Your Family Dog Podcast

What's this? Julie's back? Well, not quite. Recorded earlier this year and subsequently lost in the shuffle, this previously overlooked, never-before-heard episode has been rescued from the YFD Vault for your listening pleasure. Tune in for a discussion of how dog training is like novel writing and, whether authors or dog trainers, we all have to stumble our way towards the beginning.

 For show notes and more, go to Your Family Dog

Humans and dogs are a tale as old as time- literally! From almost the very beginning of human evolution, dogs have been with us as our faithful friends and companions. But where did this first of human-animal friendships begin, and how? Today we're diving into the origins of the dog. Come along as we travel back in time and explore the history of our favorite four-legged friends.

For show notes and more, please go to Your Family ...

We've all been there- we're out and about with our normally well-behaved dog when suddenly we encounter something unfamiliar and Fido promptly loses his marbles. What happened to all that training? You're not alone- it happens to the best of us. Today, Julie and Tina talk about those times when your dog goes a little bit nuts- how to handle it, when to loosen up a little bit, and remembering to trust the process. For show notes ...

The term "pythiosis" probably doesn't mean much to most people. Yet this particular disease- which can affect humans, dogs, and other mammals- while not common, nevertheless seems to be on the rise, with cases being reported in more and more places. So what is this disease? How is it spread, how is it treated, and how can you protect your pet? In the first of multiple episodes examining pythiosis, Tina talks to her friend Katie Gal...

Living with kids and dogs can be fun, but it can also be incredibly challenging. Balancing different needs and keeping everybody happy is no easy task, but it can be done and the end result can be amazing! Today Julie and Tina are joined by Aishlyn Skoczylas, a dog trainer and new mom, to discuss her experience of bringing home a tiny human to a house full of dogs. Tune in to hear the good, the bad, and what she wishe...

Regularly cycling out what your pet eats- otherwise known as "rotational feeding"- at first might seem like just adding an unnecessary complication to your life. After all, if your dog is happy with his food, why rock the boat? But switching up what Fido eats doesn't have to be difficult and can have some surprising benefits. Today, Julie and Tina break down what rotational feeding is, different methods of doing it, and how it can ...

Bird flu is in the news again. By now, most of us have seen the reports of the H5N1 strain infecting chickens, dairy cows, and even some humans. With the Covid pandemic still fresh in our collective memory, it's reasonable to wonder just how worried we should be about this particular flu strain. What risk does it pose to us? To our pets? What (if anything) can we do to help keep ourselves and our families safe? To ans...

Teaching your dog a new behavior can sometimes seem overwhelming. Sure, it would be great if Fido could go beyond the basics and do things like roll over, shake hands, or play dead, but who has time to teach all that? Well, actually- you do! Training new behaviors and tricks doesn't have to be labor intensive or take hours of your time. In fact, sometimes five minutes is all you need. Today, Julie and Tina present a variety of fun,...

Christmas may have come and gone, but many of us are still on break. In the post-Christmas, pre-New Year's haze, when the weather often keeps us inside, both kids and dogs can start to get antsy- and that can be a recipe for disaster. How do you keep dogs and the grandkids from driving each other- and you- crazy? Today, Julie and Tina provide a range of ideas for fun activities that allow the kids to enjoy doing things with and for...

Most of us recognize that euthanasia can sometimes be necessary or even kindest course of action when a beloved pet is terminally ill or suffering. The question of putting a dog to sleep because of behavioral concerns, however, is often much trickier. Is euthanasia ever justified in these cases and if so, how do you know when you've reached that point? And are the costs of not euthanizing potentially dangerous dogs worse than letti...

A good guard dog can be a great thing- many of us even get dogs in part because of the feeling of protection they can provide. But when those guarding instincts go astray or get directed towards the wrong thing, the results can be stressful and even dangerous. Fortunately, if caught early and handled appropriately, this kind of misguided guarding can usually be managed successfully. Tune in to today's episode for everything you nee...

Wouldn't it be great if dogs automatically knew what we wanted them to do in certain situations? Well, with a little training and a few nibbles of cheese, they can! That's the magic of "default behaviors-" those behaviors dogs learn to offer automatically whenever a signal is given or a particular situation arises. Join Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring to learn what default behaviors are, how to train them in your pup, and how the...