Pick of the Litter Podcast

Counter surfing is 100% natural for a dog; and 100% frustrating for that dog's human! In this episode, we start with the traditional approaches to this challenge, offering our takes on the classic management and training ideas that work best. But be sure to stay for the second half, when we dive into a much more satisfying and long-lasting way to deal with an incorrigible counter surfer: provide "legal" foraging activities. Rather than forbidding the fundamental canine desire to forage for food, encourage it. There are lots of fun and easy ways to give dogs everyday chances to find their own food. Do that enough, and you'll find those counters lose their allure.

In this very special episode, THE Patricia McConnell talks with us about her fantastic debut novel, Away To Me. What happens when the world's favorite canine behaviorist decides to write a murder mystery? Think Agatha Christie meets All Creatures Great and Small. We were lucky enough to read an advance copy of this absolute page-turner, and even luckier to get to spend time chatting about dogs with one of the people we admire most. We know you'll enjoy this conversation. (You can pre-order Away To Me wherever you like to buy your books!)

Dogs have subtle signals that are designed to keep the peace, avoid conflict, and lower the temperature in any interaction. In this episode, we discuss Turid Rugaas's classic book "On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals." Once you learn to read these signals — like head turns, ground sniffs, lip licks, curved approaches — you'll develop a deeper understanding of your dog. That will make life calmer for you both, because responding to your dog's polite whispers can mean she doesn't have to escalate into the canine version of shouting.

When your beloved dog starts to age, it's natural to think about getting a puppy. That can work beautifully to shape the puppy, and to soften the inevitable loss. But it can also be tremendously challenging to fully support an aging senior while trying to meet the needs of a puppy. In this episode, we have a special guest: Kathy's co-author Helen St. Pierre, of the senior sanctuary "Old Dogs Go To Helen." In their new book "OLD DOG, NEW DOG," they combine Kathy's expertise in puppies with Helen's expertise in oldies, to create a roadmap for this classic, poignant moment in every dog lover's life. Join us for an in-depth conversation about strategies to set yourself, and your dogs, up for success. (The book is available in paperback, audio and kindle versions, wherever you like to buy your books.)

In this episode, we explore Doggie Language by Lili Chin, a beautifully illustrated guide that helps dog owners understand canine body language and behavior. We discuss key signs of stress, happiness, and curiosity in dogs, and how better communication can strengthen the human-animal bond.

Does your dog snarf up a bowl of kibble in 20 seconds and then look up at you asking what's next? If "what's next" includes things like barking, pulling, lunging, jumping up or being anxious, we always suggest saving at least some of the "gold" in that nutritious bowl to use creatively to encourage the behavior you'd like to see. That can mean turning those meals into natural "foraging" activity (scatter feeding, stuffed toys, puzzle toys) or using it as you actively engage with your dog in training and play that builds your connection. The trainers from Absolute Dogs in the U.K. coined the term "Ditch the Bowl" as shorthand to refer to this approach of using a dog's regular food to teach, enrich, and build the bond with your dog. (For some extra fun, check out their "Sexier Than A Squirrel" challenge — a series of games that build upon each other.)

In this episode, we discuss the different factors that go into choosing the right dog. What breed might be the best match for your lifestyle and setup? Should you dive in and get a puppy or would an adult be the smartest choice? If you hope to adopt a great rescue dog, where do you start? If you're choosing a purebred, how can you be sure (and why SHOULD you be sure) you've got a responsible breeder? And finally . . . should you ever just go with your heart and take that dog who, on paper, seems like a terrible idea but you simply cannot stop thinking about? We hope you enjoy this conversation, and it helps give you a bit more fodder to ponder the next time you approach one of the most exciting decisions we have in life: adding a new dog to the family.

Have you ever been surprised by a growl as you tried to take something from your sweet dog? Taken aback when your usually friendly dog bared her teeth as the neighbor's dog came near her toy? Resource guarding is both completely natural AND can be a big problem! We see folks worrying too much in some cases, and not enough in others. In this episode we use Jean Donaldson's book "Mine" as a jumping off point for a discussion on resource guarding: what to watch for, how to use management to prevent issues, how to handle emergencies, and how to keep your dog from becoming a problematic guarder.

On this podcast, we often talk about authors — and this time, the author is one of us! "Welcoming Your Puppy from Planet Dog: How to Go Beyond Training and Raise Your Best Friend" is Kathy's new puppy guide. Take a listen to learn why she says your training success will skyrocket if you make this one key mindset shift: think of your puppy as a baby you kidnapped from another planet. While the book offers many tips and techniques regarding the various challenges of puppyhood, the fundamental key is that starting with empathy just may be the best training tip there is.

Kim Brophey's paradigm-shifting system of understanding our dogs is disrupting the dog training industry in the very best way: by finally making the dog's needs part of the equation. Her ethology-based L.E.G.S. model teaches us that before we think about "how" we're going to modify a dog's behavior, we need to ask "why" it's occurring by looking at a dog's four legs: Learning, Environment, Genetics & Self. Once you do that, some remarkably simple solutions emerge. Result: happier dogs, happier people. For more . . . Check out Kim Brophey's website: familydogmediation.com Get Kim's book: Meet Your Dog

Does your dog pull on leash? Probably! Why? Because walking steadily forward in a straight line is not something a dog does naturally. It's a big ask we humans make of our dogs, which is why this challenge takes some time, and a multi-faceted approach. In this episode we talk about the strategies and equipment we find most successful in getting to a walk that's enjoyable from both ends of the leash.

Teaching your puppy to use the outdoor bathroom is both the simplest and the most challenging part of puppyhood. It's simple because combining the top three strategies absolutely works — but it's miserable because doing it right takes an incredible amount of dedication. This episode is a discussion of how to make this intense phase as short as possible.

If you’ve heard of clicker training but you’re not quite sure what it is, this episode is for you. “Clicker training” has become shorthand for positive reinforcement training, and marine mammal behaviorist Karen Pryor is credited with bringing this incredibly effective technique to the dog training world. Here, we talk about Pryor's classic book “Don’t Shoot The Dog,” and cover why, how and when to use a clicker.