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.