SociaBulls: Reinforcing the Human-Dog Connection

While we all having different reasons for walking with our SociaBulls group, we love hearing the individual stories from each of our members. 

You may recognize this handsome face as Vegas: one of Miss M's many boyfriends (remember their date, here?). 

When Vegas and his person moved to Chicago, they joined the group to make friends. Though after a few unsettling incidents at the dog park, and the deflating feeling of 'breaking your dog', Vegas and his person were able to use the structure and non-judgmental environment of SociaBulls to rebuild their confidence and reinforce their human-dog connection. You can read their story below:

I always knew I wanted a dog, but I waited patiently until my life was stable.  I'm a logical research-minded food scientist, and I approached finding my companion that way.  For almost eight months, I poured over literature/web articles/vet advice about choosing the right breed for your lifestyle, using a breeder/shelter dog/rescue (I actually didn't know what a rescue was when I started), adopting a puppy/adult/senior, etc.  I finally decided on a Doberman and started searching shelters, stumbled onto a Doberman rescue, and picked out my buddy.  I remember walking into this huge barn lined with crates on both sides, each with a dog.  As the door was opened, the dogs all started barking like crazy, except the first crate-- the dog in that crate stood up and moved to the front with his nose pressed against the bars, calmly trying to sniff me. That was Vegas, and I took him home that day. 

Soon after, I moved to Chicago.  I found Chicago Sociabulls while searching for like-minded dog people.  I joined to make friends because my dog didn't really have behavioral problems. It helped that I could identify with the "bully breed" reaction after seeing countless people cross the street rather than walk near Vegas.  I liked the idea that we could be a part of a group that provided a judgement-free, no pressure environment that helps change the perception of an often maligned breed.  Since Vegas and I were going to walk anyway, I thought that we may as well explore parks in the Chicago area and maybe make a few friends along the way.

Our first year in Chicago, Vegas was bitten by other dogs four times, two of which required surgery. All of the bites occurred inside dog parks, with only one or two dogs present. I started skipping the dog parks.  The more I avoided dog parks, the less time Vegas spent around other dogs.  The less time around dogs, the more reactive he became when we encountered one. He started growling if a dog spent too much time sniffing him, and would occasionally bark if an approaching dog made hard eye contact.  I was afraid he would become more and more reactive, and he's 80lbs of muscle (for perspective, you should know I'm 5'4" on a good day).  Because of the research I did, I was aware that his reaction was probably because I was tense, but I struggled to relax nonetheless. 

During this time, Sociabulls was critical in getting us through the rough patch.  I knew I could go and not have to worry about explaining to someone why I would prefer they not let their dog meet mine, which helped me relax. There is some inherent feeling of embarrassment in admitting that your dog has "issues". For me, it was worse because I had a well-adjusted dog to begin with-- I felt like I broke the dog. 

 I could count on Sociabulls members to listen to my concerns and stories without judgement, and with a sense of humor that can only come from a place of camaraderie and empathy. While avoiding dog parks and other dogs, Sociabulls became the only dog-dog interaction Vegas had, and since these walks were consistently a positive experience, I built up my confidence again, and Vegas regained his calm, cool demeanor. I learned to read my dog's posture and body language so I can control his environment to avoid negative experiences, and as a result we learned to trust each other more.  He knows I will remove him from situations he doesn't like, and I know that he will give me time to do so before resorting to growling or barking.  Now we sport that blue Sociabulls bandana with pride and Vegas can do things like go on doggie dates and host other dogs on overnight stays without issue.  

Every day brings new experiences, and each new experience shapes us and our pups.  Sociabulls is our "home base", a place where we can reinforce the human-dog connection that is so crucial to how we cope with these experiences... after all, we are always work in progress.

Thanks for sharing your story!

You can also read about more SociaBulls Members: Chai (It's Like Throwing a Bag Over the Head of a Shooting Star and Holding on for the Ride), Neko (Building Confidence for Both of Us), Derby (Derby has always been a flopper), Medgar (Walking with a Dog Who Won't Walk), Honor (The Gift of Learning to Relax), Maria (Not Letting Age be a Limitation), Sophie (Finding a Safe Place and Building Confidence), Torre (From Learning about Pitbulls to Developing an Ambassadog),  Estelle (Waiting to Be Noticed), Franklin (A Small Dog in a Big Dog Group), Gordon (Learning to Be Social and Have Dog Friends),  Nabi (A Shy Dog Making Sense of a "People World") Sprocket (Teaching a Dog When it's not Time to Play), Lola (Living in the City with a Dog who Fears Strangers),  Zoe (The Dog who "Loves Too Hard"),  Izzy (Being a good pitbull ambassador while working with an energetic dog) and Maize (Being social with an unsocial pup).

Plus, join our Chicago SociaBulls  Facebook page for more photos and information about group walks. And check out the Hikabulls page where we first learned about the benefits of group walking.

SociaBulls: Chai's Fond Farewell

For the past year and a half, handsome Chai and his dedicated person were one of our most loyal Sociabulls pairs. Even with a young child and busy schedule, Chai's person made sure to set aside time for Chai, and nearly every week he would be at the front leading the pack. 

You may remember their amazing story describing some initial obstacles, and just learning to love the dog you have (you can read their eloquently written piece here).

Since then, Chai's family made the exciting move to Western Wisconsin; a completely different way of life from our city sidewalks where dogs aren't popping up around every corner.

Here Chai's person share their story, on becoming a country dog and what they learned from SociaBulls:

Chai-dog and I have been enjoying the lead spot on the Chicago Sociabulls walks for one and a half years thus far. This past July, we bid a fond farewell to the Sociabulls as we moved our family to a new home and new way of living in Western Wisconsin.

As I've aged into my thirties, I've experienced a great change. A new way of changing. I've begun making choices out of desire for a new experience rather than a desperate, dramatic reaction to a situation gone horribly wrong. Can you feel me? We found the Sociabulls in this manner. If you read our history together, then you know Chai and I had been together five years when we started with the pack walk. Our bond was strong, we both had excellent training and the pack seemed like a great addition to an already streaming way of being together.

So how do you say goodbye to a collective that you so easily have been accepted to? In seeking closure, I feel fortunate to be able to reflect on the impression that the group has made on us.

Citizens

We are members of the Chicago Sociabulls. As a member of the Girl Scouts, and a member of my childhood Catholic School, I obeyed a creed for uniformity. Members were behaving in a similar manner and living by the same rules. Sociabulls for me is more akin to citizenship; we are a community of people and dogs driven toward a shared goal of good health, support and joy for our pack. People are working on different issues. Our contributions both on and off the pack walk are strikingly different. There is a taking and receiving happening that is tough to outline.

Solitude

Well, the Sociabulls did not start out that Social for us. With Chai's reactivity, we would stand afar from the group for roll call. He had on his calming cap and would trudge to the path as our name was called for the lead spot. On my first walk, I was accompanied by a dogless walker and we swapped stories about our 'kids'. On future walks, I would meditatively walk alone with Chai, practicing deep breathing, exchanging calming energy with my dog as we wound through the South Side parks. I could end a walk not having talked to anyone. Still I felt we were part of a solemn, courageous collective. We had contributed and participated even if I spoke nary a word to another human.

Your "Stuff"

Everyone is working on their stuff. Truth in life and truth on the pack walk. And especially from the vantage point of the lead spot, with few opportunities to even turn and look at the gaggle of dogs and humans behind me, I blindly have an allowance for everything that my fellow walkers are working on, the way they are working on it and that all together, though our differences may exist, all together we are working toward a common good - building a healthy, supportive bond with our canine.

Acceptance

We do not seek a certain level of achievement with any dog or their human. We do not expect that they "move up" in the group or attain certain goals. Each member participates in their own way with their own intentions. I sensed a lack of judgement from our group coordinators and my fellow walkers that could be a golden rule for any community. This quiet group had a lack of politics and lack of needs beyond what unfolded at each gathering. Chicago Sociabulls is infused with good and makes you feel grateful to be a part of it, happy to contribute to it and you get to go home nature-walk-blissed-out with a renewed love for your sleepy dog.

Moving On

A new acquaintance asked, "How has your family acclimated to your new town?".
Dryly, I replied, "Well, you know, we're still acting like ourselves."
Laughter ensues.

We are living in a beautifully subtle environment. It's a city but a wooded one. Our home is four doors down from a 1.5 mile nature trail. We do not have another home in our backyard. It is a deep marshy pocket of land that hundreds of years ago was a riverbed. Daily we are visited by six deer. Yesterday the buck arrived to chase the doe.

And Chai barks at it all.

He's run off twice: once to chase a rabbit, a second time chasing a deer. With our long continuous shared (read: unfenced) backyard expanse in the valley here, he could have bolted for a mile. Thankfully he didn't go beyond our neighbor's yard. He did (eventually) respond to my bleats and offer of treats. I immediately called 24hourpetwatch.com and confirmed our new address. This put me on alert that although we are all a bit more at ease in this new natural environment, we won't be relaxing our boundaries and training any time soon.

Our home inside and out is quieter than our Chicago one. There are far less triggers for us on our dog walks. I've even begun walking a much further distance because Chai is so peaceful that I'm happy to round another bend, cross another river bridge. But we are still ourselves. Our neighborhood abounds with playmates for my toddler son. And Chai tries to herd them all. He barks, on guard, for any of the many many lawn mowers manicuring our neighbors' lawns.

We've lucked out finding an agility home. I'm an amateur at it though I know enough tricks to get Chai exercised and smiling his Cattle dog clownish smile. In typical Wisconsin fashion, the cost is antiquated so it's been very feasible for Chai and I to do twice weekly sessions at their indoor or outdoor space. It is supremely satisfying to finally have my cattle dog within a fenced area and running free. He'll never be the leashless walk-alongside-you pal dog that hugs your knee and feigns at the faintest stimulation. He won't wander river side with me and hold that magical space where as the human, you can relax and know he'll always be there.

I do have a loyal pal that continues to tolerate the increasing toddler attention he's getting around here. He grimaces yet holds still as his furry body becomes the race track for another car or train. He gives his belly to my pawing son and simply grunts when he's had enough - a fantastic lesson for my attached, lovingly intrusive son. We are delighted to have a rec room in the basement, unfurnished (first time home owners, still expanding). My son and Chai-dog will take turns fetching their respective balls and returning them to me. I've drawn the line at my kid's request to get reward kibble as well.

We were always told that Chai would do well as a city or country dog. We were not denying him a certain harmonious existence by living in Chicago. Yet as our intentions had been set, we moved here to soften our edges, to live life with less definitive lines and with less competition, an open space for exploration and growth. I watched as my fur baby and my three year old son nervously slid into their life here. Are we truly exhaling into all of this space? Just as a dog will nestle up to the bedside table or the corner of a couch, they each clung to me for reassurance that this was our new loving container. Having a bigger home is not necessary for the health of your family and dog's shared existence. That said, this home is just our size and energetically that comes across to every being here.

Lasting Effect of the Sociabulls

We did not join the Sociabulls seeking to cure Chai of any misbehaviors. Our relationship was strong and I was looking to enhance our bond. I can see that the pack walks positively affected his way of being. He has more dutiful reactions to me, a swifter swing between work and play. He's been super playful in our clean, country snow drifts. I like to walk him hippie-dippy, as I call it: letting the leash out long for plenty of sniffs of scat and other artifacts around here. And when I draw him in to "walk with the momma" as I say, he snaps right into a side-by-side glide. This is a confidence I built up on the pack walks: to autoritate lovingly, to provoke calm security  that we both feel when in a steadfast parallel walk. His sensitivity to environmental triggers will always be there, but time and time again with the Sociabulls he knew I was ready with treats, positive affirmations and a necessary redirect. Though the attention grabbers are less near our new home, he looks to me more than he did prior to our communal walks.

Chai is now nine years old. As of January 22nd, we've been together six years. We are his third home, his forever home. As relationships age, you notice there aren't specific events that strengthen your bond. Rather, it's a steady and enriched way of being together. By seeking new challenges and stimulating our daily existence, our days are better, calmer, loving. I'm grateful to be able to walk with him.

Thanks for sharing, and we all miss you!!!

Also:
To learn more about Chicago SociaBulls, read about us here
And join our Facebook page here.

SociaBulls: The Dog Club for Dogs

While I usually think of SociaBulls as an activity I'm doing every week, so often I forget that I'm just the accessory and it's really the dogs' club.

As our little pack has grown and walked together so much, they dogs themselves have instituted their own set of rules beyond what we have in place:

Adjustment:

So many members have told us that their dogs seem know when they're going to SociaBulls, and they adjust themselves accordingly.

Dogs who are normally excited at the glimpse of another dog aren't jumping towards other dogs. Dogs who might be vocal don't bark as much. 

Dogs who might be slow or hesitant to walk, keep up with the pack. 

Through the structure we've set up, and the rhythm of the walking, the dogs develop the expectation of the group as a comfortable place where they are able to socialize in a natural way.

The Pack Mentality

The dogs have developed an understanding that they are a group.

Besides the initial walk or two when a dog is still learning about SociaBulls, dogs typically don't bark at each other within the group.

But, if they see another dog walk by the group, vocal dogs might react to that single dog outside the group.

The Buddy System

While we have a no-greeting policy, the pups definitely have an awareness and recognition of other dogs in the group. 

We create a pack order to help our dogs of all levels feel comfortable, and often they begin walking near the same dog on a weekly basis. 

And even if all they see is the backside of a dog the whole walk, they do develop a comfort and recognition of other dogs in the group.

It's funny, because sometimes we see some of our SociaBulls friends when we are just out on our daily walks and we can tell that our pups know who they are.

Also:

How new members integrate

Who we really are.

Learn more about the idea behind SociaBulls here, and join our Chicago SociaBulls Facebook page for more photos and information about our group!

SociaBulls: On Cold Weather Changes

It was only as we hit our first really cold walk this weekend, that I rediscovered these never posted warmer-weather walk photos from several weeks ago.

Seeing all of our pups with warm-weather wide-mouthed smiles, cooling off in the fountain, and even wearing sunglasses has reminded me how much will change in the next few months.

We still keep walking all through the winter.

Just with a few changes.

Moving Inward
We change a lot of our walk locations based on the seasons. During the summer, there are so many runners, bikers, and other dogs out that we need to look for more obscure walking locations.
Plus, temperatures change throughout the city based on how close you are to the lakefront.  We have a short window where we can do some lakefront walks, but just to avoid the winds and extra lake-effect snow we tend to walk further west.

 Forgetting the Loop
We have a couple of locations which are smaller and we will walk the loop twice. Though in the extremely cold weather, it can be enough just to loop through one time.

 Gearing Up
Living in Chicago, we need to be hearty even if we're not. And for many of our pups that means gearing up. Our pups come in an array of jackets, sweaters, hoodies and snoods...sometimes all at once! The best part is learning from each other and figuring out what works best.

Though living in the city, very few of us have the luxury of a yard, and especially in the colder months it's extra-important to get our pups out keeping their minds healthy through mental stimulation.

Also:
What they wear!
Getting ready for this.

Join our Chicago SociaBulls Facebook page for more photos and information about our group.

Interested in joining? Find out about the process, here. 

SociaBulls: The SociaBulls Annual Halloween Walk

Living in a city obsessed with Halloween, it only seemed natural that our SociaBulls group spend the weekend before the big holiday dressed in gear.

It has become a bit of an annual tradition to have a type of "Pop-up Parade" where pups who feel comfortable can come dressed in costume.

We know our group draws a lot of attention from our sheer size. And it was fun to see everyone's expressions seeing our big group suited up in costume.

It's also great timing being Pitbull Awareness month to see so many pitiful-type dogs and their allies just hanging out with their families.

To learn more about our group, read here or join our Facebook page here.

Also:
Can't get enough of cute dogs in costumes? Check out more of them here, here and here!

SociaBulls: On Handling the Dogs and People Who Want to Approach the Group

While I can't always capture it in the photos, our SociaBulls walks are big. With 15+ mostly big dogs, we're hard to miss.

A lot of people are curious.

And a lot of people want to come up to meet us.

Though some of our dogs are shy, scared of people, and scared of people approaching with their dogs.

And since we live in a city and we're bound to meet people, here is how we counteract the curiosity to keep all the pups happy and comfortable.

Meeting Off-Leash Dogs (or dogs on really, really long leashes):

The biggest thing we had to consider when starting the group was how to handle off-leash dogs, or people walking dogs who want to approach us. Some dogs in the group are fearful of other dogs. And even just having that extra energy can impact the comfort level of all dogs in the group.

But, we are prepared.

We quickly figured out the concept of Dogless Walkers. Just like it sounds, these are people who attend the walks without dogs who are available to intervene if other dogs get too close to the group.

So far we haven't had a dog outside the pack approach....but there have been some close calls.  So we have a system.

1) If we see a dog near the group, someone calls it out to the rest of the group.

2) The Dogless Walker is proactive and gives a friendly wave to the person, standing in such a way that their body blocks the direct path to the group.

3) We know sometimes people can be defensive, so we always make sure to give a compliment about their dog first (Because really, all dogs are cute!)

4) Then we ask if they could just hold onto their dog since our dogs are in training and they cannot meet any other dogs right now. 

Usually people are just curious and end up asking more about the group. 

Meeting Curious People:

It's important for us to be respectful of the people spending time in the parks as well as showing responsible dog ownership in a positive way.

The group will routinely wave and call out "Good Morning" to the people we pass, who are usually receptive and excited.

Some people treat it like a parade and it's funny to hear their comments about each of the dogs as they walk by (usually nice things and about which dog they "want").

Sometimes we meet people who want to approach the group, so we use the same proactive system where we go out to them before they can approach the group. In this case we don't always need the dog less walkers, but dogs that are comfortable with people can step out to answer any questions just standing in a way that we are using our bodies to block the path to the group. 

We've noticed children can sometimes want to run out towards the dogs, so we are always proactive about stepping out first and blocking just in case.

Meeting Police Officers:

It has been nice to see our walking areas so well-served, as we routinely encounter Police Officers.

And they are among our biggest fans!

Usually they are curious about what we're doing, and if it's some kind of event. (During the winter we were even asked why the dogs were in costume). Then they almost always tell us how this is such a positive way to demonstrate responsible dog ownership. Many also have their own stories about pit bull-type dogs they often encounter, rescue, and even adopt.

Also:

How we made it work

Just the usual.

Okay...I guess we do walk in Costumes

SociaBulls: On the Value of Structured Socialization

We know that it can be valuable for dogs to enjoy the company of other pups, but sometimes it's hard to find that "just right".
Especially in the city, where so many of us don't have backyards, it seems like the only option can be taking your pup to the dog park. Which sometimes can be crowded, unstructured and just not the right fit for dogs who enjoy more personal space.

One of our members was just telling us that she used to take her pup to one of the dog parks where he was injured so badly he needed stitches (he looked a bit like a handsome Frankenstein). She didn't feel comfortable returning to the dog park, and she wasn't sure how to allow her pup to socialize with other dogs in a safe way.

 One thing we really enjoy about what we've built in our SociaBulls community is that it allows our dogs to get the socialization they crave in a structured, safe way.
Our pups can get the same socialization aspects through tandem walking while knowing the other owners in the group are aware of respecting space.

 Which has been so great for our reactive dogs who are learning to stay calm around other dogs, as well as dogs who might be shy, injured, older, or who just want to socialize in a calm, non-contact way.

Also:
The Structure
Why our pups don't meet on walks

Join our Chicago SociaBulls Facebook page for more photos and information about our group.

Interested in joining? Find out about the process, here. 

SociaBulls: When is a Dog Ready to Join the SociaBulls Group?

While we love that our group has so many different types of dogs, with different types of personalities, working on different types of skills, a perspective member just brought up the really good question: How do you know when your pup is ready to join the group?

I know this is definitely one of the biggest fears of new members.
They are always afraid that their dog will be the one to "ruin" the walks.
They predict their dog will bark and jump, maybe do circular acrobatics in the air. Or just sing non-stop for the entire walk.

Which is completely okay, because we are a non-judgmental group.
The main thing is just knowing our group isn't a replacement for training, but just a way of 'owners-helping-owners' as a type of 'after-training' to work on the things that we've learned. We just ask that the owners have owned their dogs for 3+ months so they know their dog, and they have been exposed to a formal group setting with other dogs so they understand how to best handle their pup and gain focus.
We use our application process as a way of learning more about each dog as a way to provide a positive experience within the pack and to familiarize the owners with our pack rules that have helped all of us to be successful.

Because we've all had our first walks. And we all started somewhere.

Even this city turtle who joined us the other week.

Also:

As an after-training group.

Who you don't realize we are.

Join our Chicago SociaBulls Facebook page for more photos and information about our group.

Interested in joining? Find out about the process, here. 

SociaBulls: On Not "Graduating"

Lately, we've been hearing so many great stories about our SociaBulls members' experiences.
About pups who are using their experiences from the group to gain more focus on daily walks.
About pooches who are becoming more accustomed to walking closely with other dogs.
And about shy dogs who are able to walk near people in the company of other dogs. These owners keep coming to the group because they are  so proud of the positive changes they've seen in their pups.
At the same time, I was just talking to another member about why all types of dogs come and if there is ever a time when they seem to overcome what they came to work on and have "graduated" from the walks.

After thinking about our own experiences, and talking to many of our other members, we've realized even as our pups improve there are still so many reasons the walks can be beneficial.

Pups Love Socialization and Stimulation:

One of the biggest benefits we've noticed from the group is that it gives our dogs a different way to socialize. We know that not every dog is able to, or enjoys, physical interaction when socializing with other dogs. Group walking is a comfortable way for all types of dogs to socialize.
We also like how it's  both physically and mentally stimulating and a good way to keep your pups' experiences well-rounded.

We're All Always in Training:

I know there are a lot of obstacles we've overcame, but I can't say that we have ever "graduated" from training overall. I have noticed that once I think our pups are successful in one area we tend to be more lenient, but by not practicing and using what we've learned they tend to fall back into bad habits.
We love how SociaBulls walks are a scheduled way for us to remember to follow our good habits. We love using it to work on check-in's, self-control (that would be Miss M always diving for the goose poo!), and focus (we're looking at you Mr. B always begging other people for their treats).

The Importance of Supportive Communities:

Back when I first adopted Miss M, I didn't really have other dog friends and I know it really would have helped to be part of a supportive community. From being able to talk about dog coats that fit, recommendations for dog boarding, and little issues we notice, it has been amazing to hear the recommendations from so many of our SociaBulls friends. We also like that we have met such a diverse group of people, we probably wouldn't have been able to meet, and we are all brought together through our love of dogs.

Also:
The inside stories (follow the link at the bottom) about why so many of our pups walk.

Learn more about our SociaBulls group here, and on our Facebook page here.