Your Family Dog Podcast

It's time for trainer talk! Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring are joined by fellow positive reinforcement trainer Susan Riley-Coyner BA, RVT, CPDT-KA, KPA CTP, to talk about the benefits of positive training, their experience as crossover trainers, and where dog training might be headed next. For show notes, please go to: Your Family Dog

We've all heard the phrase "you are what you eat," and we all know about the importance of eating a healthy, balanced diet (even if we don't always do a good job with it). But what about our pets? Good nutrition is just as important for our animals as it is for us, but the information out there is often just as confusing as well. Today Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring are joined by veterinary nutritionist Dr. Laura Gaylord to discuss the importance of good nutrition and how to begin putting together a healthy diet for your furry friends. For more information please see: Your Family Dog

So you've got a new dog- now what? You love Fido, but he's got some behaviors you could live without- things like jumping, chewing the furniture, and tugging at the leash. Where do you start with all this? What do you tackle first and how? Join Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring as they discuss the best way to start when it comes to training and behavior modification so you can get started on the road to success. For show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Physical therapy is one of those things nobody thinks about until they need it. And if we don't think about it for us, even less do we think about it for our dog. But dogs, like humans, can benefit from physical therapy, even without it being necessitated by injury or surgery. Join Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring as they chat with Steph Evans, a physiotherapist for both humans and their pets, about the benefits of physical therapy and the best way to keep you and your dog in tiptop condition. For show notes and links please go to: Your Family Dog

Long time listeners of Your Family Dog will be familiar with the Five Freedoms and how they can help your dog have a happier, healthier life. Similar to this is the idea of the Five Domains- the five areas of life where you can not just remove negative experience from your dog's life but actively add in positive ones as well. Julie and Tina talk about the Five Domains and how simple additions to your routine can make a big difference in the life of your canine friend. For show notes and more, please see: Your Family Dog

Dog parks- big open spaces for your favorite canine to run, play, and make new friends! What's not to love? Well, quite a bit actually, especially if you have a dog who is shy. Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring discuss the pros and cons of dog parks, as well as the best way to navigate them, particularly if you have an overly sensitive pooch. For more information and show notes: Your Family Dog

Behavior vs. training- what's the difference? Is training simply what you do to get the behavior you want? Or is there a little more to it than that? In this episode, Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring break down the differences between behavior and training, look at how and where they intersect, and examine ways to modify your training when you hit a behavioral roadblock. For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Consent- it's not just for humans. Our animal companions can also give or withhold consent, and they appreciate being asked for it as much as we do. Asking for your dog's consent and respecting when they say no not only deepens your relationship with your canine companion, but also ultimately leads to a more cheerfully compliant pup. Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring discuss the importance of asking your dog for consent, and learning how to recognize when they say yes or no. For more information and show notes: Your Family Dog

Welcome back to Your Family...Cat? Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring switch focus slightly this week as they welcome back one of their favorite guests, Dr. Zazie Todd, to discuss her new book "Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy." Tune in for tips on training your cat, lessons on kitten socialization, and even a brief interlude of "My Strange Addiction: Animal Edition." For show notes and links please go to: Your Family Dog

Does having an obedient dog make for a good owner-pet relationship? Or is a good relationship instead the prerequisite for an obedient dog? Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring discuss the importance of an owner-dog relationship rooted in trust and understanding and how that ultimately leads to a more positive training experience, and a happier, better-behaved pup. For show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

How much does breed really matter when choosing a dog? Does it ever make sense for someone who doesn't actually have a sheep farm to own a herding dog? What do you do if your "dream breed" doesn't fit with your lifestyle? Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring discuss the importance of breed and how to choose one that fits best with your family. For show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Emergencies are scary and not knowing what to do in one can make it even scarier. Drawing on personal experience, Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring help you prepare for emergency situations by discussing the importance of trusting your gut, keeping good records, and looking out for your vet staff. For show notes and more information go to: Your Family Dog

Support- your kids need it, your dogs need it, and you need it as well. Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring talk about the best way to support every member of your family- yourself included- so that you can prevent problems before they arise, deal with them effectively when they do, and set everybody up for success. For notes and more please go to: Your Family Dog

It's the most basic of commands, but can be one of the hardest to master- the deceptively simple "Come!" (or, in trainer parlance, the "recall.") Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring discuss the different types of recall and offer advice on how to help your dog learn to come no matter what. For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Kids and dogs are a great combination in theory, but the reality can be a lot messier, especially when little brains- whether human or canine- are still growing. Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring are joined once again by Julie's sister, Dr. Sara Wyckoff, to talk about the best way to help kids build a relationship with their dog at every stage of development. For more information and show notes please see: Your Family Dog

Triggers- you have them, I have them, and our dogs have them, too! Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring help you learn to recognize your dog's stress triggers and effectively manage them before they build up and boil over. For show notes and more please go to: Your Family Dog

Malena DeMartini-Price joins Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring to talk about one of the most common problems for dogs and their people- separation anxiety. Learn what it is and what you can do to help both you and your furry friend feel less stressed. There is hope! For more information and show notes, please go to: Your Family Dog Marlena's book: Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Dr. Chris Blazina rejoins Your Family Dog to talk about his newest book, One Unwavering Friend, a collection of stories about famous men and their dogs. Learn how Dickens, Freud, and Darwin all counted on their dogs for companionship and so much more. For more information please check out: Your Family Dog Podcast

This year, as we once again gather for the holidays, new challenges for our family dogs may arise! Jen Shryock from Family Paws Parent Education joins Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring to talk strategies for better managing kids and dogs during the upcoming holiday season. For show notes and more information please see: Your Family Dog

Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring tackle the topic of how to manage a multi-pet household on a daily basis as well as during the holidays when stress may be higher for you and your pets. For show notes and more information, please go to: Your Family Dog

Wilt Chamberlain once said, "Everything is habit forming, so make sure what you do is what you want to be doing." Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith talk about how that idea applies to dog training as well as to pursuing a more positive trajectory in every day (and every dog's) life. For show notes and more information please go to: Your Family Dog

Robin Bennett, doggie daycare expert and co-owner of The Dog Gurus, joined Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring to talk about what owners should be thinking about and looking for when choosing a doggie daycare. For show notes and more information please see: Your Family Dog

When was the last time your dog grabbed something that you didn't want him to have? Was it easy to get it from him? In this episode, Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith discuss how to get your pup to willingly relinquish his treasure, and how trades help prevent future resource guarding. For show notes and more information please go to: Your Family Dog

Why do dogs stare at us? Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith talk about the various reasons that dogs look at us, and how we can use eye contact to better understand our canine companions, and train them as well. For show notes and more please go to: Your Family Dog

House-training can be a dilemma for owners and dogs alike. Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith discuss some of the biggest challenges to house-training and how to teach your dog what's expected when it comes to bathroom etiquette. For more information, please go to: Your Family Dog

Dr. Karen Becker "believes in a deliberate, common sense approach to creating and maintaining vibrant health for companion animals and an unconventional, integrative approach to addressing disease and re-establishing wellbeing in ill pets." She joined Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith for a lively discussion about about canine health and well-being and her upcoming book, The Forever Dog. For show notes and more information please go to: Your Family Dog To preorder The Forever Dog, please click here.

Dog bites can be both physically and emotionally damaging. Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith discuss: whether or not to report the bite, should you seek medical attention, and what are the consequences to you and your family if your dog bites someone. For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring talk about what to look for in a doggie daycare and whether or not it's right for your dog. For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring dive into the topic of external parasites and what you need to know to prevent (or treat) an infestation of these tiny purveyors of disease. For show notes and more information please go to: Your Family Dog

Since Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith could not coordinate their schedules, Julie takes the reins and talks about her hopes for you and your family dog. For show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith talk about the need for teaching your dog to be separate from you, even when you are home. Having a dog who is comfortable on his own increases the quality of everyone's life...including the dog's! For show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Dr. Chris Blazina, psychologist, retired professor, and author of seven books, joins Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring to talk about the special bond between men and their dogs. For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith talk about the difference between arousal and friendliness, as well as using sequencing to train behaviors that will reduce arousal. They also challenge each other to train their dogs for 10 minutes a day to see what can be accomplished with so small an investment of time! For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Stephanie Kern, vet tech and dog trainer, joins Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith to discuss what you can do to make your veterinary visits better for everyone...pets and people alike! For show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Molly Schultz, of Walking Wild Fox Rescue and Wolf Dog Rescue, joins Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith to talk about her non-profit safe haven for captive bred foxes and wolf dogs. Find out how she provides the best home possible for these amazing animals. For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog Podcast

In this bonus track to episode 143, Julie Fudge Smith, Tina Spring, and veterinary oncologist, Dr. Lori Cesario, discuss canine health insurance and what you need to consider when choosing a plan. For more information please go to: Your Family Dog

Dr. Lori Cesario, Veterinary Oncologist joins Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring to talk about what pet owners need to know about cancer tests, diagnosis, and how to be proactive in caring for their pets before and after a cancer diagnosis. For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Wendie Patrick, founder of Dogs of Pride and Finnessiam Health, based in Nova Scotia Canada, joined Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring to talk about her all natural pet products designed "employing science and nature, much testing and research." Learn what Wendie has to offer that just might improve the quality of your dog's life. For show notes and more information please go to: Your Family Dog.

In this episode, Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith talk with cat person, Ruth Batchelor, to get her perspective on dogs and why some are okay, but others make her uncomfortable. Learn what you as a dog owner can do to make your cat crazy friends enjoy your canine companion. For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Colleen Pelar comes back to Your Family Dog to join hosts Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring for a wide ranging discussion on choosing the right dog for you and your family. Among the topics: whether a puppy or an adult dog would best fill that canine shaped hole in your heart, and what qualities we consider essential for your family dog. For show notes and more please go to: Your Family Dog

Colleen Pelar comes back to Your Family Dog to join hosts Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring for a wide ranging discussion on choosing the right dog for you and your family. Among the topics: whether a puppy or an adult dog would best fill that canine shaped hole in your heart, and what qualities we consider essential for your family dog. For more information and show notes: Your Family Dog Podcast

Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith have a lively discussion about socializing your puppy during a pandemic, how socialization can be over done, and the importance of allowing your dog to set the pace for meeting new people, places, and experiences. For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

How can you tell if your dog needs more sleep? In this episode, Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring discuss three young pups whose behavior indicated that with a few more zzz's they could be the happy, well-mannered dogs their owners desired. Find out what you can do to help your dog be the best (and best rested) dog on the block! For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Socialization is often described as exposing your puppy to a wide variety of people, places, dogs, and experiences in a positive way. Those are important aspects to socializing a puppy, but Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith explore the idea that enrichment is also a form of socialization and one that can be easily achieved during these uncertain times. For show notes and more information please see: Your Family Dog

Are you considering adding a dog to your family? Whether this is your first dog, your fifteenth, a solo pet, or another canine companion, there are things you will want to consider when making this decision. Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith talk in detail about how you can improve your chances of making this a successful addition to your family. For show notes and more information please see: Your Family Dog

Annelise Halliday Norman had a Corgi shaped hole in her heart for many years before she was able to fill it. She joins Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith to discuss the research, preparation, as well as the surprises that came with adopting a puppy as a single woman and graduate student. For more information and show notes please go to Your Family Dog

Thomas King of the Cleary Company, in Columbus Ohio, and Nathan Coker of Stanfield Air Systems, in Athens Georgia, join Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith for a discussion of how dogs, their owners, and contractors can work together. Whether the job lasts an hour or a month, learn what you can do to make sure that the job gets done and everyone is happy! For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring continue the discussion from episode 131 on crate training by talking about enrichment and how to help your dog learn to love her crate, ex-pen, or other cozy enclosure! For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith talk about the value of having your dog not only accept, but love her crate and how you can get your dog to think this is the best idea she ever had! For more information please see: Your Family Dog

Does your dog see aliens in every corner of the yard and let you know the invasion is imminent? Perhaps he's come more sensitive to noises such as thunder, or is scared by shadows? If you're lucky, your dog may be able to sense space invaders before they land! But, more likely, she's getting older and her senses are dimming, and movement, noises, and shadows are now scary for her. In this episode, Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring talk about some of the changes you can look for as your dog ages and what you can do to help. For more information and show notes please see: Your Family Dog For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog