Your Family Dog Podcast

Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith address some of the most common questions they get from listeners and clients about canine diet, weight, age, and of course, so much more! For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

"I'm sorry, but your dog has cancer," can be heartbreaking and terrifying for owners to hear. Dr. Erin Malone, veterinary oncologist at MedVet Columbus joins Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring to talk about cancer, treatment, quality of life, and what it means for the many pet owners who will face this diagnosis in their beloved pet. For more information and show notes, please go to: Your Family Dog

What role does creativity play in helping dogs or children learn to navigate their worlds? Does structure aid in the creative process and how does that apply to raising kids or training dogs? These are some of the questions we explore with Dr. Sara Wyckoff, Assistant Professor at The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. For show notes and more information please see: Your Family Dog

In part 2 of our series with Barbara Dobbins on spaying or neutering your dog, we have a far ranging discussion that includes: the role of hormones in the life of a dog, the effects on behavior when you alter your dog, and whether or not a connection exists between spaying and neutering and cancer. For show notes and more information please see: Your Family Dog

To spay or neuter your dog may seem like a no-brainer decision, but is it? Are there unintended consequences to when or if you alter your pet? Is this always the right decision for you and your dog. In Part 1 of this two part series on Spay and Neuter we talk with Barb Dobbins, author of the Whole Dog Journal article, To Neuter, or Not to Neuter Your Dog: That is the Question, about this not not inconsequential decision. For show notes and more information please see: Your Family Dog

In this episode Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith give listeners the inside scoop on what trainers talk about with each other, how they view the world of dogs and humans and, some of the challenges they face as dog owners and trainers. For show notes please see: Your Family Dog

In part 2 of our series with Dr. Ryan Yamka, we look at the recent controversy over grain free foods and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Are they really linked? What started the debate and what do you need to know? For more information and show notes please visit: Your Family Dog

Dr. Ryan Yamka, PhD, FACN, PAS, Dipl ACAS, is a canine nutrition expert and founder of Guardian Pet Food. He joins Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith for a discussion of canine nutrition and what dog owners need to know to choose the best way to feed their best friend. For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Dr. Zazie Todd, author of the Companion Animal Psychology blog, joins Julie Fudges Smith and Tina Spring to discuss her new book, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy. Join us and learn what you can do to make your dog the happiest one on the block! (This is Dr. Todd's second appearance on Your Family Dog, so be sure to check out our first episode with Dr. Todd: Making Happy Dogs Happier) For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

In Part Two of this Mother's Day special we continue the lively discussion about kids, dogs, and families with Dr. Sara Wyckoff of The University of St Augustine for Health Sciences, San Marco California. For show notes and more please go to: Your Family Dog

Welcome to Part one of this two part series for Mother's Day. In this episode Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith have a wide ranging discussion with Dr. Sara Wyckoff of The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, San Marco, California about kids, dogs, moms, culture, and what we can do to help all the members of our family thrive. For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith talk about the Potcake dogs from the Carribean islands. Tina owns two of these special individuals and has an insider's perspective on their special characterstics, temperaments and needs. For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

This very wet spring, along with the Stay At Home mandate, has created many opportunities for at home play and training for the dogs of Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring. Join the discussion on what you can do to prepare your pups for good weather and renewed social interactions. For show notes, please go to: Your Family Dog

In Part 2 of our series on play, Karen Deeds joins Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith to discuss how play can be a form of behavior modification, a way to teach important skills such as dropping an object or focusing on the owner, as well as the best way to introduce toys so your dog is not as likely to develop any bad habits associated with play. For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Rehoming dog is a topic that often evokes strong emotions as well as opinions. In this episode, Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith welcome Charlie, a client of Tina's, to talk about how and why she and her family made the difficult, painful, but also compassionate decision to rehome their dog. For show notes and more information please go to: Your Family Dog

In this first episode of a two part series, Karen Deeds, of Canine Connection in Ft. Worth Texas, joins Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring to talk about how to get a reluctant dog to play, how to figure out your dog's style of play, and using personal play to get your canine to engage with you in a fun and meaningful way. For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

In part two of our discussion on canine dermatology, Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring talk with Dr. Natalie Theus, Board Certified Veterinary Dermatologist about allergies, common misconceptions about skin issues, ears, stress, and so much more! For more information and show notes please see: Your Family Dog

Dr. Natalie Theus, Board Certified Veterinary Dermatologist joins Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith for two episodes to talk about a variety of canine dermatological issues. In this first part we discuss skin manifestations of thyroid disease, hot spots, allergies, and what you can do to help prevent skin problems in your dog. For more information and show notes please see: Your Family Dog

Karen Deeds, of Canine Connection in Ft. Worth, Texas, joins Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring for an engaging and lively conversation about enrichment for your dog. What is it? Why is it important for both you and Fido? And, how to do it without breaking the bank! For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Dr. Lisa Lippman DVM (We Don't Deserve Dogs) joins Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring for a discussion of some of the common toxins and hazards found in most households. Find out what you need to know to keep your dog (and other pets) safe, as well as what hazards need immediate attention, and where to get more information about common poisons. For more information and show notes please visit: Your Family Dog Podcast ASPCA Poison Control: 888-426-4435

Training for your dog comes in a variety of forms, and one that is often overlooked is management. Creating an environment where your dog is more likely to make desirable choices and is prevented from making less desirable choices is both management and training. In this episode, Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith talk about how management can be as simple as making sure Fido goes up the stairs the same way every time, or crating Fifi before workmen come to the house so she doesn't jump on them, and so much more! For show notes and more, please go to: Your Family Dog

In this episode Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith discuss some of the ways in which you can effectively manage family, dogs, holiday gatherings, and still keep a modicum of sanity. Join us for a lively and helpful discussion about holiday mayhem. For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Is there something your dog does that bothers you or another member of your household? Does he stick his head in the dishwasher or rush the door when the kids pick up their backpacks? Learn how to better manage your dog and household by using these environmental cues to teach the dog to do something else instead! For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

This week Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring talk about gifts for your dog for the Holiday season or anytime you want to enrich the life of your special canine. Included are gifts you can buy or make, as well as ideas of how to use what you have on hand to creatively entertain and delight your dog. For show notes and links please go to: Your Family Dog Podcast

When a dog is diagnosed with a terminal disease, owners may be at a loss as to what they can do for their beloved pet. Dr. Katherine Fowler joins Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith to discuss hospice care for pets and how it can help both pets and owners make the most of their time together. For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog Podcast

Does your dog love to roll? Zoom around the yard? Or smile at you? In this episode, Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith talk about recognizing when our dogs are truly joyful and when it just might be something else.

Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring talk about some of the guiding principles that shape their dog training and the way in which they approach clients and their dogs. This wide ranging discussion also looks at problematic dog behaviors in a new way. Maybe Fido really isn't stubborn...and maybe, just maybe, Fifi jumps because she doesn't want someone to pet her! For more information and show notes: Your Family Dog

Are you considering blending a family of dogs, kids and dogs, dogs and cats, or other combinations of people and animals? Is it not going as smoothly as you would like? If so, this podcast is for you! Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith discuss the process, as well as, the ups and downs of creating a blended family. For more information and show notes please see: Your Family Dog Podcast

In episode 102 Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith discussed how to get your dog to stop barking. In this episode we look at the other side of that coin: What if my dog doesn't bark? Is there a way to get her to bark at unwanted intrusions? For more information and show notes please see: Your Family Dog

Do you have a dog who needs to alert you about every gust of wind or falling leaf? In this episode, Tina Spring and Julie Fudge Smith discuss the why's and wherefore's of vocalizing canines and what you can do to help your dog understand when it is and isn't appropriate to bark. For more information and show notes please see: Your Family Dog

In this episode we discuss a wide range of topics from ziplines to Grace to teaching a dog to read! Colleen Pelar also bids farewell to Your Family Dog and introduces Tina Spring as the newest member of the Your Family Dog pack. Tina hails from Georgia and is the owner of Sit Happens Training and Behavior. For more information please go to: Your Family Dog

In an earlier episode, Lessons from Zuzu, Julie Fudge Smith talked about the things that her dog Zuzu has taught her, and now Colleen talks about the things she has learned from four very special dogs. For show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

In our second episode with Judy Gladson of Victory Retrievers, Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith talk with her about how she became a breeder, as well as the highs and lows of breeding pure-bred dogs. For more information and show notes please see: Your Family Dog Podcast

Judy Gladson, owner of Victory Retrievers and breeder of multipurpose Flat Coated Retrievers joins Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith to discuss puppies and puppy development from a breeder's perspective. For more information and show notes please go to: Your Family Dog Podcast

In part 2 of the series with Johanna Humbert, Executive Director of the Michiana Humane Society in Michigan City, Indiana, Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith talk about what shelters look for in adopters and what you can do to ensure that the adoption process works for you. For show notes and links please see: Your Family Dog

Johanna Humbert, Executive Director of the Michiana Humane Society in Michigan City, Indiana, joins Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith in a two part series on animal shelters. In this first episode, we discuss what you need to know and what to look for when choosing a shelter. For show notes and more information, please go to: Your Family Dog

This week Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith talk about the many lessons that Julie's dog, Zuzu, has taught her, from coffee, to medications, to how to appreciate the quirkiness of a life spent in the company of dogs. For show notes and other information, please go to: Your Family Dog Podcast

This week Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith continue their discussion of resiliency by looking at caregiver fatigue and how that can relate to the family dog owner, the owner of a special needs dog, an elderly dog, or anyone who has challenges when caring for their pet.

We all know that resiliency is a good thing, but what is it exactly? Colleen Pelar is now focusing her work on helping pet professionals build resiliency and she and Julie Fudge Smith talk about what it is, how to encourage resiliency in our canine buddies, and how that improves the quality of their lives as well as ours. For more information and show notes, please see: Your Family Dog

Do you know what the three basic vital signs are and how to take them? What's a quick and easy way to make a sling? This and so much more is covered this week when Michelle Sevigny of Dogsafe Canine First Aid, joins Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith to discuss what you need to know about first aid for your dog. For show notes and promos from Dogsafe please go to: Your Family Dog

Professional pet sitter Doug Harris joins Julie Fudge Smith and Colleen Pelar to discuss pet-sitting and why you might want to consider hiring a trained professional to care for your dog, cat, bunny, fish or whatever pet you may have. Learn what you should look for in a sitter and why it makes a difference. For show notes please see: Your Family Dog

How well does your dog know the cues you give him? What does sit mean to your dog? Will he sit whenever and wherever you ask him to? In this episode Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith discuss how to evaluate what your dog actually knows and look at whether or not your dog is being stubborn when he doesn't do what you ask. For show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

In honor of President's Day next week, Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith take a look at the numerous and varied dogs and pets owned by US Presidents. Did you know that the White House was once home to a hyena, a pair of bears, or a fleet of guinea pigs? Join us to learn more! For show notes please see: Your Family Dog

Sometimes we want our dogs to be a certain way, or to do certain things, and we forget that they have their own skill sets and attributes. In this episode, Julie Fudge Smith and Colleen Pelar talk about enjoying, appreciating, and loving the special dog who inhabits your heart and home. For show notes please see: Your Family Dog

Sue Sternberg joins Julie Fudge Smith to discuss what to look for in an animal shelter as well as a shelter dog. Knowing how to evaluate both will increase your chance of successfully finding your new best friend. For show notes and more information, please go to: Your Family Dog

Jen Shyrock of Family Paws Parent Education joins Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith to discuss what supervision of kids and dogs is. And, what it isn't! Learn how to keep everyone safe and set up for success. For links and show notes please see: Your Family Dog

Eileen Anderson (of the award winning blog, eileenanddogs) joins Julie Fudge Smith and Colleen Pelar to discuss her book, Remember Me? Loving and Caring for a Dog with Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. Learn about the symptoms and signs of canine dementia and how you can make your dog's life safe and comfortable. For more information and show notes, please see: Your Family Dog

Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith discuss the current state of dogs(and cats!) in their lives as well as some of the challenges facing them and their clients. Join them for a lively discussion of all things canine. For more information, please see: Your Family Dog

Jen Shryock of Family Paws Parent Educationjoins Julie Fudge Smith and Colleen Pelar for a lively discussion about teens and dogs, and how parents and other adults can help them be happy, engaged, and successful with one another. For more information and show notes, please see: Your Family Dog

Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith talk with Madeline Bernstein of the spcaLA about the problems with designer dogs and how the demand for these canines has led to the rise of disreputable breeders and global puppy mills. For more information and show notes please see: Your Family Dog