Ask Ashley: Great Plains SPCA

Dear Ashley, I have a dog who can get too excited and a bit protective when people come over so I put him in a kennel when we have visitors. My sister-in-law will be staying with us for a few weeks. She has visited before and he generally calms down after a few days. What can I do at the beginning of the stay to reduce the amount of time he needs to adjust? – AnnMarie Thomas

I recommend keeping him in the kennel when your sister-in-law comes over and releasing him once he becomes calm. You can return him to the kennel if he gets overly excited. Give your sister-in-law some treats or toys to help with relationship building when she first arrives and remember to take it slow. The more your sister-in-law visits, the less time the acclimation will take in the future. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Dear Ashley, my brother took in a dog that was too much for another family. Her name is Remy and she is shy and fearful. She does well with women but is nervous of men. She also gets really wound up in the house and their biggest concern is that she is jumping over furniture when she gets excited. They do not have a fenced yard. Any tips on helping sweet Remy? – Barbara Poe

It sounds like Remy needs more mental stimulation and physical exercise. I recommend increasing exercise and if that is not doable, get a doggy backpack where you slowly add weights to tire her out during walks. Please be cognizant of her physical abilities while adding weights. I also recommend checking out online DIY canine enrichment for the home to have her work her brain. She should also have slow introductions with new males if you can fit that in. Make sure to reward her for all the positive behaviors she displays with unfamiliar people.  – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Dear Ashley, we adopted Ringo 14 years ago and we’re not sure if this is a COVID thing, old age , or something entirely different, but he has taken to sitting at the bottom of the stairs and whining at 6:00 every morning. I normally go downstairs, take him out, give him attention, and carry him upstairs since he cannot do the stairs by himself. However, not even a minute later when I take him upstairs, he goes to the top of the stairs and starts whining to go down the stairs. What do you think is going on? – Marla Svoboda and Michael Dean

It sounds like Ringo may be experiencing separation anxiety and he is trying to communicate that he wants you to come downstairs and stay with him down there. Our new routines during the pandemic have caused animals to display different types and increased forms of separation anxiety, even for animals that did not have separation anxiety previously. I recommend trying to keep to your normal routines as close as possible to decrease stress in the future when you start leaving home more. I know that is difficult, but even teaching your dogs to be alone for small amounts of time while you are at home is beneficial.   – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA