There are dozens of different types of dog training methods. How do you know which method is right for your pooch? Do you know when to begin training your new addition? What if your dog has developed some bad habits that you would like to change? Today my podcast is focusing on this hot topic, and it’s full of beneficial tips for pet owners of every experience level.

Scott Sheaffer is a Certified Canine Behavior Consultant and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. He is the founder and CEO of USA Dog Behavior located in Dallas, Texas. In this week’s podcast, Scott is sharing tips for proper dog training and explaining how to find the best dog trainer for you and your pet.

All dogs require grooming from time to time. Of course, some breeds require much more grooming than others. Every dog needs their ears cleaned, nails trimmed, teeth brushed and should be bathed occasionally. Did you know that keeping your dog well-groomed will aid in his overall health and well-being?

Tim Vogel, founder and CEO of Scenthound, has built a grooming business that focuses on caring for a dog’s overall health, not just his coat. When most pet owners think about grooming, bathing and brushing are the two topics that come to mind. While keeping your dog’s skin and coat shiny and healthy should be a priority, there is a lot more to grooming than just that.

In this podcast episode, Tim explains the importance of regular grooming for ALL dogs and how to find a groomer that is right for you and your pooch. He also discusses how he started Scenthound and why he wanted to create a grooming business unlike any other.

There is a lot more to owning a pet than most people realize. Your responsibilities as a pet owner will change throughout the course of the animal’s life, and you need to know what you’re getting into before you make the commitment. The average lifespan of a dog is 10-13 years, and the average lifespan of a cat is 16 years. When you adopt a pet, you’re making that long-term commitment, whether you realize it or not.

Today, Noora Keskievari of One Mind Dogs is here to discuss responsible pet ownership and all the things you should consider before adopting a pet. This topic is especially important for first-time pet owners, but it’s also beneficial information for anyone that may recommend pet ownership to friends or family.

Taking care of your pet’s dental health is a crucial responsibility. Poor dental health will deteriorate your companion’s overall health and well-being. Studies have linked periodontal disease in pets to a greater risk of heart disease, liver disease and even certain types of cancers.

Today I spoke with Dr. Danielle Bernal of Wellness Pet Foods. She explains the importance of pet dental health and how you can care for your pet’s teeth and mouth at home. She’s also got some tips to make brushing your pet’s teeth more enjoyable and a little easier.

Fostering is a great way to help pets in need. Virtually every shelter and rescue organization around the world is in need of foster families to home pets until a forever home can be found. It’s not just a benefit to the shelter, it can also be extremely rewarding to the foster parent as well.

Most people think that taking in a foster animal will be troublesome. They are under the misconception that most foster pets have behavior issues or need special medical care. That’s not always the case, and today Simone Hurst from Dogwatch UK is here to tell us more.

You wouldn’t want to eat the same thing day in and day out for every meal, right? It's possible that your pet feels the same way. Many owners continue to buy the same brand and the same flavor of dog or cat food for months or even years, but there's a better approach, according to veterinarians.

Do you have a great idea for a pet related book, but you don’t know where to go from here? I spoke with a representative from Dogwise, a well-known publisher that sells books all over the world. I’ll explain how to turn your great idea of a pet book into a published work, and how to find a publisher that is willing to give you a shot.

Once you get your book published, the work isn’t over. You’ll need to be willing to market your book and help the publisher get your name out there. In this podcast episode, I’ll let you know what you’ll need to do to market your book and get it in the hands of dog-lovers around the globe.

It’s no secret that companion animals can play a big role in the health and well-being of their owners. In the last few decades, there has been mounting research that proves that companion animals can have a positive effect on emotional health, heart health, fitness and social/emotional enrichment.

Today I am speaking with Kaushik Roy, executive director of The Shanti Project. He explains some of this interesting research and how it relates to pet owners. He also tells us what the Shanti Project is doing to help owners keep their companion animals, even if they are struggling with a financial hardship.

Reading pet food labels can be a challenge. With all of the recent recalls in the pet food industry, many owners are finding it difficult to trust pet food manufacturers and have become skeptical about the information contained on pet food labels. There is a lot of misinformation floating around about the rules and regulations that pet food companies must follow, so I wanted to speak with an expert that could help to clear some of this up.

I’m welcoming back Dr. Jennifer Adolphe. She has a PhD in Companion Animal Nutrition and is a Registered Dietician. She is also the Senior Nutritionist for Petcurean, a premium pet food company. Dr. Adolphe has come on the show to answer my pet food questions before, and today she is sharing her tips for reading pet food labels properly.

Parasites are one of the leading health issues that our pets face. Depending on the region that you live in, the risk of contracting certain parasites may be much greater than in other parts of the country. Some pet owners worry about the dangers of parasite preventatives, the cost associated with these products and/or how frequently they should use them on their pets.

In this podcast episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Craig Prior, a certified veterinarian who sits on the board of the Companion Animal Parasite Council. He’s sharing some very helpful information on the most common parasites found in companion animals and what we can do to prevent our pets from contracting them.

The ASPCA is an inspiring organization that works to help animals around the world. I often hear people mistakenly say that it is difficult to adopt animals from the ASPCA, and today I want to set the record straight. Not only is it easier to adopt from an ASPCA shelter than you may think, there are many other things you can do to help this organization if you’re unable to take in one of their homeless animals.

I am speaking with Rena, a director of an ASPCA adoption center. She’s giving me some insight into a typical day in her shoes. She also walks me through the adoption process and shares some helpful information for potential pet parents.

If you’re wondering what you can do to help your local shelter or rescue organization without adopting, Rena has some great tips for that too! Whether your home is already full or you cannot adopt for other reasons, there are a number of things you could do to help an animal shelter in your area.

What exactly are sheepdog trials? Have you ever watched this fascinating dog sport on television or seen a YouTube video of these amazing dogs at work? I’m captivated by the dedication of the dogs and handlers that compete in sheepdog trials, and I wanted to learn more about the sport.

To do that, I spoke with Bridget Strang of the National Finals Sheepdog Trials. I wanted to learn more about the history of the sport and what exactly the dogs are required to do. I also wondered if the sport was safe for the dog and the sheep?

Bridget helped to answer these questions and tell me more about the dogs that perform best in these trials and the benefits of this sport for dogs and their handlers. If you’ve ever wondered how to get involved in sheepdog trials, Bridget has some tips on that subject too!

Canine agility has been a popular sport for decades. It’s something that I have recently taken up with our Labrador, Saddie. I’ve seen the benefits of this sport firsthand, and I’ve also seen just how exciting and rewarding it can be for our canine companions.

Today I’m speaking with Cindy Swiney, she has been involved with the sport in various capacities  since 1990. Cindy has trained many dogs and competed on various levels in the field of agility. In this interview she explains more about the sport for beginners and tells advanced agility handlers how they can get involved in the competition circle.

As you’ll hear Cindy mention in this interview, virtually any dog can try agility to some degree. Whether your dog is a young athlete or a slower senior, there are obstacles that are suitable for all breeds and ages. You can participate by setting up a couple of obstacles in your backyard or training at a canine agility facility in your local area.

Dock diving has been a popular sport in the pet industry for decades. In recent years it has grown substantially. I recently stumbled onto the sport with a little from our Labrador Retriever, Saddie. Saddie loves the water and took to dock diving very quickly. It’s something that her and I both enjoy!

Today I’m speaking with Kristen Cooper, who has been involved with dock diving in various capacities. From training to competing,  Kristen has firsthand experience to share with us. She has even served as a judge for competitions in recent years. In this interview she explains more about the sport for beginners and tells advanced dock diving handlers how they can get involved in the competition circle.

Dock diving may not be a good fit for every dog, but if your pup loves the water there is a good chance he’ll enjoy this sport with a little practice. As Kristen explains, it may take some time and patience to get him off the dock the first time, but once your pooch gets over those initial nerves, it may just be his new favorite pastime.

The dictionary defines something that is transparent as being something that is easy to perceive or detect. Transparency in the pet food industry means that a company should offer all the information that a pet owner needs to detect the quality of their product. What ingredients are used in the making of the product? Where are these ingredients sourced? How is the product prepared?

Redbarn Pet Products is one of the most transparent companies in the pet food industry, which inspired me to speak with a representative of their company to find out why this is so important. I was able to chat with Lindsay Tracy, their director of new business and product development about transparency in the industry and why pet owners should be looking for this quality in the companies they support.

In this interview, Lindsay discusses the importance of knowing where pet food ingredients are sourced, and why it’s not always best to focus on ingredients sourced in the USA. She’ll also talk about some of the beneficial ingredients that you should be looking for and the unhealthy ingredients that you need to avoid when choosing a diet for your pet.

Skin and coat health go hand-in-hand. If your dog has dry, itchy skin, his coat is likely going to be dry and brittle too. Most pet owners think of grooming products first when brainstorming ways to help moisturize and condition their pet’s skin and coat. Did you know that proper nutrition is one of the best ways to help pets with skin issues?

Dr. Jennifer Adolphe is a regular guest on my podcast. She is the senior nutritionist for Petcurean, and is speaking with me today about how your pet’s meals can affect their skin and coat health. Dr. Adolphe has a PhD in pet nutrition, and she is my go-to resource for all things related to a pet’s diet.

Today she’s sharing some tips and tricks for pet owners who are trying to improve the condition of their pet’s skin and coat. She will also share helpful information about choosing the right dog food/ingredients for pet’s with skin allergies, as well as which ingredients you should be avoiding. If you’re wondering whether or not your pet may be suffering with skin allergies, Dr. Adolphe also describes the signs and symptoms you should be looking for in this week’s podcast episode.

Preparing for winter is important for everyone, but especially for those of us living in regions that see snow, extremely cold temperatures and brutal winter storms. While you’re making preparations to keep your family safe and healthy this winter, don’t forget the furry members! There are many winter dangers that pet owners need to be aware of, and there are a number of things that you can easily do to keep your pooch safe and healthy in the cold winter months.

Today I had the pleasure of speaking with Cheryl Nelson, Weather and Disaster Prep Advisor for Cummins. Cheryl specializes in helping people prepare for inclement weather, and she shared some tips for winter pet care with me in this podcast.

Does your pet spend a lot of time outside year round? Cheryl has some tips for you too! When is it too cold for your pet to be left outside? While it all depends on the pet, Cheryl will let you know some basic guidelines to follow that will keep your dog safe and give you peace of mind.

Dealing with dogs that have aggression issues can be nerve wracking and even dangerous for owners. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you could end up making the problems worse. To begin, you must figure out what is triggering the aggression and work toward solving the problem, but there's a lot more to it, so hence this podcast episode.

Jereme Paddock is a dog training working in Arizona who specializes in helping dogs that have been deemed aggressive. He works with all types of canines at his facility – Paddock’s Paws Pet Care & Training. Today he is answering my questions about aggressive dogs and what owners can do to help pets struggling with these issues.

From the signs to watch out for to choosing the right dog trainer to help you, Jereme has all the information that you’ll need to decide whether or not you can care for a dog with aggressive tendencies. He’ll also discuss some of the most common types of aggression in canines and what you can do to help reduce the chances of an aggressive outburst.

What are functional ingredients in pet food? I’ve heard this term used quite often lately, and I was curious to learn more about these ingredients and the benefits that they could have for our pets. Nutrition is my top concern when it comes to caring for our pets. Proper nutrition has a direct link on our pets’ overall health and wellness, so in my opinion it should be the first thing on every owners’ mind.

Dr. Jennifer Adolphe is the Senior Nutritionist at Petcurean, a company devoted to creating premium pet food. I knew Dr. Adolphe would have some advice for pet owners about functional ingredients and what we should be looking for when shopping for pet food.

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 Odessa Gunn. Odessa began her career as a professional bike racer, which took her to many different countries around the world. While traveling, she saw that animal welfare was a huge problem everywhere she went. Odessa has been rescuing animals around the world for over a decade, and her work has recently earned her a ‘Local Hero Award’ for her rescue efforts in China during the Yulin Meat Festival.

Odessa has also fostered more than 200 animals over the years, and currently has 21 rescue animals on her small farm. Many of these foster animals have had health conditions, which is what pushed Odessa to seek natural treatments that wouldn’t have the harmful side effects of many pharmaceuticals. She found CBD oil and has seen its many health benefits for humans and animals first hand. Now, she’s started her own company, Odessa’s Essential Health, that focuses on CBD products.

Is your dog a picky eater? Does your cat turn her nose up at meal time? If you’re struggling with a picky pet your first instinct may be to feed them table scraps or other human food. This can be dangerous, because it will provide inadequate nutrition and too many calories for your furry companion.

I spoke with Dr. Jennifer Adolphe, PhD senior nutritionist at Petcurean, to find out what we can do to help our companion animals eat the food that we provide. Of course, the first thing you need to consider is the quality of the food that you’re providing. If you’re not providing a high quality food, your pet will be less likely to gobble it up.

Dr. Adolphe also explains why our pets may be picky eaters and the easiest ways to get them to eat regular meals. For example, did you consider increasing your pet’s daily exercise? Perhaps he just isn’t hungry at meal time. For more information and some very helpful tips, check out this week’s podcast episode.

You wouldn’t want to eat the same thing day in and day out for every meal, right? Why do you think that your pet would? Many owners continue to buy the same brand and the same flavor of dog or cat food for months or even years!

We do this for two reasons: (1) our pet continues to eat it, so we don’t realize that it’s boring for him and (2) changing the food you feed every 2-3 days would wreak havoc on your pet’s digestive system. pawTree has created a line of superfood toppers that can be sprinkled on any canine or feline meal to add nutrition, variety and flavor to the diet without having to switch your pet’s food.

Today I was able to speak with Brooke Sloate, director of product development at pawTree, to find out about the importance of adding variety to your pet’s diet. She explains why this is so important and how superfoods can help with your pet’s overall health and well-being.

When it comes to training a dog, there are so many methods, tips and tricks out there that it can be impossible to decide which is right for you. Tom Shelby is the author of Dog Training Diaries: Proven Expert Tips and Tricks to Live in Harmony with Your Dog, and I had the pleasure of speaking with him about his chosen method of canine training.

I really enjoy and relate to Tom’s “depends” dog training method. He calls himself a “depends trainer,” because he says that the training style used depends on the dog, the situation, the environment and other variables. I have trained many dogs over the years, and I completely agree with this method.

Today, Tom explains more about his experience as a trainer and gives some great pointers for owners who are struggling with leash training. Leash training can be quite difficult with larger breeds, dogs that pull and/or dogs that have leash aggression. When is it time to throw in the towel and consult a professional for help? Tom discusses all of that and more in this week’s episode.

According to Best Friends Animal Society, more than 4,100 animals are euthanized in America’s shelters every day! There are many organizations fighting to stop the euthanization of shelter animals, but there are still hundreds of establishments around the world that follow this practice. If an animal is at the shelter for a certain length of time (usually 30-90 days) and they haven’t been adopted, they are euthanized.

This is a tragic practice that Best Friends is focused on stopping. Their ‘No-Kill Initiative’ has already saved the lives of countless pets, and they’re hoping that it will be a country-wide reality within the next few years. Today I was fortunate enough to speak with Terran Tull, a Dogtown Behavior Consultant for Best Friends Animal Society.

In this podcast interview Terran gives tips for potential owners who are thinking of purchasing a pet instead of adopting. She also explains what the No Kill Initiative is and its plans for the future. If you’re not currently able to adopt an animal in need of a home, Terran also explains many things that you can do to help your local shelter without having to open your home to a dog or cat.

Planning for a pet’s passing is an overwhelming and very emotional process. The better prepared you are, the easier everything will be when that time comes. I know it’s not something that any pet owner wants to think about, but you also won’t want to do research and make arrangements while trying to cope with the loss of your furry companion.