Your Family Dog Podcast

Spring is here, which for many of us means more walks outside and runs at the dog park. But the great outdoors brings other things as well, namely distractions galore. How are you supposed to get Fido to behave when everywhere he looks there are bicycles, school kids, strange looking bushes, and squirrels? Today Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring tackle the topic of distractions and discuss ways to...

We've all heard the old adage that practice makes perfect. It would seem to follow, then, that we should be careful what we practice, lest we become perfect at the wrong thing. The same goes for our dogs as well- it's much easier to practice good habits right off the bat than to have to unlearn and retrain behaviors later. Join Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring as they discuss how to make sure tha...

Your Family...Cicada? For the first time since Thomas Jefferson was president, two cycles of cicadas will emerge at the same time this summer. What- if anything- does this mean for you and your dogs? Join Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring on an exploration of cicadas, snakes, dogs, and the nature of consciousness. For show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Door dashing- it's great when it's someone bringing you tacos, not so great when it's your dog making a run for it. Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring address one of the most common, most bothersome- but thankfully very fixable- problems people experience with their dogs. For show notes and more: Your Family Dog

We've covered a lot of topics on "Your Family Dog" over the years, but sometimes it's good to get back to basics and remember why we got started in the first place- not just with podcasting, but with dog training itself. Today Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring start at the beginning to discuss their early love affairs with dogs, their philosophy of training, and why they do what they do today. For...

Police dogs, military dogs, rescue dogs, security dogs...in addition to being man's best friend, dogs are often his best co-workers as well. But all too often, when their days of service are over, these faithful dogs get left behind. That's where Mission K9 Rescue comes in, a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing retired working dogs and finding them loving homes where they can enjoy their...

Discussions of domestic violence, abuse, homelessness, and other difficult living situations almost always focus on the human victims- as they should. But animals are often involved in these situations, too, which can cause added complications. Victims are sometimes reluctant to leave an abusive or unsafe living situation because they fear leaving their pet behind, while those with limited resourc...

It's no secret that dogs in shelters often come from bad situations, but some are particularly terrible, such as hoarding situations or puppy mills. It's tempting to think that with enough love and care, we can fix everything these dogs have been through, but unfortunately, that isn't always true. Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring take a look at what's involved when dealing with dogs with especial...

Most of us have at least heard of stem cell therapy and the potential it seems to have for treating any number of illnesses- everything from cancer to diabetes to regular old wrinkles. But what you may not know is that stem cell therapy isn't just for humans. It can be- and is!- used to great effect in veterinary medicine as well. Mark Kyle, of PrepVet, joins Your Family Dog to discuss what stem c...

A new year means new guests! Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring sit down with Austin-based dog trainer Brady Foulk to talk about training service dogs, learning through play, allowing yourself to fail, and the importance of keeping it weird. For show notes please go to: Your Family Dog

Winter isn't just cold and flu season for humans- respiratory illnesses increases among dogs this time of year as well. These are normally minor illnesses that respond well to treatment, but this year vets are reporting seeing a new illness among dogs, one that seems to last longer and possibly be more serious than your run-of-the-mill colds. Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring look at what we know...

We talk about "dog behaviorists" and "dog trainers," but really, aren't they pretty much the same thing? What is training, after all, other than getting your dog to behave in a desirable way? But dog *behavior* is different from dog *training* and knowing what makes them different can go a long way to improving your relationship with your dog. Repeat guest Karen Deeds returns today to talk about t...

The topic of enrichment for your dog is a frequent one on the podcast. We all know the importance of providing your canine friend with a variety of games and activities to keep their days interesting and their minds engaged. But what about dogs who have suffered the loss of one of their senses? Providing enrichment activities for dogs who can't see or hear (or possibly both) presents unique challe...

Just like other mental and emotional conditions, such as depression and anxiety, PTSD is not limited to humans- our dogs can suffer from it as well. As with humans, PTSD can make it difficult, if not impossible, for a dog to enjoy a normal life. But just as humans can find healing with time and therapy, dogs too can overcome traumatic experiences and go on to thrive. Phoning in all the way from Sw...

There was just too much good stuff for one episode, and so Dr. Deborah Jones is back to continue the conversation about cooperative care. Tune in for more advice from the woman who literally wrote the book designed to help you and your pet work together to stay happy and healthy. For more information please go to: Your Family Dog

"Cooperative care" is a subject that has come up frequently over the years on "Your Family Dog." now, for the 200th (yes, 200th!) episode, Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring sit down with Dr. Deborah Jones, the woman who literally wrote the book on cooperative care, to talk about how to make caring for your dog a partnership, rather than a battle of wills. For more information and show notes: Your...

Is a golden retriever the right companion for your golden years? For many people, the thought of not having a dog is almost incomprehensible. But as individuals get older, they aren't always up to the task of caring for a dog, at least in the way they're used to. Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring talk about the issues that can arise for elderly individuals and their dogs, as well as ways to overco...

Do you ever feel like you and your dog are constantly butting heads? That you're both vying to be the one in control? Or like you're spending more time trying to get Fido to do what you want than actually enjoying his canine company? In this episode, Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring talk about "premacking," a strange name for a relatively simple concept that will introduce more cooperation into y...

Old age, death, and loss are topics most of us prefer to avoid. They’re uncomfortable, sometimes even painful to discuss, and most people don’t like to think about their own mortality- or that of their pets. Death, however, is an inevitable part of life, and avoiding conversations about it can make it even harder for us to become comfortable with it. Helen St. Pierre, founder of the non-profit Old...

As much as we love our dogs, they do have some annoying habits- and begging at the table is definitely one of them. It's nearly impossible to sit down and enjoy your dinner when Fido is constantly pawing at you for his share. But what's the best way to put a stop to this? Or, better yet, is there a way to prevent it from happening in the first place? Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring talk about ho...

It's a phrase we hear over and over again whenever we read about dog bites or other human-animal scuffles- "unprovoked attack." But is that really true? Is there really such a thing as an animal attack that is truly completely unprovoked? Or is there perhaps more going on that we're simply not aware of? Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring dig into this phrase and discuss whether or not animal attack...

Summer vacation can be a great time for both people and their pets. But the summer months also come with their own stresses and challenges that can range from the merely annoying to the seriously life-threatening. From the anxiety of Fourth of July fireworks to the dangers of heat stroke, Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring go through some of the common summer concerns to help you and your pooch sta...

When a new dog comes to live with us, an adjustment period is only to be expected- both for us and our new pet. But how long does this adjustment period take? At what point can we expect Fido to settle into a comfortable rhythm in his new home? Conventional wisdom often cites a timeline of "three days, three weeks, three months," but is this really the case? Today, Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Sprin...

Major life changes- a move, a death in the family, an illness- obviously cause us a lot of stress. But big disruptions like this are also stressful for our animal friends. In addition to managing our own stress, it's important to remember to take care of our dogs as well. Today, Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring talk about how to reassure your dog and help them cope through times of extreme stress...

Few things are more annoying or stressful for owners than dogs who won't stop barking. All of us know the anxiety caused by a barking dog and the helpless feeling of being unable to stop or distract them. Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring tackle the topic of barking dogs and look at simple solutions to help both you and Fido feel calmer and more in control. For show notes and more: Your Family Dog