The Family Pupz Podcast

Today's Topic:  When you adequately prepare your dog for a visit to the vet, it can reduce stress for all parties (dog, dog parent(s) & vet staff) and contribute to an overall smoother experience at the vet.

But what is the best way to prepare, and how do you know you're doing all that you can to make the vet experience as positive as possible for your dog?

That's why we invited the founder of Animal Behavior Training Concepts in Chicago, Illinois, Laura Monaco Torelli, to the podcast to discuss the differences between husbandry training and cooperative care, how dog parents can better advocate for their dogs at the vet clinic, specific proactive training tips to help your dog remain calm during vet visits, her advice on preparing dogs for common procedures like blood draws, vaccines, and nail trims, and so much more!

Guest Bio: Laura Monaco Torelli is the founder of Animal Behavior Training Concepts in Chicago, Illinois. Her career began in 1991 with Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, where she was part of the animal care team for beluga whales, dolphins, sea otters, seals, river otters, and penguins. After nearly a decade at the Shedd, she moved on to the San Diego Zoo and then Brookfield Zoo as a lead supervisory trainer. During her time in the zoo community, Laura worked with a wide variety of species, including primates, large cats, birds of prey, horses, parrots, tree kangaroos, giraffes, red pandas, and dogs.

Laura is a faculty instructor of Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior, and serves as a Teaching Assistant for Dr. Susan G. Friedman’s Living & Learning with Animals online course. She has been an invited speaker for numerous conferences that include the American Veterinary Medical Association Convention, Midwest Veterinary Conference, Penn Vet Working Dog Conference, ClickerExpo, and the Aggression in Dogs Conference. 

Connect With Laura Monaco Torelli:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube

Other Resources Mentioned In The Episode:

• Julie Benson (Made artwork on behalf of Laura's dog, Santino)
• Living & Learning with Animals: A Super Short Course in the Science and Practice of Behavior Change by Dr. Susan G. Friedman
• Laura's Appearance on The Bitey End Of The Dog Podcast
• The Spectrum of Fear, Anxiety and Stress - Fear Free Website
• Low Stress Handling® University CE Online Courses 

Today's Topic:  As positive reinforcement dog training continues to grow in popularity, so has the awareness around the different types of dog treats available to help you train your dog.

But what are dog treats, exactly?  What are the regulatory requirements, if any, around dog treats to ensure that you're giving your dog something nutritious, delicious and safe?  And how has the increasingly fickle and discerning demands of today's dog parents affected the types of dog treats available today?

That's why we invited the founders of Fig & Tyler, an NYC-based premium treat company that makes treats using 100% meat and fish sourced and processed in the USA, Karen Schwichtenberg and Ilya Seglin, to the podcast, to discuss what their initial vision was when creating their treat company, what they saw and valued in each other as partners, how they executed to take their idea and turn it into a company, what dog treats actually are, and so much more!

Guest Bio: Karen Schwichtenberg and Ilya Seglin are co-founders of Fig & Tyler, a premium dog treat company based in New York City. Long-time friends, they often talked about how hard it was to find high-quality, healthy dog treats made from recognizable ingredients. So, five years ago they took the leap and started the brand and named it after their beloved dogs.

Connect With Fig & Tyler:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram

Other Resources Mentioned In The Episode:

• Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog For Optimum Health
• Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball, Large
• Blog Post: Dogs Would Rather Work For Food

Today's Topic:   Having an overexcited dog can present a variety of challenges for dog parents. The exuberance and high energy levels of such dogs can lead to difficulties in training and managing their behavior, which can make simple daily activities like walks or playtime more demanding as these dogs may require extra effort to channel their excess energy appropriately.

So as a new dog parent to an overexcited dog, what options do you have in terms of training, management, and changing how you view your dog?

That's why we invited the Director of the Behavior & Training Department At The Marin Humane Society, the founder of Canine Behavior Associates, and the author of the critically-acclaimed book, Parenting Your Dog, Trish King, to the podcast, to discuss how we unknowingly are overstimulating our dogs, how dogs can get addicted to excitement - even those rooted in fear, how leashes can add to overexcitement, what "instinctive drift" means, how oversocialization may be contributing to our dogs' overexcitement, and so much more!

Guest Bio: Trish has been a professional in the animal world for over 30 years.   As Director of the Behavior & Training Department at the Marin Humane Society, she built a department known throughout the United States for its quality.  Trish established the Canine Behavior Academy at MHS for new or interested trainers.   She currently teaches the Academy of Dog Behavior, and teaches workshops and seminars on behavior, canine management, temperament assessment, and handling difficult dogs, among other topics. In addition, she and her partner own Canine Behavior Associates, consulting with and helping dogs and their owners.

Her extensive knowledge of animal behavior, as well as her sense of humor, have made her a popular speaker at a variety of conferences worldwide.

Trish authored a critically acclaimed book for dog owners, Parenting Your Dog (TFH Publications).   She has written numerous articles about dog and cat behavior for local and national newspapers and magazines.  She also developed the “Canine Calming Cap", marketed by the Thundershirt Company, to help dogs that are overly anxious or excitable.

Connect With Trish King: 

• Website

Other Resources Mentioned In The Episode:

• Overexcited Dog? How to Calm A Dog Down
• A Dog's Day With Humans – Time Activity Budget Of Free-Ranging Dogs In India

Today's Topic:   In the United States, the country in which modern commercial greyhound racing was invented, the sport is nearing its end.

It’s been a long slide for greyhound racing, which reached its peak in the 1980s when there were more than 50 tracks across 19 states.

There are now only 2 dog tracks remaining in one state (West Virginia).

The industry’s near-total collapse is the culmination of decades of work to publicize allegations of greyhound mistreatment and to fight for its end in the legislature.

And the organization that is widely credited for this change is GREY2K USA Worldwide.

That's why we invited the founders of Grey2K USA Worldwide, the largest greyhound protection organization in the world, and the authors of the book, Brooklyn Goes Home: The Rise and Fall of American Greyhound Racing and the Dog that Inspired a Movement, Christine A. Dorchak & Carey M. Theil, to the podcast, to discuss the history of greyhound racing in the United States, how they came to make this cause their life's work, the dynamics of their partnership, their opinion on how change REALLY works in the United States, their advice for young people looking to make a difference in the world, and of course, the dog that inspired the movement, Brooklyn, and so much more!

Guest Bio: Christine Dorchak and Carey Theil are the co-founders of GREY2K USA Worldwide.  An attorney, Christine specializes in pari-mutuel law and has drafted laws to successfully prohibit dog racing in several states and countries. She has been featured in national publications including the Huffington Post, Forbes, and American Dog. A long-distance runner, she has competed in seven Boston Marathons. Carey has decades of legislative experience and has been quoted in hundreds of news articles about greyhound racing published across the globe. In his free time, Carey volunteers for various non-profit organizations and is a National Master in chess.

Connect With Christine A. Dorchak & Carey M. Theil:

• Website

Other Resources Mentioned In The Podcast:

• Support The Greyhound Protection Act

Today's Topic: Did you know that 1 in 5 dogs experience joint pain and mobility issues?

So what can we do when our dogs start exhibiting mobility issues due to injury, old age, obesity, disease, etc.?  And what are the latest trends, technology and methods that are crucial to get our dogs "back in the game"?

That's why we invited triple-board-certified veterinarian, certified canine rehabilitation therapist, and the founder of Canine Sports Medicine & Mobility, a one-of-a-kind mobile specialty clinic, Dr. Patrice (Patsy) Mich, to the podcast, to discuss how veterinarians collaborating with human physical therapists led to a greater understanding of how a dog's muscles, tissues, tendons, and ligaments work together in their body, how she doesn't recommending using an Easy Walk harness for long periods of time due to potential injury, how obesity specifically affects the mobility of a dog, the importance of diet, how to use a prosthetic correctly, and so much more!

Guest Bio: Dr. Patrice (Patsy) Mich is a graduate of Colorado State University and has practiced in the Denver metro area since 1991.  She is triple board certified by the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (Diplomate ACVSMR), the American College of Anesthesia and Analgesia (Diplomate ACVAA), and the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Diplomate ABVP canine/feline practice).   Additionally, she is a certified canine rehabilitation therapist (CCRT) and teaches canine rehabilitation at the Canine Rehabilitation Institute. Dr. Mich calls her work “mobility medicine.”  Her job is to get dogs of all ages and abilities “back in the game.”

Patients are referred for lameness, performance issues, limb deformities, chronic pain, and when surgery is not possible or is unsuccessful. 

She utilizes a thorough diagnostic evaluation to plan comprehensive treatment that may include medications, supplements, nutrition, physical rehabilitation, joint and tendon injections, and orthotic and prosthetic devices.

See her services page for more information.

Having practiced as a generalist for 14 years prior to specializing, she has an understanding of primary care and brings that to her collaborative relationship with referring veterinarians.

Connect With Dr. Patrice Mich:

• Website

Other Resources Mentioned In The Podcast:

• Dr. Chris Zink: For Active Dogs!

Today's Topic: Golden Retrievers are incredibly popular as pets, known for their friendly demeanor and versatility. Their gentle nature makes them great family companions, and their intelligence shines in various roles, from therapy dogs to loyal household members.  

As such, what can we do, especially early on in their development, to ensure that they live long, happy and productive lives?

That's why we invited attorney-turned-educator, the founder of Nicholberry Goldens, and the author of the book, Puppy Brain: How Our Dogs Learn, Think, and Love, Kerry Nichols, to the podcast, to discuss the topic of Goldens and cancer, the prevalence of antibiotics and the effects on a dog's microbiome, the effect she thinks spaying and neutering has on the long-term health of Goldens, whether neutering a Golden will result in a "calmer" Golden, the hallmarks of a "breed standard" Golden, the prevalence of hip dysplasia in Goldens, and so much more!

Guest Bio: Kerry Nichols is a retired attorney who began breeding Golden Retrievers nearly fifteen years ago. In the beginning, she envisioned that Nicholberry Goldens would be devoted to developing physically healthy Goldens. But it quickly evolved into something much more important, as she began to see just how critical it was that those puppies possessed resiliency and agency. In sharing the methods she continues to use to develop emotionally healthy puppies—and her particular passion for raising therapy dogs—she has amassed a large social media following and is releasing her first book in May 2024.

Connect With Kerry Nichols:

• Website
• Instagram
• YouTube

Other Resources Mentioned In The Podcast:

• Possible Relationship between Long-Term Adverse Health Effects of Gonad-Removing Surgical Sterilization and Luteinizing Hormone in Dogs by Dr. Michelle A. Kutzler
• Golden Retriever Study Suggests Neutering Affects Dog Health
• Pet Partners Website
• Alliance Of Therapy Dogs Website
• Love On A Leash Website

Today's Topic:  It's disheartening to note that over 50% of pets in the U.S. are classified as overweight or obese. This excess weight contributes to a myriad of health issues, with obese dogs being predisposed to arthritis, diabetes, and reduced lifespan. The toll on their well-being is a reminder of the urgent need to address pet obesity through responsible feeding, regular exercise and other measures.

That's why we invited the founder & past CEO of K9 Fit Club, the founder & host of the Pets Are Family Podcast, and the founder & president of Moose’s March, a nonprofit dedicated to the early detection of pet cancer, Tricia Montgomery, to the podcast, to discuss the story around the founding of K9 Fit Club, the connection between the health and wellness of the dog parent and their dog, Tricia's story of her own struggles with being overweight, the scope and scale of the animal obesity epidemic and what she believes are the drivers of this trend, the overall health of the ecosystem of organizations that support the welfare and wellness of dogs, and so much more!

Guest Bio: Tricia Montgomery is a Senior Executive leader with 25+ years’ experience and proven track record of driving growth and revenue for the Animal Welfare, Veterinary, Health, Wellness, Fitness, Nutrition, and Pet + People industries across major local and national markets. Tricia excels in building relationships, spearheading revenue development and forging the key relationships necessary to build visibility, impact and financial resources to deliver organizational growth. Recognized for excellence in building and mentoring high-performing teams and innate ability to collaborate with stakeholders and staff at all levels of an organization to meet programmatic and philanthropic needs.

Tricia is the Founder and past CEO of K9 Fit Club, the first health and wellness gyms for pets and people, and the Director of Public Relations & Marketing at Augie Bones – the first plant-based, sustainable line of dog toys and consults with the City of Neom, building a brighter future and better tomorrow for pets and people.

Connect With Tricia Montgomery:

• Tricia’s Book w/Ernie Ward & David Levine: Better You, Better Dog, Better Life: 30 Days to Happiness with Your Best Friend
• Tricia’s LinkedIn Profile
• Instagram
• Moose’s March Website
• The Pets Are Family Podcast Website
• K9 Fit Club Website
• Augie Bones Website

Other Resources Mentioned In The Podcast:

• The Forever Dog: Surprising New Science to Help Your Canine Companion Live Younger, Healthier, and Longer

Today's Topic:  In the pandemic's early days, we've all heard how adoptions soared as people sought companionship during lockdown, famously leaving many dog rescues without any dogs to adopt out. 

But what happened after the pandemic?  Did this surge in adoptions lead to a surge in dog surrenders?  If not, what is the current state of dog rescues today?

That's why we invited the Director and Marketing Coordinator of Ho-Bo Care Boxer Rescue, Michelle Beston and Jihan Boughman, to the podcast, to discuss what the experience was like on the ground during that initial rush of eager adopters of "Pandemic Dogs/Puppies"; how the lockdown increased behavioral issues for dogs that were adopted during the pandemic; whether the surge in adoptions during the pandemic resulted in a surge of returns post pandemic; how dog rescues are experiencing a new "state of emergency" post pandemic; how compassion fatigue is affecting those working in rescue and those in the dog community; and so much more!

Guest Bio: Michelle and Jihan are volunteers with Ho-Bo Care Boxer Rescue, one of Colorado’s oldest dog rescues. Started in 1972 with the rescue of one white boxer, Ho-Bo Care has grown into a successful foster based organization, saving the lives of over 300 boxers, boxer mixes, and other breeds annually. Ho-Bo Care is dedicated to force-free, fear-free training practices and with the help of local trainers, guides its fosters and adopters to find effective and science-based ways to communicate with their dogs.

Michelle, the director of Ho-Bo Care has been volunteering since 2008. She got her first boxer, Foxy, in 2003 and quickly fell for the breed. Foxy not only started Michelle on her journey to dog rescue, but also inspired her interest in dog training. Foxy struggled with leash reactivity and after months of feeling frustrated as though they were working against each other, Michelle and Foxy started to find their groove. Michelle researched humane and science-based training methods and learned that communication was the key to their success. Michelle has fostered and adopted nearly one hundred boxers and other bully breeds over the years. 

Jihan, the marketing coordinator of Ho-Bo Care started volunteering in 2014. She jumped feet first into fostering, being paired with her first foster, Duncan. Duncan, a senior boxer that suffered from degenerative myelopathy, was behaviorally complex and took Jihan on a crash course through the dog training world. Since then, Jihan has become an advocate for adoption and force-free training, often using the rescues social media platforms to spread information about humane training methods.

Ho-Bo Care is an all-volunteer rescue and has saved over 6,600 dogs to date!

Connect With Ho-Bo Care Boxer Rescue:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Email
• Call/Text

Today's Topic:  Join us in this episode as we tackle the common struggles of potty training for dog/puppy parents. Tune in for practical insights on how to keep a potty schedule and a step-by-step guide to start the potty training journey confidently. In addition, discover effective mindset changes to help you stay measured during the process, and how to steer clear of unhelpful narratives about your puppy that only makes the process more difficult. Whether you're a new pup parent or seeking to refine your skills, leash up your curiosity and get ready for a paw-sitive transformation with your furry companion! 🐶🎉

Mentioned Links:

• Potty Training Log (Free Download)
• Nature's Miracle Stain and Odor Remover

Today's Topic:   Despite having access to all the information we could ever want on how to train your puppy via the internet, just like anything else these days, there is a lot of outdated, old-fashioned, and just plain wrong information out there on how to train your puppy effectively.  This, of course, doesn't mean that those disseminating this information are doing so deliberatively or maliciously, as we are all products of the environments we grew up in, and if we really thought about it, we might discover that we hold a set of beliefs and facts about a variety of different things that are wildly inaccurate and/or outdated.

That's why we invited Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), Certified Separation Anxiety Pro Trainer (SAPT), and the founder of Paws For Thought Dog Training, Maddie Messina, to the podcast, to discuss her professional journey, the Instagram Reel on Puppy Training Myths that led to us discovering her, the disconnect between the vet world and the animal behavior world, how both Tanya and Maddie emotionally and functionally handle the deluge of puppy training myths out there, and of course, a few popular puppy training myths, including whether to shove a puppy's snout into their poo or pee to potty train them, whether our pupz pee and poo out of spite, whether early socialization is ok, and whether letting your puppy greet other dogs on leash counts as good socialization, and so much more!

Guest Bio: Maddie Messina earned a BS in Animal Behavior from Bucknell University and a Master's in Animal Behavior and Conservation from Hunter College. She is a certified separation anxiety trainer and dog trainer. She credits her animal behavior studies for helping her to broaden her understanding of why our dogs perform behaviors and how to more successfully approach behavior change with that perspective in mind.

Maddie is an animal behavior expert with 7+ years of formal training in canine body language and behavior in the private dog training and shelter world. She specializes in difficult-to-resolve behavioral issues for city-dwelling dogs and preventative training for puppies and adolescents. When working with clients, she places a strong priority on building guardian knowledge and grasp of complex training concepts.

Connect With Maddie Messina:

• Website
• Instagram
• Email
• Text

Mentioned Links:

• Potty Training Log (Free Download)
• Puddle and Pile App (iOS; Android)