The Baroo: A Podcast for Dogs and Their People

I sit down with April Floyd to tell the story of Onyx, the goldendoodle she trained herself to become a service dog and steady companion through serious illness. She shares how he alerts to medical danger, keeps her grounded through multiple cancer diagnoses, and even steps into the spotlight as a future film star.  • how Onyx comes into April’s life outside the shelter doors  • training a service...

 I wanted a real look at life with dogs in the Netherlands, where dogs are often welcomed in more public spaces and owners are expected to help them live calmly alongside everyone else. I’m joined by Natalie Mosbach Smith, a Dutch trainer now based in Northern California (South Bay Dog Training), to talk about what feels distinctly Dutch about dog ownership. We get into the everyday realities: dog...

The best way's to create a stronger bond with your dog is taking the time to learn their language. A wagging tail can mean joy, stress, or “I’m not sure about this,” and that one misunderstanding is a perfect snapshot of why dog body language is so easy to get wrong. I’m joined by Allie Bender, certified dog behavior consultant, co-founder of Pet Harmony Training, and co-author of *Canine Enr...

A note before listening: This episode includes mentions of sensitive and difficult subject matter, including murder, suicide, death, and missing persons. Please listen with care. Former FBI special agent and long time search and recovery handler Sonja Nordstrom joins me to chat about the bond between a working dog and their human. We chat about what it means to work alongside cadaver dogs when the...

A wildfire can erase a neighborhood in hours, but the aftermath can take years and it rarely looks the way people imagine. I sit down with author Carrie Karuhn to talk about the real events behind her novel Not Everything Burns, inspired by the 2007 Malibu fire that destroyed her home and took the animals she loved most. We chat about why Carrie chose fiction over memoir.  We dig into what the tit...

I chat with Laurence Minnis, an Army veteran and neuroscience researcher, about how dogs helped rebuild his life after a neurological illness and why shelter adoption feels like both fate and risk. We break down what drives the adoption decision, how uncertainty shows up after you bring a dog home, and what support makes long-term success more likely.  • growing up in Southeast DC and being “chose...

One of the hardest  parts of loving a dog is realizing you can’t protect them from everything, especially the moment a health decision collides with stress, emotion, and a bill you didn’t see coming. I wanted to talk about the part of the human-animal bond nobody talks about: money, and how it quietly shapes the care our pets receive and the guilt we carry when the choices we want to make feel imp...

Renowned veterinarian  Dr. Gary Richter joins me to chat nutrition, longevity, and wellness.  We also talk honestly about what is realistic, sustainable, and safe for your pup so you can make better choices without getting shamed or overwhelmed.  • Diet, exercise and lifestyle as the core pillars of longevity  • Shifting the question from what brand to what kind of food  • Why highly processed pet...

He watched Shelby come into the world, then had to learn how to let her go. John Lee Brody joins me for a raw, deeply personal conversation about what it means to love a dog with your whole nervous system and what happens when that love turns into caretaking, vigilance, and grief. Shelby was a 21-pound corgi with a huge presence, and John’s story starts with a rare beginning: breeder updates, a we...

What if the most loving thing you could do for your dog is stop trying to “fix” them? I sit down with award-winning dog behavior consultant and author Kim Brophey to challenge the default story we’ve been sold: that dogs should effortlessly adapt to our busy, indoor, highly controlled human lives. Together we unpack a simple but radical reframing that changes everything from training to daily rout...

Irith Bloom is back to chat how shifting dog training away from control and toward trust, choice, and real communication can help our dogs feel safer and behave better. We dig into why over managing puppies can create anxiety, how to read canine body language, and which simple skills make everyday life easier .  Letting puppies explore safely instead of bubble wrapping their world and why choice a...

Jen shares how a childhood with a police K9 shaped her sense of responsibility, and why living with five dogs now feels like the most meaningful work of her life. We talk pack dynamics, Border Collie needs, the “soul dog” idea, and how grief can deepen gratitude for ordinary days.  • Growing up with Shep the police canine and learning what real training and partnership look like  • Feeling judged...

A scruffy white rescue dog, $50 to my name, and a split-second yes that rerouted my entire life. Season three begins with the story of Chance, my soul  dog, and the reason this season centers on the human dog bond. If you have ever loved a dog, lost a dog, or felt like you were barely holding it together, this one is for you. At 33, I am waiting tables, stuck in panic attacks, chronic pain, and th...

I  chat with biologist, ethologist, behavioral ecologist and writer, Dr. Marc Bekoff about what science says about the emotional lives of animals and why our deepest bonds with dogs are built on trust, safety, and two-way communication. We break down dog literacy, consent, and the alpha myth so you can create a stronger bond with your pup.  • reciprocal bonds between dogs and humans shaped by pers...

After two years away, The Baroo is back. Season 3 explores the human-animal bond through conversations with scientists, trainers, veterinarians, and dog lovers — and is dedicated to Chance, the dog who started it all. New episodes begin July 7th, 2026. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Shop the podcast: https://www.thebaroo.com/shop-pod Follow The Baroo: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/baroo...

Originally released  in 2023  Navigating the holiday season after losing a beloved pet can be emotionally complicated, but you're not alone on this journey.  Dr. Lindsey Wendt DVM,  joins me co-hosting a chat with Mindy Meiering, LCSW , a licensed therapist, certified life coach and the author/creator of the Rainbow Bridge Pet Loss Deck, a healing tool that supports people after the heartbrea...

*We will be taking a little break, but will be back with new conversations on all things dog in a bit.  In the meantime I would love to hear from you!  If you have a story of canine companionship you would like to share, a topic you would like to explore on the podcast, a question, or even a comment, please,  email me charlotte@thebaroo.com.    Dr. Christina Montalbano from the University of Flori...

There's a certain magic that happens when someone takes a leap of faith from a secure path  into the unpredictable yet thrilling world of entrepreneurship, especially when it involves our four-legged friends. Amanda Shaw's story is one such tale, starting her journey as a dedicated student of neuroscience and emerging as a full-service event planner for the most joyous dog birthday parti...

In this episode, Dr. Sarina Barbara and Dr. Lindsey Wendt join me to chat about ozone therapy. We dive behind it's science and success stories  and chat about the myriad of ways it can be beneficial for our pets health, including propelling treatments for cardiac and kidney conditions in pets to new heights. Safety is paramount when it comes to our pets, and that's why we take a thorough...

 When Anne, a survivor of parental abuse who sufferers from severe depression, unwittingly rescues a dog with serious aggression issues, she finds herself unable to give up on him.  In this episode I chat with The Moth story slam winner and author of her memoir " Mattie, Milo and Me, " Anne Abel.  She shares the raw and beautiful intricacies of forming an unbreakable bond with her dogs,...

Imagine the invisible bonds of energy that tie us to our pets, stretching beyond what the eye can see. Dr. Barry Sands joins us to unravel the complexities of these connections, infusing veterinary care with the fascinating principles of quantum physics. We explore how therapies involving sound, light, and homeopathy aren't just for the body—they're for the soul, aligning our vibrational...

In this episode I am joined by Chris Lynch. Chris is an award wining author of several highly acclaimed young adult novels and a national book award finalist . He joins me to talk about his latest middle grade novel, Walkin' the Dog ( released March 12) which is a moving story about a young boy and the life lessons he learns from his four-legged friends and the unexpected paths they lead him...

In honor of this leap year I am re-releasing one of my favorite episodes:  When my dog Chance began to show his age, I was desperate for a solution that would restore his youthful spirit. That's when Leap Years, a revolutionary anti-aging supplement for dogs, entered our lives and transformed Chance's golden years. In episode of the Baroo Podcast, I  sit down with the minds behind Animal...

Ever heard the powerful tale of Attila the Czech Shepherd, or the bond between Army handler Angela and her dog Szultan? In this episode I am joined by  Bob Bryant, the compassionate co-founder of Mission K9 Rescue, who shares these heartwarming stories and sheds light on the lesser-known journeys of working dogs as they transition to retirement. We chat about the  remarkable lives of these canine...

In honor of valentines day, certified professional dog trainer Irith Bloom is back to help those of you whose dogs may be buzz- killing your relationship. We chat about what to do if your dog gets anxious or ancy every time you even go in for a hug  with your significant other.  We also chat how to introduce your dog to your new love interest, how to introduce your dog to a new love interest'...