The Good Dog Pod

The audio for this podcast episode was taken from a recent Good Breeder Webinar. Follow us on Facebook to catch these events live!Nicole and the Good Dog Health, Standards, & Research Team discuss all things health testing related on Good Dog! Learn about Good Dog's health testing requirements, and how you can use Good Dog to highlight the work you put into your program, including our recently-added health testing badges, which allow breeders to showcase the testing they do on each of their breeding dogs.Payments on Good Dog is our secure payment platform that guarantees payments for you and your puppy buyers. Learn more about payments on Good Dog here, whether you’re already a member of Good Dog or are interested in joining!

This week, we continue our conversation with Dr. Tyler Jordan, Board-Certified Veterinary Dermatologist & Ph.D. Candidate in Comparative Biomedical Sciences, in support of Itchy Pet Awareness Month!Learn what preventative measures you can take to keep your dog's skin healthy, how skin health can affect behavioral issues, how breeders can reduce dermatological issues in their puppies, and more!Breeders on Good Dog get $100 every year to spend on health testing and access to exclusive discounts from our partners, including Embark, Paw Print Genetics, and AKC Reunite. If you're already a member of our community, you can check out the discounts here. And if you're not a member, but would like to know more, you can join here!

This week, we're joined by Dr. Tyler Jordan, Board-Certified Veterinary Dermatologist & Ph.D. Candidate in Comparative Biomedical Sciences, in support of Itchy Pet Awareness Month! Join us as we discuss canine atopic dermatitis, itchy dogs, food allergies and more!Good Dog provides breeders in our community with free and exclusive access to puppy contract templates and legal resources created by our team of lawyers, specifically for dog breeders. If you're already a member of Good Dog, you can access these resources here. And if you're not a member, but would like to join, you can sign up here!

We're joined by Dr. Joe Menicucci and Dr. Rory Lubold, two veterinarians who have come together to bring us Affordable Pet Labs. Affordable Pet Labs is an experienced team of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and pet lovers dedicated to making lab testing stress-free, convenient and more affordable by offering lab work for your pets in your home.Learn more about why Drs. Menicucci and Lubold founded Affordable Pet Labs, how it works, and where they're going in the future.Your Litter A to Z is the leading, science-based course for dog breeders. It includes expertly designed 18 modules, checklists, and reports that cover before breeding, getting your bitch pregnant, whelping your litter and raising your pups. If you're already a member of Good Dog, you can access the course here! And if you're not a member, you can join our community here.

Nicole chats with Emily Schramm, a wonderful member of our very own Good Breeder Community, about the ins and outs of Good Dog, what it means to be a Good Breeder, and most importantly, how to use Good Dog to successfully run your breeding program.As a long-time breeder, Emily shares how Good Dog has impacted her program, what features she uses the most, as well as advice for breeders wanting to level up their own breeding programs.Good Dog provides breeders in our community with free and exclusive access to puppy contract templates and legal resources created by our team of lawyers, specifically for dog breeders. If you're already a member of Good Dog, you can access these resources here. And if you're not a member, but would like to join, you can sign up here!

We're joined by Dr. Shadi Ireifej, DVM DACVS, the Chief Medical Officer of VetTriage. VetTriage provides veterinary telehealth services across the US, giving pet owners immediate access to triage advice from licensed veterinarians 24-hours a day, 365-days a year. Veterinary clinics have become more and more busy, making it difficult for pet owners to get the care they need on short notice. VetTriage's goal is to close that gap, giving pet owners the information they need - before committing to the time and cost of going to an emergency vet hospital.Breeders on Good Dog get $100 every year to spend on health testing and access to exclusive discounts from our partners, including Embark, Paw Print Genetics, and AKC Reunite. If you're already a member of our community, you can check out the discounts here. And if you're not a member, but would like to know more, you can join here!

Beth Gammie from RedRover joins us to talk about disaster preparedness. RedRover is a nonprofit whose mission is to help animals in crisis and to protect and strengthen the bond between people and animals through emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance, and education.Beth leads the RedRover Responders program by monitoring disasters and other emergencies for deployment, managing requests for assistance and serving as RedRover's Team Leader in the field when animals are in crisis.Learn about the amazing work Beth and RedRover do for both people and animals in crisis, from natural disaster relief to domestic violence support. Beth also gives some tips on how you and your pets can be prepared for disasters.Breeders on Good Dog get $100 every year to spend on health testing and access to exclusive discounts from our partners, including Embark, Paw Print Genetics, and AKC Reunite. If you're already a member of our community, you can check out the discounts here. And if you're not a member, but would like to know more, you can join here!

We're joined by Meegan Pierotti-Tietje, a renowned dog handler, breeder, President of the Ibizan Hound Club of the United States. And, she is doing incredible work over at Showsight Magazine. In this episode, we discuss the wonderful world of dog shows!Learn more about Meegan's extensive experience in the show ring, the value of mentors, and how you can get started in the show world!Good Dog’s Breeding Foundations course provides expert advice on pedigrees, genetics, contracts, and everything else you need to set your breeding program up for success. This course usually costs $245, but you can access it for free when you join Good Dog today! If you're already a member, you can access the course here.

We're joined by Dr. Adam Boyko, an associate professor in Biomedical Sciences at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and the co-founder of Embark. In this episode, we discuss one of Dr. Boyko's recent studies with Embark where he looks at a genetic mutation relating to hearing loss in Rhodesian Ridgebacks.Previous research had established a link between Rhodesian Ridgebacks and early onset adult deafness. Dr. Boyko and his team at Embark dug into the genetics and discovered a genetic mutation (specifically a deletion) that may be responsible for this condition in the breed.Listen to the episode to learn why Corgis, German Shepherds, and Labrador Retrievers where included in this Rhodesian Ridgeback-focused study!Listeners of The Good Dog Pod get 15% off the Good Dog merch store with the code GDP15. Go to shop.gooddog.com to redeem this exclusive discount!

Today we are joined by Mallory DeChant, PhD, a postdoctoral research associate at Texas Tech University! Dr. DeChant goes over her research looking at the complex world of the canine olfactory system, AKA how dogs smell! Her research focuses on exploring methods to enhance search vigilance in detection dogs.Listen to the episode to learn how scientists use banana flavored runts to help study a dog's olfaction!Good Dog provides breeders in our community with free and exclusive access to puppy contract templates and legal resources created by our team of lawyers, specifically for dog breeders. If you're already a member of Good Dog, you can access these resources here. And if you're not a member, but would like to join, you can sign up here!

In this special episode, Good Dog Pod hosts Nicole and Dr. Mikel Delgado take a look back at our past 100 episodes as we remember some of our favorite moments. So join us as we take a trip down memory lane in celebration of two years of podcasting!

Nicole is joined by Good Breeder Shonnie Layland, who breeds Leonbergers under the program name Sinnsro Leonbergers. This episode is all about the critical process of carefully selecting foundation stock when beginning your breeding program. It takes a lot to start a breeding program the right way - from finding and choosing the right foundation dogs, to doing the right health testing, to learning everything you can about your breed.Shonnie describes her journey with Leonbergers as she has built her breeding program - plus she teaches us a bit about the breed's history!Listeners of The Good Dog Pod get 15% off the Good Dog merch store with the code GDP15. Go to shop.gooddog.com to redeem this exclusive discount!

We are joined again by America's Vet, Dr. Marty Becker! Dr. Becker founded the Fear Free Movement and made it his mission to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety & stress in pets by inspiring and educating the people who care for them. Today we discuss Dr. Becker's recent trip to the Ukrainian border, where he helped in the ongoing efforts to take care of the pets that have been displaced by the war in Ukraine.Hear from Dr. Becker as he recounts some of his incredible experiences in assisting with the logistics and on-the-ground support in Romania and Moldova on the Ukrainian border.

We are joined by Fred Helfers, a retired police detective who got his start with detection dog training over 40 years ago. Fred is a certified canine nosework instructor and offers training resources on scent detection, which you can find out more about on his website, fredhelfers.com.In this episode, Fred talks about getting his start with hunting dogs, and how he transitioned to using detection dogs in the police. Learn the ins and outs of how detection dogs do their jobs, how to train them, and how important the human-dog dynamic is!Breeders on Good Dog get $100 every year to spend on health testing and access to exclusive discounts from our partners, including Embark, Paw Print Genetics, and AKC Reunite. If you're already a member of our community, you can check out the discounts here. And if you're not a member, but would like to know more, you can join here!

This week we are joined by Dr. Karen DeMatteo, a research scientist from Washington University in St. Louis, who is focused on studying the interactions that occur at the species and community level. Among the many techniques she uses in her research, Dr. DeMatteo uses detection dogs in conservation work across South America & the United States.We discuss Dr. DeMatteo's research in tracking and studying the elusive bush dog using detection dogs. Learn why detection dogs can be a useful research tool for scientists, how to train them to track these rare animals, and what happens when the scent they're tracking gets mixed with another animal's scent!Good Dog’s Breeding Foundations course provides expert advice on pedigrees, genetics, contracts, and everything else you need to set your breeding program up for success. This course usually costs $245, but you can access it for free when you join Good Dog today! If you're already a member, you can access the course here.

Today we are joined by Megan Foster, owner of Synergy Dog Sports, long-time judge for the United States Dog Agility Association, and expert agility coach! We are also joined by two of Good Dog's own, Regan Abromitis & Rachel Jefferds, who regularly compete in agility with their Aussies. Megan describes what agility is, what's so engaging about it, and what you need to get started. She also discusses the human-dog relationship, and how that factors into competing in agility.We finish the episode with a conversation between Mikel, Regan, and Rachel to learn about Regan & Rachel's personal experiences with agility. Learn about their dogs, how they got into agility, and what they love about it!Your Litter A to Z is the leading, science-based course for dog breeders. It includes expertly designed 18 modules, checklists, and reports that cover before breeding, getting your bitch pregnant, whelping your litter and raising your pups. If you're already a member of Good Dog, you can access the course here! And if you're not a member, you can join our community here.

Today we are joined by Dr. Jasmine Fusi from the University of Milan. Dr. Fusi studies everything relating to canine (and feline) reproduction, including intensive care for neonates, artificial insemination, neonatal health, and much more. In this episode, we dive into her research looking at stress hormones & newborn puppies.Dr. Fusi uses a non-invasive method to measure hormone levels in puppies, which involves taking samples of their nails at regular intervals. We know that the conditions a human experiences in utero can have an effect on their entire life; Dr. Fusi is researching what different hormone levels (for example, cortisol) can do for a puppy's neonatal health as well as for their entire life experience. Contrary to what you might think, it's actually important for puppies to have a certain amount of cortisol to get them to take their first breaths (though too much cortisol is detrimental, so you need a balance!). Listen to the episode to get to know more about Dr. Fusi's research.Good Dog hosts monthly webinars with canine health experts, including Dr. Robert Hutchison, Dr. Marty Greer, and many more. Access all of our past webinars - and stay up to date on upcoming webinars - by visiting the Good Breeder Center.

Today we are joined by Dr. Kristina, who is a veterinarian and blogger at wellbredvet.com. She serves on the board of directors for the Society of Theriogenology and is an owner and practitioner at Elon Oaks Veterinary Hospital in North Carolina.Drawing on Dr. Kristina's expertise in reproductive medicine, today's episode is all about clinical disorders in neonatal puppies.Listen to the episode to learn about common congenital and inherited defects that might occur in neonatal puppies, the importance of colostrum, how to know what's going wrong with a neonatal puppy, and more!Your Litter A to Z is the leading, science-based course for dog breeders. It includes expertly designed 18 modules, checklists, and reports that cover before breeding, getting your bitch pregnant, whelping your litter and raising your pups. If you're already a member of Good Dog, you can access the course here! And if you're not a member, you can join our community here.

Nicole, Good Dog's Breeder Community Lead, begins the episode by discussing her personal experience with pet loss and how we as a society have shifted our views on grieving over pets.The second part of the episode features Good Breeder Julie Walker of Knucklehead Cane Corso, who Nicole interviews about her experience with pet loss and how she navigates the loss of puppies as a breeder. We hope you were able to find some comfort and solace in this episode, and know that you are not alone in how you’re feeling, and that there are resources out there, as simple as calling a fellow pet loving friend to tell them how you’re feeling, or seeking professional help if you need.Good Dog provides breeders in our community with free and exclusive access to puppy contract templates and legal resources created by our team of lawyers, specifically for dog breeders. If you're already a member of Good Dog, you can access these resources here. And if you're not a member, but would like to join, you can sign up here!

Dr. Mikel Delgado speaks to grief specialist Brenda Brown about coping with the loss of a pet. Brenda started GAP (Grief About Pets) which offers support services to pet parents and their families before and after the loss of a pet.Many of us have experienced the painful loss of a pet. Let's talk about what we can do to help ourselves, as well as others, through the process of grief.Good Dog’s Breeding Foundations course provides expert advice on pedigrees, genetics, contracts, and everything else you need to set your breeding program up for success. This course usually costs $245, but you can access it for free when you join Good Dog today! Or if you're already a member, you can access the course here.

In this episode, Jennifer Shyrock discusses how we can increase safety and reduce stress in homes with young children and family dogs.Jennifer Shyrock is the owner and founder of Family Paws, which supports new and expecting families in balancing dog and baby/toddler dynamics. She is also a certified dog behavior consultant, and worked as a special education teacher - so she knows a thing or two about dogs and kids!Adding a dog to a young family (or adding a baby to a family with a dog) can be overwhelming and stressful. Jennifer teaches us what mistakes new families often make, and what we can do to ensure that the transition into a new family life is a smooth one.Your Litter A to Z is the leading, science-based course for dog breeders. It includes expertly designed 18 modules, checklists, and reports that cover before breeding, getting your bitch pregnant, whelping your litter and raising your pups. If you're already a member of Good Dog, you can access the course here! And if you're not a member, you can join our community here.

Nicole chats with Good Breeder Eve Tetzlaff from Dyberry Creek Farm & Dr. Judi Stella from Good Dog's Health, Standards & Research Team about the importance of health testing in a breeding program. They also highlight Good Dog’s new Health Toggle feature, which lets you share your dogs’ health test files and links directly on your profile.Listen to how Eve incorporates health testing into her Entlebucher breeding program, how she got to where she is now, and what advice she has for up and coming breeders.Dr. Stella discusses Good Dog’s approach to health testing and transparency, and what breeders can expect as members of Good Dog.Breeders on Good Dog get $100 every year to spend on health testing and access to exclusive discounts from our partners, including Embark, Paw Print Genetics, and AKC Reunite. If you're already a member of our community, you can check out the discounts here. And if you're not a member, but would like to know more, you can join here!

This is part two of our interview with Linda Case: trainer, author and owner of The Science Dog. Linda's latest book, "Feeding Smart with The Science Dog," explores common myths and misconceptions surrounding canine nutrition and feeding practices.In this episode, Linda explains what AAFCO feeding trials are, what the "complete and balanced" claim on dog food means, and how important processing is in creating pet food (from kibble to wet food to raw diets).Listeners of The Good Dog Pod get 15% off the Good Dog merch store with the code GDP15. Go to shop.gooddog.com to redeem this exclusive discount!If you are interested in entering the giveaway to win Linda's most recent book, "Feeding Smart with The Science Dog," fill out this form: goodbreedercenter.typeform.com/feedingsmart. This giveaway ends on Sunday, March 20th, 2022.

Dr. Mikel Delgado chats with Linda Case, trainer, author and owner of The Science Dog. Linda's latest book, "Feeding Smart with The Science Dog," explores common myths and misconceptions surrounding canine nutrition and feeding practices.In this episode, Linda talks about what you can do to feed your dog right: understanding key concepts such as digestibility, how important it is to have a feeding routine, what a food being biologically appropriate means, and more.Listeners of The Good Dog Pod get 15% off the Good Dog merch store with the code GDP15. Go to shop.gooddog.com to redeem this exclusive discount!If you are interested in entering the giveaway to win Linda's most recent book, "Feeding Smart with The Science Dog," fill out this form: goodbreedercenter.typeform.com/feedingsmart. This giveaway ends on Sunday, March 20th, 2022.

This is a replay of episode 9 of the Good Dog Pod.About Dr. Marty Greer: Dr. Greer is a renowned author, speaker, veterinarian, and canine reproduction specialist. In addition to being the Director of Veterinary Services at Revival Animal Health, she is on the board of the National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA), the Society for Veterinary Medical Ethics, American Veterinary Medical Law Association, and the Society for Theriogenology.About Sheryl Bradbury: Sheryl Bradbury is the Owned Brands Manager at Revival Animal Health, where she oversees the Breeder’s Edge, Doc Roy’s, and Vet Basics brands. Sheryl grew up falling asleep in the whelping box and has bred champions from several breeds. Today she raises Grand Basset Griffon Vendeens and Lancashire Heelers. She is the president of the United States Lancashire Heeler Club and also holds board positions in various dog clubs and animal health foundations. In addition to her breeding experience, Sheryl brings 30 years of product management experience in the veterinary industry to her role at Revival.Reproduction is a luxury for a dog’s body, and can only happen if the body is already able to take care of its vital organs. We can’t overlook the nutrients that are often missed by the main pet food companies that are important to making a dog as healthy as possible for breeding. Thus, supplements are critical for keeping breeding dogs healthy for reproduction.Dr. Greer gives some specific examples of the nutrients required for healthy breeding dogs and what they do for the reproductive system, as well as what they do for the puppies’ health.Dr. Greer also talks about the importance of getting the right nutrients to stud dogs for breeding, in addition to the more commonly-talked about health of the bitch.Sheryl talks about some of the products Revival Animal Health offers, and how they support dogs’ reproductive health. She goes over the extensive research and development Revival Animal Health goes through to develop their products - making sure that they are created based on current reproductive and nutritional science and are reviewed by experts.Dr. Greer talks about the recent research surrounding folic acid and its benefits. Check out some current research about folic acid and cleft palate in brachycephalic dogs here.

Dr. Mikel Delgado interviews Dr. Jan Bellows, a Board Certified Veterinary Dentist, about periodontal disease! Listen to get Dr. Bellows's insight on what signs to look for in your dogs for periodontal disease, what it entails, and how to prevent it.Pets depend on us to take care of their teeth (if only they could brush their own teeth!); so, not only do we need to be aware of the warning signs of periodontal disease, but we also have to take the initiative to brush our dogs' teeth regularly, get their teeth cleaned professionally, and stay vigilant in looking for any signs of bad breath or dental pain in our pets. Did you know some dogs need braces? Just like humans, braces help push teeth into their correct places to prevent future teeth impacts and other maladies.

Dr. Mikel Delgado interviews Dr. Natalie Marks about the Fear Free Movement, specifically within preventative dental care.Dr. Natalie Marks is a practicing veterinarian and previous practice owner of the first Fear Free Certified Hospital in Illinois. She received her degree at the University of Illinois School of Veterinary Medicine. She is the owner of MarksDVMConsulting, where she offers services related to education and project development within the field of veterinary medicine. She is also co-founder of Vet Scoop, a collaboration of veterinarians, with the goals of providing accessible real talk pet health resources and helping pet parents know when it's time to see their vet. Dr. Marks is Fear Free certified elite and was a member of the original Fear Free advisory board.

Dr. Mikel Delgado interviews Dr. Nate Ritter about the basics of canine dental health. Learn how to get the right habits established with your new puppy, including what types of toys and treats to give them, how often you should brush their teeth, and more.Learn what to look for in your dog that may indicate a dental problem - from bad breath to fractured teeth. It's also important that your dogs get their teeth checked at the vet at their regular visits, so that you can keep them healthy and happy.Listen to the full episode for Dr. Ritter's complete veterinary expertise!

Nicole invites two special guests for this episode: Nicole Barnett, Good Dog’s Education Associate, and Cindy Stocker, Good Breeder of Swiss Stock Entlebuchers.Nicole Barnett discusses how the course Your Litter A to Z is structured, what the program includes, and what breeders can expect to get out of it. The course is free for Good Breeders and includes detailed reports, checklists, calculators, educational videos, and much, much more!Cindy then discusses her experience with Your Litter A to Z, and how it helped her through her first litter. She reiterates how education is so important for breeders - no matter their level of experience.Check out Your Litter A to Z now!

Dr. Mikel Delgado interviews Dr. Greg Burns, who is currently an Assistant Professor at Colorado State University. Dr. Burns is a theriogenologist, meaning he is a is a board-certified specialist in reproduction. He specializes in advanced reproductive technologies, especially transcervical AI.Dr. Burns gives his expert insight on artificial insemination, what advances have been made in the field, and what options breeders have in alternative methods of breeding their dogs.

Dr. Mikel Delgado from Good Dog's Health, Standards, & Research team interviews theriogenologist Dr. Bruce Christensen, DVM, MS, DACT. Dr. Christensen runs Kokopelli Assisted Reproductive Services in Sacramento, CA. Dr. Christensen graduated from Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002 and has authored many book chapters, peer-reviewed scientific publications, and lay articles on reproduction in many species, and has edited a text on canine reproduction.Listen to this episode to get Dr. Christensen's insight on semen quality: what the best practices are around shipping semen, what you need to know with chilled versus frozen semen, and more!

Nicole is joined by Good Breeder Karen Yapp, as well as one of Karen's recent puppy buyers, Susan. Karen and Susan share their experience working together and discuss all that goes into applying and eventually bringing your puppy home from a breeder.Karen runs Autumn Harvest Dood Ranch in Oregon and Susan lives in New York City with her husband. With the transition to working from home, Susan realized she finally had the time needed to raise a puppy - and so, Susan connected with Karen to get an Australian Labradoodle puppy.Listen to the process Susan went through to get her puppy from Karen, and what Karen, as a breeder, expects from the process. The breeder-buyer puppy connection is a huge part of a breeder's life: listen to the episode to get some deep insight on this relationship!

Cat and Monica go over their favorite things that happened this year: from launching the Good Dog Store, to the Club Grant Program, to this podcast, and more! Let's take a look back at the highlights from 2021 as well as some sneak peaks into our plans for 2022! The Good Dog Pod will resume on January 12th. Happy Holidays!

Nicole interviews Melissa Farmer of Farmer Doodles to get her tips and tricks to keep your dogs safe and comfortable during the holiday season: whether you're taking them with you on a trip, staying at home, or having someone watch them while you're away.The second half of this episode features Dr. Nate Ritter and Dr. Mikel Delgado, who discuss common holiday hazards for your pups. The holidays can be a bit hectic, so it's good to know what's hazardous for your dogs beforehand so you're able to prepare your home and educate your friends and family on basic safety measures to keep everyone safe. Listen to the episode to learn more about the dangers of decorations, holiday plants, human food, and more.

America’s Vet, Dr. Marty Becker, DVM, joined us on this episode of The Good Dog Pod to talk about the Fear Free Movement. Developed by hundreds of experts in behavior, medicine, and handling, Fear Free has become one of the most transformative initiatives in the history of companion animal practice.Over the last four decades, Dr. Becker has owned or co-owned seven veterinary hospitals, lectured across six continents, became an adjunct professor at three colleges of veterinary medicine, and wrote 25 books, his most recent being From Fearful to Fear Free: A Positive Program to Free Your Dog from Anxiety, Fears, and Phobias.

Good Dog’s Health, Standards & Research Team answer some frequently asked questions about hips: what hip dysplasia is, what causes it, what the process for testing for hip dysplasia looks like, whether you can do genetic tests to determine hip dysplasia, and more!

This episode is an adaptation of a webinar we had with Dr. Chris Zink. Dr. Zink introduces a new survey looking at how reproductive status affects health outcomes in dogs. We’re interested in learning more about alternatives to spay/neuter surgery, but we need ALL dog owners to participate. You can fill out the survey HERE!Dr. Zink wears many hats. She is a veterinarian who specializes in canine sports medicine. She is the owner of Canine Sports Productions and competes in several dog sports including Agility, Obedience, Conformation, and Rally. Dr. Zink is an accomplished researcher and author of dozens of scientific papers. She is the Director of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology and a Professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. And we are very grateful to say that she also takes time out of her very busy life to serve on Good Dog’s Advisory Board!

Nicole is joined by Sarah Hartwig, the person behind the Puppy Training Program! The Puppy Training Program is a free benefit for buyers (and breeders) who use Good Dog's payment system. Raising a puppy is the equivalent of homeschooling a child, except in this case, you are the teacher and your puppy is your student — one who doesn’t speak your language. Luckily, Good Dog's Puppy Training Program was created to help you translate — from 8 weeks, to 15 months.Sarah walks through some of the main features of the Puppy Training Program, including the courses that are included, as well as the community support that comes with it. The Training Program goes over important skills for both the humans and pups, from socialization to house training to health & wellness. The Puppy Training Program also includes useful training guides, including checklists, worksheets, and a sample planner.If you're a breeder and have a Good Dog account, you can access the Puppy Training Program for free here!

This is part 2 of a webinar we did with Dr. James Serpell, world-renowned leading canine behaviorist and co-creator of C-BARQ, and veterinary specialist, Vet of the Year, Dr. Chris Zink, DVM. Listen to the experts discuss how breeders can use C-BARQ to breed for behavior as well as recent research on the effects of early spay/neuter.About Dr. James Serpell's, BSc, PhD:Director at PennVet’s Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society, co-creator of C-BARQ (vetapps.vet.upenn.edu/cbarq/), author of The Domestic Dog, founder of the International Society for Anthrozoology, committed to the scientific study of human-animal interactions, Professor of Animal Ethics & Welfare at UPenn, and has published many studies and articles on canine behavior, health, and welfare.About Dr. Chris Zink, DVM, PhD, DACVP DACVSMR CCRT CVSMT CVA:Vet of the Year, award-winning author, has put over 125 titles, Co-Founder of Avidog-Zink Ventures, and expert in canine sports medicine and rehab (instrumental in establishing this as the newest specialty in veterinary medicine).

In this special episode, we adapted a webinar we did with Dr. James Serpell, world-renowned leading canine behaviorist and co-creator of C-BARQ, and veterinary specialist, Vet of the Year, Dr. Chris Zink, DVM. Listen to the experts discuss how breeders can use C-BARQ to breed for behavior as well as recent research on the effects of early spay/neuter. About Dr. James Serpell's, BSc, PhD:Director at PennVet’s Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society, co-creator of C-BARQ (vetapps.vet.upenn.edu/cbarq/), author of The Domestic Dog, founder of the International Society for Anthrozoology, committed to the scientific study of human-animal interactions, Professor of Animal Ethics & Welfare at UPenn, and has published many studies and articles on canine behavior, health, and welfare.About Dr. Chris Zink, DVM, PhD, DACVP DACVSMR CCRT CVSMT CVA:Vet of the Year, award-winning author, has put over 125 titles, Co-Founder of Avidog-Zink Ventures, and expert in canine sports medicine and rehab (instrumental in establishing this as the newest specialty in veterinary medicine).

This is a rebroadcasting of an episode that originally aired July 22nd, 2020. The two most common problems with fertility are timing (with respect to the female) and having good quality semen that’s delivered into the uterus. Another problem that’s becoming increasingly important is the nutrition of the bitch and stud dog.About Dr. Greer: Dr. Greer is a renowned author, speaker, veterinarian, and canine reproduction specialist. In addition to being the Director of Veterinary Services at Revival Animal Health, she is on the board of the National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA), the Society for Veterinary Medical Ethics, American Veterinary Medical Law Association, and the Society for Theriogenology.Laura and Marty start by discussing the importance of nutrition - what people feed their dogs, how they feed, and what consequences those factors can have on the success of a breeding.There is likely a nutritional component to the quality of a stud dog’s semen in addition to fertility and the female - this is something that hasn’t been very explored, but is becoming more evident.They then talk about the importance of progesterone timing and how using frozen vs fresh semen interacts with that.There’s a narrow window of time during which the puppies need to come out - they also discuss the downsides of reverse progesterone testing (done at the end of pregnancy).Last, they discuss the importance of having your bitch in good physical condition - fit but not too lean. You also want your bitch to have good dental health. Overall, you want your dog to be in top notch shape for breeding.

In this installment of the Breeder to Breeder series, Laura, Susan, and Gayle talk about what breeders can do to resuscitate puppies that seem to be fading.The first thing you need to know is how to identify when a recently-born puppy may be in trouble. Healthy, naturally-born puppies should be rigid (not soft), and should weigh more than they look. Puppies that aren’t moving or making any sounds should be concerning - while there are variations between breeds, most newborns will be making noises and moving to find their mother. If you’re concerned about a puppy, it’s important to act immediately - in fact, it’s always best to take action rather than to wait when it comes to newborn puppies. When whelping, breeders are with their puppies 24/7. Susan and Gayle list some of the essential items they have with them during the entire process - from white towels to blow dryers. They also list some accessible alternatives that are great options for breeders without a lot of existing equipment.If you’re dealing with a puppy that is still a bit limp, or a puppy that hasn’t fully cleared its lungs yet, you can gently compress and uncompress the puppy’s body with your hands (almost like puppy yoga) while angling the puppy downward. This can get the remaining fluid out of the lungs.When assessing your puppies, checking their heartbeat is key. Puppies that don’t have a heartbeat after 15 minutes often will not make it, so it’s important to constantly monitor puppies that you’re concerned about. Listen to the episode for more tips on resuscitating puppies.

Laura Reeves, Susan Patterson, and Gayle Watkins begin the Breeder to Breeder series with one of the toughest topics in breeding: stillborn puppies. Gayle begins the discussion by reviewing a study that was published in 2019, analyzing data from 2,500 whelpings. The biggest takeaway from the study is that stillborn puppies are common in dogs, and breeders should be prepared for this. Among the dogs studied (in this case, larger breed dogs), litters with 5-8 puppies had the lowest rate of stillborn puppies. Litters with fewer than 5 actually had the highest rate, with large litters also having high instances of stillborn puppies.The three birthing methods that have statistically the same stillborn rates are: natural whelpings with no dystocia, planned c-sections, and natural whelpings that might have uterine problems but that are resolved with calcium alone. Birthing methods that are problematic with regards to stillborn rates are: emergency c-sections (especially when oxytocin is used) as well as using mechanical manipulation to get the puppies out.Susan gives a rundown of how to give your dogs oral calcium supplements, which can help alleviate some whelping-related issues and decrease the chance of stillborn puppies. She then follows up with situations in which using oxytocin can be useful during the whelping process.Gayle continues her summary of the study, describing how the time in between puppies being born is correlated with the rate of stillborn puppies - the conventional wisdom of 2 hours between puppies may be too long! If you find yourself at 45 minutes between puppies, it may be in your interest to give your dog calcium. Susan also recommends regularly feeding your bitch (Susan does this through a syringe) while they are in active labor to help them maintain their energy.Continue listening for tips on tools and techniques you can use to help ease your bitch through the process of labor!

Laura is joined by a couple of canine fitness coaches, Kristin Sandstede and Dixie Rae Sick, to discuss some fitness games and exercises that are great to do indoors.Kristin is a professional dog trainer and owns Big Moose Dog Training. When people think of dog exercises, their minds often go to cardio-focused activities such as running, playing fetch, agility, and so on. While high-cardio exercise is important for dogs, it’s important to spend time on mental exercises. Whether it’s obedience or learning new tricks, mental exercises can tire out your dog just as well (if not better) than physical exercises.A great way to exercise your dog’s brain is to use food puzzles during meal time. This will keep the dog occupied while you can multitask on other things, while also stimulating your dog’s brain. There are lots of other interactive toys that are great at exercising your dogs; try some out and see what your dog likes!Kristin goes on to talk about different ways you can condition your dog to keep them physically fit. By regularly having your dog perform certain stretches and exercises, you can decrease the risk of injury.Next, Laura chats with Dixie to get some ideas on effective exercises we can do with our dogs. The first idea that comes to mind for most people is walking. Walking your dog on a gentle incline is great at working certain groups of muscles - going both uphill and downhill. Another idea is to train your dog in going from a stand to a down, and from a down to a stand. This works the dog’s core which helps with balance and can prevent future injuries.Listen to the full episode to get some more exercise ideas from Dixie!

This week, Laura is joined by Dr. Marty Greer, DVM, JD to discuss the prevalence of obesity in dogs. In the US, having overweight dogs has become more and more common, thus shifting the public perception of what a dog should look like. Many owners overfeed their dogs because of their love for them - their dog is hungry, so why not continue to feed them? In reality, over-feeding and under-exercising dogs can lead to many health problems, and a shorter lifespan. Laura and Dr. Greer discuss some ways to continue feeding your dog more, while decreasing their calorie intake: replacing their typical food and treats with fruits and veggies, or giving them ice cubes to munch on are all great low-calorie substitutions.Dr. Greer goes on to explain how you can assess your dog's weight just with your eyes and hands, making sure to check that your dog's body conforms to the relevant breed standard.

This episode features two familiar guests: Dr. Gayle Watkins and Susan Patterson! As breeders of Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers respectively, today’s episode is all about retrieving games you can play with your dogs.How do you get a dog started with retrieving? The first step to getting a puppy trained in retrieving is finding something the puppy likes to retrieve and start retrieving in a quiet, confined place. The goal in getting your puppy used to retrieving is to make the process of bringing their favorite toy back fun (they usually don’t need any help taking the toy from you!). When starting out, also make sure to limit the number of retrievals to just 1-3, otherwise the puppy will become bored or disinterested. Another important point is to avoid touching the toy once the puppy brings it back to you. Puppies will bring the toy back to you because they want to see you - not because they want you to take their favorite toy from them. Instead of taking the toy right away, be sure to praise them and play with them before gently taking the toy.What are some events you can do with retrieving dogs? Retrieving dogs can participate in dock diving, hunt tests, field trials, and other events that center around the act of retrieving. Before taking your dog to one of these events though, you and your dog must have a strong understanding of the rules and manners associated with participating in these events. The most important skill to have going into these events is the sit and stay. Once your dog is comfortable on and off leash and is able to stay obedient around distractions, that’s when you’re able to have all the fun that comes with retrieving at an event. Another huge skill to have is the ability to have your dog deliver the object straight to your hand, rather than dropping it in front of you. This is important to train young, as it’s more difficult for a dog to break the habit of dropping things in front of you. For sports that don’t require your dog to deliver items directly into your hand, flyball, dock diving, and disc throwing are all great options to stay active with your pups.Listen to the rest of the episode to learn more about the details of hunt tests and field trials, including what both the dog and the handler are responsible for.

Laura is joined by Kristin Rosenbach, a dog trainer and truffle hunting expert. Kristin has been truffle hunting for 10 years with her own dogs, as well as offering training on how you can teach your dog to hunt for truffles.In the Pacific Northwest, where Kristin is based, truffle hunting season starts in the fall and goes through the spring. Truffles are fruiting bodies of underground fungal networks and are often found near tree roots, but occasionally appear in other places as well.Many breeds are suited to truffle hunting around the world, as long as the dogs are properly trained and physically sound. Dogs are trained to recognize and locate the scent of truffles buried underground, and in Kristin's case, they're trained to dig out the truffles as well (since they can more accurately pinpoint where truffles are than we can!).Listen to the episode learn a bit more about Kristin's course on training your dog to hunt for truffles, or check it out here!

In this episode, Laura Reeves talks about things you can do to keep your dogs active and engaged. She starts off by talking to the founder of the Barn Hunt Association, Robin Nuttall. Barn Hunt is a quickly-growing sport that both AKC and non-AKC dogs can participate in. The sport focuses on testing the working instinct of vermin-hunting dogs, but all dogs are welcome to join in. Robin describes the rules of the game and how it has become a gateway sport for many dog owners - due to this, it's hugely important for Robin to make Barn Hunt a positive experience for both beginners and experts, and to encourage broader participation in the sporting world.The best part of the Barn Hunt is watching how excited the owners/handlers get while watching their dogs have fun in this sport. If you'd like to learn more or want to know how you can participate, visit the Barn Hunt Association.The next guest Laura talks to is Chelsea Murray, an expert in dryland mushing. Dryland mushing involves having a dog (or team of dogs) pull a human across a surface (other than snow or ice). This sport is great because you can participate in it year round, and it's great exercise for both humans and dogs. The barrier to entry is quite low, as there are many different ways you can participate: whether you're on foot running behind the dog, or being pulled on a bike. Chelsea discusses the required skills and training to participate in dryland mushing.The final guest Laura speaks to is Jon Sarabia. Jon is a retired military dog trainer based in Missouri, who is now active in the scent work as a competitor and judge. Scent work is an event in which dogs are tasked with locating the sources of certain scents (in practice, these are usually different kinds of essential oils). This is a fast-growing sport in the dog world that allows dogs of all breeds to participate. Listen to learn more about how you can get involved!

Susan Patterson joins Laura today to talk about her revamped column on Good Dog, Straight from the Whelping Box! As many of you know, Susan is a renowned Labrador Retriever breeder with years of experience in showing, breeding, and whelping. Susan has spent the past year answering questions on her Good Dog column, Straight from the Whelping Box, sharing her expert advice for Good Dog Breeders. Good Dog Breeders can see all of the past questions that Susan has answered in this new and improved hub, where content is organized by topic. In addition to having access to past answers, Good Dog Breeders can directly message Susan (and Laura Reeves & Gayle Watkins) with their breeding questions. Join Good Dog now to get access to these Email Office Hours!

In this episode of the Good Dog Pod, Good Dog has an exciting announcement! Good Dog Breeders now get free access to Avidog’s “Your Litter A to Z” course. Host Laura Reeves is joined by Good Dog’s Head of Education and Avidog founder Dr. Gayle Watkins to discuss everything this course has to offer, for both new and experienced breeders.  What is “Your Litter A to Z”? This is Avidog’s flagship course on dog breeding, developed by Gayle over the last 25 years. With an original value of $497, Good Breeders can now access it completely free! It includes 18 modules on everything from laying the stage for a breeding, to whelping, and finally to sending the puppies to their new homes. Each module comes with instructional videos, checklists, and written chapters.  What else is included in this course? In addition to the course itself, Gayle hosts live coaching calls twice a month for Q&A and discussions for all course users. There is also a private Facebook group for all Good Dog Breeders, where you can ask questions and receive answers from breeder community members and Good Dog’s Breeder Advisors. Don’t forget to check out Straight from the Whelping Box and Straight from the Center of the Ring for more content on breeding and showing dogs! How should I best utilize this course? Go through the course from the beginning or jump to the module you need. This course is intended for both new and seasoned breeders, and Gayle herself uses the checklists for every litter. The checklists and breeding diary worksheets are easy to use, with clear instructions and tips. The course is updated regularly with the newest dog breeding science and recommendations, to help you produce the healthiest puppies possible.  Good Dog hopes all Good Breeders will take advantage of this amazing course and read more about it here. If you are not yet a Good Dog Breeder, sign up at gooddog.com/join to get free access to “Your Litter A to Z” and more!