Believe in Dog

Have you ever thought about your pet parenting philosophy? Maybe you have an idea in your head of what you want your relationship with your dog(s) to look like, but how would you describe it?

A few months ago, on an Amazon recommendation & a whim, I bought Debby McMullen’s book How Many Dogs?! Using Positive Reinforcement training to Manage a Multiple Dog Household.  And I loved the book so much, that I had to find Debby and bring her on the podcast.

Debby is known for sharing her life with multiple dogs. Working as a dog trainer since the late 1990s, Debby developed a niche in the dog training world helping families introduce & integrate new dogs into multi-dog households.

Debby shares – what I will call – her “ pet parenting philosophy” and it’s the closest explanation I’ve seen to how I feel about my relationship with my dogs.  We discuss what this looks like through setting boundaries and the importance of routines & predictability for establishing trust with a new dog in your home.

So are you ready to introduce a new dog to your family?  Whether you are or aren't, Debby identifies important body language and training cues that are helpful for any & every pet parent.  We also discuss how to teach your dog good behavior without needing a clicker!

Debby & I also dive into the dynamics of multi-dog households – from navigating meal times to giving individual time & attention to refereeing playtime to dealing with any problems that arise.

So how many dogs is too many dogs?  While that answer changes from family to family, Debby reveals factors for you & your family to consider when making this decision.

Find photos, links & show notes at:

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Teef: The easiest way to improve your dog’s dental health is with a spoonful of Teef powder in their water.  Save 20% on your Teef orders when you use the code: ADM.

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Has your dog ever shown fear, anxiety or reactivity?  If your dog hasn’t, I’d be willing to bet that you know someone whose dog is dealing with one of these issues.

Returning guest Dr. Zazie Todd is a psychologist who digs into the science of dog behavior to help us make the best decisions for our dogs. https://believeindogpodcast.com/episodes-1/episode105

Get your free checklist: Join Erin the Dog Mom's email list to receive the 12 Changes in Your Dog to Never Ignore checklist.

Teef: The easiest way to improve your dog’s dental health is with a spoonful of Teef powder in their water.  Save 20% on your Teef orders when you use the code: ADM.

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Do we really have to understand science to teach our dogs?

But science doesn’t have to be difficult, and Annie helps simplify the concepts for us. As Annie’s book says: if we don’t actually understand how dogs learn, then we’re just “muddl[ing] along with a mix of intuition, good intentions and emotional reactions.”  I know I’ve definitely been guilty of this!

Annie introduces us to the Training Triad, her 3-pronged approach to changing our dogs’ behavior. We also discuss what the LIMA approach (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) means.

Annie also shares with us the many ways in which learning about learning benefits our lives – from making us smarter consumers to raising the next generation.

Find photos, links & show notes at:

Teef: The easiest way to improve your dog’s dental health is with a spoonful of Teef powder in their water.  Save 20% on your Teef orders when you use the code: ADM.

Join the Facebook Group: Believe in Dog Pet Parent Support Group

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Have you ever heard someone say that you should be your dog’s “alpha”?   I’ve heard all types of odd advice over the years, like don’t let your dog walk through the doorway before you or never feed your dog before you eat. 

And I’ve always had lots of questions.   Do dogs have alphas?  or is that a wolf thing? You often hear the term “alpha male,” but in nature aren’t alpha females just as common?  What is the role of the alpha in a pack?  Are dogs even looking for humans to be their alpha?

 Fortunately we have renowned ethologist Dr. Marc Bekoff to answer all these questions and more for us. Though a self-proclaimed “terrible student,” Dr. Bekoff is a prolific writer, and his remarkable career often has him collaborating with the likes of Jane Goodall.

As a pet parent companion animal guardian, Dr. Bekoff makes me think about the type of relationship I want to have with my dogs and the type of human I want to be.  (And also about some of the past blunders I’ve inadvertently made.)

From sniffing & playtime to navigating dog parks, Dr. Bekoff gives us practical ways to truly honor our dogs’ “dogness.”

Find links & show notes at:

Teef: The easiest way to improve your dog’s dental health is with a spoonful of Teef powder in their water.  Save 20% on your Teef orders when you use the code: ADM.

Join the Facebook Group: Believe in Dog Pet Parent Support Group

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We know that people can have different types of intelligence, but what about our dogs?  I think every pet parent I know has been astonished by how smart their dog is – and usually in a good way.

Author Jennifer Holland explores the many different ways that dogs show their intelligence in her new book Dog Smart: Life Changing Lessons in Canine Intelligence.

Jennifer interviewed everyone from scientists to dog trainers to pet parents to learn how dogs demonstrate their smarts.  I was fascinated to learn about all the different types of working dogs – some of which I’d never heard of before!

But what does this mean for pet parents?  Jennifer shares with us what she now does differently with her own dogs after everything she learned while writing Dog Smart. We also discuss the types of intelligence we’ve seen in our own dogs.

Jennifer may also have the most adventurous career I’ve ever heard of. While working on assignment for National Geographic, she did everything from swim with sharks to camp out amongst the Indigenous people of Papau New Guinea (and the mosquitos!).

While writing Dog Smart, Jennifer’s intrepid spirit shows when she dons a “bite suit” to be “attacked” by a law enforcement K-9 and again when led blindfolded through the streets of Manhattan by a guide dog-in-training.

(This was my dog Nessie’s first time being my in-person interview helper, so please excuse her kong-chewing and water bowl slurping in the background.)

Find links & show notes at:

Teef: The easiest way to improve your dog’s dental health is with a spoonful of Teef powder in their water.  Save 20% on your Teef orders when you use the code: ADM.

Join my Facebook Group: Believe in Dog Pet Parent Support Group

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Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work with an animal communicator?  This is Part 2 of our family’s session with animal communicator, Nancy Mello.

In just the past few days, we discovered another one of Nancy’s insights about Neno’s health is correct!

We’re jumping back into our session with Nancy where we connected with Neno, Nessie & Penny.  After each segment from Nancy, Tim & I will share our reflections with you about what points resonated with us – or didn’t.

In Part 2, we’ll learn more about newly adopted Nessie – like her biggest fear and insights into the triggers of her reactivity. And about those chickens! During the session, Nancy recommended checking Nessie’s ears, and 5 days later Nessie was diagnosed with an ear infection.

At the end of the session, we also hear from Penny, our beloved gal who passed suddenly in 2023.  We’ll hear what Penny knew about her health condition, what she thinks about Nessie joining our family and if she’s seen the portrait of her in our home.

Tim also shares his best advice for anyone interested in working with an animal communicator.

See photos of Neno's dental issue & info shared with Nancy at:

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Happy 100th Episode!!

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work with an animal communicator?   After connecting with Nancy Mello earlier this year, Tim & I decided to book a session with her to see if we could gain some insight into the lack of connection between our old man Neno and newly adopted Nessie.  

I was grateful that Nancy allowed us to record the session so we could reference back to it, but it hadn’t been my original plan to share this.

During our session with Nancy, there were several points that didn’t resonate with us at the time. But over the following days and weeks, more of Nancy’s insights started to make sense.  (In fact, Nancy recommended checking Nessie’s ears, and 5 days after our session Nessie was diagnosed with an ear infection!)

Tim & I decided to listen to our recorded session from start to finish and reflect on the statements that didn’t make sense at the time but later became a-ha! moments.  So I thought I’d turn on the microphones and capture this for you as I wanted to do something special for the 100th episode – something that I’d never done before.

In Part 1, you’ll hear Neno and Nessie each share their side of a scuffle that happened in our living room.  Then we check-in with Neno, both physically and emotionally. Tim & I will share our thoughts with you along the way.

Check the show notes for the exact photos and information that Nancy received prior to our session.

Find links & show notes at:

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Did you know there are many reasons why a dog could be wearing a muzzle?  I like to think that the presence of a muzzle isn’t the sign of a bad dog – but of a good pet parent!

While working with some of the UK’s most challenging dogs in rescue at Dogs Trust, Clara Hewson spent years advising pet parents on the benefits of training their dog to wear a muzzle.

But Clara had never experienced one of her own dogs needing to be muzzled in public – until she adopted Tolly.  And Clara became shocked by the stigma she & Tolly began to experience.

So Clara took to social media with the goal to change public perception of dogs wearing a “face fence.” She created The Muzzle Movement, a community where pet parents are supported, encouraged and receive education (from one of the UK’s top dog trainers!).

When Clara found that she couldn’t find the “perfect” muzzle design – one that gave Tolly enough room to pant and receive treats – she decided she would create it herself.  Now you can shop at The Muzzle Movement to find muzzles that are safe, secure and fun to accessorize.

Clara shares with us the exact steps to start muzzle training your dog.  And it starts way before you even think about placing the muzzle on your dog!  We also learn about a recent breed-specific law impacting the UK’s XL Bully dogs (aka pit  bull dogs).

Find links & show notes at:

Leave a rating & review on Apple Podcasts or your podcast player.

Screenshot your review.

Email the screenshot to me at [email protected] and I’ll be sending you a free gift.

Teef: The easiest way to improve your dog’s dental health is with a spoonful of Teef powder in their water.  Save 20% on your Teef orders when you use the code: ADM.

It feels like we’re finally at a time in society when pet loss grief is starting to be acknowledged and resources are becoming more readily available.  But do we really know how to take care of ourselves and others in times of pet loss?  Do you know how to give good grief?

We’re joined by Mindy Meiering, LCSW, a licensed therapist, life coach, and mindfulness teacher who specializes in grief and loss. Even though Mindy has supported thousands of clients and families through major losses and life transitions, she was blindsided by how devastated she felt after losing her first dog, Ellie.

Calling upon all the tools and resources she learned, Mindy created the Rainbow Bridge Pet Loss Deck to support pet parents grieving the loss of a beloved companion.

Mindy and I discuss the best self-care practices in times of our own loss as well as the best ways we can show up for our friends & family who are grieving.  We also talk about unconventional types of loss including a lost pet, rehoming a pet and situations of behavioral euthanasia.

While many of us have heard of the Five Stages of Grief, a recent book examines the concept of a 6th stage of grief – finding meaning in your loss.  Mindy and I examine ways we’ve found meaning in our own pet loss grief and how you can do this in your own life and in your own way.

Find links, photos & show notes at:

Get your free checklist: Join Erin the Dog Mom's email list to receive the 12 Changes in Your Dog to Never Ignore checklist.

Teef: The easiest way to improve your dog’s dental health is with a spoonful of Teef powder in their water.  Save 20% on your Teef orders when you use the code: ADM.

Support this podcast, subscribe on your favorite app and leave a rating or review.

In Part 2 with Chris Hannah (Dog Dad to Cole the Deaf Dog), I share my observation that not only is Cole a special dog, but that Chris is a special human to have the emotional bandwidth to hold space for the many people he encounters during their therapy work.  Chris explains how Cole’s influence has shown him parts of himself that he didn’t know he had.

We discuss the powerful experience of volunteering at a hospice facility supporting patients and their families during the most difficult time.  Chris reflects on some of the more memorable encounters with patients, as well as students that he & Cole have helped through difficult times – including the pandemic.

Chris reveals his hopes and plans for the future and also shares with us the incredible media opportunities and awards of recognition that he & Cole have received.  From Good Morning America, Rachel Ray, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight and Lester Holt to being the first deaf dog to receive a Hero Dog Award.  Oh Em Gee! (Ahem, *cough* Kelly Clarkson next?!)

But while this attention has been thrilling and surreal for Chris, it’s also come with a dark side – online harassment and bullying due to Cole’s breed. Chris tells the toll this has taken on him and the precautions he now must take.

You can support Chris & Cole’s work, as well as find videos of their media appearances at: http://www.colethedeafdog.com

Find links & show notes at:

Get your free checklist: Join Erin the Dog Mom's email list to receive the 12 Changes in Your Dog to Never Ignore checklist.

and check out: Dog Profiles

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