Animal expert, Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA, is the Senior Director of Animal Behavior, Foster & Rescue. Ashley studied under the Council of Certified Professional Pet Dog Trainers (CCPDT), is CPDT-KA certified and American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certified. She also earned certifications for Behavior Pharmacology and Separation Anxiety through Heartland Positive Dog Training Alliance (HPDTA) Training. Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered in KC Parent Magazine.

Poop Eating Catastrophe

My dogs have a disgusting habit of eating poop in the backyard. It’s so bad that one of my dogs will start eating poop when another dog is actively pooping. I have tried yelling at them, but if I do, they will eat it as fast as they can then run away from me. I’ve tried the over-the-counter supplements at the pet store, but they don’t seem to work at all. I’m so embarrassed of their foul-smelling breath when my friends come over. How can I get them to stop this behavior? – Sarah Campbell

Coprophagia (eating feces) can be a tough habit to break for many dogs. Trying to find out why they eat poop is key in understanding how to curb it. Dogs may eat poop because of stress, parasites, boredom, poor diet, issues with their pancreas, and sometimes they just do it because they enjoy it, which is one of the tougher ones to break. Try to find out why, then you can work on it. I also recommend hanging out with your pooches outside so you can pick their stool up immediately and redirect them from eating it. Do this for a few months and work on the commands “leave it” and “come” so you can direct them without being close by. There are also some supplements for bad breath if you would like to try those. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

How Do I Keep My Dog From Fence Fighting?

We got a couple of dogs from a family member that could no longer take care of them. We love them dearly, but they will not stop fighting with my neighbor’s dogs through the fence. They immediately go to the fence to start a fight as soon as we let them go outside for a restroom break. Please help! Can they eventually live peacefully together? – Andrea Johnson

Teach your dogs the “leave It” command when they are inside. Once they have learned this command reliably, take them outside on a leash and get close enough to the fence so that your dog is still listening to you and will follow basic commands, but can view the dogs in the other yard. Once the dog barks at the other dogs, say “leave it” and make them sit. Reward calming behavior and redirect them into “watch me” when they are reacting to the other dogs. Do this routinely until they learn the command, then try it closer to the fence. This will take patience but is highly effective. It would be even better if your neighbors practiced this with the dogs on their side of the fence. Train your dogs individually for even quicker results. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Awful Allergies

My dog has terrible allergies and itches herself raw all the time. She is most happy in the winter when it’s cold, but other than that she gets inflamed and will bite her tummy and paws until they bleed. I use Benadryl which helps a little but it’s not enough. I even do steroid injections to get her to stop itching so much. Any ideas on how to get her some relief? – Blake T.

I would highly recommend seeing an allergist if her allergies are that severe. They can do an allergy test to find out exactly what your dog is allergic to, from grass/molds to things inside your home such as wool. They can even test to see if your dog is allergic to human dander. Yes, that’s right. Dogs can be allergic to humans, and it happens more often than people believe. When you get the results, you can try and eliminate the things your dog is allergic to or can start your dog on immunotherapy. Hope she gets the help she needs. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered in KC Parent Magazine! For anyone interested in a Behavior Class or Consulation, our expert Behavior Team can work with you to help resolve any behavioral challenges you are experiencing with your pet. CLICK HERE for more information and registration.

The post Ask Ashley – March 2024 appeared first on Great Plains SPCA.

Animal expert, Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA, is the Senior Director of Animal Behavior, Foster & Rescue. Ashley studied under the Council of Certified Professional Pet Dog Trainers (CCPDT), is CPDT-KA certified and American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certified. She also earned certification for Behavior Pharmacology and Separation Anxiety through Heartland Positive Dog Training Alliance (HPDTA) Training. Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered in KC Parent Magazine.

Puppy Mill Poodle With Separation Anxiety

I have a 14-year-old miniature poodle that came from a puppy mill and has separation anxiety. He follows me everywhere and when he can’t, he cries and howls loudly until I return. When I leave the house, he sits on a pillow in the upstairs hall and waits to see my car. When he does, he runs downstairs and goes crazy. I always walk him when I get home and sometimes I let him run because he has so much energy. I realize that I have created a monster. I’ve tried a thunder vest and that did nothing. Is there anything you recommend doing to stop or at least lessen this behavior? – John Glessner

It is good news that he can stay on the pillow and wait calmly for you without being destructive, so it sounds to me that he needs to build some confidence. Something that will help is to not talk to him or give him any attention when you come back home. Ignore his undesirable behavior and once he settles, give him attention and petting. This will teach him that leaving and coming back is no big deal at all. I recommend leaving your pup with some enrichment that he can play with while you’re gone and teaching him the “wait” and “settle” commands. It may take him longer than most to learn these behaviors since he is a puppy mill rescue, but these will help him get on the right path. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

My Border Collie Never Runs Out Of Energy!

We have a border collie, Josie, who is quite reactive! So much so that she makes it miserable to take her anywhere. She is so hyper (we didn’t do our homework when someone asked if we wanted her) that we take her to Cuddle Up Pup for daycare every weekday. If we didn’t, she would drive me nuts! Our goal is to be able to take Josie out and about without her going crazy and barking at every person and every dog she sees. Any ideas or help you can give would be appreciated! – Dana Bradley

Border collies have a lot of energy and need a lot of physical exercise and mental stimulation to keep their intelligent brains content. I recommend increasing Josie’s exercise and providing her with brain games and puzzle feeders to keep her busy. There are doggy treadmills or you could get a weighted backpack where you add weight to make her walks more work. You should add weight slowly and acclimate to the weight changes to not injure her. Mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise. Have you ever noticed that when you go on a long walk or exercise, you have more energy? Have you noticed that when you work all day on the computer or problem solving at work, you’re exhausted? That is because mental stimulation tires your brain which is what your border collie needs. You can tire Josie’s mind by providing environmental enrichment and puzzle feeders. Puzzle feeders are food dispensing toys that dogs must figure out how to maneuver to release the food. I recommend using a puzzle feeder for all of Josie’s meals. Have her work for her food and she will be happier in the end. There are tons of cheap enrichments you can make for your pet. Search online for DIY enrichments for your dog and you will get hundreds of results. Have fun! – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered in KC Parent Magazine! For anyone interested in a Behavior Class or Consulation, our expert Behavior Team can work with you to help resolve any behavioral challenges you are experiencing with your pet. CLICK HERE for more information and registration.

The post Ask Ashley – February 2023 appeared first on Great Plains SPCA.

Animal expert, Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA, is the Senior Director of Animal Behavior, Foster & Rescue. Ashley studied under the Council of Certified Professional Pet Dog Trainers (CCPDT), is CPDT-KA certified and American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certified. She also earned certification for Behavior Pharmacology and Separation Anxiety through Heartland Positive Dog Training Alliance (HPDTA) Training. Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered in KC Parent Magazine.

Reactive Rescue Dog

We have a shepherd mix rescue. She is a sweet dog at home. On walks, if she sees another animal or human coming toward her, she will lay down quietly and wait until they are close. She will then pounce and go crazy, barking and lunging at them. There’s no distracting her with commands or treats. Is there anything we can do to stop this attack mode? Thanks for your help! – Eileen 

I recommend teaching your pet the “watch me” command that you can use during walks. Train her at home initially and once she has mastered it, try it in the real world. Reward her with high value treats when she gives you direct eye contact. When she is not reacting toward others, reward her, slowly get closer to an unfamiliar person, and ask her to go into a sit and “watch me.” Repeat as you get closer to the person so that she is paying attention to you before moving forward. If she is not watching you, start further back.  She will eventually understand the pattern, then will start offering sit and watching cues for treats during your walk. Getting her into sit and “watch me” prior to her barking is ideal, as breaking her attention away could be difficult. Patience is key in this process, but you will be successful with repetition. You can ask neighbors to help you by having them follow your commands and give you control of the distance between you and the other pup when you are first training these techniques. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA 

How Do I Handle Separation Anxiety?

My dog has separation anxiety and I have tried a diffuser, playing harp music, kenneling her, using a thunder coat. I cannot punish her because I am not there when she destroys my apartment. Do you have any suggestions? Medication will only work part of the day. – Connie

I recommend working on pre-departure cues while at home. Examples of this are putting your shoes on or grabbing your keys, then rewarding your dog when she is calm. Do this several times a day to lessen the anxiety when you actually leave home. Next step is gradual absences that slowly increase over time and making sure your pet has lots of enrichment and things to chew on while you’re gone. This takes time, but routine makes it easier. Making sure your dog gets plenty of daily exercise will decrease your dog’s anxiety. Lastly, if these do not help, talk to your veterinarian about antianxiety medications such as SSRIs that will last longer than a few hours throughout the day. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA 

Barking At The Doorbell

Our grandpuppy barks a lot when the doorbell rings or when he sees someone walking by. How can we lessen this reaction? Thanks! – Marcia 

I recommend associating the doorbell with a good thing, such as treats or play. You can ask a neighbor to ring your doorbell at your command so that you are ready while in the training process. When the doorbell rings, go to the door, ask the dog to go into a sit and reward him with a high value treat if he responds well. Teaching the “watch me” command will also help. Anytime someone walks by or rings the doorbell, ask him to sit, “watch me,” then reward. It will take time for him to do it consistently, but if you make it a daily routine, your dog will eventually go to the door and sit and wait for your next command. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA 

Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered in KC Parent Magazine! For anyone interested in a Behavior Class or Consulation, our expert Behavior Team can work with you to help resolve any behavioral challenges you are experiencing with your pet. CLICK HERE for more information and registration.

The post Ask Ashley – December 2023 appeared first on Great Plains SPCA.

Animal expert, Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA, is the Senior Director of Animal Behavior, Foster & Rescue. Ashley studied under the Council of Certified Professional Pet Dog Trainers (CCPDT), is CPDT-KA certified and American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certified. She also earned certification for Behavior Pharmacology and Separation Anxiety through Heartland Positive Dog Training Alliance (HPDTA) Training. Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered in KC Parent Magazine.

How Do I Teach My Puppy To Poop Outside?

We have a four-month-old rat terrier mix that we got when she was seven weeks old. She’s been more difficult to potty-train than any other puppy we’ve ever had. We use a crate and limit her with baby gates to half of our first floor, which has hardwoods. We want to allow her upstairs to the bedroom with us, but she thinks it’s okay to go #2 on the carpet (and any rugs we put down on the hardwoods.) Otherwise, she keeps her crate spotless; she pees outside; and rarely poops on the hardwoods. Without scolding her, how do we retrain her that our carpet is not grass? (She’s not being sneaky; she goes on the carpet right in front of us.) – Tracy

I recommend restarting the potty-training process all over and not letting her free roam unsupervised until she has gone 16 weeks without an accident. That may seem excessive, but that is when you know your pet is truly housetrained. It’s common for people to give freedoms early when training but that often causes delays in the process. Do not allow her on the carpet or rug without being supervised. Watch for eliminating signs such as sniffing and circling and redirect her by taking her outside. Something that has helped many of my clients is to keep the dog tethered by a leash to your belt so she stays with you when walking through the house. When she starts showing signs of needing to go, take her out immediately and reward her for going potty in the appropriate place. A restart with crating, gating like you mentioned, and supervised free roaming will help tremendously. It’s also a good reminder to know that she’s still a puppy at this age and all animals learn at different paces. She may just be a late bloomer, so repeating the training is key. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Constantly Barking At People… What Do I Do?

I have two ten-year-old schnauzers. They bark at people and dog walkers excessively. I’ve tried everything to get them to stop with no luck. What do you think of squirting them with water? Or other suggestions. Thanks – JB

It will be a difficult habit to curb if they have been doing it for 10 years, but still correctable. I recommend training them individually. Often people want to train multiple dogs together but that hinders the process because dogs feed off the other’s inappropriate behavior and cause them to become more reactive. When you’re at home and inside, get a mat and teach the command, “Go to the Mat” when people walk by. Reward the dogs for quiet and calm behaviors. If you’re on a walk, work on desensitizing them to unfamiliar people and pets. Regarding your question about squirting them with water, it is not a good long-term training strategy because it usually causes reactive dogs to become frustrated, and the behaviors can exacerbate. Dogs are associative learners, which means they learn in patterns. If you can create a new pattern and reward the behavior, they will be more apt to repeat the pattern if you are using it consistently. So, what does that mean exactly? If your dog barks when someone walks by in your home, predict the behavior, lure them to the mat and reward when they get there. I also recommend training the “Leave It” command and using that for anything they are reactive to. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered in KC Parent Magazine! For anyone interested in a Behavior Class or Consultation, our expert Behavior Team can work with you to help resolve any behavioral challenges you are experiencing with your pet. CLICK HERE for more information and registration.

The post Ask Ashley – January 2024 appeared first on Great Plains SPCA.

Cold temperatures can put your pets at risk! Here are 10 tips to keep them safe this winter:

1. Know your dog’s limits! Some dogs are more susceptible to the cold than others. Short-coated, thin, elderly, or very young dogs get cold more quickly – so adjust the amount of time they stay outside! If your dog enjoys being outdoors and you will be outside longer than a few minutes, consider outfitting it with a sweater or coat to keep it warm. If it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your dog!

2. Check under the hood! Cats often sleep in the wheel wells of cars during the winter months to keep warm. If you start your car and a cat is sleeping on your tire, it can be severely hurt or even killed by moving engine parts. Prevent injuries by banging loudly on your hood or honking the horn before starting your car. This will wake up the cat and give it a chance to escape before starting the car.

3. Wipe their paws! Your dog’s paws can pick up toxic chemicals such as salt, antifreeze, or de-icers. Be sure to wipe them off when you return from walks to prevent him from licking it off and becoming sick.

4. Keep them leashed! More pets become lost in the winter than any other season due to snowfall disguising recognizable scents that would normally help them find their way home. Prevent your pets from becoming lost by keeping dogs leashed on walks and, just in case you are separated from your pets, make sure their collars have up-to-date contact information and they are microchipped.

5. Avoid the ice! When walking your dog, be sure to avoid frozen lakes and ponds. Your dog could be seriously hurt or even killed if the ice breaks. Walking near frozen water could also cause your dog’s paws to become wet and could lead to frostbite.

6. Leave them home! Just as hot cars are dangerous for pets in the summer, cold cars pose a threat as well! Only take your pets in the car if it is necessary, and never leave them unattended.

7. Stay Visible! Due to Daylight Savings, many of us are relegated to walking our dogs in the dark. Keep yourself and your dog safe by wearing reflective gear and keep your dog close when walking on the street.

8. Give them shelter! Ideally, all pets should live inside. If your pets live outdoors primarily, bring them indoors during sub-zero temperatures. For the rest of the winter, provide them with a dry, draft-free shelter that is large enough to allow them to sit and lay down comfortably, but small enough to conserve body heat.  The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground and covered with cedar shavings or straw.  Turn the shelter so it faces away from the wind and cover the doorway with waterproof burlap or heavy plastic.

9. Avoid spills! Antifreeze attracts cats and dogs because it is very sweet to taste, but it is extremely poisonous and can cause serious illness or death when ingested. Be sure to clean up any antifreeze that spills in your garage, and keep the bottle somewhere your pets cannot access.

10. Be prepared! Winter brings extreme weather that can cause power outages. Have an emergency plan and make sure they include your pets! Most likely you will never need it, but if you do, you will be thankful you planned ahead!

Frigid temperatures can be deadly for outdoor pets. But with the proper preparation, our furry friends can stay warm and safe this winter. If you know of a pet in need of resources or supplies in a non-emergency situation, contact our HERO Team at hero@greatplainsspca.org. For animals in imminent danger, call your local Animal Control.

The post Top 10 Winter Weather Safety Tips for Pets appeared first on Great Plains SPCA.

Animal expert, Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA, is the Senior Director of Animal Behavior, Foster & Rescue. Ashley studied under the Council of Certified Professional Pet Dog Trainers (CCPDT), is CPDT-KA certified and American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certified. She also earned certification for Behavior Pharmacology and Separation Anxiety through Heartland Positive Dog Training Alliance (HPDTA) Training. Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered in KC Parent Magazine.

Fence Jumping Fiasco

Our dog, Jax, is a terrier mix, probably 27 pounds. He’s small, but can jump our five-foot fence and does so when he sees another dog. Currently, we take him out on leash into the backyard, but I am curious if you have any advice on how we can get him to stop jumping the fence. – Raja

There are rollers and piping you can put on top of your fence to cause him to fall back into the fenced yard if you’re interested in a quick, non-training method. As for training, you can teach Jax the “come” command and practice recall. Use this command whenever he goes near the fence. If he does not pay attention to you when using the command, put him on a long lead/leash and train him to come when called by using the lead to bring him back to you. Most dogs jump fences because they’re bored, so limiting his time outside or making sure his time outside is meaningful and fun may help. Staying in the yard with him to redirect him from jumping the fence until he is trained is a must for his safety. I also recommend training the “leave it” command and using it when he sees other dogs outside the fence. Once you’re able to redirect him from the dogs outside the fence and to come to you, you’re well on your way to getting him to stop jumping the fence. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Does My Dog Need A New Friend?

We have a 14-year-old Aussie that lost her friend last year. We’re torn between getting her a new friend and letting her be the one who gets all the attention. She doesn’t seem to mourn the loss of her friend so how do we know what to do? – Terry

I am so sorry for the loss of your pet for you and your Aussie. This is difficult for me to answer since I don’t know your dog, but I would assess how she responds to other pets. If she seems to light up and wants to play, consider getting another pet. If she seems uninterested in being around other pets, then I think you may have your answer. I recommend trying her with other pets and letting her tell you what she thinks. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

What’s In A Word?

I am wondering how to re-establish the meaning of words. My mother has completely diminished the meaning of “No,” “Yes,” and “Good girl” with our two dogs—one is four years and the other is six months. I started training the puppy, but my mother and I used different methods and now the puppy is not potty trained and doesn’t listen. There are many areas of concern, but I think re-establishing the meaning of those words will help to create a good foundation. – Hailey

You can re-establish words with dogs because dogs are associative learners which means they learn in patterns. However, you must create a new pattern with each word and make those words mean something. If you don’t have consistency in the home, you may find it difficult to do. I recommend having a family meeting with everyone in the home to discuss the expectations for the pet and if everyone can abide by them, you are on your way to success. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered in KC Parent Magazine! For anyone interested in a Behavior Class or Consulation, our expert Behavior Team can work with you to help resolve any behavioral challenges you are experiencing with your pet. CLICK HERE for more information and registration.

The post Ask Ashley – November 2023 appeared first on Great Plains SPCA.

Animal expert, Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA, is the Senior Director of Animal Behavior, Foster & Rescue. Ashley studied under the Council of Certified Professional Pet Dog Trainers (CCPDT), is CPDT-KA certified and American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certified. She also earned certification for Behavior Pharmacology and Separation Anxiety through Heartland Positive Dog Training Alliance (HPDTA) Training. Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered in KC Parent Magazine.

Shy Pittie Struggles To Meet New People

Olive is an almost three-year-old pit mix. We have had her for about 18 months. She is loving, affectionate and wicked smart. Her circle of trust is small but strong. She is great with other dogs, but strange people are a problem for her, especially men and tall women. I’m looking for suggestions for how to build her confidence around strangers. Her typical behavior with strangers is barking and then hiding. Sometimes she retreats to her crate and won’t come out until strangers leave the house. Thanks for any advice you can offer. We would love her to be more relaxed in these situations. – Jacquie Gering

It sounds like Olive is shy and fearful of new people and needs additional time to acclimate to them. My advice is to be patient and ask others to completely ignore her until she is ready to engage with them. Have them avoid direct eye contact and forced engagement, like petting, when she is not ready. At the shelter we use the slow and low method of meeting shy and fearful dogs by squatting on the ground to make ourselves look smaller, no fast movements and lots of patience. If they don’t want to interact, it’s okay. Ignore them and give them attention when they are ready for it. When they are ready, have the person go slow and pet under the chin and not on top of their head. If Olive starts to cower, bark, lunge, yawn, or growl, then she has mild to significant anxiety, and you should take it slower. For extreme cases, I recommend having an Animal Behaviorist work with you on behavior modification. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Itchy Beagle Needs Help With Allergies

My older beagle scratches, not constantly, but often. Our vet suggested Benadryl, but it’s a battle to get her to take any pill. Is there any home remedy I can try? By the way, our other beagle, who was one of the 4,000 dogs rescued from the Envigo breeding facility and adopted from Great Plains SPCA, is doing well after almost a year with us. – Jim Autry

Thank you for adopting from Great Plains SPCA! I consulted one of our vets for this question and Dr. Dickerson said there are medicated and hypoallergenic shampoos that you can purchase over the counter to see if they could help with her scratching. If those don’t work, there is an injectable option that you should be able to access through your vet if you’re unable to give her pills. For extreme allergies, you can get an allergy test done on your dog to find out exactly what her allergies are. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA and Dr. Dickerson, DVM

Potty Training A Bernadoodle Puppy In An Apartment

I have a three-and-a-half-month-old Bernadoodle puppy. We live in an apartment and I am curious about the best way to potty train her. Thanks so much! – Shelley

I am a big fan of crate training and positive reinforcement, so I recommend purchasing a crate, training her to use the crate for when you aren’t able to supervise her, and rewarding her when she goes to the bathroom outside. Make sure you feed her at the same time every day to get her on a schedule so that you can predict when she will have to go. I like to pick one spot for potty breaks outside so dogs can associate that area with eliminating instead of outside play. Taking the puppy outside every one to two hours and rewarding her every time she goes potty will create good habits. I do not recommend scolding her in the home when she has an accident, as that can set her back. Some people will rub a dog’s nose in the carpet after they have urinated. Dog trainers have found that method to be ineffective and cause delays in potty training. It creates confusion because they don’t realize they are in trouble for having an accident in the home, and associate it with the act of urinating, so puppies will start to hide when going to the bathroom. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered in KC Parent Magazine! For anyone interested in a Behavior Class or Consulation, our expert Behavior Team can work with you to help resolve any behavioral challenges you are experiencing with your pet. CLICK HERE for more information and registration.

The post Ask Ashley – October 2023 appeared first on Great Plains SPCA.

Animal expert, Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA, is the Senior Director of Animal Behavior, Foster & Rescue. Ashley studied under the Council of Certified Professional Pet Dog Trainers (CCPDT), is CPDT-KA certified and American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certified. She also earned certification for Behavior Pharmacology and Separation Anxiety through Heartland Positive Dog Training Alliance (HPDTA) Training. Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered in KC Parent Magazine.

Australian Shepherd/mix Reactive To Delivery Trucks

My Australian/German Shepherd mutt mix (and GPSPCA alum), Moose, is overly reactive to large delivery trucks to the point that he’s destroyed the windowsill that looks out of the front of our house. He redirects away from the window when I call him, but obviously doesn’t when I’m at work. A few months back, he forced his way out of an unlatched door to chase a delivery truck up the street. Luckily, when the unaware driver got out of the truck, Moose just stood there wagging his tail wanting to be petted. So, he just hates…trucks? Any help would be appreciated. – Matt E.

It is common for dogs to feel excited, frustrated, or have the urge to chase vehicles. They are loud, quickly, and scary to animals that don’t understand them. Gradual and repeated exposure in a controlled environment is needed to get over any fear or frustration they have towards them. Start walking your dog by parked trucks a few blocks away, then slowly get closer and reward him for appropriate behaviors. If he’s not reactive towards parked vehicles, then you can start with redirecting him away from slow-moving ones. You can ask a friend to drive slowly around and work on redirecting with treats from the sidewalk. I recommend removing him from any place where he can see moving vehicles when he is alone to avoid damage to your home, like a crate or bedroom, or block any windows with a street view until he becomes less reactive. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Rescue Chihuahua Begins To Bite Strangers

My dog, Sophie, a 13-year-old rescue Chihuahua, has recently bitten two people on their calves. Sophie previously was a reserved barker but had never shown aggression. We recently moved into an apartment and she has been confined to a leash. Prior to that she had a yard to run in. Sophie lives with another Chihuahua and two cats. She has not shown any aggressive behavior toward them. I have had them all for approximately four years. What can I do to help her? – Dana P.

It sounds like Sophie has fear-induced aggression. This is when animals display aggression because they are uncomfortable with people or animals near them in hopes of keeping them away or from harming them. Animals with fear-induced aggression usually display more aggression when they are on leash because they are unable to flee the situation. Animals go through fight or flight response when they become startled and when they are leashed, they can’t run away, so they choose to fight, which results in biting behaviors. This behavior frequently appears with animals lacking confidence in themselves and can be worse near their home. I recommend slow introductions and rewarding with appropriate behaviors when meeting new people and letting her go at her own speed. I would absolutely avoid any forced interactions as that can exacerbate these behaviors and make them more challenging to train in the future. If she continues to bite people, a behavior consultation with a certified trainer is a good next step. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered in KC Parent Magazine! For anyone interested in a Behavior Class or Consulations, our expert Behavior Team can work with you to help resolve any behavioral challenges you are experiencing with your pet. CLICK HERE for more information and registration.

Residents of the municipalities we are partnered with (Overland Park, Leawood, Lenexa, Prairie Village, Shawnee, Bonner Springs, and Lake Quivira) can receive 20% off of their first Behavior Class. Great Plains SPCA alumni also receive $50 off of new class sign up! Email behaviorteam@greatplainsspca.org for your discount code.

The post Ask Ashley – September 2023 appeared first on Great Plains SPCA.

Animal expert, Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA, is the Senior Director of Animal Behavior, Foster & Rescue. Ashley studied under the Council of Certified Professional Pet Dog Trainers (CCPDT), is CPDT-KA certified and American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certified for nine years. She also earned certification for Behavior Pharmacology and Separation Anxiety through Heartland Positive Dog Training Alliance (HPDTA) Training. Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered in KC Parent Magazine.

Senior Chihuahua Experiencing Loss of a Friend

I have a senior Chihuahua and she lost her dog companion in March of this year. Since then, she sits in front of me and stares at me most of the day. She and her companion used to play and do zoomies a couple of times a day, but now he is gone. I am disabled and limited with how much I can play with her. She does not like to go outside or on walks and has some medical issues. Every afternoon at the same time, she starts shaking and panting and just stares. Is there something that I can do to make her feel more comfortable and get over her grief? – Lisa Vandiver

I am so sorry to both of you for your loss. This breaks my heart for you both. My first recommendation is to get her checked out by a veterinarian to see why she is shaking, just in case it is something medical. Here are some tips on helping depression in dogs:

1) Develop a new routine, like a new exercise plan or increasing play sessions

2) Increase her socialization with others, such as friends coming over or playing with other animals

3) Teach her a new trick, even if she is an old girl

4) Walks will give her enrichment

5) Give her a variety of new treats if her tummy can manage it

6) Puzzles feeders (bowls with compartments for food) must with treats for mental stimulation

7) Doggy day care might be fun for her

8) There are behavior medications to help if it gets worse.

Even if she does not like walking and prefers you to carry her around outside for walks, this is still enriching and will give her other things to do, smell, see, and focus on. I would encourage you to have friends, family, or neighbors come over to help provide socialization and play for your kiddo if you are unable to do it. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Maltipoo Struggles with Leash Reactivity

My two-year-old Maltipoo does fine on neighborhood walks until he comes near another dog or a human walker goes by. Then he goes berserk. He pulls, lunges and snarls until they pass. We have tried putting him in the sit or down position when we see a dog approaching but he breaks from the position when the dog gets nearby. We do the same thing when a human approaches and sometimes it works. He stays in position and we reward him, but this doesn’t work 100%. Any suggestions? It is getting embarrassing to walk him with all the drama. – Kevin Carril

This is a normal behavior that many dogs display, and it is called barrier frustration. There are numerous reasons animals become frustrated on leash during walks, such as fear, high arousal, or boredom. The first step is to desensitize your dog to the stimuli nearby by walking at a farther distance from whatever may trigger your pup and redirecting them away with treats or toys. Once you know how far you can get from another pet or person without him going berserk, work on training and rewarding him at that distance, then slowly get closer. Make sure his focus is on you and reward him for his good behavior. If you do not have control over the distance of others around, then I recommend doing this near a fenced yard with a dog behind it—that way you can manage how close you are away from the other dog. You can always recruit a friend to stay at a distance and move on your command if you need help. Keep moving during your walks and act like it’s no big deal when you come across another pet or human. If you stop and make a big deal, it will just get worse. Distracting your dog through training as much as you can to hold their focus is key while he learns the new routine. This is a lengthy topic and there are a lot of online resources for more suggestions. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered in KC Parent Magazine! For anyone interested in a Behavior Class or Consulations, our expert Behavior Team can work with you to help resolve any behavioral challenges you are experiencing with your pet. CLICK HERE for more information and registration.

Residents of the municipalities we are partnered with (Overland Park, Leawood, Lenexa, Prairie Village, Shawnee, Bonner Springs, and Lake Quivira) can receive 20% off of their first Behavior Class. Great Plains SPCA alumni also receive $50 off of new class sign up! Email behaviorteam@greatplainsspca.org for your discount code.

The post Ask Ashley – August 2023 appeared first on Great Plains SPCA.

The Fourth of July is coming up soon, which means FIREWORKS!!! While fireworks may be fun for us humans, our pets often struggle with the sudden loud noises that occur on Independence Day. And that’s not all. Summer heat and holiday foods can be a danger to our beloved pets if the necessary precautions aren’t taken to keep them safe.

In the worst-case scenario, your pet may become lost, fleeing your home or yard out of panic. According to national statistics, shelters see a 30-60% increase in lost pets every year between July 4th-6th. Those same statistics site that only 14% of lost pets are returned to their owners. We need to do our part to make sure this Independence Day is fun and safe for everyone, including the animals in our care. Here are a few tips to keep your pet not only safe and stress-free, but more likely to be reunited with your family if they do get lost.

Prepare In Advance:

• Make sure your pet’s collar is well-fitted with an up-to-date identification tag. You can purchase tags from our retail store for only $5!
• If your pet is microchipped, make sure the information is up-to-date on there as well. If your pet is not already microchipped, you can schedule an appointment with our Intake Team to have this done for $25.
• Take a current photo of all your pets, in case they do end up running away and getting lost.
• Talk to your vet about getting medication to help your pet during times of loud noises such as fireworks or storms.
• Make sure your home and yard are safe and secure. Are there any holes in your fence that your dog can get through? Is your cat likely to run out the front door in a panic?
• Consider hiring a trainer to work on desensitization. It’s too late to get them ready for this year, but you could prepare for next year.
• Prepare enrichment to keep your pet distracted.

Fourth of July Safety:

• Leave your pet at home if you go to parties, firework displays or a large gathering. Unfamiliar places can be stressful, and your pet is more likely to get spooked and run away.
• Keep your pets indoors during the fireworks. This means taking them potty or for a walk earlier in the day.
• Create a safe place for your pet to hide. This can be an escape-proof room or crate. You can provide white noise such as a television or radio to help distract them from the sounds.
• Avoid feeding table scraps or other food intended for people. There are many common foods such as chocolate, onions, grapes and fatty/fried foods that can are either toxic, or can give our pets an upset stomach.
• The heat itself can be dangerous to your pet. Make sure you are providing fresh water and frequent access to the indoors so they can cool off.
• After the celebration, make sure to check your yard for fireworks debris before allowing pets outside.

Happy 4th of July to all who celebrate!

The post Fourth of July Pet Safety appeared first on Great Plains SPCA.