Your Family Dog Podcast

Many of us love the hustle and bustle of city life, but unfortunately, our pets don't always agree. From the endless barrage of sounds and smells to unnerving experiences like riding elevators, urban environments often present unique challenges to dogs and their owners. However, this doesn't mean you and Fido have to ditch the city and head for the hills! With a little patience and some good train...

When we think of "first responders," our minds naturally go first to firefighters, police officers, and EMTs and the valuable work they do for people in emergencies. What we tend to overlook, however, is that animals are often involved in emergency situations as well- who cares for them? Enter Dr. Leigh Mack- himself a firefighter and EMT- and founder of the First Responders' Veterinary Network. F...

YFD: 277 Learn how to improve family dog health with veterinary oncologist Dr. Erin Malone. We are joined again by Dr. Erin Malone, a veterinary oncologist, to discuss her updated services and how they can support your pet's wellness journey. If you are looking for practical guidance for a pet with cancer, this conversation provides the veterinary insights you need. Dr. Malone explains the latest...

ReadyRESCUE™, which is an emergency first-aid solution designed to help manage toxin ingestion in dogs and cats. It uses a high-concentration, veterinary-formulated activated carbon that works quickly to bind toxins and act as a first line of defense before getting to a vet. A word or two from Dr. Glassman, I want to share with people how common these types of emergencies actually are (they happen...

Welcome back to Your Family...Tarantula? That's right- in today's Very Unusual Episode, we're joined by Shamekia Wray, a former arachnophobe who now shares her home with 50+ pet spiders (and some bearded dragons as well). Most of us feel a definite sense of ick when confronted with an eight-legged creepy crawly, but these low-maintenance (and suprisingly colorful!) animals can actually make ideal...

‪@YFDPodcast‬ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@YFDPodcast YFD 274: Maximizing dog longevity depends on the choices you make for your companion every single day. Learn actionable strategies to improve your pet wellness and extend your time together. Host Tina Spring welcomes John Crissy, founder of Perpetual and an expert in canine health, to discuss the foundation of a long, healthy life...

It may sound like something out of science fiction, but laser therapy is a very real way to ease aches and pains and speed up healing from wounds and surgery. It isn't just for human either- as you've probably guessed by now, cold laser therapy can also work wonders for your dog. Today, registered vet technician and cold laser therapist Nancy Clark joins the show to talk about her work and the ben...

We talk a lot about "ethical breeding" on Your Family Dog, but what does that actually mean and what does it look like in practice? Here today to give us a look behind the curtain is mini golden retriever breeder Heather Gibson. Tune in to learn firsthand about ethical breeding practices, choosing a breeder, and the differences between cat and dog breeding (Heather's done both!). For show notes an...

In past episodes, dog trainer Aishlyn Garcia has shared her journey learning to manage dogs and babies simultaneously. Now she's back with a new addition to the family- a Belgian Malinois, a breed that often comes with a stigma attached. Join us today as she shares the ups and downs of living with a high-drive dog while also parenting a toddler and running a business.   For show notes and more, pl...

There's been plenty of talk recently about the possible health benefits and therapeutic uses of hemp and mushrooms for people- but did you know that these alternative treatments could also benefit your dog? Holistic wellness advocate Angela Ardonlino's three favorite things are "hemp, mushrooms, and dogs," and she came on the podcast today to talk about all of those. Tune in for a fascinating conv...

There are subscription boxes for kids. There are subscription boxes for dogs. But there isn't a subscription box for kids *and* dogs- or at least, there hasn't been until now! Brian Manni is the founder and CEO of Pup O'Clock, a subscription box aimed at helping kids care for and develop a relationship with their dogs. With trading cards, activities, toys, and recipes, the boxes are designed to br...

It's okay to be okay! In fact, our guest today takes pride in it. Melissa McCue-McGrath is the self-proclaimed "World's Okayest Dog Trainer," who went from alpha-rolling retired sled dogs in her backyard to using positive reinforcement techniques to help improve family-dog dynamics. Join us today for a definitely more-than-okay conversation about kids, dogs, body language, and everything in betwee...

Welcome back to the second half of our conversation with Emily Breslin about your dog's gut microbiome! Join us as we pick up where we left off last week for a discussion about gut ecosystems, healthy chewing habits, and cancer-fighting diets for dogs.   For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog .

Favorite guest of the show Emily Breslin is back, this time to dive deeper into a topic we briefly touched on the last time she was here- your dog's gut microbiome. Though it may not be something we think about a lot, our dog's gut contains its own complex ecosystem that affects almost every aspect of their health. Tune in to find out more about this crucial, if often neglected, aspect of canine h...

Goats are stubborn creatures, so when Seth Thompson began running a goat farm, it quickly became apparent that he was going to need some help. Enter Dutch, Seth's goat-herding dog, without whom New Plymouth Farm couldn't operate. As both a working dog and a family dog, Dutch is a vital part of not only the Thompson family's business, but their home life as well. Join us today as Seth shares both t...

Most of us hate the thought of our precious pooch dismembering a squirrel or eviscerating a rabbit, but the truth is that ultimately, that's what they were designed to do. Dogs are natural predators, and while they may have moved into our living rooms, those hunting instincts haven't gone away. Enter Meghan Wolfgram and SwiftPaws! SwiftPaws creates enrichment toys designed to help dogs indulge the...

Welcome back to Part 2 of our discussion about canine nutrition with dog trainer and nutritionist Emily Breslin. Join us as we pick up where we left off last week and talk more about the necessity (or not) of supplements, the importance of gut health, and whether or not your dog should go vegetarian.   For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog . 

The importance of nutrition is a recurring topic here at Your Family Dog, and with good reason. Quality nutrition can make a huge difference in the life, health, and happiness of your dog, but figuring out what that looks like can be overwhelming. Should my dog's food all be raw? Are grains good or bad? Do I really have to make it all myself? Dog trainer Emily Breslin is, if possible, even more pa...

Navigating life with kids and dogs can be tricky- something we've talked about many times before on the show. And it can become even more complicated when one of the parties involved has some kind of special need. Neurodivergent kiddos or children with sensory processing disorders can find living with a dog- even a dog they love- to be especially challenging, and parents are often at a loss as to...

Back in December, we talked to Mark Mancuso, developer of the new app Workout Woof. Designed to connect fitness enthusiasts with canine workout buddies, the app aims to build community and connection between dog owners and local athletes. Now, a few months on, tune in for an update from Mark on how the app launch is going and what to expect in the future.   For show notes and more, please go to Yo...

Many of us seek out chiropractic care for ourselves, to help with aches, pains, and stiff joints. But spinal adjustment isn't just for humans- animals can benefit from chiropractic care as well. Dr. Kelli Meier adjusts the spines of both humans and animals at her practice, and joined the show today to discuss how chiropractic care can help everyone from dogs to guinea pigs.   For show notes and mo...

Loss is always the hardest part of owning and loving a pet. This can be especially true for children, whose first experience of death and grief comes through the loss of a beloved animal. Fortunately, there is no lack of gentle, comforting resources to help kids- and adults!- navigate the grief that comes with pet loss. Recently, we highlighted Warren Hanson's wonderful book "Paw Prints in the Sta...

Grief is, unfortunately, an inevitable part of life. For many of us, our first real experience of grief and loss comes with the passing of a beloved pet. As children, it can be hard to understand exactly what's happened and why our furry friend is never coming back. Moved by the story of a tragic accident, author and illustrator Warren Hanson set out to try and give comfort to children experiencin...

Dog training has come a long way over the past few decades. A huge shift has happened, away from the harsh and punitive measures of the past, to kinder, gentler, reinforcement-based training. The tools of the trade have obviously changed as well- prong collars and choke chains have increasingly given way to better alternatives, such as the popular Gentle Leader. And now, there's an even better tra...

There are a lot of resources out there about kids and dogs. But whether it's bringing a puppy home to your kids, or a new baby home to your dog, most of the information available focuses on the early stages of child/puppyhood. What is often overlooked- but can be just as challenging to all involved- is what happens when the kids grow up, move out, and leave their pets behind. Family dog trainer De...