Hound Opinions

Hound Opinions

By Big Wags ChicagoKids & FamilyPets & Animals
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Hound Opinions episodes

  • The Amazing World Of Guide Dogs

    Guide dogs are amazing creatures. More amazing than we realize, in fact. We think of guide dogs as the dogs with the rectangular handles sticking up from their backs helping their handlers navigate a world they can't see.


    And that's accurate, but it's also incomplete.

    On the pod with me is Marin Baumer. In 2019, Marin was in a horrific car accident that left her totally blind. But with the help of her guide dog, Kegan, not only can Marin navigate the world around her, she’s also able to run, which is one of her favorite things to do. It's a fascinating conversation and I learned a ton about the capabilities of guide dogs.

    DON'T FORGET: I want to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And I want to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

    1. Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I will then play it on the pod and answer it.
    2. You can actually jump on a recording session with me and we'll go over your question together. That'll let me ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot me a quick email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

      3. Big Wags Chicago is online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find Big Wags on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ under the handle @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

      52 min
    3. Halloween tricks and treats
      It's almost Halloween! And while you should absolutely enjoy the holiday, it can be tough on your pups.
      Bill tackles a few Halloween-themed topics this time around. They start off talking about how to help your dog get used to wearing a costume, but cautions that if your dog REALLY isn't into it, don't force the issue. From there, they talk about how to help your pup get used to people ringing your doorbell for candy all night and finish up with some safety tips for your dogs.
      DON'T FORGET: Bill wants to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And they want to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:
      Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Bill will then play it on the pod and answer it.
      You can actually jump on a recording session with Bill and you'll go over your question together. That'll let Bill ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot Bill a quick email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
      Big Wags Chicago is online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find Big Wags on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ under the handle @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
      43 min
    4. A dog park bar? No thanks!

      There's a proposal in Chicago for a dog park with an attached bar. It will be a place, according to this piece on Block Club Chicago, where people can "“grab a beer at the concession-style stand, have a seat and work on their computer while their dog runs around and plays.” Here's the URL of the Block Club piece: https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/10/04/an-indoor-dog-park-with-a-bar-proposed-in-north-center/

      This is just a mind-blowingly stupid idea. And that's what this episode is about. Bill talks about why mixing alcohol and lots of dogs is not only a bad idea, but also an incredibly dangerous one and why they're worried that if this place opens, dogs could get hurt ... or worse.

      DON'T FORGET: Bill wants to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And they want to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

      1. Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Bill will then play it on the pod and answer it.
      2. You can actually jump on a recording session with Bill and you'll go over your question together. That'll let Bill ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot Bill a quick email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

        3. Big Wags Chicago is online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find Big Wags on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ under the handle @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

        21 min
      3. Why it's important to pay attention during walks ... and other thoughts
        It's just Bill this time. In this solo pod, Bill talks about why you REALLY should pay attention to your dog during a walk ... along with a sub-rant about retractable leashes. Spoiler: They're the worst.
        And in the second segment, Bill talks about the importance of microchipping your dog and tells the story of how they helped a happy husky find his way home.
        DON'T FORGET: Bill wants to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And they want to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:
        Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Bill will then play it on the pod and answer it.
        You can actually jump on a recording session with Bill and you'll go over your question together. That'll let Bill ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot Bill a quick email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
        Big Wags Chicago is online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find Big Wags on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ under the handle @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
        34 min
      4. Some dog park thoughts - Part 2

        This is the second and final installment of Bill's brief series on dog parks.

        Last time, Bill talked about why dog parks aren't generally great places for dogs. But here's the problem: Even reactive dogs and other dogs who just wouldn't enjoy dog parks need exercise. And when you have a dog in a city like Chicago, getting them that exercise can be hard, especially if you don't work from home and/or have a dwelling space with a yard. So what's the reactive dog guardian to do?

        On the pod with Bill is Kim Theobald. She's the owner and founder of Bosly's Backyard - a private, indoor playspace in Chicago where dogs can

        run around and play without being around other dogs. She launched Bosly’s in 2020 and worked her full-time job for about 2 ½ years while building up the business.

        You can find Bosly's online at boslysbackyard.com and @BoslysBackyard on Facebook and Instagram.

        DON'T FORGET: Bill wants to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And they want to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

        1. Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Bill will then play it on the pod and answer it.
        2. You can actually jump on a recording session with Bill and you'll go over your question together. That'll let Bill ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot Bill a quick email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

          3. Big Wags Chicago is online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find Big Wags on ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ under the handle @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

          41 min
        3. Some dog park thoughts - part 1

          Quick trigger warning: This episode does talk a bit about a dog attack. It doesn’t get graphic and the dog who got attacked survives. But a dog attack is discussed, so be ready for it.

          Everyone loves dog parks, right? Well, not quite. There's one very important group that doesn't often love dog parks: DOGS.

          And it makes sense, right? Dog parks are often kind of the wild west, which can create situations that make dogs scared or nervous. And even if the dogs aren’t scared or nervous, energy runs high at dog parks. When you have that combination – nervous dogs and lots of energy – it’s a recipe for not-so-great things.

          On the pod with Bill is Julie Iovine. She’s a lapsed journalist who’s now studying to be a dog trainer and is on the board of the Animals & Society Institute. She recently wrote a piece for the New York Times about why she’s not a fan of dog parks and how her thinking about dog parks evolved over time. She and Bill had a great conversation about dog parks and dog play.

          Dog parks are one of Bill's favorite topics, so this is the first in a two-part series on dog parks. So make sure you check out the next episode in a couple weeks, too!

          DON'T FORGET: Bill wants to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And they want to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

          1. Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Bill will then play it on the pod and answer it.
          2. You can actually jump on a recording session with Bill and you'll go over your question together. That'll let Bill ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot Bill a quick email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

            3. Big Wags Chicago is online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find Big Wags on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ under the handle @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

            40 min
          3. The Neverending Work of Chicago Animal Care and Control

            Quick trigger warning: This episode does talk about

            euthanasia. Nothing graphic or disturbing, but the topic is discussed in no
            uncertain terms. So just be ready for it.

            If you’ve been on social media and/or keeping up with your local news lately, you’ve probably seen lots of reporting about how animal shelters across the country are at capacity. And there’s no denying that shelters here in Chicago and elsewhere are in crisis.

            On this episode, Bill talks with Armando Tejeda. He’s the public information officer for Chicago Animal Care and Control. He also functions as the executive assistant to the shelter director and manages CACC’s community outreach and social media.

            Bill and Armando talk about what CACC does and what day-to-day life is like there, for both humans and animals. They also get into some numbers and talk about how the shelter is managing, despite being pretty much packed to the gills.

            You can find CACC online at https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cacc.html. You can also search for "Chicago Animal Care and Control" on all your favorite social channels.

            DON'T FORGET: Bill wants to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And they want to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

            1. Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Bill will then play it on the pod and answer it.
            2. You can actually jump on a recording session with Bill and you'll go over your question together. That'll let Bill ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot Bill a quick email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

              3. Big Wags Chicago is online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find Big Wags on ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠BlueSky⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ under the handle @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

              40 min
            3. Preparing to move with your dog

              It's Season 4, y'all!


              That's right. Hound Opinions is back and Bill has had a helluva couple months. They and their spouse, along with the dogs, moved from a two-bedroom apartment into a house. That's right, a whole house! It was one of the more stressful experiences of Bill's life.


              But you know who else was stressed by it? Their pups - Chester and Bodhi. Moving is tough for dogs. In the Season 4 kickoff, Bill talks about how moving can affect your dogs and what you can do to make it as easy on them as possible. Spoiler: It will still be stressful for humans and dogs alike, but there are ways of helping your dogs get through it better.


              DON'T FORGET: Bill wants to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And they want to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

              1. Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠. Bill will then play it on the pod and answer it.
              2. You can actually jump on a recording session with Bill and you'll go over your question together. That'll let Bill ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot Bill a quick email at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠.


                3. Big Wags Chicago is online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find Big Wags on Facebook, BlueSky, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ under the handle @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠.

                28 min
              3. Season 3 Finale - Fear and Socialization

                It's the Season 3 Finale! The podcast is taking a break for a bit, but Season 4 will drop in mid-late July!

                We’re talking about two of Bill's favorite topics today – fear and socialization. Why? Because there are a lot of misconceptions about those two things and how they affect dogs. And Bill wants to clear them up.

                DON'T FORGET: Bill wants to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod next season. And he wants to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

                1. Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠. Bill will then play it on the pod and answer it.
                2. You can actually jump on a recording session with Bill and you'll go over your question together. That'll let Bill ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot Bill a quick email at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠.

                  3. Big Wags Chicago is online at ⁠⁠⁠www.bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠. You can also find Big Wags on ⁠⁠⁠Mastodon⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ under the handle @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠.

                  30 min
                3. The Frustration Episode

                  Once again, it's just Bill.

                  This time, our podcaster extraordinaire talks about frustration. It's a normal human emotion. We all get frustrated at things - life, the universe, everything - and people - parents, kids, friends, romantic partners. It's just normal. Something else that's normal? Getting frustrated at your dog.

                  On this episode, Bill talks about frustration and how it can affect your relationship with your dog, as well as your training work. And he talks a bit about how even he - an experienced dog trainer and handler - gets frustrated with his pups from time to time.

                  DON'T FORGET: Bill wants to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And he wants to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

                  1. Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠[email protected]⁠⁠. Bill will then play it on the pod and answer it.
                  2. You can actually jump on a recording session with Bill and you'll go over your question together. That'll let Bill ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot Bill a quick email at ⁠[email protected]⁠⁠.

                    3. Big Wags Chicago is online at ⁠⁠www.bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠. You can also find Big Wags on ⁠⁠Mastodon⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ under the handle @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠.

                    28 min

                  About Hound Opinions

                  From the publisher's feed

                  Dogs are great. They're also weird, quirky, gross, challenging, loving and fun. I'm Eris Mayeroff, the owner and Chief Canine Officer of Big Wags Chicago. Hound Opinions is a podcast about all things dog - from behavior to training to the trials and tribulations of dog guardianship ... and everything in between!