Good Dog!

Vicki Tiernan shares the touching story of how her disabled dog inspired others. Caring for a disabled dog takes time and patience but it can provide endless inspiration to both you and others. Vicki Tiernan's dog, Ruby, lost the use of her hind legs, but with the help of a special harness with wheels, she was running on the trails. Vicky's story is just one that appears in the anthology " Almost Perfect - Disabled Pets and the People Who Love Them", available for purchase

In "Good Dog", the book, kids teach kids about dog behavior and training.
Learning to train and care for a dog is a plus for most any child. For inner city kids, rarely if ever exposed to well cared for pets, it's a tremendous opportunity. Lynn Loar, PhD., got a 3-year grant to bring shelter dogs to tough SF neighborhood apartment buildings to teach children to train dogs. The program was a great success and two of the students went on, with Lynn's help, to write and publish a book entitled "Good Dog". Hear the full story on this week's episode of the "Good Dog" podcast.

Veterinarian Dr. Nancy Kay helps you make health care decisions for your dog.
Each of us should be our dog's medical advocate, according to Veterinarian Dr. Nancy Kay, author of "Speaking for Spot." We know our dogs best, can read their behaviors, and are best equipped to make health care decisions that will maximize the chances that they'll lead longer, healthier lives. In this episode of "Good Dog," Joanne and Dr. Kay discuss some of the basic medical issues that dogs face and what we as pet owners can do to provide the best possible care.

There's lots to know about dog-friendly landscaping and author Cheryl Smith provides great tips.
Many of us love our dogs AND our gardens. But dogs, by nature, like to dig and patrol and engage in behaviors are often unkind to tender plants. There's much that can be done in the planning to insure that your emerging garden is dog friendly and your dog, if you're selecting a breed, is better suited to your mature garden. On this episode of "Good Dog", Joanne Greene speaks with Cheryl Smith, author of "Dog Friendly Gardens; Garden Friendly Dogs" and Cheryl provides lots of information for dog and garden loving listeners.

Dog book author Cheryl Smith shares the advantages, unspoken rules and risks of visiting the dog park.
The advantages of dog parks are many. They offer opportunities for exercise, play and socialization, both for the dogs and their owners. But not all dogs are cut out for all that freedom and interaction and not all dog parks are safe environments for your dog. In this episode of the "Good Dog" podcast, dog author Cheryl Smith tells us how to evaluate both your dog and the park to determine if there's a match and how to prepare your pup for a great dog park experience.

Cutting-edge information from the publisher who focuses on dogs only, Charlene Woodward of Dogwise.com.
Under the Dogwise label, Charlene Woodward has published more than 70 books about dogs. On her e-commerce site, Dogwise.com, she sells over 2,000 dog titles, along with hand selected toys, foods and supplements that are recommended by experts. On this episode of "Good Dog", Joanne discusses current trends in the dog world with Woodward and how the role of the dog is changing in American society.

Pet columnist Pat Miller discusses the importance of playing with dogs and the types of play that dogs enjoy.
Dogs need play and as your dog's #1 person, you're elected for the job. Dogs play differently than humans which is why we've devoted this episode of "Good Dog" to the ways in which dogs play and how to make most of your games, both for your dog and your relationship with her. Different dogs enjoy different styles and amounts of play so it helps to be able to assess each individual dog. Pat Miller, pet columnist for national dog publications, dog trainer and the author of four books, including "Play With Your Dog" provides tips and insights for keeping your dog engaged and happy. For more go to PeaceablePaws.com

Co-founder of the Angel Animals Network Linda Anderson talks about angel dogs
In her book, "Angel Dogs with a Mission", Linda Anderson shares touching stories about dogs that have served humanity in extraordinary ways. Breeding and training aside, these animals tune in to people and make conscious choices to nurture and heal and, in some cases, save lives. In conversation with host Joanne Greene, Linda talks about a chihuahua police dog, a spaniel who comforted students at Virgina Tech after the shootings, and her dog, Leaf, who helped her husband through critical brain surgery. Learn more at angeldogs.net

Dog trainer Kim Moeller offers tips and insights for owners of small dogs
Some of us see ourselves as "big dog" people; others of us like nothing more than to have a small dog curled up on our laps. Speculation about what this says about us aside, there are plenty of differences worth noting to keep your small dog safe and feeling secure. On this week's "Good Dog" podcast episode, Joanne Greene explores some of the unique joys and challenges of training and living with small dogs in conversation with dog trainer Kim Moeller of moellerdogs.com

Pit Bull advocate Kris Crawford teams up with mixed martial artists, including Anthony "Rumble" Johnson to 'kock out' dog fighting.
Sadly, dog fighting is alive and well in the U.S. It's estimated that there are currently 40,000 professional and another 100,000 amateur dog fighters, including children and gang-affiliated teens. The Michael Vick case brought this to national attention and showed that pit bulls are often victimized in this sadistic activity. Kris Crawford, founder of For Pit's Sake, has now launched "Knock Out Dog Fighting". With the help of fighters like Anthony "Rumble" Johnson, she produces public service announcements and visits schools and juvenille detention facilities to break the cycle of violence. In this episode of "Good Dog" podcast, Kris and Anthony speak about dog fighting and their efforts to eradicate it.