around the room or yard.

This cultural rule is part of the ancient language of dogs – very high dog culture – so some modern breeds may be more tolerant to it than others. However all dogs understand that it is bad manners to ‘stare with your feet’.

It is extremely stressful for shy or stressed dogs to have humans always having their toes pointed towards them.

Solution: Get in the habit of angling your body and especially your feet away from your dog at all times unless you’re giving a direction request. This really takes the pressure off your dog. Don’t make a big deal of it, just act bored and lazy. Your dog will adore you for showing such lovely high cultured manners!

What’s your dog saying when…?

What’s your dog saying when…?

…it lies down with its chin flat on the ground and looks up at you?

This is a very clear signal in the Dog World – and about the most polite and respectful thing your dog can ever say to you. Its saying: ‘OK, I trust you to be in charge now. Look how good I’m being for you. Look how flat my chin is on the ground.’

If your dog ever does this for you – congratulations – you’re acting like a wonderful leader!

You can reply with this signal: Look completely sleepy and relaxed. Look into the neutral distance above your dog. Sleepily close your eyes for a long second. Repeat a few times and then just ignore your dog.  This is how you politely say in Dog Language: ‘Thank you and well done.’

Why shouldn’t you pat shy dogs on the chest?

Why shouldn’t you pat shy dogs on the chest?

All dogs love having their chest rubbed. Not only do they find it arousing, but they also start to feel extremely self-important. The more you rub – the more you’ll see your dog’s chest puff out.

Dogs love having their chest rubbed and will sit obediently while you do it – but only so you’ll obediently rub more. They love winning lots of points from you this way because it’s so easy and extremely pleasurable! Much easier than racing you up and down the stairs while dodging your feet!

Chest rubbing is a problem because the more points your dog has – the more likely it is to misbehave. Perhaps your dog will start a fight with another dog. It might bark more when you go to work. Maybe your dog will pull on the leash next time you go for a walk.

However, shy dogs have an extra problem. They get really stressed by being forced to be the Leader. Rubbing your dog on the chest is clearly telling your dog: “You’re my Boss – and I’m your willing follower. See how submissive I am to you?”

Your shy dog may be getting a short-term high from all the chest rubbing – but deep down it will become extremely stressed. Leaders never give chest rubs in the Dog World – that’s a task for the weakest of followers.