The Family Pupz Podcast

Today's Topic:  When you adequately prepare your dog for a visit to the vet, it can reduce stress for all parties (dog, dog parent(s) & vet staff) and contribute to an overall smoother experience at the vet.

But what is the best way to prepare, and how do you know you're doing all that you can to make the vet experience as positive as possible for your dog?

That's why we invited the founder of A...

Today's Topic:  As positive reinforcement dog training continues to grow in popularity, so has the awareness around the different types of dog treats available to help you train your dog.

But what are dog treats, exactly?  What are the regulatory requirements, if any, around dog treats to ensure that you're giving your dog something nutritious, delicious and safe?  And how has the increasingly fickle and discerni...

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

So as a new dog parent to an overexcited dog, ...

Today's Topic:   In the United States, the country in which modern commercial greyhound racing was invented, the sport is nearing its end.

It’s been a long slide for greyhound racing, which reached its peak in the 1980s when there were more than 50 tracks across 19 states.

There are now only 2 dog tracks remaining in one state (West Virginia).

The industry’s near-total collapse is the culmination of decades o...

Today's Topic: Did you know that 1 in 5 dogs experience joint pain and mobility issues?

So what can we do when our dogs start exhibiting mobility issues due to injury, old age, obesity, disease, etc.?  And what are the latest trends, technology and methods that are crucial to get our dogs "back in the game"?

That's why we invited triple-board-certified veterinarian, certified canine rehabilitat...

Today's Topic: Golden Retrievers are incredibly popular as pets, known for their friendly demeanor and versatility. Their gentle nature makes them great family companions, and their intelligence shines in various roles, from therapy dogs to loyal household members.  

As such, what can we do, especially early on in their development, to ensure that they live long, happy and productive lives?

That's why we invited a...

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

That's why we...

Today's Topic:  In the pandemic's early days, we've all heard how adoptions soared as people sought companionship during lockdown, famously leaving many dog rescues without any dogs to adopt out. 

But what happened after the pandemic?  Did this surge in adoptions lead to a surge in dog surrenders?  If not, what is the current state of dog rescues today?

That's why we invited the Director and M...

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

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

Today's Topic:   For many of us, we're keenly aware of how the parenting style of our own parents (whether it was an authoritarian, authoritative, permissive or uninvolved style) influenced -- and continues to influence -- how we behave and view the world as an adult.

As such, we've ALWAYS wondered how our individual pet parenting style (whether we're aware of it or not) toward our dogs influences thei...

Today's Topic:  Ask any positive dog trainer that has any experience working with leash-reactive dogs, and the one thing that many of them will have in common is their LACK of videos of dogs that they've trained exhibiting leash-reactive behaviors.

And the reason for this is simple: when a positive trainer sees a dog exhibiting leash-reactive behaviors, they see a dog in distress, and the LAST thing they want to ...

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

Today's Topic:  Ask any positive dog trainer that has any experience working with leash-reactive dogs, and the one thing that many of them will have in common is their LACK of videos of dogs that they've trained exhibiting leash-reactive behaviors.

And the reason for this is simple: when a positive trainer sees a dog exhibiting leash-reactive behaviors, they see a dog in distress, and the LAST thing they want to ...

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

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

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

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

Today's Topic: When your dog starts to exhibit resource guarding tendencies, it can start to feel like you're dealing with a completely different dog.  And what can make the situation worse, is a lot of the advice out there telling dog parents to exert their dominance over the dog to make them bend to their will, which can often make the situation worse.  That's why we invited certified professional dog trainer and t...