Episodes

  • Let Your Dog's Personality Flourish
    May 6 2024

    #6068-REV: Trainer and Golden breeder Lise Pratt speaks about letting your dog’s individual personality quirks flourish. What less-than-perfect behavior can you allow? How to manage behavior that could make other people uncomfortable? Dogs only understand black and white --- not gray --- so you have to be consistent in what, when and where you allow behaviors.

    Show more Show less
    19 mins
  • The Challenge of Training Small Dogs
    Apr 29 2024

    #6060-REV: Trainer and Golden Retriever breeder Marcy Burke says to make training the “wee ones” a game! It needs to be fun for both of you --- and should include a mountain of very small delicious treats to reinforce commands --- especially the basic “Come!” command.

    Show more Show less
    22 mins
  • Importance of a Good First Meeting Between Dogs
    Apr 22 2024

    #6072-REV: Dogs will not forget a bad first meeting with another dog — so we have to make sure it never happens! Gayle Watkins talks about the importance of introductions between dogs — and how we can cause dog aggression between dogs because we are nervous and communicating tension down the leash with how we set up the meeting. Best advice for a successful first meeting is to have both dogs on leash and go for a walk. Keep moving, keep the dogs on the outside and the people next to each other. The dogs should not touch, but walk side by side at a distance from each other and very quickly they will have their noses down and will ignore each other.

    Show more Show less
    29 mins
  • Dog parks: Wonderful or Terrible?
    Apr 15 2024

    #6026-REV: What’s the truth about dog parks? Are they fun or dangerous? Maybe a little of both! Gayle Watkins warns about the serious dangers in a dog park, offers potentially life-saving advice and cautions to never take a puppy before 9 months of age because puppies are not socially wise until then.

    Show more Show less
    32 mins
  • Understanding Dog Friendships
    Apr 8 2024

    #6077-REV: Dog friendships are misunderstood by people. Gayle Watkins discusses whether dogs have individuals they really like — or can't stand? Can a dog have a favorite friend, a “bestie?” What makes dogs good friends? How to judge compatibility. Play styles. Does breed matter in choosing a playmate?

    Show more Show less
    21 mins
  • What To Do About Extreme Separation Anxiety
    Apr 1 2024

    #6044-REV: Does your dog have separation anxiety issues?! What if you had three dogs going berserk when you left the house — even if only to take out the garbage?! Jessica has three rescued dogs with this issue: Felix (German Short-Haired Pointer), Bailey (American Eskimo dog) and little Charlie (Yorkshire Terrier). Marcy suggests that to turn down the emotional volume Jessica first should visit a board certified veterinary behaviorist to discuss what medications she might use short-term, so that she can begin to change the scenario about her departures.

    Show more Show less
    41 mins
  • Preventing Aggression Between Dogs
    Mar 26 2024

    #6065 REV: Golden Retriever breeder and trainer Dr. Gayle Watkins explains a dog’s “prey drive” — especially when re-directed at other dogs. The dog’s brain focuses only on the prey. They cannot see or hear you trying to stop them when their brain is filled with "feel good" neuro-chemicals. Preventing aggression towards other dogs means “interrupting the hunt” right before it starts, right at the trigger point, to get the dog’s attention back on you.

    Show more Show less
    24 mins
  • The Professional Puppy Evaluator
    Apr 17 2023
    Mallory Galatzer-Levy (The Right Paw in Auburn, MA) discusses evaluating puppy personalities in Shikari Vizsla litters to determine best fit for potential owners
    Show more Show less
    18 mins