Golf Ball Advantage

It happened so quickly.

Scott was playing fetch with our Jack Russells, Rosco and Maggie, and a golf ball that I found while out walking that morning. I gave Rosco a golf ball to chew up, only because I knew that he couldn't tear in up within an hour. He is so rough on any toy. I was sitting on the floor next to Scott, who was leaning over trying to get the ball from Rosco. Maggie was hopping up and down on all fours, jumping around Rosco, alert and waiting for the ball to be thrown... being a typical Jack Russell.

Without warning, Rosco growled and bit Scott. On impulse, Scott grabbed the scruff of his neck. Scared even more, Rosco continued to growl and bite, not breaking Scott's skin, but aggressively non-the-less. I even reached into the mix of the scuffle, trying to break it up. Luckily I guess, I didn't get bit.

Scott, pissed as hell, stood up still holding Rosco by the scruff of the neck.

I immediately grabbed the other end of Rosco at his hips and firmly told Scott to let go. I put Rosco on the ground on his side in a submissive pose, holding him down. He was scared, he was stressed, he shook in fear. But he didn't try to bite me. I was calm and held him down with one hand on his neck and the other on his hip, reminding him firmly with a "No bite!" After he was calm and relaxed and submitted, I let him go. But not until Scott had a chance to stand by him, putting him above Rosco in the pack.

Scott was fuming. And after he calmed down, I told him that we had to have a talk... A talk about what to do about Rosco. This is not the first time that Rosco bit Scott, and the other times, it was clear that Rosco reacted with fearful aggression. So, I sat him down at the table and we talked.

Scott argued that Connor was in danger with an aggressive dog. He's sorry, but Rosco HAS to go.

With tears rolling down my cheeks, I agreed that Connor is important. His safety is priority. I also told him how hard it was for me to adopt an animal that has had so many homes already, if only to just have to send him back for readoption.

Scott reminded me that "we" adopted a dog that was already going to be euthanized because he already bit an older boy during a stressful birthday party. He was too dangerous, and he doesn't want to have to always worry that Rosco will attack whenever he is playing with him.

I acknowledged his point while wiping my eyes with a kleenex. Just like in corny movies, I began to replay all the fun times we've had together as a family: Us humans, Maggie, and Rosco. Images of camping trips, of Maggie and Rosco snuggled in my lap while driving, of many a dog walks, of Rosco and Maggie wrestling together, of Rosco getting a good ear-scratching on the couch next to Scott, of Rosco and Maggie begging up at me so desperately at me after dinner for a treat already...

Scott was looking perturbed at my intense emotional state, probably because I was crying so consistently, that I was starting to begin that multiple gasping for air while wiping my eyes.

But I was so frustrated. I wanted Scott to realize how much of a failure I felt... to Rosco. I wanted him to understand the pain I felt when I had to uthanize my 15-year old cat, Shirley, when I was just 17 years old. And the guilt I felt when I had to uthanize another cat, Reeses Pieces, because of her "depression" and constant urinating all over the carpets when I was 21 years old.

I cried. I told him that I couldn't fail Rosco, it wasn't fair to him. I weighed uthanization against sending him back to the Rescue Society.

In my head, I started to write the email that I would have to write to the lady in charge of the Jack Russell Rescue of Oregon, Washington and Idaho. My email was turning into a sad obituary of some sort: explaining how wonderful and loyal of a dog Rosco is... how playful and obidient he is... what a snuggle and loving character he is... BUT that we have to return him back to foster care (which will turn into another foster care home, and maybe another, and then hopefully another permant home) because of this itty bitty problem of fearful aggression that we can't handle.

I also imagined being a dog and leaving this physical world in the arms of one that they trust. Falling "asleep" in the vet's office, while my owner strokes my ears and my neck.

Immediatly again, images of Rosco in our loving home, playing with Maggie, went through my head.

And then without any warning, Scott conceded. He took a deep breath and looked me straight in my tear-filled eyes and said, "We can keep him... BUT, we have to do more research about fearful aggression. And make it work. He will NOT bite again."

"We will. I promise." But I was still unsure of the right and moral decision at this point. I was elated that Scott agreed to keep him, but we had some work ahead of us. We had to prioritize ensure in every way that Rosco knew not to bite out of fear.

Awhile ago, I had bought two books by Cesar Millan. I remember thumbing through them, but personally, I get more from his episodes...which I have forced Scott to watch many-a-time. I am so enthralled with the communication techniques that he exhibits and love watching them. Scott typically falls asleep.

Fast forward to a few days after the episode...

Scott was making dinner, while I read from one of Cesar's books. I read using my own emphases during the sentences, of course while looking quite adorable and clueless to Scott, "...'You must NEVER approach a dog when angry or upSET. You must gather the patience to address the dog with POSITIVE energy'... Oh, and here it says, 'To be the pack leader, you must prove this to the dog... One method is to take your hand, shape it like a claw, and TOUCH the dog. It replicates another dog's bite and puts your dog in it's place...'"

Scott looked at me and smiled. He knows that when he gets bit, he reacts suddenly, and that to a previously abused dog, Scott presents an offensive move to the dog, thus provoking Rosco's fearful aggression.

I look up, "Just like in his show, if Rosco bites again, we need to CALMLY grab him and put him on his side. We need to be firm until he submits to you...

You know what I think... I think that in our family "pack", Rosco has chosen me as the pack leader and Maggie has chosen you. That's why she doesn't listen to me, and why he has bitten you. We need to remind Maggie AND Rosco know that we are BOTH leaders."

"That makes sense."

I sighed a wistful sigh. "You know? I just LOVE Cesar Millan. He is so freaking smart," I gushed to Scott.

I bet Scott didn't realize that our keeping Rosco and our continuing research to better him as a family dog would actually redirect my school-girl crush on Cesar into a full-blown romantic affair.