Your Family Dog Podcast

Sometimes we want our dogs to be a certain way, or to do certain things, and we forget that they have their own skill sets and attributes. In this episode, Julie Fudge Smith and Colleen Pelar talk about enjoying, appreciating, and loving the special dog who inhabits your heart and home.    For show notes please see: Your Family Dog

Sue Sternberg joins Julie Fudge Smith to discuss what to look for in an animal shelter as well as a shelter dog. Knowing how to evaluate both will increase your chance of successfully finding your new best friend. For show notes and more information, please go to: Your Family Dog

Jen Shyrock of Family Paws Parent Education joins Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith to discuss what supervision of kids and dogs is. And, what it isn't! Learn how to keep everyone safe and set up for success.  For links and show notes please see: Your Family Dog

Eileen Anderson (of the award winning blog, eileenanddogs ) joins Julie Fudge Smith and Colleen Pelar to discuss her book, Remember Me? Loving and Caring for a Dog with Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. Learn about the symptoms and signs of canine dementia and how you can make your dog's life safe and comfortable.   For more information and show notes, please see: Your Family Dog

Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith discuss the current state of dogs(and cats!) in their lives as well as some of the challenges facing them and their clients. Join them for a lively discussion of all things canine.   For more information, please see: Your Family Dog

Jen Shryock of Family Paws Parent Education joins Julie Fudge Smith and Colleen Pelar for a lively discussion about teens and dogs, and how parents and other adults can help them be happy, engaged, and successful with one another. For more information and show notes, please see: Your Family Dog

Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith talk with Madeline Bernstein of the spcaLA about the problems with designer dogs and how the demand for these canines has led to the rise of disreputable breeders and global puppy mills.    For more information and show notes please see: Your Family Dog

Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith talk about using the 3 Second Rule to successfully introduce dogs to one another and to people. Learn how you can help your dog to calmly and appropriately greet a new friend. For show notes and links, please see: Your Family Dog

When Laura and Scott Sommers adopted Neo, a Great Dane, they knew he was special, but had no idea of what lay in store for them with this gentle giant. Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith talk with Laura about what it takes to care for a dog with special needs and what he gave to them in return.   For show notes, please see: Your Family Dog

Jen Shryock of Family Paws joins Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith to talk about puppies and the challenges that everyone, (trainers and professionals included) face when adding a puppy to the household. Practical tips for a more successful puppyhood included!   For more information please see: Your Family Dog

In part 2 of the series with Dr. Christopher Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC, Julie Fudge Smith and Colleen Pelar discuss the consequences of socialization that is too arousing or exciting for puppies and what can happen if socialization is too much fun.

Dr. Christopher Pachel, veterinary animal behaviorist joins Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith in a two part series about problems with puppy socialization and what can go wrong with even the best of intentions. In part 1, we discuss trauma associated with socialization and what that can mean for you and your puppy.

Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith talk about cost-effective ways to feed (including a very clever way to make dog treats), vaccinate, and spay or neuter your dog, so that pet ownership remains a joy, not a burden.    Please see Your Family Dog , for links and show notes about food, vaccination clinic, low-cost spay or neuter programs and more. 

Dr. Michael Morales from the Jacobs School of Medicine and BioMedical Sciences at The University of Buffalo joins Julie Fudge Smith and Colleen Pelar to talk about the immune system and the endocrine system of the dog. How do vaccines work? Why do you need booster shots? What is auto-immune disease and how is it related to the endocrine system? These are just a few of the questions we explore as w...

Dr. Heather Lane, DVM, and retired Staff Sargent Jason Manly join Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith to discuss Veteran Companion Animal Services (VCAS), a charity devoted to enriching the lives of veterans, military families, and dogs through the many benefits of the human-animal bond. "To fulfill this mission, VCAS focuses on placing rescue animals with veterans and/or military families where c...

Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith welcome Dr. Rise Van Fleet to answer a listener's question about what to do when you see something that makes you uncomfortable. Do you intervene? If so, how? And, if not is there something else you can do?

Dr. Laurie Schultze, DVM, joins Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith to talk about canine behavior and her work as a vet who brings behavior consults to your home.   For more information please see: Your Family Dog

Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith discuss what Julie learned about dog behavior at the 2018 Midwestern Veterinary Conference, including such topics as: thunder phobia, house soiling, and canine pharmacology.   For show notes and related links: Your Family Dog

Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith talk about toys that just might work for the toughest chewers out there, as well as playing with dogs, cat updates, class foibles, and a whole lot more!   For more information and show notes: Your Family Dog

Dr. Patricia McConnell joins Julie Fudge Smith and Colleen Pelar to talk about the "glamorous" side of dog training and why they love what they do.   For show notes and more see: Your Family Dog

In this episode Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith discuss the reasons why they object to the methods used by some dog trainers and the problems with TV dog training.    For show notes please see: Your Family Dog

Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith talk about the importance of training and what are the different advantages to private and group lessons. Which is right for your dog? That depends on the age of your dog, if there is a particular problem to solve, and your budget, along with other considerations. Colleen and Julie also revisit the Monthly Health Check-up and their resolve to review it regularly...

Dr. Leanne Lilly of The Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital joins Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith in the second part of their puppy series. This week we discuss warning signs in puppies and what you need to know about puppy behavior that indicates your dog may need professional intervention to address serious or long lasting issues. For links and show notes go to: Your Family Dog

Dr. Leanne Lilly of The Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital joins Julie Fudge Smith and Colleen Pelar for a two part series on puppies. In this episode we talk about puppy development and the various stages that pups go through from birth to social maturity. Learn about what to expect from your pup and why it's important for your puppy to go to puppy kindergarten.   For more information and...

Julie Fudge Smith and Colleen Pelar talk with Dr. Patricia McConnell about her book, The Education of Will, trauma in dogs, and what you can do to help your dog if it is traumatized.   For show notes please go to: Your Family Dog To purchase Dr. McConnell's book: The Education of Will