Raising Your Paws- Your resource for dog & cat pet parents

First, I want to give you an update on how Rosy is doing since I wrote the blog, #106 telling you about her diagnosis of cancer.  Then, I have heard that it is not uncommon for dogs to lose their hearing as they age.  This got me thinking - this could happen with Rosy and I wondered what it would mean for taking care of her.  So, I looked up a website I had heard about recently, called Deaf Dogs Rock as well as their social media pages.   There is gobs of handy tips and things to know if you have a deaf dog or one that is losing its hearing. Having never known much about this, and being impressed by this great website resource, I asked the founder and president of Deaf Dogs Rock, Christina Lee to tell her story on the show. What it is like to have a deaf dog and what are some important things to know about deaf dogs.     Can male cats still spray if they have been neutered? Yes they can. Maybe you've noticed a new pungent smell in your house or perhaps even seen your cat spraying on your furniture or backing up to your walls with their tail sticking up and depositing a small amount of urine on the wall. How can this happen, you might be thinking? My vet told me that once they are neutered that is not supposed to happen. Though telling the story of my cat Willie who took to spraying in all the corners of my new house even though he had been neutered years before, I'll explain a number of the reasons why cats may begin to spray and what you can do to stop it.  It's time for us to select the two people to win three months of free pet food that was part of celebrating our reaching our 100 episode. Thank you for everyone who left a comment on our website or Facebook page during the promotion period. We'll be putting your names in the hat and randomly selecting two people to win either the free dog or cat food. We'll be getting in contact with you if your name is pulled. Good luck.   Additional Resources for the Show. Deaf Dogs Rock Website.Deaf Dogs Rock on Facebook.Deaf Dogs Rock on Instagram.Here are links to the resources Christina Lee mentioned during our conversation.A video with American Sign Language Interpreter – Alisha McGrawField of Dreams Dog TrainingDog Trainer specializing in deaf dogs - Terrie Hayward

First, why are the animals we share our lives with called pets?  Where did that word come from? The word first entered the English language in Scotland and Northern England around 1500 and pet meant a spoiled child or a favorite. Ah, that's probably where the expression teacher's pet comes from. Hear how it evolved to mean beloved animal companions.   Are you considering daycare for your dog?  Wondering how to find one that your dog will love and also relieve your mind that you've left it in safe hands for the day? Or maybe you want to know what is the big deal about it is and why to spend the money at all on daycare when your dog seems fine staying at home.  My guest is Neil Gill, the CEO and president of Dogtopia, the leading provider of dog daycare in North America and he will answer these questions and give you an insider's view into the world of doggie daycare.   This week's creature feature is rather macabre and creepy. But it's fitting as Halloween is just past, and it could also be an Easter story as well. Here is a story about a dog, I'm calling, Never Say Die. Another mention of a cat being “resurrected” caught my eye.  October just ended and you have a few more days as a new month starts, to win our promotion and receive 3 months of free pet food. Just leave a comment about one of our 100th episodes on either the show page at www.raisingyourpaws.com or on our Facebook page. We'll randomly select 2 winners from the comments.  Make sure you get your comments in before November 15, 2021.  Good luck.  Our new producer is Talk North. The largest sports, outdoor, and lifestyle podcast network in the upper Midwest. Check them out at Talknorth.com. You'll find this podcast there as well. Additional Resources for the show.  Source for story about where word pet comes from:  “Pet Nation” by Mark L. Cushing.  Dogtopia's website. Press Release about the Partnership between NutriSource Pet Foods and Dogtopia.  The reading program Neil Gill talked about in the show. Sit, Stay, Read.  The autism organization Neil Gill talked about in the show: Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center. Source for the stories about pets that cheated death: “Amazing But True Dog Tales” by Bruce Nash and Allan Zullo, complied by Muriel MacFarlane and “Pet Nation” by Mark L. Cushing.

Have you tried to take photos of your cat in low light? If so, you'll know that most often the pictures show their eyes as being just bright shining yellow circles.  Why is this? I'll explain the special physical feature felines have that cause this and why they have it.  We know that we feel stress and that it can affect our health. Dog and cats also experience physical and emotional stress that can result in health issues, but it can also reveal itself as behavior problems. In this episode, I'm replaying a part of an interview from my Wild about Pets Radio show with Dr. Paul McCutcheon, the author of the book, The New Holistic Way for Dogs and Cats. The Stress-Health connection, written with Susan Weinstein. We talk about some of the kinds of stress that can affect pets and how to monitor and remedy it.  In the last episode, I promised I'd tell you what is considered to be the best game ever to play with your dog.  This game develops a strong bond with your canine, teaches them manners, allows them to safely express their wolf instincts, and has you maintaining leadership and its lots of fun for your dog. All great games have rules - to play them properly, and this one does too. You may already play this game with your dog but knowing why the game is so beneficial and what the official rules are will be interesting to you. In this episode, I'll list the 7 short rules you'll want to know and the ones to teach your dog.   We're still celebrating reaching 100 episodes by giving away 3 months of free pet food to 2 lucky winners through the month of October, 2021. For your chance to win, please leave a comment about one of the 100th shows, on the episode pages on the website, raisingyourpaws.com or on our Raising Your Paws Facebook page.  We'll randomly select 2 winners from the comments.Our new podcast producer is Talk North. The largest sports, outdoor and lifestyle podcast network in the upper Midwest. Check them out at Talknorth.com. Additional Resources for the show:RaisingYourPaws.comDr. Paul McCutcheon's clinic: East York Animal Clinic & Holistic Centre.Amazon link to order The New Holistic Way for Dogs and Cats: The Stress-Health Connection by Paul McCutcheon, DVM and Susan Weinstein. Source for the story about the best game ever: Tug of War. 30 Days To A Well –Mannered Dog. The Loved Dog™ Method by Tamar Geller. 

In this week's creature feature stories, hear about two dogs who volunteered for the postal service and loved their work.  Do you wonder how you can stop your cat from doing certain things like biting or wrecking your furniture with their constant scratching? Pam Johnson-Bennett, a certified cat behavior consultant is one of the foremost experts on cat behavior and she has answers today about why cats do what they do and how to solve some of the most common behavior problems.  Does your dog know how to heel when out walking with you? I never taught my dog Rosy to do this but I've wondered should I teach the command?  And does the dog need to heel the whole time?  In this episode, I'll tell you where this command originated and talk about the importance of a dog walking nicely beside you on a loose leash but that making a dog heel for the whole walk is not in the best interest of your dog's mental and physical well-being and happiness.  In the next episode, I'll tell you what is considered to be the best game ever for dogs. We're still celebrating reaching 100 episodes by giving away 3 months of free pet food to 2 lucky winners through the month of October. For your chance to win, please leave a comment about one of the 100th shows, on Raising Your Paws website or Facebook page.  We'll randomly select 2 winners from the comments. Check out our new producer's website at Talk North.com. They are the largest sports, outdoor and, lifestyle podcast network in the upper Midwest.  Additional Resources for the show.RaisingYourPaws.comSource for the creature feature stories – “Amazing but True Dog Tales” by Bruce Nash and Allan Zullo.  Pam Johnson-Bennett's website: Cat Behavior Associates.To order “Think like a Cat” and Pam's other books about cat behavior. Source for the story about dog's heeling – “30 Days to a Well-Mannered Dog” by Tamar Geller.

Cats learn to fear their carriers if the only time they see it appear is when it is taken out of the closet, they are shoved inside it, taken away from their home, dragged out of the case, plopped on a slippery cold, metal surface and some strange person starts poking and prodding them. Of course, they come to associate the sight of the crate with the unpleasant experience of going to the vet.  You are going to do the opposite and train your new kitten right from the very start to associate the carrier with fun, positive experiences.   And it's not too late to get your older cat to accept one as well. In this episode, I'll explain the steps to take so that transporting the cat is easier for you and the feline when you do have to go to the vet.   Why keep feeding your dog's meals from the same old food bowls, when there are so many other ways to do this that make your dog happy and mentally stimulated. In my conversation with Ben Rimbey, head dog trainer with Lucky Mutt Dog Training and for the “Fairly Odd Dogs” (Disc Dog performers) on social media, he explains that you can train your dogs and strengthen your bond with them at the same time by “Ditching the Bowl.” Then, learn a fun game for your dog that that builds confidence and makes eating more engaging called “Cardboard Castles”. There's a cool new app to know about. Do you like to keep track of how many steps you walk? Or have you ever walked to raise money for a charity or cause?  If you have a dog, I know you're out there walking together and there is an app, I just found out about that combines all these things.  It's called WoofTrax. It keeps track of how long you and your dog are walking and makes money at the same time to support your favorite animal organizations.  I'll explain how it works to make walking your dog so rewarding and how you'll still want to use it, even if you don't have a dog.We're still celebrating reaching 100 episodes by giving away 3 months of free pet food to 2 lucky winners through the month of October 2021. Get your chance to win, by leaving a comment about one of the 100th shows, on the episode pages on the website, raisingyourpaws.com. Or tell us what you think of the podcast on our Raising Your Paws Facebook page.  We'll randomly select 2 winners from the comments.If you like sports, or outdoor life podcasts, be sure to check out our new producer's other podcasts, at www.talknorth.com. They are the largest sports, outdoor, and lifestyle podcast network in the upper Midwest.  Additional Resources for the Show. Resource for the story about cat carriers – “Complete Kitten Care” by Amy Shojai.Lucky Mutt Dog Training Website. Fairly Odd Dogs (Disc Dog performers) on FacebookFairly Odd Dogs on Instagram. About the App: www.WoofTrax.com

Did you know that over 200 dogs helped alongside the emergency personnel at Ground Zero, the Pentagon and the Land Fill where debris was taken?  These dogs worked tirelessly to search the wreckage, bringing closure to families who had lost loved ones and offering comfort to the workers at the sites. In commemoration of the anniversary of 9-11 this is a replay of a conversation I had with Nona Kilgore Bauer, author of Dog Heroes of September, 11th.  A Tribute to America's Search and Rescue Dogs. Ms. Kilgore Bauer tells stories of the individual dogs and how they were able to do the remarkable and dangerous work they did. See illustrating photos at www.raisingyourpaws.com.  Additional Resources for the Episode.Order the book- Dog Heroes of September 11th. Nona Kilgore Bauer's other books on Amazon.National Disaster Search Dog Foundation. 

Prevent Kittens from Biting Hands & At Home Sports to Keep Dogs Physically fit.  Do you have a new kitten at home? Or are thinking about getting one? I want to offer you a kitten care tip about playing with your new kitty. From your kitten's perspective, you are now mom whether you are male or female. As a surrogate mother it is your job to teach your cat not to bite human skin. In this episode, I'll explain the very first thing to do (and not to do) in order to guide your kitten in the right direction for successful and painless interactions with people. Do you wonder if there are some easy sports or activities you could do with your dog to give them more exercise and keep them fit other than walking?  My guest Ben Rimbey, head trainer for Lucky Mutt Dog Training in Minnesota and the “Fairly Odd Dogs” on social media shares how you and your dog can play some sports together. He'll explain a few of the unusual skills you can train, such as calmness and focus that creates a better bond between the two of you, and also makes teaching your dog how to play Frisbee and/or use dog exercise equipment fun and effective.Dogs eat the strangest things don't they?  In this week's “Creature Feature” listen to 3 stories of dogs with very unusual appetites. It's a wonder the things they ingested didn't result in killing them.    News! NutriSource Pet Foods and the Raising Your Paws Podcast have teamed up with the Talk North Podcast Network, the largest sports, outdoor and lifestyle podcast network in the Upper Midwest. They produce over 20 different podcasts with some of the top hosts, experts and influencers in these respective industries. We are very excited to be partnering with Talk North.It's our 100th episode! We want to celebrate. We're going to give away 3 months of NutriSource Pet food (equivalent to 3 large bags of food) to two winners. To be considered for this award, please leave a comment about the 100th podcast episode, on either the website, www.raisingyourpaws.com or on our facebook page and show us a favorite photo of your pet with their name and we'll randomly select from the comments. Good luck!       Additional Resources for the Show.  Source for the story about cat play – Complete Kitten Care by Amy Shojai. Lucky Mutt Dog Training website.Fairly Odd Dogs on InstagramThe resources Ben Rimbey spoke about:Absolute Dogs  for more training games. Susan Garrett's Website.Where to buy discs for dogs – Hero Disc U.S.A. Up Dog ChallengeDog exercise equipment: Toto fit LLC.  Or Fit Paws U.S.A.   The fit bone is the one Ben Rimbey recommended as a start. NutriSource Element Series – A high Percentage Meat dog food.  Source for Creature Feature stories - Exploding Pigs and Other Bizarre Animal Stories by Ian Simmons. 

Sometimes, someone has got to step in between others to avoid a fight. It may be your dog that does this. I'll explain this dog signal called “splitting” and reveal how you can use this behavior yourself to calm your dog. Plus, just as Superman would lose his powers when exposed to Kryptonite, there are certain things women and some men, do around their dogs that can act like kryptonite and strip their powers away. Camilla Gray-Nelson, dog trainer and author, of Lipstick and the Leash: Dog Training a Woman's way, is back for part two of her interview and explains what women, unknowingly do that results in their dogs not listening to them. Once aware of what to avoid, women will again be empowered resulting in better behavior from their dogs.   Then, learning to identify your dog's warning bark, and how to effectively respond to it, will increase the chances that your dog will quiet down rather than bark even more.  Resources for this episode.  Camilla Gray-Nelson's website. Camilla's blog: Dog Talk Diva. How to order Lipstick and the Leash: Dog Training a Woman's way. For the full show notes of this episode, see www.raisingyourpaws.com.  Please let us know what you think of the podcast. Rate and review it on iTunes.

In this “Best Of” Replay show, we'll start by talking about barking. Different sounding barks communicate different emotions and needs. If you're trying to reduce your dog's barking recognizing what your dog is telling you is the first step. I'll explain the sound that means your dog is feeling excited. Then, why do some women have a harder time getting their dogs to obey them compared to men? Listen as Camilla Gray-Nelson, author of Lipstick and the Leash: Dog Training a Woman's Way, explains the answer and tells women how to get control back.  Next, if your cat is peeing outside its box, it might not like the brand of kitty litter you are buying. I'll tell you the signs that indicate this may be the issue.  Resources for this episode.   Source for story about barking: “Barking: The Sound of a Language,” by Turid Rugass. Camilla Gray-Nelson's websites: Dairy Dell Doggy Dude Ranch and Training Center.  Blog: Dog Talk Diva. Order the book, “Lipstick and The Leash: Dog Training a Women's Way” by Camilla Gray-Nelson.  Find the full-show notes with live links at www.raisingyourpaws.com.  Please support this podcast by subscribing and telling your friends. To subscribe on iTunes so you never miss an episode, here is the link. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raising-your-paws-your-resource-for-dog-cat-pet-parents/id1313060210.

Do you like it or hate it when your dog wants to jump up on you when they greet you? Why do dogs want to jump up on people anyway? There are two reasons I'll tell you about. If you want to stop the behavior teach your dog the way you would prefer them to greet you.  When we take our pets to the vet because they are sick or injured we are feeling fear and love and anguished hope that they will be okay, plus worry and possible stress about the costs it will take to return them quickly to health.   That's a lot of emotion we bring to the examining table. What about your vet? Do they also experience the stress you are feeling?   The answer is yes.  And it can take a fatal toll on these doctors who do so much to help your pets. My guest, Sandy Weaver, is the author of the book, Happy Vet, Happy Pet: Caring for Your Pet's caregiver and the Program director of the Center for Workplace Happiness, whose mission is to reduce the suicide rate in the vet community. She will tell you three easy things you can do to help and care for your vet that can make a profound difference for their lives. About this episode's creature feature, It' June and it's been very hot where I live, so when I came across a story about what happened to a young girl during a  blizzard, and the dog who came to her rescue, just reading about winter and snow cooled me down. It's also an inspiring tale. Hope you enjoy this story.  Resources for the show. Source for the story about dogs jumping up- “Decoding Your Dog” by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. Center for Workplace Happiness website. How to order “Happy Vet, Happy Pet, Caring for your Pet's Caregiver” by Sandy Weaver. “Not One More Vet” website. Source for the “Snow Job” creature feature - Amazing But True Dog Tales by Bruce Nash and Allan Zullo, compiled by Muriel MacFarlane.

Who is the most famous dog in the world?  It may surprise you to know, he isn't even real yet he says words that we, human beings would often like to say.  In today's creature feature I'll share some fun facts about this character that most children know and love, and many adults still fondly remember.   Continuing my conversation with dog aggression expert, Michael Shikashio, CDBC, (aggressivedog.com) we talk about what to do if you are out walking your dog and suddenly one or more dogs becomes aggressive and start attacking your dog – how to ward off the dogs, and stay safe yourself. We also cover why other dogs may join in when only one originally attacked. Does your cat seem to have a preoccupation with open doors – making mad dashes to go through them?  It can be hard to catch the cat if it gets outside or they can run off, become lost and never return. Door dashing can be a real problem for many people. In this episode, I explain some ways to make the door unpleasant so the feline will want to stay away from it.     See the companion blogs for the podcast episodes at www.raisingyourpaws.com.   Additional Resources  Source for the story about Snoopy – “Dog's Best Friend” by Simon Garfield. Michael Shikashio's website: Aggressivedog.com. Listen to Michael's podcast - The Bitey End of The Dog. Source for the Story about door dashing cats - “ComPETability: Solving Behavior Problems in your MULTI-CAT Household. By Amy Shojai.

Do you wonder exactly why cats get hairballs and if there is anything you can do to reduce the amount that form in your cat's stomach and then get thrown up exactly when and where you most don't want them? I'll explain how hairballs are a good thing for your feline, what to do to lessen their existence and the symptoms to watch for that might indicate an excessively large hairball may be causing health problems. There have been two different types of highly upsetting dog biting incidents recently in my town, one involving a child that got bit after asking if she could pet the dog, the other where two dogs broke loose and attacked two separate dogs being walked by their owners. The circumstances of these incidents, convince me we need to keep talking about what we can do to prevent traumatic bites and attacks.  About preventing children from getting bit when wanting to pet a dog, there are two things that we must be mindful of that greatly affect the outcome. In this episode, my guest, Michael Shikashio, a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant, the founder of the Aggression in Dogs Master course and host of the podcast, “The Bitey End of the Dog” explains those two critical things.   If you are of a certain age, then you'll remember when Fido was the quintessential name given for any generic dog. Some real dogs actually had this name, President Abraham Lincoln named his dog Fido, but the most famous was an Italian dog that came to public attention in 1943 because of his demonstration of unwavering loyalty to his dead master. Fido was written about in many Italian and international magazines and newspapers, appeared in newsreels throughout Italy, and was bestowed several honors, including a public statue erected in his honor. Today's creature feature is his story.    Additional Resources for the Show.  Michael Shikashio's website: Aggressive dog.com. Listen to the podcast, The Bitey End of the Dog.  Source for the Story about the Italian dog, Fido – The book, The Dog's Best Friend by Simon Garfield, plus varied news stories found on the internet.

Do you wonder exactly why cats get hairballs and if there is anything you can do to reduce the amount that form in your cat's stomach and then get thrown up exactly when and where you most don't want them? I'll explain how hairballs are a good thing for your feline, what to do to lessen their existence and the symptoms to watch for that might indicate an excessively large hairball may be causing health problems. There have been two different types of highly upsetting dog biting incidents recently in my town, one involving a child that got bit after asking if she could pet the dog, the other where two dogs broke loose and attacked two separate dogs being walked by their owners. The circumstances of these incidents, convince me we need to keep talking about what we can do to prevent traumatic bites and attacks.  About preventing children from getting bit when wanting to pet a dog, there are two things that we must be mindful of that greatly affect the outcome. In this episode, my guest, Michael Shikashio, a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant, the founder of the Aggression in Dogs Master course and host of the podcast, “The Bitey End of the Dog” explains those two critical things. If you are of a certain age, then you'll remember when Fido was the quintessential name given for any generic dog. Some real dogs actually had this name, President Abraham Lincoln named his dog Fido, but the most famous was an Italian dog that came to public attention in 1943 because of his demonstration of unwavering loyalty to his dead master. Fido was written about in many Italian and international magazines and newspapers, appeared in newsreels throughout Italy, and was bestowed several honors, including a public statue erected in his honor. Today's creature feature is his story.  Additional Resources for the Show.  Michael Shikashio's website: Aggressive dog.com. Listen to the podcast, The Bitey End of the Dog.  Source for the Story about the Italian dog, Fido – The book, The Dog's Best Friend by Simon Garfield, plus varied news stories found on the internet.

Are you frustrated by the yellow and brown spots on your lawn that occur when your dog pees in the grass?  Wondering why it happens and what can you do about it?  The reason those spots appear is that dog urine is rich in nitrogen and it’s the high concentrations of this plus associated salts in the urine that kills or essentially “burns” the grass the urine soaks into.   You may have heard that to stop your dog from killing the grass when they pee, that you can feed your dog a dietary supplement and this will change the urine.  This however, can cause health problems for your canine, so the safter solution has to do with lawn care. I’ll explain a number of things you can do to try to eliminate all those dead spots and a few tips regarding your dog as well.   From a previous interview on my past Wild About Pets Radio Show, comes this conversation with Dr. Debra Horwitz, a veterinary behaviorist, and co-editor of the book, Decoding Your Cat, about why they do some of the things they do. You’ll hear the unique perspectives about cats that will explain why they need to scratch things, what those sudden bites could be about and how to better meet their needs so they don’t have to wake you up every morning at dawn.  Finally, for this week’s creature feature, I’ll tell you a story about a cat that just may make you believe that they do have 9 lives.  Additional Resources for the Show.  Books edited by Dr. Debra Horwitz: Decoding Your Dog: Explaining Common Dog Behaviors and How to Prevent or Change Unwanted Ones by American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, Debra F. Horwitz DVM, et al Decoding Your Cat: The Ultimate Experts Explain Common Cat Behaviors and Reveal How to Prevent or Change Unwanted Ones by American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, Debra F. Horwitz DVM, et al. How to find a Veterinary Behaviorist near you: American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. Source for the story about the cat who lived – Exploding Pigs and Other Bizarre Animal Stories by Ian Simmons.

Does your cat start yowling or meowing excessively in the early mornings or late at night? This can be very annoying, I know. Why do cats make this loud, piercing sound and what can be done to stop it? I’ll explain a number of reasons why cats may start excessive vocalization and what to do, during this episode and then in more detail on the companion blog. I have heard that it is important that your dog respect you. I know Rosy, my part Shetland sheepdog/German shepherd mix loves me, and mostly listens to me, but respects me? I don’t know. What does it mean for a dog to respect a person and what does it look like?  My guest, Dan Abdelnoor, founder of The Online Dog Trainer, author, speaker, dog trainer and behavior specialist, knows what respect means from a dog’s point of view and how you can start earning it from your canine. You can see the video of our conversation on the website, www.raisingyourpaws.com on the episode page for no. 93. Then this week’s Creature Feature is about a dog that figured out exactly what to do that saved his person life. Additional Resources for the Show. Source for the story about cat’s yowling: The Cat Whisperer by Mieshelle Nagelschnieder and Why Does My Cat Do That? By Catherine Davidson. Doggy Dan’s website: The Online Dog Trainer.com. Kindle Version of the book “What the Dogs Taught Me About Being A Parent” by Doggy Dan. Doggy Dan’s Facebook page. Source for the creature Feature: Amazing But True Dog Tales, by Bruce Nash and Allan Zullo, Compiled by Muriel MacFarlane.  

Does one of your cats bully other cats in the house hold? When human bullies torment other people, it seems like the reasons for doing so, is that they take delight in picking on others. Bullying cat’s behavior may look the same –torturing and attacking others, but the reasons are very different and specific to being a feline. I’ll explain a few of most common reasons a cat may turn into a bully. Then, continuing the conversation with animal communicator, Tim Link, author of “Talking with Dogs and Cats: Joining the Conversation to Improve Behavior and Bond with Your Animals, he shares the three steps he uses to “talk” more deeply with dogs and cats. Keeping an open mind, you can learn how to do this as well, to increase the bond with your pet. Plus, you’ll hear the story about the dog who was eating socks, and paper clips and how Tim helped him to stop plus how he solves the number one behavior issue people call him about regarding cats and dogs. Has your sweet, quiet, cuddly, obedient puppy who used to respond to everything you asked, changed overnight into a disobedient, counter surfing, stealing, beast, who runs away from you, ignores you and seems to have forgotten all its training? There’s a very normal, inevitable reason for this that’s part of your dog’s developmental stages. I’ll reveal what this is, and offer some tips to help you deal with the behavior changes. For some other possible behavior changes to expect from an adolescent dog, see the blog for this episode 92 at www.raisingyourpaws.com. If you have any in-depth questions or want to share your stories about anything you hear on the show today, please write me at susan@raisingyourpaws.com or leave me a comment at the end of the blog article for this episode number 92. Additional Resources for the Episode. Source for the story about cats who bully – “Cat Wise” by Pam Johnson-Bennett and “How to Speak Cat,” by Aline Alexander Newman & Gary Weitzman, D.V.M. Get in touch with Tim Link through his website. Order Tim’s books. http://www.wagging-tales.com/mybooks.html   Sources for the story about when your puppy becomes an adolescent: “Why Does My Dog Do That?” By Sophie Collins and “The Other End of the Leash” by Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D.

Can cats experience separation anxiety as we start leaving them alone more as we return to working outside the home? Yes, they can. I’ll explain how they may exhibit anxiety and what you can do to distract them after you’ve left or prevent them from becoming unnerved in the first place. To find a good dog trainer, what should you be looking for regarding their credentials and what are the first big questions to ask them. Louie Torres, the CEO and founder of Unleashed Consulting, a company that helps dog trainers grow their business, found himself in the position of desperately needing a dog trainer and his journey led to the saving of his relationship with his girlfriend, a changed dog and a complete refocusing of his business working with dog trainers. You’ll enjoy this second part of the conversation with Mr. Torres. Does your cat have a silly or annoying habit to wake you up in the morning? Hear about a cat who knew exactly who to focus his attention on and how to get the person to let him out, in this week’s creature feature. Additional Resources for the Show. Source for the story about cat separation anxiety – ComPETability: Solving Behavior Problems in your Multi-CAT Household by Amy Shojai. Unleased Marketing – Louie Torres’s website.   Source for the creature feature – Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin.

The difference in effectively training large versus small dogs, has more to do with your technique and what is required from you, rather than their abilities. The mechanics of training large and small dogs stay the same, but there are subtle differences in how you train, that can get in the way of success or guarantee it. In this episode, I’ll offer three training tips for small breeds having to do with the position of your body, the size of their tummies and the additional time and patience that may be required from you to teach them some simple behaviors. Do you have a dog that’s behavior is so bad that it is causing havoc in the home or damaging relationships with other people in your life? Maybe you tried training the pooch yourself, but it seems like it is useless. Should you call in some outside help and get a dog trainer but don’t know what to look for, or how to find a good one?  This is the exact problem my guest, Louie Torres, experienced. He is the CEO and founder of Unleashed Consulting, a company that helps dog trainers grow their businesses, and he’ll tell you his story about a badly behaved Chihuahua, not being able to find a trainer that would work with the dog, and the journey that finally led to him identifying and working with the perfect trainer that changed the dog’s behavior, Louie’s life, and even his business! In this week’s Creature Feature, you’ll hear a story that I can really relate to. About a man who had a problem with an outside plumbing pipe that resulted in his house being flooded. This happened to me recently, but the causes were very different. Mine was a block in the pipe that I had no control over, his was a choice he made - in order to save the life of seven puppies. About the creature features, the animal stories I’ve been telling you, I’d love to get your feedback about them - if you like this feature and would like me to continue them.  Please write me a comment on the episode or blog pages on the website, raisingyourpaws.com.  Or you can write me at susan@raisingyourpaws.com. For taking the time to leave a comment, I’ll randomly select a number of people and send a coupon for a free bag of NutriSource pet food. Additional Resources for the show.   Louie Torres’s Unleashed Consulting Website.

In this week’s creature feature hear about how a man’s grocery shopping trip cost him a whole lot more – thanks to his dogs. Do you find it almost impossible to get medicine in your pets at times? As you struggle and fight to get pills or drops in them, do you find yourself thinking, “there has got to be an easier way”? Well, there is.  And it has to do with changing the form of the medicine. My guest is Dr. Alan Chan, a pharmacist with the Golden Gate Veterinary Compounding Pharmacy in Novato, California, and he’s going to tell you about how through the technique of compounding drugs, you can eliminate the stress, scratching, screaming that you go through and at the same time provide a better experience for the animals as well. Are you thinking about if you want to get a small breed dog rather than a large one?  Many people ask are small dogs better?  The answer comes down to what size dog is best for you.  A good way to figure this out is to know some of the broad differences between the small and large breeds and match a dog with your activity level, physical, financial and/or time limitations you may have, rather than how they look. In this episode, I’ll explain 5 important aspects about small dogs for you to consider. Additional Resources for The Show. Source for the creature feature story – “Exploding Pigs and Other Bizarre Animal Stories” by Ian Simmons. Golden Gate Veterinary Compounding Pharmacy Website. For more differences between small and large dogs see the companion blog (89) at www.raisingyourpaws.com.

For this week’s Creature Feature, you’ll hear two stories, about a dog and a cat that unknowingly caused a “bit” of panic that resulted in the police being called. Then, hear stories from my guest, Dr. Kwane Stewart, known as the “Street Vet” about his experiences treating pets of the homeless in Los Angeles, California. For the last 9 years, Dr. Stewart has spent time walking the neighborhoods looking for people living on the streets that have pets that might need some veterinary care.  He’s called the Street Vet because dressed in scrubs, with his medical bag in hand, he stops and offers a smile, and then, if the owner accepts, a professional veterinary exam. Right then, right there. For free. You can also SEE the video of our conversation on both the raisingyourpaws.com website episode #88, page and our Facebook page. Next, an etiquette guideline for us humans with dogs to get along well with other humans with dogs.  If you are walking or playing with your unleashed dog in a public place other than a legitimate, sanctioned dog park, and you see an unfamiliar leashed dog in the distance, it’s best to leash your dog right away. I’ve got a story about this very situation with Rosy and another dog, that explains how practicing leash etiquette, we can all keep our dogs safe from harm. Additional Resources for the show. Source for the creature feature stories – “Exploding Pigs and Other Bizarre Animal Stories” by Ian Simmons. Dr. Kwane Stewart’s Facebook page. Dr. Kwane Stewart’s You tube channel.   Project Street Vet website.

Today’s creature feature is about a diamond in the ruff.  Hear a story about a dog named Duque, a mutt that was worth 15,000 dollars, at least while the diamond ring he had swallowed, was inside of his stomach. Are you allergic to cats? Or you may not be, but one of your family members is? Wish you could have a cat or already do and suffer the consequences of your allergic reactions? Cat allergies can seem like a really hopeless problem.  My guest today, Diane Morgan is the author of “The Sneeze-Free Cat Owner: Allergy Management & Breed Selection for the Allergic Cat Lover” and her suggestions for how to treat your allergy, and changes you can make in the home will give you hope and help you realize there is much more you can do to lessen or eliminate symptoms than you might have known about. Cats and cat allergies can co-exist. Have you ever wondered where the term “kitty corner” comes from? It describes something that is diagonal to or from us, but why do we say this? What does it have to do with cats? Absolutely nothing, actually. Curious?  I’ll explain in this episode. If you’re enjoying this podcast please let your friends and family know. They can subscribe for free on all popular apps by visiting www.raisingyourpaws.com. Additional Resources for the show. Source for the story about the diamond in the ruff – “Amazing but True Dog Tales” by Bruce Nash and Allan Zullo, compiled by Muriel MacFarlane. How to order “The Sneeze-Free Cat Owner: Allergy management & Breed Selection for the Allergic Cat Lover” by Diane Morgan. To see photos of “hypoallergenic” cats, spoken about in segment 2, visit the blog page for this episode #87 at www.raisingyourpaws .   Source for the story about the term, kitty corner – “A Fine Kettle of Fish: And 150 Other Animal Expressions” by Michael Macrone.

In today’s creature feature -three stories from England about cats bringing presents home to their humans – but not the dead rodents you would normally expect.  Sometimes felines hunt out and capture more people friendly things. Does your dog ever have times where they behave in uncharacteristic ways like acting all hyper and crazy, other times, becoming mopey and rather sad looking or even taking up a bad habit that no amount of training seems to be able to stop? Can't figure out for the life of you what is going on in the dog’s mind?  Today, you'll hear that the reason for your pet’s behavior may have nothing to do with its mind but has everything to do with your emotions. In a posthumous conversation, Kevin Behan, veteran dog trainer and author of the book, “Your Dog is Your Mirror, The Emotional Capacity of Our dogs and Ourselves,” talks about the startling and radial new way of understanding your dog that can explain why dogs act out at times. The answer is as close as your own heart and emotions. I think this will surprise you. Have you ever wondered why your cat spends so much time licking and grooming themselves? Of course, you know cats clean themselves this way, but they still seem to continue and repeat this a lot even after they are spotless. Why?  Turns out there are other benefits for all that attention to their fur coats. I’ll explain them in this segment. We’d love to hear your comments. You can leave them for each of the shows on the episode pages at www.raisingyourpaws.com. Additional Resources for the Show. Source for the stories about the cats – “Exploding Pigs and Other Bizarre Animal Stories” by Ian Simmons. Natural Dog Training - The Official Website for the Theory and Practice of Kevin Behan's Natural Dog Training. Natural Dog Training on Facebook Order “Your Dog Is Your Mirror: The Emotional Capacity of Our Dogs and Ourselves” by Kevin Behan.   Source for the story about cats grooming – “Why Does My Cat Do That” by Catherine Davidson and “Think Like A Cat,” by Pam Johnson-Bennett.

For this show’s Creature Feature, you’ll hear three stories about a few dogs who ate unbelievable things – to the point that it is hard to swallow. Then, watch a Twin Cities Live TV show segment where I teach you what to do if your dog is choking and can’t breathe. Are you getting bored doing the same old things with your dog as the pandemic drags on?  Wouldn’t it be nice to get some fresh ideas for things your dog can do to liven up their day? I’ve got the perfect resource for you. It’s a website called Sidewalk Dogs and their mission is to help you spend more time with your pup by discovering and sharing activities you can do and places to go together. Ali Jarvis is the Founder and CEO of Sidewalk Dogs and she is joining me to share some great ideas. Cats spend a lot of time asleep – it can be up to 20 hours a day, although, the average is about 12 hours, but do they dream like we and dogs do?  Hear what research has discovered about their sleep phases. Did you know I’m doing a monthly TV pet expert segment about dogs and cats on an ABC TV show, called Twin Cities Live? It airs in Minneapolis, Minnesota but you can see each of the archived segments on our website. RaisingYourPaws.com. Just click on the TCL logo at the top of the homepage to watch the videos. Additional Resources for the show. Source for the creature feature stories: Amazing But True Dog Tales, by Bruce Nash and Allan Zullo, Compiled by Muriel MacFarlane. Website: Sidewalk Dog.com. Sidewalk Dog Blog. Sniff out Sidewalk dog on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.   Source for the Story about cats dreaming: “What Your Cat Knows,” by Sally Morgan.

Do cats see in color? How does your cat’s eyes show you its mood?  You’d think that cats have really good vision – but the truth may surprise you. I’ll take a closer look at those large, beautiful eyes feline eyes. Then, if your dog picks up garbage to eat when you’re out walking, do you try to take it out of their mouth? To avoid getting bitten in the process, dog aggression expert, Bryan Bailey, author of the book, “The Hammer: Why Dogs Attack Us and How to Prevent It” offers this caution. You’ll also hear exactly what to do if you get attacked by an aggressive dog, in order to survive. Resources for this Episode. Source for the story about cat’s eyes. What Your Cat Knows, by Sally Morgan. Bryan Bailey’s Website. Amazon link to order The Hammer: Why Dogs Attack Us and How to Prevent It.   Bryan Bailey’s “Taming the Wild” Training and Boarding Company.

You know your pet loves food but have you ever wondered what they actually can taste compared to you? I’ll explain the similarities and differences between your taste buds and dogs and cats. Did you know that there is a fifth identified taste detector on your tongue that you share with your pets?  Find out what it is. Talking about dogs biting people is a disturbing issue.  Contrary to what many people think and you may have experienced, there are very specific reasons that dogs bite and attack people. Dog aggression expert, Bryan Bailey, author of the book, “The Hammer: Why Dogs Attack Us And How to Prevent It” will explain how dogs have retained the survival strategies of wolves, the subtle signs that dogs give that an attack is coming and how you can prevent dog bites and attacks. Resources for this Episode. Source for the story about pet’s taste buds - How Dogs Think by Stanley Coren. First Aid Tip about your dog and anti-freeze.  Blog article for episode 83 – www.raisingyourpaws.com. Bryan Bailey’s Website. Bryan Bailey’s “Taming the Wild” Training and Boarding Company. Amazon link to order The Hammer: Why Dogs Attack Us and How to Prevent It.

To start this episode, I’ll tell you another creature feature.  Do you remember the part in the movie, The Wizard of OZ when Toto and Dorothy are swept away in their house by a tornado?  If you think a dog being carried away is only fiction, wait till you hear this. Then, I’ve got news.  After a stay-at-home order, due to the pandemic, Rocket, the NutriSource Pet Food’s sponsored, M Health Fairview - University of Minnesota - Masonic Children’s Hospital dog, is back at his job - helping children and families again deal with all the aspects of a hospital stay. His partner and handler, Anna Dressel, tells the stories of how Rocket keeps surprising her with the profound ways he affects others, what he particularly excels at in helping children and all about his third birthday celebration.   What can you do to create good mental welfare for your cat?  Follow the guideline: Don’t stimulate the emotions of RAGE, FEAR or GRIEF in them if you can help it and do stimulate SEEKING and PLAY as much as possible. These are core emotion systems in the brains of both you and your pets. Today, I’ll explain how FEAR affects cats and what you can do to keep your cat from feeling it so much. Additional Resources for the show. Source for the story about Sadie and the Tornado – Amazing but True Dog Tales by Bruce Nash and Allan Zullo, compiled by Muriel MacFarlane See photos of Rocket and Anna Dressel on the website episode page, #82. Anna Dressel talking about Rocket when he first started working at the Children’s hospital – Episode 64. Stories about Rocket helping people when they needed it the most – Episode 65. My conversation with Canine Assistants, the organization that raised and educated Rocket. Episode 66 M Health Fairview - University of Minnesota - Masonic Children’s Hospital website. NutriSource Pet Foods website. Source for story about reducing fear in cats – Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson. Hear about the core emotions you share with your pets in episode 74. The first of the positive emotions, SEEKING - what it is and how to increase them in your dog. ep. 76 How to increase the SEEKING emotion in cats – episode 77. My conversation with Dr. Sarah Ellis, about cat carriers. Episode 43   The Trainable Cat by John Bradshaw and Sarah Ellis.

Does your dog ever initiate scrapes or scuffles with another dog? All of a sudden, they are at each other. You may not know what started it, if someone is getting hurt or not, and the human owners watching nearby are screaming, and yelling sometimes louder than the dogs. No injuries may result, but it’s still upsetting when this occurs. Even if we don’t think there was any provocation, there are reasons your dog can become physically assertive or aggressive that we may not understand simply because we do not have canine minds. My dog, Rosy acted out three times in the last few days.   I do know, the two things that trigger her to go on the offensive with other dogs, one is normal adult canine behavior, the other is a weird quirk. I know how to manage them, yet sometimes it gets away from me. This happened recently and I was distressed. I’ll tell you why in my story. If you also have a dog that gets into minor fights with others, let’s talk about it.  Write me at susan@raisingyourpaws.com or you can leave a comment on the episode page, (number 81) on our website or on the Raising Your Paws Facebook page. I’m sure you’ve heard that pet adoptions are at an all-time high during the pandemic of 2020. Besides, the obvious reasons that people bring these animals home, there are other effects that dogs and cats have on us that you may be unaware of, that can profoundly change a person’s life.  An organization, called, Mutual Rescue, shares compelling, true stories through short films and a book that demonstrate that when people adopt animals, their own lives can be dramatically transformed in positive and often unexpected ways. Carol Novello, the founder of Mutual Rescue, a national initiative of Humane Society Silicon Valley and the author of the book, with the same name, is on the show today and will share a few of these engaging stories. Finally, in the last segment, I’ll tell you another Creature Feature, a short amusing true story about animals – this one is about a dog that got in trouble with a librarian. Additional Resources for the show. You can hear the segment about why adult dogs physically correct puppies on Episode 68 here. Mutual Rescue’s website. How to order the book, Mutual Rescue: How Adopting a Homeless Animal Can Save You, too” by Carol Novello with Ginny Graves. Source for the story about Wofford the dog. “Amazing But True Dog Tales,” by Bruce Nash and Allan Zullo, compiled by Muriel MacFarlane.

I’m starting a new segment, called Creature Feature, remarkable, funny, or heartwarming short tales es about animals. Here’s the first creature feature, “Sometimes, wishes come true in the funniest of ways.” Do you feel like you get unconditional love from your dog? Do you ever wonder why it is that they do love us so much? Science is revealing now, how dogs are positively affected by us.  My guest today, is Dr. Clive Wynne, the director of the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University and the author of the book, “Dog is Love, Why and How Your Dog Loves You.” He’s here to tell you about some of these fabulous discoveries being made into the minds and hearts of dogs.   Have you ever seen your cat do this? Suddenly it starts running at top speed around the house, a somewhat crazed look on their face, leaping on and off furniture in their path, tearing up and down staircases, dashing around the rooms as if the very devil was chasing them?  This behavior is fairly common for inside cats, and there is a specific reason this happens. I’ll explain what it is and what to do so your cat does not get so crazed at times. Additional Resources for the Show. Dr. Clive Wynne’s at Canine Science Collaboratory. Clive Wynne’s website. How to order “Dog is Love, Why and How Your Dog Loves You” by Clive D.L. Wynne, PhD. Source for the story about cat zoomies: “Why Does My Cat Do That”?  By Catherine Davidson.

Do you wonder why your dog loves to eat up your shoes and what to do about it if they’ve made a habit out of it? There are three specific reasons dogs chew slippers, high heels and dress shoes and one of them does have to do with the feet you put in that footwear. I’ll explain this and offer a few suggestions for saving the shoes short of giving away your dog. Then, you can greatly improve the daily health of your cat by doing a few things in the home to create their perfect environment. My guest, Dr. Kelly Ballantyne, a board-certified Veterinary Behaviorist, and contributing author to the book, “Decoding Your Cat”, talks about her chapter, “The Feline Dream Home, Creating an Enriched Environment for Your Cat’s Mind and Body.” Did you know that dogs can understand the emotions you show on your face? A study published in 2018, reveals that dogs are capable of understanding the emotions behind the expressions on human faces. The dogs were evaluated for how they turn their heads, how their heart rate changes and what behaviors they showed in response to different expressions on people’s faces. You’ll find out the fascinating results that shows how connected canines are to us, in this episode.   Additional Resources for the Show. Source for the story about dogs and shoes – “The Secret Lives of Dogs” by Jana Murphy and the editors of Pets part of the family. Dr. Kelly Ballantyne’s website: Insight Animal Behavior Services. How to order, “Decoding Your Cat” by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, with the chapter, “The Feline Dream Home, Creating an Enriched Environment for Your Cat’s Mind and Body” by contributing authors, Kelly Ballantyne, DVM, DACVB and Amy L. Pike, DVM, DACVB. Source for the story about dogs understanding human expressions – https://www.springer.com/gp/about-springer/media/research-news/all-english-research-news/dogs-understand-what-s-written-all-over-your-face/15835462 The actual study results: Reference: Siniscalchi, M. d'Ingeo, S. Quaranta, A. (2018). Orienting asymmetries and physiological reactivity in dogs' response to human emotional faces, Learning & Behavior DOI: 10.3758/s13420-018-0325-2    

There is a simple way to tell if you are feeding your dog too much, that is not about how much the dog weighs. Find out what it is. Then, being aware of your cat’s capabilities in this one particular area can make caring and living with your feline, so much easier and better provide for its needs. Pam Johnson – Bennet, a certified cat behavior consultant and author of Cat Wise, Americas Favorite Cat Expert Answers Your Cat Behavior Questions, tells you this truth about cats that we tend to overlook. Also, I tell you the story about the first time I called the ASPCA poison control hotline about my dog, Rosy because I thought she had eaten a scent diffuser stick from the bathroom. Hear the story of another time I had to call the hotline when I stupidly and mistakenly fed Rosy a human medicine that’s toxic for dogs in episode 1 – segment 1. Finally, does your dog keep repeating certain behaviors even though you try to stop them? They may be getting encouraged to keep doing them, in ways that you are unaware.   Additional Resources for the Episode. Source for the story about overfeeding your dog – “The Royal Treatment, A Natural Approach to Wildly Healthy Pets” by Dr. Barbara Royal. Pam Johnson-Bennet’s Website and ordering her book. ASPCA Poison Control Hotline Phone number – 888-426-4435.      

  You and your cats share some of the same core emotions. One of them is called SEEKING which is “the basic impulse to search, investigate and make sense of the environment” A combination of positive emotions – enthusiasm, wanting something really good, looking forward to getting something really good, and curiosity are all involved in this emotional system in the brain. SEEKING emotions feel good and make us and other animals feel happy.  A key to your cat’s overall mental well-being is to activate this positive emotion in them as much as possible. I’ll explain three of the best ways to do this for a cat. Then, a tip from a dog trainer, Emily Stoddard, owner and founder of the Canine Sports Dog Training Company in Chicago, Illinois. The answer to the question, what to do when walking your dog and you come upon another dog you don’t know. Should the dogs meet or not? Plus, how old is your dog in human years? This July, 2020, a study of Labrador Retrievers that revealed a brand new more accurate way to figure out your dog’s age compared to human years was published. It blows the old linear comparison of the 1-7 years ratio out of the water for good.  It even updates some of the more realistic thinking of the past years that placed a one-year old dog as being closer to a 15-year-old than a seven-year-old. But now, there is an actual formula based on scientific research that gives us a graph that can be used to match up the age of your dog with the comparable human age.  You’ll be surprised to hear how old a one-year old dog is in human years. You’ll find the graph on the companion blog (#77) for this episode at www.raisingyourpaws.com. By rating and reviewing this podcast, you can help support the show. Just click the easy new button on our website, labeled, “Rate this podcast”, on the homepage of raisingyourpaws.com. We’d love to get your feedback.   Additional Resources for this show. Source for the story on SEEKING –“Animals Make Us Human” by Temple Grandin. Emily Stoddard’s website - Canine Sports Dog Training. Source for the story about figuring dogs ages in human years  “How Old is Your Dog In Human Years? By Heather Buschman, Phd.    

Do you wonder if your pet has a happy life overall? You can increase their happiness and mental well-being by addressing the core emotions that both you and your pets share. This means understanding the emotions and creating an environment where your pet’s positive emotions, SEEKING and PLAY get activated as much as possible and the negative ones, FEAR, RAGE and GRIEF, don’t get activated any more than necessary. Through this guideline, your dogs and cats will be much happier and you’ll see fewer behavior problems. In this episode, I’ll tell you about the first positive emotion, SEEKING – how you experience it, and then offer some tips to activate it in your dog. Then, are you dealing with some serious behavior problems with your dog or cat? Not sure what to do or if you need to call in some help?  There are specialists that work with severe behavior issues. Who are they, what do they do and where do you find them?  My guest Dr. Kelly Ballantyne, a board-certified Veterinary Behaviorist and leader of the company, Insight Animal Behavior Services will answer these questions.   Additional Resources for the show. Source for the story about the positive emotion, SEEKING – “Animals Make Us Human” by Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson. Dr. Kelly Ballantyne’s website – Insight Animal Behavior Services. How to find a Vet Behaviorist: The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. European Board of Veterinary Specialization

First, Dan Hughes, a former secret service agent for the United States was reporting to work at one of the towers on 9-11, 2001 when it collapsed. Listen to his story about his experience and survival and how that led him to want to work with dogs. He is currently the co-owner of Dogs for Defense, a company of detection dogs that sniff out drugs and bombs. Then, there were numerous search and rescue dog teams that worked at the World Trade Center on 9- 11. I’ll share a few of the stories of these dog heroes.   Additional Resources for the Episode. Dogs for Defense Website. Source for stories about the search and rescue dogs: Dog Heroes of September, 11th: A Tribute to America’s Search and Rescue dogs, by Nona Kilgore Bauer. To see photos of Dan Hughes and the search and recovery dogs spoken about in the podcast, visit https://raisingyourpaws.com/

Do you wonder if your pet is happy, overall? There is something you can do to increase their mental welfare and make sure their emotional needs are being met. The key has to do with what you and your pet has in common - the core emotion systems in the brain. I’ll tell you about 5 of the 7 core emotions we share with our dogs and cats and then the guideline to follow. See the companion blog for episode 74 that lists all seven core emotions at www.raisingyourpaws.com. Is your dog or cat afraid of thunderstorms, fireworks or other very loud noises? Do you watch your pet suffer and wish there was something more you could do to help them?  My guest today is Dr. Karolina Westlund, of Animal Behavior Consulting and the author of the blog, Dogs and fireworks (30+ proven techniques to eliminate noise phobia,). We talk about why animals become afraid in the first place and what to do to help your pet, based on the latest research and current best practices. Additional Resources for the Show. One of the sources for the story about the core emotions – “Animals Make Us Human” by Temple Grandin. Dr. Karolina Westlund’s website. Blog’s mentioned on the show:   Blog - Dogs and fireworks (30+ proven techniques to eliminate noise phobia)

This is a “Best of Podcast” replay show of pillar episode 2. Get ready to re-count the age of your dog or cat. There is new more accurate information about how to figure out your pet’s age in human years. I’ll explain the new method. Then, there are some basic truths about how your dog sees its world that will help you understand a lot of its behavior.  Jean Donaldson, one of the world’s leading dog trainers, founder of the Academy for Dog Trainers, and author of the book, “The Culture Clash: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding the Relationship between Humans and Domestic Dogs” shares some of her top 10 list of what we know about canines and how we can help to meet their needs. Next, you can switch your pet’s food if you need or want to, without it causing major stool issues.  I’ll tell you the two things you can do to make it easier. And, finally, are you having problems with a cat that is not using its litterbox? If you have multiple cats at home, and there is no medical problem, the issue could be solved by this need-to-know, practical solution.   Additional Resources for this Show. See the charts to figure out your pets age on the blog for this episode. Jean Donaldson’s website: Academy for Dog Trainers. How to order Jean Donaldson’s book The Culture Clash Read about games you can play to burn off your dog’s predatory energy on the blog for this episode.    

This is a “Best of Podcast” replay show of pillar episode 2. Get ready to re-count the age of your dog or cat. There is new more accurate information about how to figure out your pet’s age in human years. I’ll explain the new method. Then, there are some basic truths about how your dog sees its world that will help you understand a lot of its behavior.  Jean Donaldson, one of the world’s leading dog trainers, founder of the Academy for Dog Trainers, and author of the book, “The Culture Clash: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding the Relationship between Humans and Domestic Dogs” shares some of her top 10 list of what we know about canines and how we can help to meet their needs. Next, you can switch your pet’s food if you need or want to, without it causing major stool issues.  I’ll tell you the two things you can do to make it easier. And, finally, are you having problems with a cat that is not using its litterbox? If you have multiple cats at home, and there is no medical problem, the issue could be solved by this need-to-know, practical solution.   Additional Resources for this Show. See the charts to figure out your pets age on the blog for this episode. Jean Donaldson’s website: Academy for Dog Trainers. How to order Jean Donaldson’s book The Culture Clash Read about games you can play to burn off your dog’s predatory energy on the blog for this episode.    

When your pet is ill or injured, don’t you wish they could tell you with words how they are feeling? Would be nice, but what we have, is how they react and behave. When sick, dogs and cats in general, react very differently from one another. I’ll explain how and why. Michael Birnbaum, my artist friend, returns to tell another story from his childhood about his first dog and their encounter with fire.  The story is entitled, “Trouble with Matches.” Why is it, that multiple cats living in a household, often don’t get along – either avoiding each other or fighting a lot? There is a major factor that you may be oblivious to, but is highly important to your cat. I’ll tell you about this and then, from the book, Cat Sense by John Bradshaw, I’ll share a list of subtle indicators you can watch for, to understand if the cats actually do or do not get along. Visit our newly re-designed website, www.raisingyourpaws.com. where you can easily choose and listen to any of the episodes with their full show notes and also find our companion blogs. These expand on the show topics, offer additional tips and solutions for happy living with your pets and offer videos and vlogs for your enjoyment. Also, you can leave a comment about each podcast episode or blog post. Additional Resources for the Show. Source for the story about pets coping with illness: “ComPETability: Solving Behavior Problems in your CAT-DOG household,” by Amy Shojai. Storyteller, Michael Birnbaum’s Website. (Artist and Color Design Stylist) Transformed By Color.   Source for the story about cats getting along or not. “Cat Sense” by John Bradshaw.

Have you ever seen your cat get itself into a dangerous physical situation, that you’re sure is going to kill it, but somehow, they make it out okay? There is the myth that cats have 9 lives, because what else explains the perilous things they do, like leaping madly into the air or falling hundreds of feet and still live to meow again. The obvious conclusion is that they must have more than one life to live. (Just kidding.)  In this episode, I’ll delve into what it is about cats that has resulted in the worldwide saying that “cats have multiple lives.”   Have you recently adopted a dog or are thinking about it? Bringing home this new companion is very exciting and fun, yet also, especially if this is your first time adopting a pet, can be challenging as you get used to one another and the dog learns the rules of the home.  My guest, Steve Frost, lead behavioral trainer with “A Sound Beginning,” a dog training program created specifically for the newly adopted dog, talks about what to do to minimize the stress the canine may feel transitioning to their new home and how to build a good relationship of trust for you and your dog as well as the pets already residing in the home.   Do you have a terrier or know someone who does? Notice they bark a lot?  It is not a casual happenstance that a Westie or Yorkshire may  make a lot more noise than some other breeds. Why do they tend to yap so much? This has not always been the case. The breed originally did not bark as much as it generally does today. I’ll tell you their story.   Additional Resources for the Show. A Sound Beginning Website. How to order the book with the music CD, “Adopting a Dog? Start off right with A Sound Beginning” by Julie Dorsey-Oskerka, Patricia Rattray and Rebecca Cann. A Sound Beginning’s phone number - 630-776-8197 Resource for the story about why Terriers bark so much – “How to Speak Dog” by Stanley Coren.

  Do you get annoyed at times when your dog is whining? Making you feel uncomfortable is one of the purposes of this high-pitched vocalization. I know that sounds crazy but once you know more about the mechanics and reasons dog’s whine, you’ll understand and respect the sound more. When out walking your dog on its leash, are there times your dog starts acting very upset - barking and lunging - when it sees or encounters an unfamiliar dog? This behavior can be triggered by the very fact that your dog is attached to a leash. What is leash reactivity and what can be done to help a dog that is experiencing this? Find out, in part 2 of my conversation with dog trainer, Emily Stoddard, the owner of the Canine Sports Dog Training in Chicago, Illinois. Finally, in this feline behavior fun facts feature, hear the answers to why cats roll over in front of you and how cats kiss each other.   Additional Resources for the Show. Source for the story about dog’s whines – “How to Speak Dog” by Stanley Coren. Canine Dog Sports Training Company. Emily Stoddard’s Website. Canine Dog Sports Training on Facebook. Source for the story about cat behaviors – “How to Speak Cat” by Aline Alexander Newman and Gary Weitzman. D.V.M.    

Does your cat get easily bored with its toys?  At first being very excited to play but then after a short while, not so much? In this episode, I’ll tell you about a research project a cat behavior scientist from England, conducted, to find out why cats are famous for getting quickly bored with their toys - even if you put them away in the closet overnight. Turns out there are four mechanisms at work when cats are hunting live animals that also apply to keeping interest in fake prey- their toys. I’ll explain the four to give you the guidelines you need to help your cats stay engaged in play. Next, when out walking your dog, are there times that it starts barking and pulling and lunging at other dogs? Looking aggressive and reacting all crazy? You wonder, what just happened and why is my dog acting this way? Dogs can become what is known as reactive to other dogs. What is this, how does it happen and what can you do to help your dog stay calm? Get the answers to these questions when I talk to dog trainer, Emily Stoddard, owner and founder of the Canine Sports Dog Training Company in Chicago, Illinois, who specializes in dog behavior issues. Plus, I’ll tell you a story about your dog’s intelligence, how they pay attention to you and the affect it has on how well they follow your commands. An added bonus, there is a built-in fun, experiment you can try at home with your dog. Additional Resources for the Show. Source for story about cats and toys: Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Cat, by John Bradshaw. Emily Stoddard’s website : Canine Dog Sports Training. Canine Dog Sports Training on Facebook. Source for the story about the dog experiment: The Genius of Dogs: How Dogs Are Smarter Than You Think by Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods. Find the steps to follow for the down/stay command – sight experiment with your dog at www.raisingyourpaws.com.

Announcement! We have a Raising Your Paws Facebook page. Quick ideas and fun video’s about how and why dogs and cats behave the way they do and what to do to solve the challenges. Please join our community. We welcome questions. Looking forward to seeing you there. Has your puppy gotten snapped at by an adult dog? Or has your adult dog irritably jumped on a puppy for no apparent reason? In this episode, I’ll explain the action that may look to you, like unprovoked aggression but in reality is a normal and to be expected correction of the youngster’s behavior. Then, there are cats who do along with their humans on all sorts of adventures, like hiking and boating. How is this possible? Hasara Lay, creator of the Catexplorer website and podcast explains how to determine if your cat has the right temperament to become a world explorer and how to start getting your cat ready to discover more of their world.   Plus, another true, personal pet story from listener, Wendy Levine. Hear the emotional story about a cat named Hemi, who turned out to be an unexpected teacher of patience and mindfulness for Wendy.     Additional Resources for the Show.   Source for the story about corrections from dogs – Why Does My Dog do that? By Sophie Collins.   Catexplorer.co - Everything you need to know about having your cat discover the world.   Catexplorer Podcast.   See photos of storyteller, Wendy Levine’s cat, Hemi, on the full show notes for the blog - episode 68 at www.raisingyourpaws.com.  

Children are always implored to eat their vegetables. There is someone else in your home that would benefit from eating some fresh veges -it’s your dog. Find out in this episode the one thing to add to your dog’s dinner bowl three times a week that powers up their nutrition by adding micronutrients to their diet.  Then I’ll tell you about the Purdue University study that suggests that the eating certain vegetables may prevent or slow the development of bladder cancer in certain dogs. Next, as part of the new feature, True Personal Pet Stories, you’ll hear pet parent, Frank Pantell, a podcast listener, tell you about his family’s dog, Paulie, who is rather small in size but always had big plans that got Frank into trouble. You can see photos of Paulie on our new facebook page as well as on the full show notes for this episode at www.raisingyourpaws.com. Finally, do you have a hard time getting a pill into your cat?  I explain one of the physiological reasons for this and offer a tip I was given by my vet that worked really well with my cat, Willie for 19 years. Just like I suggested for dogs in the first segment, here’s an easy way to add some extra nutrition to your cat’s daily diet that helps keep kitties intestines healthy. Invitation for you! Do you have any good stories about your pets? Let’s tell them on the podcast. The theme for this month’s stories are a pet that saved you from getting in some kind of trouble or one that actually got you in a heap of trouble. If you’ve got a story like this, send me a brief version:    susan@raisingyourpaws.com. Additional Resources for the Show. Resource for the story about feeding broccoli to dogs – “See Spot Live Longer” By Steve Brown and Beth Taylor. Purdue University Urinary Bladder Cancer Research. Frank Pantell’s Real Estate Business where Paulie worked (played).  

First, I answer a question from a listener – Scott Martin from Highland Park, Illinois asked why cats are so agile with their feet? I go into the juicy details but overall the secret has to do with them needing to be great hunters. Next, there is a newer revolutionary approach to teaching your dog that does NOT rely on the traditional method of training commands. Rocket, the NutriSource dog that is working as a service dog in a children’s’ hospital (featured in the last two episodes) was taught using the Bond-Based approach. My guest in this episode is Jennifer Arnold, the founder and executive director of Canine Assistants, the non-profit company that teaches and places service dogs, is the developer of the bond-based approach. In this episode she explains how this works for educating service dogs and pet dogs as well. Then, you’ll hear the personal true pet stories told by a friend and podcast listener himself. Michael Birnbaum shares the story of his dog that stopped him from getting into a nasty physical fight and the emotional tale of how he was going to protect the life of a cat at all costs. Listener Invitation! I’m inviting you to have the opportunity to have your stories told. If your pet, dog or cat, has saved your butt somehow write and tell me your story. I may contact you, we’ll talk about either me telling your story on air, or you telling it yourself, on the podcast. Send me your brief story at susan@raisingyourpaws.com. Additional Resources for the show. See the videos of “Agile cat, Clumsy dog” and cats doing agility courses at www.raisingyourpaws.com. Blog page for episode 66. Source for the story about cat’s feet – “Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet” by John Bradshaw. How to Order Jennifer Arnold’s book, “Love is All You Need: The Revolutionary Bond-Based Approach to Educating Your Dog.” Canine Assistant’s website. A resource about the “Do It” program, by Claudia Fugazza, mentioned by Jennifer Arnold - dog’s learning by imitating humans. Article, “Owner to Dog – Just Do It” by Claudia Fugazza and Adam Miklὀsi. To request more information about Bond-Based dog education approach – write Jennifer at info@canineassistants.org. Information about Artist/color design stylist, Michael Birnbaum. His website: Transformed By Color.    

  We have a new logo for the podcast! You’ll see it appearing on all the podcast apps and soon on the Raising Your Paws website. Let me know what you think of it at susan@raisingyourpaws.com. Have you heard about the zoo wild cats or domestic cats overseas that are reported to have tested positive to Covid – 19? Are you worried that this means your kitty can get sick and even transmit the virus to you? The American Veterinary Medical Association has the latest information and detailed stories about these felines and in this segment, I summarize their findings for your reassurance. Next, NutriSource Pet Foods, donated $250.000 thousand dollars to a children’s hospital in Minneapolis in 2019 in order to select, train and place on staff, a dog who would assist children and their families as they go through challenging, and often traumatic medical journeys in the hospital. This Golden retriever is named Rocket and you’re going to hear from his partner and handler, Anna Dressel, a child life specialist at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, the stories of how he unexplainably senses people’s emotions and then offers his unique canine comfort. Then, do you have a cat that seems to anticipate and know when family members are due to arrive home when there is no reasonable explanation for it? I’ll explain a few of the possible theories for cats moving to the window or the front door to greet you even when your return times are random and unplanned. Invitation to tell your story! Do you have any stories of your cat exhibiting really mysterious, unexplainable behavior, acting as if they know something that seems impossible, or predict extreme weather, such as thunderstorms or earthquakes? If you do, send it to me at susan@raisingyourpaws.com. I may ask you to tell your story on the podcast so everyone can hear it. Congratulations to the people who sent me photos of their dogs that look like they smile. I have selected 4 dogs with the most winning of smiles. Thank you to Alissa from Menahga, Minnesota for her photos of Super Cooper, John from Perham, Minnesota for the photos of Emma and Luna, and Susan from Cottage Grove, Oregon for her dog, Tank. All of these dogs have won a free large bag of NutriSource pet food and their human companions will receive a coupon to take to their local stores to select their bag. You can see these engaging photos on the blog for this episode number, 65 at our podcast website www.raisingyourpaws.com.   Additional Resources for the Show.   Details about zoo wild cats and domestic cats with Covid-19 – AVMA website. See the video of Rocket, at the hospital on the blog page for episode 65 at www.raisingyourpaws.com. More information from the M Health Masonic Hospital: M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s hospital website page about Rocket. Visit https://www.mhealth.org/childrens to learn more about the hospital. For more information about Rocket, at NutriSourcepetfoods.com. Source of the story about cats knowing arrival times –“What Your Cat Knows” by Sally Morgan.      

Fostering of pets is on the rise. All over the country, animal shelters have been putting out calls for community foster homes and people are responding. Adoptions are up as well. If you are thinking of fostering or adopting or have recently done so, I’ll discuss a few of the first things to consider to make sure your new dog or cat’s transition into your home. I’ll start with the most important thing to know about what will be needed for dog owners and the two key things to do in your home for cat owners. Then, NutriSource Pet Foods, donated the funds, so that the M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, could obtain a full time canine facility dog. His name is Rocket, he’s been on the job since November, 2019 and his human partner and handler, Anna Dressel, a Certified, Child Life Specialist at the hospital is my guest on the show today.   You’ve got to hear the amazing stories of how this unique golden retriever demonstrates the ability to know, who really needs his special type of comfort. Additional Resources for the show. You can see a video of Rocket, at work as well as other photos of Anna and Rocket, on the blog page for episode 64 at www.raisingyourpaws.com. More information from the M Health Masonic Hospital: M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s hospital website page about Rocket. Visit https://www.mhealth.org/childrens to learn more about the hospital. For more information about Rocket, at NutriSourcepetfoods.com.   See the video of the Golden Retriever that brings groceries to a quarantined neighbor at blog article, episode 64 at www.raisingyourpaws.com.

If your dog ever gets an expression on its face that looks like they are smiling, I’d like you to send a photo of that to me. I’ll post a number of smiling dog photos on one of the blog posts on the Raising Your Paws website and your dog will receive a large free bag of NutriSource pet food.   Please send one or two photos of your smiling dog to susan@raisingyourpaws.com. Be sure to tell me your dog’s name and the kind of breed they are. Keep the photos coming through the end of March 2020. First, are you worried about your pets, and COVID – 19? Confused about crazy stories and scary headlines that seem contradictory?  Please be reassured. Here are questions I’ll answer from the information from the reliable sources, the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. Can my dog and cats catch it and get sick? I read that one dog in Hong Kong got it – what’s the real story? Can they transmit the virus to me? Didn’t the virus come from an animal in China in the first place? Are there any precautions I should be taking with my pets? Then, Dr. Barbara Royal, DVM, a leading integrative vet who is the founder and owner of The Royal Treatment Veterinary Center and author of “The Royal Treatment: A Natural Approach to Wildly Healthy Pets” is here to talk about the benefits that CBD oil has for your dog and cat. Finally, there is something about your dog’s face that can aid you in knowing your dog’s mind – if their mouth is open or closed as they go about their activities during different times of their day. This can be another indicator of their inner feelings. I’ll explain which ones. Additional Resources for the show. Center for Disease Control - Information about pets from the FAQ page. World Health Organization – Information about pets from the Q & A page. Dr. Barbara Royal’s Royal Treatment Vet Center.   Purchase Dr. Royal’s books.

I start this episode clarifying a part of the conversation I had with animal trainer, Ken Ramirez in the last episode, about rewarding your dog every time they come when you call them. This is in response to some questions listeners had about positive reinforcement training and if this means one always has to give treats to get a dog to do anything. If you have any questions you’d like answered on the podcast about your pets, please feel free to ask.  Post your question in the comment section of any blog article or write me at susan@raisingyourpaws.com. I talked about dog’s mouths in the last episode and how at times when they pull their commissure which are the corners of the mouth, back, it looks to us like a smile. In this episode, I’ll describe some of the other positions your dog’s mouth takes that reveal when they are feeling nervous, defensive or fearful. Once you know what to look for, it’ll be easier for you to understand your dog’s emotions and anticipate its actions. Then, did you see or read about the blind sled racing dog named Indy on the internet? Frank Moe, a dog sled musher in Minnesota, is the owner of Indy, and is on the show today, telling the story of how Indy lost his sight, what is was like for him to have a blind dog and how Indy was able to get back to racing. Finally, have you wondered why your cat greets you by sometimes walking towards you with its tail held straight up towards the sky? This is a signal that all domesticated cats use with each other.  In wildcats, it is only the kittens that show this posture. Find out how adult cats started using this and what it means when your cat raises its tail for you. Send Us Your Smiling Dog Photos! Do you have a dog who looks to you like they smile?  Send me one or two photos of your smiling dog - I’ll select a number of the most engaging photos of dogs with smiling faces on, and post them on a future blog article along with your dog’s name. If your dog’s photo is selected, I’ll send you a coupon for a free large bag of NutriSource Pet food. Send your photo to susan@raisingyourpaws.com. You’ve got until the end of March 2020 to get the photo to me. I’m looking forward to seeing your doggies. Additional Resources for the Show. Conversation with Animal Trainer, Ken Ramirez: Part 2 – Episode 61.  When I asked and got the answer for why he advised me always “pay” or reward Rosy every time when she comes after I call her when she’s far away from me. Resource for the story about facial expressions revealing dog’s emotions - -”For the Love of a Dog” by Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D. Dog sled musher, Frank Moe’s Social Media. Resource for the story about cat’s upright tails – Cat Sense, How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet by John Bradshaw. Find the live links to all the above resources on the full show notes at: www.raisingyourpaws.com  

First, you might think that when a cat hisses at something, it means they feel mad. This is not the case. I’ll explain what cats may be feeling that causes them to hiss, how a cat’s hiss is similar to a dog’s growl and offer tips of how to handle your cat when they hiss at you. Then, I’ll continue my conversation from the last episode, with Ken Ramirez, Executive Vice President of Karen Pryor Clicker Training, and author of The Eye of the Trainer: Animal Training, Transformation and Trust. When training your dog, can punishing it for doing the wrong thing, negatively affect how your dog feels about you?   You’ll get the answer to that question, and hear the story of a German shepherd named Serena, whose training resulted in her being able to help a trapped firefighter. Plus, do you think your dog smiles? The expression on your dog’s face may look like a smile to you, you may call it a smile but is it really the same thing – do dogs really smile like we do to express happiness? Your mouth and lips contribute to the many different facial expressions you have, that can communicate your feelings. This is true for dogs as well. We’ll analyze the expression dogs have that we think may look like the dog is smiling. News! Smiling Dog Photo Contest. To accompany the segment about dog’s happy facial expressions, we’re going to have a smiling dog photo contest. Send me one or two photos of your dog’s face when you think they are smiling. I’ll select about 6 – 8  of the most engaging photos to post on our raising your paws website along with your dog’s name and I’ll send you some great coupons for NutriSource pet food. Send your photo to susan@raisingyourpaws.com.  Please include your and your dog’s name and your mailing address. The contest will last until the end of March, 2020. Additional Resources for the Show. Source for the story about cat’s hissing – “Cat Wise” by Pam Johnson-Bennett. Why Dog’s Growls Are a Good Thing – listen to Raising Your Paws episode 15. Ken Ramirez Website. How to order “Eye of the Trainer” by Ken Ramirez. Karen Pryor Clicker Training Website. Karen Pryor Clicker Training on Facebook – Videos of Ken Ramirez. Follow Ken on Twitter @KenKPCT Follow Ken on Instagram ken_ramirez_kpct Find a certified Karen Pryor positive reinforcement trainer. Source for the story about dog’s expressions -”For the Love of a Dog” by Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D. Find the live links to all the above resources on the full show notes at: www.raisingyourpaws.com

In honor of Valentine’s Day - the celebration of love and affection, since we give our hearts readily to our dogs and cats, here are some thoughts on how dogs help men express their feelings and how a cat’s purr benefits you physically. If you need to start training your dog or want to hire a dog trainer, how do you know which of the different styles or methods of training will work and is best for your dog? Wouldn’t it be helpful for making an informed decision, if you understood in the first place, the basic difference in the styles of training, and if one has major benefits that the other does not. My guest, is Ken Ramirez, Executive Vice President of Karen Pryor Clicker Training, and author of The Eye of the Trainer: Animal Training, Transformation and Trust” and he explains both positive reinforcement and punishment training. He also tells fun stories about the training of many different kinds of animals besides dogs. Then, here is a cat elimination problem that can have you losing sleep – literally. Why do cats start eliminating in your bed and what can you do to stop the behavior? First, I’ll explain what may be making your cat anxious and apt to pee on your sheets. I’m still offering the free children’s book, promotion, Adventures with Tuffy. It’s not only a nice story, there are pet food coupons included. To participate in the promotion, write me, tell me what particular challenges you are having with your pets that you’d like to hear addressed on the podcast and I’ll send you a free copy. To participate in this book promotion, just write me at susan@raisingyourpaws.com. Additional Resources for the Show. Stanley Coren Article. “The Gender Divide - Why Women Want Dogs While Men Need Them” from Modern Dog. Listen to Raising Your Paws podcast about cat litter box issues. – Episode 11. Resource for finding a Certified Animal Behavioral Consultant. Ken Ramirez Website. How to order “Eye of the Trainer” by Ken Ramirez. Karen Pryor Clicker Training Website. Karen Pryor Clicker Training on Facebook – Videos of Ken Ramirez. Follow Ken on Twitter @KenKPCT Follow Ken on Instagram ken_ramirez_kpct Find a certified Karen Pryor positive reinforcement trainer. Source for Story about Cats peeing on beds – “Cat Wise” by Pam Johnson-Bennett.

Are you having problems with your cat, not using the litter box, but instead peeing in places you’d never expect? In this episode I’ll talk about when cats choose house plants as their litter box, offer an explanation for why this might happen and tell you what to do about it. Next time, we’ll cover when cats begin peeing in your bed. You may have heard of therapy dogs who visit patients in hospitals and clinics. Today, you’re going to hear about a special group of golden retrievers, who bring comfort to those suffering the aftermaths of mass shootings and other disasters. You’ll hear how, Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Ministry’s comfort dogs, along with their handlers, travel all over the United States–being deployed in times of crisis to bring comfort to all those affected. My guests today are Tim Hetzner, the president and CEO of the organization who started the K-9 ministry and Richard Martin, the director of the K-9 deployments. Does your dog attempt to eat parts of dead animals it finds outdoors or even grab mouthfuls of dirt at times? When dogs eat what we consider to be disgusting, no doubt you probably pull your dog away, thinking it’s not only gross, but will cause your dog to get deathly ill from consuming such a germ infested thing. In reality, your dog’s body is equipped to handle consuming a lot of bacteria and germy things much more than you are. I’ll explain how.   Additional Resources for the show. Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) Website. www.LutheranChurchCharities.org LCC’s K-9 Comfort Dogs website: www.K9Comfort.org LCC’s Kare-9 Military Comfort Dogs website: www.Kare9.org LCC’s K-9 Police Comfort Dogs. www.K9Blue.org Lutheran Church Charities and the K-9 Comfort Dogs on Facebook: LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Lutheran Church Charities:@LutheranChurchCharities Find the K-9 Comfort Dogs on Instagram:   Comfort Dogs: @comfortdogs Lutheran Church Charities: @lccharities Find the K-9 Comfort Dogs on Twitter: Comfort Dogs: @K9ComfortDogs Lutheran Church Charities: @LCCharities   Source for the story about dog’s ability to eat carrion – “See Spot Live Longer” by Steve Brown and Beth Taylor.   Tell us the pet problems you’d like solved and participate in a free children’s book promotion! You can receive a free copy of the children’s book, “Adventures with Tuffy” Written by Sue Sailer and Illustrated by Troy Becker. This book was the idea of Charlie Nelson, the CEO and president of the family owned company, NutriSource Pet Foods. Tuffy was the name of his grandfather and is also the name of the family’s pet food plant. To participate, please write me at susan@raisingyourpaws.com, with your detailed comments about the Raising Your Paws podcast. We would like to know what some of the problems you are having raising your pets that you’d like to hear addressed on the show. I’ll select 10 of the first people to write and send them a free book. Good Luck. The book is also sold in many of the stores where you find NutriSource pet food.

In this, “Best of Podcast” pillar episode replay show, we’ll first start with what you should do if you think your pet may have been poisoned… besides panic.  I’ll tell you a story about when I accidently fed a toxic drug to my dog and a phone number you’ll want to call right away if you suspect poisoning. Next, do you wonder if you need to have pet health insurance for your cat or dog? Dr. Doug Kenney, DVM, author of the book, Pet Health Insurance, A Veterinarians Perspective, poses two simple questions to ask yourself in order to decide and then explains how to select a good company that meets your needs. You’ll hear about an online resource, his pet insurance tool kit, which helps you work through this step-by step. Then, your dog may be communicating with you and other dogs, through doing this particular behavior. Find out what it is and increase your skills in reading your dog’s body language. And, finally, why pouring your dry pet food from the bag it came in, into another can or bucket is not the best way to store the food.   Additional Resources for this show:   ASPCA Poison Control Hotline Phone number – 888-426-4435. Amazon link for ordering the book, Pet Health Insurance, A Veterinarians Perspective. Dr. Kenney’s Website. Pet Health Insurance Tool Kit. Dr. Kenny’s Podcast Please see our blogs and leave your comments at www.raisingyourpaws.com.