It's a phrase we hear over and over again whenever we read about dog bites or other human-animal scuffles- "unprovoked attack." But is that really true? Is there really such a thing as an animal attack that is truly completely unprovoked? Or is there perhaps more going on that we're simply not aware of? Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring dig into this phrase and discuss whether or not animal attacks are really "unprovoked.

For show notes and more: Your Family Dog

Summer vacation can be a great time for both people and their pets. But the summer months also come with their own stresses and challenges that can range from the merely annoying to the seriously life-threatening. From the anxiety of Fourth of July fireworks to the dangers of heat stroke, Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring go through some of the common summer concerns to help you and your pooch stay happy and safe.

For show notes and more: Your Family Dog

When a new dog comes to live with us, an adjustment period is only to be expected- both for us and our new pet. But how long does this adjustment period take? At what point can we expect Fido to settle into a comfortable rhythm in his new home? Conventional wisdom often cites a timeline of "three days, three weeks, three months," but is this really the case? Today, Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring look at what constitutes a realistic time period for a new dog to settle in, and offer advice on how to make that process easier for everybody.

For more information please go to: Your Family Dog

Major life changes- a move, a death in the family, an illness- obviously cause us a lot of stress. But big disruptions like this are also stressful for our animal friends. In addition to managing our own stress, it's important to remember to take care of our dogs as well. Today, Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring talk about how to reassure your dog and help them cope through times of extreme stress.

For more information: Your Family Dog

Those of us with less sensitive noses seldom realize just how big of a role odors play in the lives of our dogs. But for dogs, smell is a vital and integral part of how they perceive the world and gather information about it. Playing scent-based games with our dogs can be a great way to bond with them and learn to understand and interact with them better. Dianna Santos, the owner of Scent Work University, came on the show today to talk about scent work and how it can improve your relationship with your dog and their quality of life. 

To learn more: Your Family Dog

Few things are more annoying or stressful for owners than dogs who won't stop barking. All of us know the anxiety caused by a barking dog and the helpless feeling of being unable to stop or distract them. Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring tackle the topic of barking dogs and look at simple solutions to help both you and Fido feel calmer and more in control.

For show notes and more: Your Family Dog

If you've ever wondered why your dog does what he does, animal ethologist Marc Bekoff can tell you- he literally wrote the book on it! Today he joins Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring to discuss his upcoming book, becoming a "citizen scientist," and emotions in dogs (and octopuses!).

For show notes, please go to: Your Family Dog

Spring is here...maybe? The weather going haywire this time of year- snowshoes in the morning and sandals in the afternoon- can be just as confusing to your dog as it is to you. How do you keep training when the weather is great for outside work one minute and awful for it the next? Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring talk about how to adapt your training for unpredictable weather, especially when you're working on getting Fido to ignore the craziness outside and come to you.

For show notes and more please go to: Your Family Dog

It's one thing to teach your dog a new behavior in a setting free from distractions or interruptions. It's another thing entirely to try that behavior in the "real" world, with all its noise and color and annoying squirrels. So how do you move a behavior from one situation to another without it all falling apart? That's where the idea of working below the threshold comes in. Join Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring as they discuss training in lower-stress environments and how to work up to the "real deal."

For show notes and more please go to: Your Family Dog

A criticism often leveled at force free training is that it doesn't work or isn't as effective as more traditional punishment-based methods. Your Family Dog has tackled this topic before, but today Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring use an internet video making the rounds to once again address some of the more common criticisms about positive reinforcement training.

For show notes please see: Your Family Dog