Dog Edition

Dogs appear onscreen in some of the most beloved films and TV shows of all time. But what happens behind the scenes to make the magic?

When a dog barks or attacks a bad guy on camera, it looks totally natural, right? It isn’t. Dogs need intense training to learn how to “act” on camera.

Today’s guests, Sarah Clifford, Lindsay Hill and Mary Cummings, take us through a dog actor’s day. Training involves long hours of work, repetition, and most of all, ingenuity on behalf of the trainer.

We also hear firsthand accounts of keeping dogs safe on set and some unconventional ways of breaking into the business.

About Sarah Clifford

Sarah Clifford is the owner and coordinator of Animal Savvy, a top-rated animal rental company for film and TV. She has notably trained dogs for roles in The Old Man, The Artist, Think Like a Dog, and dozens more.

About Lindsay Hill

Lindsay Hill is the official Pet Wrangler for Chewy’s promotional video and photo content. She also trains dogs for agility and other competitive events.

About Mary Cummings

Mary Cummings is the owner of Stone Meadow Kennel and longtime Hollywood dog trainer. Since the early 90’s, Mary has trained dogs for commercials, photoshoots, and film, with highlights including a viral Saturday Night Live sketch and John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place 2.

Other Show Links:

“No Animals Were Harmed official website”

Hero Dog Press Conference SNL Skit

About Dog Podcast Network (DPN)

DPN is the first of its kind. A podcasting network as devoted to dogs, as they are to us. Our mission is simple: entertain, inspire and inform. We will improve the quality of life for dogs and the people who love them.

Check out Dog Podcast Network for other dog-adjacent shows:

The Long Leash where we rescue tasty scraps from the editing room floor in an unscripted interview show

Dog Cancer Answers which offers vetted advice from real veterinarians who answer your questions about dog cancer

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Huge wildfires are devastating in every way possible. Forests are burned down, and the wildlife that lives there does, too. Human lives are lost, and homes are, too. 

And for some, the tragedy is compounded by the need for quick escape. When you’re fleeing for your life you may not have time to pack a change of clothes and grab your important documents, let alone box up your most precious possessions.

Fire survivors have much to mourn, but one of the most acute losses, many say, is leaving the cremains of their loved ones behind.

Who would ever imagine that we could find ashes among heaps of ashes? Canine forensic specialists, that’s who!  Dogs who are trained to find human remains, it turns out, can find human cremains, too. Alex DeGeorgey from Alta Heritage Foundation and Lynne Engelbert, from the Institute of Canine Forensics (along with her border collie Piper) share how the dogs scent can recover the cremains, and what kind of training is involved. 

James and Clare talk to the experts about this seemingly insurmountable process. You’ll learn how dogs scent and recover cremains, and what kind of training is involved. You’ll also hear Molly Rich’s moving story of recovering her dad’s ashes.

About Alta Heritage Foundation

It is our mission is to use applied archaeology techniques in support of humanitarian efforts; to provide heritage educational opportunities; to foster historic preservation events; to address climate change impacts to cultural resources; and to provide support to students, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations conducting archaeology or historic preservation activities.

https://altahf.org/

About Alex DeGeorgey

Alex’s professional career began in 1994. Since that time, he has completed projects with both public agencies and the private sector engaged in the management of cultural resources. He manages prehistoric and historic-era resources investigations, including directing large-scale field studies and assembling field teams.

https://www.altaac.com/

About Lynne Engelbert

Lynne has 30+ years of detection dog training and handling experience and is an associate with the Institute for Canine Forensics. Lynne and Piper, her border collie, are certified in Historic Human Remains Detection (HHRD), and FEMA Human Remains Detection (disaster).

https://www.icfk9.org/

About Dog Podcast Network (DPN)

DPN is the first of its kind. A podcasting network as devoted to dogs, as they are to us. Our mission is simple: entertain, inspire and inform. We will improve the quality of life for dogs and the people who love them.

Check out Dog Podcast Network for other dog-adjacent shows:

The Long Leash where we rescue tasty scraps from the editing room floor in an unscripted interview show

Dog Cancer Answers which offers vetted advice from real veterinarians who answer your questions about dog cancer

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve all heard that dogs are colorblind, and that they wag their tails because they are happy. Those are facts!

Aren’t they?

On today’s show, Jim and Clare turn to some special veterinarians to find out if the “facts” we think we know are actually true.

Spoiler: they’re not!

Dr. Ernie Ward and Dr. Brittany Genus bust these two common myths wide open. They explain how they came to be, what the research has proven, and how common misinformation like this can impact your dog’s life.

About Dr. Ernie Ward

Dr. Ernie Ward is a small animal veterinarian of 31 years from coastal North Carolina. He specializes in dogs and cats with a subspecialty in obesity and nutrition and also co-hosts the Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast, where he tackles “the toughest topics in veterinary medicine”. To see more of his work, visit his Instagram @drernieward.

To read his article “Are Dogs Really Colorblind?”, visit https://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-diseases-conditions-a-z/are-dogs-really-colorblind

About Dr. Brittany Grenus

Dr. Brittany Grenus is a licensed veterinarian from Southern California. Currently she is working as a relief veterinarian in Los Angeles, California, where she provides support to animal hospitals that are in need of extra help as a result of the pandemic. To see more of her work, visit her Instagram @vettingthefacts.

To read her article “Why do dogs wag their tails?”, visit https://www.petmd.com/dog/behavior/why-do-dogs-wag-their-tails

About Dog Podcast Network (DPN) 

Check out Dog Podcast Network for other dog-adjacent shows:

The Long Leash where we rescue tasty scraps from the editing room floor in an unscripted interview show

Dog Cancer Answers which offers vetted advice from real veterinarians who answer your questions about dog cancer

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dementia is a terrible disease. The mental decline of our loved ones is heartbreaking, and the effects are profound. This condition can’t be cured, but medication and therapy can help. And what better therapy is there than the unconditional love of a dog?

In today’s episode, we join Layla, a Jack Russell who visits dementia patients in a Canadian senior center. She helps those afflicted by spreading love and joy in a way only dogs can. We also get into the science and research behind why dogs are so beneficial for those with dementia.

Episode links

Swedish Study: A Therapy Dog’s Impact on Daytime Activity and Night-time Sleep for Older Persons with Alzheimer's Disease-A Case Study: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287442448_A_therapy_dog's_impact_on_daytime_activity_and_night-time_sleep_for_older_persons_with_Alzheimer's_disease_-_A_case_study

University of Nebraska study showing relief from Sundowner Syndrome: https://onecallmedicalalert.com/blogs/news/research-shows-therapy-dogs-can-help-alzheimers-patients-with-sundown-syndrome

About DPN

Check out Dog Podcast Network for other dog-adjacent shows:

The Long Leash where we rescue tasty scraps from the editing room floor in an unscripted interview show

Dog Cancer Answers which offers vetted advice from real veterinarians who answer your questions about dog cancer

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not every guide dog in training graduates. What happens to the ones that don’t make the cut? Host Clare Mansell met one of these “career change” dogs and is happy to report that he is doing just fine as an animal ambassador, a position that is becoming more common as hotels offer comfort and accommodations to pet family members.

Stewart, a Labrador retriever, had spent four years in training with Canadian Guide Dogs For The Blind before realizing he wasn’t meant to be a guide dog. After a brief job search, he landed at the Chateau Laurier, Ottawa's 5-star hotel, and settled for a new life of leisure greeting guests and playing fetch in the elegant hallways. Clare visits Stewart as he works … and he shows her all his favorite spots, including a few that are technically off-limits.

Watch a video of Stewart at the hotel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cf6iZkZliUW/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind: https://www.guidedogs.ca/

About 101 Dog Stories Contest

We are searching for 101 dog “tails” to share with our listeners. Enter our 101 Dog Stories contest by submitting an audio package for a chance to win $100 and a grand prize of $5,000. We are looking for news, in-depth reports, and interviews about anything dog-related. Correspondents from any continent are welcome! Learn more at dogpodcastnetwork.com/101

More About DPN

Check out Dog Podcast Network for other dog-adjacent shows:

The Long Leash where we rescue tasty scraps from the editing room floor in an unscripted interview show

Dog Cancer Answers which offers vetted advice from real veterinarians who answer your questions about dog cancer

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Looking for some joy amid a global pandemic, Stephanie Nelson adopted tiny Juniper. It seemed like a perfect match, a wonderful addition to the family. But very quickly they realized the painful truth: Junipers needed more than their family could provide.

Most dog lovers are afraid to share their rescues fails, fearing judgement and alienation. Some think it’s better to just power through: keep the dog and hope it will end well. But the opposite is often true. Returning the dog is desperately hard (as Stephanie knows firsthand) but sometimes, it’s the right thing to do.

More About DPN

Check out Dog Podcast Network for other dog-adjacent shows:

The Long Leash where we rescue tasty scraps from the editing room floor in an unscripted interview show

Dog Cancer Answers which offers vetted advice from real veterinarians who answer your questions about dog cancer

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The story on today’s show was brought to you by one a winner of our 101 Dog Stories Contest. In “Gobi the Desert Dog: From China to Scotland,” Saskia Edward takes us to the Gobi Desert and introduces us to a superhuman athlete and his surprising running companion.

Dion Leonard, ultra-marathoner, thought he was running a race … but then a stray dog joined him. Dion couldn’t shake his new companion, so he named her Gobi. By the finish line, they had fallen firmly in love … and then tragedy struck. Before Gobi could follow Dion home in Scotland, she had to stay behind, waiting for her travel documents. Tragedy struck when Gobi ran away from her caretakers in China and got lost in a huge city. What ensues is an international dog-hunt was launched to bring the duo back together again.

More About Dion Leonard

From 100 miles to 240+ miles nonstop, Dion has numerous top 10 finishes whilst competing in some of the world's toughest 'ultra-marathon' races including the Badwater 135. Dion has won races; including the Kalahari Extreme 155 mile race, Delirious W.E.S.T. 200 miles and become the first male to run the Grand Slam of 100's (silver buckling in all races) and the gruesome Leadman Series in one year

https://www.dionleonard.com/

More About Finding Gobi

This International Bestselling book is the amazing untold true story of extreme ultra runner Dion Leonard and Gobi the Chinese stray desert dog. Now available in 23 languages globally the two become running companions in the toughest of conditions and against all odds they formed an unbreakable bond that would change both of their lives forever.

Book: https://www.findinggobi.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/findinggobi/?hl=en

101 Dog Stories Contest

At Dog Podcast Network, we are searching for 101 dog tales to share with our listeners. Enter our 101 Dog Stories contest by submitting an audio package for a chance to win $100 and a grand prize of $5,000! The contest is open to anyone around the world! We are looking for news, in-depth reports, and interviews about anything dog-related. Learn more at 101 Dog Stories Contest.

More About DPN

Check out Dog Podcast Network for other dog-adjacent shows:

The Long Leash where we rescue tasty scraps from the editing room floor in an unscripted interview show

Dog Cancer Answers which offers vetted advice from real veterinarians who answer your questions about dog cancer

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know dog noses are a superpower. With them, they sniff out all kinds of treasures; from delicious truffles nestled underground to human feces leaking into protected waters. Dogs' sense of smell is trumped only by bears, elephants, and cats. Come explore the many ways dogs put their spectacular sniffers to use.

Truffles are a delicacy prized by chefs and foodies around the world, but these finicky fungi are hard to find. It helps to have a family of Lagotto Romagnolo, or truffle hunting dogs, to do the dirty work. The Angerer Family runs a truffle orchard in Northern California that employs Lagotto Romagnolos to hunt for these elusive and valuable “fairy apples”.

Later in the show, learn more about canine olfaction as Jim and Clare share fun finds of pups using their Jacobson’s organ. Stories like that of Ammo, the Ukrainian mine sniffing Jack Russel Terrier, who shows that you don’t have to be a big dog, to be a good dog.

The Alexander Valley Truffle Company

Angerer Family Farms was started as a vehicle to diversify a connection to Sonoma County. For several years, as the family waited for their hazelnut trees, inoculated with the coveted French winter black truffle spores known as Tuber Melanosporum, to grow, they grew a variety of tomatoes and fruits which they sold to local markets. But as they near our first truffle harvest, attention is shifting below ground. And their five Lagotto Romagnolo truffle hunting dogs are ready!

https://www.avtruffles.com/home

ALTA Heritage Foundation

ALTA conserves heritage through applied archaeology, education, public outreach and research. They offer no cost support for victims of massive wildfires, dispatching trained ash recovery dogs. Homes that are destroyed due to wildfire often burn so hot they destroy the urns of loved ones who have since passed and been cremated. ALTA can recover the ashes among the destruction and provide some solace in a time a loss.

https://altahf.org/

Other Links

Why is your dog’s nose a superpower? Dog Edition Episode #42: https://shows.dogpodcastnetwork.com/show/dog-edition/why-is-your-dogs-nose-a-superpower-dog-edition-42/

Zigante Tartufi (Jim’s favorite truffle company): https://www.ziganteshop.com/products/dark-chocolate-with-black-truffle

About Dog Podcast Network (DPN)

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On February 24th of this year, Russia invaded Ukraine. The United Nations swiftly predicted the war would create the worst refugee crisis in Europe since WWII, and they were proven correct.

Millions of people have been displaced, and among them are pet owners faced with a horrific dilemma: what to do with their animals? Bring them along on an uncertain journey? Leave them behind?

Many didn’t have a choice. Photos from border crossings around Ukraine show many brought their dogs with them. But then what happened?

On today’s show, we look at the journey these people and their pets made as the war unfolded. We speak with some of the people who helped along the way.

Among the many challenges faced by refugees, rabies vaccinations proved to be one of the biggest obstacles to overcome. Without proof of current rabies vaccination, dogs had to be left behind at the border.

For others, fleeing with their pets simply wasn’t an option. We also hear about those who stayed behind, and struggled to care for beloved pets in a war zone.

Cover Art: The image used in this episode’s cover art was created by Ukranian artist Oleksandr Miroshnychenko. Please visit their Etsy page to offer support: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LuckyArtStudioUA?ref=seller-platform-mcnav§ion_id=29816966

About Dr. Marty Becker

Dr. Becker practices in Ohio and is the founder of Fear Free, an organization that provides education to veterinarians and pet owners to look after a pet’s physical and emotional wellbeing. He traveled to Ukraine to offer veterinary services to refugees.

About Elisa Dumitrescu

Dumitrescu runs the shelter Saved by the Vet in Solca, Romania, which is about 40 minutes from Ukraine’s border. What started as a blueberry farm with her husband, has become a haven for homeless pets. Recently, she has been helping refugees fleeing Ukraine with their pets.

Instagram: @dogood_romania

About Dr. Jon Geller

Dr. Geller is a veterinarian and the founder and medical director of the Street Dog Coalition. This Colorado-based organization provides free care to the pets of people experiencing homelessness. He traveled to Ukraine to offer veterinary services to refugees. 

His organization will be continuing work at the border for the foreseeable future, and support can be offered on their website at: https://www.thestreetdogcoalition.org/operation-ukraine 

About Dr. Elena Kostiuk

Dr. Kostiuk is the chief of cardiology at the ZOOLUX Vet Hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine. When the war started, she moved in to her clinic full time and provided care to the animals of those who stayed in the city.

Links to Support Ukrainian Dogs

World Vets (for those within the U.S.): https://secure.givelively.org/donate/world-vets/support-for-pets-from-ukraine

World Vets (for those outside the U.S.): https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=worldvets&id=15

Saved by the Vet’s list for Ukrainian support efforts: https://linktr.ee/dogood_romania

Association of Pets and people understanding: https://appu.net.ua/charity-payment/en

The following link is to help the Ukrainian army: https://bank.gov.ua/en/news/all/natsionalniy-bank-vidkriv-spetsrahunok-dlya-zboru-koshtiv-na-potrebi-armiyi

About Dog Podcast Network (DPN)

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s show, we travel through the heart of Europe, crossing borders and winning hearts. This extraordinary narrative podcast segment is the first winner of our 101 Dog Stories Contest.

Crossing international borders with your dog has always been complicated. But after Brexit, travel between the United Kingdom and the European Union became much more difficult. We explore some of those changes, including the difference between pet passports and animal health certificates.

Our hosts also share their experiences crossing borders with dogs. James Jacobson tells how he helped changed rabies quarantine laws in Hawaii for his dog Maui, and Clare Mansel shares her dream of taking the Queen Mary 2 to London with her dog Maple on board.

European Union pet travel requirements: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/carry/animal-plant/index_en.htm

United Kingdom pet travel requirements: https://www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad/travelling-to-an-eu-country-or-northern-ireland

101 Dog Stories Contest

At Dog Podcast Network, we are searching for 101 dog tales to share with our listeners. Enter our 101 Dog Stories contest by submitting an audio package for a chance to win $100 and a grand prize of $5,000! The contest is open to anyone around the world! We are looking for news, in-depth reports, and interviews about anything dog-related. Learn more at 101 Dog Stories Contest.

Check out Dog Podcast Network for other dog-adjacent shows:

The Long Leash where we rescue tasty scraps from the editing room floor in an unscripted interview show

Dog Cancer Answers which offers vetted advice from real veterinarians who answer your questions about dog cancer

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices