Obsession – compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or an unwanted feeling or emotion, often accompanied by symptoms of anxiety.
On Monday, I met Rocky, a Jack Russell Terrier, hence the definition of obsession.
Many dogs become “obsessed” with a toy or other object. One thinks of some Labradors, those who pick up a tennis ball with such fervor and delight that their eyes really sparkle with excitement. They toss the ball, prance happily towards you and away, daring you to take it. It is a charming game for them. You want the ball, I got the ball, some kind of dog guard. But here’s the problem – you CAN move the ball away of this dog offering or throwing another ball.
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You can’t take anything away from Rocky, and Rocky is obsessed with the big things, like the vacuum cleaner, the laundry basket, and the couch.
remember the movie The mask with Jim Carey? Remember when the dog (who, by the way, was a Jack Russell Terrier, case closed) puts on the mask and becomes a crazed maniac? Well, somewhere in Rocky’s crate he has one of those masks hidden away.
Rocky’s owners, bless them for their perseverance and determination, have tried everything with this dog, including:
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entice him with treats
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provide acceptable chew toys like Kongs and Nylabones
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remove the objects of his desire (although impossible to do with the sofa, so they cover it)
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spray items with Bitter Apple
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correct it with a jet of water
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withdraw it at a “time out”
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give him – on the advice of the veterinarian – anti-anxiety medication
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take the object (this last option involves life insurance, because Rocky does not give voluntarily)
None of the above had any impact on Rocky. It is a possessed animal once it has settled down.
Now you think, come on, he’s just a little Jack Russell, like Eddie in Spawn, RIGHT? You would be wrong, very wrong, even fatally wrong. Think of Bruce, the shark, in Jaws.
I have to say, when Rocky’s owners described his “seizures,” I was skeptical. How serious could this be? Then we pulled out a well-hidden broom – hidden for a good reason – and Rocky went crazy. His eyes glazed over, his teeth bared, and he attacked the broom. He leapt, clung, shook his head back and forth as if to dismember the thing, then dragged his prey into its crate. There he fought and snatched the broom with such hatred and vehemence that I stood back, I hoped, at a safe distance.
Can anything be funny and terrifying at the same time? I felt really sorry for the poor broom.
So, I’d love to hear from other dog owners about their dogs and their obsessions, and how or not you’ve dealt with this quirk? line? character flaw? psychosis? Are there any other Rockies here? I think I understand now why people are carrying signs that say “Beware of Dogs.” Even the most people-aggressive dog I’ve ever worked with wasn’t it determined, This concentrate.
Meanwhile, and Rocky? He waits, lest an errant broom or vacuum cleaner appear and threaten his very existence. Then Rocky will declare war and fight to the death..