
Insights from recent episode analysis
Audience Interest
Podcast Focus
Publishing Consistency
Platform Reach
Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Total monthly reach
Estimated from 4 chart positions in 4 markets.
By chart position
- 🇨🇦CA · Pets & Animals#20300K to 1M
- 🇸🇬SG · Pets & Animals#1330K to 100K
- 🇨🇿CZ · Pets & Animals#883K to 10K
- 🇿🇦ZA · Pets & Animals#156500 to 3K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
233K to 779K🎙 Biweekly cadence·139 episodes·Long inactive - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
334K to 1.1M🇨🇦90%🇸🇬9%🇨🇿1%+1 more - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
100K to 334K
Market Insights
Platform Distribution
Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly
Total Followers
—
Total Plays
—
Total Reviews
—
* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
On the show
Recent episodes
Train the Dog in Front of You - The Missing Piece to Improved Behavior [final episode]
Jun 13, 2023
Unknown duration
Beyond the Clock: Vital Lessons Learned from the Slowest Dog at WKC Agility
May 30, 2023
Unknown duration
How to Clean a Puppy Without Bathing: 3 Effective Techniques
May 16, 2023
Unknown duration
How to Train a Dog Faster: 5 Daily Hacks for Quicker Learning
May 2, 2023
Unknown duration
How to Clean Dog Paws: After Walks, Muddy & Before Coming Inside
Apr 18, 2023
Unknown duration
Social Links & Contact
Official channels & resources
Official Website
Login
RSS Feed
Login
| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/13/23 | ![]() Train the Dog in Front of You - The Missing Piece to Improved Behavior [final episode] | This is the final Perfect Pup Episode (at least for the foreseeable future). Thank you SO much for all of your support over the years! The world is full of conflicting information and methods for obtaining “success and happiness”. And in terms of dog training and behavior “success”, the conflicts and arguments of how to get there will make your head spin. The term and ideology to “train the dog in front of you” can be a grounding principle to help you make the best, most informed decisions for how to raise and train your dog! In today’s episode, we’ll dive into what this phrase means, and how it can improve your outlook on your dog’s behavior to ultimately lead you to the strongest bond and connection with your dog as possible! The term ‘train the dog in front of you’ can mean different things for different people (that’s kind of the point in and of itself). In its broadest sense, this term/theory is meant to remind us as pup parents to drown out all the noise, competing opinions, and varying techniques out there and focus on what our specific dog needs at any given moment. In other words, just because something works for one dog, doesn’t mean it will work for your dog. Our dogs are unique individuals with varying strengths and weaknesses. Effectively raising a well-mannered pup is less about teaching specific behaviors, and more about adapting principles of learning to meet your dog’s needs. When we learn about dog training techniques and tactics, it’s important to reframe them through the lens of what your specific dog needs at that moment in their behavioral journey! No matter how many competing opinions or ideas you’ll hear from people, you ultimately have the make the best decision for your dog and your current situation. As we strive to not just train, but LOVE the dog in front of us we can better meet their needs and help them live more enriched and healthy lives. My hope is that you can focus on your dog’s individual needs on a daily basis and find training tactics, games, and methods that will help you unlock your dog’s best version! If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for 30 Day Perfect Pup. It’s a 100% free online course that can help you better tune into your dog’s needs, make a training plan, and help improve your pup’s behavior and manners. Sign up for free here! What’s a unique trait or strength your dog has that you’ve incorporated into their training? Tell me in the comments! | — | ||||||
| 5/30/23 | ![]() Beyond the Clock: Vital Lessons Learned from the Slowest Dog at WKC Agility | The caliber and talent of dogs competing at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is top-notch. Most of these dogs (and their humans) practice, compete, and work for months (and indeed, years) to get to this pinnacle of dog competition. On a warm spring day in Queens, I learned firsthand just how important our relationship with our dogs can be. Especially when times get tough. Surprisingly, these lessons were taught by the “slowest” timed dog at the agility trials… And I want to share these lessons with you because we all need some reminders about what really matters with our four-legged friends. 👇 Our group of friends decided to attend the WKC Dog Show, the first dog show of any kind for our entire group. We entered with zero expectations, except that we would hopefully be able to pet some pups. As we explored the grounds at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, we were in awe. From start to finish. Dogs of every size, shape, and breed trotted around the grounds, of which many breeds I’d never personally seen (besides on the internet). The dock diving was unparalleled. Happy pups leaping to their fullest ability, just to get their favorite toy. The obedience trials were jaw-dropping. Dog and handler communicating with ease to follow the exact cues and directions at each step. The breed meet and greet lived far beyond our expectations. Giving belly rubs to the biggest Great Danes & Newfoundlands we’d ever seen, then scratching the chins of the tiniest Papillons & English Toy Spaniels just a few feet away. It was a dog enthusiast’s dream come true. Read the full recap and lessons learned on the Pupford blog (will be published on 5/31): https://pupford.com/lessons-slowest-dog-wkc-agility/ And sign up for 30 Day Perfect Pup for free here! | — | ||||||
| 5/16/23 | ![]() How to Clean a Puppy Without Bathing: 3 Effective Techniques | There are many instances where you need to learn how to clean a puppy without bathing! Maybe they’re scared of water, they have a wound that can’t go underwater, or you just aren’t in a location with a good bath option. No matter the reason, we’re going to dive into how to clean a dog without a bath. And, these tips will even help you keep your pup smelling clean between baths! These tips are for dogs of all ages. And at the end of the article, we’ll also let you in on a little-known secret for helping your puppy enjoy grooming! Let’s dive into it. 👇 Note: Puppies generally shouldn’t be bathed before 8 weeks old due to their inability to regulate body temperature. When you’re in a pinch and need to clean your dog without a full bath, it can feel daunting… Kind of like when you realize you need to leave the house but don’t have time for a shower and find yourself spraying body spray or Febreze on yourself, or maybe even rubbing your car’s air freshener on your clothes for a quick smell boost. 😜 No rubbing air fresheners on your puppy, so let’s look at some real solutions. Generally speaking, you have a few main options for cleaning your puppy without bathing: 1- Dog wipes 2- Bucket/spray/spot cleaning with a rag 3- Dry shampoo Trying to clean a puppy (or older dog) without bathing can feel complex at times. Hopefully this article has helped you learn new ways to keep your puppy clean and smelling fresh, even between baths. As a recap, here are 3 main ways to clean your puppy without bathing them: 1- Dog wipes 2- Bucket/spray/spot cleaning with a rag 3- Dry shampoo Be sure to snag a bottle of our Dry Shampoo today. It’s made with unique ingredients formulated to remove excess oil and dirt, freshen your dog’s coat, and leave them smelling AMAZING! Shop Dog Dry Shampoo here! How else do you clean your dog without a bath? Tell us in the comments below. | — | ||||||
| 5/2/23 | ![]() How to Train a Dog Faster: 5 Daily Hacks for Quicker Learning | Learning ways to train a dog faster is advantageous for you AND your pup! As you improve your skills as the teacher, it will in turn improve your dog’s ability to more quickly understand and generalize new behaviors. In this article, I’m going to break down 5 daily hacks to speed up your dog’s learning process and ultimately help you raise a well-mannered pup. Because who doesn’t want that?! Here’s a quick overview of the 5 daily hacks for training a dog faster: 1- Use mealtime for training 2- Try mini training sessions, every day 3- Routine-based training behaviors 4- Incorporate training into playtime 5- Use strong reinforcers & avoid mixed signals Training a dog takes time, patience, and consistency. And while your dog’s training progress might feel slow, it’s probably going better than you think! And while we didn’t dive deep into specific techniques in this article, I’d recommend signing up for 30 Day Perfect Pup if you’re needing specific training techniques and advice. This free course has guided videos (and an eBook) covering behaviors like leash walking, biting, potty training, and even recall! Sign up for 30 Day Perfect Pup here! How have you helped your dog learn faster? Tell me in the comments below. | — | ||||||
| 4/18/23 | ![]() How to Clean Dog Paws: After Walks, Muddy & Before Coming Inside | The most important way I’ve kept my house clean (with multiple dogs) is by cleaning my dog’s paws after each walk. While it may sound like a lot of work, it takes just a couple of minutes and can significantly reduce the amount of dirt, germs, and bacteria that enter your home! Plus, by handling your dog’s paws after each walk you get the chance to check for any issues like thorns, cracking, or other paw concerns. Here’s what we will cover in this video: -Why cleaning your dog’s paws is important -5 ways to clean your dog’s paws -Extra paw care ideas & tips Here are 5 ways to clean a dog’s paws: -MudBuster -A wet rag with soap -Dog cleaning wipes -Teaching your dog to wipe paws -Using the bath (not a full bath) My recommendation is to read the article, try out different methods with your dog and see what works best. Remember to raise, train, and love the individual dog in front of you. Every dog is unique! Our dogs' paws can get seriously gross after walks, hiking, and exploring the world around them. By washing your dog’s paws you can reduce dirt in your home, protect their paws, and have an overall happier pup (and home). Here’s a recap of 5 ways to clean your dog’s paws: -MudBuster -A wet rag with soap -Dog cleaning wipes -Teaching your dog to wipe paws -Using the bath (not a full bath) By far, the most effective way is the MudBuster. Be sure to check it out here! And don’t forget to proactively moisturize and protect your dog’s paws with Butter Up. Shop here! Do you clean your dog’s paws after walks? How do you do it? Tell us in the comments below. | — | ||||||
| 4/4/23 | ![]() Dog Recall Training: 7 Tips, Games & Techniques for a Strong Recall | Focusing on a dog’s recall training should be at the top of every pup parent’s to-do list! Not only can it keep your dog safe and give you peace of mind, but it ultimately gives you and your dog greater freedom and adventure in the long run. Whether training a puppy or an older dog, this article is going to break down everything (seriously) you need to know about recall training. And it’s not gonna be a boring “call your dog back and reward” type article, we’re gonna dive into some pro tips, necessary tools, and even fun recall games to play with your pup! Here’s what we will cover: -What is recall? -Why does recall matter? -How to teach a dog recall -7 tips, techniques & games for teaching a strong recall -Additional FAQs about recall training Alright… come! Let’s dive into recall. 👇 I want to dive into 7 tips that have helped me secure a solid recall with my dogs. And of course, we will look at some things not to do! Here are 7 tips, games, and techniques to keep in mind when teaching a dog or puppy recall: -Use a long lead -Start inside with no distractions -Use varying reinforcers -Don’t ask too much of your dog -Every recall should be a positive experience -Play fun recall games -Find the right “recall word” or cue for your pup Recall training is one of the most important behaviors you will teach your dog. If you have a puppy, I recommend devoting time to teaching recall every single day. If you’re looking for a basic introduction to training recall, sign up for the 100% free online class 30 Day Perfect Pup! It covers behaviors like recall, stay, leash walking, and more. Sign up here! If you're ready to take your dog’s recall to the next level, including transitioning to off-leash behavior then sign up for the Recall Mastery Course. It breaks recall training down into 11 different “levels” and even includes bonus recall games. Get access here! What was the most effective way you found to teach your dog recall? Tell us in the comments below! | — | ||||||
| 3/21/23 | ![]() Dog Euthanasia at Home: A Complete Guide & Personal Experience | This is truly the last topic I want to write about, but I know how important it is and hopefully, it can help at least one person in this painful process. I want to provide my complete experience and answer common questions/concerns about dog euthanasia at home. The passing of a dog is extremely painful. I’d argue it’s personally one of the most challenging experiences of my life. In this article, I want to dive into all things in-home euthanasia because choosing this route for the passing of my dog, Buddy, was the best choice I could have made. I hope that if you’re nearing this part of your dog’s life you can find solace, comfort, and a small sense of hope by understanding what in-home euthanasia entails. This will be a long article because there are SO many questions and concerns around this topic and I want to help you make an informed decision for your dog. Here’s what we will cover in this article: What is at-home euthanasia -How do you know if it’s time to put your dog to sleep -At-home euthanasia pros & cons (there are many) -How does in-home euthanasia work, what is the process like -Ways to memorialize a dog I’ll also let you know about one of the most challenging parts of the experience that NO one told me about beforehand. While I will only choose at-home euthanasia in the future, I want to dive into the pros and cons of in-home euthanasia for your dog. Before we dive into each benefit or drawback, a quick overview. Here are some pros & benefits of at-home euthanasia: -Around your other dogs for closure -Familiar & comfortable environment, just like someone coming over -NOT the vet office, some dogs have real fears -Feels more like a beautiful send-off -You have control over the situation And of course, here are some cons and disadvantages of at-home euthanasia: -Cost -A lasting memory/visual reminder of where your dog passed away -It can be painful to be in the room as it happens HOW TO MEMORIALIZE A DOG Nothing will replace your dog, it’s that simple. But, there are some creative ways you can choose to memorialize your four-legged friend. Here are some dog memorial ideas: -Keeping ashes to spread at favorite places and keep in a decorative urn -Shadow box with a paw print, fur clipping, picture, etc. -Artwork, mugs, clothes, etc. -Tattoo -Photo album -Necklace or other jewelry The passing of a dog is a terribly challenging and painful experience. I hope that this article gave you some insight as to why choosing in-home euthanasia can be a great option for your dog’s end-of-life care. While the cost can be higher than euthanasia at a vet’s office, the peace of having your pup’s final moments take place in the comfort of your home is priceless. Whatever decision you make, do your best to build a support system around you during a challenging time like this. Losing a pet is a dark time and having friends and family (and mental health professionals) in your corner can give you light and hope on the dimmest days. Time makes the pain more manageable, but our dogs stay forever in our hearts. Have questions about dog euthanasia at home? Please leave a comment (on the blog) and I’ll do my best to help! | — | ||||||
| 3/7/23 | ![]() Should You Let Your Dog Sleep in Your Bed? 3 Pros & Cons of Co-Sleeping With a Dog | Stumble into any community or group of pup parents (online or in person) and you’ll likely hear the debate about whether you should let your dog sleep in your bed! Some of us LOVE having our dogs sleep in the bed. Some of us HATE the idea of our pup potentially disturbing our sleep. While we won’t come to a complete resolution, because it’s a personal decision, my hope in this article is to clearly explain 3 pros and cons of letting your pup sleep in your bed. After that, it’s your life (and your bed). 😀 Oh, and of course, we’ll cover what the research and data have to say about this co-sleeping dilemma! Here’s what this article will break down: -3 pros of letting your dog sleep in your bed -3 cons or drawbacks of letting dogs sleep in the bed -Tips for safe co-sleeping with your dog if you decide to do so Before we dive into all the pros, cons, and data about having your dog sleep in your bed, let’s look at some fun survey results we got back from our Instagram! Of course, this is self-reported and our followers on Instagram surely skew toward the ‘dog lovers’ type of pet parents. We asked, “Do you let your dog sleep in your bed?” and got 312 votes. 30% of people said their dogs sleep in their beds. We also asked, “Does your dog sleep in your room?” and got 310 votes. 76% said their dogs sleep in their bedroom. I truly found these statistics interesting, I thought more of our Instagram followers would let their dog sleep in their bed. Beyond “I just like having my dog in my bed”, there are some strong arguments for having your pup sleep in bed with you. Some of these arguments have data to back them up. Here are 3 main reasons you may want your dog to sleep in your bed: -Comfort, relaxation, and strengthening your bond -Warmth -Protection and security I personally love sleep. I recognize it as something that can play a huge role in how I feel, think, and act on a daily basis (research does as well). The thought of “bad” sleep scares me. Here are some of the main drawbacks of co-sleeping with your dog: -Noise & movement can negatively impact sleep -Disrupting intimacy -Diseases, cleanliness and potty accidents If you decide you want your dog to sleep in the bed with you, there are some tips to follow! These will not only help keep your dog safe but also keep you and your bed protected! Here are 7 tips for safe co-sleeping with your dog: -Potty & crate training first -Wash your sheets and pillowcases frequently -Invest in a waterproof mattress cover -Practice proper dog hygiene -Teach your dog boundaries, an invitation should be required -Provide a dog bed or crate near your bed -If you have a really small dog, consider not co-sleeping There is no perfect answer to whether you should let your dog sleep in your bed. Some studies show almost no change in sleep quality between co-sleeping vs not. Other studies show an increase in night wakings when co-sleeping with a dog. Overall, we need more data and research to understand the effects of sleeping with dogs in our beds! There is a swath of data for human co-sleeping, but not so much for dogs. With the large increase in the number of households with dogs, we should look to improve our understanding of the human-dog co-sleeping arrangement. | — | ||||||
| 2/21/23 | ![]() How Much Freedom Should a Puppy Have? 3 Examples to Help You Decide | When wondering how much freedom a puppy should have, remember this… The more freedom you give, the more opportunities you give a puppy to make mistakes. Mistakes? That’s things that aren’t really your pup’s fault (more on that later), but things we would see as problem behaviors. Things like destructive chewing, potty accidents, biting and nipping at kids, you name it! So to put it another way, your puppy should only have as much freedom as you’re willing to allow destruction and other problem behaviors to occur. I’d argue that the single biggest mistake pup parents make is giving too much freedom to their puppies! So your next question is probably when you can give your puppy freedom. At what age can you start to let your pup explore a bit more?! The simple answer, is probably later/older than you think! Here’s why. ⏬ When you can let your puppy have more freedom is a 100% case-by-case situation. There are many factors to consider when making this decision. Here are some: -How much trouble/problem behaviors could the specific situation allow for if I decide to give more freedom than I usually do? -Does my dog understand proper behavior when it comes to where and when to go potty? -Is my puppy teething? If so, this can lead to even more destruction! -Has my dog shown, for a consistent period of time, an understanding of what items should and should not be chewed? See how complex each answer might be… That’s why there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer for when you can give a puppy more freedom! Some puppies catch on very quickly and can be afforded more freedoms as young as 6 months or so. Other puppies frankly haven’t had enough training and may not be ready for a heavy helping of freedom until they’re about 18 months old. And further, some dogs just can’t handle freedom. While that can be from a combination of a lack of training, breed tendencies, or even a history of problem behaviors, the fact remains that some dogs can’t handle freedom. Some dogs may never be able to have the full freedom of being off-leash in a non-fenced area. And that can be okay! What’s more important is that as pup parents we are aware of our dog’s individual strengths and weaknesses and raise them accordingly. And of course, work to provide proper training and teaching so that the “weak” behaviors can become the strong ones. 💪 As a general rule, it takes most puppies about 12-24 months of age, paired with consistent learning and training, to be ready for more freedom. But again, each dog is unique and you shouldn’t rush it! If you’re unsure, I’d recommend finding a local dog trainer in your area who follows LIMA protocol and abides by positive reinforcement-based methods to give you specific advice. Important note: I want to be clear, it is not okay to not train your dog and then completely limit their freedom because they haven’t been taught how to behave. We have a responsibility as pup parents to teach our dogs how we want them to behave and to do it in a humane and effective manner! If you need extra help with training, please sign up for the 100% free class 30 Day Perfect Pup. It covers topics like leash training, recall, potty training, and even limiting your puppy’s freedom. Sign up free here: https://pfrd.site/classsignup-clickhere | — | ||||||
| 2/7/23 | ![]() LIMA Dog Training and The Humane Hierarchy, Explained with Examples | There are two principles and concepts that completely changed my understanding of training and raising a well-mannered dog. LIMA dog training and The Humane Hierarchy. The two are very interconnected and provide a framework for changing dog behavior in a thoughtful, humane, and effective manner. While these principles stand as an ethos and methodology for professional trainers and behaviorists, familiarity with the concepts will help you, the pup parent, feel vastly more confident and comfortable training your puppy. Plus, these principles can guide you in choosing the right trainer for your dog! To understand LIMA, we need to first understand animal welfare. Animal welfare is the physical and psychological state of nonhuman animals. The term animal welfare can also mean human concern for animal welfare or a position in a debate on animal ethics and animal rights. Basically, animal welfare means concern for the overall well-being of an animal, including our dogs. LIMA was first introduced around 2005 by Steven R. Lindsay. So, what is LIMA? LIMA stands for Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive. It generally refers to a trainer or behavior consultant who sets out to change behaviors through the least intrusive minimally aversive methods possible. Let’s define the two pieces. #1- Least Intrusive. Intrusive, in a dog context, can be seen as something that limits a dog’s ability to choose and act freely or comfortably. Certain techniques can intrude on a dog’s safety, well-being, and freedom to choose. And on that note, LIMA methodology lends itself to relying primarily on positive reinforcement techniques as the initial behavior-changing route. Allowing a dog to make choices (non-intrusive) and then rewarding when the desired behavior is performed is about as “least intrusive” as it gets. #2- Minimally Aversive. It’s important to define the term aversive. The dictionary definition reads: “ending to avoid or causing avoidance of a noxious or punishing stimulus”. In simple terms, a stimulus (could be a shock, harsh sound, bad-tasting anti-chew spray) that is provided to try and make your dog stop doing a certain behavior. We’ll cover this more later, but aversives have been shown to cause more stress and anxiety often leading to more problem behaviors. Is the science 100% perfect? Nope. But the vast majority of research, studies, and evidence show that aversives negatively impact the welfare of animals (see the beginning of this section). So bringing it back to LIMA, the methodology requires a trainer to implement the most minimally aversive methods possible. To sum it all up… LIMA boils down to finding strategies and methods that put the learner (the dog) first. That means understanding the dog’s history, challenging behaviors, preferences, and learning styles. And then following a humane hierarchy approach to resolve problem behaviors in the least intrusive (think freedom) and minimally aversive (think harsh punishment) way as possible. Be sure to read the full article on the Pupford blog! https://pfrd.site/readnow And sign up for the 100% free online dog training class to train a well-mannered pup: https://pfrd.site/class-signup-noww | — | ||||||
Want analysis for the episodes below?Free for Pro Submit a request, we'll have your selected episodes analyzed within an hour. Free, at no cost to you, for Pro users. | |||||||||
| 1/24/23 | ![]() Why Do Dogs Scoot on Their Butts? | All dogs have butts. And similarly, many dogs will at one point or another scoot on their butt across the floor, grass, or even sidewalk (yep, it happens). While this behavior can be a bit embarrassing if guests are over, it’s actually something you should try to diagnose and resolve sooner rather than later. In most cases scooting is just a sign of full or irritated anal glands. But, in some cases, it can actually be a more serious sign of health problems! So, let’s learn all about scooting. Here’s what we will cover: -The main reason dogs scoot, full anal glands -What are anal glands -Other behaviors/signs you may see associated with scooting -Other (less likely) reasons your dog is scooting across the floor -What you should do if your dog is scooting -What you should NOT do when your dog scoots -How to prevent anal gland issues and scooting Trust me when I tell you that you’re gonna run into this throughout your dog’s life, so it’s important to learn the ins and outs of the scoot. If you just want the simple answer, this is it… The main reason dogs scoot on their butts is that their anal glands/sacs are itchy and/or full. So, you might be wondering what in the world anal glands are. Let’s cover that. ⤵️ While you’ll more commonly hear the term anal glands, it’s actually the anal sacs that get filled and irritated for your dog. Let’s break this down as simply as possible. All dogs, male and female, have anal sacs (inside their anus) that are filled with foul-smelling fluid. The purpose of this fluid is essentially a “calling card” with their information. PS- That’s part of why dogs like to sniff each other’s butts and feces. The fluid passes out of the sacs, through a duct, and then out of the anus, typically at the end of a bowel movement. But sometimes the fluid doesn’t make it out as it should. When that happens, you get a build-up in the sacs (often stemming from the ducts being clogged or irritated) that causes pain, inflammation, and general discomfort for your dog. This can also turn into Anal Sac Disease, especially if left untreated. This leads us to why anal glands are often the root cause of a scooting dog… 👇 When your dog’s anal glands are full it can be quite uncomfortable for them. Think of how you’d feel if you constantly felt snot in your nose but were unable to blow it out… Fun topics, right? 😉 Scooting can do two things for your dog: -Comfort and itch relief -Hopefully, it encourages the anal glands to discharge the liquid Dogs scooting on their butt across the floor is common. Dogs typically scoot because their anal glands are full, irritated, and/or itchy. Again, if you suspect this to be the case then please consult your vet. If anal gland issues go untreated they can become increasingly worse for your dog’s health! And don’t stop your dog mid-scoot. Let them scoot and then work on finding a solution and remedy for the root problem. As part of a healthy gut, be sure to check out our Gut Health + Immunity Supplement. Since a puppy's gut makes up a large majority of their immune system it's so important to properly care for their microbiome. This supplement has been formulated with optimal ingredients to support a healthy gut! Shop the Gut Health + Immunity Supplement here! https://pfrd.site/gutsupplement | — | ||||||
| 1/10/23 | ![]() Xylitol & Dogs: Poisoning, Symptoms, & Common Foods with Xylitol | While many people know grapes and chocolate are dangerous for dogs, did you know xylitol is poisonous for dogs too?! The artificial sweetener xylitol can cause major health problems, including death if ingested by a dog. So, in this article, we’re gonna dive into all things xylitol and pups so you can keep your good boy or girl safe! DISCLAIMER: If you believe your dog has ingested something with xylitol, call your vet or a pet poison control hotline immediately. Here’s what we will cover: -What is xylitol -Why is xylitol poisonous and toxic for dogs -Symptoms of xylitol poisoning -What foods contain xylitol -How to keep your dog safe from xylitol While xylitol is touted for its oral benefits and low-calorie sweetness for humans, it is extremely dangerous for dogs. Xylitol causes a sharp increase in insulin that can lead to hypoglycemia (too low blood sugar). If left untreated hypoglycemia can become fatal to a dog. Recently, researchers and professionals have found that xylitol can also cause liver failure (hepatic failure). In dogs, other complications that can arise from xylitol ingestion are hypokalemia (low potassium levels) and hypophosphatemia (low phosphorous levels). Based on experience at the ASPCA APCC, dogs ingesting greater than 0.1 g/kg of xylitol should be considered at risk for developing hypoglycemia. In comparison, doses greater than 0.5 g/kg may be hepatotoxic (toxic to the liver) and more than likely cause death. So of course you are probably wondering how to calculate those numbers… Well, it can be difficult. Many products do not explicitly list the amount of xylitol in their product, but let’s show a rough example. Chewing gum typically contains about 0.22-1.0 grams of xylitol per piece! In this sample calculation, I’ll use my Labrador Retriever Scout. She weighs about 65 lbs or about 30 kg. So 0.1 g/kg would be about 3 grams of xylitol. To find the g/kg level that can lead to hypoglycemia, just take your dog’s weight in kilograms and multiply by 0.1 If 1 stick of gum is anywhere from 0.22-1 gram, just 3 sticks of gum could cause our very large dog to develop severe complications. And anything above that could quickly lead to liver failure and death. Here are some symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs: -Decreased movement -Lethargy -Vomiting -Weakness -Staggering -Incoordination -Collapsing -Seizures COMMON FOODS THAT CONTAIN XYLITOL -Sugar-free gum, Ice Breakers have been said to contain more xylitol than others. -Peanut butter -Nut butter -Mouthwash -Toothpaste -Pudding -Syrups -Jams -Chocolate -Chewable multivitamins -Nasal sprays -Personal lubricants -Sugar-free mints -Sugar-free candy Above all, keep xylitol-type products out of reach of your dog. If your dog ingests anything with xylitol immediately call your vet and/or pet poison hotline. | — | ||||||
| 12/27/22 | ![]() Your Brain’s Best Friend? It Might Be Your Dog | Feeling sluggish? Not feeling mentally alert? Struggling to make decisions? You may just need to pet a dog… At least, that’s what the initial findings from a group of researchers have to say! While all research can have limitations, the findings of the effects of contact with a dog on prefrontal brain activity study are quite eye-opening. Let’s dive right into it. ⬇️ Each participant took part in 6 sessions, 3 that included a dog and 3 that included the plush toy. Every session followed the same format. With the participant sitting on a couch, they did the following for 2 minutes while their brain activity was monitored with the fNIRS machine. Additionally, their heart rate and electrodermal activity (essentially sweat levels) were monitored. Staring at a blank wall (neutral) Only looking at the dog or toy from about 3 feet away (watching) Having the dog lay near them or the toy placed on their thigh (feeling) Actively petting the dog or toy (petting) Staring at a blank wall (neutral) This was repeated 6 total times (3 with a dog and 3 with a toy). The data found through these sessions was astounding! REAL DOG VS PLUSH TOY While there was actually increased brain activity when interacting with the plush toy, the gains in activity were significantly higher when interacting with the dog. As the dog or toy entered the room, was next to, and then was interacted with by the participant, brain activity increased. And while this is true, the gains in prefrontal brain activity were significantly higher when the participant interacted with a real dog compared to a toy! Simply put, a real dog was more effective at activating brain activity than a plush toy. Not much of a surprise there. WATCHING VS FEELING VS PETTING What I found most interesting was the significant jump in brain activity when participants were actively petting the dog! One of the largest jumps in brain activity occurred when the participant when from being near the dog (feeling) to actively petting the dog (petting). It seems as if there is some scientific evidence as to why we (or at least I) always want to go pet dogs that we see on the street. That petting of a good boy or girl can actually increase our brain activity. WHAT ABOUT WHEN THE DOG LEFT THE ROOM? Another piece of data that the researchers uncovered was that even after the dogs left and the participants went back to staring at a wall (neutral phase), brain activity stayed measurably higher than compared to the first neutral phase. So, not only can petting a dog get our brain moving at that specific moment, but it can even help once the dog is gone! No study is perfect and no study can give us complete answers, but this study did show statistically significant evidence that petting and closely interacting with a dog can have positive effects on our brains. This type of hard data and evidence can ideally provide therapy dog groups with a better ability to secure funding, expand operations, and overall better serve people worldwide. The bottom line is that dogs are amazing creatures that we are truly lucky to have in our lives and further research is certainly needed to better understand our relationship with them. And we should treat, raise, and train dogs with that level of respect in mind. 🙂 | — | ||||||
| 1/25/22 | ![]() 3 Things Humans Do That Dogs Do NOT Enjoy | While we often like to think that our dogs love everything we do, there are some common human behaviors that dogs do NOT enjoy. And while these things may not be “make or break” for your relationship with your dog, it’s important to try and keep your interactions with your pup as positive as possible. Another note. If you are currently doing any of these 3 things, that is okay! My main goal is to just help you be aware that it may potentially be something your dog doesn’t enjoy. #1- Hugging While the temptation to give our dogs a big bear hug can be strong, it may not be the best decision. Many dogs can be uncomfortable about having people in their personal space. Especially when that involves people being near and around their face. So going up to a dog and giving them a hug around the neck/chest area can be concerning for them, especially if they feel trapped. When a dog gets put into a situation where they don’t feel in control of their ability to move, it can lead to very negative situations. If you’re still wanting to hug your dog, be very aware of their body language. Is your dog trying to pull away? Is your dog moving their head away from yours? Is your dog licking their lips? Is your dog giving you whale eye (or side-eye)? Is your dog stiffening up, especially on his/her tail? All of those dog body language signals can be signs that your dog is uncomfortable with the current situation. #2- Not Letting Them Sniff Think of your favorite store to go for some leisurely shopping (Nordstrom Rack anyone?)... You’re excited to see what’s on sale, what is available in your size, and you’ve been hoping to find some nice dress shoes. As you round the corner and see a nice pair of heels you tell your friend you’re with, ‘Oh, I’d love to check those out!’. You both walk close and as you flip them over to check out the price, your friend yanks you away from the beloved shoes. Now, repeat that about 57 times. I can imagine you’d very quickly want your friend to leave so you could enjoy some shopping. Are you doing that to your dog? When we go on walks with our pups it’s an opportunity to not only let them go potty but also to sniff and explore the world! Going out for a walk is a lot like you heading to your favorite department store to shop. There are a lot of items they’re looking to check out, but if they get yanked away as soon as they’re checking it out they’ll probably get frustrated! It’s like letting them look at a nice pair of shoes but not check out the price tag. And while there are times that our walks are more rushed, try your best to give your dog ample opportunities to sniff and take in the world around them. Our dog’s noses are how they learn and explore. Let them shop! ;) #3- Dressing Them Up While we do have articles on our site about costume ideas for your dog, that doesn’t mean every dog will love it! Some dogs truly hate the experience of being dressed up. That can include jackets, costumes, booties, hats, and any other arrangement of human-concocted accessories. For some dogs, the feeling of being constricted in a jacket or booties can be a serious mental hangup for them. So, just like with all things that may be uncomfortable for your pup, start slow! Work on desensitizing your pup to any clothes you may want them to wear. And if your dog gets uncomfortable, don’t continue. Again, keep an eye on your pup’s body language and look out for things like yawning, lip licking, moving their body away from yours, etc. | — | ||||||
| 1/18/22 | ![]() Surviving the Puppy Teenage Phase | If you’ve found yourself wondering why your pup has started to ‘rebel’ or digress with their behaviors, you may be experiencing the puppy teenage phase. Do Dogs Actually Have a Teenage Phase? A group of researchers set out to determine if the teenage, rebellious phase was a real thing or just a term. What they found was that there is a strong connection between certain time periods of a dog’s life, and how they behave. You can read the full study here: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2020.0097 Generally speaking, puppies go through the ‘teenage phase’ at about 7-10 months. But keep in mind, that time frame will vary depending on a host of factors including gender, breed, environment, etc. What the researchers found is that when compared to a puppy’s behavior at 5 months, many pups willingly defied cues from their pup parent at around 8 months old. Additionally, many self-surveyed pup parents reported an increase of rebellious behavior from their pups around that same time period. So, yes… the puppy teenage phase is real. Can You Avoid the Teenage Phase While there are some things you can do to make the rebellious phase less rebellious, this phase is often out of your control. Your dog’s hormones, chemicals, brain activities, etc. are often playing a role in this teenage phase and that is completely out of your control. How to Survive the Teenage Phase While there isn’t one silver-bullet answer to surviving this phase, there are some things you can do to help make the time more successful. 1. Decrease freedom 2. Increase training 3. Try new things #1 - Decrease Freedom Often right as our pups are starting to get better at certain behaviors, we start to give more freedom. That can be freedom in the home, freedom off-leash, freedom with choices, and other things. Unfortunately, when you combine a rebellious teenage phase with newly added freedoms, you create a recipe for disaster! While it can be enticing to want to give your pup more freedom, I recommended sticking to what you know has worked for the first months of your pup’s life. That means sticking to crating your dog while you aren’t home, not letting them off-leash, and generally keeping boundaries for your pup. #2 - Increase Training Similar to decreased freedom, often a helpful solution for the puppy teenage phase is to increase your training routine. Again, we often start getting complacent with our pup’s behavior right about the time they’re going to hit the teenage phase. We start to think they’re performing well, and we get lazier with our training. That is totally normal, but should be avoided if possible! The 7-10 month age range is the perfect time to buckle down on training and really commit to consistency. If you can keep up with training consistently for the entire first year of your dog’s life you will be so happy you did! #3 - Try New Things The first 6 months of my dog Scout’s life, she couldn’t care less about fetch. We tried everything to get her interested, but it didn’t stick. And then right when she hit about 7 or so months, a switch flipped. She fell in LOVE fetch! Just because something worked (or didn’t work) at the beginning of your puppy’s life, doesn’t mean it will always be that way. So if you find your pup going through a particularly rebellious phase, try out some new things. Introduce new training techniques, play new games, try new toys, test out new treats, etc.! Dogs change, and we should try to lean into that change as much as possible! | — | ||||||
| 1/11/22 | ![]() Dog Driving You Crazy? Try This ✅ | Dogs are challenging. No matter the age, breed, or size of your dog there will be situations and behaviors that will drive you absolutely crazy. And guess what, that's totally normal. I have gone through the ups and downs of being a pup parent in many ways. My wife and I have raised two high-energy Labrador Retrievers, all alongside a Senior Puggle who recently passed away. No matter the age of our dogs, there have always been behaviors and situations that test our patience with our dogs! When moments pop up that test your patience with your pup, try out these 3 things to keep your sanity. #1- Get Some Space As with many things in life, if you try to "fix" a situation in the heat of the moment you'll likely not make the wisest decisions. If your pup is starting to do things and you can feel your patience running thin, take a break. Get yourself some physical distance between yourself and your pup and regroup. This can be done by putting your dog into a crate (don't use it as a punishment though), in another room, or using a playpen or baby gate. Taking a few moments away from your dog can help you reassess the situation and calm down. #2- Do Something Fun Once you've taken a moment or two of space away from your dog, re-engage with something fun. You know your dog best, so do something that you know both you and your pup will enjoy. It could be playing tug, throwing a ball, or even some fun (not structured) trick training. For many of us as pup parents, we originally chose to get a dog because we envisioned the fun moments and memories that come with being a pup parent. So, finding a way to reconnect with that "goal" can be a great way to gain your sanity back with your dog. Plus, taking part in a fun activity with your pup will help both of your moods and outlooks on the situation. #3- Make a Plan This is the most important step. You have to make a plan on how you will improve the behaviors that are driving you up a wall. If, for example, you get frustrated whenever you go on walks because your dog barks at other dogs then you can make a plan to combat that. When will you train that behavior? What resources will you use? How often will you practice that training? How long will you practice when you do the training? The challenge with many "annoying" dog behaviors is that we often only think about them when they happen. But the truth is, you're not going to train out a problem behavior in the heat of the moment. Instead, you need to practice the situations the lead to problem behaviors on their own. So if your dog always barks when people come to the door, don't think you can train that when a stranger knocks on the door. Instead, practice having someone (a neighbor, friend, etc.) come to the door while you are engaged in a training session with a specific plan. Recap Although our dogs mean the world to us, they can do things that drive us a little bit crazy. So when this happens, take the time to get some space, re-engage with something fun, and then make a plan to help overcome the problem behaviors causing you stress! If you're looking for in-depth resources to help overcome challenging behaviors, you can find the techniques as part of Pupford Academy. Access it here: https://pfrd.site/academy-accesss Please leave a review and thanks for listening! | — | ||||||
| 1/4/22 | ![]() How You Might Be RUINING Your Dog's Recall | While recall is a behavior that takes a lot of practice and persistence, there are some things you may be doing that are actually RUINING your dog's recall... 😳 One of the most common mistakes I see with recall is when pup parents call their dog to them, and then they do something not enjoyable for their pup. For example, calling your dog to you, they come, and then you put him/her on a leash and leave the park. Well, if you do that enough... your dog is going to start associating the recall cue with the "bad" thing of leaving the park. Or, calling your dog to you and then putting them in the bath. Or, calling your dog to you and then brushing their teeth. Or, calling your dog to you and then clipping their nails. You give a cue, they perform the desired behavior, and then... BOOM, a negative experience (in their mind). When this happens too many times, your dog will start to associate "come" with negative things. And when that happens, your dog will STOP wanting to come back to you. So, instead of calling your dog to you when you're gonna do something they may not like, YOU should go to them. Or, if you must call them first, give a couple of other cues in between the "come" and the not desirable thing. If I'm at the park and need to leave, I don't call my dog to me and then instantly leash her up. Instead, I'll call her to me, give a few short throws of her ball once she comes, and then go to her and clip her on the leash. Simply put, every time (seriously) your dog comes to you there should be a positive experience. Don't let negative experiences immediately follow when your dog successfully comes back to you. For more recall tips, check out the Recall Mastery Course here: https://pfrd.site/course-recall Please leave a review! | — | ||||||
| 12/28/21 | ![]() 3 Puppy Mistakes to Avoid | Welcoming a new puppy (or older dog) into your home is a time of excitement, nervousness, and oftentimes, stress! While you will certainly make mistakes along the way (and that's okay), here are 3 mistakes you should try to avoid! And not only will avoiding these mistakes make YOUR life easier, but they will also help your pup live a happy and healthier life as well. Mistake #1 - Potty Training Overconfidence One of the first things you likely think of when training a new puppy is potty training. Because let's face it, no one wants their carpets, rugs, and floors ruined! And often in the first couple of weeks, you are on top of the potty training! You set timers, take your pup out frequently, reward good potty breaks outside, etc... And then, overconfidence creeps in! You might start to get lazy with setting timers, and you might generally start to feel that your puppy has the hang of potty training. And inevitably, accidents will start to occur again! One of the biggest puppy mistakes you can make is to get overconfident with your pup's potty training abilities! While there isn't a hard and fast rule, I would say that your pup isn't fully potty trained until he/she hasn't had an accident in the home for 3 months. Yup, 3 months. Again, learn from my mistakes and don't become overconfident with your dog's potty training abilities. Stick to a schedule, be adamant about potty breaks, and continue to reward the right behavior to avoid accidents in the home! Mistake #2 - Expecting Your Puppy to "Outgrow" Behaviors You've likely heard people say something like "oh, they're just a puppy... they'll outgrow that". Ahhh, what a mistake! While there are behaviors and things your pup will become better at naturally over time, you can NOT expect them to just outgrow behaviors. Every behavior that your pup might struggle with needs training. You must put in the work. And while it's true that an older dog will often mellow out and become less hyper, that doesn't mean they will magically outgrow things like puppy nipping, potty accidents, or poor recall. Don't plan on your pup just outgrowing something, work on it and train it! Mistake #3 - Giving Too Much Freedom While this mistake is similar to mistake #1, there is a bit of a difference. I can still remember this costly mistake like it was yesterday... Our puppy Sunny had started to do really well with not chewing up objects. She had started to learn what was and wasn't okay to have in her mouth. And let me tell you, we were feeling GREAT about that! Fast forward a few days and we brought home a new custom table for the nook area of our home. It was a beautiful piece of woodwork honestly. And, of course, it just so happened that we had a lot going on that day and had to leave Sunny for a little bit longer than usual without supervision. Well, I'm sure you can guess what happened... We gave Sunny too much freedom and she chewed up the edge of our brand new table. We were FURIOUS. But whose fault was that? Sunny's? Certainly not... she was still a puppy and had never ever been left alone around a nice tasty wood table. We made the mistake of thinking she was 'better' than she really was with chewing objects, and we gave her too much freedom. Not a fun lesson to learn! And this type of situation can be applied to off-leash behavior especially. I can almost promise you that if you think your puppy's recall is good enough for off-leash behavior, that means you should wait at least 3 more months. While mistakes are inevitable (and part of the process), I hope you can learn from these mistakes that I made as a new pup parent! Need help training your new pup? Download the FREE Pupford app here! | — | ||||||
| 12/21/21 | ![]() 7 Terms Every Pup Parent Should Know | Term #1- Recall Recall is interchangeable with 'come when called'. So basically, recall refers to your dog's ability to come back to you when you call him/her. Recall is one of the most important behaviors you can teach your dog! Term #2- Marking/Clicker If you hear the term 'mark the behavior' that simply means to give your dog a distinct indicator of exactly when the correct behavior occurred. So for example, if you are teaching your dog to sit you would 'mark' that behavior the instant your dog's butt hits the ground. Marking can be done by using a 'marker word' like "yes" or "good" or by using a training clicker. A clicker is a simple tool that gives a distinct "click" noise when pressed. By using a marker word or clicker while training, you can more clearly help your dog identify the exact moment they did a behavior correctly. And when they understand the timing of when they did something right, the more likely they'll be to do it again in the future! Term #3- Zoomies While this isn't a "technical" term, it's one you will hear quite often. The zoomies are essentially when your pup gets a burst of energy and runs wildly around. It can involve running back and forth, spinning in circles, overall just acting a little wild. It often happens right before your dog is getting ready for bed, when you come home, and/or after a bath. The only cure for the zoomies is letting your dog zoom around 😅 Term #4- Bite Inhibition Bite inhibition is your dog's ability to control the force of their mouth/bite. This is sometimes referred to as "soft mouth", while those terms are slightly different generally. Bite inhibition is best learned by doing proper training when your pup bites. But the most effective way to teach bite inhibition is by having your puppy play with other dogs. Dogs have a natural way of letting other dogs know when bites are too hard and painful. Don't skip out on puppy play dates! Term #5- Capturing Capturing is simply a technique of 'marking' (see above) a behavior your dog naturally does. For example, if you're trying to teach your dog to lay down you might wait for them to lay down on their own and then 'mark' and reward that behavior. After doing that a few times, you can start adding a cue word (lay down) so your dog pairs the behavior with a term. Capturing is a very effective way to turn natural behaviors into behaviors you can ask for on cue! Term #6- Jackpotting A big part of dog training is keeping your dog guessing and WANTING to listen to you. And jackpotting makes that happen! Jackpotting is simply giving your dog a better reward (think real steak vs normal treats) or giving your dog more of their normal reward. For example, instead of just giving one or two treats like you normally would you could give 4-5 treats when your dog does something you really want from them. Jackpotting is a great way to more strongly reinforce behaviors! Term #7- Intermittent Reinforcement Similar to the above, keeping your dog guessing can be a very valuable tool when training! Intermittent reinforcement is simply giving your dog rewards at a random interval. So, instead of giving a treat every time your dog does a trick, you only give a reward/treat every 2 or 3 times. Of course, at the beginning of teaching a new behavior, you'll want to reward each time. But as your dog progresses with that behavior, you can start to randomize the reward interval to help keep your pup guessing and wanting to listen! Download the FREE Pupford app here: https://pfrd.site/pupapphere | — | ||||||
| 12/14/21 | ![]() Prey Drive – Reduce It or Use It? | Ahh prey drive, the thing our dogs are born with that can make life slightly complicated. Many people find themselves wondering, should I try to reduce my dog's prey drive, or should I be using it? In this episode, we'll dive into what prey drive is, whether you should try to reduce it, and how you can turn it into a MASSIVE reinforcer for your pup. WHAT IS PREY DRIVE? Prey drive is essentially our dogs' innate desire to search, stalk, chase, and bite objects. And typically, those objects are moving. In a simplistic sense, it's why your dog might love to chase squirrels or even a tennis ball. And while prey drive often has a somewhat negative connotation, it really is an important part of our dog's DNA. In the early types of dogs, they had to hunt for food. So prey drive was a matter of life and death. Nowadays, our dogs aren't hunting for their food... but the prey drive is there nonetheless. SHOULD YOU REDUCE OR USE YOUR DOG'S PREY DRIVE? While there isn't one answer for every situation, in most cases you should strive to utilize your dog's prey drive in a controlled manner. So that often means your dog will still "use" their prey drive, but just in a controlled and desirable way. I will note here... If you have a dog with an extremely strong prey drive, I would recommend getting the help of a professional dog trainer. They can help you understand your dog's behavior more thoroughly and learn how to tap into that drive for your dog's benefit. USING PREY DRIVE AS A REWARD My dog Scout loves to fetch. She would fetch for hours if she was given the opportunity (I've only seen her willingly stop playing fetch a couple of times in her whole life). She LOVES the chase. And many times in her life, that has gotten her into some troublesome situations (most if not all of which were my fault for giving too much freedom). When dogs like Scout lock onto something, their brain is literally wired to stalk and chase that item. And then when they aren't "allowed" to it can cause leash, fence, and other frustrations. Or it can get them into trouble like running to places or towards people/objects they shouldn't. One of the best ways we learned to utilize Scout's prey drive is by using fetch and flirt poles as part of our training and rewarding process. Here is what we have done consistently for over a year now. In a controlled and safe environment, start to play fetch. Once you do a few throws, grab the ball as if to throw and ask your dog to come to you. (It may feel foreign to your dog at first, so if they struggle just shorten your distance for the 'come' and continue.) Once your dog comes to you, give your marker word (or clicker) and throw the ball for them to fetch. The fetch is the reward!! I have been doing that process consistently every time I play fetch (not every throw, but every time we play fetch) and Scout's recall has improved dramatically! And in conjunction with other training, it's also helped to improve her ability to focus outside and has helped reduce her reactivity to other dogs, skateboards, bikes, etc. This took a lot of time and practice generally, but learning to use fetch (prey drive) as a reward for other behaviors made it so Scout ACTUALLY cared about listening to us while outside! Please leave a review, thanks for listening! Download the FREE Pupford App here: https://pfrd.site/pupappfree | — | ||||||
| 12/7/21 | ![]() The Science Behind Mental Enrichment for Dogs | While mental enrichment can feel like a fun 'buzzword', it's important to know what research has shown about mental exercise for dogs! In this episode, I give a synopsis and my opinions on research done by Lidewij L.Schipper (amongst others) in 2008. Here's a link to the article where you can learn more about the research: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159108000038 Note: The researchers themselves said that the study is not completely thorough, could use more work, and had a relatively small sample size. Nonetheless, the findings are valuable. The researchers ran the tests on 8 dogs in shelters. They gave the dogs Kong toys filled with treats to test the effects that interaction had on the dog's behavior. In the researchers' words, here is what they had to say: "This study demonstrated that the presence of these food enrichment toys stimulates appetitive behaviours and increases the level of activity (exercise), measured in terms of time budgets and the total number of behavioural transitions. Moreover, it also appears to result into lower barking frequencies." That is a GREAT finding! Appetitive behavior is essentially behaviors that proceed eating and are a signal of 'desire'. This can include sniffing, foraging, working for food, etc. So, enrichment for dogs can help them have a greater desire to work for food, increase their activity level (especially important in shelter dogs) and can even help decrease barking. Those are all AMAZING results from just the simple use of a Kong! Hopefully, this study gives you added reasoning to give your pup mental exercise! If you're looking for tools for mental enrichment, you can shop our full range here: https://pfrd.site/enrichmenttoyss Please subscribe to hear all podcast episodes in the future! And I'd appreciate it if you left a review :) | — | ||||||
| 11/30/21 | ![]() Building Your Dog's Confidence: An Interview with Emily Fitzpatrick VSA-CDT | Your dog's confidence levels can drastically affect their ability to learn, respond correctly to cues, and generally feel happy in their environment! In this episode, I sat down with Emily Fitzpatrick (VSA-CDT) to discuss ways to improve your dog's confidence! Emily also helps break down why confidence is important, things that can break your dog's confidence, and daily actions to help make your dog more confident and happy! Meet Emily Emily Fitzpatrick is a Victoria Stilwell Academy Certified Dog Training and is the owner of Misunderstood Mutt Dog Training. Connect with Emily Misunderstood Mutt's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misunderstoodmutt/ Please subscribe to hear all podcast episodes in the future! And I'd appreciate it if you left a review :) Download the Pupford App here: https://pfrd.site/zapp-free | — | ||||||
| 11/23/21 | ![]() Reasons to Be Grateful for Your Dog | You’ll probably get this question a lot around Thanksgiving: what are you thankful for? We hope your list is a long one -- and that it doesn’t leave anything out. Including your dog! Although we may not think about it often, our dogs give us so much to be grateful for during the holidays and always. Here are my personal top 3 reasons I'm grateful for my dogs! They keep me active They remind me to slow down They remind me to not take life too seriously Leave a review and tell me why you are grateful for your dog! Thanks for listening, please leave a review! Download the Pupford app here: https://pfrd.site/grateful-pups | — | ||||||
| 11/9/21 | ![]() The Truth About Your Dog's Training Progress | Dog training isn't always "ups" and "forward progression"... it actually usually consists of a LOT of setbacks, challenges, and "dips" in behavior. But truthfully, that is to be expected! In this episode, I'll break down 5 powerful tips that will help you improve your pup's behavior with more peaks than valleys! Tip #1- Set Goals Most things worth accomplishing in life take a lot of hard work. In my life, I've seen the most success with my dog's behavior when I've set goals. I don't typically like focusing goals on 'behavior growth' necessarily, but more on how often you'll train, how long you'll train, and what behaviors you will work on. If you set SMART goals (look that up if you aren't familiar with it 😃), you'll find that you'll become more consistent with training. And in my experience, staying consistent (more on that later) is one of the most vital ways to help your dog's behavior see more growth than setbacks! Tip #2- Track Progress Part of setting goals is keeping track of progress. Plus, keeping track of your dog's progress can help you visualize the growth that is occurring. In the Pupford App (download here: https://pfrd.site/track-progress), you can rate your dog's behaviors so that you have a snapshot of where your dog stands with different behaviors like recall, leash walking, and more! Again, tracking progress will help you understand more thoroughly how your dog is actually progressing! Tip #3- View Behavior as a Whole If you're feeling down about a specific behavior your dog is struggling with, remember to look at your dog's behavior as a whole. While your dog may be struggling with jumping, for example, find the good things your dog is doing and focus on those. And what you'll realize is that your dog's "behavior" is likely better than you're giving your dog credit for! Tip #4- Stay Consistent The key to pushing through your dog's behavior setbacks is consistency. Training takes a lot of effort over an extended period of time. And it can't just be for a few days or weeks... it takes consistent effort! Plus, the more consistent you are with training your dog the more quickly you will be able to overcome the setbacks and 'dips' in progression. Tip #5- Be Patient Even more important than consistency is patience! Often as pup parents, we put timelines in our head as to how quickly our dog should learn a certain behavior... that is a mistake. Not only do you need to be patient with your dog's progress, but you need to be patient with yourself. Raising a dog can be hard work, so remember to cut yourself some slack and be patient with results! Please leave a review and subscribe, thanks for listening! | — | ||||||
| 11/2/21 | ![]() Start Preparing Your Dog for the Holidays Now | The time to prepare your dog for the holiday season is... NOW! In this episode, I'll break down 3 tips to help you start preparing now so that you can have an enjoyable season of get-togethers. TIP #1- Teach Place This behavior is vital to overcoming challenges with door greetings, being hyper when guests arrive, and of course, begging for food. To learn this behavior in-depth (from Amber Aquart), head and watch the video (and read the text recap) here: https://pfrd.site/teachplace-here TIP #2- Impulse Control Training Impulse control training can help with problems like jumping, barking, bolting through doors, and so much more. Simple impulse control exercises like having your dog sit before going through doors can help teach your dog to look for guidance from you instead of just acting on their own. Learn 21 effective (and fun) impulse control games here: https://pfrd.site/get21-games TIP #3- Get the Right Tools Sometimes even with the right training you just need a 'safety net' of tools and products to help keep your pup occupied and happy. Mental enrichment can work wonders for your dog during the holiday season. Whether you're leaving your pup at home or having guests over, mental exercise can help tire your dog out and help them relax. Shop easy to use Mental Enrichment toys and tools here: https://pfrd.site/toys-here Thanks for listening, please leave a review! Download the Pupford app here: https://pfrd.site/gettheapp | — | ||||||
Showing 25 of 99
Pitch Fit is a Pro feature
See how bookable this show is for guests, which brands already advertise, the per-episode ad value, and the best-fit guest and sponsor profile. The numbers are blurred on the free plan.
How readily this show books outside guests like you.
How proven this show is for host-read sponsorships.
For Guests
ProFor Advertisers
ProUpgrade to Pro to unlock guest cadence, sponsor categories, fit scores, and per-episode ad value for this show.
Chart Positions
4 placements across 4 markets.
Chart Positions
4 placements across 4 markets.

