The impact of canine trauma.
Humans and dogs are both a relationship and socially oriented species of animal. And as a relationship and socially oriented species of animal, we're set up and hard-wired for bonding and connection.
Trauma impacts us both in very similar ways.
It's not the event, situation, or circumstance that's the trauma; not what happens outside of us.
It's what happens INSIDE of us as a result of what happens on the outside. The disruption it causes, the rewiring... how the event, situation, or circumstance is internalized.
Trauma rewires us for DISconnection and PROtection.
We become untrusting, hyper-vigilant, skeptical, anxious, more fearful, more reactive, and our defense drive kicks into higher gear out of protection.
Why?
Because trauma disintegrates what we once felt we had.
SAFETY.
Emotional safety.
Physical safety.
Relational safety.
Social safety.
Environmental safety.
.....SAFETY.
We build tactics - which become behaviors - around what keeps us safe and comfortable. These coping mechanisms typically hit on 3 points:
1) return to "safety" (even if this is not "good" for us but is what's most familiar and more "known"),
2) emotional and physical protection, and
3) return to a level of comfort and relieve any discomfort (i.e. silencing, shutting down, numbing, suppressing, avoiding uncomfortable feelings).
With people, this will look like a lot of things: "people pleasing", self isolation, addictive behaviors (gaming, smoking, food, drugs, etc.), perfectionism, eating disorders, aggression and "off-loading", OCD, bullying, etc.
With dogs, quite similar: extreme appeasing behaviors, making themselves smaller and trying to make themselves invisible, bullying, aggression, OCD behaviors, etc.
We also develop tactics around what will give us a sense of certainty...why? Because "certainty" also means safety. We can prepare, preempt, and prevent.
Lastly, we build behaviors around what will provide some level of "gain" and assurance.... manipulative behaviors.
Now, although this is a masterclass about canine trauma- I've been saying "we" and "us" a lot because this is also a truth for humans.
Dogs don't really get the luxury of choice when it comes to who they end up with, the kind of care they'll receive, or what kind of life they're going to live.
Sadly, for them, their quality of life is 100% dependent upon us.
The choices we make, what kind of food (or food-like product) they eat, how clean their water is-- if they have any, how much exercise they get, whether or not they are taught and equipped with what they need to know, how safe they feel.... and so on.
If you want to learn more, sign up for the "Training the Traumatized Dog" class now. The 25% discount code expires tomorrow, Oct. 31st!
You'll learn:
- what "canine trauma" is,
- the different types of canine trauma,
- the impact of trauma,
- recognizing the signs of canine trauma, and
- how to help dogs heal from trauma.
You can find the class here: https://packfit.thinkific.com
25% off discount code: Trauma25
See you in there!
