In this episode, we visit with Crissy Smith, Chief Canine Officer of Duo Dogs. Crissy shares what traits and qualities make for a good assistance dog. Additionally, she shares her insights on training and what she had learned over the last decade + of training dogs for this special role.

In this epidsode, I visit with Jason Frei, Duo Dog's current board president. Jason currently works at Edward Jones. Jason is the founder of SolutionForge LLC. Previously a he served as a Boeing senior executive, where he held various roles in Program Management, Ethics, and Supply Chain across the global defense business. He also served as President of Boeing's 5,000-strong Veterans Engagement Team.

Jason is an Eisenhower Fellow with expertise in veterans support and transition, having studied these topics in Israel and Australia. He is a United States Marine Corps artillery officer and combat veteran. Jason holds a mechanical engineering degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and an MBA in strategy and finance from the University of Notre Dame. Enjoy getting to know Jason in this episode.

In this episode, I visited with guests at our 2025 Fetching Affair Gala at the Chase Park Plaza on March 15th. This gala is our main fundraising event of the year and Duo is incredibly grateful to our gala chairs, Gary and Kristen Burger. With the Burgers help and the help of our gala committee and our community, the gala was a tremendous success. As always, a very special thank you to Ryan Sigmund, our Duo Dogcast editor. As you will hear, this episode was recorded in a very busy, very loud environment and Ryan was able to make it sound great. Thank you!

Part 2! Jim Twickler, CPDT-KA, Touch Therapy + Obedience Training Specialist, shares dog training tips and tricks. Thank you Jim!

Thank You Ryan Sigmund for editing this podcast.

To learn more about Duo Dogs or to make a gift to Duo Dogs, click HERE.

To ask Jim a question for the next time he appearts on this podcast, please email [email protected] and please put "Podcast Question" in the subject line. Thank you!

Jim Twickler, CPDT-KA, Touch Therapy + Obedience Training Specialist, Duo Dogcast regular, returns to share dog training tips and tricks in this 2 part episode. Thank you Jim!

Thank you Ryan Sigmund for editing this podcast.

To make a gift to Duo Dogs, click HERE.

Erin Manning, Community Relations Manager, oversees our volunteer programs is featured on this Duo Dogcast. Erin what our volunteer roles entail and how you can potentially become a volunteer with Duo Dogs. Anyone who has met Erin is well aware of her positive attitude and cheerful demeanor and I think that shows through on this podcast. We also learn about Erin's background and her personal dogs, Chip and Finn and of course her human family. Enjoy!

To learn more about or to make a gift to Duo Dogs, visit www.duodogs.org

Thank you to Ryan Sigmund for editing this podcast.

This week we visited with Duo Dogs CEO Dawn Van Houten to discuss what is needed to keep Duo thriving year after year. We also learn about Dawn's background growing up on a farm in rural Missouri to getting her first personal dog while living in St. Louis. Additionally, we discuss how you can help Duo Dogs continue to prosper.

To learn more about or to make a gift to Duo Dogs, visit www.duodogs.org. Thank you!

Thank you to Ryan Sigmund for editing this epidsode.

In this episode, we visit with Sharon Johnson, a veteran Duo Touch Therapy volunteer. Sharon shares her experiences sharing her golden retriever (s) with others. Thank you Sharon!

Thank you to Ryan Sigmund for editing this podast.

To support Duo Dogs, click HERE.

I would like to dedicate this episode to Bart Budetti. I hope you are playing fetch with Cosmo and Fiona in the hereafter. - SMC

Jim Twickler, CPDT-KA, Touch Therapy + Obedience Training Specialist, our first two-timer guest, discusses tactics to establish new positive behaviors and recognizing other dog behaviors. Thank you Jim!

Thank you Ryan Sigmund for editing this podcast.

To make a gift to Duo Dogs, click HERE.

In this episode, we visit with Duo Dogs Assistance Dog Trainer + Education Specialist Tony Alaimo, to talk about dog behaviors. Although this subject is vast, we talk about counter conditioning, imprinting and windows of opportunity relative to age with behaviors. Tony also discusses how he recognizes traits of dogs that are in our Assistance Dog Program.

Thank you to Ryan Sigmund for editing this podcast.