This time of year shelters are overrun with spring litters. Spring is also a great time to adopt a new furry friend. The weather is getting warmer, the snow is gone and you can finally get outside to enjoy time with a pet or do some outdoor training without worrying about the cold winter winds. Especially if you’re a first time pet parent, there are a few things you need to do before bringing your new pet home.

Aimee Gilbreath is the Executive Director of the Michelson Found Animals Foundation. I spoke with her this week about the things that we need to know about adopting a new companion animal. In this podcast she shares her advice on what to think about before you decide to adopt, tips on pet proofing your home, and how to make the transition as easy for you, your family and your new pet as possible.

Aimee also discussed a recent survey performed by the Michelson Found Animals Foundation. They questioned 1,000 people about their belief in love at first sight. You may be wondering what this has to do with shelter animals. Well, you might be surprised to find out that the results showed most people believed in love at first sight with shelter pets, but did not agree that this phenomenon was possible with romantic partners!

Now that spring is here, pet owners everywhere are looking forward to getting out and getting active with their dogs. There are many things that you can do with your canine companion from daily walks to agility training. Whether you have a senior pooch or a playful puppy, it would benefit you both to get out and get active together.

This week I had the chance to chat with Liz Claflin, the Director of Operations at Zoom Room. Zoom Room is a franchised indoor dog training gym that offers traditional training classes, advanced training classes and doggy playgroups. Liz knows all about the importance of keeping a dog active and stimulating a canine mentally to prevent boredom.

In this interview, Liz discusses the many different ways to can get out and about with your dog and how to keep Fido safe while doing so. She discusses the supplies you’ll need while adventuring with your dog and the best ways to find dog-friendly establishments in your area.  Liz also tells us all about Zoom Room and how you can find a location near you.

Are you thinking about marketing a pet product? Do you already have a prototype? Maybe you just have an idea, but don’t know how to get started. Barton O’Brien was in the same boat a few years ago, and now his company The Chesapeake Bay Dog Company has rebranded and is growing rapidly.

I was able to interview Barton earlier this week to discuss how he got involved in the pet industry and the struggles that he has faced throughout the process. He also explained all about the rebranding procedures and the exciting things that we can expect from BAYDOG in the near future.

The Chesapeake Bay Dog Company is a veteran-owned business, so I’d like to take the time to thank Barton for his service to our country. He feels that it is important for companies to give back, and he’s chosen to work with charities that benefit veterans and dogs (and in some cases, even veteran dogs!). A portion of the proceeds from BAYDOG products goes to help SaveAVet.org and The Warrior Dog Foundation.