Your Family Dog Podcast

Goats are stubborn creatures, so when Seth Thompson began running a goat farm, it quickly became apparent that he was going to need some help. Enter Dutch, Seth's goat-herding dog, without whom New Plymouth Farm couldn't operate. As both a working dog and a family dog, Dutch is a vital part of not only the Thompson family's business, but their home life as well. Join us today as Seth shares both the challenges and the unique joys of life with his goat-herding farm dog.

 

For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog.

Most of us hate the thought of our precious pooch dismembering a squirrel or eviscerating a rabbit, but the truth is that ultimately, that's what they were designed to do. Dogs are natural predators, and while they may have moved into our living rooms, those hunting instincts haven't gone away.

Enter Meghan Wolfgram and SwiftPaws! SwiftPaws creates enrichment toys designed to help dogs indulge their natural predatory instincts without leaving bits of bunny entrails all over your lawn. Meghan came on the show today to discuss the inspiration behind her company and how you can turn your backyard into a cruelty-free hunting area in just five minutes. We promise, no squirrels were harmed in the making of this episode!

 

For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog.

Welcome back to Part 2 of our discussion about canine nutrition with dog trainer and nutritionist Emily Breslin. Join us as we pick up where we left off last week and talk more about the necessity (or not) of supplements, the importance of gut health, and whether or not your dog should go vegetarian.

 

For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog.

The importance of nutrition is a recurring topic here at Your Family Dog, and with good reason. Quality nutrition can make a huge difference in the life, health, and happiness of your dog, but figuring out what that looks like can be overwhelming. Should my dog's food all be raw? Are grains good or bad? Do I really have to make it all myself?

Dog trainer Emily Breslin is, if possible, even more passionate about nutrition than she is about enrichment (which she talked about on the show back in November). She's committed to helping families feed their dogs better, without going nuts. Join us today to learn about a healthy canine diet and what you can do to help improve your dog's meals.

 

For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog.

Navigating life with kids and dogs can be tricky- something we've talked about many times before on the show. And it can become even more complicated when one of the parties involved has some kind of special need. Neurodivergent kiddos or children with sensory processing disorders can find living with a dog- even a dog they love- to be especially challenging, and parents are often at a loss as to what to do. Enter Debbie Lucken, the founder of Kids Around Dogs, an organization dedicated to helping kids and dogs get along. Back in December, Debbie came on the podcast to talk about her work with KAD. This week she's back to talk more about helping those kids who are a little differently wired to still find joy in their pets.

 

For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog.