The Quirky Dog

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by Kristin Cormier and her English Golden, Daisy. Daisy was an outlier for Scott and Jess from beginning to end, and they invited her Mom, Kristin, on to discuss her and her family's journey before and after Doggy Boot Camp.   What were some early challenges with Daisy? How have things improved with training? What would Kristin advise other people to do who are...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined yet again by Noelle Nasca! Noelle is raising a Belgian Malinois puppy named Inga as a sport prospect. We are documenting her journey throughout her first year of training. The initial launch of the series was back in December, and Noelle’s next episode will air in June.    What are some pieces of advice Noelle would give to owners looking to successfully integr...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the idea of stepping up for your dog. Life can be very demanding, and sometimes our dogs can get lost in the shuffle. There are many incremental changes we can make in our own lives that could exponentially improve our dogs' lives.  What are some ways you could enhance your dog’s exercise program? Why would stepping up for the dog inadvertently also benefit you? H...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss adding an additional dog to your home. Rather than delve into the logistics, they are going to unveil the root of the “Why Get Another Dog?” first and foremost. It is important to make sure all family members are ready and on board before committing to an additional dog.    What is the best age to introduce a second dog into the household? Would you recommend a do...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss how a dog that has clear criteria with basic behaviors then in turn may have more confidence out and about in the world. While some dogs do mature more slowly than others, structure at any age matters. Why are transitions truly so important? What specific exercises help to foster calm? How can a high energy dog ever act calmly outside of when it is sleeping? For m...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by Sara Carson. Sara is an incredible dog trainer, a prominent influencer, and most recently, she’s a published author! Be sure to click the Amazon link below to order her brand new book “Super Dog Tricks: Make Your Dog A Super Dog With Step-by-Step Tricks and Training Tips.”   If you’re struggling with your dog, how could Sara help you both succeed beyond her...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the topic of diet and dogs. Remember, your dog ingests the ingredients of his or her meals daily, so it is important to make sure you are fueling your canine companions with foods that add to overall well being.  What do Scott and Jess feed their dogs? Should you consider changing your dog’s food? What if my vet says differently?   For more information about Scott...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the issue of how a dog’s behavior changes or not based on what you do. Sometimes keeping a journal helps realize your progress.  Where should you look for solid advice? What is a reasonable time frame for things to improve? How long should you expect a typical behavior to improve?   For more information about Scott and Jess and their strategies, please check out: ...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the practice of rehoming a dog. It’s never an easy decision but sometimes it's the best case scenario for all parties. If you’re worried about keeping your dog in 2022 or know someone who is considering rehoming their own dog, we can offer some helpful tips throughout this episode.  What should the criteria be for rehoming a dog? Isn’t it unethical to get rid of y...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by Dave Garofalo, owner of 2 Guys Smoke Shop in Seabrook, NH, Salem, NH, and Nashua, NH and co-host of The Cigar Authority podcast. Dave was on The Quirky Dog’s 2020 New Year’s episode when Scott lit his first cigar; look how far he’s come! How much does business intertwine with podcasting? Why does consistency matter that much? What does 2022 have in store for...

  Dog(s) of The Year   This week, Jess and Scott are joined by Jess Ajoux and Perry DeWitt. Not only did Jess win the AKC Nationals with her Border Collie Hallelujah within a year of her pandemic litter, but Perry also won Westminster for the second time with her very special boy Verb. Verb happens to be Lu’s father, so ‘2021 Dog of the Year’ quickly evolved into “Dogs of the Year.” How have Jess...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss how to approach the “Christmas Puppy” situation. If you have already committed to a puppy for 2021 Christmas, we are here to help! If you are on the fence about committing to a puppy these last couple of days, you may want to listen for some last minute guidance.  Why are Christmas puppies so popular? What is the best course of action to take after Christmas Day w...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by Leri Hanson. Leri is a long time advocate of the American Pitbull Terrier. She has contributed to preserving this breed through incredible training, proper education, ethical breeding, and fair judging over her many years in the dog world. Leri is also responsible for introducing Scott to protection sports almost a full two decades ago.  How does your respon...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss how much aggression seems to be covered up these days. At least half of our clients have dogs who have shown severe reactivity or have bitten someone. The numbers continue to be on the rise, which is why we are bringing this topic to your attention.   Is aggression really that prevalent of an issue? Why is it that we as humans feel we should justify our dogs’ bad...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by Noelle Nasca from Hamburg, NY. Noelle joined us on a previous podcast as the owner of a very popular WNY daycare called The Barking Lot. However, she was invited back on The Quirky Dog with her new Malinois puppy, Inga. Scott and Jess are planning a year long four part series featuring both Noelle and Inga.  What types of behavioral issues have a popped up s...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss how to prepare your dog for Thanksgiving. They are excited to gather all together after we skipped last year. The Quirky Dog is grateful to all of their listeners and viewers, so here’s some last minute advice before the big day! Can our dog eat some Thanksgiving food as leftovers? What Thanksgiving items should we completely avoid giving our dogs? How do we keep...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss dog periods… EEEK! But legitimately, where do they stand on this topic? Let’s look at this from the male and female dog’s perspective and come up with a final verdict together (even though agreeing is so 1900’s).  Should females in heat be allowed to compete? How do different sports impact this topic differently? Why can’t you just spay your dog?   For more inform...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss this riddle of sorts. Scott asked Jess this exact question this past weekend, and she couldn’t come up with an answer. But, Jess completely agreed with Scott’s input when she asked him his take.   What is the hardest issue to fix in dog training? Is dog training really that hard? How can I improve my own self through dog training?   For more information about Scot...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the value and drawbacks of using food in dog training. Some trainers claim you can never train a dog without using food as reinforcement while other trainers would argue you should never use food. Where do Scott and Jess fall in their thinking?   Why is food sometimes a hinderance?   What is the best way to gauge your dog’s success when it comes to using food?   H...

This week, Jess and Scott invite Raiden the Olde English Bulldogge on for a follow up episode. As a little puppy, we had Raiden as a guest on the podcast. He was able to fit in Jess's arms. Now as a 1 1/2 year old dog we invite him back, but he no longer fits on Jess’s lap this time!    What challenges has this dog dealt with as an Olde English Bulldogge during his first year? How is his training...

Aggression vs. Reactivity  This week, Jess and Scott discuss the difference between aggression and reactivity. The two terms seem to commonly get tossed around as synonyms, but Scott and Jess don’t believe this to be the case after years in the field. Listen in for broader understanding of both topics. What do Scott and Jess define both aggression and reactivity to be? When should you consider you...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by Robin MacFarlance from That’s My Dog. Robin has been training dogs for almost 30 years and is considered an expert when it comes to remote collar training. Scott and Jess first met when they both presented at a conference Robin held over a decade ago.   How has the technology of ecollars changed over the years? What is a way we can bridge the gap in dog trai...

This week, Jess and Scott celebrate their 100th podcast episode! It will be a celebration but also a conversation about love and dogs. Be sure to click the first link below to access a full list of the past 100 Quirky Tips. The second link brings you to The Quirky Dog apparel options, which orders close for on Halloween.  What direction do they plan to head for the future of The Quirky Dog? Are th...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by Shelly Legault from Cappa’s Kennel. Shelly has been an employee there for almost a decade. It is the only local facility we recommend, and Shelly joins us today to discuss many of the policies that contribute to their overall success.    What is the best way to introduce a new dog to your facility? How can people communicate with your facility or get updates...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss a fairly new and pretty hot topic, which is buying a puppy that is already “fully trained.” This trend has been increasing throughout the past decade, and many families are spending 10K plus on a 4–6-month-old puppy! What are the pros and cons of going this direction when adding a new dog? How much can one reasonably expect out of a 4–6-month-old puppy?  Why might...