The Quirky Dog

This week, Jess and Scott welcome the one and only Dave Garofalo, owner of Two Guys Smoke Shop and famous podcaster from The Cigar Authority to celebrate the holidays! If you are joining us the day this podcast releases, Merry Christmas and thank you for letting us share this special day with you!   What lessons has 2024 brought?    How much do people spend on their pets over the holidays?    Why...

This week, The Quirky Dog invites Dyane Delemarre on to chat about her incredible Borderwhippet, Mako. Mako was chosen as 2024 Dog of The Year because of his exceptional athleticism and glowing temperament.   Why did Dyane choose Mako as a sports companion?   How does Mako stand out from other competitive dock diving dogs?   What are Dyane’s future goals with Mako?   To donate to Baltimore Animal...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss dog friendships. Social dogs that seem to enjoy all dogs equally may have dozens of friends. However, dogs with select taste may only have a handful of friends in a lifetime. Some dogs only have one friend and others may live out their entire lives friendless, especially if the dog isn't social. This episode unpacks all the angles.   How can you help select your d...

This week, Jess discusses seven qualities to avoid if you want to be a good dog owner while Scott is at home recovering from the flu. Jess walks you through seven principles you definitely want to avoid living by when owning a dog.  Why is holding your dog accountable important?   How does teaching your dog to accept confinement help both you and your dog in the long run? What are some acceptable...

This week, Jess and Scott welcome Haley Mullins who has fostered close to 50 dogs in the northwestern United States. Haley shares the highs and lows of the foster mom life and joins the podcast as one of Jess’s sorority sisters from the University of Michigan.   How can someone become a foster home?   What if you fall in love with your foster dog?   Why does fostering often make a shelter dog more...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss when it may be appropriate to switch dog trainers. Whether it is a personality conflict, poor business practice, or a lack of results, you should always feel comfortable leaving a relationship with your current dog trainer and beginning a new relationship with someone else.   Where is the best place to find a competent dog trainer? Why is compatibility between own...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the relationships they form with their dog training clients. Often times, being a family’s dog trainer means you are welcomed into a client’s home as well as their family dynamic.    How have the relationships with clients evolved over the years?   Why does your business model matter in regards to client relations?    What is the significance as your role as a dog...

This week, Jess and Scott welcome their clients Chad Neidigh and Magaly Sandoval as well as their awesome Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Kenai. After Kenai recently celebrated his first birthday, Chad and Magaly discuss his first trip to Nationals for dock diving.    What is the main motivator for competing in dog sports with Kenai?   How has the dock diving world differed from other dog spor...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the volatility that exists in the online dog world today. Dog professionals preying on other dog professionals has become more prominent over this past year, and this episode explains how toxic that approach can be for all parties.    What is the danger of controlling access to information?    How is it possible some of the key players involved in this cancel cult...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss itching. While a simple scratch here and there may appear normal, excessive itching can stem from some more serious issues as well as create additional problems. This episode focuses on some common causes of itching as well as a myriad of solutions.    What is the best way to stop itching?   Can itching be behavioral?   Why is controlling the urge to itch so impor...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss longevity in dogs. Longevity is a hot topic these days, and because every dog owner would like their dog to live as long as possible, this episode highlights the best ways to extend dogs’ lives with quality.    What factors should be considered for optimum canine longevity? How does stress affect a dog’s lifespan? Where can dog owners research longevity of breeds...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss dogs coming up lame. The pit in your stomach that you get when you see your dog on three legs is real for so many of us. This episode unpacks some of the steps owners can take to evaluate the severity of the situation.   Why is conditioning a dog to a crate an important component of healing?   What is the best course of action to take immediately when your dog sho...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss hurricane preparation, especially for dog owners. As Hurricane Helene continues to wreak havoc in southeastern US, this episode touches on some of the top tips to help minimize stress for future hurricane seasons.    How can dog owners prepare for their dogs’ safety and wellness during hurricane season? Where can dog owners reach out for assistance? What are the m...

This week, Jess and Scott welcome former clients Alexandra and Chris from Rochester, NH. Keeva is a mix with lots of drive and character that displayed a great deal of fear. Being new human parents, Keeva’s owners opted to do a board and train program with Scott and Jess to help smooth out some of her rough edges. This episode unpacks that process for them and discusses Keeva’s behavior in present...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss wounds. After decades in dogs dealing with hundreds of breeds and dozens of health issues, there are certain tips that owners and trainers learn over time that help lower the hassle of treating wounds. This episode unpacks all the goods for you!   What is the best method to prevent my dog from getting to a wound?   Where can I find over the counter treatments?   ...

This week, Jess and Scott welcome Bob Solimini from sunny Arizona. Bob is a dog trainer with extensive knowledge pertaining to protection sports. This episode focuses on the necessity of protection dogs as well as the responsibility that goes along with owning one.    How does a family decide if a protection dog is the right choice for them?    Why is Bob one of the most accomplished decoys in the...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss aggression between two or more dogs within your house. While these issues often bubble up over time, they can create a huge amount of stress for the entire household. This episode targets some of our best practices to neutralize the arousal.    How can life ever look normal with so much discord in the house?  Is rehoming the most responsible choice?  What is the m...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss focusing on the good when it comes to dog training and life. It's often easy to fixate on what is lacking or where improvements are needed, but consciously choosing to highlight the positives can benefit both dog and human.    If my dog has a major health issue, how can I focus on the good?   Why is it important to always see performance dogs as pets first?   When...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss reintroducing a dog into the household after the first dog has passed. Factors like genetics, training methodologies, family dynamics, and life circumstances all can impact how life with the second dog can unfold differently than life with the first dog.   Why is it not always a smart idea to switch breeds? What differences have surfaced in rescues in the past dec...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the incredibly difficult topic of behavioral euthanasia. Putting our dogs down at the end of their lives is heartbreaking for everyone, but having to make the choice to euthanize a young dog with behavioral issues can fall into an entirely different category of pain.    When should you consider euthanizing your dog? Why is it sometimes difficult to find a vet who...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the concept of everyone being on the same page or not. Many trainers will claim that you will never successfully train your dog unless everyone in the household has the same criteria for the dog, but this episode explains why that isn't necessarily the case.   How can a family succeed with their dog if everyone isn't following the same protocols?   Why is it impor...

This week, Jess and Scott welcome Dave Shilale and his awesome dog Kona. Dave is president of Massachusetts Vest-A-Dog and shares his extensive knowledge about this great organization and its impact on this episode.    What is the main purpose of MA Vest-A-Dog?   How can you support this organization in person or virtually?    Where can departments inquire about grants to work with MA Vest-A-Dog? ...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss giant breeds. When you own a dog that is over 100 pounds, your lifestyle is going to look quite different than the typical dog owner. This episode touches on some of those differences and exposes some pros and cons of owning a giant breed.    Why should you go the extra mile for medical care of giant breeds?    What is the best age to start training a giant breed?...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss conflict that can occur when crating. This is not a podcast advocating for crating but instead an episode discussing how to remedy conflict with dogs entering and exiting a crate.   What is the best way to remedy crate anxiety?   How can I crate my dog safely?   Why is the crate such a stressful situation for some dogs?   To view our previous episode on “The Impor...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the reality that a dog isn’t necessarily a good fit for every household. If you are a young family with kids and do not have a lot of extra time, a dog may simply add to the chaos. And if you have never owned a dog previously, it is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly.  Why is a dog not always the best first choice in a pet for a family? How do dogs affect...