Charlotte's Behavior Corner

04/03/2025

Check out this deal for cat spays & neuters. 🥳
Only available March 25 & 27 at Family Pet Clinic Grand Island 🐈🐈‍⬛

A great way to combat the over-population of strays, ferals and cats entering our already over-crowded local Rescues and shelters. 💔
..and check out the cute looking girl in their profile picture! 😉

Back by popular demand, a cat neuter and spay day on March 25th and 27th, 2025!

Please call 308-384-6147 to get signed up. We will be taking a total of 20 per day.

Prices on the flyer do NOT include pain medicine, vaccines, etc., but they can be added. Patient must be 5 months old or older.

27/02/2025

For YEARS, I've said that positive interventions and Applied Behavior Analysis could be transferable to the animal world.

I always appreciated those who saw reason and agreed, versus those who would say I was too optimistic or analytical about everything. Or thought Google could give them a better answer....

6 years ago, one of the seminars through the IAABC I watched was taught by a BCBA-D. Times are changing, ethics are improving and it's important to be an 'always learner' when it comes to helping improve the lives of animals.

It's time for the rest of the world to be more open minded!

25/02/2025

Happy World Spay Day! 🥳

World Spay is the last Tuesday in February every year since 1995, thanks to Doris Day and her efforts to help combat the over-population of pets in local shelters.

As we all know, shelters and rescues are in crisis mode with the alarming amount of dogs and cats finding themselves homeless.

Here are a few facts for you:

🐾An unaltered pair of dogs can produce up to 7,000 dogs over the course of 6 years!

🐾In 2020 and 2021, veterinarians saw a decrease of 7.2% in spay/neuters due to COVID. Which has added to the rising overpopulation of dogs.

🐾Best Friends Society reports out of 6.3 million of animals finding their way into shelters/rescues, 3.1 million of them have needed to be altered.

🐾A majority of dogs in shelters are between the ages of 7months to 2 years of age. The rough teenage stage where they need your help and guidance the most!

🐾25% of dogs in shelters are purebreds and an alarming amount are being surrendered to shelters/rescues when they don't sell!

When we think about the 'teenage' stage, this is when you should be talking with your veterinarian about scheduling your dogs or cats Spay/Neuter. There are many behaviors that may decrease with this responsible decision.

Resource guarding, anxieties, wandering, marking, unhealthy perseverating, animal/human reactive behaviors, over-arrousal or excitement are just a few.
Pairing this with appropriate assistance interventions from a professional will help decrease some of these aberrant behaviors.

While I totally understand the cost may be a factor, you have to make financial choices like setting money aside and maybe going without a few luxuries. Talk to your vet, invest in pet insurance or a Care Credit. Anything is possible with a little bit of effort!

If you are in Central Nebraska we hope you support The Good Life Rescue tonight at their Spayghetti event at Wine, Beer & Spirits Grand Island to help raise money for ongoing costs for dogs taken in.

We may not change the entire world, but one by one we all can change the world for the better for at least a few! 🐾💕🐾💕

19/01/2025

Neat idea for enrichment!

19/01/2025

Please email or call and let your voice be heard!!

This dog or any that they have attempted to obtain since they killed this dog, do not deserve to be treated this way!

Contact info is in the comments!

A St. Paul man is accused of tying a dog’s legs and throwing it into an irrigation canal leading to the dog’s drowning death, court records show.

19/01/2025

Now that Tik Tok is down, why not use that free time to spend with your dog?!

Plenty of opportunities to plug in some enrichment, running through some training and social skill outings. 🙂

A rigorous new study finds that just 10 minutes of interacting with pet dogs improves the emotional well-being of distressed owners.

18/01/2025

Great article!

Sometimes, bringing our pets into public can be stressful. Owners often forget that our dogs will feed off of the anxiety/stress we are feeling.

That's why it's always recommended to try to be positive in these situations. Make it fun and exciting, while setting expectations and PRAISE the behaviors you DO want to see!

If your dog is going to the vet, work on cooperative care first at home. Teach your dog that being handled is ok, advocate for your dog and what they may feel comfortable with for handling/touching and any other experience.

Charlotte had a vet visit yesterday and I was nervous with how long it's been. I had to keep my own anxiety in check and focus on keeping her relaxed, as well as being the best girl she could be. She isn't a fan of doorways, so I always gently talk her through it - I don't speed her along or drag her in. I let her inspect first and talk her through it. I explained this to the tech who would be taking her back for her blood draw and she did well.

Managing ourselves is one of the most important parts of setting our dogs up for success. Relax, stay calm and it's ok to take your time!

Dogs have lived alongside humans for thousands of years. They have been used to hunt, guard, herd and perform many other tasks, but today they mainly act as companions. While their lives today may seem easy compared with their ancestors, they still face many stresses—including visits to the vet.

14/01/2025

Started a small blog! 😁

You might have noticed a slight uptick in activity on this page. While it may be awhile before I start doing in person consulting again (like not winter). I have wanted to post more here to maybe give tips or break down behavior to help someone understand why their dog is the way they are.

There is a rise in owner surrenders, shelters and rescues are drowning. So if I can reach a family or two and change their minds, then that's my goal! 💕🐾

Do me a favor? Share this with anyone you think might need it. Also comment below your New Year's goal, after you've read the blog!

💖 Charlotte's Corner 🐾

January is National Train Your Dog Month and with the New Years, a great time to begin being more proactive with your dog. Maybe you've re...

13/01/2025

My friend Sam The Dog Trainer makes some really great points in his blog. There are a lot of outdated theories, tools and terminology in dog training.
More so is the danger of some of the trainers you see on TV, unfortunately.

Understanding the function of behaviors and training comes with years of hands on experience, studies and continued education.

I always look for new studies and training opportunities for myself. Do you?

Phoenix Dog Trainer and Behaviorist, by Sam The Dog Trainer; Sam Basso trains dogs and puppies in the Phoenix, Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, San Tan Valley, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Glendale, Gilbert, AZ and surrounding areas.

12/01/2025

Have you seen the video clips on Instagram or Tik Tok of dogs using communication buttons?!

Two decades ago, when I first began my journey in the behavior world as a paraprofessional in a self contained Autism classroom, we had many students that used these. It's amazing to see the increasing number of animals using them!

Some of their means of communication are simple and to meet a need. Then you have interactions like this that show how observant dogs can truly be!

Have you ever thought about using these communication buttons? Who has tried them so far?

04/01/2025

It's going to be a chilly one this weekend!

Many on our team prefer the warmer weather, so here are some reminders to help keep our beloved pets safe during the cold temps this weekend and all winter long.
Show us your pup in their favorite sweater!!
Stay warm everyone - get those cuddles in too!

01/01/2025

Happy New Year's 🎊🎆🥳

2024 certainly started off rough with loosing Pantera, the last of my super seniors - after Oreo, Loly and Heidi.
But we are proud to have been able to ease our way back into rescue, to help save lives again! 💕🐾

9 dogs came and went. Our home was a quick stop on the journey of these foster friends.

Big D - the Chocolate lab went to rainbow bridge sooner than we hoped. 🌈💔
Layla is with us permanently, two are working on healing and learning before they find their forever homes like the rest! 💖

We hope everyone yelled out Jumanji at midnight, so 2025 is more prosperous and less chaotic than the last 4 years! 🤣🤪