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A puppy trails behind strangers in the rain, doubles back, and decides she’s staying. That single moment kicks off a wide-ranging conversation with Anka from Soul Touched by Dogs about what rescue dogs, street dogs, and the human animal bond really look like when you live it day to day, not just in highlight reels.

We talk about Ada, the steady “Miss Ada” who curls up under the desk and somehow makes everyone adore her, and Leia, a Spanish Mastiff whose calm presence flatly contradicts the scary breed stereotypes people love to repeat. Along the way, we get honest about the practical stuff many dog owners wrestle with: why big dogs change travel plans, why some dogs never relax in certain environments, and how a move to quieter space can reveal a completely different dog inside the same body.

We also make room for the parts that matter most and hurt the most: pet loss, the strange timing of goodbye, and the way grief and gratitude can sit in the same room. Anka shares how these dogs shaped her into a more assertive advocate and why she believes the biggest mindset shift is seeing dogs as teachers, not projects. If you’re searching for grounded dog training insights, rescue dog support, sniff walk benefits, or a more nuanced approach to canine behavior, this listen will meet you there.

Subscribe for more conversations about life with pets, share this with a friend who loves dogs, and leave a review with the biggest lesson your pet has taught you.

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A Ziploc bag opens and two little dogs come running because it can only mean one thing: cheese. That sweet detail is where this conversation starts, and it’s also why pet loss hurts so much. I’m Dan Popovic, and I sit down with Jean from Jefferson, Georgia to talk about the everyday rituals that turn a dog into family and what happens when that love has nowhere obvious to land after goodbye. 

Jean shares the story behind her “F” named crew, the quirks that make Frankie and Farah unforgettable, and why choosing a breed that fits your life can be an act of long-term care. Then we move into the hard moments: Fiona’s sudden decline in 2021, the heartbreak of COVID-era curbside vet policies, and the shock of being told there was nothing that could be done. We also talk about Flower’s slower health decline and how different kinds of loss create different kinds of grief. 

We spend time on what helps: compassionate workplaces, letting yourself grieve without performing “being okay,” and building a dog memorial that gives love a physical place to live. If you’ve been searching for pet grief support, coping with pet loss, or ways to honor your dog’s memory, you’ll hear honest guidance and the kind of comfort that comes from being understood. Subscribe, share this with someone who misses a pet, and leave a review with one small ritual you use to remember them.

1. Purchase the Book that inspired the Podcast
2. Want to share your pets story on a future podcast?  
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3. All new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your Pet
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I wrote this song from the bottom of my heart to thank everyone who has been a guest on my podcast and trusted me with their stories. My hope is that this song brings a smile to your face, keeps those special memories close, and adds a little light to your day.

Please help me share this message. Music has a unique way of preserving memories and creating meaningful connections. Just like our pets, it helps build bonds that stay with us for a lifetime. Who knows? Maybe a well-known artist will discover these lyrics and help spread the joy and awareness of the important role pets play in our lives.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the song. Please leave a comment, share it with others, and let me know what it means to you. Your support helps keep this movement growing and celebrates the incredible impact pets have on our lives.

1. Purchase the Book that inspired the Podcast
2. Want to share your pets story on a future podcast?  
   1. Send us a message: SUBSCRIBE
3. All new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your Pet
   1. Click -> Pet Journal

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A dog’s leash can be more than a daily chore. It can be a lifeline back to routine, movement, and the kind of quiet focus that anxiety and depression try to steal.

We sit down with Dave, a psychologist in private practice (trained in school psychology) who works with teens, college students, and young adults navigating ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, trauma, suicidal ideation, and self-harm. We start with the real stuff at home: two “furkids,” their wildly different personalities, and how training is often less about fixing dogs and more about teaching humans how to set everyone up for success. Along the way we get into rescue stories, music inspired pet names, and the small rituals that make a big difference, like short neighborhood walks, backyard sprints, and enrichment tools that help dogs (and people) settle.

Then the conversation widens into mental health. Dave shares a powerful example of a young adult who was severely depressed and stuck at home until rescuing an animal created responsibility, structure, pride, and a reason to leave the house. We also unpack the messy debate around emotional support animals vs service animals, and why the most important question is often functional: does this help someone do life better without creating chaos for everyone else? We close with a prevention mindset that applies to both therapy and pet care, plus why pets can be an underrated antidote to today’s loneliness epidemic.

Subscribe for more conversations like this, share this with a friend who loves animals, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

1. Purchase the Book that inspired the Podcast
2. Want to share your pets story on a future podcast?  
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3. All new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your Pet
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Some stories are so specific they become universal, and that’s what happens when Jeff starts talking about Charlie. Jeff works in finance, lives in New Jersey, and still describes a simple routine, walking his golden retriever every morning, as the thread that helped hold him together through clinical depression and severe anxiety. When your brain is loud and your world feels small, a dog’s quiet presence can be the difference between spiraling and taking one more step.

We get into Jeff’s full pet history, from childhood dogs and cats to the losses that still sting, and then we focus on how Charlie became his “soul dog” during recovery after a mental health crisis. Jeff shares what Charlie does when she senses he’s low, how play creates real moments of relief, and why dogs are natural teachers of mindfulness because they live in the present. If you care about mental health recovery, men’s mental health, and the everyday habits that make healing possible, this conversation stays grounded and honest.

We also talk about community: The Real’s monthly walks, posting them on LinkedIn, and how showing up consistently can help you find your people. Add in Golden Retriever Fest at the Jersey Shore, dog park friendships, and Charlie’s hilarious refusal to give the ball back, and you’ve got an episode that mixes laughter with something deeper and useful. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge to get outside, and leave a review with your own “pet saved me” story.

1. Purchase the Book that inspired the Podcast
2. Want to share your pets story on a future podcast?  
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3. All new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your Pet
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Your dog can be “old” long before they look old, and that blind spot is where so many heartbreaking problems start: pacing at night, accidents on the rug, getting stuck in corners, or suddenly forgetting a familiar backyard hazard. We talk with Angela Ardolino, a longtime senior dog rescuer and holistic animal advocate, about what those changes can really mean and why canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD), often called dog dementia, deserves the same seriousness we give mobility or appetite. 

We also dig into the endocannabinoid system in dogs, how Angela’s rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis led her into medical cannabis education, and why CBD for dogs is only as trustworthy as its sourcing, formulation, and dose. From there, we get candid about the pet industry: supplements built on hype, products that borrow human ingredients, and pharmaceuticals that can help in emergencies but may cause real harm when used casually or long term. If you’ve ever wondered whether the “number one” joint supplement is actually doing anything, or why your dog seems painful but stoic, this conversation brings clarity. 

Angela shares what she sees in aging pets every day, including the patterns of sundowning, the role of inflammation, and how adaptogens and medicinal mushrooms like lion’s mane and bacopa are used to support cognition. We also talk about the small daily choices that add up: real food, fewer toxins in the home, smarter label reading, and getting a second opinion from a holistic veterinarian through telehealth when something feels off. 

If this helps you think differently about your senior dog’s health span, subscribe, share the episode with a fellow pet parent, and leave a review so more people find it when they need answers.

1. Purchase the Book that inspired the Podcast
2. Want to share your pets story on a future podcast?  
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3. All new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your Pet
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You can tell a lot about someone by how they talk about their dogs, and Dave’s stories make that clear fast. We start with Colt, Molly, and Dexter: thunder anxiety that turns into couch cuddles, tennis-ball intensity, shin-lick greetings, and the kind of lovable goofball energy that keeps a house laughing. From there, we connect the fun to the real stuff every pet parent deals with: the door chaos, the leash pulling, the “selective hearing” recall, and the hard truth that even good dogs need a plan.

Dave runs K9 Coaches in Georgia and explains why he built his business around private, in-home dog training. Instead of training a dog somewhere else and handing them back, he coaches owners in their real environment so the skills actually stick. We talk about what he means by functional obedience, why “reactivity” is an incomplete label until you know the cause, and how he structures a typical 10-session path that moves from the living room to the front yard, then into parks and stores for real-world proofing.

One of the biggest takeaways is how simple the homework can be when it’s designed for real life. Dave breaks down why five to fifteen minutes most days can beat long sessions you won’t sustain, how treats fit into teaching new behaviors, and why planning details like food timing and equipment choices can make training smoother. We also touch on his early fascination with police canine bite work and why, these days, he’s just as passionate about helping dogs chill out and helping families enjoy them while they’re here.

If you’ve been stuck with a dog who’s “good at home” but not anywhere else, this one gives you a practical way to think. Subscribe for more pet stories and training insight, share this with a friend who’s struggling on walks, and leave a review telling us what behavior you want to fix first.

1. Purchase the Book that inspired the Podcast
2. Want to share your pets story on a future podcast?  
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3. All new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your Pet
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A dog can do more than keep you company, it can help your nervous system feel safe again. I sit down with executive coach, speaker, and author Rob Kalwarowsky,  (Capitalizing on Chaos) to talk about the real role his labradoodle Winston played while Rob worked through depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, and intense therapy. Rob connects the dots between EMDR-style “safe place” work, Internal Family Systems, and the simple, steady presence of a pet that offers unconditional love without asking you to perform.

We also dig into co-regulation and why a goofy moment can pull you out of a spiral faster than another hour in your own head. Rob shares what daily life looks like in Costa Rica with a 95 to 100-pound dog, including leash walks that turn heads and run-ins with aggressive neighborhood dogs. Then he tells the story of Sasha, a farm dog who followed him home, accepted care, and ultimately chose a new life, plus what it takes to work through resource guarding with patience and trust.

If you care about pet mental health benefits, dog companionship, rescue dogs, and the overlap between pets and leadership, this one delivers. Rob even explains how Winston shows up in his talks and his TED Talk “How to Deal with a Bad Boss,” turning dog behavior into lessons on emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and healthier goal setting.

Subscribe, share this with a fellow pet person, and leave a review with the biggest thing your dog or cat has taught you.

1. Purchase the Book that inspired the Podcast
2. Want to share your pets story on a future podcast?  
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3. All new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your Pet
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A rescue event, a blurry profile photo, and one look across a room was enough for Liana to know Ellery was hers. Ellery is now 16, and his story opens up something bigger than a cute meet-cute: what it really takes to love and care for an aging rescue dog when anxiety, behavior quirks, and health changes are part of the package.

We talk about the language we use for love, including Liana’s “heart pets” versus “soul pets” distinction, and why it can be validating when grief doesn’t feel the same for every animal you’ve loved. You’ll hear how routines shift with senior pet care, why slow daily “sniffs” can become a meditative practice, and what working from home looks like when your dog’s happiest place is right at your feet.

Then we go to the hard places caregivers recognize instantly: separation anxiety, introducing new pets, chronic illness, and the way pet loss ripples through the whole household. Liana shares the caregiving reality behind cats and dogs who needed support across their lives, plus the emotional side of mourning, wakes, and helping other pets understand a death. We also dig into pet caregiver strain, sleep deprivation, fear, guilt, and anticipatory grief, and why syncing your pet’s needs with your own wellbeing helps you advocate better with your vet and stay steady over time.

Liana also previews her new work at Pet Guardian Wellness, including a six week coaching group focused on navigating pet caregiving strain with resilience. Find her at petguardianwellness.com. If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with a fellow pet parent, and leave a review so more caregivers can find support.

1. Purchase the Book that inspired the Podcast
2. Want to share your pets story on a future podcast?  
   1. Send us a message: SUBSCRIBE
3. All new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your Pet
   1. Click -> Pet Journal

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A dog who barks at everyone becomes “the best behaved dog” at assisted living, and it happens because one guest shows up with a simple plan and a pocket full of kibble. We sit down with Cindy, a longtime foster who has seen how small choices, steady routines, and realistic expectations can completely change a pet’s world, especially when you’re living with a reactive dog. Shiloh’s path from foster to adoption to returning home years later also opens up an honest conversation about responsible rehoming and why contacting the original rescue can be the kindest move for a family in crisis. 

Then we shift to cats that break stereotypes. Cindy tells the story of Checkers, a tuxedo kitten found at a gas station with back legs that didn’t work right, who grows up into a ball-chasing, fetch-playing character with serious resilience. We also talk about Jazzy, a tiny tabby in a “respite fostering” arrangement that keeps her out of the shelter while her person rebuilds housing and stability, with a planned reunion that’s as hopeful as it is bittersweet. If you care about animal shelter overcrowding, rescue cats, and keeping pets with their people, this part will stick with you. 

Finally, Cindy connects fostering to family life and mental health. After a sudden pet loss and during the toughest teen years, fostering became a daily practice in individualized care, the same skill set her family needed while learning about ADHD and anxiety. She shares how that mindset shaped her memoir, Mom Loves the Dogs More, and what she’s learning now about writing, publishing, speaking, and finding the right readers. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a fellow pet person, and leave a review with the biggest lesson your own pet has taught you.

1. Purchase the Book that inspired the Podcast
2. Want to share your pets story on a future podcast?  
   1. Send us a message: SUBSCRIBE
3. All new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your Pet
   1. Click -> Pet Journal