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.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
– My little rescue chihuahua/mix Frida “Fifi” Kahlo.

What is your greatest fear?
– Not making our annual fundraising goals!

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
– Moving to Kansas City and creating the life I have always wanted – which has led me to work for GPSPCA.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
– “Wicked” and “awesome” – I’m from the Boston area orginally, and I just can’t break the habit.

Which talent would you most like to have?
– Dog whisperer.

If you had to eat the same meal every day, what would it be?
– A great loaf of bread from Ibis Bakery and Kerrygold butter.

What do you most value in your friends?
– Loyalty and the ability to tell me the truth.

If you could be any kind of animal, which would you be?
– I’d be one of the dogs. They are supported to live their best lives.

Where would you most like to live?
– I’m quite happy in Kansas City, but a few years in Paris would be dreamy.

What is your favorite occupation?
– Honestly, working as the Director of Philanthropy and Engagement at GPSPCA!

How many pets do you have?
– I am fortunate to have three amazing dogs. Frida, I rescued in 2020. I rescued Finneas, a mini-Aussie Shepherd from GPSPCA in October of 2023. And the king doggy in my life, Chico, a gorgeous tri-colored American Pit Bull Terrier, is my partner’s nine-year-old rescue boy. We are also planning on adding some chickens to the pack this spring!

When and where are you happiest?
– Snuggled in bed with my three rescue dogs.

What is your most treasured possession?
– A hand-felted dog bed I ordered from Italy when I first adopted Frida. It was an extravagant splurge, but her joy and comfort, especially knowing that she spent the first two years of her life on the streets of Tijuana, bring us both tremendous joy.

Hathaway Maranda is revolutionizing the culture here at Great Plains SPCA, and we could not be more grateful for her expertise. Her attention to detail and huge heart for homeless pets help save lives every single day, and we are forever grateful for her leadership.

The post Q&A – Director of Philanthropy & Engagement, Hathaway Maranda appeared first on Great Plains SPCA.

One of the major hurdles to overcome shelter stress, is that you may not see the “true” personality of a pet when you first meet them. A dog who is calm and well-behaved in the home, may seem hyperactive in the shelter environment. Or a cat that hides throughout the majority of the shelter stay, may blossom into a happy and outgoing feline in the home. Proper management of mental health can mitigate this, but often, we don’t know exactly how an animal will be in the home.

Another thing to keep in mind with shelter stress is lowered immune function. Shelter animals are more likely to get sick, and will recover slower from illnesses and injuries than owned pets. Severe illness or injury means that an animal needs to heal first before becoming available for adoption, increasing their length of stay, which leads to higher levels of stress.

Management of stress in the shelter is extremely important to the animals that depend on us. Great Plains SPCA strives to provide top quality care, and mitigate stress in a few key ways.

How We Mitigate Shelter Stress

1. Daily Enrichment. Enrichment is the best way to engage our pets’ minds, prevent boredom, and allow an outlet for them to release stress. Examples of enrichment are scents, kongs, long-line time, additional walks, and opportunities to shred appropriate items like cardboard under supervision.
2. Office Breaks. Every staff member at Great Plains SPCA shares their office space with a dog during the day. This gives our animals a more home-like environment to get a break from their kennels and spend quality time with a person.
3. Cat-Tastic Thursday. Each Thursday, every staff member onsite takes at least 15 minutes to spend 1:1 time with a cat in our care. Our more outgoing cats play with toys, while shy cats can get calm attention at their pace.
4. Pack Walks. Every Monday and Friday, all available staff bring a dog (or cat in a stroller) on a walk to the park. With a variety of new scents, and new friends to meet, this is a perfect time for our more outgoing pets to get exercise and socialization.
5. Foster Homes. When the shelter is too overwhelming, our dedicated team of fosters welcomes our animals into their home giving our pets opportunities to shine while they wait for their forever families.

How You Can Help

1. Advocate for Long-Term Pets. A long shelter stay means an extended period of time with high stress levels. The sooner an animal can find their forever home, the better. Sharing their posts on social media or mentioning adoptable pets to friends and family is a perfect way to advocate for long-term shelter pets.
2. Become a Volunteer. As a volunteer, you are able to provide additional enrichment for shelter pets. Take them on doggy-day-outs to a nearby park, or simply spend 1:1 time with them. All of these things are beneficial to an animal’s mental health, and will lower their stress.
3. Become a Foster. Fostering saves lives. Providing a home environment for our stressed pets not only gives them a place to decompress, but it allows us to see their true personality outside of the shelter.
4. Adopt a Shelter Pet. What every animal in a shelter needs is a forever home where they can be loved and cared for.

If you’re ready to take the next step and make an impact in a shelter animal’s life, we welcome you with open arms. CLICK HERE to learn more about our volunteer opportunities, or CLICK HERE to view our available adoptable pets.

The post The Consequences of Shelter Stress 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.

Nena – Emaciated, Injured, and Dragging An Extension Cord

Nena was found dragging an extension cord for a tie-out, clearly emaciated, with old injuries to her tail and top of her head. A good Samaritan, horrified by the condition she was in, immediately called our HERO Team for help.

We quickly got her to the safety of Great Plains SPCA. Nena got a full medical examination, a feeding plan to help her regain weight, and lots of love from our staff. After a horrific start to life, we are going to make sure Nena has everything she needs to thrive.

Bagheera & Baloo – Puppies Scavenging For Food

These two puppies were found on the side of the road, gnawing on a dead animal that they had found for food. Our HERO Team couldn’t leave these poor puppies to starve in the frigid cold and loaded them up in the van for a ride to Great Plains SPCA.

On examination, both puppies were missing patches of fur from exposure to the elements. We immediately secured foster for these two to help them decompress and learn what it means to be safe and loved. In the next few weeks, Bagheera and Baloo will be made available for adoption. Never again needing to worry about where their next meal will come from.

Missy – Hit By A Car

An urgent phone call came on Saturday evening. One of our client’s dogs had been hit by a car, and they had nowhere else to turn. We gave them the address for Great Plains SPCA, and they arrived shortly after with dog in tow.

Missy had lacerations on both hind legs, generalized bruising throughout her hind end, and visible lameness on her right hind leg. With permission from the owner, Missy’s owner signed her over to us, and our Shelter Medicine Team provided her with pain medication and medical treatment to expedite the rehabilitation process. Missy is currently still healing, but with patience and love, we expect her to make a full recovery.

These are not the first, and certainly won’t be the last urgent cases that our HERO Team faces. With your support, we can continue to save helpless animals in need. Please consider supporting our shelter, and the lifechanging work we do every single day.

The post Our HERO Team’s Lifesaving Work 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 Cruelty Defined

The definition of animal cruelty varies depending on local laws and should be enforced by the appropriate authorities. Nonetheless, here are some key indicators to watch for in your area:

How You Can Assist

Extend a Helping Hand

• Many cases of neglect result from limited resources, and offering assistance can transform a suffering pet’s life. Approach the owner with your concerns in a nonjudgmental manner and, if possible, contribute to the solution to help them get back on track.

Document Your Observations

• Note dates, locations, and specific incidents—all of which could be helpful for Animal Control Officers when investigating.

Report to Local Authorities

• If the situation isn’t an emergency but neglect is suspected, contact local animal control or law enforcement, as appropriate. You can also reach out to our HERO Outreach Team at hero@greatplainsspca.org. In emergencies, call 911.

Support Your Local Animal Shelter

• Once a neglected animal is rescued from the situation, they often require extensive medical care or behavioral rehabilitation to recover from their trauma. If you reside in Overland Park, Leawood, Lenexa, Prairie Village, Shawnee, Bonner Springs or Lake Quivira, Great Plains SPCA is your local hometown shelter. You can support us through monetary donations or by purchasing items from our Wish List.

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