Today's Topic:  As positive reinforcement dog training continues to grow in popularity, so has the awareness around the different types of dog treats available to help you train your dog. But what are dog treats, exactly?  What are the regulatory requirements, if any, around dog treats to ensure that you're giving your dog something nutritious, delicious and safe?  And how has the increasingly fickle and discerning demands of today's dog parents affected the types of dog treats available...

Today's Topic:   Having an overexcited dog can present a variety of challenges for dog parents. The exuberance and high energy levels of such dogs can lead to difficulties in training and managing their behavior, which can make simple daily activities like walks or playtime more demanding as these dogs may require extra effort to channel their excess energy appropriately. So as a new dog parent to an overexcited dog, what options do you have in terms of training, management, and changing how...

Today's Topic:   In the United States, the country in which modern commercial greyhound racing was invented, the sport is nearing its end. It’s been a long slide for greyhound racing, which reached its peak in the 1980s when there were more than 50 tracks across 19 states. There are now only 2 dog tracks remaining in one state (West Virginia). The industry’s near-total collapse is the culmination of decades of work to publicize allegations of greyhound mistreatment and to fight for its end...

Today's Topic: Did you know that 1 in 5 dogs experience joint pain and mobility issues? So what can we do when our dogs start exhibiting mobility issues due to injury, old age, obesity, disease, etc.?  And what are the latest trends, technology and methods that are crucial to get our dogs "back in the game"? That's why we invited triple-board-certified veterinarian, certified canine rehabilitation therapist, and the founder of Canine Sports Medicine & Mobility, a one-of-a-kind mobile...

Today's Topic: Golden Retrievers are incredibly popular as pets, known for their friendly demeanor and versatility. Their gentle nature makes them great family companions, and their intelligence shines in various roles, from therapy dogs to loyal household members.   As such, what can we do, especially early on in their development, to ensure that they live long, happy and productive lives? That's why we invited attorney-turned-educator, the founder of Nicholberry Goldens, and the author of...

Today's Topic:  It's disheartening to note that over 50% of pets in the U.S. are classified as overweight or obese. This excess weight contributes to a myriad of health issues, with obese dogs being predisposed to arthritis, diabetes, and reduced lifespan. The toll on their well-being is a reminder of the urgent need to address pet obesity through responsible feeding, regular exercise and other measures. That's why we invited the founder & past CEO of K9 Fit Club, the founder & host...

Today's Topic:  In the pandemic's early days, we've all heard how adoptions soared as people sought companionship during lockdown, famously leaving many dog rescues without any dogs to adopt out.  But what happened after the pandemic?  Did this surge in adoptions lead to a surge in dog surrenders?  If not, what is the current state of dog rescues today? That's why we invited the Director and Marketing Coordinator of Ho-Bo Care Boxer Rescue, Michelle Beston and Jihan Boughman, to the...

Today's Topic:  Join us in this episode as we tackle the common struggles of potty training for dog/puppy parents. Tune in for practical insights on how to keep a potty schedule and a step-by-step guide to start the potty training journey confidently. In addition, discover effective mindset changes to help you stay measured during the process, and how to steer clear of unhelpful narratives about your puppy that only makes the process more difficult. Whether you're a new pup parent or seeking...

Today's Topic:   Despite having access to all the information we could ever want on how to train your puppy via the internet, just like anything else these days, there is a lot of outdated, old-fashioned, and just plain wrong information out there on how to train your puppy effectively.  This, of course, doesn't mean that those disseminating this information are doing so deliberatively or maliciously, as we are all products of the environments we grew up in, and if we really thought about it,...

Today's Topic:   For many of us, we're keenly aware of how the parenting style of our own parents (whether it was an authoritarian, authoritative, permissive or uninvolved style) influenced -- and continues to influence -- how we behave and view the world as an adult. As such, we've ALWAYS wondered how our individual pet parenting style (whether we're aware of it or not) toward our dogs influences their behavior and how they view the world. In Part I of our discussion on pet parenting...

Today's Topic:  Ask any positive dog trainer that has any experience working with leash-reactive dogs, and the one thing that many of them will have in common is their LACK of videos of dogs that they've trained exhibiting leash-reactive behaviors. And the reason for this is simple: when a positive trainer sees a dog exhibiting leash-reactive behaviors, they see a dog in distress, and the LAST thing they want to do is pull out a camera to capture video footage of this moment, just like a...

Today's Topic:  There is no breed of dog (or, more precisely, a grouping of mixed-breed dogs) that has captured the hearts and minds of many, more fully, in recent years (for good and for bad), than doodle dogs.  And it's not hard to understand why.  The combination of their (purported) hypoallergenic and shed-free coat, their uber-cuteness, and their sociable and high-energy nature (which can be a plus or a minus, depending on who you ask) make them an attractive option for many.  But what...

Today's Topic:  Ask any positive dog trainer that has any experience working with leash-reactive dogs, and the one thing that many of them will have in common is their LACK of videos of dogs that they've trained exhibiting leash-reactive behaviors. And the reason for this is simple: when a positive trainer sees a dog exhibiting leash-reactive behaviors, they see a dog in distress, and the LAST thing they want to do is pull out a camera to capture video footage of this moment, just like a...

Today's Topic:  Buying a home today, especially if it's your first home, can be a dizzying emotional roller coaster ride characterized by stress, frustration, elation, anxiety, and, let's be real...REJECTION.   And in the midst of this (at times) chaotic experience, you have to make sure to do all the research necessary to ensure that the home and the surrounding neighborhood meet the needs of every member of your family. In prior generations, this research might have been isolated to...

Today's Topic:  In the first part of our 2-part series on Leash Reactivity, we discussed a whole host of topics with certified professional dog trainer, the founder of Perfect Pals Dog Training, and the co-creator of the most comprehensive digital dog training course on the subject, "Help! My Dog Is Reactive On Leash!", Erin Gianella, including how common leash reactivity is, how it's different than general reactivity,  what a dog wants when they are reacting, distance-increasing behaviors...

Today's Topic:  Living with and taking care of a reactive dog can be difficult enough when they're inside the home, or out and about in the world, with you, but what if your dog is reactive INSIDE THE CAR?  This type of reactivity can create unique, unpredictable and potentially dangerous situations for even the most empathetic and diligent of dog parents.  That's why we invited certified professional dog trainer, the owner and head trainer at Sit Pretty Behavior & Training, and the...

Today's Topic: When your dog REALLY wants something from you, whether that thing is your attention, your food, your affection, or an adventure outside, your dog may use the one thing that comes naturally to him/her to get it: BARKING.  But for some dogs, they may learn (over time, and due to some of our inadvertent reinforcing behaviors), that this is a pretty reliable method to get what they want, when they want, resulting in a pathological behavior known as demand barking.  And while some...

Today's Topic: When your dog starts to exhibit resource guarding tendencies, it can start to feel like you're dealing with a completely different dog.  And what can make the situation worse, is a lot of the advice out there telling dog parents to exert their dominance over the dog to make them bend to their will, which can often make the situation worse.  That's why we invited certified professional dog trainer and the founder of Big Momma's Dog Training, Nicole Costanza, to the pod, to...

Today's Topic: When you're dealing with a fearful or anxious dog, it can sometimes feel like you've hit a wall, and the traditional tools that you're using are only getting you so far, resulting in a relationship with your dog that can feel belabored, frustrating, or just plain, UN-FUN.  That's why we invited the founder and creator of "The Play Way", a new therapeutic approach for resolving behavior issues through social interaction and dog empowerment, Dr. Amy Cook, to the pod, to discuss...

Today's Topic: Leash reactivity, or reactivity in general, is one of the top dog behavioral issues that clients come to us for, and for good reason: here, in Denver, we're (almost) ALWAYS outside...and with our dogs.  So, for anyone who expects their outings with their dog to be fun, pleasant and peaceful experiences, they may quickly find themselves seeking behavioral solutions for their dog's reactive behaviors, as a dog that exhibits reactive behaviors can make those outings a tad less...

Today's Topic: Do you regularly find yourself feeling guilty about the dog parent that you are, and the care and life you're able to provide your dog?  If so, you're not alone.  Just as many parents feel guilty about the time and care they're able to devote to their human child, many dog parents today feel similar guilt, which is often spurred on, and exasperated by, images on social media of the fabulous lives of dogs that are provided by the "ideal dog parent".  That's why we've invited two...

Today's Topic: Have you just learned (or are starting to suspect) that your puppy may be going deaf or blind?  Or is your adult dog showing signs that their hearing or sight is becoming more and more impaired?  These are, by nature, difficult waters to navigate, and finding reputable resources to help guide you and your puppy or dog during this time may prove difficult or frustrating, even if you're absolutely dedicated to giving your blind/deaf puppy or dog the best life possible.  That's...

Today's Topic: Do you have a dog that just LIVES to hunt?  And do those hunting behaviors, whether it's orienting, stalking, chasing, and even killing and eating, get in the way of how you would like to live your day-to-day life with your dog?  That's why we've invited certified dog trainer, dog behavior consultant, and the author of two books on force-free anti-predation training,  “Hunting Together” and “Rocket Recall”, Simone Mueller, to the pod, to discuss why it's so hard to get our...

Today's Topic:  Some might say that anxiety is THE malady of our hyper-connected always-on world.   But what if you find that your dog is suffering from anxiety, and more importantly, what can you do about it?  And what can we learn about how anxiety works in the brains of our dogs, and what medical and behavioral professionals do to manage that anxiety in our dogs, to figure out how we can manage the anxiety that many of us suffer from in our own lives?  That's why we've invited...