Theory of Pets Podcast

Hi there, welcome to the Theory of Pets Podcast. I'm your host Connor Knight. Join us on this enlightening episode as we delve into the world of canine nutrition and the growing concern of over-supplementation in our furry friends.  We explore the potential dangers and health issues caused by excessive vitamins and minerals in dog diets.  Our special guest, Will Bohuslavizki the co-founder of PetMatrx shed light on their innovative approach to tackling this problem, promoting optimal canine health through their groundbreaking products and strategies. Don't miss this essential conversation for pet owners and dog lovers alike, as we uncover the key to a happier, healthier life for man's best friend!

Hi there! Welcome to The Theory of Pets Podcast Episode number 136. Today we got an awesome topic to discuss and I am super excited to go over it with you! I think its important for everyone to understand what they're getting into with larger dog breeds when they want to adopt! I personally want a second dog and would like a larger breed. I dug and did some research and discuss this with Dr. Kingsley today about what you need to be prepared for health issues wise if you do get a large breed. Fortunately, a lot of these issues can be prevented. Enjoy! This episode is sponsored by BetterVet, mobile veterinary care for happier pets! From wellness visits to surgery, BetterVet has you and your pet covered in locations across the U.S. BetterVet is excited to announce that they are now serving pets and pet parents in the Los Angeles area, and to celebrate, they are offering $50 off your first home visit exclusively for Top Dog Tips listeners when you register for a new account. Use Promo TOPDOGTIPS to fetch this offer! Joint Issues Hip Dysplasia Elbow dysplasia Arthritis Panosteitis   Neurological Problems Wobbler syndrome   Heart And Organ Problems Dilated Cardiomyopathy Hypothyroidism Aortic Stenosis Bloat or GDV   Eye Problems Entropion Ectropion Cherry Eye   Questions: What kind of joint issues do larger dogs go through? Neurological problems? Heart and Organ? Eye Problems? It sounds like larger breeds are prone to more health issues that medium and smaller dogs, is that true? Why do you think that is? Let's say someone is interested in getting a larger breed what kind of general caveats would you give them to help them make sure their dog lives a long and happy life? Would you recommend they get pet insurance? What kind of recommendations would you give for large dog breed owners to proof their house in a way that helps the large dog lives a long life? Would you say less jumping off of things Build/buy ramps instead of stairs where possible for home and car? What is the most common cause of hip dysplasia from a vet's perspective? How much of nutrition and genetics play into it? What is the cause of wobbler's syndrome? Why are bigger breeds more prone to GDV or bloat? Is it bc of the level of their water bowls? Eating food too fast? Some of these sound super preventable and some of these just sound like the roll of the dice. What breeds are more prone to the roll of the dice health problems? What is your recommendation for preventing the joint issues or I guess slowing it down?

Hi there everyone! Welcome to the Theory of Pets Podcast thank you all for joining us today! Today I am joined by Dr. Lyndsey Kingsley and we are talking about dental health! Today's podcast is sponsored by BetterVet, mobile veterinary care for happier pets! They are offering a limited time offer for Theory of Pet listeners. If you sign up at bettervet.com use the promo code: TOPDOGTIPS to get $50 off their  Here are some of the topics we discuss:  How important is dental hygiene for dogs? Can it be a life threatening situation or is it more commonly a mild scenario? Why do dog's teeth become full of plaque and tartar vs when they lived in the wild       a. It just doesnt seem like a common cause to die from periodontal disease before we domesticated them How much does their diet play into the tooth decay? Let's start out the gate with being able to provide value to our listeners. How often should you brush a dog's teeth or have their teeth brushed? What are the best tooth brushes? Does brushing your dog's teeth actually work?        a. It seems like it's pretty difficult and tedious to get the dog to sit still to brush their teeth How dangerous is sedating a dog for a dental cleaning? If they were to get a dental cleaning vs owner brushing their teeth how often would you recommend I've heard that dental hygiene affects everything downstream including digestion in humans is it the same for dogs? What can happen to dogs if they do not get their teeth cleaned How bad can periodontal disease get? What is the cost for teeth removal? Does teeth removal even cure periodontal disease? Can a dog live a normal life without teeth?

Hey there everyone! Welcome to The Theory of Pets Podcast I'm your host, Connor Knight. I am the President of our company Top Dog Tips.  You can check us out at topdogtips.com Today we are going to be talking about winter risks and what you need to know as a pet owner and how to be prepared for them! So winter is coming up and what are the most common problems you see from pet owners when winter comes around, and let's say fall for some areas bc I know it gets pretty cold in certain parts of the country in fall I have a short haired dog, what is the coldest she would be able to go outside in? Do a lot of dog owners that live in cold places have short haired dogs? Is that dangerous for the dog What should I be putting on my dog if it is pretty cold outside to protect them How cold is too cold Long hair Double coat Short hair Let's say we get snowed in for a few days and I cannot walk my dog except maybe taking them out How do i go about making sure they stay entertained and get good exercise physically and mentally If my pet is less physically active do I need adjust their calories? I live in the city and walk my dog on the sidewalks in the dead of Winter, what's the right way to protect their paw pads?  Should I be putting on the funny dog clothing during winter? Is there actual practicality other than anthropomorphizing my dog? Let's say its 10-15 degrees outside Both my dog and cat are outdoor animals, but obviously it isn't safe. However I want them to get a little if any exposure outside How long can they be outside before it becomes risky Are there any viruses or pests people should be aware of during winter for their pet?

Hi there! Welcome to the Theory of Pets Podcasts! We started this podcast to uncover truths in the pet industry. Today I am joined by Robin Bennett. Robin Bennett has been a dog behavioralist trainer for over 30 years.  After successfully running her own behavior training business, she started a business that teaches doggy daycares how to understand dog behavior and body language. Enter the Dog Gurus.  After that she decided again to evolve her business into a recent venture called Ruffly Speaking! This is a platform where you get access to years of experience from dog behavior trainers and they also help educate dog owners like you and I make the best buying decisions for our pets. In today's podcast we talk about dog behavior and she drops some golden nuggets in certain scenarios that I felt would be valuable to touch on for you all. Give it a listen! Here are the questions I ask her today: Tell everyone a bit about you and your story and what you did before ruffly speaking How would your sessions go with clients, walk me through the individual clients and the questions you would ask them when you would work with individuals You also trained owners and employees how to run doggy daycares Why did you start doing that? Now let's start digging into ruffly speaking Why did you create it? What did you see that was missing that you could fulfill for people with your background With ruffly speaking what will people get that they don't normally have access to? What is the difference between ruffly speaking and a typical facebook group or a local dog trainer? What problem do you see in the pet ownership world it solving? What is the biggest thing you see that people miss when they get a dog and the dog does a behavior their owner does not like or approve of Tell us about the behavior of dogs from your experience and perspective What about them that makes it easy to understand them What about dog's behavior that you understand and teach people can how their dogs are going to behave What is your philosophy in dog training? Why do you have that approach? We've talked off camera about the “balanced training” approach (rewarding dogs when they do something right, and correcting them when they do something wrong), why do you think it isn't as effective as positive reinforcement What is wrong with “balanced training”? How should people seek out dog training Quick little checklist so they get it right How can people sign up for ruffly speaking? Where else can people find you on social media? I personally started using Ruffly Speaking's platform and it has a wealth of knowledge, I HIGHLY recommend if you are a dog owner that you sign up. It'll be the best investment in building your relationship with your pup. It's $19.99/mo. if you are interested, make sure to sign up using this link: https://tz203.isrefer.com/go/rufflyspeaking/topdogtips

Hi there, welcome to the Theory of Pets Podcast where we uncover the truths about the pet industry! I am your host, Connor Knight! Today we are going to be looking at basic how care for a new dog and training from a veterinarian's perspective. The guest today is none other than Dr. Lyndsey Kingsley.  She has been a wealth of knowledge continuously coming on the podcast and sharing what she knows with us!  This episode goes on a deep dive so listen in! Here is the lay out of the questions I ask: So there are some basic guidelines for pet owners and new pet owners on how much physical and mental activity with dogs. You have trainers saying that they need mental stimulation and physical stimulation in order to be happy HOW MANY MINUTES PER DAY SHOULD DOGS BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE AND HOW MANY MINUTES SHOULD THEY BE ACTIVE MENTALLY Outside of nutrition, how much do you think mental stimulation and physical exercise plays into how long a dog can live? Let's talk about hygiene, dogs clean themselves for the most part, in the wild they never really would get baths except for the occasional dip into a river I guess. And you know it's funny bc people like to anthropomorphize their dogs.  There's this whole movement out there where people don't shampoo their hair bc they believe it strips the oils from their hair, however, for dogs word has been going around that there are definitely some shampoos that cause itchy skin problems and dry skin issues.  My question is how often should dogs be bathed, if at all?  It sounds gross but my Dad, he'll give his dog a bath maybe once a year. But if you smell her she doesn't smell at all really. She maybe has had one skin issue bc she runs around outside and got bit by something, but other than that her coat is perfectly healthy. We've talked about nutrition before and if people want to go listen to a deep dive into nutrition go listen to podcast #128 What kind of dog food would you recommend, and if you could recommend homemade, or raw dog food and people could afford it would you recommend that over commercial dog food, and why? Now let's move into training, this is a big topic bc it's kind of this area where there's these dog trainers that have no background in science for the most part BUT THEY HAVE 10, 20, 30 years in training dogs so they are considered experts. From a veterinary perspective what is the best protocol you would recommend to follow for a training program for a new dog, adult dog, and a senior dog (if needed at all) Do you think senior dogs need to be trained? I definitely do, my girlfriend she has a 17 year old dog who has some questionable habits and I try to train him, but it's a lot of work so i don't think im qualified to mold him like I was able to with my dog when she was a puppy How should people be going about finding the “right” training. In your opinion who are the best trainers and who should people trust What are your thoughts on balanced training (takes into both positive and negative reinforcement) similar to that of a little kid What are your thoughts on ONLY positive reinforcement training? Do you think it is as effective to only reward the dog when they do something good and never correct them when they do something bad? Okay let's move from basic training to more behavioral training Ideally let's say someone has a new puppy, how should they be going about introducing them to environments, other dogs, external things that might be frightening Let's talk about dog's that are super fearful and have a bad reaction to things There's a type of training that talks about exposure to the thing they hate or fear Is it inhumane to continually do this if they eventually get over the fear? Veterinary Behaviorists When is it time to go from a dog trainer to a veterinarian And what should people look for when trying to find a great veterinary behaviorist When is it appropriate to opt for medication as a solution to behavioral problems What do people get wrong about opting for medication as a solution to behavioral problems like anxiety Let's talk about CBD Everyone i know in the veterinary field dances around this topic Why is that? Have you seen any positive results from your clients using CBD for anxiety?

Hey everyone! Thank you so much for joining me today. Today I will have Dr. Lyndsey Kingsley back on for a three-peat or four-peat? We are going to be talking about Mobile Veterinary Care, and she goes on a deep dive on Veterinary House Calls. Here are the questions and topics I cover today:  So there's this recent trend in the pet industry for house calls and mobile vet care. How did that come about? Was this how veterinary care used to be? When did BetterVet start? Who came up with the idea Why has mobile vet care become so popular? So I might not be happy with my current veterinarian, how would I find and choose a mobile veterinary care Is there anything different in standard costs? Outside of the care being done in your home, what is the difference in the quality of service? Is it more expensive? Can a mobile vet service prescribe the same treatments and prescriptions as a normal vet office? What if my dog needs something more serious like emergency attention or service? How quick is it to get them to the location they need vs bringing a dog into a vet's office surgery How difficult is it for people that live in gated communities to have a mobile vet service come to their house? If there is an emergency, does a vet need to come through the gate to the house or does the pet owner and vet meet at a designated location for the emergency service? Tell me about telemedicine side of BetterVet Are you able to diagnose anything over zoom, or does the vet need to physically be handling the dog before any action steps are taken for treating and solving any problems with their dog So give me the run down of all the services BetterVet can provide for people Where do you see the trend going as far as mobile veterinary service as an industry How does BetterVet set itself apart from it's competitors, since the trend is going more mobile What obstacles do you see your competitors having to overcome to outperform BetterVet? I heard through the grapevine that BetterVet is coming out with a veterinary nutrition department. Does BetterVet provide veterinary nutritionists as well?

Hi there! Thank you everyone for joining me today. My name is Connor Knight I am the president at Top Dog Tips and the co-host of the Theory of Pets Podcast. Today we have a special guest from Embark Vet. Her name is Jenna Dockweiler. She is a veterinary geneticist. Today we are going to be doing a deep dive on proper breeding practices. Here are some of the questions I ask:  Now I see your job is a veterinary geneticist at Embark Vet What does a veterinary geneticist do and how is there some overlap with your roles and the idea of responsible breeding? And I saw that you were a board certified theriogenologist that specializes in animal reproduction, and canine rehab. Tell us a little about veterinary acupuncture. It's quite a new topic for me. What are some of the benefits? Can you explain to me about “purebreeds” why are they so coveted if there are a lot of health problems that come with those types of dogs Can you tell me about the process of a breeder and how careful they have to be to prevent any health issues? What kind of measures do they have to take? What does it mean to be a "good breeder"? What kind of training have good breeders undergone to be considered a good breeder? What are your thoughts of rescue vs. choosing a breeder? Where are the best places to start when looking for a breeder? What are the top questions to ask when selecting a breeder? What kind of expenses should one expect to be taken care of before purchasing from a breeder? What questions should I expect a reputable breeder to ask me? How do I find out which health tests my breed needs? How much should I expect to spend? How long should I expect to wait? What should I consider if I am looking to breed my dog? I have found a breeder - how do I look into them further?

Hey Everyone! Welcome to the Theory of Pets Podcast. I am your co-host, Connor Knight, and the President of Top Dog Tips. Today we are going to brush up on some controversial topics and questions. Commercial Dog Food Recently, commercial dog food has been intensely scrutinized for its process of providing cheap and affordable dog food at scale. To do this at their level, many believe the dog food companies cut corners and lack quality control. We will go through some tough questions, and you'll hear direct answers from a veterinarian, so stay tuned! Here are some of the questions we tackle: How did homemade dog food come about? What is the difference between raw dog food and homemade dog and cat food? What is considered healthier between the two? What are your thoughts on carbohydrates being included in their diet? What are the important vitamins and minerals that need to be included in those diets that commercial dog foods claim to have? What is the issue with commercial dog foods? Is the controversy valid that commercial dog foods lack qc and cut corners on protein sources? What are your thoughts on the past decade of controversy that commercial dog food has come under? What exactly do dogs and cats need nutrition on a general rule of thumb? What are extreme home recipes? What are middle-of-the-road home recipes? Does a dog need carbohydrates? How much more expensive is it for owners to switch to homemade dog food or raw food compared to kibble? What are your thoughts on some of the higher-end kibble dog food? Do they hit all the nutrients that a dog needs? What are your thoughts on the synthetic vitamins and amino acids added to commercial dog foods? Me: I am not a vet but I took a course that was designed by a veterinarian that taught me how to read dog food labels and talked about how these synthetic vitamins and minerals work and how they act differently than the real vitamins and minerals dogs and cats get in food. What are the health benefits of homemade dog and cat food? The best advice, work with a nutritionist. https://acvn.org/ What are the potential health downsides of homemade dog and cat food? I learned that salmonella already exists in the gut of some healthy dogs, so would you say outside of that is there really any risk to the dog?

Hey there everyone! My name is Connor Knight and I am the President of Top Dog Tips. I currently  Thank you again for tuning into our podcast. And thank you for your continued support of the channel.  Today we will be discussing the confusing and misunderstood topic of vaccines for dogs. Here is the previous podcast w/ Dr. Kingsley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w7ShS7lKSg The person that will be answering all of my questions about vaccines for dogs is Dr. Lyndsey Kingsley. Dr. Lyndsey Kingsley is the Chief of Staff of the Bettervet.com. Better Vet is a mobile veterinary service that brings vet care to your home. Which means, yes, these veterinarians perform house calls. Better Vet offers very basic care all the way up to more minor services like surgery and teeth extraction. Check them out at bettervet.com for your next dog's vet visit. Dr. Lyndsey Kingsley has been practicing since 2015, and her practice currently resides in Austin, Texas. She has worked with hundreds and thousands of domestic pets during her tenure and is very well versed in discussing vaccines. Some of the things I ask Dr. Kingsley are: How did vaccines start? Where did they originate? So why should people get their dogs vaccinated? Were there any vaccines that didn't work or were recalled? What are core and non-core vaccines? Which vaccines are ones that all dogs should have? (core vaccines) Why? Do you recommend different vaccines for breed, age, lifestyle? Even if a breed is more prone, do you still recommend vaccine if their lifestyle limits that exposure? - Which vaccines are important for west a. Midwest b. Northeast c. Southeast What are the differences in vaccines dogs and cats should have How does their indoor or outdoor frequency change what vaccines you would recommend? Is over-vaccination a thing in dogs? Why is overvaccination happening? What can happen when a dog is over-vaccinated? Can a dog recover from being over-vaccinated? I even think my dog got one of these vaccines back to back years. Can you explain why vets continue to vaccinate yearly or even every three years if this is the case for these kinds of vaccines? What complications can come from over-vaccination? Can some vaccines cause cancer? Enjoy the podcast!

Hi there everyone!  Thank you again for tuning into this next episode of the Theory of Pets Podcast! Today I am joined by Julie Napolitano. Julie is the owner of the company Puppington! Julie started the company in 2019 and it was originally called Pup Wax. Pup Wax is a balm/moisturizer that is her original flagship product. She came up with the product formulation after being fed up with the typical general balm or moisturizer in the pet industry at the time. She talks in the podcast about how almost all of them had some harmful ingredients in the mixture. This led her to constantly doing research and studying what the best ingredients would be for making sure her dog's nose and paws were protected and moisturized. Enter Pup Wax, and since then she has recently rebranded the company into what is now known as Puppington. She has expanded her product line to chews for immunity and calming effects. Today we are going to talk about how she got started, her background, and some of the biggest lessons she learned building an e-commerce business geared towards pets from scratch! It's going to be a great episode so stay tuned!

Hey everyone, my name is Connor Knight and I am the President of Top Dog Tips.  Today, I am joined by Dr. Lyndsey Kingsley with BetterVet and we are going to talk about beating the Summer Time Heat! We all think of taking a dip in the pool, or going to the beach, or having a couple of beers on the boat, or a nice summer cookout! However, if you're a dog owner, you know you're about to get that notice from your vet for their heartworm checkup. Believe it or not there are a host of other things that can come with summertime heat depending on where you live. And we're here to talk about them: - tools for keeping dogs cool in the heat (towels/bandanas, a cooler, pool time for dogs, ice cubes, cooling vests/collars/pads) - common pests and animals to watch out for     a. what diseases can be passed and treatments - loud noises: thunder, 4th of July - water quality depending on where you live, how to let them enjoy the lake, ocean, and pool All this good info is just in time for summer! Enjoy! As a side note, we have recently partnered with BetterVet for a series together. We wanted to be able to provide expert advice on pet ownership and felt that BetterVet is the one to do it. BetterVet is a mobile veterinary service. This means yes, vets making house calls. With a wide range of experience in several different states, we feel they can have their ear to the ground about the best way to handle some of the toughest challenges we face as pet owners. BetterVet handles all forms of care from vaccines to teeth removal, and spaying and neutering your dog!

Today! We are doing a long-format video because we are reviving our podcast! We originally had prioritized other goals after August of 2020, but we are back now! We will have podcasts in the future with Samantha, and me along with other guests. My name is Connor Knight, her co-host of the Theory of Pets Podcast. We are joined today by Janet from Lovin Bowl. She currently runs a local homemade dog food company and she serves her clients through local delivery or by having it delivered to other locations around the country. She has been feeding her dogs a homemade diet their whole lives and is here to talk about her personal experience of cooking her dog's homemade dog food. She currently has 3 dogs, two of which are a Rhodesian ridgeback and an English Mastiff. Her Rhodesian ridgeback is 12 and her Mastiff IS 15!! The average age of English Mastiffs is 6-12 years old. She talks about her beliefs and why she's had dogs her whole life that have lived long happy lives. We talk about the commercial dog food industry and why there has been such a big shift to real food in the commercial dog food industry. She also talks about why she prefers homemade cooked food vs raw food! There's a lot of great stuff in here and I am excited to share it with you all.

Have you ever had a hard time finding a ride home from the airport? Or had trouble getting a ride to bring your pet to the vet? If you rely on ridesharing for some of your transportation needs, it can be very difficult to find a driver that will agree to bring your pet along. And, unless your pet is a service animal, they’re not typically allowed on public transportation. Aparna Srinivasan is changing that. She is the founder and CEO of SpotOn, a fairly new rideshare company that is dedicated to getting pets and their owners from point A to point B. Unlike other companies, SpotOn drivers are willing (and excited!) to welcome pets of all kinds into their vehicles.

Have you ever thought about owning your own franchised business? We’re all familiar with McDonald’s, Burger King, Sonic and all the other popular fast food franchises, but what about franchise options in the pet industry? If you’re wondering what franchising is all about or how to get started with this entrepreneurial adventure, this podcast is for you! I invited DanBarton, founder and CEO of Splash and Dash Groomerie and Boutique, to be a guest on my show. He’s sharing information for potential franchise owners and tips and tricks for anyone thinking about starting their own business. You’ll learn what makes this particular franchise different from others and what features you should be looking for when choosing a company to franchise through.

Do you think your dog understands you when you speak to him? Or does he just associate the sound you’re making with a certain action? For example, does he understand what the word ‘sit’ means or does he just associate that sound with the action that you are expecting of him? If your dog actually understood the words that you were using, you wouldn’t need to repetitively train him to perform a trick - he would just understand what you are expecting and do it. Dogs don’t speak English, or German or French for that matter. Dogs have their own language, which is based more on actions than sounds.

Pets and humans have a lot in common, including mental health and disorders. One of the best ways to keep your pet’s mind sharp is to provide mentally stimulating toys and activities. Pets can suffer from boredom, stress, anxiety and even depression. For this reason, it’s just as important to care for their mental health as it is their physical health. Exposure to different environments, stimulating different sensory receptors, playing games, and teaching pets new tricks/commands can all be viable methods of mental stimulation for pets that impact canine behavior, prevent mental disorders and may even trigger changes. There are hundreds of pet products on the market designed to stimulate animals and increase their mental health.

If you take your dog with you everywhere you go, you probably take a lot of safety precautions. He probably wears a harness, and I’m sure you bring a leash with you wherever you go. There are also some precautions that you should take when bringing your pet along for a car ride.   If your dog is free to roam around the vehicle while driving, it will be dangerous for you, him and any other passengers in the vehicle. A free roaming dog will distract you, and he will become a dangerous projectile in the event of an accident. He could also climb into your lap, get into things that he shouldn’t, or any number of other distracting behaviors.

Picking the right type of nutrition for your dogs and cats can be quite overwhelming for pet owners. There are so many options to choose from. How do you know which product is the best choice for your furry companion?  Reading labels can be confusing, and online research is time consuming. Tom Arrix is the founder of Joy Food, a fairly new pet food company that builds vet-designed, curated meals for your pet from fresh and wholesome ingredients. In 2018, one of Tom’s dogs became very sick. He worked with his vet to change the dog’s diet, and quickly saw a direct correlation between the quality of food and his dog’s quality of life. In this podcast episode, Tom discusses why he decided to create a new pet food company instead of buying a product that was already available. He also tells us about the ingredients he uses, and why he chooses these ingredients. He’ll talk about what a human-grade dog food diet is and why it’s important for your pup.

Digestive health is a topic that is greatly underserved in the pet food industry, and vastly underappreciated by pet owners. Most pet parents believe that feeding a high quality food is equivalent to caring for their pet’s digestive health. Unfortunately, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. If your pet’s gut health is not balanced, their body cannot properly digest food. So, no matter how good the food is, their body won’t be able to get the nutrients it needs from the meal. In this podcast episode, I spoke with Rei Kawano, Co-founder and CEO of Heed Foods. This relatively new company has taken a different approach to creating high quality meals for dogs. Not only are they focused on using the healthiest ingredients, they are also determined to help pet owners care for their dog’s digestive health. Find out more about the importance of proper digestive health and how you can get your dog’s digestive tract back on track in this episode.

Did you know that rodenticides and insecticides are among the top 10 household toxins that poison pets, especially dogs, every year? Insect and rodent poisons can be just as toxic to our curious pets as they are to the pest itself. Common active ingredients include long-lasting anticoagulants, which can prevent animal’s blood from clotting, Cholecalciferol, which can lead to kidney failure in animals, and Bromethalin, a neurotoxin that can result in tremors, seizures and paralysis. March was Pet Poison Prevention Awareness month, with Poison Prevention Week spanning from March 14th - 21st. We’re responsible for protecting our four-legged friends, so as we gear up for spring, it's time to choose pest prevention that doesn’t put them in harm’s way. In this episode I interview Kari Warberg Block from EarthKind’s. They special in making plant-based, poison-free pest prevention. Their products are eco-friendly and safe for use around pets and children. Kari also discusses the dangers of chemical-heavy products and their effects on your pet. She’ll tell you what to do if your pet is poisoned, and how to keep your furry family members safe from these harmful products.

A few weeks ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus a global pandemic. As the panic around this virus grows, many pet owners are worried about the health of their companion animals. Can dogs get coronavirus? Is this something that you should be worried about? I’ll answer that question in this podcast episode. I’ll also tell you about some things you can do to keep your pet safe during these trying times. I’ve done a lot of research, and I share information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the American Veterinary Medical Association in this episode.

The pet industry is booming! There are new businesses popping up everyday. If you have a dream of working with pets and their owners, there has never been a better time to get into this thriving industry. But, how do you get started? How do you take your dream and turn it into a successful pet business? In this week’s episode, Kristin Morrison (founder of the Six-Figure Pet Business Academy) is some of her top tips on starting your own pet-related business. She has provided pet business coaching to thousands of pet sitters, dog walkers, trainers and other service-based pet business owners. Her million-dollar pet business is an inspiration to many aspiring business owners, and she’s sharing some tricks of the trade in this episode.

Canine obesity is a growing epidemic and it is just as dangerous as obesity in humans. If a human is overweight, they can make changes to their lifestyle to quickly shed a few pounds. Unfortunately, it is up to us to manage the weight of our pets. That means if your dog is overweight or obese, you're the only one that can help him. The longer you wait, the more severe the health effects will be. Obesity could ultimately take years off your dog's life. In this week’s episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Prof. Alex German about this topic. He is a Professor of Small Animal Medicine at the University of Liverpool.

If you’re a pet owner, you have seen the amazing effects that animals can have on our overall health and well-being. These positive effects have piqued the interest of scientists around the world who have recently taken a strong interest in this topic. The more research is done, the more we are realizing that animal interaction has a much greater effect on humans than we originally thought. In this week’s podcast episode, I’m chatting with Austin Gerber. He is the licensed administrator of a nursing home in Ohio. He has seen the positive effects that animals can have on his residents, and feels very strongly about making animal interaction a part of the treatment options on his campus.

Of course pet owners buy certain products that non-pet owners do not need. But, did you ever consider how owning a pet influences your shopping habits? We all need pet food, supplies, toys, treats, etc. How do we choose one product over another? What influences our buying decisions? In this week’s episode, I’m speaking with Adrian Tennant. He is the Vice Pesident of Insights at Bigeye, an advertising agency based in Orlando, Florida. The company has recently done a research study, led by Tennant, to find out how owning a pet influence purchases, brand appeal and devices.

I recently ran into a problem trying to find a sweater for a new rescue pup that we adopted. It was difficult to find a sweater that was thick, warm and made from quality materials. I started looking into the materials used in most pet clothing, and was really disappointed with the quality of the garments for the price. In this week’s episode, I am chatting with a like-minded fashion designer who recently launched a pet clothing company. You may recognize the name Ivy Higa from Season 8 of Project Runway. She has been working in the fashion industry for over a decade, and is now bridging that passion with her love of pets.

There is a longstanding narrative that dogs were domesticated from orphaned wolf pups. This narrative is being overturned with the emerging theory that we didn’t tame wolves into dogs, but instead, dog packs integrated with our families in an Alpha partnership. This developing theory is reinforced by recent DNA evidence, archaeological discoveries from Paleolithic caves and our own better understanding of dog dynamics. I find this theory fascinating, and I wanted to speak with an expert that could help me understand more about it. Bernie Taylor is an independent naturalist, thought leader and author. His research explores the mythological connections and biological knowledge among prehistoric, indigenous and ancient peoples. In this week’s episode, Bernie shares his thoughts on this interesting theory and the scientific proof that supports it.

Blue-green algae has been a hot topic of discussion over the past few months. Did you know that this type of bacteria is toxic to dogs? If you’re not worried about your pet getting sick from blue-green algae, you should be! Did you know that this bacteria has been identified in all 50 states across the country? Many pets have become ill after ingesting it, and some have even died because of it. The best way to protect your pet from blue-green algae is to educate yourself about what it looks like, how to identify it and the symptoms of ingestion. In this week’s episode, I’ll explain what this toxic algae is and how you can keep your pet safe from it.

This is the time of year when many families are preparing for the harsh winter months ahead. Other families are gearing up for hurricane season or wondering what they should do to prepare for the next hurricane. No matter what region of the world you live in, it’s important to be prepared for any disaster or emergency that may come your way. Getting your family prepared for a disaster doesn’t stop with the human members. Do you know where the emergency shelters are located in your area? Do you know which shelters allow pets? Do you have an emergency bag packed for your pets? Do you know what to put in it? In this week’s podcast episode, I’ll be answering all of these questions and more!

With Veteran’s Day right around the corner, I thought it would be a great time to share the story of one of my favorite Veteran’s. Matthew Lamarand is the CEO of Dogology University. He is a United States Military Veteran K9 Handler. He has almost 10 years experience training K9's to scout for explosives. After realizing that 96% of surrendered dogs never went through any type of obedience training, he dedicated himself to train these rescue pups for service dog work. He rehomes the canines that he works with to families in need of service dogs, and he gives the dogs to these families for FREE! Matthew has trained dogs for children dealing with Diabetes or behavior disorders and Veterans battling symptoms of PTSD. Today, he’s sharing his story on my podcast!

Most pet owners think that all pee pads are the same. If they need to use these pads for their puppy, they just head to their local pet store and buy the first package they see. In fact, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. There are many different types and sizes of pee pads, and they are all made with different materials. Another common misconception is that pee pads will actually train your pet to go to the bathroom inside. When used properly with training and reinforcement, pee pads are actually a benefit to pets and owners. In this week’s episode, I’m talking with Linda Bernier from BARK! She explains the many different uses for pee pads and shares some tips for properly training your pet to use them. She also discusses BARK!’s new line of pee pads and what makes them stand out from similar products.

Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is becoming a growing treatment in the human and veterinary medical fields. CBD is a substance extracted from the hemp plant, which makes it a controversial topic in either industry. As more research is being done on the effectiveness of CBD on health conditions such as cancer, arthritis, stress and anxiety, more and more people are seeking this treatment for themselves and their pets. This week I was able to speak with Jeremy Feldman and David Nichols, co-founders of Pet-Ness. I interviewed Jeremy and David to find out why they decided to get into the business of CBD for pets, what benefits pet owners may notice after using these products and the many different types of pet products that contain CBD. They are also sharing many tips for pet owners who are interested in learning more about the benefits of CBD for pets.

From time to time, you’ll need to transition your pet to a new diet. Whether it’s because of a change in age, a health condition or just the fact that you’d like your dog to eat a healthier diet, you need to be sure that you transition your pet to the new food properly. If not, your pet will likely suffer from digestion problems including diarrhea, excessive gas and nausea. Dr. Jennifer Adolphe is a regular guest on my podcast. In this week’s episode Dr. Adolphe discusses the importance of adding variety into your pet’s diet, how to properly switch from one dog food recipe to another and what to do if you notice that your pet isn’t adjusting to the diet change accordingly.

Dealing with a pet that has anxiety problems can be a struggle for even the most experienced owner. Whether it’s separation anxiety, noise aversion, anxiety about car rides or anything else, it’s important that you find the best way to help your pet deal with this issue. From over-the-counter treatments to home remedies, there are dozens of ways to treat pet anxiety. But, which option is best for your furry companion. Anxiety can present in many ways. While some dogs may go to extreme measures to deal with anxiety (like chewing through walls, scratching up doors or breaking through windows to escape), others will not show such easily noticeable symptoms. For some dogs, anxiety could be shown through whining, excessive panting or shaking. In this week’s episode, I speak with Lisa Radosta. She is an animal behaviorist with Purina. Lisa is sharing tips and tricks for dealing with pet anxiety, and she also discusses Purina’s new supplement that is specifically designed to help pets struggling with anxiety problems.

Fourth of July is almost here, and when you think about this upcoming holiday, you probably think about barbecues, lounging on the beach or fireworks. Unfortunately, our dogs only think about the bright lights, loud noises and strange smells that this holiday brings. Did you know that more pets go missing on the Fourth of July than any other day of the year? I reached out to the Executive Director of Michelson Found Animals, Aimee Gilbreath, to find out what pet owners can do to help keep their pets safe on the Fourth of July (and every other day of the year). She’s sharing tips to help owners and their pets have a safe and enjoyable holiday celebration without having to cut out the bright lights and loud sounds.

Do you know the difference between a therapy animal and a service animal? Most people use these two terms interchangeably, but they are actually two very different things. Therapy animals provide physiological and psychological therapy to people other than their owners. Service animals help their owners perform tasks that the owner cannot do on their own. What types of animals can be therapy animals? What tasks do they perform, and what environments can they work in? In this week’s episode, I’m speaking with Elisabeth Van Every, the Communications and Outreach Coordinator for Pet Partners. Pet Partners is the nation’s largest and most prestigious nonprofit organization that registers handlers of therapy animals.

Owning a gun dog means devoting your spare time to ongoing training. It’s a big responsibility, and you can’t expect your gun dog to be fully trained in just a few short months. There’s a lot of research to be done before you even bring a gun dog home. What breed will be best for your needs? When should you begin training? This week’s episode features dog training expert Martin Deeley. Martin has been training dogs for more than 35 years, his dogs have won trials in the United States and Britain, and he’s also an accomplished writer on the subject of gun dogs. In this interview, Martin discusses some tips for gun dog owners and gives advice to hunters who are training and working with gun dogs.

Choosing high quality grooming products for your dog will have a positive impact no his overall health and well-being. It may even increase his life expectancy. I know this sounds like an extreme statement, but it’s true. Many dangerous ingredients found in a majority of pet grooming products have been linked to life threatening conditions including cancer, organ damage and neurological problems. Today, I’m discussing the dangers of low-quality commercial pet grooming products. I spoke with Julie Creed, VP of Sales and Marketing for Pura Naturals Pet, to get some information on the importance of choosing safe grooming products and what types of ingredients pet owners should be looking for. In this podcast episode, you’ll learn about labeling loopholes that some companies use to pass their grooming products off as safe, but that may not actually be the case.

Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is becoming a growing treatment in the human and veterinary medical fields. CBD is a substance extracted from the hemp plant, which makes it a controversial topic in either industry. As more research is being done on the effectiveness of CBD on health conditions such as cancer, arthritis, stress and anxiety, more and more people are seeking this treatment for themselves and their pets. This week I was fortunate enough to speak with Christina O’Reilly, co-founder of Rowley’s Good Stuff. Rowley’s makes a CBD-infused nutbutter for dogs. In this podcast episode I will explain why CBD products may be better for your pet than over-the-counter or prescription treatments and how to choose the right CBD products for your pet.

Fostering a pet is a unique experience that allows you to help your local shelter or animal rescue organization learn more about the pets in their care. Living in a shelter can be an overwhelming experience for some animals. There are new smells all the time, new people to get used to on a daily basis, and other animals coming and going regularly. Sensory overload in a shelter environment can lead to behavior trouble, aggression issues or cause some pets to become extremely scared and introverted. Bringing a foster pet into your home allows you to see what the animal is like in a home setting. You can report this information to the shelter or rescue organization you’re working with, and they will pass it on to potential adopters. Foster Dogs Inc. is an organization specifically dedicated to helping foster parents work successfully with shelters and rescue groups. They offer the communication and support that potential foster parents will need to make it through the challenges of bringing a new pet into their home. Today, I’m speaking with the founder and executive director of Foster Dogs Inc., Sarah Brasky to learn more about the responsibilities of pet foster parents and how you can get started helping animals in need.

I get a lot of questions from pet owners who are curious about feeding their pet a plant-based diet. Is it safe? Can your pet get all of the nutrition that he needs from a plant-based diet? I feed our pets an omnivorous diet, so I was curious about a plant-based diet as well. I asked one of my most popular podcast guests, Dr. Jennifer Adolphe, to come on Theory of Pets again and discuss a vegetarian diet for pets. She is the Senior Nutritionist for Petcurean, a premium pet food company. Dr. Adolphe has a PhD in companion animal nutrition and is a registered dietician.

Scientists around the world are exploring how a better understanding of our genetic makeup can improve our lives – and those of our beloved pets. In the age of “wearables”, trackable health technology and DNA testing for ancestry and health, more and more healthcare is heading toward a future of personalised, proactive and preventative care. Did you know that recent genetic research is helping to improve the lives of our pets? Researchers looking into the DNA profile and biomarkers of pets are unpacking the secrets behind what makes them tick. By understanding a pet’s genetic history it can give us more insight into their behaviour (e.g. why certain cats might be more talkative or affectionate – or why particular dogs might “den”, dig or “herd”). It’s also providing some insight into our pets’ health (e.g. which breeds are likely to develop certain diseases and which breeds require a specific diet). This information can allow pet owners and vets to make better decisions about their animal’s nutrition and exercise needs, and enable preventative solutions and improve their pet’s overall health. In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Angela Hughes, the veterinary genetics research manager for Mars Veterinary (a division of Mars Petcare). Dr. Hughes is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and has a PhD focused in Canine Genetics. She will be discussing some of the research that is being done on pet genetics currently and what impact that research will have on the future.

Proper mental stimulation is imperative to your dog’s overall health and well-being. Like us, our dogs get bored doing the same mundane things day after day. Playing with the same toys, eating the same food and sniffing around the same yard will get monotonous over time. While it’s difficult to change up Fido’s schedule every day, Sniffspot is making it a lot easier to find new places for your dog to roam whenever you have the time for an outing. David Adams is the founder of Sniffspot, a company that allows anyone to open their property to dog owners looking for a new space for their pooch to explore. As David explains in this interview, providing mental stimulation is a necessary part of responsible dog ownership. Find out more about Sniffspot and how you can make money by allowing dog owners to use your space ny listening to this podcast episode.

Over-vaccination is a term that we are frequently hearing these days. It’s a concern for parents of human and furry children alike. What is over-vaccination? How can you prevent it? This is a common question that I am asked by listeners, and it’s a question that I myself asked many years ago.   Roxanne Hawn is the author of the award-winning dog blog Champion of My Heart and my guest today. Sadly, she has first-hand experience dealing with a pet that had a terrible reaction to a vaccination. Roxanne shares her dog’s tragic story, what she’s learned from the experience and tips for pet owners to prevent over-vaccination in the future.

Pet sitters perform countless jobs for pet parents. You surely know that they can watch your pets for you while you are out of town, but did you know they might also get your mail, water your plants and keep an eye on your home? Many pet sitters are also available for daily pet visits, not just overnight stays. All pet sitters offer different services, and it’s important that you choose the sitter that will be right for you and your pet.   Laura Vorreyer is an entrepreneur who pioneered the dog walking business in Hollywood more than 15 years ago. She has grown her business substantially to include many different dog walking and pet sitting services. And now, she is an author! Laura published a book about her experience as a Hollywood pet sitter, and she’s sharing some of these experiences with me in this podcast.

Have you read news stories about cats and dogs rescued from foreign countries? Do you wonder how that happens? Believe it or not, shelters and rescue organizations around the world are much different than what we are used to here in the USA. They have a staggering number of homeless pets to help, and oftentimes their resources are extremely limited.   Deb Jarrett created the Dharamsala Animal Rescue in India. In this week’s podcast episode, she’s talking about her first-hand experience rescuing pets in a foreign country and why she is so passionate about this cause. She’ll also explain how she started her rescue organization and how interested animal lovers can help.

Pet blogs have become very popular in recent years, which has driven more and more pet owners to get into this business. Knowing that there are so many successful dog and cat bloggers out there, it can be a bit daunting to start at first. But, the best time to get started is right now, and it's actually very quick and easy to launch your own pet blog. Of course, you’ll need some writing and technical skills. So today, I’m chatting with Maggie Marton, the writer behind Oh My Dog! Blog. She’s sharing some first-hand experience that will be beneficial to anyone considering writing their own blog. Whether you’re thinking of starting a pet-related blog or a blog about any other topic that you’re passionate about, Maggie has some advice on how to get started.

If you’ve ever struggled to pay for your pet’s veterinary expenses, you know what a difficult situation it is. You’re forced to choose between getting your dog the medical help he needs or paying your weekly bills and expenses. Some people rack up credit card debt or borrow money from family and friends to help their injured pet, while others don’t have any options. What happens to a pet in need if their owner cannot pay for their medical fees? Sadly, many of these animals are euthanized. Steven Mornelli of Waggle.org has set out to provide a last-chance safety net for pets in medical crisis. He has created a crowdfunding platform specifically for pet owners struggling to pay their dog’s medical bills. What is this platform? How can pet owners get the help they need? Steven will explain all of that and tell you how you can help pets in need in my latest podcast episode.

Traveling with your pets can make the adventure even more exciting. However, there are a lot of things to consider before taking your dog along with you. You need to plan ahead to ensure your dog’s safety, and to make the trip as easy as possible for yourself. In this podcast episode I’m speaking with Kelly, the author of the Paws Across Britain blog. She has taken her Lhasa Apso, Elsa, with her on many adventures - from car trips and overnight hotel stays to short outings at local restaurants. In this episode she shares some tips to help you decide whether or not your pet will be a good traveling companion.

There are dozens of different types of dog training methods. How do you know which method is right for your pooch? Do you know when to begin training your new addition? What if your dog has developed some bad habits that you would like to change? Today my podcast is focusing on this hot topic, and it’s full of beneficial tips for pet owners of every experience level. Scott Sheaffer is a Certified Canine Behavior Consultant and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. He is the founder and CEO of USA Dog Behavior located in Dallas, Texas. In this week’s podcast, Scott is sharing tips for proper dog training and explaining how to find the best dog trainer for you and your pet.