K9 Translators

What are you really feeding your dog?  Tara and Laura welcome back biologist & nutritionist, Adette Quintana, to talk about how proper nutrition for our dogs can have a major impact on their lives.  They discuss some common nutritional myths, understanding what is actually in your dog’s food, and ways to make sure your dog is getting the best nutrition possible.  Recommendations for more infor...

I put my hand in the way.  They meant to grab the toy.  Their mouth just ran into me while they were in the moment.  This week Tara and Laura expose the truth about these statements when it comes to a dog putting their mouth on someone.  They explain how owners making excuses for a dog using their mouth in these ways can be detrimental and can cause more behavior problems.  They also discuss how o...

Working dog versus companion dog, what’s the difference?  This week Tara and Laura welcomed Gabriel Martin, a military veteran and former canine handler in the police force, to talk about his experiences with working dogs and now his own companion dog.  Gabriel shares his personal journey in understanding how to better communicate with his dog, Dusty, and how important it is to understand the role...

Tara and Laura were honored this week to speak with special guest and country singer, Brittany Moore.  They discussed one of her biggest singles, “Give a Girl,” and the meaning behind this wonderful song that resonates with every dog owner.  Brittany shared her personal journey and the inspiration behind this song, her own dog Banjo.  Follow Brittany Moore on any social media platform at Brittany...

Is protection training and bite work something for every dog?  In this episode, Tara and Laura discuss the trend of doing bite work and protection training with dogs and the problems that can arise.  They don’t shy away from the reasons why this can be a dangerous sport or training for a dog and the difficulties that are seen after the training is done.  If you are considering doing this type of w...

What is the downside to force training?  In this episode, Tara and Laura discuss the negative side effects to using force training when working with a dog.  They explain how using force tools, such as prong or shock collars, even for just obedience work can break down a person’s bond with their dog and cause more problems in the future.  Wouldn’t you rather your dog want to work for you because th...

How can you make progress with a high energy, undersocialized dog?  In this week’s episode, Tara welcomed Jordan Genung to talk about the training journey with his dog, Max, who missed out on some of his socialization due to being a parvo puppy and trying to keep him healthy.  Max is a high drive dog with a close bond to his dad and more persistance than most would know how to harness.  Tara discu...

Love may be in the air, but is it really love you between you and your dog or something else?  This Valentine’s episode Tara and Laura explained how sometimes us trying to show affection to our dogs can actually be pressuring them.  They also discussed how dogs show affection to each other and that this behavior should be the same even with their human pack members.  It’s important to know if you...

Does your dog really understand what you are saying?  This week Tara and Laura posed the question for listeners to determine how they talk to their dogs.  They used different examples of communication that include body language, tone, frequency of commands, and more to explain how some forms of communication can frustrate our dogs and the importance of understanding the best ways to talk to our fo...

You have adopted a dog, now what?  Tara and Laura cover the important steps to take when adopting a dog and how to make sure you establish a solid foundation for your new pack member.  Shelters and rescues are full and need people to adopt, but it’s important to make sure we are being fair to the dog and not setting them up to develop reactivity or be returned. Sponsored by K9 Workingmind This epi...

Is your dog really showing submissive behaviors or something else?  Tara and Laura explain what submission in dogs looks like and what it actually means when a dog does those behaviors.  Many people will mistake submission as cute behaviors or actually want their dogs to show submission to them or other dogs, so it can be important to understand what state of mind your dog is in and how to help th...

Do you think your dog has an uncommon aggression?  Tara and Laura discuss the last few types of aggression that are more uncommon than most realize.  These include maternal aggression, predatory aggression, and intra-/intersexual aggression.  They explain each type of aggression and why it is typically more uncommon than others and how they can sometimes be mistaken as something else. Sponsored by...

Have you ever heard of IMHA in dogs?  This week Tara and Laura welcomed Dr. Waters to come talk about Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia, a disease that is very dangerous and requires immediate veterinary care.  They discussed the signs of this disease, what is happening in your dog if they have it, and what to expect for treatment.  Thankfully this isn’t something that is seen often, but the severi...

Do you have a goal for your dog this new year?  It doesn’t have to just be the humans that have resolutions for the new year.  Tara and Laura discuss ideas for new year’s resolutions for your dog(s) that can include physical fitness, mental stimulation, social skills, and self-care.  There is always something we can do to help our dogs reach their potential. Sponsored by K9 Workingmind This episod...

What is it like owning a dog with a dangerous form of aggression?  This week Tara and Laura spoke with Jill Scott who owned Pawpeye, a dog that developed retaliation aggression.  They discussed Pawpeye’s life with Jill and their training protocols, how much Jill did with Pawpeye, and the difficulties she faced. Sponsored by K9 Workingmind This episode was edited and mastered by The WillaWoman. Our...

Is your dog frustrated or just bored?  Tara and Laura talk through the different behaviors a dog may be exhibiting, such as chewing on furniture, digging up the yard, or grabbing items and running with them.  They go over how to know if your dog is doing these behaviors because they are frustrated or if it is due to boredom and how to help your dog work through these behaviors. Sponsored by K9 Wor...

How can you harness not just one, but two high drive dogs?  This week Tara and Laura welcomed back Gene and Shannon Walker to talk about their dog Cleo.  They had previously spoken with them in season 1 episode 20 about their dog, Dino, and touched a little on the newest addition to the pack, Cleo.  Cleo proved to be an even higher driven dog than Dino, so they discussed how they have worked to ha...

Is your dog ready for the holiday madness?  In this week’s episode, Tara and Laura go over ways to help make sure your dog is prepared for the stress and excitement that inevitably comes with the end of the year.   They stress the importance of prepping your dog for whatever plans you may have including travel, boarding, guests coming over, holiday decor, and fireworks. Sponsored by K9 Workingmind...

What does redirected and retaliation aggression look like?  This week Tara and Laura looked into understanding the differences between redirected aggression and retaliation aggression.  They discussed the differences between the two, how these types of aggression can be dangerous for handlers/owners, and how humans can actually cause their dogs to develop these aggressions. Check it out here: #k9t...

Have you heard about the kissing bug disease?  This week Tara and Laura welcomed Dr. Robert Glass to talk about the Chagas disease that is caused by the kissing bug.  They discussed how dangerous this disease is, especially in the south, and how a majority of dogs are actually infected without the owner’s knowledge.  There are so many things out there that can harm our dogs, they were honored to h...

Is the crate really a bad thing?  In the first episode of season 3, Tara and Laura tackled the big bad crate.  They discussed the negative stigma that surrounds using a crate and why it is important for owners to know how to use it properly so it helps our dogs.  They work through understanding how owners can utilize their crates in a positive manner to help our dogs relax more and stay safe. Spon...

What is Dog Smart?  Tara and Laura were honored to have guest and author, Jennifer Holland, come to talk about her most recent book: Dog Smart: Life-Changing Lessons in Canine Intelligence.  A masterpiece in looking into canine cognition, understanding communication, and linking it all back to the dog owners.  They discussed with Jennifer different aspects of the book, her experiences, and the big...

EPISODE 100!!!  WHAT?!  Tara and Laura are so excited to celebrate our 100th episode this week.  They went back and talked about some of the most listened to episodes from both seasons, the episodes that made the most impact, some of their favorite episodes, the subscription series, and all the wonderful guests that have joined them.  The future is bright and they can’t wait to keep going, so than...

Can you really foster?  The answer is YES!  This week Tara and Laura talk about the importance of fosters in saving dog’s lives, how to give them the best chance to find a forever home, and stress the needs for those dogs.  They explain what you can do to help make sure your foster dog doesn’t get attached, how to help you not get attached, and the massive rewards everyone has when a foster says y...

Do you know about puppymills?  In this eventful episode, Tara and Laura invite Courtney Leigh back to talk about Puppymill Awareness.  They discuss what is a puppymill and the events that are coming up soon that the public is welcome to attend to help the fight against the horrors of puppymills.  Please take a look at their website, pmadtx.org for more information on events and information on how...