Pawdcast

In this episode of the PawsGo pawdcast, Karen and Jean chat with Cara Sue Achterberg – an author and animal welfare advocate.  This is Cara’s second visit with the pawdcast and she’s back with some very exciting news.

Inspired and supported by her work with Northern Virginia-based rescue Operation Paws for Homes, Cara has launched a new not for profit specifically to bring awareness and change to small municipal shelters and pounds, primarily in the south.  Through Who Will Let the Dogs Out https://whowillletthedogsout.org/  Cara’s goal is to connect those small rural shelters and pounds with volunteers, rescues and resources in an effort to change the heartbreaking outcomes for too many homeless dogs and cats.

Here's a look at what Cara is working to change –

These dogs live in sparse conditions with few resources and no extras. They are held in chain-link kennels behind police stations, at the city dump, or in squat concrete buildings with no heat/AC until their owners come for them or they are destroyed to make room for new dogs that arrive. Their pictures are not on a shelter website or Petfinder. Rarely is there anyone working to address their physical, emotional or behavioral needs, let alone search for an adopter. Their only chance beyond being claimed by their owners is for a rescue worker to visit the pound and ‘pull’ them, transporting them to rescues sometimes several states away.

To help support Cara’s initiative, PawsGo will donate $5 from each Not Alone wine bag sold online or at one of our pop-ups.  All PawsGo items feature original artwork and are produced locally to our home in Alexandria, Virginia.  These bags make great holiday or hostess gifts.  In additional to holding a bottle of wine – a bunch of tennis balls, dog toys or dog treats also fit perfectly in each bag – www.pawsgo.com

In June 2013, MaryBeth Powers noticed a lump the size of a golf ball on her dog Teddy’s snout.  Only two days later she heard the words no pet owner wants to hear, it was cancer.

​Teddy had a sarcoma (a malignant tumor of connective or other nonepithelial tissue). The vet’s orders were to “keep him comfortable, he had only about two, maybe four weeks to live”.   As Marybeth recounts in this episode of the pawdcast, keeping him comfortable, meant giving him five medications that left normally joyful Teddy severely sedated.

Marybeth was determined that Teddy would live his best life – no matter how many days, weeks or hopefully months he had. 

While researching holistic methods to reduce cancer in dogs, MaryBeth developed a “treat” that she began adding to Teddy’s food.  MaryBeth believes the anti-inflammatory treat she developed for her beloved Teddy allowed him to remain with her and her family for THREE ADDITIONAL YEARS.

MaryBeth shares with Karen and Jean how her singular focus on healing Teddy has become a much broader passion and second career.

The treat MaryBeth developed became Teddy’s Turmeric Tamer and is now shipped nationwide. It can be found at specialty pet related shops in Northern Virginia.  MaryBeth personally hand fills every order.  For more information visit https://www.teddysturmerictamer.com/ or email MaryBeth at [email protected]

From Teddy’s Turmeric Tamer --

DISCLAIMER: Product information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The comments and feedback about our product effectiveness are based on customer, staff, and family opinions and should not be substituted for medical care. We are not liable for any individual reaction to any particular ingredient, therefore, please remember to read the label and ingredient lists carefully and follow the appropriate directions for use and consumption at your own risk. Currently, this product is licensed through the State of Virginia as a “feed” license for a pet treat. For Humans, this has not been approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). 

​Turmeric can interact with some medications, so check with your vet/doctor before taking this product especially if your pet takes meds for anti-inflammatory or diabetes.

Boomer has been a fan of Lucky Dog Cuisine since he was a puppy 12 years ago.  In this episode of the PawsGo pawdcast, Karen chats with Dr. Janice Elenbaas, the founder of Lucky Dog Cuisine.  Lucky Dog Cuisine is a fresh, subscription-based dog food.  Long before there were countless “fresh” dog food ads filling our Facebook feeds, Lucky Dog was THE pioneer in fresh, healthy dog food.  It’s fair to say that Dr. Elenbaas created the path that others would follow.

Based on homemade food that her mother intuitively created for her family’s dogs and encouraged by her local butcher to share her recipe with the local South Carolina public, Lucky Dog Cuisine was born in 2008, following the 2007 melamine contaminated pet food recall.

From increased competition in the fresh dog food space to supply chain and labor challenges caused by the pandemic, Lucky Dog Cuisine remains a hands-on, family run operation – where happy and healthy clients are recognized and celebrated!

Learn more about Lucky Dog and why canine nutrition matters here -- https://luckydogcuisine.com/

Note:  PawsGo was not compensated for this podcast, the topic was Boomer’s idea, he really loves the food!

We’ve discussed smiling leashes and leashes as equipment.  In this episode Karen and Jean chat with their friend Sandy Modell of Wholistic Hound Academy (https://www.wholistichound.com/ ) about collars.  Collars are more than a stylish accessory.  Unfortunately, some owners and trainers use collars for correction and discipline.  Sandy shares that even the seemingly innocent vibrating e-collars can have an adverse impact on your dog and your relationship.   And don’t get her started on prong collars!

Sandy also shares questions owners should ask potential trainers and red flags to look for before entrusting your dog and your wallet to a program – here’s a hint, if you hear the phrase “balanced training” find another trainer!

Never miss an episode of the PawsGo pawdcast and subscribe through your favorite platform!  If you have an idea for a topic or a guest our pawdcast, message us through PawsGo on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!  If we use your idea, we will send you a very cool PawsGo t-shirt.  You can see all of our pawsitively awesome merch at www.pawsgo.com

You can thank Boomer and Poppy for this episode of the PawsGo pawdcast featuring Shameless Pets upcycled dog and cat treats.  Karen purchased the Tooth Berry Dental Treats because she liked that they were healthy and made from surplus, castoff or ugly food.  Boomer and Poppy LOVED them.  A quick google search revealed that the Shameless Pet story was another great example of really smart dogtrepreneurs, a healthy dose of social responsibility and a food obsessed dog.

James was a corporate food buyer for Target and Alex a food scientist for humans.  Mina is James’s puggle who never met a scrap of food she didn’t like.  Together they created (and tested) Shameless Pets treats for dogs and cats.

In this delightful conversation with Alex -- Jean and Karen chat with her about her transition from human food scientist to pet food scientist, the challenges of getting a product to market, the importance of healthy treats and why cats love smelly food!

Shameless Pets can be found online (www.shamelesspets.com) and at grocery stores and pet food stores around the country.  These treats got an enthusiastic PAWSUP from both canines and felines.

Do you know an innovative dogtrepreneur, a rescue hero, or have a great topic for our pawdcast?  Send us a message through Facebook and Instagram @pawsgo   If we use your suggestion, we will send you a cool PawsGo t-shirt!

This is a PawsGo pawdcast international edition featuring a conversation about the Smiling Leash Project-- https://www.smilingleash.com/     

Lyubov Elupova of Bulgari, Ena Kobentar of Slovenia and Leticia Sanchez Moral of Spain met at European Dog Training School led by Turid Rugass - http://en.turid-rugaas.no/   Rugass is world renowned trainer and behaviorist – many of her techniques support natural methods for canine/human communication which she calls calming signals.  

Loose leash dog walking is part of the Rugass philosophy – Ena, Lyubov and Leticia called it the smiling leash and have created an international movement focused on loose leash walking and behavior.  

It’s a fascinating conversation – yes they use a smiling leash in urban areas!    Take a listen and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.  They have a very informative blog on their website.

For baseball fans, it’s the World Series; for football, it’s the Super Bowl; if movies are your passion, it’s the Oscars.  For dog lovers the top competition is the Westminster Dog Show.  In this episode of the PawsGo pawdcast, Jean and Karen chat with Kristina Shaw Whetzel, a breeder of champion Australian Shepherds and Becky Lueth, a champion handler, who has wrangled and guided more than one prestigious pup through New York City and the rings of Westminster.  Karen and Jean chat with Kristina and ask how she knows a dog is “Westminster material” and what it means to a breeder to have a dog compete.   Becky shares what makes Westminster so special for handlers and participants and why some dogs just love to compete!

PawsUP for the Westminster Dog Show which announced the show will go on in 2021 – but it will be held outside in June – details are here https://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/plan-your-visit/tickets

Do you like our pawdcast as much as we like sharing it?  Please subscribe and leave us a rating!

If you talk to your dog and SWEAR they understand what you’re saying – you will love this episode of the pawdcast.  Karen and Jean chat with Courtney Sexton, a doctoral research student in the George Washington University Department of Anthropology's Center for Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology and her research focused on canine communication.  Courtney recently launched the Dog Face Study (www.howdogstalk.org ).  A HUGE animal lover, Courtney designed the study to leverage increased understanding of dog behavior to make us better canine companions and inform what we know about the evolution of language, communication and social relationships. 

You and your dog can participate in the study – and become a citizen scientist by registering at www.howdogstalk.org   By registering and sharing short videos of your dog, you not only help inform Courtney’s research, but you’ll be entered to win a Chewy gift card – share that bit of news with your dog and let us know what she says, it will be written all over her face!

You can also follow Courtney’s progress on Instagram and Twitter -- 

Instagram: @How_Dogs_Talk  Twitter: @HowDogsTalk

If you like this episode – and we hope you do, please rate us and leave a comment AND share with a friend!  PawsUP to you!!

In this episode of the pawdcast, Jean and Karen chat with Valerie Alfinito, a trainer who shifted her focus to creating handcrafted leather leashes and collars.  A true dogtrepreneur – Valerie founded Dog Sports Designs in the 1990s when her clients came to her training classes with bruised, cut and injured hands from their dog’s leashes.

To Valerie, leashes aren’t an accessory – they should be considered equipment and her handmade leather leashes will last your dog’s lifetime.

As Karen, Jean and Valerie discuss, while Valerie’s leashes can be found at Westminster and the World Agility Championships – they are even more appropriate (and important) for all of us pet parents who really want the best for our dogs – and our hands! 

If you’ve watched the Westminster Dog Show, you’ve likely seen the “bejeweled” leashes in the ring – Valerie created the first bejeweled leash and with a client created a lasting dog show tradition.  PawsUP for Valerie!

Karen and Jean’s dogs (and hands) are big fans of Valerie’s leashes.  As are America’s Veterinarian, Dr. Marty Becker; the Obama’s – Bo was an early customer; and countless rescues and champions.

Valerie’s handcrafted dog leashes can be found at www.dogsportsdesigns.com – enter code PawsGo20 for a SPECIAL 20 percent discount on your purchase.

Our friend Andrew Hager, the Historian in Residence at the Presidential Pet Museum, returns to the pawdcast for a fun conversation about Presidential pets during the holidays – remember Barney Cam?  Dogs AND cats have been featured on White House Christmas cards, videos, and visits from Santa for decades.  Andrew shares some of his favorite White House holiday pet stories. 

Karen, Jean and Andrew also chat about why the country is so captivated by Champ and Major, the Biden’s German Shepherds.  The First Dogs-Elect will certainly earn their place in history, with Major becoming the first rescue dog to live in the White House – or is he?  Andrew provides accounts of other less fortunate animals that have gone from rags to riches as First Pets -- including an unbelievable story about a basket full of badgers!

You can learn more about the Presidential Pet Museum here -- https://www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/  And check out their gift shop – there is a Major Biden t-shirt, but sadly, nothing with a badger.

Happy Holidays from Karen and Jean!