If you’ve ever had a special bond with a dog, you can fully understand the amazing healing powers that these animals have. Really, it’s not just dogs – all pets have a way of helping us heal. Whether we’re struggling with emotional issues or physical problems, something about the love and affection of a dog can really turn things around.

Mark Winik spoke with me this week about an eye opening experience that he had with dogs. He learned the power of dogs as healers, and wanted to share that experience with the world. That’s just what he has done with is book The Dog Healers. It’s an inspiring story that any dog owner or dog lover can relate to. In fact, this is a great read for anyone looking for an uplifting novel.

Not only is Mark an author, he’s also working on a documentary. He has set out to film a documentary detailing the stories of people who have been healed by dogs. He’s already spoken with a number of people who have been positively affected by a canine companion, and he’s still looking for more.

Dog training is a critical part of owning a canine. You can’t just expect a puppy or adult dog to know everything that you want him to. You also can’t expect your pet to learn on his own. If you’ve ever heard the term dog behavior work, you probably just assumed it meant dog training. It’s a common mistake, but the two are actually much different.

My guest this week is Debby Dobson. She’s a dog behaviorist that works with pet owners to help address some of the behavior issues that their dog is exhibiting. For example, if you have an issue with your dog jumping up on people when they come to your home for a visit, Debby could show you how to change that behavior.

While part of her job certainly involves training dogs, it’s also about finding the root of the problem and helping the dog to understand what the unwanted behavior is and what you would like him to do instead. In our interview, Debby shares some excellent tips and tricks for curbing unwanted behaviors. She also discusses some excellent books, products and other resources that will be a big help to pet owners trying to do behavior work with their pet at home.