Your Family Dog Podcast

A new year means new opportunities, new challenges, new hopes...and new books! Animal behaviorist-turned-novelist Patricia McConnell joins the show today to discuss her forthcoming book, "Away to Me." A murder mystery set in the world of sheepdog trials, "Away to Me" is part detective novel, part James Herriot essay, full of suspense and canines in equal measure. And the best part? None of the dogs die! Tune in to learn more about ...

Happy Throwback Thursday and Happy 2026! With the New Year comes New Year's resolutions of course, and so today we're revisiting an episode on that very topic- setting resolutions and goals for you and your dog that are realistic and achievable. Start 2026 off right by setting both you and your furry friend up for success!

Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith talk about some soft resolutions for the New Year. In other words: those thi...

Have you ever wanted to run with the wolves? There's an app for that! Well, sort of. Workout Woof is an app designed to connect people who want a furry workout buddy with dogs who need some extra exercise. Developed by dog-and-fitness lover Mark Mancuso, Workout Woof aims to help build community and connections between dog owners who need a little help and dog lovers who can't take on the full responsibility of dog ownership, but s...

Happy Throwback Thursday! Christmas is almost here, family is arriving in town, and the kids will soon be on break. All of this is great, but all of it can also be overwhelming, especially for our furry friends. With kids home from school, cold weather keeping people indoors, and the hustle and bustle of parties and get togethers, how do you keep children and dogs from driving each other- and you- crazy? This week, we're bringing b...

YFD 251 Kids Around Dogs with Debbie Lucken

Longtime listeners know that the topic of kids and dogs is a perennial one on the show, and with good reason. Kids and dogs may both be part of the family, but trying to balance competing needs and make sure everybody gets along can be stressful, to say the least! Luckily, parents today have more resources than ever to help them, including the one founded by today's guest. 

Debby Lucken (...

Happy Throwback Thursday! With winter in full swing, we thought it would be a good time to revisit this episode on cold weather training tips. Grab a cup of cocoa and tune in for advice on how to keep training going, even on the most blizzard-y of days.

Snow and ice got you housebound? Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith can help you beat the winter doldrums with these suggestions for training your dog even when cold weather has yo...

Enrichment is a favorite topic here on Your Family Dog, and with good reason. Providing your dog with enrichment activities keeps them happier, healthier, and better-behaved. And while finding enrichment activities can feel complicated or overwhelming, it really doesn't have to be. Join Tina and fellow dog trainer Emily Breslin for a discussion about the importance of enrichment, and suggestions for fun, easy ways to make it happen...

Happy Throwback Thursday! With Thanksgiving next week (at least for the American listeners!), and Christmas fast approaching, we're bringing back this episode on navigating the holidays with your dog. Tune in for a refresher on how to make the holidays merry and bright for everybody involved.

It's the most wonderful time of the year...but also sometimes the most stressful, both for people and their pets. Parties, visitors, travel...

Time out! We're used to time outs being something bad- a punishment given to a misbehaving child. But what if that's the wrong way to look at them? What if time outs can actually be good things? And what if we all need them- not just kids, but adults and dogs, too? Dog trainer Kelsey Weber and psychologist Shaun Davis are big believers in the power of a good time out to help everybody, regardless of age (or species!). The two of th...

Happy Throwback Thursday! Piggybacking on our two part interview with Bob Deeds, we're bringing you this sweet-smelling blast from the past on the wonders of scent work. Tune in for a refresher on the science of smell and how scent-based games can open up a whole new world for you and your dog.

Those of us with less sensitive noses seldom realize just how big of a role odors play in the lives of our dogs. But for dogs, smell is a v...

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Bob Deeds is a retired K9 search and rescue specialist with FEMA and Texas Task Force One, known for his work with his dog Kinsey at Ground Zero. He and his wife, Karen Deeds, are active in K9 training, specializing in scentwork, disaster response, and behavior modification. They co-own Canine Connection LLC, a dog training and behavior consulting business that he...

All work and no play makes Fido a dull pup...or something like that. Either way, even the hardest-working dogs need to play sometimes. Enter Bob Deeds, a retired K9 search and rescue specialist who has developed a whole new sport- geo-sniffing- designed to allow dogs to enjoy the challenge of scentwork in the great outdoors without the stress of rescue work. Tune in to learn more about Bob's work, and the art and science of geo-sni...

Happy Throwback Thursday! This week, we're revisiting the perennial issue of loose leash walking. Tune in for a refresher on the best way to make sure you and your dog both enjoy the outdoors this fall.

"Walking the dog" is one of those things that's often a lot harder than it sounds. Julie and Tina break down the art of loose leash walking and offer advice and suggestions to help both you and Fido enjoy your walks.

For show note...

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247: A Second Chance at Love; Senior Dog Adoptions with Peggy Rew

Peggy Rew is our guest on this episode. Peggy Rew is a professional pet nanny, published wordsmith, copy editor, and pet care educator. A pet rescuer since the ‘70’s, Rew has touched the lives of more than 4,000 animals: dogs, cats, horses, goats, reptiles, llamas, fish, bunnies, and birds, etc. Her p...

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246: Reading Dog Body Language to Reduce Conflict

Peggy Rew is our guest on this episode. Peggy Rew is a professional pet nanny, published wordsmith, copy editor, and pet care educator. A pet rescuer since the ‘70’s, Rew has touched the lives of more than 4,000 animals: dogs, cats, horses, goats, reptiles, llamas, fish, bunnies, and birds, etc. Her penned creations ...

Happy Throwback Thursday! Last time, we revisited the first of two episodes on the "Five Freedoms" that underpin so much of positive reinforcement training. Tune in this week as we continue that theme by re-releasing Part 2.

Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith continue the discussion of the Five Freedoms of "internationally accepted standards of care that assert a living being’s right to humane treatment." In this episode they co...

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245: How Kids & Dogs Communicate

Jennifer Shryock, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) and  Licensed Family Dog Mediator, is the owner and founder of Family Paws® LLC. She has a certification from the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and a duo degree in special education and Elementary Education with more than 30 years of experience....

Happy Throwback Thursday! Today, we're revisiting one of the key underpinnings of positive reinforcement training- the "Five Freedoms." Tune in for a quick refresher on the first three of these vital components of animal welfare.  

Julie Fudge Smith and Colleen Pelar discuss the first three of the Five Freedoms that the ASPCA lists as "internationally accepted standards of care that assert a living being’s right to humane treatme...

Senior dog specialist Helen St. Pierre returns to YFD, but this time she's joined by trainer Kathy Callahan, who focuses on the other end of life- puppies! The two of them are co-authors of the new book "Old Dog, New Dog" which aims to help families navigate living with both senior dogs and puppies. Pull up a chair and listen in for a conversation about puppies, seniors, death, aging, and everything in between!

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