Girl's Best Friend

Coming to you from London, forever friends @cavdashians, @boholucky, and @ladybaileythecavalier share their story about coming together through @cavaliersoflondon a dog social group in London. Now best gal pals and forever friends, the women of @cavaliersoflondon explain how vulnerability and social outreach can lead to lasting support networks, foundational friendships and newfound family. There's no surprise that dogs are at the center of it all. 

Coming off the tails of American Mother's Day, we're excited to bring you a crowdsourced episode from our network of pup parents! Settle in for a purely fun and heartwarming episode about the hilarity, love, and loyalty that happens when you combine kids and dogs in a family home. 

Kimberly Freeman @citydogexpert comes to Girl's Best Friend today to chat about understanding how to help our city pets thrive. From indoor potty training, to separation anxiety, and intelligence boosting, she provides excellent recommendations and  insight for dogs with the specific needs attributed to living in urban environments. Kimberly, a prolific London pet influencer and mum to 6 poms, also offers her take on why some of the pet events we see popping up are not "up to muster", an important touchpoint as we enter the post-pandemic space. 

 Brittney Wilk and Lisa Thompson are dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, reuniting, and re-homing of Cavaliers as well as education focused on Cavalier health,  reputable breeders and  puppy mill awareness. These experienced, articulate advocates give us a valuable window into into the squalor, neglect, reproductive abuse and suffering that many dogs needlessly experience in disreputable for-profit breeding operations. This conversation will inspire and motivate people who believe animals deserve respect, loving homes, and safety to move society toward eradicating these depraved behaviors through legislation, volunteer work and common concern.

Jenny Matthews is a fixture, a wonderfully kind and cheerful entrepreneur on the London dog scene. She founded the luxury pet boutique Love My Human which maintains a storefront on the historic King's Road in Chelsea. Jenny gives us a window into the difficult decisions business owners in London were forced to make to serve the customers they love while being faced with spontaneous lockdowns for over a year. Jenny's compassion and drive are an example to business owners the world throughout and a beacon to her loyal customers who supported her through the Covid crisis. 

Herky, Milton and their mom Mai are a beloved team on Youtube, Instagram and Clubhouse helping dog owners navigate the How-To's of pet ownership. From air travel to post-op surgery tips, Herky's team are guiding and teaching their followers with artfulness cultivated over a staggering 7-years of content creation experience. Mai's story is compelling and honest. A lawyer turned e-commerce pioneer, she is creating quality bespoke goods that simultaneously make pet ownership easier and more pleasing to the curated eye. 

One of our saddest realities of current life is that mass violence occurs. Sandy Hook, the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, the the Boston Marathon and Pulse Nightclub, just to name a few. You might have seen Tim Hetzner and his team of Golden Retreivers on the news at these sites offering victims hugs and compassion and bringing light to the darkness. Tim Hetzner, Founder and President of LCC Ministries K-9 Comfort Dog Program discusses why Goldens are uniquely capable of the job and why dogs, as a species, are masters of mercy offering empathy, listening ears and eye contact in situations where human beings often fall short. 

Palace Historian Antonia Keaney sits down with GBF to discuss the nature in which spaniels are central to British canine history. From Elizabeth I to Charles II, the beloved toy spaniels thrived in Court. The foremost proponents of the breed were the owners and original inhabitants of Blenheim Palace, friends to Queen Anne, the first Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, John and Sarah Churchill (also recognized as the couple at the center of the 2018 Oscar nominated The Favourite).  For over 150 years, the Marlborough family bred and kept Cavalier King Charles Spaniels at Blenheim and can even be connected to supplying the kennel that preserved the breed from extinction during WWII. 

Kathi is the breeding and showing expert behind Kendall Castle Cavaliers, a boutique breeding program based in the Pacific Northwest. Kathi shares her specialist take on how certain breeding programs and rescue organizations can efficiently work together to help dogs live better, healthier lives. Kathi explains what it is like to raise puppies from birth to placement, and the questions every puppy-seeking person should ask when they approach a breeder. Also, what is up with the sentence-long playful names given to show dogs? We give you all the answers you never knew you needed!

Craving a moment to get grounded? Join us in a dog lover's meditation with Roberto Bitetto of @fit.life.rob. Cuddle up with your furry sidekick to feed your spirits with positivity, contentment, and celebration of the present moment.

Grief is the price we pay for love, especially when it comes to the unconditional love between dogs and their families. Join us as Shellie of @myfourcavaliers shares her story of grief, recovery and finding purpose after the loss of a beloved pet. 

Join Candace Queathem and Biscuit, the duo behind @busybodybiscuit as they uncover the touching, inspiring, and hilarious human connections that happen because of our common love for dogs. Girl's Best Friend premieres March 25th!