Of course pet owners buy certain products that non-pet owners do not need. But, did you ever consider how owning a pet influences your shopping habits? We all need pet food, supplies, toys, treats, etc. How do we choose one product over another? What influences our buying decisions?
In this week’s episode, I’m speaking with Adrian Tennant. He is the Vice Pesident of Insights at Bigeye, an advertising agency based in Orlando, Florida. The company has recently done a research study, led by Tennant, to find out how owning a pet influence purchases, brand appeal and devices.
I recently ran into a problem trying to find a sweater for a new rescue pup that we adopted. It was difficult to find a sweater that was thick, warm and made from quality materials. I started looking into the materials used in most pet clothing, and was really disappointed with the quality of the garments for the price.
In this week’s episode, I am chatting with a like-minded fashion designer who recently launched a pet clothing company. You may recognize the name Ivy Higa from Season 8 of Project Runway. She has been working in the fashion industry for over a decade, and is now bridging that passion with her love of pets.
There is a longstanding narrative that dogs were domesticated from orphaned wolf pups. This narrative is being overturned with the emerging theory that we didn’t tame wolves into dogs, but instead, dog packs integrated with our families in an Alpha partnership. This developing theory is reinforced by recent DNA evidence, archaeological discoveries from Paleolithic caves and our own better understanding of dog dynamics.
I find this theory fascinating, and I wanted to speak with an expert that could help me understand more about it. Bernie Taylor is an independent naturalist, thought leader and author. His research explores the mythological connections and biological knowledge among prehistoric, indigenous and ancient peoples.
In this week’s episode, Bernie shares his thoughts on this interesting theory and the scientific proof that supports it.
Blue-green algae has been a hot topic of discussion over the past few months. Did you know that this type of bacteria is toxic to dogs? If you’re not worried about your pet getting sick from blue-green algae, you should be!
Did you know that this bacteria has been identified in all 50 states across the country? Many pets have become ill after ingesting it, and some have even died because of it. The best way to protect your pet from blue-green algae is to educate yourself about what it looks like, how to identify it and the symptoms of ingestion.
In this week’s episode, I’ll explain what this toxic algae is and how you can keep your pet safe from it.
This is the time of year when many families are preparing for the harsh winter months ahead. Other families are gearing up for hurricane season or wondering what they should do to prepare for the next hurricane. No matter what region of the world you live in, it’s important to be prepared for any disaster or emergency that may come your way.
Getting your family prepared for a disaster doesn’t stop with the human members. Do you know where the emergency shelters are located in your area? Do you know which shelters allow pets? Do you have an emergency bag packed for your pets? Do you know what to put in it?
In this week’s podcast episode, I’ll be answering all of these questions and more!
With Veteran’s Day right around the corner, I thought it would be a great time to share the story of one of my favorite Veteran’s. Matthew Lamarand is the CEO of Dogology University. He is a United States Military Veteran K9 Handler. He has almost 10 years experience training K9's to scout for explosives.
After realizing that 96% of surrendered dogs never went through any type of obedience training, he dedicated himself to train these rescue pups for service dog work. He rehomes the canines that he works with to families in need of service dogs, and he gives the dogs to these families for FREE! Matthew has trained dogs for children dealing with Diabetes or behavior disorders and Veterans battling symptoms of PTSD.
Today, he’s sharing his story on my podcast!
Most pet owners think that all pee pads are the same. If they need to use these pads for their puppy, they just head to their local pet store and buy the first package they see. In fact, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. There are many different types and sizes of pee pads, and they are all made with different materials.
Another common misconception is that pee pads will actually train your pet to go to the bathroom inside. When used properly with training and reinforcement, pee pads are actually a benefit to pets and owners.
In this week’s episode, I’m talking with Linda Bernier from BARK! She explains the many different uses for pee pads and shares some tips for properly training your pet to use them. She also discusses BARK!’s new line of pee pads and what makes them stand out from similar products.
Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is becoming a growing treatment in the human and veterinary medical fields. CBD is a substance extracted from the hemp plant, which makes it a controversial topic in either industry. As more research is being done on the effectiveness of CBD on health conditions such as cancer, arthritis, stress and anxiety, more and more people are seeking this treatment for themselves and their pets.
This week I was able to speak with Jeremy Feldman and David Nichols, co-founders of Pet-Ness. I interviewed Jeremy and David to find out why they decided to get into the business of CBD for pets, what benefits pet owners may notice after using these products and the many different types of pet products that contain CBD. They are also sharing many tips for pet owners who are interested in learning more about the benefits of CBD for pets.
From time to time, you’ll need to transition your pet to a new diet. Whether it’s because of a change in age, a health condition or just the fact that you’d like your dog to eat a healthier diet, you need to be sure that you transition your pet to the new food properly. If not, your pet will likely suffer from digestion problems including diarrhea, excessive gas and nausea.
Dr. Jennifer Adolphe is a regular guest on my podcast. In this week’s episode Dr. Adolphe discusses the importance of adding variety into your pet’s diet, how to properly switch from one dog food recipe to another and what to do if you notice that your pet isn’t adjusting to the diet change accordingly.
Dealing with a pet that has anxiety problems can be a struggle for even the most experienced owner. Whether it’s separation anxiety, noise aversion, anxiety about car rides or anything else, it’s important that you find the best way to help your pet deal with this issue. From over-the-counter treatments to home remedies, there are dozens of ways to treat pet anxiety. But, which option is best for your furry companion.
Anxiety can present in many ways. While some dogs may go to extreme measures to deal with anxiety (like chewing through walls, scratching up doors or breaking through windows to escape), others will not show such easily noticeable symptoms. For some dogs, anxiety could be shown through whining, excessive panting or shaking.
In this week’s episode, I speak with Lisa Radosta. She is an animal behaviorist with Purina. Lisa is sharing tips and tricks for dealing with pet anxiety, and she also discusses Purina’s new supplement that is specifically designed to help pets struggling with anxiety problems.
Fourth of July is almost here, and when you think about this upcoming holiday, you probably think about barbecues, lounging on the beach or fireworks. Unfortunately, our dogs only think about the bright lights, loud noises and strange smells that this holiday brings. Did you know that more pets go missing on the Fourth of July than any other day of the year?
I reached out to the Executive Director of Michelson Found Animals, Aimee Gilbreath, to find out what pet owners can do to help keep their pets safe on the Fourth of July (and every other day of the year). She’s sharing tips to help owners and their pets have a safe and enjoyable holiday celebration without having to cut out the bright lights and loud sounds.
Do you know the difference between a therapy animal and a service animal? Most people use these two terms interchangeably, but they are actually two very different things. Therapy animals provide physiological and psychological therapy to people other than their owners. Service animals help their owners perform tasks that the owner cannot do on their own.
What types of animals can be therapy animals? What tasks do they perform, and what environments can they work in? In this week’s episode, I’m speaking with Elisabeth Van Every, the Communications and Outreach Coordinator for Pet Partners. Pet Partners is the nation’s largest and most prestigious nonprofit organization that registers handlers of therapy animals.
Owning a gun dog means devoting your spare time to ongoing training. It’s a big responsibility, and you can’t expect your gun dog to be fully trained in just a few short months. There’s a lot of research to be done before you even bring a gun dog home. What breed will be best for your needs? When should you begin training?
This week’s episode features dog training expert Martin Deeley. Martin has been training dogs for more than 35 years, his dogs have won trials in the United States and Britain, and he’s also an accomplished writer on the subject of gun dogs. In this interview, Martin discusses some tips for gun dog owners and gives advice to hunters who are training and working with gun dogs.
Choosing high quality grooming products for your dog will have a positive impact no his overall health and well-being. It may even increase his life expectancy. I know this sounds like an extreme statement, but it’s true. Many dangerous ingredients found in a majority of pet grooming products have been linked to life threatening conditions including cancer, organ damage and neurological problems.
Today, I’m discussing the dangers of low-quality commercial pet grooming products. I spoke with Julie Creed, VP of Sales and Marketing for Pura Naturals Pet, to get some information on the importance of choosing safe grooming products and what types of ingredients pet owners should be looking for. In this podcast episode, you’ll learn about labeling loopholes that some companies use to pass their grooming products off as safe, but that may not actually be the case.
Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is becoming a growing treatment in the human and veterinary medical fields. CBD is a substance extracted from the hemp plant, which makes it a controversial topic in either industry. As more research is being done on the effectiveness of CBD on health conditions such as cancer, arthritis, stress and anxiety, more and more people are seeking this treatment for themselves and their pets.
This week I was fortunate enough to speak with Christina O’Reilly, co-founder of Rowley’s Good Stuff. Rowley’s makes a CBD-infused nutbutter for dogs. In this podcast episode I will explain why CBD products may be better for your pet than over-the-counter or prescription treatments and how to choose the right CBD products for your pet.
Fostering a pet is a unique experience that allows you to help your local shelter or animal rescue organization learn more about the pets in their care. Living in a shelter can be an overwhelming experience for some animals. There are new smells all the time, new people to get used to on a daily basis, and other animals coming and going regularly.
Sensory overload in a shelter environment can lead to behavior trouble, aggression issues or cause some pets to become extremely scared and introverted. Bringing a foster pet into your home allows you to see what the animal is like in a home setting. You can report this information to the shelter or rescue organization you’re working with, and they will pass it on to potential adopters.
Foster Dogs Inc. is an organization specifically dedicated to helping foster parents work successfully with shelters and rescue groups. They offer the communication and support that potential foster parents will need to make it through the challenges of bringing a new pet into their home. Today, I’m speaking with the founder and executive director of Foster Dogs Inc., Sarah Brasky to learn more about the responsibilities of pet foster parents and how you can get started helping animals in need.
I get a lot of questions from pet owners who are curious about feeding their pet a plant-based diet. Is it safe? Can your pet get all of the nutrition that he needs from a plant-based diet? I feed our pets an omnivorous diet, so I was curious about a plant-based diet as well.
I asked one of my most popular podcast guests, Dr. Jennifer Adolphe, to come on Theory of Pets again and discuss a vegetarian diet for pets. She is the Senior Nutritionist for Petcurean, a premium pet food company. Dr. Adolphe has a PhD in companion animal nutrition and is a registered dietician.
Scientists around the world are exploring how a better understanding of our genetic makeup can improve our lives – and those of our beloved pets. In the age of “wearables”, trackable health technology and DNA testing for ancestry and health, more and more healthcare is heading toward a future of personalised, proactive and preventative care. Did you know that recent genetic research is helping to improve the lives of our pets?
Researchers looking into the DNA profile and biomarkers of pets are unpacking the secrets behind what makes them tick. By understanding a pet’s genetic history it can give us more insight into their behaviour (e.g. why certain cats might be more talkative or affectionate – or why particular dogs might “den”, dig or “herd”). It’s also providing some insight into our pets’ health (e.g. which breeds are likely to develop certain diseases and which breeds require a specific diet). This information can allow pet owners and vets to make better decisions about their animal’s nutrition and exercise needs, and enable preventative solutions and improve their pet’s overall health.
In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Angela Hughes, the veterinary genetics research manager for Mars Veterinary (a division of Mars Petcare). Dr. Hughes is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and has a PhD focused in Canine Genetics. She will be discussing some of the research that is being done on pet genetics currently and what impact that research will have on the future.
Proper mental stimulation is imperative to your dog’s overall health and well-being. Like us, our dogs get bored doing the same mundane things day after day. Playing with the same toys, eating the same food and sniffing around the same yard will get monotonous over time. While it’s difficult to change up Fido’s schedule every day, Sniffspot is making it a lot easier to find new places for your dog to roam whenever you have the time for an outing.
David Adams is the founder of Sniffspot, a company that allows anyone to open their property to dog owners looking for a new space for their pooch to explore. As David explains in this interview, providing mental stimulation is a necessary part of responsible dog ownership. Find out more about Sniffspot and how you can make money by allowing dog owners to use your space ny listening to this podcast episode.
Over-vaccination is a term that we are frequently hearing these days. It’s a concern for parents of human and furry children alike. What is over-vaccination? How can you prevent it? This is a common question that I am asked by listeners, and it’s a question that I myself asked many years ago.
Roxanne Hawn is the author of the award-winning dog blog Champion of My Heart and my guest today. Sadly, she has first-hand experience dealing with a pet that had a terrible reaction to a vaccination. Roxanne shares her dog’s tragic story, what she’s learned from the experience and tips for pet owners to prevent over-vaccination in the future.
Pet sitters perform countless jobs for pet parents. You surely know that they can watch your pets for you while you are out of town, but did you know they might also get your mail, water your plants and keep an eye on your home? Many pet sitters are also available for daily pet visits, not just overnight stays. All pet sitters offer different services, and it’s important that you choose the sitter that will be right for you and your pet.
Laura Vorreyer is an entrepreneur who pioneered the dog walking business in Hollywood more than 15 years ago. She has grown her business substantially to include many different dog walking and pet sitting services. And now, she is an author! Laura published a book about her experience as a Hollywood pet sitter, and she’s sharing some of these experiences with me in this podcast.
Have you read news stories about cats and dogs rescued from foreign countries? Do you wonder how that happens? Believe it or not, shelters and rescue organizations around the world are much different than what we are used to here in the USA. They have a staggering number of homeless pets to help, and oftentimes their resources are extremely limited.
Deb Jarrett created the Dharamsala Animal Rescue in India. In this week’s podcast episode, she’s talking about her first-hand experience rescuing pets in a foreign country and why she is so passionate about this cause. She’ll also explain how she started her rescue organization and how interested animal lovers can help.
Pet blogs have become very popular in recent years, which has driven more and more pet owners to get into this business. Knowing that there are so many successful dog and cat bloggers out there, it can be a bit daunting to start at first. But, the best time to get started is right now, and it's actually very quick and easy to launch your own pet blog.
Of course, you’ll need some writing and technical skills. So today, I’m chatting with Maggie Marton, the writer behind Oh My Dog! Blog. She’s sharing some first-hand experience that will be beneficial to anyone considering writing their own blog. Whether you’re thinking of starting a pet-related blog or a blog about any other topic that you’re passionate about, Maggie has some advice on how to get started.
If you’ve ever struggled to pay for your pet’s veterinary expenses, you know what a difficult situation it is. You’re forced to choose between getting your dog the medical help he needs or paying your weekly bills and expenses. Some people rack up credit card debt or borrow money from family and friends to help their injured pet, while others don’t have any options.
What happens to a pet in need if their owner cannot pay for their medical fees? Sadly, many of these animals are euthanized. Steven Mornelli of Waggle.org has set out to provide a last-chance safety net for pets in medical crisis. He has created a crowdfunding platform specifically for pet owners struggling to pay their dog’s medical bills.
What is this platform? How can pet owners get the help they need? Steven will explain all of that and tell you how you can help pets in need in my latest podcast episode.
Traveling with your pets can make the adventure even more exciting. However, there are a lot of things to consider before taking your dog along with you. You need to plan ahead to ensure your dog’s safety, and to make the trip as easy as possible for yourself.
In this podcast episode I’m speaking with Kelly, the author of the Paws Across Britain blog. She has taken her Lhasa Apso, Elsa, with her on many adventures - from car trips and overnight hotel stays to short outings at local restaurants. In this episode she shares some tips to help you decide whether or not your pet will be a good traveling companion.