In this special episode, ethologist Kim Brophey joins us to talk about the science showing just how sadly isolated our pet dogs have become, and — on the upside — the beautiful impact that a small, stable group of canine peers can have on this innately social species. A new scientific paper, "Disconnected Lives: Social Networks and Emotional Regulation in Domestic Dogs," jumpstarted this fantastic conversation that's filled with small, doable ways you can start helping your dog to have some fellow travelers as they navigate life here on Planet Human.

(We highly recommend reading the fascinating paper by Agnieszka Grynkiewicz — a fellow Family Dog Mediator! — Anna Reinholz, and Kamil Imber out of the University of Warsaw.)

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

Is your dog barking and lunging on leash? That "reactivity" can certainly ruin your walks, but even more important, it's a sign that your dog is having a hard time with the wider world. Big feelings are prompting those big behaviors. In this episode, we talk about the fear and frustration that cause reactivity, the common mistakes people make as they try to "fix" it, and the approaches that work together to help your dog feel more comfortable and calm out in the world.