The Perfect Pup

Trying to reduce dog shedding is... an eternal struggle. If you have a short-haired dog (or almost any dog for that matter), shedding is part of the dog parent experience!

And no, you cannot stop a dog from shedding. Period. It's not possible. If you find any type of product or supplement that claims to stop shedding, avoid it!

In this episode, I'm going to break down 3 main things you can do to reduce your dog's shedding.

#1- Coat Health

Dog shedding is natural but ensuring your pup's coat health is in top shape can reduce shedding.

Make sure your dog's getting enough Omega's in their diet or with an added supplement.

Our dog's overall nutrition and health affect shedding in many ways!

#2- Brush Regularly

How often you need to brush your dog will depend on the breed, but most dogs should be brushed at least a couple of times per week. For some dogs, it may need to be done more frequently.

Regularly brushing helps to pull out the loose hair from your dog's coat. While you may not see dramatic results right away, consistency will help reduce your dog's shedding.

#3- Bathing Routine

A consistent bathing routine can also help to reduce how much your dog sheds! 

If you're dealing with a LOT of shedding, It's important to use a shampoo that can aid in reducing shedding.

I have two Labrador Retrievers who shed more than you can imagine. And above all, the thing that has helped the most with their shedding is Sudsy.

It's an all-natural shampoo bar with a combination of ingredients that seriously help reduce shedding. My dog Scout sheds off so much more of her coat when we use Sudsy for baths. You can check out Sudsy (available in 2 scents) here: https://pfrd.site/sudsy-here

The other important part of a healthy bathing routine is to blow dry your dog. It's best to use a dog-specific blow dryer if possible. The high-powered vacuums work to clear out as much loose hair and undercoat as possible. 

If you want to use a normal hairdryer, be sure to do it on warm or cool and not on hot. The high heat can cause damage to your dog's coat.

And the 3rd step of a successful de-shedding bath routine must include brushing your dog. That last step of brushing will help pull out any final hairs still waiting to be shed.

So your bathing routine should consist of the following.

-Use a shampoo formulated to reduce shedding

-Dry dog completely, preferably with a dog-specific hairdryer

-Completely brush your dog out

Following that routine has reduced my dog's shedding more than anything else!

Bonus Tip- Treatments at the Groomer

If you have an extreme shedder in your house, it could be worth taking your pup into a groomer for a full de-shedding. 

Prices will vary depending on where you live, but it's likely only something you'll need to do a couple of times each year.

Personal Life-Hack: Get a Robot Vacuum

This isn't necessarily going to reduce shedding, but investing in a robot vacuum is a life-saver in a house with dogs.

There are models that cover a huge price range (some starting at $99) but even something simple will help reduce how frequently you need to sweep/vacuum.

Our robot vacuum is one of the most important things we have in our home, thanks to two Labrador Retrievers.

Please review and subscribe!! Thanks for listening 🐾

Download the Pupford app here: https://pfrd.site/getthe-app

Intro music cred to Kevin May: https://soundcloud.com/kevin_may

Why is my neighbor's dog so good on a leash... he's half the age of my dog?! This is a trap! 

And you should avoid getting caught in it as much as you can!

Falling into the comparison trap with our dogs usually just brings about negative feelings and no real help for our dogs. In this episode, I break down a few reasons why you should NOT compare your dog to other dogs.

Reason #1- You Don't Know That Dog

Whenever you look at a dog and how they behave, you might be making some assumptions that are completely untrue.

You typically don't know if that dog is a Hollywood-dog-star with years of dedicated training experience, for example. 

You also likely don't know how that dog behaves in all situations. While you might see a dog that's good on leash out on a walk, you don't know if that dog tears up couches when left alone.

Making snap judgments about a dog in comparison to your own isn't fair because you don't truly know that other dog's background. You don't know the experiences the dog and human counterparts have had!

Any comparison is truthfully an apples to oranges type comparison because every dog is SO different and every situation is unique. 

Reason #2- You're Only Seeing a Moment in Time

If you make a comparison about your dog to another, you're like only doing that based on a few snap moments or situations.

This is even more so true in the world of social media...

I can almost guarantee you that the pup with 50k followers on Instagram has just as many problem behaviors as you're dealing with for your dog.

Instagram dog accounts are polished and perfected moments that don't reflect reality. If you let that become your benchmark to what your dog should be aspiring to... you're bound for disappointment.

Again, you might see a dog that sits well for pictures on their Instagram posts but is an absolute maniac while on a leash.

So don't be fooled by Instagram dogs! The reality likely isn't what they're willing to actually show you ;)

Reason #3- You Should Compare Your Dog to Their "Past Self"

In my opinion, the only comparison you should make about your dog's behavior is to their previous "self".

Instead of looking at how good your neighbor's dog is at not jumping, look at how much your dog has progressed instead!

If you were to make a record of your dog's skill level with a specific behavior every day, you would likely see HUGE levels of growth over time.

It's so much more important to focus on your dog's progress over time than their "skill level" in comparison to other dogs!

By the way, you can track your dog's behavior progress in the Pupford App! Get it here: https://pfrd.site/getthe-app

Recap

No dog or dog's situation is the same. Comparing your dog to the dog next door is a sticky trap that can lead you to forge the good things your dog is doing!

So instead of comparing your dog to other dogs, compare your dog to their "past self" and see how much improvement has happened over time!

Please review and subscribe!! Thanks for listening 🐾

Download the Pupford app here: https://pfrd.site/getthe-app

Intro music cred to Kevin May: https://soundcloud.com/kevin_may

Pet insurance can be an extremely confusing topic, but in this video, I'll break down the important things to look for when choosing pet insurance.

Let me say this first, I'm NOT an insurance expert. If you're looking for in-depth information on how insurance works, look elsewhere :)

There are a few things to understand about pet insurance.

1. Not all plans cover the same things, so do your research

2. Yes, in most cases it is worth having some level of pet insurance 

Here is what I recommend to keep in mind as you are searching for insurance for your dog. 

1. Assess Your Finances

Understanding your financial situation will help you choose the right plan with the right deductible, premium, and maximum out-of-pocket.

Find a plan that is feasible for your exact financial situation.

2. Explore Different Companies

Never just get one quote. ALWAYS always always explore different options. Always!

Asking around and trying different options is a good way to price shop as well as to see different plan coverage.

Additionally, the "quote" you get isn't always the final answer. Try adjusting the deductible, maximum-out-of-pocket, etc. to see how your premium might change!

3. There is Not a "One Size Fits All" Answer

Your dog is unique and your situation is unique, so don't expect a one-size-fits-all answer to which insurance is "best".

Pro Tips for Insurance Research

1. Look at the Reimbursement Process

One of the most challenging and frustrating parts of pet insurance is the reimbursement process.

For some companies, the timeline for reimbursement can be over 60 days. So, be sure to consider that as part of your decision process.

2. Check Out Reviews About Customer Service

Reviews are sometimes an inaccurate way of looking at insurance companies. In SO many cases (not all though)  the extremely negative reviews are from people who didn't end up getting an emergency covered that they anticipated would be covered.

So, it's important to look at reviews that talk about customer service, ease of use, reimbursement process, etc.

I hope this episode was helpful for you and gives you an added level of confidence in choosing the right pet insurance!

Please review and subscribe!! Thanks for listening 🐾

Download the Pupford app here: https://pfrd.site/gapp-free

Intro music cred to Kevin May: https://soundcloud.com/kevin_may

You've probably heard people say that our dogs can "read" our emotions and moods, but is there science to back that up?!

A group of researchers set out to answer that question and found an alarming answer. YES. Our dogs can and do pick up on the chemical changes in our bodies.

THE STUDY

The group started by having human participants watch either a clip that induced fear or happiness in the viewers. As they watched a clip, researchers collected a sample of their sweat.

The second part of the study is where the dogs became involved. In a room, the researchers placed a dog with 3 things in the room. 

1. Their pup parent (not trying to interact with or sway the dog)

2. A stranger (not trying to interact with or sway the dog)

3. A sampling of the sweat collected from human participants

The sample of sweat was either (1) the "fear" sweat, (2) the "happy" sweat or (3) no sweat at all.

The dogs were hooked up to heart rate monitors. On top of that, the researchers were viewing to see where the dogs ventured, where they looked, etc.

The results were staggeringly clear.

When the dogs smelled the human "fear" sweat, their heart rates went up and they showed clear signs of fear and anxiety. The dogs would sometimes even try to hide or cower behind their humans.

When the dogs smelled the human "happy" sweat they had lower heart rates (than the "fear" test) and even showed more interaction with the strangers. 

WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

A study like this has a couple of major takeaways.

First, our dogs DO pick up on changes in our emotions and feelings. Even when we may not think we are exhibiting new feelings or emotions, our body changes. And when the chemicals in our body change, our dogs take notice.

This is why dogs are so skilled at being emotional support animals because they can often sense problems before their human counterparts can.

Additionally, from a dog training and behavior standpoint, this study emphasizes the importance of our own emotions when we interact and train our dogs. If we are constantly feeling anxious or overwhelmed when training, our dogs will pick up on that and mimic those feelings. 

Here is a link to the original study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28988316/

Do you think your dog picks up on your emotions personally? Let me know how you've seen that in your own life by leaving a review!

Please review and subscribe!! Thanks for listening 🐾

Download the Pupford app here: https://pfrd.site/6dog-app

Intro music cred to Kevin May: https://soundcloud.com/kevin_may

Are you obsessed with the word "no" when it comes to training your dog? While the word 'no' can have a time and place in training, it isn't a 'behavior'.

Too often as pup parents, we become obsessed and often times overreliant on the word 'no'. The problem with the word 'no' is that it doesn't teach our dogs what we DO want them to do!

The key to training is communication, and if the only thing we communicate to our dog is 'no' or 'stop', we've only done half the work.

If your sports coach stopped practice and just yelled 'no, no, no' with zero explanation, would your team know what to do to improve?

No, you need your coach to tell you what went wrong and what they want you to do instead. And the same goes for our pups!

We have to change our communication from 'no, no, no' to 'do this' or 'try that'.

So if you're overwhelmed by your dog barking at the door, teach them what you want them to do when someone comes to the door... instead of just saying no.

If your dog jumps on people while on walks, teach them that you want them to sit and stay when they're being greeted... instead of just saying no.

If your dog pulls on the leash, teach them where you want them to be and reward heavily when they do that... instead of just saying no.

SMART x50

Kathy Sdao coined the phrase and technique called SMART x50.

SMART stands for See, Mark, And, Reward, Training.

This technique can help you overcome your reliance on 'no' and start to focus on the good things your dog is doing. Here is what you do!

Grab a bowl and put 50 treats (Pupford ones work great!) in the bowl out of your dog's reach.

Throughout the day, look for 50 opportunities to find good behaviors your dog is doing. This shouldn't be during 'dedicated' training sessions, but rather just moments when your dog is doing something good.

Here is an example.

See- Your dog comes and lays down by your feet without being asked

Mark- Use your marker word or clicker to let your dog know that behavior is desirable

Reward- Give your dog one of the 50 treats from the bowl

Then repeat that 50 different times throughout the day!

This act of focusing on the good can not only help reinforce good behaviors (which will make those behaviors happen more frequently), but it will also help you avoid using the word 'no' too frequently.

RECAP

It's not feasible to never use the word 'no' with your dog, but you shouldn't become too reliant on it.

Focus on teaching your dog what you DO want them to do! And of course, try out the SMART x50 method for at least a few days and see what it does for your communication and relationship with your pup!

Please review and subscribe!! Thanks for listening 🐾

Download the Pupford app here: https://pfrd.site/dogg-app

Intro music cred to Kevin May: https://soundcloud.com/kevin_may

Twice a day (or more often if you have a puppy) you have your dog's undivided attention... mealtime!

Unfortunately, we often let that opportunity pass by without using it to its full advantage. Because truthfully, mealtime should be much more than just something to check off your to-do list!

Here are some powerful ways to maximize your dog's mealtime.

MENTAL EXERCISE AND ENRICHMENT

Mental exercise, enrichment, brain work... whatever you call it, it's extremely important! 

And during mealtimes, your dog's food drive is often at its peak, so take advantage. Whether you use a snuffle mat, Kong toy, lick mat, or any other puzzle toy, just make sure your dog gets some much-needed mental exercise during their meals.

Not only is it good for their brain, but it also helps slow down their eating to help avoid bloating and other digestive issues.

Every meal should include some brain work. Don't miss it!

TRAINING AND TRICKS

Again, right before mealtime your dog is hungry and anticipating food. So you should take advantage!

Grab a few pieces of their food (if you feed dehydrated or raw this might be a challenge) and set it aside to do some training. You can practice new tricks, reinforce recall, or just work on focus behaviors and listening.

And while I'm not promoting using ALL of their food for training, it's beneficial to use some.

When you have their focus and their food drive is high, it is the best time to reinforce and train new or challenging behaviors. Use their meal as a reward!

TRAIN IMPULSE CONTROL

This one is similar to the previous point, but it's important to specifically train impulse control as part of your dog's meals.

That can be as simple as waiting for a second before eating, or even staying in their place while you prepare the meal until being released.

Another fun game to play is the "See-Saw Game". Here's how to play!

Kneel or stand above your dog with the bowl of food in your hand. Start to lower the bowl.

As you lower, quickly raise the bowl the instant your dog lunges towards or tries to get the food. (Keep a safe distance so you can remove the bowl fast enough from your pup.)

Repeat this behavior until you can successfully lower the bowl all the way to the ground. Once that occurs, mark and reward that behavior by giving the meal!

This can often take many attempts and continued practice, so don't be afraid to just go for partial success in the beginning (ie, lowering the bowl to waist height without your dog moving) and rewarding for that.

PS- Get in-depth instructions as part of 21 Impulse Control Games here: https://pfrd.site/21games-here

RECAP

No matter what you feed your pup, make sure you do it with a purpose! Use that valuable mealtime as an opportunity to give mental exercise, extra training, and even some impulse control practice!

Please review and subscribe!! Thanks for listening 🐾

Download the Pupford app here: https://pfrd.site/1pup-app

Intro music cred to Kevin May: https://soundcloud.com/kevin_may

Why do dogs lick people..? If it isn't to be cute and hilarious, then why?!

Dogs lick people for many reasons, we will explore a handful of those reasons in this episode!

Affection and Love

One of the main reasons your dog might lick people is to show affection and love. Although we can't get inside our dog's brains, there seems to be strong reasoning that dogs lick people to show some love.

Our dogs can't talk or communicate their love, so they often find other ways to do that! Sometimes it is a lick on the leg, sometimes a snuggle, and sometimes just a tail wag when we're having a bad day.

Mothers often lick their young puppies to clean them and connect, and it is believed that action is passed on to their pups as well.

It's In Their DNA

Similarly, many wild dogs, coyotes, wolves, etc. will lick other members of their pack. This is often done by pups when a parent returns as a way to ask for food.

Our pups have many distant (and not so distant) similarities to those wild species, and that desire to lick is likely in their DNA.

Of course, just because your dog licks you doesn't mean they're looking for food! But it might be part of it, at least deep down in their DNA.

Attention

In my own opinion only, I think this is the main reason.

Again, our dogs only have limited ways of communicating with us and we often don't like some of those ways (looking at you, barking). So, naturally, our dogs learn to find ways to communicate so that it's more enjoyable to humans.

If my dogs are overly bored or wanting to do something fun, they'll often come up and lick my leg until they get my attention.

So if your dog is coming up and licking you a lot, you may need to give them just a little more attention!

You Taste Good

Alright, I know that is weird... but dogs are much different than humans! Their mouth is one of the main ways they explore the world around them.

And when they find something that has an interesting taste, they'll probably keep coming back! As humans, we do have a slightly salty taste to our skin, especially after sweating.

Weird, right? But dogs can do weird things.

Excitement/Nervousness

This can be lumped in with the 'attention' category, but oftentimes you'll see a dog lick a person more frequently when they are very excited! Again, it's a way to communicate.

Additionally, if dogs are shy, nervous, or submissive, you may see more licking than normal. Licking people (or dogs) can be a way for a dog to show that they are not a threat.

Is It Bad for Your Dog to Lick You?

Naturally, you may be wondering if it is bad for your dog to lick you...

The short answer, probably not. As long as you don't have open wounds or a weak immune system, you'll likely be fine!

But with that being said, dogs' mouths are kind of gross! Think about the different number of things your dog eats, licks, or puts in its mouth every day... That's why you wanna be a bit cautious with any licking near your mouth or face area.

Again, you will likely be fine but there have been rare instances (very rare) where people have gotten unique/obscure diseases from their dogs.

Recap

Overall, we don't know the exact reason why dogs lick people but it can often be for attention, affection, or just cause they like the taste of our skin!

Please review and subscribe!! Thanks for listening 🐾

Download the Pupford app here: https://pfrd.site/apppup-free

Intro music cred to Kevin May: https://soundcloud.com/kevin_may

Coming home to your dog after a long day can be extremely chaotic... I mean, enjoyable? 😉 

If every time you walk in the door your dog goes crazy, then this episode is for you!

It can often be tempting to be overly excited and amped up when you get home, but that can be a huge mistake... Here are 3 tips to help make your coming home experience more enjoyable for both you and your dog.

Tip #1: Watch Your Energy

Dogs read our emotions and energy, much more so than you might think!

If you walk in the door and are amped up, talking in a high-pitched voice, and are overly excited then your dog probably will be too...

When you walk in, stay as calm as possible and avoid doing anything that may inadvertently reinforce your dog's unwanted behaviors. That can include giving attention, pets, or talking to your dog while they are jumping, barking, or acting hyper.

Give your dog time to calm down, and stay calm yourself.

Tip #2: Fake Exits & Practice Before the Real Thing

Practice makes perfect... and the same goes for door greetings!

It's beyond important to try out the training techniques for door greetings outside of the context of you coming home after being gone for a few hours.

Try leaving, locking the door behind you, etc, and then coming back in 30 seconds and practicing proper greetings. Do that at random times throughout the day for random short intervals.

If the only time you try to get your dog to sit when being greeted is when they're already amped up, you're doomed to fail! 

Practice beforehand!

Tip #3- Redirection & Alternative Behaviors

Those first few seconds when you come home will set the tone for the rest of that greeting experience... So try to make that initial approach as easy as possible for your dog.

Here are a few things that have worked well in our home with 2 large labs that can be very hyper.

1. Right when you walk in, ignore your dog and then throw a handful of treats on the ground. This will get their nose to the ground, excited to find food. That 20-30 second distraction can really help reset their brain.

2. Go straight to play. Walk in and grab their favorite ball or toy then ask for a simple behavior like sit or look at me. Once they do, throw the toy/ball and have some simple fun. Again, those few moments of distraction/redirection can help reset your dog's brain.

3. Use a frozen treat or another treat. Right when you walk in, grab a frozen Lick Mat and give it to your pup. As he/she is distracted and happily licking the toy, you can give them pets and attention.

Recap

Calm door greetings take a LOT of time, effort, and practice. Remember that with all of these tips, the overarching tip/concept is to only reward the correct behaviors.

Be strict about not giving pets, attention, or praise when your dog is jumping, barking, or acting crazy.

By implementing these tips over an extended period of time you can achieve less chaotic door greetings!

Wanna learn more about impulse control?! Check out 21 Impulse Control Games: https://pfrd.site/21gamess

Please review and subscribe!! Thanks for listening 🐾

Download the Pupford app here: https://pfrd.site/pupapp-free

Subscribe on YouTube here: https://pfrd.site/subscribe-youtube

Check out all podcast episodes here: https://pfrd.site/episode

Intro music cred to Kevin May: https://soundcloud.com/kevin_may

Losing a dog is a terribly painful and difficult experience. We recently put our dog Buddy to sleep after he developed some severe health issues, he was 15 years old. 

We had an amazing life with Buddy and he lived a life full of adventure, love, and plenty of mischief. Throughout this process of grieving his death, I've found a few "life lessons" that I think he wanted to pass along. Buddy will be forever missed but the lessons he taught will be with me forever, and hopefully, these 3 lessons will help you have a more enjoyable life with your pup. 

Lesson #1 - Have Patience for Your Dog 

In some of those final moments with Buddy, I ran through a lot of the regrets I had. One that constantly popped up was the times I got frustrated or became impatient with him and his mischievous deeds. Buddy LOVED to get into things. Especially things with food in them. 

Even in his final weeks, he was still scavenging and searching for snacks (whether he was supposed to have them or not). It can be very difficult to have patience for our dog's "bad" behaviors, but you won't regret being more patient with your pup. It has been a good reminder for me that dogs truly are that... dogs! Yes, they are family, but they also love doing "dog" things. So when your dog knocks something over, gets into the trash, or gets overly excited on a walk, try to remember to be patient and let your dog be a dog. Our dogs give LOTS to us, so giving them some patience in return is a pretty fair trade. 

Lesson #2 - Take More Photos and Videos 

Buddy has been around for quite a long while, even before Instagram and iPhones were around (seriously). His early years didn't have a lot of photos, and it's quite a bummer! Of course, your camera roll is probably 90% pictures of your dog, but honestly, I would still take more. 

When my wife and I start to miss Buddy (pretty much all the time), it is very comforting and enjoyable to pull up pictures and videos of him when he was healthy and running around! Capturing your dog's quirks, funny moments, and fun tricks will be something you will enjoy for years to come, even after they pass away. 

Lesson #3 - Enjoy the Small Moments 

As Buddy aged, he slowed down physically. A walk that would normally take 5 minutes would take anywhere from 10-20 minutes, depending on how many times he wanted to stop and pee. In some of those final weeks, he all but forced us to stop and slow down. It got us noticing things in our neighborhood we'd never seen before and gave us opportunities to chat with strangers (who of course wanted to pet Buddy). 

Our dogs can be a lot of work, and often times that work can seem repetitious or boring. A lesson Buddy passed on to me and hopefully to you as well is to savor the small moments. Buddy took his time on walks, sniffing every cranny and finding the most obscure places to pee. That wouldn't have happened if he was always sprinting by. 

Recap 

Although the passing of Buddy has been one of the most painful experiences of my life, the experience as a whole has taught me some powerful lessons. I hope these little lessons will help you have a more enriching and powerful relationship with your pup. Remember that our dog's lives are short, and we really need to enjoy the moments we have!

Please review and subscribe!! Thanks for listening 🐾

Download the Pupford app here: https://pfrd.site/mpupford-app

Subscribe on YouTube here: https://pfrd.site/subscribe-youtube

Check out all podcast episodes here: https://pfrd.site/podepisodes

Should I say 'wait' or 'stay'? And what about 'leave it' or 'wait'?!

As a new (or not so new) pup parent, getting these cue words correct can feel confusing and often times unclear. Luckily, the words you use are just that... words!

But, let's break down some of the differences between these commonly interchanged behaviors!

1. Wait vs Stay

This is often the most confusing... wait vs stay! Because, isn't our dog essentially doing the same action with both?!

Basically, yes. Here is how I like to think about wait vs stay...

I use 'wait' when I'm asking for a brief pause and in less 'serious' situations. So like when I'm about to walk out the door with my dogs. Or, when I'm asking them to 'wait' to go eat their food.

On the other hand, I use the word 'stay' when I am asking for a longer, more sustained duration. I also use this if there is a more serious situation like if I need to be certain my dogs aren't going to leave where they are.

So again, they are VERY similar. But I use wait for shorter pauses and stay for longer, more consequential staying put.

2. Leave It vs Drop

These two seem similar, but the main difference is that you'll use drop when you want your dog to let go of something ALREADY in their mouth.

Leave it is used when you want to avoid your dog ever getting something into their mouth or grasp.

3. Leave It vs Wait

Again, this one may seem confusing but simply put if you don't want your dog to get it at all, EVER... then use leave it.

Leave it should be synonymous with never going after said object. Whether it's a treat, squirrel, or piece of food on the ground, it is off limits.

Wait, means your dog should wait... but once released they can go get said object.

The important thing to remember with this one is that when you train 'leave it' you should also use a different reward than what they are being asked to leave alone.

Important Point: Behaviors Over "Commands"

The important thing to remember is that words are just words. What is more important is that your dog is internalizing and understanding the behavior itself.

"Commands" or cue words are just requests for your dog. You could train your dog to 'sit' using the word 'microphone'... it's all just words!

It's important to focus on overall behavior change and things like impulse control, focus around distractions, etc.. The words we use are just tips for our dogs, not a "solution".

Please review and subscribe!! Thanks for listening 🐾

Download the Pupford app here: https://pfrd.site/app9-free

Subscribe on YouTube here: https://pfrd.site/subscribe-youtube

Check out all podcast episodes here: https://pfrd.site/zpodcast

Intro music cred to Kevin May: https://soundcloud.com/kevin_may