The Quirky Dog

This week, Scott and Jess discuss the importance of not only mindset but also the environment in which you're working when it comes to dog training. Sometimes we rush into a situation without properly preparing for its circumstances, and these types of decisions can be detrimental to our dog’s success.    How do these two factors relate to a training session?  Is it more important that the dog or...

This week, Scott and Jess discuss the buzz topic of boarding and training. Scott has been providing this service for 20 years, and Jess has been working alongside him for more than half of that time. They relay their proven best practices to share with trainers who also offer Doggy Boot Camp as well as some advice to dog owners who may be searching for this type of program.    What benefits can a...

This week, Jess comes in to chat about compassion fatigue. This is a real topic in our industry that we all of us feel deeply at times whether we are working as vets, vet techs, groomers, daycare attendees, or trainers. There are a lot of dogs out there with a lot of issues. Some owners can be more difficult to navigate than others, and it certainly isn’t always rainbows and unicorns!    When are...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by Lisa Anne Zilney who owns the Natural Dawg Shop. Lisa makes these very fashionable and unique Effective Microorganisms® collars, which come in a variety of colors and styles. But best of all, her collars are free of any and all harmful chemicals!   If my dog is wearing an EM collar, can he or she use another type of tick prevention as well? Is it more advisa...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the topic of chewing. Chewing could range from puppy chewing to behavioral chewing to recreational chewing to self-destructive chewing to a whole other heap of issues completely! Join us as we break down the topic today.    How long does chewing related to puppy teething typically last? What should I do if my dog is chewing him or herself? Why does it matter what...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss many different aspects of traveling with your dog in a vehicle. With the hot temps, it is of course important to be mindful of how hot your vehicle is while running and while not, but there are various other aspects of vehicle travel to consider in addition to temperature. Tune into this episode to find out how to keep your dog as safe as possible while on the roa...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the buzz topic of regulating dog trainers. Many trainers feel very strongly about this issue, and on this episode, we give you our opinion. It may also be important to note both Scott and Jess have been professional dog trainers for close to 20 years.   What do letters after one’s name provide a professional? Does this discussion seem to be related to politics? Wh...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the different dynamics that can develop within your household and how they relate to the dog. While some of this episode’s examples may seem like small nuances, some major behavioral issues may be mitigated by making some minor changes within your family dynamic.    Which party is initiating fetch?  Why does it matter if the dog activates you for most things? How...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by Andrea Balzarini Lucas who has been involved in the veterinary industry in Cape Ann for the past decade. Scott and Andrea grew up together in Rockport, MA a few years back, and we all join together for this episode to discuss how to best help veterinary practices best serve our animals.    What is daily life like for veterinary staff? How can owners help min...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss dog ownership styles versus parenting human children in this day and age. While this title may surprise some of you, if you listen to this episode, you may agree with this sentiment more than you first thought.    What are some things we require our children to do that we don’t always require our dogs to do? Why do some of these daily life decisions matter in the...

This week Scott and Jess welcome Jt Clough, an Ironman athlete and a greater San Diego area dog trainer. Scott and Jt began their dog training careers around the same time period many moons ago. How has dog behavior and training changed over the last decade? Why is continued customer support such an integral part of Jt’s business model? What are the parallels Jt finds between training for an athle...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by Andrea Rigler who is a world-renowned disc dog competitor and performer. Dre offers seminars nationwide for disc dog training after being involved in the canine side of the sport for the past 15 years.    What is life like on the road performing and competing with a handful of dogs? How can people learn from Dre as it relates to disc dog training online? Why...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined once again by Noelle Nasca and her Belgian Malinois puppy, Inga. Scott and Jess were able to travel to meet Inga in between the second and third installment of this series, and Noelle had a full knee replacement last month.    How is Inga progressing with her sport training? Why is it so important to foster both food and toy drive in a working dog puppy? What h...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the ever so important come when called command. It is important to not only create but also maintain a reliable recall for every dog’s safety. Plus, off leash freedom simply allows dogs to live a more enriching life.  What are some helpful tips to improve a recall that has deteriorated over time? How can an owner build a very strong recall foundation into their pu...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss some strategies to minimize conflict with each other in relation to the dog. In a time when so much of the world already seems so divisive, we want to help alleviate stress and tension within your family dynamic; dogs often seem to do the opposite.  What are some common triggers that create animosity involving the dog and/or dog care?   Why does our dog’s behavior...

This week, Jess and Scott want you to take control of your own happiness, and the happiness of your dog. You'll hear some of the tactics they use to keep a happy body, mind, and soul.   To keep your dog comfortable with Kuranda beds, visit: https://dogbed.us/thequirkydog   To see The Quirky Dog website LIVE, visit:  https://thequirkydog.com   For more information about Scott and Jess and their str...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by Cami Bird and her adorable Corgi Trixie. Cami not only built this awesome site for our podcast, but she is also representing this amazing company as a full-time Wavoto employee. She’s a bit of a Wavoto expert to say the least!    How much does a traditional Wavoto site cost per month? Why is Wavoto quickly becoming the most user-friendly platform available?...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by Meghan Doyle and her Golden Retriever Wicked of Performance Plus K9 Activity Center in Raynham, MA. Meghan is not only a full time resident of PPK9, but she teaches most of the training classes there currently as well.   What are some creative ways to make group class more fun? How can dog owners best get their dogs acclimated to a new environment? Why do ow...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by Sarah Stremming, host of the Cog-Dog Radio podcast. Sarah is a well known competitor, blogger, instructor, and podcaster. She specializes mostly in behavior and is currently competing in obedience and agility. To learn more about her and her methods, please check out her links below.   What are some different methods each of us use to calm our own dogs and/o...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss resilience not only in life but also in dog training. They both have been literally practicing the art of resilience from the womb until today. Tune is as they discuss their thoughts about how resilience can relate to your dog. What does resilience look like in a dog? Why is resilience important in dogs? How can you infuse resilience into a dog that may have had a...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss how both dog training and life with your dog may not always unfold how you originally envision it. One of Scott’s least favorite lines is, “We just wanted to see what would happen!” because his clients are often disappointed with the outcome when approaching a situation with that mentality.  What are some measures you can take to ensure a training session is succe...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the Canine Good Citizen test. Temperament tests like these are more important than many owners realize. While a ribbon and certificate are rewarding, the fact that your dog can work around unfamiliar humans, dogs, and distractions is the true credential.  How can passing the CGC with your dog affect your home owner’s insurance?   Would your CGC testing transfer to...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss their best practices for maintaining a balanced household. Of course we all want to give our dogs as many liberties as possible; however, sometimes we become too lenient too quickly and then everything may start to unravel. Join us on this episode to help you find the proper balance for your house.  How much freedom is too much? Why should I implement rules when m...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss owing a Terrier. A true Terrier is not a joke. In today’s podcast, Scott and Jess are joined by Loki who is a Jack Russell Terrier. This dog is the first client dog in a decade to remind Scott and Jess of their Jagd terrier, Shorty.  How is a Terrier different from other breeds? Why can these dogs sometimes fall out of toy or food drive in the presence of other an...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss dog ownership and the gift of helping our old dogs transition to peace in divine time. GiGi was Scott’s Pomeranian for 14 years, and she just passed away last week. This week they pay tribute to their Little Squirt. What is considered tiny for a dog? Why would there be different lifestyle choices because of a dog’s size? How can things like alopecia possibly impro...