Gentle Leader Head Collars

In this video, Jean Donaldson (author and dog trainer) demonstrates how to train your dog to look forward to having his Gentle Leader put on. We sell Gentle Leaders at Olathe Animal Hospital, and we frequently recommend them. They are helpful for a variety of nuisance behaviors, such as pulling… Read more

Screaming behavior in parrots

  This article is borrowed from Barbara Heidenreich with the owner’s permission. Wow. That Bird Sure Can Scream! By Barbara Heidenreich www.GoodBirdInc.com “Screaming. Somebody reinforced the heck out of that behavior.” I said to myself. Misty, a double yellow headed Amazon… Read more

Aggression in Pet Rabbits

What behaviors define aggression in rabbits? Lunging, boxing, chasing, grunting, mounting, nipping/biting (all usually performed with the ears laid flat back) are all displays of rabbit aggression. Here are six common reasons rabbits exhibit aggressive behavior (several are closely… Read more

The Importance of Socializing Puppies

From big to small, all dogs are in need of proper socialization, and this begins when they’re puppies! In fact, the critical “window” of opportunity for social development in dogs closes by 12 weeks of age!  The experiences puppy has during this time influence the type of dog he will… Read more

Kongs for dogs

Imagine hours of time, while your dog is blissfully entertaining itself, without barking, whining, digging, or other inappropriate behaviors!! Welcome to the Kong Toy! The purpose of the Kong Toy, other than bouncing in wonderful and wacky ways when thrown, is to occupy your dog with two of its… Read more

Chewing and Biting in Puppies

Puppies love to explore their world with their mouths—and they have no idea how sharp those little teeth are!  When puppy’s teeth meet your skin, keep in mind the following: Our hands (feet, clothes, etc.) are not toys! Respond the same way a puppy playmate might—let out a… Read more

Help! My puppy isn’t house trained!

I often hear new puppy owners express concern about their puppy’s apparent inability to catch on to house training. Today’s call was from the owner of a 7-month old neutered male dachshund.  Here are some of the tips I suggested: Use the “umbilical cord” method–this means keeping his leash on… Read more

Top 10 Reasons Your Cat May Have Stopped Using the Litterbox

It is extremely frustrating to find that your cat is not using the litterbox. Some cats may use their litterbox for years and then stop using it for no apparent reason. Most likely there IS a reason they have stopped, and to fix the problem, you will need to figure out what the reason is. It is… Read more