Raising Your Paws- Your resource for dog & cat pet parents

Announcement! We have a Raising Your Paws Facebook page. Quick ideas and fun video’s about how and why dogs and cats behave the way they do and what to do to solve the challenges. Please join our community. We welcome questions. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Has your puppy gotten snapped at by an adult dog? Or has your adult dog irritably jumped on a puppy for no apparent reason? In this episode, I’ll explain the action that may look to you, like unprovoked aggression but in reality is a normal and to be expected correction of the youngster’s behavior.

Then, there are cats who do along with their humans on all sorts of adventures, like hiking and boating. How is this possible? Hasara Lay, creator of the Catexplorer website and podcast explains how to determine if your cat has the right temperament to become a world explorer and how to start getting your cat ready to discover more of their world.

 

Plus, another true, personal pet story from listener, Wendy Levine. Hear the emotional story about a cat named Hemi, who turned out to be an unexpected teacher of patience and mindfulness for Wendy.

 

 

Additional Resources for the Show.

 

Source for the story about corrections from dogs – Why Does My Dog do that? By Sophie Collins.

 

Catexplorer.co - Everything you need to know about having your cat discover the world.

 

Catexplorer Podcast.

 

See photos of storyteller, Wendy Levine’s cat, Hemi, on the full show notes for the blog - episode 68 at www.raisingyourpaws.com.

Children are always implored to eat their vegetables. There is someone else in your home that would benefit from eating some fresh veges -it’s your dog. Find out in this episode the one thing to add to your dog’s dinner bowl three times a week that powers up their nutrition by adding micronutrients to their diet.  Then I’ll tell you about the Purdue University study that suggests that the eating certain vegetables may prevent or slow the development of bladder cancer in certain dogs.

Next, as part of the new feature, True Personal Pet Stories, you’ll hear pet parent, Frank Pantell, a podcast listener, tell you about his family’s dog, Paulie, who is rather small in size but always had big plans that got Frank into trouble. You can see photos of Paulie on our new facebook page as well as on the full show notes for this episode at www.raisingyourpaws.com.

Finally, do you have a hard time getting a pill into your cat?  I explain one of the physiological reasons for this and offer a tip I was given by my vet that worked really well with my cat, Willie for 19 years. Just like I suggested for dogs in the first segment, here’s an easy way to add some extra nutrition to your cat’s daily diet that helps keep kitties intestines healthy.

Invitation for you!

Do you have any good stories about your pets? Let’s tell them on the podcast. The theme for this month’s stories are a pet that saved you from getting in some kind of trouble or one that actually got you in a heap of trouble. If you’ve got a story like this, send me a brief version:    [email protected].

Additional Resources for the Show.

Resource for the story about feeding broccoli to dogs – “See Spot Live Longer” By Steve Brown and Beth Taylor.

Purdue University Urinary Bladder Cancer Research.

Frank Pantell’s Real Estate Business where Paulie worked (played).

First, I answer a question from a listener – Scott Martin from Highland Park, Illinois asked why cats are so agile with their feet? I go into the juicy details but overall the secret has to do with them needing to be great hunters.

Next, there is a newer revolutionary approach to teaching your dog that does NOT rely on the traditional method of training commands. Rocket, the NutriSource dog that is working as a service dog in a children’s’ hospital (featured in the last two episodes) was taught using the Bond-Based approach. My guest in this episode is Jennifer Arnold, the founder and executive director of Canine Assistants, the non-profit company that teaches and places service dogs, is the developer of the bond-based approach. In this episode she explains how this works for educating service dogs and pet dogs as well.

Then, you’ll hear the personal true pet stories told by a friend and podcast listener himself. Michael Birnbaum shares the story of his dog that stopped him from getting into a nasty physical fight and the emotional tale of how he was going to protect the life of a cat at all costs.

Listener Invitation!

I’m inviting you to have the opportunity to have your stories told. If your pet, dog or cat, has saved your butt somehow write and tell me your story. I may contact you, we’ll talk about either me telling your story on air, or you telling it yourself, on the podcast. Send me your brief story at [email protected].

Additional Resources for the show.

See the videos of “Agile cat, Clumsy dog” and cats doing agility courses at www.raisingyourpaws.com. Blog page for episode 66.

Source for the story about cat’s feet – “Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet” by John Bradshaw.

How to Order Jennifer Arnold’s book, “Love is All You Need: The Revolutionary Bond-Based Approach to Educating Your Dog.”

Canine Assistant’s website.

A resource about the “Do It” program, by Claudia Fugazza, mentioned by Jennifer Arnold - dog’s learning by imitating humans.

Article, “Owner to Dog – Just Do It” by Claudia Fugazza and Adam Miklὀsi.

To request more information about Bond-Based dog education approach – write Jennifer at [email protected].

Information about Artist/color design stylist, Michael Birnbaum. His website: Transformed By Color.

We have a new logo for the podcast! You’ll see it appearing on all the podcast apps and soon on the Raising Your Paws website. Let me know what you think of it at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]).

Have you heard about the zoo wild cats or domestic cats overseas that are reported to have tested positive to Covid – 19? Are you worried that this means your kitty can get sick and even transmit the virus to you? The American Veterinary Medical Association has the latest information and detailed stories about these felines and in this segment, I summarize their findings for your reassurance.

Next, NutriSource Pet Foods (https://nutrisourcepetfoods.com/), donated $250.000 thousand dollars to a children’s hospital in Minneapolis in 2019 in order to select, train and place on staff, a dog who would assist children and their families as they go through challenging, and often traumatic medical journeys in the hospital. This Golden retriever is named Rocket and you’re going to hear from his partner and handler, Anna Dressel, a child life specialist at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospita (https://www.mhealth.org/childrens)l, the stories of how he unexplainably senses people’s emotions and then offers his unique canine comfort.

Then, do you have a cat that seems to anticipate and know when family members are due to arrive home when there is no reasonable explanation for it? I’ll explain a few of the possible theories for cats moving to the window or the front door to greet you even when your return times are random and unplanned.

Invitation to tell your story! Do you have any stories of your cat exhibiting really mysterious, unexplainable behavior, acting as if they know something that seems impossible, or predict extreme weather, such as thunderstorms or earthquakes? If you do, send it to me at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]). I may ask you to tell your story on the podcast so everyone can hear it.

Congratulations to the people who sent me photos of their dogs that look like they smile. I have selected 4 dogs with the most winning of smiles. Thank you to Alissa from Menahga, Minnesota for her photos of Super Cooper, John from Perham, Minnesota for the photos of Emma and Luna, and Susan from Cottage Grove, Oregon for her dog, Tank. All of these dogs have won a free large bag of NutriSource pet food (https://nutrisourcepetfoods.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/NutriSource_UofM_FacilityDogPressRelease_12-5-19.pdf) and their human companions will receive a coupon to take to their local stores to select their bag. You can see these engaging photos on the blog for this episode number, 65 at our podcast website www.raisingyourpaws.com (http://www.raisingyourpaws.com/).

 

Additional Resources for the Show.

 

Details about zoo wild cats and domestic cats with Covid-19 – AVMA website.

Fostering of pets is on the rise. All over the country, animal shelters have been putting out calls for community foster homes and people are responding. Adoptions are up as well. If you are thinking of fostering or adopting or have recently done so, I’ll discuss a few of the first things to consider to make sure your new dog or cat’s transition into your home.

I’ll start with the most important thing to know about what will be needed for dog owners and the two key things to do in your home for cat owners.

Then, NutriSource Pet Foods, donated the funds, so that the M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, could obtain a full time canine facility dog. His name is Rocket, he’s been on the job since November, 2019 and his human partner and handler, Anna Dressel, a Certified, Child Life Specialist at the hospital is my guest on the show today.   You’ve got to hear the amazing stories of how this unique golden retriever demonstrates the ability to know, who really needs his special type of comfort.

Additional Resources for the show.

You can see a video of Rocket, at work as well as other photos of Anna and Rocket, on the blog page for episode 64 at www.raisingyourpaws.com.

More information from the M Health Masonic Hospital:

M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s hospital website page about Rocket.

Visit https://www.mhealth.org/childrens to learn more about the hospital.

For more information about Rocket, at NutriSourcepetfoods.com.

 

See the video of the Golden Retriever that brings groceries to a quarantined neighbor at blog article, episode 64 at www.raisingyourpaws.com.

If your dog ever gets an expression on its face that looks like they are smiling, I’d like you to send a photo of that to me. I’ll post a number of smiling dog photos on one of the blog posts on the Raising Your Paws website and your dog will receive a large free bag of NutriSource pet food.   Please send one or two photos of your smiling dog to [email protected]. Be sure to tell me your dog’s name and the kind of breed they are. Keep the photos coming through the end of March 2020.

First, are you worried about your pets, and COVID – 19? Confused about crazy stories and scary headlines that seem contradictory?  Please be reassured.

Here are questions I’ll answer from the information from the reliable sources, the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.

Can my dog and cats catch it and get sick?

I read that one dog in Hong Kong got it – what’s the real story?

Can they transmit the virus to me?

Didn’t the virus come from an animal in China in the first place?

Are there any precautions I should be taking with my pets?

Then, Dr. Barbara Royal, DVM, a leading integrative vet who is the founder and owner of The Royal Treatment Veterinary Center and author of “The Royal Treatment: A Natural Approach to Wildly Healthy Pets” is here to talk about the benefits that CBD oil has for your dog and cat.

Finally, there is something about your dog’s face that can aid you in knowing your dog’s mind – if their mouth is open or closed as they go about their activities during different times of their day. This can be another indicator of their inner feelings. I’ll explain which ones.

Additional Resources for the show.

Center for Disease Control - Information about pets from the FAQ page.

World Health Organization – Information about pets from the Q & A page.

Dr. Barbara Royal’s Royal Treatment Vet Center.

 

Purchase Dr. Royal’s books. (http://www.royaltreatmentveterinarycenter.com/recommended-books/)

I start this episode clarifying a part of the conversation I had with animal trainer, Ken Ramirez in the last episode, about rewarding your dog every time they come when you call them. This is in response to some questions listeners had about positive reinforcement training and if this means one always has to give treats to get a dog to do anything.

If you have any questions you’d like answered on the podcast about your pets, please feel free to ask.  Post your question in the comment section of any blog article or write me at [email protected].

I talked about dog’s mouths in the last episode and how at times when they pull their commissure which are the corners of the mouth, back, it looks to us like a smile. In this episode, I’ll describe some of the other positions your dog’s mouth takes that reveal when they are feeling nervous, defensive or fearful. Once you know what to look for, it’ll be easier for you to understand your dog’s emotions and anticipate its actions.

Then, did you see or read about the blind sled racing dog named Indy on the internet? Frank Moe, a dog sled musher in Minnesota, is the owner of Indy, and is on the show today, telling the story of how Indy lost his sight, what is was like for him to have a blind dog and how Indy was able to get back to racing.

Finally, have you wondered why your cat greets you by sometimes walking towards you with its tail held straight up towards the sky? This is a signal that all domesticated cats use with each other.  In wildcats, it is only the kittens that show this posture. Find out how adult cats started using this and what it means when your cat raises its tail for you.

Send Us Your Smiling Dog Photos!

Do you have a dog who looks to you like they smile?  Send me one or two photos of your smiling dog - I’ll select a number of the most engaging photos of dogs with smiling faces on, and post them on a future blog article along with your dog’s name. If your dog’s photo is selected, I’ll send you a coupon for a free large bag of NutriSource Pet food.

Send your photo to [email protected]. You’ve got until the end of March 2020 to get the photo to me. I’m looking forward to seeing your doggies.

Additional Resources for the Show.

Conversation with Animal Trainer, Ken Ramirez:

Part 2 – Episode 61.  When I asked and got the answer for why he advised me always “pay” or reward Rosy every time when she comes after I call her when she’s far away from me.

Resource for the story about facial expressions revealing dog’s emotions - -”For the Love of a Dog” by Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D.

Dog sled musher, Frank Moe’s Social Media.

Resource for the story about cat’s upright tails –

First, you might think that when a cat hisses at something, it means they feel mad. This is not the case. I’ll explain what cats may be feeling that causes them to hiss, how a cat’s hiss is similar to a dog’s growl and offer tips of how to handle your cat when they hiss at you.

Then, I’ll continue my conversation from the last episode, with Ken Ramirez, Executive Vice President of Karen Pryor Clicker Training, and author of The Eye of the Trainer: Animal Training, Transformation and Trust.

When training your dog, can punishing it for doing the wrong thing, negatively affect how your dog feels about you?   You’ll get the answer to that question, and hear the story of a German shepherd named Serena, whose training resulted in her being able to help a trapped firefighter.

Plus, do you think your dog smiles? The expression on your dog’s face may look like a smile to you, you may call it a smile but is it really the same thing – do dogs really smile like we do to express happiness?

Your mouth and lips contribute to the many different facial expressions you have, that can communicate your feelings. This is true for dogs as well. We’ll analyze the expression dogs have that we think may look like the dog is smiling.

News! Smiling Dog Photo Contest.

To accompany the segment about dog’s happy facial expressions, we’re going to have a smiling dog photo contest. Send me one or two photos of your dog’s face when you think they are smiling. I’ll select about 6 – 8  of the most engaging photos to post on our raising your paws website along with your dog’s name and I’ll send you some great coupons for NutriSource pet food.

Send your photo to [email protected].  Please include your and your dog’s name and your mailing address. The contest will last until the end of March, 2020.

Additional Resources for the Show.

Source for the story about cat’s hissing – “Cat Wise” by Pam Johnson-Bennett.

Why Dog’s Growls Are a Good Thing – listen to Raising Your Paws episode 15.

Ken Ramirez Website.

How to order “Eye of the Trainer” by Ken Ramirez.

Karen Pryor Clicker Training Website.

Karen Pryor Clicker Training on Facebook – Videos of Ken Ramirez.

In honor of Valentine’s Day - the celebration of love and affection, since we give our hearts readily to our dogs and cats, here are some thoughts on how dogs help men express their feelings and how a cat’s purr benefits you physically.

If you need to start training your dog or want to hire a dog trainer, how do you know which of the different styles or methods of training will work and is best for your dog? Wouldn’t it be helpful for making an informed decision, if you understood in the first place, the basic difference in the styles of training, and if one has major benefits that the other does not. My guest, is Ken Ramirez (https://www.kenramireztraining.com/), Executive Vice President of Karen Pryor Clicker Training (https://www.clickertraining.com/), and author of The Eye of the Trainer: Animal Training, Transformation and Trust (https://shop.clickertraining.com/collections/new-and-featured/products/the-eye-of-the-trainer-animal-training-transformation-and-trust)” and he explains both positive reinforcement and punishment training. He also tells fun stories about the training of many different kinds of animals besides dogs.

Then, here is a cat elimination problem that can have you losing sleep – literally. Why do cats start eliminating in your bed and what can you do to stop the behavior? First, I’ll explain what may be making your cat anxious and apt to pee on your sheets.

I’m still offering the free children’s book, promotion, Adventures with Tuffy. It’s not only a nice story, there are pet food coupons included. To participate in the promotion, write me, tell me what particular challenges you are having with your pets that you’d like to hear addressed on the podcast and I’ll send you a free copy. To participate in this book promotion, just write me at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]).

Additional Resources for the Show.

Stanley Coren Article. “The Gender Divide - Why Women Want Dogs While Men Need Them” from Modern Dog. (https://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/gender-divide/24142)

Listen to Raising Your Paws podcast about cat litter box issues. – Episode 11. (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/011-how-women-can-better-control-their-dogs-how-to/id1313060210?i=1000451254015)

Resource for finding a Certified Animal Behavioral Consultant. (https://avsab.org/directory/)

Ken Ramirez Website (https://www.kenramireztraining.com/).

How to order “Eye of the Trainer” by Ken Ramirez. (https://shop.clickertraining.com/collections/new-and-featured/products/the-eye-of-the-trainer-animal-training-transformation-and-trust)

Karen Pryor Clicker Training Website. (https://www.clickertraining.com/)

Karen Pryor Clicker Training on Facebook – Videos of Ken Ramirez. (https://www.facebook.com/clickertraining/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARBzMgRSVL9Uv8kg1PWig7YbqHZ47Cew63irHAgmJFWTOWSGDYzottTtRS8EBPqq4-DXLIvdopbAA4wl)

Are you having problems with your cat, not using the litter box, but instead peeing in places you’d never

expect? In this episode I’ll talk about when cats choose house plants as their litter box, offer an

explanation for why this might happen and tell you what to do about it. Next time, we’ll cover when cats

begin peeing in your bed.

You may have heard of therapy dogs who visit patients in hospitals and clinics. Today, you’re going to

hear about a special group of golden retrievers, who bring comfort to those suffering the aftermaths of

mass shootings and other disasters. You’ll hear how, Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Ministry’s comfort

dogs, along with their handlers, travel all over the United States–being deployed in times of crisis to

bring comfort to all those affected. My guests today are Tim Hetzner, the president and CEO of the

organization who started the K-9 ministry and Richard Martin, the director of the K-9 deployments.

Does your dog attempt to eat parts of dead animals it finds outdoors or even grab mouthfuls of dirt at

times? When dogs eat what we consider to be disgusting, no doubt you probably pull your dog away,

thinking it’s not only gross, but will cause your dog to get deathly ill from consuming such a germ

infested thing. In reality, your dog’s body is equipped to handle consuming a lot of bacteria and germy

things much more than you are. I’ll explain how.

 

Additional Resources for the show.

Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) Website.

www.LutheranChurchCharities.org

LCC’s K-9 Comfort Dogs website:

www.K9Comfort.org

LCC’s Kare-9 Military Comfort Dogs website:

www.Kare9.org

LCC’s K-9 Police Comfort Dogs.

www.K9Blue.org

Lutheran Church Charities and the K-9 Comfort Dogs on Facebook:

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs

Lutheran Church Charities:@LutheranChurchCharities

Find the K-9 Comfort Dogs on Instagram:

 

Comfort Dogs: @comfortdogs

Lutheran Church Charities: @lccharities

Find the K-9 Comfort Dogs on Twitter:

Comfort Dogs: @K9ComfortDogs

Lutheran Church Charities: @LCCharities

 

Source for the story about dog’s ability to eat carrion – “See Spot Live Longer” by Steve Brown and Beth

Taylor.

 

Tell us the pet problems you’d like solved and participate in a free children’s book promotion!

You can receive a free copy of the children’s book, “Adventures with Tuffy” Written by Sue Sailer and

Illustrated by Troy Becker. This book was the idea of Charlie Nelson, the CEO and president of the family

owned company, NutriSource Pet Foods. Tuffy was the name of his grandfather and is also the name of

the family’s pet food plant.

To participate, please write me at [email protected], with your detailed comments about the

Raising Your Paws podcast. We would like to know what some of the problems you are having raising

your pets that you’d like to hear addressed on the show. I’ll select 10 of the first people to write and

send them a free book. Good Luck. The book is also sold in many of the stores where you find

NutriSource pet food.