Sometimes a dog comes along, and nothing is ever the same again – in the best way possible! In 2017, when Chris Hannah decided it was time to adopt a dog, he didn’t realize exactly how much of a life-changing of a decision this would be.

Chris shares with us why adopting a deaf dog was the obvious choice for him – even when it might sound like a surprising decision for a music teacher to make. And yes, Cole the Deaf Dog’s name was inspired by the movie Mr. Holland’s Opus (the deaf son of a music teacher).

From day one, Chris witnessed the impact Cole made on his students and everyone he meets. Learning about Cole’s disability opened an unexpected dialogue for children (and adults too!) that disabilities aren’t inabilities – and sometimes those qualities that make us different are our superpowers.

Cole’s presence in students’ lives even led Chris’ school to launch a unique emotional-social learning program. Chris and Cole also created a motivational school assembly program for other schools in their region.

In Part One of Chris and Cole’s story, we’ll also hear about the surprising challenges they faced for Cole to become a therapy dog and about their meaningful work with a Veterans’ Memorial Home.

Follow Chris & Cole on Facebook or Instagram to brighten up your day (like Cole bowling a strike!).

Find photos, links & show notes at: https://believeindogpodcast.com/episodes-1/episode96

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Today we’re talking to renowned trainer Deb Jones, Ph.D., about Cooperative Care - the most important skills you’re (probably) not training your dog to do! Also called Consent Care or Husbandry, I’m referring to the procedures needed to keep dogs healthy such as veterinary care and grooming.

If you’d rather get a root canal than take your dog to the vet or if you can’t trim your dog’s nails without needing a drink afterwards, then you won’t want to miss this conversation.

Deb is the author of the book Cooperative Care: Seven Steps to Stress-Free Husbandry (aff. link). Her methods encourage our dogs to become willing partners in the training process rather than using heavy-handed or forceful practices that can damage our relationship with our dog and hurt their trust.

Deb shares with us what she learned from dolphin trainers that will help our dogs, what to do if you accidentally “quick” your dog while trimming their nails and how to handle those times when your dog needs immediate care to avoid causing a setback in your training and relationship. We’ll also hear the #1 most common skill that veterinarians wish Pet Parents trained their dogs to do!

While Deb’s former “day job” was as a Ph.D. Psychologist who taught in colleges, it’s fascinating how her work intertwined with her dog training passion. And as someone who’s been training dogs for 30+ years, Deb has so much insight to share about her experiences in the dog training world and the changes she’s witnessed in how we treat dogs as a society.

You can also find Deb teaching online training classes and in her Cooperative Care with Deb Jones Facebook Group.

Find links & show notes at: https://believeindogpodcast.com/episodes-1/episode95

Get your free checklist: Join Erin the Dog Mom's email list to receive the 12 Changes in Your Dog to Never Ignore checklist.

Teef: The easiest way to improve your dog’s dental health is with a spoonful of Teef powder in their water. Save 20% on your Teef orders when you use the code: ADM.

Support this podcast, subscribe on your favorite app and leave a rating or review.

It’s the Puppy Episode!

I’ve always heard that the best way to set yourself & your dog up for success is by putting in 12 months of solid training with your puppy so you can reap the rewards for the next 12+ years (hopefully!) with your amazing dog.

So how do you best set up your new puppy for success – not just in your home but in the world too? What is proper puppy socialization? And what isn’t?

Kathy Callahan, CPDT-KA, has spent the past 10 years fostering 200+ puppies while attending dog training school in her free time -– so she knows a few things about puppies. Kathy believes that equal parts empathy and preparation are needed to successfully raising your puppy.

As the author of the book, Welcoming Your Puppy From Planet Dog – How to Go Beyond Training and Raise Your Best Friend, Kathy shares with us everything we need to before we bring one home. From setting up your home to setting your expectations, Kathy’s book is not just a “how to” reference but a mindset guide as well.

Kathy shares her insights with us on everything from the all-important potty training to juggling the Puppy Shots Dilemma. We talk about how to build your puppy’s database of new people, places and things to set them up for their best life with you.

Find links & show notes at: https://believeindogpodcast.com/episodes-1/episode94

Get your free checklist: Join Erin the Dog Mom's email list to receive the 12 Changes in Your Dog to Never Ignore checklist.

Teef: The easiest way to improve your dog’s dental health is with a spoonful of Teef powder in their water. Save 20% on your Teef orders when you use the code: ADM.

Support this podcast, subscribe on your favorite app and leave a rating or review.