Pet To Pal Podcast

ep 45

What does a veterinarian actually see when a pet arrives at the emergency room? Dr. Brianna Tobin joins the Pet To Pal Podcast for a deep conversation about emergency veterinary medicine, from the first moments of triage to some of the hardest decisions a veterinarian can make. We discuss how ER vets determine which patients need immediate attention, why vital signs and an owner's observations...

Dog training isn’t just about training the dog. A huge part of the process is helping the human on the other end of the leash understand what their dog needs, manage their expectations, and navigate the emotional side of owning a difficult dog. In this episode of the Pet To Pal Podcast, Matt sits down with Kait of KANE9 Dog Training to talk about the realities of working with reactive and challeng...

What happens when a dog trainer who started with compulsion and corrections completely rethinks his approach? This week I'm joined by  Josh Beckler of K9 Optima  for one of my favorite conversations yet. Josh talks about his evolution as a trainer, from using leash corrections and compulsion to developing a more individualized, assessment-based approach to behavior. We dive into aggression, re...

What does it actually take to train a dog? Matthew sits down with  Eric Straetman of Beyond the Leash, Mazen Khan of Apex K9 Canada, and Nathan Aller of Dankroft K9  for an open discussion about modern dog training and behaviour modification. They discuss puppy socialization, reactivity, genetics, littermate syndrome, dog parks and daycare, puppy blues, e-collars, prong collars, corrections, board...

Are e-collars really cruel, or are they one of the most misunderstood tools in dog training? In episode 40 of the Pet To Pal Podcast, I sit down with Bethany Johnson of Walking Dog Training, one of the most recognizable voices in balanced dog training and e-collar education, to unpack the misconceptions surrounding e-collar training and what actually creates calm, confident dogs. Bethany explains...

What if the biggest thing holding your dog back… is the way you’re communicating? In episode 39 of the Pet To Pal Podcast , Matthew Maltese sits down with Noelle Farr , owner and trainer of Aligned K9 , to discuss what really creates clear communication between dogs and their owners. They explore why so many dogs struggle with reactivity, the difference between managing behavior and truly changing...

What’s next for Dankroft? Nathan Aular of Dankroft K9 joins the Pet To Pal Podcast in episode 38 to talk about growing up around dog training, learning from his father Dan, developing his own training philosophy, and where he wants to take Dankroft in the future. We get into balanced dog training, using food and play, e-collars and prong collars, working with skeptical clients, and why trainers ne...

What does it actually mean for a dog to be “trained”?In this episode of the Pet To Pal Podcast, I sit down with Eric Straetmans of Beyond The Leash Training for a wide-ranging conversation about real-world dog training, obedience, reliability, e-collar training, socialization, dog parks, board and trains, crates, and what it actually takes to build a dog that can function in everyday life. Eric ha...

What does it really mean to raise a calm, confident dog? In episode 36 of the Pet To Pal Podcast, Matthew Maltese of Pet To Pal Dog Training sits down with Sierra Liberty, owner of K9 Summit, to discuss modern dog ownership, puppy training, neutrality, proper socialization, separation anxiety, structure, crate training, e-collars, prong collars, and why so many owners unintentionally create behavi...

Professional dog grooming is about far more than making dogs look good. In this episode of the  Pet To Pal Podcast , Matthew Maltese sits down with  Nadia Bongelli ,  Mari Kusanagi (Top Knot Grooming) , and  Karol (Scooby Grooms)  for an honest discussion about the realities of the grooming industry. Together, they explore fear-free grooming, puppy introductions, cooperative care, handling difficu...

What is it really like to be a veterinarian? Dr. Aleksandra Ascione joins the Pet To Pal Podcast to discuss the realities of veterinary medicine. From the four-year journey to have her veterinary degree recognized in the United States to the emotional challenges of treating patients every day. We also explore preventative healthcare, vaccines, pet insurance, obesity, social media misinformation, c...

In episode 33, Matt Maltese of Pet To Pal Dog Training in Toronto sits down with Rodney Kaufman, co-founder of Corporate Canine Therapy, to break down what it really takes to run a large-scale therapy dog operation. We discuss how therapy dogs are used in corporate settings, hospitals, and private environments—and why the work goes far beyond simply bringing dogs into a room. Rodney shares insight...

In episode 32 of the Pet To Pal Podcast, Matt Maltese of Pet To Pal Dog Training in Toronto sits down with Samantha Johnson of Packlife LA to talk about what actually creates a calm, balanced dog. We break down real-world dog training, reactivity, pack walks, leash work, and the biggest mistakes dog owners make. Samantha also shares her approach to balanced training, why overcorrecting doesn’t wor...

What does it take to become one of the best dog groomers in the world? Matthew Maltese of Pet To Pal Dog Training & host of the Pet To Pal Podcast sits down with Canada's top-ranked competitive groomer,  Nadia Bongelli , for an in-depth conversation about the craft, psychology, and pursuit of excellence behind elite dog grooming. They discuss Nadia's journey into grooming, competitive...

In this roundtable episode of the Pet To Pal Podcast, Matthew Maltese is joined by fellow dog trainers Lindsay Tupper (Max K9 Training), Carolina Littlefoot (Beauty & Her Beasts K9 Training), and Grace Claremont (Optimal Performance K9) for an in-depth discussion on dog behavior, obedience, reactivity, sport training, and what actually matters when building a well-trained dog. The panel explores t...

There’s a lot of conflicting advice in the dog world right now—especially around flea and tick medications, raw diets, and “natural” remedies. In this episode of the Pet To Pal Podcast, I sit down with veterinarian Dr. Hammond (@thehonestvet) to break down what’s actually true, what’s misunderstood, and what dog owners need to know. We talk about: * The real risk of flea & tick preventatives * Why...

In episode 28 of the Pet To Pal Podcast, Jonas Black (Punk Ass Dog Trainer) joins Matt Maltese of Pet To Pal Dog Training for a wide-ranging conversation about dog training, behavior, neuroscience, mentorship, social media, industry reform, and personal growth. We discuss the challenges facing modern dog training, the dangers of ideological thinking, why experience matters more than dogma, and how...

What really happens behind the grooming table? In episode 27 of the Pet To Pal Podcast, Matthew Maltese of Pet To Pal Dog Training sits down with professional dog groomers  Nancy Bryson, Alessia Macri, and Giulia Laudari  for a candid discussion about matting, pricing, difficult clients, dog behavior, social media trends, and the realities of working in the dog grooming industry. The panel shares...

In Episode 26, Justin Rigney joins the Pet To Pal Podcast to discuss his background in law enforcement K9 work, dog sports, and pet dog training. With over 30 years of experience, Justin shares insights on: * Working dogs vs pet dogs * Behavior modification and training philosophy * The role of genetics in dog performance * Real-world K9 deployments and decision-making under pressure A deep, exper...

In episode 25 of the Pet To Pal Podcast, Matt Maltese of Pet To Pal Dog Training in Toronto sits down with agility competitor, dog trainer, and wellness educator Grace Clairmont from Learning Through Dogs, Optimal Performance Canine, and Little Chief & Co. We dive deep into: -What separates a good dog from a national-level sport dog -The reality of living with high-drive working breeds -Whethe...

This episode of the Pet To Pal Podcast, Matt Maltese of Pet To Pal Dog Training in Toronto dives deep into the pet industry with former Bone & Biscuit owner Megan Billingsley. After running one of Ontario’s top-performing pet stores, Megan shares what really happens behind the scenes - how pet food is marketed, how to actually read labels, and what most dog owners get wrong. We cover: The trut...

In episode 23 of the Pet To Pal podcast, Matt Maltese of Pet To Pal Dog Training in Toronto sits down with Karolina Littlefoot of Beauty and Her Beast Dog Training. Karolina started her career using positive-only methods, but over time, working with different dogs, breeds, and behavioral issues forced her to rethink everything. We break down what actually works in real-world dog training, why some...

In episode 22 of the Pet To Pal Podcast, Matt Maltese of Pet To Pal Dog Training in Toronto sits down with Andre Yeu, founder of When Hounds Fly, one of Toronto’s largest dog training companies, to break down what actually works in dog training - and what doesn’t. With over 20,000 dogs trained, Andre shares a systems-based approach to behavior that challenges a lot of common beliefs in the industr...

In episode 21 of the Pet To Pal Podcast, professional dog trainer Matt Maltese sits down with Nancy Bryson, a grooming industry veteran with over 50 years of experience. Nancy shares what most dog owners get wrong about grooming, how the industry has evolved since the 1970s, and what it really takes to become a skilled professional groomer. We discuss: • Common grooming mistakes dog owners make •...